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AN
ADDRESS
DELIVERED TO THE PEOPLE OF
GOSHEN, CONNECTCUT,/
AT THEIR FIRST
CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION,
September 28, 1838.
BY REV. GRANT POWERS, A. M.
OF GOSHEN, CONN.
HARTFORD.
PrjNTED BY ELIHU GEER, 26^ ST^TE-STREET,
18 3 9.
MAY X 1905
At a meeting of the proprietors of the common and undivided lands in the
town of Goshen, holden on the 14th day of February, 1839. Voted, that the
thanks of the proprietors be presented to Rev. Grant Powers, for his Address
delivered at the celebration of the first Centennial Anniversary of the settle-
ment of this town, on the 28th of September last ; and that a copy be request-
ed for publication.
ABRAHAM NORTON, Moderator,
LEWIS M. NORTON, Clerk.
Gentlemen, — I have received the gratifying vote of the proprietors, passed
on the 14th inst., relative to ray Centennial Address, and I do assure you that
any services of mine which may be requisite to further your wishes in regard
to its publication will be cheerfully rendered.
Most respectfully yours,
GRANT POWERS.
Abraham Norton, Moderator.
Lewis M. Norton, Clerk.
Goshen, Feb. 18th, 1839.
Note. — The Principal authorities, consulted in support of this address, are
here inserted once for all. Mather's Magnalia ; Trumbull's History of Conn. ;
Marshall's Life of Washington ; Historical Collections of Conn.; Town Re-
cords ; Dea. Lewis M. Norton ; and Old men of the town.
9.
A,
r-
ADDRESS
America has been denominated the New World, and tliis
with much propriety. She wais new, p^elatively, in respect to
ihe time of her discovery by Columbus. Five thousand, five
viiundred years nearly, had elapsed from the creation before
this vast continent held a place in the catalogue of existences
among civilized men ; and we have no sufficient evidence, per-
haps, to authorise the conclusion that the inhabitants of her
sister continent seriously contemplated her existence. She
was new, because from the time of her discovery, the minds of
civilized nations in Europe were turned into a different channel
of thought, and enterprise spread her wings for the far West,
instead of the East. She was neio ; for, until this time, the
spherical figure of the Earth had not been demonstrated, and
the sciences of Geography and Astronomy were necessarily
limited and imperfect : but from this time a new impulse was
given to these sciences, and navigation and commerce imme-
diately quit their narrow track by the rock bound coast, and
bomided away upon the dark expanse of mighty Oceans. She
was new, because the blessings chartered to civilized man by a
beneficent Providejice, were by this discovery greatly in-
creased, not only by extending the limits of his habitation, but
also by adding to his means of subsistence, and to his luxuries,
both from the soil and from the chase. Again, she was new
because liere was to commence a new order of things. Man,
by his translation from the old world to the new, was to drop
the shackles, which ages of ignorance and wickedness had fab-
ricated and imposed on him, and to test the new principles of
self-government, and to feel his responsibility to God alone for
his reli^ous faith. This was indeed an era in the world, espe-
cially as it relates to civil and religious institutions. And of
the truth of this, the enlightened and virtuous of both hemis-
pheres, will become more and more impressed, the farther
they recede from the point of their separation, and as events
transpire, both in the old and new world. It is by no means
strange, then, that the history of that individual whom Provi-
dence raised up to bless the world by his discoveries, and the
subsequent events in Europe w^hich led to the settlement of
New England by the church of the living God, should be read
with intense interest by every friend to humanity ; by every
admirer of God's ways-. It would be peculiarly gratifying to
me to take special notice on this occasion of the incipient steps
that were taken by our Pilgrim Fathers in the settlement of
New England, and to call on you to adore the wonders of
God's love and mercy towards his people, as exhibited in his
calling them out from a furnace of affliction, and in planting
them in a land of freedom, and by the side of " Sweet Waters."
But I must forego this pleasure, as time would fail me, and
limit my remarks to the settlement of this State, and the pro-
gress of this Colony ; and this I shall do as preliminary to a
more specific history of this town. A httle more than two
centuries asjo, this entire State was a wilderness, an unbroken
forest, with the exception of limited prairies on dry soils and
bottom-lands, the result of annual fires kindled by the tenants
of these hills and vallies. Every species of forest tree, com-
mon to other states in New England, here grew in great per-
fection, and the butternut, button- wood, sassafras and white-
wood trees, exceeded, it is thought, in proportional number,
and in magnitude, the same species of the North and East.
Wild fruits of all kinds that are indigenous to this section of
our country, were produced in great abundance, and animals
of the land, of the water, and of the air, were proportionally
numerous. And so were the men of fierce countenance and
of idomitable spirits. Some have estimated their number to
have been twenty thousand, and their warriors four thousand,
a greater number, it is presumed, than could have been found
on an area of equal extent in any other part of New England.
Thus had things remamed for unknown ages, nor had a single
adventurer from the old world discovered the channel of the
long and beautiful Connecticut, even when Plymouth and
Massachusetts Colonies had attained to a good degree, and
Manhadoes or New York was rising to some distinction.
But in 1631, eleven years after the settlement of Plymouth,
Wah-quimaceet, a Sachem of the Connecticut valley, came to
the Plymouth colony, and thence he went to Boston, soliciting
the governors of these colonies, to make settlements in the
Connecticut valley, promising as an inducement, to supply the
colonies with corn, annually, and he would make them a pres-
ent of "eighty beaver-skins." The governor of Massachusetts
declined the proffer, but Mr. Winslow, the governor of Ply-
mouth, came on in a ship, discovered the river and the adja-
cent parts, and learned the true cause of the Sachem's
solicitude for an English settlement in the valley. He was
expecting an invasion from the terrible Pequots, at New Lon-
don, and he thought he might find his safety from an English
settlement in his territory. The next year, 1632, the people
of Plymouth made still further discoveries, and fixed a spot
for a trading-house ; and this was in Windsor, a little below the
entrance of the Farmington river into the Connecticut. In
1 633, John Oldham, of Dorchester, and three others in com-
pany with him, came through the wilderness to Connecticut,
the first Europeans who ever performed this tour. They
were hailed by the Sachem with joy, and received a present
in beaver. Oldham found Indian hemp growing on the mead-
ows spontaneously, and in great abundance, and on trial,
found it to be superior to the hemp of European growth.
The same year, Wilham Holmes of Plymouth, prepared a frame
for a trading-house, at Windsor, and putting it on board a
vessel, with materials for covering it, sailed for the Connecti-
cut river, but did not arrive till September. In the mean
time, as early as June of that year, the Dutch from New York
entered the Connecticut river, purchased of a Pequot captain,
twenty acres of land in Hartford, built a fort, and mounted
6
two pieces of cannon to command the river. They claimed
Connecticut on the ground of prior discovery, and never
wholly relinquished their claim until 1664. When Holmes
appeared in the river, the Dutch stood by their cannon, for-
bade his proceeding, and commanded him to strike liis colors,
uttering the most vehement threats, that they would sink him
if he did not obey. Holmes, in true English blood, replied that
"he had a commission from the Governor of Plymouth to pro-
ceed up the river, and he should do so" — keeping his sails ex-
panded to the breeze, and leaving his antagonists to their own
vauntings. The great object sought by these rival Colonies,
was exclusive trade with the Indians, which was at this time
exceedingly lucrative. The Dutch purchased of them ten thou-
sand beavers annually, and the Massachusetts and Plymouth
Colonies sometimes freighted ships to England ; the estimated
value of furs amounting to a thousand pounds sterling, to a
single ship. Holmes proceeded to Windsor, erected the house,
covered it, fortified it, and leaving men for a garrison during
the winter, returned to Plymouth in October. This was the
first house ever erected in this State. In 1634, a few men
came on from Watertown in Massachusetts, and built them
huts at Wethersfield, and this is the oldest town in the State.
In 1635, a number of men from Dorchester came to Windsor,
built them log houses, and prepared to bring on their families.
Men from Watertown did so likewise at Wethersfield. In the
fall of this year, these men returned to Massachusetts for their
families, and on the 1 5th of October, about sixty men, women,
and children, with horses, cattle, and swine, commenced their
journey through the wilderness. Says Dr. Trumbull — " after
a tedious journey through swamps, and rivers, over mountains,
and rough ground, which were passed with great difficulty
and fatigue, they arrived at the places of their destination."*
But they consumed so much time on their journey, and the
winter setting in unusually early, they were unable to trans-
port more than a part of their cattle across the river that
* Deacon Lewis M. Norton and his wife, of tliis town, are each of the fifth
generation on the Maternal side, from one of these early adventurers — John
Mills, from Windsor, (England.)
season; Connecticut river being frozen over by the 15th of
November. These emigrants had put their provisions for the
winter, and their household furniture, on board vessels at Bos-
ton, which were to sail round and meet them on the river ;
but some of these were shipwrecked in the Sound, and those
which outrode the tempest, could not ascend the river, by rea-
son of the ice, and left the Pilgrims in a forlorn condition. By
the first of December, provisions generally failed, and death
stared them all in the face. Thirteen men set out to retrace
their way to Boston, and after ten days' march, twelve arrived
there ; one fell through the ice in passing a river, and was
drowned. Seventy men, women, and children, left Windsor,
and Wethersfield, and travelled in dead winter from fifty to
sixty miles to the mouth of the river, to find their provisions ;
but not finding them, they entered on board a vessel lying
there, and sailed for Boston, where they arrived in a few days.
Those who remained at Windsor and Wethersfield, subsisted
on acrons, and grains. But many of their cattle perished, al-
though that part of them, that were left on the east side of the
river, and had no human aid, were in better condition in the
spring, than the others. But notwithstanding these dangers
and hardships experienced by those who first attempted the
settlement of this Colony, those who had returned to Massa-
chusetts during the winter, and others who had meditated a
removal thither, resolved on transplanting themselves, as soon
as their cattle could subsist on the buds and leaves of the forest,
during their journey. Accordingly, about the first of June,
1636, the Rev. Mr. Hooker, and Mr. Stone his colleague, and
about a hundred men, women and children, and a hundred
and sixty head of cattle, took their leave of Newtown, (now
Cambridge,) and travelled over the same ground, which the
pioneers had travelled the year before, subsisting principally
on the milk of their kine. Those of this company, who had
not already placed their families at Windsor or Wethersfield,
located themselves at Hartford ; and thus in the space of little
more than two years, the three towns, Wethersfield, Windsor,
and Hartford, became permanently settled. But they had
8
yet to experience great trials. In less than one year they
were compelled to declare war against the Pequots, a power-
ful tribe of Indians, inhabiting the present district of New Lon-
don and Groton, a tribe which had subjugated nearly all the
tribes upon the Connecticut river, and were determined to ex-
terminate the English as fast as they came into the pleasant
valley. They had already massacred about thirty persons,
putting some to the most dreadful tortures. Accordingly, in
May, 1637, these three towns, Wethersfield, Hartford, and
Windsor, relying upon Massachusetts for aid, declared war
against the Pequots ; and in ten days, ninety men had embarked
for Pequot harbor, and in sixteen days from their embarkation,
six hundred Pequots were slain, their fort destroyed, and the
renmant of their nation were flying in every direction ; and this
without the assistance of a single man from Massachusetts, or
Plymouth, and while the Mohegans, their Indian allies, stood
aghast at the instant anniliilation of a tribe, which they had
long considered invincible! It may be seriously doubted,
whether the annals of history record a campaign so brief, so
disproportional in number with the enemy to be encountered,
and yet a result so successful ! It not only annihilated this
potent enemy, but it spread terror at the English name in other
tribes, and secured a peace, with slight interruptions, for
nearly forty years. But these pioneers in the wilderness were
men of whole hearts ; they were lions ! They shrunk not at
danger, or fatigue, and when stimg to the quick by such hor-
rid butcheries upon the bodies of their families and friends, and
when called to act in defence of their lives, and of all that was
dear to them on earth, they did not strike as those who beat
the air. They did not war for amusement ; they did not wear
an epaulette for honor, or bear arms for emolument, but for
life and liberty ! And whatever we may think of the horrid
nature of war in general, and even the picture of it is revolting
to every principle of humanity, I see not how our Fathers
could have done otherwise, and preserved their own lives and
the lives of their families. Treaties they had made, and they
were all violated. They came here at the solicitation of the
9
original owners of the soil. They gave a fair equivalent for
every foot of soil they occupied, and had done what they could
to bless the Indians. They had prayed, and labored for the
salvation of these heathen ; they had prayed to be delivered
from their murderous tomahawks ; and were they to sit and
see their families immolated, and to feel their murderous blow
upon their own heads ? Happy thought ! The Lord is the
judge between them and the slain !
It is from this time we date the commencement of the pros-
perity of this Colony. The people being released from the
horrors of war, applied all their energies to agriculture, and
soon the wilderness became a fruitful field. In 1638, New
Haven Colony was planted, and they extended their purchases
and settlements east and w^est with great rapidity. It was
the same with the Connecticut Colony at Hartford, and vicin-
ity, and in 1643, all the colonies in New England, entered into a
mutual confederation, offensive and defensive, for future aid
and strength. In 1665, Connecticut and New Haven colo-
nies, which had to this time been separate, and independent of
each other, now became united. At this period, twenty-nine
years from the settlement of the Comiecticut Colony, and
twenty-seven from that of New Haven, these Colonies united,
consisted of 1700 families, and enjoyed the labors of twenty
ministers, giving to each minister eighty-five families.
This will show that they were not unmindful of the advan-
tages of a Gospel ministry, and that they were williing to sup-
port it, amid all their accumulated burdens, arising out of their
pecuhar circumstances. It was at this time, Commissioners
arrived at Boston from the crown of England, making demands
precisely of the same nature, with those which one hundred
years afterwards, produced the war of the revolution, and they
were equally resisted m the first instance, as in the second. In
1675, the ever memorable war with Phillip commenced, which
involved the dearest interests of Connecticut, as well as those
of all the other Colonies in New England. This celebrated chief
had his principal seat at Mount Hope, in the eastern part of the
town of Bristol, in Rhode Island, and he had the temerity to
2
w
conspire the destruction of all the Colonies in New England^
For this purpose, he drew into his scheiues all the principal chiefs
and tribes in the region, and with all possible secrecy, proceeded
to execute his diabolical Avork. Swanzey, a frontier town of
Plymouth Colony, was the first to experience the vengeance
of the Indians. This electrified each Colony, and Connecticut
sent troops immediately to Stonington, for the defence of that,
and the neighboring towns. But notwithstanding all that the
colonies could do this year, the Indians triumphed. Brook-
field, Iladley, Deerfield, Northfield, and Springfield, were all
attacked. Houses and barns were burned, cattle killed, grain
destroyed, and many of the inhabitants were either massacred,
or carried into a terrible captivity. Connecticut raised sixty
dragoons in each county, for the defence of the Colonies : all
towns were put in the best state to repel an attack, and in No-
vember, they sent three hundred of their own men, and a
hundred and fifty Mohegans to cooperate with troops from
Massachusetts, and Plymouth against the Narragansetts. This
expedition was successful in destroying the NaiTagansett fort,
and dispersing the Indians, but it was a dear bought victory I
Of the 300 regular troops from Connecticut, eighty were either
killed or wounded. But in the summer of 1670, Philip himself
fell in battle, and with him expired the hope of the Indians, and
peace was the result. In this war it is estimated, that every
eleventh English soldier in New England fell ; every eleventh
house was burned, and a great proportion of the inhabitants
were clad in deep mourning. But before the Colonies had
time to recover from this terrible calamity, another of equal
magnitude threatened them from another quarter. Upon the
accession of James II. to the throne of England, this infamous
Prince resolved on vacating all the charters of these Colonies^
and mstituting a tyrannical government over them ; and in
pursuance of this object. Sir Edmund Andross was appointed
Governor of all New England, who arrived at Boston, Dec,
19, 1686. This Andross was a modern Nero, and employed
all his powers to despoil the Colonies, and to enrich himself.
He came to Hartford in December, 1687, demanded the Char-
ter, and took upon himself the government. This was the time
that the old oak at Hartford became the Ark for the chartered
rights of this Colony, wherein they reposed securely for the
space of nineteen months, and then upon a 'change of Sove-
reigns in England, were again brought forth for the peace and
prosperity of the Colony. It was in anticipation of this visit
of Sir Edmund Andross, that the government of tliis Colony,
with a view to save their unappropriated lands, from the un-
lawful grasp of this rapacious Governor, did, Jan. 2Gth, 1686,
grant to the towns of Hartford and Windsor, " those lands on
the North of Woodbury, and Mattakuck*, and on the west of
Farmington and Simsbury, to the Massachusetts line north ;
to run west to Housatonick, or Stratford river, provided it be
not, or part of it, formerly granted to any particular person,
to make a plantation, or village." It was perfectly imderstood
at the time of this grant, that it was no bona-fide conveyance
to these towns, for they advanced not a shilling for it, nor did
they claim it for special services rendered, yet when the evils
which then threatened the Colony had passed away, and the
government was desirous of disposing of those lands, for the
benefit of the Colony ; the towns of Hartford and Windsor
set up their claim, and insisted that the grant to them in 1680
was a bona-fide transaction, and refused to yield to any acts of
the Assembly, in regard to the sale of the land. Their claim
was extensive, comprehending Kent, Litchfield, Harwinton,
New Hartford, Torrington, Goshen, Cornwall, SaHsbury, Ca-
naan, Norfolk, Winchester, Colebrook, Barkhamsted, and
Hartland. How Salisbury should have been included in this
claim, I am unable to learn, for the grant of 1686 was bounded
west by the Housatonick. But both parties proceeded to take
possession of the territory in dispute. In 1718 the Assembly
sold a tract of country, then called by the Indians Bantam, but
from the incorporation of the town in 1724, the same has
borne the name of Litchfield. Settlements commenced in this
town in 1720. In 1722, individuals of Hartford and Windsor
came on and laid out the township, north of Litchfield, then
* Waterbury.
12
called New Bantam, but which has borne the name of Goshen,
from an act of the Assembly, in 1737. These individuals
claimed their right under the towns of Hartford and Windsor,
which brought on a violent conflict, between the Colony and
these towns. In October of 1722, while the Assembly were
in session at Hartford, some of the trespassers were arrested,
and imprisoned at Hartford, but a mob was raised, the jail
broken open, and the delinquents were set at liberty ; and so
violent was the opposition of these towns to the acts of the
Assembly, that the civil authority was unable to execute the
laws of the land. Finally, the Assembly, feeling the disastrous
consequenses of a protracted warfare of this nature, did in the
autumn of 1724 appoint a Committee to investigate all the
claims, and report thereon, that the difficulty might be amicably
settled. This Committee spent nearly two years in the inves-
tigation, and then reported, that a division of this territory
be made, giving one half to the towns of Hartford and Wind-
sor, and one half to the Colony. Hartford and Windsor
should have the Eastern division, and the Colony the Western.
In May, 1726, the Assembly adopted substantially the report
of the Committee, and subsequently secured to these towns,
Hartford and Windsor, by patent, all the disputed lands East
of Litchfield, Goshen, and Norfolk, and retained the Western
section, viz. Goshen, Norfolk, Canaan, Cornwall, Kent, and
Salisbury ; and thus an affair was adjusted, which had re-
tarded the settlement of these towns, and threatened the
whole Colony with disastrous consequences. At the October
Session of the Assembly in 1726, a grant of 300 acres of land
in this town, was made to James Wadsworth, Esq., of Durham,
John Hall, Esq. of Walhngford, and Hezekiah Brainard, Esq.
of Haddam. What the consideration was for this grant, does
not appear : probably it was for services rendered the Colony.
This survey was made by John Hitchcock, April 28, 1731.
The North-west corner of this special grant was east of the
road opposite the brick house of Capt. Jonathan Wadhams,
and south of the School house. The west line of the grant,
running South 300 rods, intersected the North lire of Litchfield
13
tliirteen rods West of the North and South road, that passes
the house of Harvey Brooks, thence East on Litchfield hne 160
rods. Thence North 300 rods, and then West 160 rods to
the North-west bound, ah'eady described, near Capt. Wadhams.
This grant has always borne the appellation " the 'Squires
Farm," because the three Gentlemen to whom the grant was
made, all had the title Esquire attached to their names respec-
tively. It is said that the house owned, and occupied, by the
widow, and heir of the late Isaac Wadhams, stands in the
central part of the 'Squires Farm. But at the time of this
survey, the town had not been laid out by government, and
was denominated Western Lands or New Bantam, the assem-
bly not regarding at all the laying out of the town by Hart-
ford, and Windsor, in 1722. But at their session in May, 1731,
they enacted that their Western lands should be laid out into
five townships, and appointed their Committee to perform this
business. The report of this Committee as it respects this
town, bears date Oct. 15th, 1731, describing the Umits of the
same, making the South line four miles and 196 rods. The
West line, nine miles and 60 rods. The North line four
miles and 86 rods — and the East line, eight miles, and 146 rods;
showing that the South line is ten rods longer than the North
line, and the West line 234 rods longer than the East line.
Soon after these towns were laid out, the Trustees of Yale
College, applied to the assembly for a grant of land in aid of
this institution, and in 1732 they made a grant of 1500 acres to
the Trustees, 300 acres iii each of the five towns so recently
laid out, and in January, 1737 the College Farm so called in
this town, was surveyed and its boundaries established. The
dwelling houses of Messrs. Asa Leverett, and Cephas Ives,
stand upon this grant, and also the house at the turnpike gate
leading to Cornwall. On the 13th of Oct. 1737, the assembly
enacted, that the township called Goshen, should be divided
into fifty-three rights, exclusive of former grants, referring to
the 'Squires Farm, and College. Two of the 53 rights were
to be appropriated to the Ministry. One of them to be the
property of the first settled minister, and the other to remain
14
for the support of the Ministry in all after timo. And a third
right was to be for the support of Schools. Fifty rights
would remain for the Proprietors of said township. The as-
sembly then resolved that this township should be sold in so
many rights, at public auction at the Court House in New Ha-
ven, to the highest bidder, commencing on the first Tuesday in
December next (1737), and to be continued by adjournment
until all the rights were sold. The conditions required of each
proprietor were, that he or his agent should within two years
from the date of his purchase, enter upon his premises build and
finish a house thereon, no less than eighteen feet square, and
seven feet between sill and plate j clear, subdue, and fence
six acres of said land, and continue to dwell thereon for the
space of three successive years (unless prevented by death or
unavoidable Providence) commencing after the expiration of
the two years in which the specified conditions were to be
performed ; and furthermore, he must perform all orders, and
duties, and pay all taxes granted. If these conditions were
performed, then his deed was valid ; but if any part of the
conditions was omitted (extraordinaries excepted) his title was
void, and of no effect.
It seems that during the winter, spring and summer of 1738,
the rights were all or nearly all disposed of and that a meeting
of the Proprietors w as called at the house of Capt. Jolm Buel
in Litchfield, on the 27th of September, 1738. This Capt. John
Buel, or Dea. Buel, as he is generally called was one of the
first settlers of the town of Litchfield, and deserves special
notice in this place, on account of the interest he took in the
settlement of this town, and the interest his descendants have
held in it to this day. He with his wife Mary came from Leb-
anon in this state, to Litchfield in 1720, and lived on Town Hill,
North side of West street, and seventy rods West of the
County Jail. He was distinguished for his piety and active be-
nevolence. A brief anecdote of him will tell the whole story.
In 1740 or 41, there came a man from Cornwall in the depth
of winter to purchase some grain for himself and family, who
were in great need. He was directed to the house of Deacon
15
Buel as being the man most likely to have grain to sell. The
man called at the house and inquired if Deacon Buel lived
there, and whether he could purchase a little grain for his fam-
ily ? Deacon Buel asked him if he had money to purchase the
grain ? He replied that he had some. " Well," said the Dea-
con, " I can show you where you can procure it." Going with
the stranger to the door, he pointed out to him a certain house,
and said, " There lives a man who will let you have the grain
for your money. I have some grain to spare, but I must keep
it for those who have no money !" We are forcibly impressed
with the scripture truth, The memory of the just is blessed.
Deacon Buel departed this life April 9th, 1746, aged 75 years.
His wife survived 22 years, and the following is inscribed on
her tomb stone, " Here lies the body of Mrs. Mary, wife of
Dea. John Buel, Esq. She died Nov. 4, 1768, aged 90 ; having
had 13 Children, 101 Grand-children, 247 Great-grand-chil-
dren, 22 Great-great-grand-children ; total 410. Three hun-
dred and thirty-six survived her."
Nearly all, if not all who bear the name of Buel, in Litch-
field and Goshen are the descendants of this same Dea. John
Buel. We have his Grandson with us to day, Capt. Jonathan
Buel, aged 85.
On the 27th of Sept. 1738, the propiietors of this town, as-
sembled at the house of Dea. John Buel, Litchfield, agreeably
to appointment. Capt. Joseph Bird, of Litchfield, was chosen
clerk, and Deacon John Buel was chosen Moderator. After
being fully organized they adjourned to meet at the same place
at 8 o'clock the next morning, one hundred years ago this
morning. Here let us pause for a moment's reflection. How
eventful were the doings of this meeting ! LTpon the acts
of this body were suspended the settlement of this town, the
manner of its settlement, and much of its prosperity to the
present time. Nor will our descendants cease to be influenced
by these incipient steps for ages to come, and may not to the
end of time.
Whether our Fathers were sensible of the importance of
their proceedings to unborn generations or not, yet loe may
16
learn that we never act for ourselves exclusively, but that oth-
ers are to be affected for good or for evil, by our influences to the
latest generation, and probably to eternity !
The adjournment of this meeting on the 27th to the 28th
of the month, was doubtless that they might arrange matters
so as to transact business with greater despatch the next day.
We understand, that each Proprietor of one right in the town,
owned one fifty-third part of the town, exclusive of the
^Squires Form, and College Farm. But no man's right was
yet located. And that each might have as fair a chance as
possible in his location, they agreed that but one hundred acres
to each right, should be located at that time, and that no one
should select more that fifty acres, until all the others had se-
lected their fifty acres upon their respective rights. The meth-
od adopted to locate each man's fifty acres was this : — There
were fifty- three slips of paper cut and marked from No. 1, to
53. These papers were put into a hat or box, and the Pro-
prietors drew out one paper each, and according to the number
the individual drew so he stood in the choice of his first fifty
acres. The man who drew No. 1, had a right to select his
fifty acres in any* part of the town, not encroaching upon the
two Farms specified. He who drew No. 2, held the next
choice, and so on to fifty-three, an individual being designated
to draw for the Ministerial and School rights. But in the
choice of the second fifty acre lots to each individual Proprietor,
there was no drawing for a choice ; for it was agreed, that he
who had the last choice in the first division, should have the
first choice in the second division ; so that he who had the first
choice in the first division had the last choice in the second di-
vision. These preliminary steps being taken, the Proprietors
met on the 28th, appointed a committee for laying out the lots
when chosen, and drew for their choice of lots. Aaron Cook
drew No. 1, and had the first choice. Daniel Richards the
fifty-third. The meeting was then adjourned to the first
Wednesday of December next, at 8 o'clock, A. M., to meet at
the house of Joseph Bird hi Litchfield, and the Proprietors
hastened to Goshen, each to search out, and locate his future
17
home, and where he should repose his mortal part. This is
the day we celebrate at the distance of one entire century
from those hardy adventurers. From this period we date the
regular settlement of this town ; and whatever degree of in-
terest ive may feel on this occasion, we may rest assured our
venerated Fathers felt far more. They had to select for them-
selves, and for theirs. Their personal interest and comfort,
were in a good degree involved in their choice. The labor of
converting a wilderness into a fruitful field, and into smooth
and green pastures was theirs. Far distant was the day in
their vision, when the Sun with unobstructed rays, and mel-
iowuig influences, should look down upon their soil as at this
day. For a long period, they could hope for the necessaries of
hfe only, with few conveniences and no luxuries, unless they
were derived from the chase ! They knew the toil of felling
the towering trees of the forest, of making roads, building
bridges, erecting mills, fences, habitations, barns, school houses,
and a house for worship ; and it will appear in the sequel that
these first settlers contemplated all these tilings from the com-
mencement of their enterprise. Now, notwithstanding this
was a peculiar race of men, prepared by the Providence of
God for bold and arduous undertakings, yet, must they not
have felt an interest, and a solicitude while entering this forest
for the first time, which we do not and cannot feel ? Yet they
were sustained and directed, and by the strength of their arms,
and the perseverance of their labors, we their descendants are
placed in the lap of ease and plenty. I have stated that Aaron
Cook drew No. 1, and had the first choice in the first division
of lots. lie chose, and we honor his choice, the south part of
Town Hill, whereon now stand the brick house of the late Col.
Moses Lyman, and the house of his son, Samuel Lyman. Daniel
Richards who was last in choice in this division, chose the land
lying South East o{ Narshapogge Pond, now injudiciously call-
ed West Side Pond, and it embraced the land whereon now
stands the three story house, known by the name Hudson house.
I say this pond is injudiciously called West Side Pond, because
it is entered in all ancient conveyances by its Indian name
3
19
ISfarsTiapogge, aiid because it is much more definite in its Indian
name than in its present name ; for who that was not well ac-
quainted with the use of terms here could decide which pond
was meant by the term 'West Side Pond, whether it w^as tliis
pond, or the one a little South of it ? Beside, the Indian name
is a much more dignified name ; and as it was prior to the one
now in common use, by thousands of years probably, it ought
to be retained as a memorial of a mighty race that have passed
away to make room for the more civilized, but more effeminate
European ! And what is said of this pond, apphes with equal
force to her sister a little South, which was called in the Indian
tongue Marsluipogge, but is now called Tyler Pond, Who for
a moment can balance in his judgment in regard to the euphony
of these two names ? Not one. We say then let them bare
their original names, and the names they hold in our records,
and not attempt to filch from the poor Indian, tlie right wliich
God and nature gave him to imprint the seal of his own lan-
guage upon those everlasting hills, lakes, ponds and streams !
Pardon me this digression, and I will proceed, I have said
this day, one hundred years, this town was settled by its pro-
prietors, but these were not the first EngUsh inliabitants with-
in this town. I have already spoken of the 'Squires Farm, and
given its boundaries at the South-easterly part of the town, ly-
ing on Litchfield line. It is upon record that in February,
1734, James Wadsworth, Esq. sold his one third part of the
'Squires Farm, to Ebenezer Luke and Isaac Hill, all of Walling-
ford of this state ; that in Feb. 1736, there was a division of
the whole farm between the owners, and that the Southern
third part fell to the share of said Hill. It appears, also, that
in 1737, Ebenezer Hill came on to the West part of this South
third of the farm, and built him a small framed house on the
ground now improved for a barn-yard by Harvey Brooks.
The house stood East of the road as it then run, but West of
where it now runs. This same season, 1737, Benjamin Fris-
bie bought of Luke Hill his third of the one hundred acres, di-
vided between the said Hills, and built him a house a little
North of the house of Ebenezer Hill, on the same side of the
19
Toad. These two houses might have accommodated some few
of the proprietors of the town, while attending to the location
and survey of their respective lots ; but by far the greater por-
tion must have reposed at night on the lap of indulgent nature,
and slept under the protecting wing of high Heaven.
I will here remark that the first English child born in this
town was called BiUious Hill, son of Isaac Hill, one of the orig-
inal proprietors. He was born at the house of Ebenezer Hill,
by Harvey Brooks', as already described.
I shall not attempt to describe the location and survey of
each lot successively as the business proceeded ; but shall ad-
vert to the fact that the proprietors held two meetings more
at Litchfield before they were convened at Goshen, at which
meetings they proceeded to make further divisions of land upon
the same plan that was adopted at the first meeting. The
first proprietor's meeting at Goshen was on the 13th of May,
1740, at the house of Joseph Hickock, on East street, where
Nathaniel Stanley afterwards lived. And here we may take
our leave of the meetings of the proprietors as distinct meet-
ings from the town, although they have held occasional meet-
ings in their corporate capacity -to the present time.
The first town meeting ever held in this town was on Dec.
6th, 1739. John Beach was chosen Moderator, and Samuel
Pettibone, Town Clerk. John Beach, Samuel Pettibone, Na-
thaniel Baldwin, Samuel Towner and Benajah Williams were
chosen Selectmen. Moses Lyman was chosen Collector and
Treasurer. The place of tliis meeting not being specified, it is
supposed that it was held at their meeting-house, standing a lit-
tle East of North from the dwelling-house of Erastus Lyman,
Esq., and four or five rods South East of the yellow building,
denominated Mechanic's Hall, the spot we have now visited in
solemn and grateful procession. This first meeting-house was
built of rude materials. The butt end of a large white ash tree
felled, composed the principal part of the wall on one side, and
piled logs, with a covering of bark, completed the sanctuary !
And does this appear small in our view, almost provoking a
smile ? It was great in the sight of God ! It was the best they
20
could do, and more than many of them enjoyed for their own
sliclter. It was the expression of their hearts and an earnest
of what they would do in time to come ! It was saying that
the God of the Pilgrims was their God, and should be the God
of Goshen as far as it might depend on them. I would that
that house now stood ! How often would we steal a solitary
walk thither, and in the holy stillness of evening, go round her
enclosures, think of the generation that congregated there, their
fervent devotions, their prayers for covenanted mercies upon
their posterity, and their present rest on high ! And while
thus musing, would not the fire kindle in our own hearts, and
should we not praise God that our Fathers loved him, and gave
us this precious example of dedicating to him the first fruits of
their hearts and of their hands !
But notwithstanding our Fathers had thus early a house for
God, they did not always improve it. It was of course much
open between logs, and there were no stoves. It was, there-
fore, not filfed for worship in the severity* of winter. Besides,
there were no roads for the weak and tender of their congre-
gation to travel in from different sections of the town. They
therefore adopted the plan of carrying the Gospel to the people
by appointing the public worship of God in different parts of
the town ; and at this first town meeting they passed a vote
that the " Selectmen should ascertain the places for holding the
meetings for the public worship of God." At a town meeting,
Jan. 11, 1740, it was voted to hire a minister on probation,
and that Nathaniel Baldwin, Samuel Towner, and Samuel
Pettibone be a committee to go after a minister, with full power
to agree with him. It seems that this committee were suc-
cessful in obtaining ]Mr. Stephen Heaton, of Nevz-IIaven, to be
their candidate ; for in April, 1740, the town voted him a call
to settle with them in the Gospel ministry, and specified the
settlement and salary they would give him. The call was not
immediately accepted, and in September following, it was re-
newed to him, with some addition to the former proposed sala-
ry. This call was accepted, and Mr. Ilcaton, was ordained
Nov. 1740, at the house of Capt. John Beach, on East street,
21
East side of the road opposite to the present dwelling house
of Eber Bailey.
The town at their meetings preparatory to the settlement of
Mr. Heaton had voted that it was necessary to build a meeting
house, and Nathaniel Baldwin was appointed to solicit the
General Assembly for a Committee to be appointed to decide
on the spot where the New Meetmg house should stand. It
appears further, from the Records, that the General Assembly
agreeably to the request of the Petitioners, did appoint a
Committee of three from the town of Hartford to fix on the
site for a Meeting house, and that the said Committee, did come
out and set the stake where the house should stand, sometime
in the summer of 1740, and that after some delay, and embar-
rassments, the second meeting house in the town was raised,
and covered in the year 1744. It was a house 46 by 34 feet,
and 20 feet between sill and plate. It had two galleries, one
above the other, and when it was finished, was painted yellow.
It stood a little North west of this house, and a Httle South of
the house that was removed in 1832, the South side of the
tliird Meeting house, coming within 4 feet of the North side of
the second house. There are some two or three individuals
present who remember this second house wliich was removed
in 1770.
I will now for the satisfaction of the present generation,
and with a view to impress us all with the truth, that the
fashion of this world passeth away, present you this town as
it was in 1745. I am indebted for these statistics mainly to
Deacon Lewis M. Norton of this place, whose unwearied and
persevering effort in tliis cause for years entitles him to the
lasting gratitude of his town's men and to a more substantial
reward. We will return then to the South part of the town,
where we have already been in the history, and commence
with Capt. Jonathan Buel, son of Dea. John Buel of Litch-
field, and Father of Capt. Jonathan Buel now of this town.
His house stood upon the line between Litchfield, and Goshen,
on the West side of the North and South road, as it now runs.
In the house lately owned, and occupied by Elias Buel, a little
22
South of Harvey Brooks, on the East side of the road, lived
Ebenezer Hill, Jun., son of the Ebenezer Hill whose house we
have already located in Mr. Brooks' barn yard. This house of
Ebenezer Hill, Jun,, lately occupied by Elias Buel, was built in
the summer of 1741, and is the oldest house in the town. This
Hill, and Capt. Jonathan Buel kept tavern alternately for a
number of years. Buel would keep two years, and then Hill
two, for the accommodation of those who were going to and
from " Western lands." About half way between the house of
Ebenezer Hill, Jun., and the house lately occupied by Elisha
Buel, now by Watts Brooks, stood the house of Asa Hill, an-
other son of Ebenezer Hill, first mentioned. A little North of
the present house of Watts Brooks, near the flat, stood the
house of Benjamin Frishie, already described as the second
house, built in 1737, on the 'Squires Farm. A little North
of Frisbie's house as we ascend the hill, and precisely where
stands the house of Joseph Beardsley, lived John Dibble, with
a numerous family from Wallingford. Afterwards John Dibble,
Jun., kept a- store in the house for several years, and then built
him a store, about ten rods South of his house, near the house
of Frisbie, and traded there. It was called the red store, because
it was painted red. Proceeding North until we come to within
four rods South-east of the present brick house of Samuel Ives,
and there lived Noah Wadhajns, from Middletown, the progeni-
tor of all those, who have ever lived in Goshen, bearing the name
of Wadhams. He w^as prosperous in business, and reared a
numerous family. About 28 rods North of Noah Wadhams,
lived, on the West side of the road, Jeremiah Howe from
Wallingford. He was the Progenitor of all the families by the
name of Howe in Goshen, and of many in Canaan. The next
neighbor to Howe at the North, w^as Samuel Pettibone, from
Simsbury. His house stood a few feet North of the present
brick house of Thomas, and Hiram Griswould, on the same
side of the way. He was the first Lawyer in Goshen, and for
some time was State's Attorney. He was much employed in
the early business transactions of the town ; but being over-
come, and thrust down, by the Strong Man from the West In-
23
dies, he terminated his earthly existerxe at the old house, for-
merly occupied by Harvey Brooks. About 115 rods North of
the house of Pettibone on the West side of the road, stood the
house of Christopher Grimes, from Wallingford, the old well
still designating the location of his dwelling. North of the house
of Grimes, and about GO rods South of the house long owned,
and occupied by Deacon Augustus Thomson, but now owned
by Abraham Norton, and his son William, stood the house of
Gideon Hurlbut, from Wethersfield, on the East side of the
road. Hurlbut was a substantial man, and pious. He reared
a numerous family, and has one Grand-daughter still living in
the town — Lorana, the Avife of Andrew Norton, Senior.
A few rods North of Hurlbut's ; and on the west side of
the road running North and South, and North of the road then
leading to town hill, stood the house of Zachariah Curtis, from
Wethersfield. The town hill road came into West street road
at that time, between Gideon Hurlburt's and Curtis' ; 40 or 50
rods South of where it now comes in. North of Curtis', and
opposite to the house of Abraham Norton, on the west side of
the road, stood the house of Benjamin Phelps, from Windsor.
He soon afterw^ards sold to Timothy Gaylord of Wallingford,
Father of the late Joseph Gaylord, and Grand Father of Jo-
seph Ives, and Willard Gaylord. This Timothy Gaylord was
killed in the old French war ; was shot through the head by an
Indian, as he stood behind a tree, and was moving out his own
head to obtain a shot at the Indian. The next house North,
on the West side of the way, near where now stands the barn
of Truman Starr, was the house of John Wt'ight, who had a
numerous family. He is the ancestor of those who bear the
name of AVright in this town. A little North of this, on the
same side of the way, and a little North of the late Woodruff
house, stood the house of Deacon Gideon Thompson, from
New Haven. This house was palisadoed against the Indians.
The manner of fortifjdng a house was this : — They dug a deep
ditch around the house, placed logs perpendicularly in it all
around the house, leaving a space only for a gate. The logs
were placed close together, sharpened at the top, and extended
24
eight, ten, or twelve feet above the ground. The earth taken
from the trench, was then returned, and beaten down, until
the logs stood firmly ; and this with a gate well secured, was
a tolerable defence against a sudden attack from the Indians.
It is needless, perhaps, to say that the Indians did not deal in
artillery. At this house a town meeting was held in May,
1741. He was one of the first Deacons in the Church, being
appointed at the time of the organization of the Church in
November, 1740 — before the ordination of Mr. Heaton, or
very soon afterwards. He was the first representative from
this town, to the General Assembly 1757. And in 1759 he
died at Hartford while a member of the Assembly. He was
the Grandfather of Jonathan Thomson, and Deacon Augustus
Thomson. From this house of Deacon Gideon Thomson,
there was no road open either North or West in 1745 ; but all
was forest with the exception of a settlement in Canada Vil-
lage, so called.
In 1739, or 40, the said Benjamin Frisbie of the South end,
nioved into that place, and built him a house a few rods North
of the present house of Augustus Miles, Esq. In 1742, he built
a Saw Mill, where stands now the Woolen Factory, and soon
after he built the first Grist Mill in town. Tliis stood a little
distance from the Saw Mill, and occupied the ground, which
is now improved as a tannery by George Miles. Undoubtedly
the inliabitants of this village, are indebted to this same Fris-
bie, for the name of their village ; and that the Connecticut
Historical Collections, have the truth in the case. Capt. Jon-
athan Buel, who can remember 80 years, says, that it was
called Canada as long ago as he can remember, and he always
understood that it came by its name as stated in the Collec-
tions, viz. that this Frisbie was ever talking about removing
to Canada, but never went. The wags of his time being
wearied with his story of Canada, told him he should live in
Canada, and if he would not remove to Canada, they would
bring Canada to him, and from that time, they called the place
of his residence Canada. West of Canada Village, in 1745,
there was no road, and no settlement, until we came to Corn-
25
wall. We will return then to Town Hill. Here were but
three families, and all South-westerly of them in this town,
was wilderness. On the top of Town Hill, on the West side
of the road, and a little South of the present dwelling of Gen.
Moses Cook, stood the house of Joseph Curtis, from Wethers-
field. He had a numerous family. He sold out in 1750 to
Daniel Cook, Father of the present Moses Cook, Senior, who
still survives. About twenty-five rods South of Gen. Moses
Cook's present dwelling, on the East side of the road, stood the
house of Joseph Cook, from Wallingford, Father of Daniel
Cook, and Grand-father of Moses Cook, Senior. Joseph Cook
lived here until the time of his death, Nov. 7, 1764.
South of Curtis', and about midway of the hill, on the W^st
side of the road, stood the log house of Deacon Moses Lyman r
from Northampton, JNIass. His son Col. Moses Lyman, after-
ward built the present brick house, now owned by the Hon.
Moses Lyman, on the spot where stood the house of Deacon
Lyman. This first house was built upon elevated underpin-
ning, and the windows were made high in the walls of the
house, to prevent the Indians from firing into the windows, in
case the family were invaded by them. But this Deacon Mo-
ses Lyman was cut oft' in the midst of his years, and in the
midst of his usefulness, Jan. 6th, 1768, aged fifty-five. He had
a protuberance of the bone in one of his limbs, submitted to
amputation, and after one month's slow but incessant bleeding
he expired, I have seen a printed sermon delivered on the
occasion of his death, by the Rev. Mr. Newell, which shows
that the church, and town, were in mourning by this bereave-
ment. They felt as did the young Prophets, at Elijah's remov-
al — that the Lord had taken away their Head man from
among them. And from all that I can learn of the aged now
living concerning him, lie was a great blessing to the town.
He came from Northampton, then the centre of Theology,
and active piety in New England. He had sat tmder the
Ministry of the celebrated Jonathan Edwards, seen, and felt
the power of those great revivals, and he was eminently prepar-
ed to bless a new settlement. Whatever his hand found to do
4
26
of benevolence and usefulness, he did with his might ; and as
a beneficent Providence had given him the ability to bless, so he
imparted : the blessing of him that was ready to perish came
upon him, and he caused the widow's heart to sing for joy f
His rest is undoubtedly glorious ! We have with us to day
three Grand-children of this man — Moses, Samuel, and Eras-
tus Lyman. He has here a Grcat-great-grand-child, who is
the tenth Moses Lyman in regular succession, and the first
son born in each successive family, and the first born in every
family, with one exception. It has been said that Town Hill
received its name on account of the early impression that
there would be the centre of the town. It is more probable
they thought that might be the centre of a South Parish, when
the North part of the town became a Parish, and the South-
west part became settled. At the North side of tliis Town
Hill, we find a collection of water called Dog Pond. This
received its name from the simple fact, that Dea. Nathaniel
Baldwin of the North part of the town, lost his dog there by
drowning in 1738. The circumstances are not mentioned, but
it is probable that the event occurred while the old Hunter
was in the chase I Leaving Town Hill on the North side, and
passing East towards Samuel Pctlibone's, now Thomas Gris-
would's, and just before w-e reach the bottom of the hill, w^e
see a Saw Mill, a little at our right, on the South side of the
road, which is supplied with W' ater taken by a small canal, from
the natural channel made by the waters, which flow from
Dog Pond. Tliis Mill was built in 1742 by Benjamin Phelps,
and others. Proceeding on Eastwardly by Samuel Pcttibone's,
and crossing the meadow precisely as the road now runs, we
shall come to the house of Zacheus GriswoHld, from Wmdsor.
His house stood a very little North of the present house of the
widow, and heirs of John Griswonld. He was the Father
of all those inhabitants of this town, who have borne the name
Griswo1|ld. He hved more than one hundred years, and his
wife attained to just one hundred. His daughter in law, the
wife of his son Giles Griswo^ld, still survives, and has attained
to her ninety-ninth year. A little further to the North, and
27
we coniG to the house of Ahcl Phelps, from Simsbuiy. It
stood a few feet South-east from the preseut dwelling of Becbe
Wadhams. He and his son Abel, occupied the house for many
years. Proceeding North, we do not find a habitation, until
we reach the residence of Capt. Samuel Thomson, from New
Haven. His house stood on the West side of the North, and
South road near the present store of Moses Lyman, Jun. The
road from West street, came into Middle street, where it now
does, and proceeding East by the first Meeting House, at the
old ash tree, proceeded directly to East street, and came out
nearly opposite to the road, that comes in from Torrington.
On the South side of this East and West road, and ten rods
East of INIechanic's hall, on middle street, lived Amos Thomson,
from New Haven. Dea. Gideon Thomson, Samuel Thomson,
and Amos Thomson, were all brothers, or near relatives.
Proceeding North on Middle street till we come to the garden
now improved by Simmons Scovil, and here we find the site
of the dweUing of Rev, Mr. Heaton, the first Minister of the
town. This garden belongs to the house and lot now owned
by Nelson Wadhams of Canada village. There was no other
house between Mr. Heaton's, and the second Meeting house
already described. At this date, there was no road directly
East from the Meeting house, and none directly West. There
was no house from Amos Thomson's, to East street, and none
on Beach or Lucas Hill. There was a road open to West
side, so called, but no house from the Meeting house, till we
como to the house of Timothy Tullle, which stood on the East
side of the road, nearly opposite to the present house of his
Grand-daughter, Mrs. Huldah Tuttle. He was an original
Proprietor in the town, from Wallmgford, and reared a nume-
rous family. Some thirty or forty rods North of Tuttle's we
come to the house of Daniel Richards, from Hartford, of whom
we have already spoken. His house stood a little North-west
from the present three story Hudson House. He was the Grand-
father of the present Russel Richards.
Passing onward to the North-^west, till we cross the outlet
of Narshapoggc Pond, we come to the house of nBxtbai Beach,
28
standing near where Russel Richards' house now does. He
was from Wallingford. At the Barnam house, South of the
West side grave yard, hved Daniel Harris, Jun. from Walling-
ford. No descendants in town. A little West from the last
mentioned place, and in the present garden of Lewis C. Wad-
hams, on the East side of his house, stood the house of Benja-
min Deming, from Middletown, Father of Wait, Ellas and Jon-
athan Deming. Still farther North, about sixty rods, on the
East side of the road, stood the house of Thomas Marvin,
from Litchfield. He was an original Proprietor in the town,
but did not remain long here. Near the house long occupied
by Philo Collins, and now by William Miles, stood the house of
Benajah Williams, from Stonington, an original Proprietor in
two rights. He did not remain long in town, but sold his large
and beautiful farm of more than 400 acres to Ephraim Wil-
liams of Wethersfield, whose son Jacob Williams, came and
lived on it. Pursuing this road North, until we come to the
present new house of Acres Lawton, we come to the house
of Jonah Case, from Simsbury, an original Proprietor. From
this house North, all was Wilderness, and no road. There
was no house North of the Meeting house, and AVest of
Humphrey's lane, until we came to West side street, already
described. We must return back then to the Center, and be-
fore we go to East street, we must visit the beautiful hill of
Andrew Norton, Jun., three-fourths of a mile South-east from
this house. On the East declivity of this hill, on the South
side of the road, and about fifteen rods East of the old house
of Andrew Norton, Jun., stood the house o{ Leniis Ward, from
WaUingford. In the autumn of the year of which we are
now speaking 1745 — Ward sold out to William Walter, who
brought up a family there, and from him the Walters m Goshen
have descended. At a little later date than the time of which
we are speaking, came David Norton, from Durham, and built
a house on the North side of the road, on the top of the hill,
almost on the same spot where now stands the new house of
Andrew Norton, Jun. He was a young man of unusual enter-
prise, and of substantial character. He was the Father of
29
David, Ebcr, Oliver, John, Anna, Alexander, Andrew, William,
and Miriam, three of whom continue to this present time, Al-
exander, Andrew, and Adimii. He was however taken awayt/^Ju^*
in the midst of life and usefulness. He w^as greatly interested
in the buildmg of the third meeting-house in 17G9. On Mon-
day he labored very hard in getting in large stones for the
foundation of that house. He was taken suddenly ill, and died
on Thursday, aged fo/irty-four ; so that like David of old, he
was not permitted to sec the house his heart was fixed upon.
Not only his family, but the town felt their bereavement.
At the South end of East street, we come to the place of
Cyprian Collins, the fourth son of Rev. Timothy Collins, of
Litchfield. In the spring of this year. Rev. Mr. Collins pur-
chased land at that place, and some time afterwards, sent his
son Cyprian to clear the land, and build upon it, with the
^jromise of a future deed. The first house of Cyprian Collins
stood on the West side of the road, near the horse shed of
Capt. Timothy Collins. His second house was the one now
owmed and occupied by Capt. Timothy Collins. This Cyprian
Collins had a numerous family, and was the ancestor of all
who bear the name of Collins in this town. He had eleven
children, Ambrose, Triphena, Amanda, Philo, Anna, Luranda, / ^
Rhoda, Cyprian, Phebe, and Tyrannus ; and all these lived to • tm f'
become heads of numerous families, Cyprian CoUins was a
frugal and an industrious man, and a firm patriot in the Revo-
lution. In the early period of his life, he owned the covenant,
as it was called, and brought his children to baptism, and was
always a regular attendant on divine worship. And here it
may not be inappropriate to remark, for the benefit of the ris-
ing generation, that the practice of receiving persons of moral
life into a half-way relation to the church, had obtained exten-
sively in New-England at that day. The applicant for tliis re-
lation was required to profess his belief in the fundamental
principles of the Gospel, promise to lead a sober life, and to
train up his household in the things of religion. If he would do
this, he might bring his children to baptism, and yet not con-
sider himself a member of the Church, or come to the com-
30
municn <^able, and not even consider himself a regenerate per-
son. This will explain what we have further to say of Mr.
Cyprian Collins. Notwithstanding he had owned the cove-
nant, had his children baptized, and ever been a regular attend-
ant on the instituted means of grace, yet in old age, his atten-
tion was powerfully arrested to the spirtual concerns of liis
soul: he realized that he was a great sinner, cast himself upon
the mercy of the Saviour, and, as wc trust, obtained eternal
life. At the age of seventy-five years, he made a public pro-
fession of religion, and to the close of his life, gave pleasing evi-
dence, that he was indeed a child of God.
I will here remark, that in 1745 there was no road from
Litchfield to meet East street road, for I find that at a town
meeting m 1749, a committee was raised to " treat with Litch-
field men, about their laying a road to meet ou,r East side
road,"
Leaving the place of Cyprian Collins, and proceeding North,
we come to the house of Benoni Hills, standing near the
North-west corner of the present barn of the late Samuel D.
Street. The roaci then ran West of this barn. Benoni Hills
"was the Father of Zimri, and Col. Medad Hills, About nine
rods West of the present house of William Lyman, the late
residence of Capt. Jonathan North, and West of the road as it
then run, stood the house of Joseph North, from Farmington.
He was the Father of Doctor Joseph North, Ezekiel North,
and others. This house was palisadoed, or fortified against the
Indians. A little further North, and just where the barn
stands which was lately owned and improved by Dudley Hen-
derson, stood the house of Capt, Samuel Hinman, an original
proprietor, from Litchfield. This house was built in the fall of
1 738. About thirty rods North of Hinman's, and a little South
of the turnpike road, as it comes into East street, from Sha-
ron, stood the house of Stephen Goodwin, from Simsbury. Here
Goodwin kept tavern some years. Afterwards he built about
twenty rods South-east, and there he kept a tavern. Of this
man we shall hear again, when we come to the war of
the Revolution. A few feet North of the present brick
31
house of Joseph Goddard, built by Birdscy Norton, Esq., stood
the log house of Deacon Ebenezcr Norton, from Durham. A
few years afterwards he built the house which stood a little
North-west of the present brick house, and in this he lived until
his decease. This Deacon, or Esquire, or Colonel, Norton, for
he bore these several titles at the same time, was a distinguish-
ed character in his day. No man, perhaps, with the exception
of Deacon JMoses Lyman, was ever more loved and honored
by the people of tliis town, than he. He was a member of the
General Assembly twenty-six sessions, in times that tried
men's souls. And he would have been called to discharge those
duties still longer, but his increasing infirmities induced him to
decline all public services. He married Elizabeth, the daugh-
ter of Deacon Nathaniel Baldwin, of this town, and their child-
ren were Miles, Aaron, Elizabeth, Ebenezcr, Rachel, Marana,
Nathaniel, Olive, and Birdsey. They have three Grand-child-
ren, now living in town — Abraham Norton, Deacon Lewds M.
Norton, and Elizabeth M., the wife of Joseph Goddard. He
departed tliis life March 15, 1785, aged seventy. She died
April 16, 1811, aged eighty-nine. Their descendants at the
time of her death were 208. Four of them were Great-great-
grand-children.
About thirty rods North from the house of Deacon Ebenczer
Norton, and a little North-east of the red house once occupied
by Deacon Samuel Norton, and now owned and occui)icd by
Adam Bently, stood the log house of Samuel Norton, from Dur-
ham. This house was palisadoed against the Indians. Eben-
ezcr, Samuel and David Norton, were brethren, the sons of
Samuel Norton, of Durham.
Proceeding North we come to the dwelling of Nathaniel
Stanley, from Farmington. His log house stood about two
rods North-west from the North-west corner of the present
house, so long occupied by his Grand-son William Stanley, and
his Great-grand-son Deacon George Stanley, but now owned
by Adam Bently. He came to this town in 1742, and pur-
chased the lot of Joseph Hickock. He died March 2, 1770,
attaining to more tlian ninety years.
32
A few rods North-east of the East street burying ground, on
the East side of the road, stands the same house which stood
there in 1745, and is one of the oldest houses in the town
It was originally the house of Barnabas Beach, eldest son of
Captain John Beach. Daniel Miles, Esq. succeeded Mr. Beach.
It was long known as the residence of Samuel Chapin, Esq.,
and is now the home of widow Emily Chapin. On the same
side, about twenty rods South-east of the dwelling of Jesse
Beach, stood the house of Adna Beach, second son of Captain
John Beach. He had a numerous family, was once a repre-
sentative to the General Assembly, and was the Grand-father
of Jesse Beach. A little North of the house occupied by Nor-
man Austin, on the same side of the way, stood the house of
Edmund Beach, the third son of Captain John Beach. His
family was numerous. Upon the death of Dea. Ebenezer Nor-
ton, he was chosen to succeed him in the office of deacon.
Three times he was sent a representative to the General As-
sembly. His house has remained until recently, and its place
may yet be seen.
A little at the North of the old house now spoken of, on the
same side of the way, opposite to the house of Eber Bailey, and
North of the road running East, stood the house of Captain, or
Deacon Jolin Bench, the place already spoken of as the one
where the Rev. Mr. Ileaton was ordained. This was the old
hive, where issued nearly all the families bearing the name of
Beach in tliis town. Deacon John Beach was from Walling-
ford, an original Proprietor in two rights, and came to this
town in 1738 with nine sons — Barnabas, Adna, Edmund, Li-
nus, Amos, Jacob, John, Roys, and Baldwin. Being thus
blessed with a quiver full of arrows, he commanded respect.
First and last, he sustained all important offices in the town.
Four times he represented this town in the General Assembly.
We may suppose, that Dca. Beach, with his nine sons, would
not, in the first instance, erect a mean cabin. Tliis, with the
considerations, that there was no meeting-house fitted to the
occasion of an ordination in 1740; that there was no road
from East to Middle street, worthy of being called a road ;
83
and that East street was at that time more thickly inhabited
than any other section of the town, is explanatory why Mr.
Heaton w^as ordained at the house of Deacon John Beach, I
will remark here, that Dca. John Beach had a brother, Samuel,
who settled in Litchfield, and gave name to the North and
South street, that is called Beach street. He was the progen-
itor of those families of that name in that neighborhood. I will
also say that Jacob Beach, the sixth son of Deacon John Beach,
was the Father of the present Francis and Julius Beach, whose
joint ages amount to 156 years, and are with us to-day.
From Deacon John Beach's house, we proceed North till we
come to the garden of Robert Palmer, on the East side of East
street and on the South side of the road leading Eastward, and
there stood the house of Samuel Towner, from Waterbury.
He w^as an original proprietor, but did not remain long in town.
Just North of Towner's house, and near the spot where Ro-
bert Palmer's house now stands, stood the house of John North,
from Farmingrton. He did somethins; as a merchant there.
He built what was called the Blue house, deriving its name
from the color of its paint. It stood precisely on the spot
where now stands the house of Robert Palmer. This house
w'as struck by lightning in the afternoon of the 6th of June,
1767, in a tremendous tempest of lightning, thunder and rain. ^-^
All were struck down in the house, and two men,^©iwt4t Rice/
and Martin Wilcox, were killed. This Martin Wilcox was a
young man, pious and much beloved. The house seemed in-
stantly on fire in various places, and the bodies of these men
were nearly consumed before they could be taken from the
flames. The terror produced by this Providence was so great,
that the ancients speak of it with awe t9 the present day.
About twenty rods at the North of the Blue house, on the
West side of the road, stood the house of Jolm Thomson, Jun.,
from Wallingford. His father was the original proprietor.
John Thomson was the progenitor of the Thomsons in the
North part of the town.
North of John Thomson's, and fifty rods South-east of the
vellow house built by Asaph Hall, Esq., stood the log house of
5
34
Elkaiiah Hall, from Wallingford. His father David Hall, was
the original proprietor in two rights, but he never lived in
Goshen. He afterwards was killed by a ball at Fort George,
in the old French war. Asaph Hall, Esq., succeeded Elkanah
at the log house, and hved there until he built the yellow house,
and there lived until his death, about thirty-eight years ago.
Asaph Hall was a talented man, and possessed the confidence
of the people of this town. Twenty-four times between 1773
and 1792 he sat in the General Assembly, He was then called
Captain Hall. For many years he sustained the office of mag-
istrate, and was a firm friend to his country.
And now we come to the house of Deacon Nathaniel Bald-
win, one of the first characters of that day. He was originally
from Guilford, but came first to Litchfield, and at the settle-
ment of this town, he purchased two rights and came to Go-
shen in 1739. His house stood on the West side of East street,
and on the South side of the narrow road leading to Hum-
phrey's lane, a few rods South-west from the brick house of
Asaph Hall. He was eminently a man of God, and was highly
esteemed both in the church and in the town. Twice was he
sent to the General Assembly. He was at first a deacon in the
church at Guilford, then at Litchfield, and as soon as the church
was organized here, he was appointed one of their first dea-
cons. He married, while yet in Guilford, Elizabeth, the sister
of Abraham Parmele, the progenitor of all the Parmeles in
Goshen. Deacon Baldwin, his wife, and his eight children, all
had a standing in this church, and although all of them have
long since gone from this world, yet our faith sees them mem-
bers of the church triumphant and glorfied, the father saying,
" Behold, / and the children whom the Lord hath given me i"
The names of their children were Nathaniel, Elizabeth, Sam-
uel, Brewen, Anne, Sarah, Lucy and Rachel. The late Isaac
Baldwin, of this town, was the Son of Nathaniel Baldwin, and
Grand-son of Deacon Nathaniel Baldwin.
The late Brewen Baldwin, was Grand-son of Deacon Na-
thaniel Baldwin, and Son of Samuel Baldwin. But the late
Daniel, Stephen, and Elisha Baldwin, were Grand-sons of
35
Timothy Baldwin, of Guilford, brother of Deacon Nathaniel
Baldwin. On the East side of the road, and nearly opposite
to Asaph Hall's brick house, on the North side of the road
which leads to Hart Hollow, stood the house of John Smith,
from Farmington. Here he commenced trading, and was the
jfirst merchant in the town. After about two years, he re-
moved to the Towner house, just Sauth of Robert Palmer's ;
and next he came to the lot on which Erastus Lyman, Esq.,
now lives. He built a large house between INIechanic's Hal!,
and the house of Esquire Lyman, afterwards called the Kettle
house. He for some years made potash, on the little stream
at the foot of the hill. East of this house ; and from this cir-
cumstance, the stream derived its name Potash brook. The
little children who resort to this place in the summer months,
when out of school, to catch tadpoles, or porwigles, may re-
member how they come to say, " Come let us go to the Pot-
ash." Abigail, the daughter of this Mr. Smith, married the
Rev. Abel Newell, the second minister in the town.
We return to East street, and proceeding North from
Smith's house, we come to the present store of Putnam Bailey.
Here stood the house of Timothy Stanley/, the brother of Na-
thaniel Stanley, of wham we have spoken. He came into
town in the summer of 1742, from Farmington. His descend-
ants are numerous, but are scattered abroad in the several
States. From this house there was a highway, existing in
name, a little distance North of the present house of Collins
Baldwin, but the whole country North and East was yet in
possession of the tenants of the forest. Nature vegetated,
blossomed, matured, and fell, without the friendly hand of cul-
ture, and without imparting directly a single blessing to civilized
Hfe.
la Humphrey's lane, as it is called, a road running parallel
with East street, South of the North meeting-house and a little
West of East street, there were tw'o families. On the West
side of this lane, about ten rods from where the road from the
meeting-house comes into the lane, stood the house of John
Wilcox, from Farmington. Daniel Wilcox, from Simsbury,
36
was the original owner. The posterity of this John Wilcox
have now become numerous. John Flavel Wilcox is his de-
scendant. The other family in this street was Samuel Hum-
phery. His house was thirty or forty rods South of Wilcox,
on the East side of the road as it now is, but on the West as it
then was. Humphrey was an original proprietor from Sims-
bury. He had eishteen children by four wives — ten sons, and
eight daughters ; and his posterity are very numerous, and
have ever well sustained the reputation of their worthy pro-
genitor. Indeed it is thought that the descendants of this
Samuel Humphrey are more numerous, by far, than the de-
scendants of any other man who ever lived in Goshen.
We have now but one more location to notice. It is that
of Abraham Parmele, from Guilford. His father was the orig-
inal proprietor, but never came here to live. His son came on
at the settlement of the town. His house, when built,
stood about 130 rods North-west of Whist pond, on the North
and South road, running West of the pond, and near where
the East and West road from Robert Palmer's, comes into the
pond road. The first year he labored on this lot all alone, but
boarded with his uncle Deacon Nathaniel Baldwin, of East
street. The next year he had a wigwam, and boarded him-
self; and he had a bed too, for returning from Guilford in the
spring of that year, he brought with him a bag of grass-seed
which was far more elastic and downy than the floor of his cabin.
On this he reposed at night, secure from the wolves that howled
around his tenement. It is said of young Parmele, that his
axe was heavy, but he knew it not. It fell thick and strong.
The sound thereof was from early morn until the stars ap-
peared, and the sturdy sons of the forest, lay around him as
windfalls ! But although he was thus enjoying single blessed-
ness in the stillness, grandeur, and sublimity of a deep forest,
yet it seems he did not think it good for man to live alone al-
ways, and believed there must be a help meet for him some
where. In the summer of 1745, his house went up, an indica-
tion of a revolution in his domestic establishment, and in May^
1746, Mary Stanley, the 4th Daughter of Nathaniel Stanley of
37
of East Street, was legally constituted associated Head of the
establishment. This was an honorable, and a happy union.
They had ten children, nearly all them, with the Parents, be-
cam3 pious, and two of the Sdus entered the Gospel Ministry.
This was the Father of our much loved Friend, and Father in
the town, Nathaniel Stanley Parmsle, who still survives the
successive attacks of the most formidable disease, which falls
upon our race — Apoplexy ! I have several times mention-
ed Whist Pond in the vicinity of INIr. Parmele's. This Pond
derives its name from an old Indian of that name, who came
every year alone from Farmington, and spent the sea son in
hunting around the Pond, and fishing, and bathing in it, but
who was finally drowned in its waters. I will here remark
that Gun Stock Brook, in the North part of the town, derived
its name from the fact, that curly Maple grew plentifully
upon its banks, which was much used during the war of the
revolution in the manufacture of stocks for muskets.
I have now presented you with a map of this towm, as it
was wiien the original Proprietors were fairly settled on their
lots. And we can hardly fail to see that some parts of the
town, were then as thickly inhabited as at this day. This was
the case with West street all the distance to Litchfield line.
It was so on West side from Timothy Tuttle's to the house of
William Miles, and on East street, from Cyprian Collins to
Putnam Bailey's store.
But other parts of the town, were either thinly inhabited or
remained a wilderness, as at the beginning. But how solemn
the thought, that of all the families spoken of, not one remains.
But few of their children remain, and these are all bending to
the earth for very age !
How brief is this life ! How mutable all things here !
We will now bring into view some of the civil, and ecclesi-
astical affairs of the town, at the same time of which we have
been speaking — 1745. It seems that at an early period, the
inhabitants of the North part of the town, were sensible of the
disadvantages they labored under, from the location of the
meeting h use in this place, and that they commendably
38
labored, for one of two things, either, that the second meeting
house should be located further North, or that the town should
be divided into two Parishes. And this was the cause of a
Committee being appointed by the General Assembly in 1740
to come to this place, and decide where the house should stand.
And we can scarcely doubt but that it was in view of another
ecclesiastical society existing at the North, that the stake
for the second meeting house was placed here ; for no man
in his senses could suppose, that a house for worship here,
would give equal advantages, to the North, with those imparted
to the South. Accordingly, we find a vote passed at a pub-
lic town meeting, on the 10th of December, 1745, expressing
their willingrness for the town to be divided into two ecclesias-
tical societies, as soon as the North should stand 1500 pounds
on the grand list, and the dividing line should be through the
centre of the town, running East and West. This appears to
have been satisfactory at the time, and the North and South
proceeded on in their original relation ; and indeed, nothing
appears on record to show that this subject ever alienated the
feelings of the brethren of the church, or that it ever interrup-
ted the community of feeling, between families naturally allied.
But at this early period of Mr. Heaton's ministry among the
people of Goshen, dissatisfaction arose in the minds of many
in regard to him, and early in the year of 1746, we find one of
the most loving, modest, and polite invitations for Mr. Heaton
to leave them, that may be found, I think, on history. The
vote stands thus : — " Voted, that we will choose a Committee
to treat with our Rev. Pastor, about some reasonable, and
loving terms of agreement, so that the door may be opened,
if he in his wisdom, shall think fit, to seek for an orderly dis-
mission from the work of the ministry in this place, or to treat
with him about making same suitable alterations."
Mr. Heaton, it seems, was not equally pacific, and loving
towards his people, but retained h"s relation to them as a Pas-
tor, seven years longer. The reasons for this dissatisfaction
are no where publicly stated ; but it may be supposed, that
the pressure of the times, together with their recent origin,
39
and expenditures, contributed something to this uneasiness ;
for we have arrived to that period, when the inhabitants were
visited with the greatest calamity, they ever were called to
experience, I mean what is termed the The Old French war !
This was a war that originated from ttie rival interests of
France and England, both in Europe, and America. France
had long asserted her right to North America, by prior discov-
ery, and she had actually been prior in her settlements, in No-
va Scotia and in Canada. She claimed also all the great val-
ey of the West, and as fast as possible for her, she sent out
her Jesuit Pioneers, to travel from the gulf of Mexico to the
great lakes, gaining the affections, and confidence of all the In-
dian tribes making treaties with them, inspiring them with
hatred, and revenge towards the English Colonies, building
forts upon the banks of the father of rivers, the Mississippi,
and upon the shores of the great lakes ; and she viewed the
English Colonies upon the shores of the Atlantic, as intruders,
and enemies. England, on the other hand, viewed the advan-
ces of the French, with equal jealousy, and she was resolved
on sustaining her colonies, and expelling the French from North
America. It was natural, then, to expect, that in the event of
war between France and England in Europe, this country
would become the arena where the combatants would spend
no inconsiderable portion of their strength. And so it turned
out, and the portion which fell to these Colonies was calamit-
ous in the extreme. The evils they suffered, were not the or-
dinary concomitants of war simply, but the horrors of an In-
dian war, aggravated by every cruelty, that a powerful, en-
lightened, and exasperated enemy could suggest, so that when
war was proclaimed, between these two nations in 1744, these
Colonies were the first to feel the miseries of the tomahawk
and scalping knife, sharpened and rendered mighty by for-
eign leaders, who rioted in the blood of mother's, and their
infants. These Colonies then took up arms, not only in de-
fence of civil rights, but they fought for their lives, and the
lives of their families. It was victory or death. The first
enterprizc of the Colonies against the French in the year 1745,
40
was directed against Louisburg, the capital of the French set-
tlement in Nova Scotia, and vicinity. It was a strongly forti-
fied place. But they were surprised and captured by the
New England troops. Connecticut, although then a small Col-
ony, furnished a thousand men for the taking and retaining of
that place. I know not whether any men from Goshen were
in the first expedition against Louisburg ; but they could not
but feel the effects of this campaign, as the Colonies paid the
whole expense ; and although one million pounds sterling,
was captured at, and before Louisburg, by New England
troops, not one cent came to the aid of the colonies, except a
small compensation to a Capt. Fletcher, who decoyed a South
Sea ship into the harbor of Louisburg, estimated at 400,000
poimds. For the prosecution of the war in 1746, Connecticut
raised 1000 men, and gave thirty pounds bounty for every en-
listment. The enlistment alone cost the colony 30,000 pounds.
But on account of troubles at home, neither England or France
did much to decide the contest in this country, in this, or the
following year ; and in April, 1748, a treaty was entered into,
which suspended hostilities, about six years until 1754. Tliis
treaty restored all things as they were before the war.
We will now look at some of the domestic transactions of the
town from 1745 to 1754. At a town meeting, February 16th,
1747, it was voted to pay Timothy Stanley thirty shillings, old
tenor, for killing a wolf April 22, 1747, the town forbids the
Select men paying the Rev. ]SIr. Ileaton any money. Janua-
ry 4, 1748, the town raise a committee to lay out a road four
rods wide from the meeting house, north to Canaan. Septem-
ber 19, 1749, a committee is raised to look out a road from
Deacon Gideon Thompson's (opposite the present house of
Truman Starr, Esq.) to Frisbie's Mills in Canada, and to Corn-
wall. April 8, 1751, It was voted that Samuel Pettibone,
Esq. be an agent to petition the General Assembly, for a coun-
ty in this part of their government. I would here remark that
until 1751, these Western towns were all included in the coun-
ty of Hartford ; but this year the new county of Litchfield
was created. In June, 1753, the Rev. Stephen Heaton was
41
dismissed from his pastoral relation to this church, and people,
and steps were immediately taken to procure prcacliing. It
appears that Mr. Abel Newell, was their first candidate upon
Mr. Heaton's removal, that he received a call to settle with
them in 1754, but did not receive ordination till 1755. The
town stipulated to pay Mr. Newell fifteen hundred pounds
settlement, old tenor, within three years of his ordination, 500
pounds annually for three years. His salary for the first year
was to be equal in value to one hundred bushels of wheat, to
sixty-six bushels of rye, and to two hundred and one bushels of
Indian corn ; and then to rise forty pounds per annum, old
tenor, in the same proportion to said grain, till the salary sliould
amount in value to one hundred and twelve bushels of wheat,
to one hundred and thirty four bushels of rye, and to two hun-
dred and twenty five bushels of Indian corn, and then his sala-
ry was to remain fixed at that sum.
But we now come to a renewal of the old French war,
wliich had been suspended with no other view than to give the
principal belligerents in Europe, time to recruit their exhausted
energies. And scarcely had these colonies enjoyed a respite
from their toils and dangers ; for the French foreeseing there
must be a renewal of the contest soon, had kept the Indians
constantly irritated, and they had again and again massacred
some and captured others of our border inhabitants. But
now the recruited energies of France and England awoke,
and it was soon apparent, that each of them was preparing to
give the other the fatal blow. Four expeditions were planned
by England against the French this season, 1755. One
against fort Du Quesne in Ohio, commanded by General Brad-
dock, and one against Nova Scotia, and a third against Crown
Point, and a fourth against Niagara. The colonies were called
upon to raise, equip, and provision as many troops as they well
could. Connecticut sent into the field one thousand men, and
voted to raise five hundred more, and to have them ready to
march at a moment's warning if occasion demanded. The
Connecticut troops were destined for Crown Point, under the
command of Major General Lyman. In August these troops
6
42
reached the South end of lake George, where they had their
first battle with the French and Indians, under Baron Deiskau,
It was a hard fought battle, but the French were defeated, their
General wounded, and taken prisoner, and seven hundred of
his troops left dead on the field. The loss of the Provincials
was two hundred. Some men from this town were in that
battle, and here it was that Timothy Gaylord lost his life by the
unerring aim of an Indian, as previously stated. Tliis battle
aroused the fears, and energies of all New England, Connect-
icut called a special Assembly, and m a little more than one
week, she raised, equipped, and sent out two regiments of
seven hundred and fifty men each, to reinforce our army, so
that in 1755, Connecticut alone sent into the field two thousand
five hundred troops, requiring at that time, doubtless, a greater
effort, than she would now make in sending thirty thousand
troops into tl^ field ; the number of her inhabitants at that
time, poor as they were, not exceeding we should think, the
present number in the two counties of Hartford and Litch-
field. With this battle terminated the campaign of 1 755. Of
the four expiditions projected by England for this year, two
were successful, and two were failures. That against Nova
Scotia succeeded, and this at lake George ; but that under
General Braddock was a total defeat, and that under Govern-
or Shirley against Niagara, a failure. The plan of operations
for 1756, was to prosecute the enterprises against Crown
Point, Niagara, and fort Du Quesne. To meet the expecta-
tions of England, Connecticut raised two thousand five hun-
dred men, more than double the number required by the Com-
mander in Chief, and more than double her proportion to oth-
er colonies. England sent out more troops with new com-
manders. General Abercrombie, and Lord Loudon. But all
was delay on the part of England, and notwithstanding there
was the finest army, early in the camp at Albany, ever yet
seen in the colonies, ten thousand strong, with two thousand
in their forts at the North, yet the Generals did not reach Al-
bany until about the first of July, and nothing was done that
year, offensive, and the English lost their important fort at Os-
43
wego. Although the colonies were greatly disheartened in
view of these results, and had lost their confidence in these
Generals, yet Connecticut raised for the campaign of 1757,
two thousand five hundred troops, and they were in readiness
to enter the field at an early day. But when the fleet arrived
from England this year, much of the season was past. They
reached Halifax the 9th day of July, and then the colonies
learned that the Northern campaign was wholly laid aside^
the forts Edward, and William Henry, were to be left wholly
unsustained, and their troops for that year were to be called
away to recapture Louisburg, on the Island of Cape Breton*
which had been surrendered at the treaty of 1748. Nothing
could exceed the astonishment of the colonies, at the folly, and
madness of this course, for they foresaw nothing but disaste r
and ruin attending it ; but they acquiesced, until the British
commander, relinquished the object himself; but at so late a
period in the season, as to prevent their doing any thing for the
support of their forts at the North. The French General
Montcalm, seeing the exposed situation of these forts, near lake
George, moved with his army from Crown Point, and shortly
reduced them. Many Americans fell in, and around those
forts, and a vast amount of property in military stores, fell
into the possession of the French. The colonies made all
haste to reinforce these forts, as soon as they heard that they
w^ere invested, and Connecticut sent forward five thousand
troops, but the fatal blow was struck before relief could be af-
forded. This terminated the third year of the war. The re-
sources of the colonies were nearly exhausted. Their men
had perished in battle, and in camp, and their only reward
was defeat, and disgrace. Dissatisfaction was now at its
height in the colonies, and it extended to the mother country.
This produced a change in the ministry, and the incomparable
Pitt, was brought forward. This inspired all with new life,
and Connecticut, exhausted, and feeble as she was, voted to
raise five thousand troops for the campaign of 1758, and to
raise thirty thousand pounds, lawful money, by the emission
of bills of credit, bearing interest at five per cent. With the
44
troops and fleet, which came out from England this year,
came as commanders, the ever memorable names, Amherst,
and Wolfe. They inspired the armies with invincible cour-
age. The fruit of this campaign was the fall of Louisburg,
forts Edward, and William Henry, Frontenac, and Du Ques-
ne, and every thing was inspiring to England and the colonies.
To prepare for the campaign of 1759, Connecticut voted to
raise five thousand troops, and fifty thousand pounds, lawful
money by bills of credit, and laid a tax adequate to redeem all
their bills. The design of this campaign, was to carry the
war into the heart of Canada, and strike an effectual blow up-
on an enemy that had so lately triumphed, and was full of
hope. The troops were early in the field, and Ticonderoga,
and> Crown Point, were the first to fall into the possession of
the English. The fort at Niagara, was the next to surrender,
and lastly Quebec itself, the Gibralter of America, September
18th, 1759. This was the decisive blow, so long anticipated,
for which so much blood, and treasure had been expended !
The battle which transferred Quebec from the hands of the
French, to those of the English, will ever stand on history, as
one of the most tremendous, that was ever fought by men.
Each General, each subaltern, and each soldier, on both sides,
fought as for their all, and for the last time I The two com-
manders, Wolfe, and Montcalm, may well compare with Han-
nibal, and Scipio, before the walls of Carthage. They both
fell, the former, rejoicing that his death was the ransom of his
country from incalculable evil, and the latter sorrowing in view
of that cloud, that hung over his country's future destiny ! I
must be permitted to say in this connexion, that history has
never exhibited to me more splendid military talents, than we
witness in General Wolf, at the capture of Louisburg, and
then at Quebec. But my friends, let us remember that our
father''s were there ! They were among the brave, and true
hearted, and the dead ! Some probably from our own town,
who on that terrible, eventful day, amidst thunder, fire, and
blood, thought of parents, wives, and children on the green hills
of Goshen, whom they were never to see ! Peace to their
ashes on the heights of Abraham. While they sleep, we their
45
descendants will not be unmindful of the debt of gratitude we
owe them.
But with the fall of Quebec, there was not the immediate
surrender of all the forces of the French in Canada, and there
was another^demand of the colonies for an army to be raised
for a campaign in 1760. Connecticut again raised her 5,000
men, and sent them into the field, and this year, the remaining
fragments of the French armies were captured, and all the
Canadas were in the possession of the British Crown. But all
those forts which had been taken from the enemy, were to be
garrisoned ; new forts to be built, roads to be repaired, and
new ones made, and every thing done to secure the peace of
this extended territory ! For these, another requisition was
made of the colonies for an army in 1761. Connecticut
raised 2300 men, and 45,000 pounds to defray the expenses !
Again the same number of troops were required for 1762.
They were raised by this colony, and 65,000 pounds were
voted to be raised, and taxes laid to redeem the bills. But the
treaty of Paris, in February, 1763, released these colonies from
the further labors, sacrifices, and sufferings, of a long, and
cruelly savage war. Great joy was experienced on the recep-
tion of the news of peace, and all successes were ascribed to
Him, who ruleth over all. But almost incredible was the ex-
pense of this, then small, and infant colony. After all remu-
neration from the British Parhament, it appears that the colony
had expended more than 400,000 pounds sterling, exclusive of
the expenses of the four first years of the war from 1 744 to
1748. And this vast amount was paid by this colony, with
httle or no depreciation in their bills, because they taxed the
people from year to year, to meet the demands on the treasury.
And now let us reflect for a moment, with what constancy
and perseverance the colonies sustained those burdens ! And
what hardships, new settlements lilie those of this town, at
that day, must have suffered, in order to meet the expenses of
government, and all domestic expenses ! These are times we
know not by any experience, and we hear little of them at this
day, because a war succeeded that, which resulted in our Inde-
46
pendence, a theme ever new, and inspiring to us ; but we can
remember the tales of old men, thirty, forty, and fifty years
ago, and they carried us back to the old war, for hard-
ships, sufferings, and deeds of daring ; and Louisburg, Forts
Edward and WiUiam Henry, and the heights of Abraham,
could scarcely be named, without convulsing their frames, and
drawing tears from their eyes.
There is nothing especially interesting in the public transac-
tions of the town, from 1755 to 1765. There is one vote of
the town in 1762, which may be humiliating to our present
feelings, and yet it confirms what I have already stated in re-
gard to the pressure of the times, in the new settlements at that
period, and shows how the views and feelings of men, will
differ at different times, in regard to the morality of things,
according to the light they have on those subjects. The vote
reads thus, " Voted to choose an agent for said town to pre-
fer a prayer to the General Assembly at their session in May
next, praying said Assembly to grant to said town, liberty to
raise the sum of 200 pounds, by a Lottery, for the making and
mending highways, in said town, under such regulations as said
Assembly in their wisdom, shall think proper." Another vote
January 12, 1763, will show us the price of different kinds of
grain at that time — " Voted to give the Rev. Mr. Newell for
his services in the ministry, in this town the year past — for
wheat, four shillings per bushel — and for rye, two shillings
and nine pence per bushel — and for Indian corn, two shillings
per bushel."
April 21, 1768, "Voted forty-nine to twenty-two, that a new
meeting-house is needed. July 3, 1769, Voted to build a new
meeting-house for public worship, at the place affixed by the
County Court in said town. Voted, that said meeting-house
be sixty-four feet in length, and forty-four in breadth, and
that Ensign David Norton, Lieut. Parmele, and Zacheus Gris-
would be a committee to carry on the business of building said
meeting-house." This third meeting-house was raised in the
spring of the next year, 1770, giving twenty-six years for the
existence of the second meeting-house, and sixty-two years for
47
the third, as that was removed to make way for the present
house in 1832. In the autumn of 1771, Nov. 15, Ensign Eli-
sha Blin was appointed first Chorister, Fisk Beach the second,
and Miles Norton the third, at a regular town meeting.
I would here stop to speak of certain appendages, to that
meeting-house, and to many others in the country at that day.
They were called Sabbath day houses, or noon houses. The
object of these houses, was to furnish the owners of them, and
such of their friends as they were disposed to invite, with a
warm retreat, in winter, during the interval between forenoon
and afternoon public services. And we must bear in mind that
at that day, a stove in a meeting-house was a thing unknown,
and unthought of. These houses generally consisted of two
rooms, ten or twelve feet square, with a chimney in the cen-
ter between them, and a fire-place in each room. They were
generally built at the united expense of two, or more families.
Dry fuel was kept in each house, ready for kindling a fire. On
the morning of the Sabbath, the owner of each room deposited
in his saddle-bags the necessary refreshment for himself and
family, and a bottle of beer, or cider, and took an early start
for the sanctuary. He first called at his Sabbath day house,
built him a fire, deposited his lunceon, warmed himself and
family, and at the hour of worship, they were all ready to
sally forth, and to shiver in the cold, during the morning ser-
vices, at the house of worship. At noon they returned to their
Sabbath houses, with some invited friends, perhaps, where
a warm room received them : the fire having been in
operation during the morning exercises. The saddle-bags
were now brought forth, and their contents discharged upon a
Prophet's table, of which all partook a little, and each in turn
drank at the bottle. This service being performed, and
thanks returned, the Patriarch of the family, drew from his
pocket the notes he had taken during the morning service, and
the sermon came under renewed, and distinct consideration,
all enjoying the utmost freedom in their remarks. Sometimes
a well chosen chapter, or paragraph was read from an author,
and the service was not unfrequcntly concluded by prayer ;
48
then all returned to the sanctuary to seek a blessing there. If
the cold was severe, the family might return to their house to
warm them, before they sought their habitation. The fire
was then extinguished, the saddle-bags and the fragments were
gathered up, the house locked, and all returned to their home,
there were no less than four of these houses standing around
the third meeting-house at once, three on the North side of
the road, West of the present blacksmith's shop, and one South,
by the town post between the brick school-house, and H. N.
Lyman's store. The Sabbath house that stood by the present
town post, was owned by Deacon Moses Lyman, and Capt.
Jonathan Buel, father of the present Capt. Jonathan Buel.
The one farthest East, on the North, was owned by Dea.
Ebenezer Norton, and his brother Samuel Norton. The next
West of them was owned by Dea. Nathaniel Baldwin, and
Samuel Baldwin, and the third was owned by Nehemiah
Lewis, and Adna Beach.
I am now in the history of the town, 1772, when a road was
laid out, directly West from the meeting-house, to Elisha
Thompson's house, standing near the present cider mill of Ira
Thompson.
We will now very cheerfully give the Ladies of Goshen a
place in our history, since they did at the time, we are now
speaking of demonstrate, that some things could be done then,
as well as at other times. There arose a sphining-match,
among the young married ladies, at the house of Nehemiah
Lewis, the late residence of Samuel D. Street. The trial
was at the foot-wheel, in spinning linen. The conditions were
previously defined, and agreed to, viz : Tliey might spin during
the whole twenty-four hours if they cliose. They were to
have their distaffs prepared for them, anl their yarn reeled
by others. Upon the first trial, at Lews' house many did
well. The wife of Stephen Tuttle spun five runs, which were
equal to two and a half days' labour, when on hire. Several
others spun four runs each ; but Mrs. Tuttle came off victor.
But this aroused the ambition of some of the unmarried ladies,
and Lydia Beach, the daughter of Dea. Edmund Beach, of
49
East-street, was the first to come forward, and take up tKe
gauntlet. She spun from early dawn to nine o'clock in the
evenino-. She had her distaffs prepared, her yarn reeled, and
her food put into her mouth. She spun in this time, seven
runs, three and a half days' labour, and took the wreath from
the brow of Mrs. Tuttle.* Upon hearing of the exploit of Miss
Beach, the wife ofCapt. Isaac Pratt, of the South part of the
town, came upon the arena. Between early dawn, and the
setting of the sun, she had actually spun six runs, but at this
moment, her husband interfered, and peremptorily forbade her
proceeding further. She sat down, and wept like a child, when
she ought to have rejoiced, that she possessed a husband, in
whose eyes her future health and happiness were more pre-
cious, them the brief applause which might arise from success
in that contest.
The hand of Miss Lydia was sought in marriage, by the
young, and aspiring Jesse Buel, son of Capt. Jonathan Buel,
and she was led to the hymenial altar, while her garland was
yet fresh upon her brow ; but the doating husband was destined
to see it wither down to the grave, for Lydia never enjoyed
health from the hour of her triumph.
But I must return to graver subjects. Times had now be-
come dark in these colonies, by reason of the cloud that hung
over them, portending an explosion, that would convulse the
old, and new world. In the last French war, which was ter-
minated in 1763, the English nation had learned more of the
moral and physical powers of the colonies, than she had ever
before known ; and having meditated for a hundred years, on
the plan of depriving the colonies of their chartered rights, and
rendering them vassals of the crown, she felt the necessity of
asserting her rights, and enforcing her claims, before the colo-
nies should become any more formidable, than they then were.
And as she knew that her loyal subjects in America had ex-
hausted their treasures, and poured out their blood, as free as
water, to sustain the cause of their mother country, and their
* Some of our Matrons say, that ten runs were a week's labor ; if so, Miss
Lydia performed the labour of four days, and one fifth of a day in one day.
7
50
own cause against their common enemy, she thought that a
favorable moment to enforce the right she claimed to tax the
colonies in all cases whatever, vs^ithout representation or con-
sent. Accordingly, as soon as she had concluded a treaty with
France, she voted taxes upon these colonies. But almost uni-
versally was her right to do so denied, and her oppressive acts
repudiated, and resisted.
For about twelve years, matters were growing to a crisis,
Massachusetts leading in the opposition. In 1774, British
troops were sent over to Boston to quell all opposition to Brit-
ish exactions, which produced great sensation in the colonies.
And although the British crown professed to have no contro-
versy with her colonies, except Massachusetts, hoping thereby
to divide the colonies in the approaching contest, yet all had
the sagacity to see that they must all ultimately stand or fall
with Massachusetts, and they agreed to take part with her.
Delegates from ditterent colonies were sent to Philadelphia in
September, 1774, to form a Congress of the Colonies, to con-
sult, to devise plans, and to afiord mutual aid in executing
them. It was while this first Congress was in session, Sept.
20th, 1774, that this town chose a Committee to correspond
with Committees of county and colony, " relating to the pres-
ent alarming situation of our affairs in North America." It
will be recollected that this first Congress addressed the in-
habitants of the several colonies in a circular stating what they
had done, the right they had so to do, with the necessity ex-
isting in the case, and calling upon all to unite in support of
these measures. We find the response of this town to this
address, bearing date Dec. 12th, 1774, at a regular town
meeting. The resolution is patriotic and well-expressed :
Voted, " that the resolves and declarations concerning the lib-
erties of the several governments in North America, come into
by said Congress, are just, and founded in the law of God, of
Nature, the English Constitution, and the particular privi-
leges granted to the several colonies aforesaid, by their
respective charters ; and this town will use their utmost en-
deavors in all lawful ways, to secure and defend the same to
61
ourselves, and hand the same down to the latest posterity {
and that we approve and acquiesce in the associational agree-
ment come into by said Congress, and resolve to keep the
same inviolate ourselves, and use our true endeavors that oth-
ers shall do the same " ! This was meeting the exigencies of
the times — the true spirit of the Revolution, and the pledge
here given was fully redeemed by the people of this town. It
is the opinion of the aged men of this town, that several men
from Goshen were on the heights of Charlestown,inl775, at
the ever memorable battle of Bunker Hill ; but they are not cer-
tain of more than one individual, and he was John North.
This individual was one of Col. Arnold's men, who that same
season marched through the entire wilderness lying between
Quebec in Canada, and the shore of the present State of Maine.
The object of this expedition was to meet Generals Mont-
gomery and Schuyler from the way of Lake Champlain and
Montreal, at the City of Quebec, and to take that important
place by storm. The march of Arnold through that wilder-
ness was a bold and rash undertaking, and his men suffered
every thing but death. Thirty-two days were they in that
wilderness without seeing a house or any thing human ; nor
would the Canadians have been more surprised perhaps, had
they seen these men fall from the clouds, than they were wiien
they saw them come from the wilderness of Maine. But the
expedition was a failure ; J\Iontgomery fell in the assault upon
the town ; Col. Arnold was wounded, and some of his men
taken prisoners. The remnant of the army retreated about
three miles from the city, and entered into winter quarters.
There were no less than twenty-eight men from this town at
the assault on Quebec in 1775, at the time Montgomery fell,
twenty-seven marched by the Lake Champlain, and John
North by Kennebec, under Col. Arnold. But no one fell in
battle belonging to this town, that year, 1775. The news of
the disaster at Quebec having reached Congress, great exer-
tions were made to recruit the army in Canada, in the winter
of 1776. Twenty men enlisted in this town to recruit tho
army near Quebec. Ten of these men were in the company
52
of Captain Titus Watson, of Norfolk, and ten in the company
of Captain Luther Stoddard of Salisbury. Captain Stoddard's
compa^^ny commenced their march on the first day of February,
and arrived in camp the first day of March. Captain Watson's
company arrived shortly after. Of these twenty men, six-
teen had the small pox in the natural way. Three of them
died of this disease, one of pleurisy, two of the camp distemper,
and one of them, George Dear, who lived on Whist Pond Hill,
was killed by a cannon ball on Lake Champlain, cut almost in
two in the middle ; so that there were seven of the twenty
dead before the year had expired for which they were enlis-
ted. But one of these twenty men is with us to-day — Mr.
Ambrose Collins. This same year, 1776, Stephen Goodwin of
East-street was appointed Captain, and he enlisted sixty
men, fifty of whom belong to Goshen. They enlisted for six
months to go to New York. Four of Captain Goodwin's men
died ot sickness. One was taken prisoner after being wounded,
and was never more heard of At one time, this same season
all the able bodied men in the two Militia companies in this
town were in the camp at or near New York. They were
commanded by Medad Hills at the taking of New York city
by the British. So that there could not have been less than
one hundred and twenty soldiers in camp from this town a
considerable part of the summer and autumn of 1776. Cap-
tain Jonathan Buel, of this town, and now present, was at
Long Island, and New York ; and at the time our troops evac-
uated Long Island, on the night of the 28th July, 1776, these
withered arms, then full and vigorous impelled a boat six times
across the sound full of soldiers. It was dark, and no man
was permitted to speak a loud word. It ought to be mentioned
likewise, that Theodore Parmele, son of Abraham Parmele,
commanded a company of horse in this campaign at New
York. But after all the exertions of the Americans, their
affairs wore a gloomy aspect at the close of the campaign in
1776. The British arms seemed everywhere to prevail, and
many in the colonies were desponding. But this town adopted
energetic measures to raise troops for a renewal of the cam-
53
paign in 1777. At a public town meeting, April 1st, 1777, it
was voted to raise the quota of men demanded of this town.
The select men were authorized to pay a bounty of ten pounds
lawful money, for every enlistment for one year, and in case
a soldier enlisted for a second year before his return, he should
be paid another ten pounds, for a bounty, and the same sum
for a third enlistment, and the treasurer of the town was au-
thorized to hire money to defray those expenses. A com-
mittee was appointed to supply the families of the soldiers, if
they had them, with necessaries in the absence of those men.
How many enlisted upon those conditions, it is not known, the
names of seven are recollected. It was at this time the Brit-
ish sent a detachment from New York to destroy the public
stores at Danbury. The news of this reached this place on the
Sabbath, and a number of volunteers set out immediately to
meet the enemy, but they had retreated before our men
arrived, and the volunteers returned to their homes. The
same spring there was a draft upon the Militia at Litchfield,
Torrington and Goshen for a company to go to Peekskill, on
the River Hudson. A number of Goshen men helped com-
pose this company. There was another draft on Goshen for
men to go to Peekskill in Sept. of this year, the object of which
was to prevent the British passing up the river to the assistance
of Burgoyne and his army. So many as ten names of those who
went from this town on that expedition, are now recollected
by the aged men. The same month, this year, there was a
call for men to go to the assistance of General Gates, who was
opposing the march of Burgoyne, towards Albany, on North
River. This was an inspiring subject. The lion whose march
had been stately, and whose roar had carried dismay to the
hearts of the people, was now in the toils, and there was an
animating hope, that if efforts were made corresponding to
the magnitude of the object, he might be taken, and the coun-
try saved from further ravages by him, A town meeting was
called. Sept, 25, 1777, and a bounty of five pounds was voted
to every man who would enlist for that expedition, and a Com-
mittee was raised to supply at the expense of the town, every
54
non-commissioned officer and soldier in the Continental army^,
with one shirt, either linen or woolen, one hunting frock, one
pair over-alls, one or two pair of stockings, and one pair of
good shoes, and deliver them to the commissary. Men with
great readiness enlisted for this service, and a good number
marched forthwith for the camp. The names of thirteen of
this company are still retained. These men were in nearly all
the hard fighting preceeding the surrender of the Royal army,
and as many as two of them are before us to-day, Capt Jona-
than Buel and Ambrose Collins ! Yes, their eyes saw that
very General Burgoyne of whom we read, surrender his
sword to the American commander, and his troops lay down
their arms, the very troops with which he promised the Par-
liament of England to subdue the colonies ! This was a joy-
ful day to America ! It was the ray of hope that penetrates
and illuminates the dark cell of despondency — tlie life-boat
that comes to the shipwrecked mariner. The news was car-
ried as on angels' winus, and it inspired every friend of his
country with hope and fresh resolutions. As an illustration
of the feelings of many others, I will relate an anecdote I re-
ceived a few days since from an aged individual now present,
but who cannot hear one word of what is now spoken. He
went out in the autumn of 1776, as one of ninety men on board
a Privateer, Capt, Day, of Massachusetts. They were gone
one full year, took eleven prizes, entered St. George's Channel,
went in sight of Bristol, put in at a port in France, and re-
turned in Dec, 1777. As they approached the American
continent, they took some prizes, and their prisoners related
to them the successes of Burgoyne's army, and gave it as their
belief, that at that time the colonies were conquered, and all
the ports in New England in possession of the British. As it
was a matter of reality with their prisoners, their own hearts
sunk within them ! The thought of returninj? to their beloved
country, now humbled and subdued, waiting to receive the
portion that their enemies should deal out to them, was almost
overpowering. The Captain concluded to lie off for a time,
east of Boston harbor, and see if he could not gain some in-
55
formation from passing ships, concerning his safety in entering
that port. But no ships appearing, he concluded to run up
near the fort which guards the harbor, and if it was in the
possession of the British, he concluded he should hear from
them in season to make his escape, or to humble himself in the
agonies of his country. They approached the fort without
molestation, and entered the harbor. As they entered, they
saw the tents of an army pitched on Bunker Hill. They in-
quired of the first small craft that passed them, " what tents
those were on Bunker Ilill ? " The response came buoyant
upon the v,'aters, " Burgoyne's army, all prisoners of war 1'^
The old gentleman added in an emotion I never shall forget^
" That was the pleasantest sight iny eyes ever beheld " 1 This
aged man is Fi*ancis Beach, of this town, aged 83.
We cannot tell the average number of soldiers from this
town in 1777, as some were in one enlistment and some in
another ; some with one army, and some with another ; but
we cannot estimate them less than fifty. One or two more
anecdotes, and I must dismiss the campaign of 1777. Am-
brose Collins was one of six men who went on to the assist-
ance of the army, under General Gates, before there was the
call for volunteers. And he was in the fiercest part of the
battle, on the 7th of October, where the left wing of the
American army under General Arnold, cnijaijed with the right
wing of the British army, commanded b^/ Burgoyne in person.
This battle lasted most of the day, and was not suspended
until the dusk of the evening. The dead and wounded of
both armies, lay promiscuously togethei- ; for the same ground
had been taken and retaken repeatedK% and many w^ere the
wounded, the dying, and the dead. Just at dusk, Cyprian
Collins, the father of Ambrose, arrived as a volunteer at the
field of battle. As would naturally be the case, he first sought
for his son Ambrose, but not finding him readily among the
living, he turned his attention to the dead on the field of bat-
tle. He soon found a corpse which he thought must be his
son. He went, and got him a torch light, and examined it
more perfectly, and concluded it was Ambrose, and with feel-
56
lugs, such as a father only can know, he was in the act of re-
moving the body for burial, when Ambrose came up to him,
and addressed him " father," in the well known voice of his
son ! We may imagine the emotions of father, and son in this
interview.
I ought here to mention that the late Colonel Moses Lyman,
then a lieutenant in a company of militia belonging to this
town, arrived at Saratoga on the evening of the memorable
7th, havmg in command some volunteers from this town, and
some others who fell in with them while on their march for
the field of battle. Lyman was well known to many of the
officers in camp, as he had been on several expeditions of this
kind, especially to Long Island, and New York, in 1776, and
to Peekskill, in 1777 ; and he was put in command of a com-
pany, of observation, during the night of the 7th, to watch the
movements of Burgoyne, to see whether he would advance,
or recede from the position, which he held at the close of the
action. It will be recollected, that the sentinels of the two
hostile armies, were stationed near each other, and might have
hailed, and challenged each other. But no movement was dis-
covered in the British camp during the night. Soon after the
dawning of the 8th, Lyman marched out with his men, in view
of the British camp, expecting that his appearance would pro-
voke some kind of movement on the part of the enemy, but
there was none. lie advanced nearer, and as he saw no ene-
my, and no human being, except the slain, or wounded on the
field of battle, he continued to advance, until he came to their
deserted tents, and found no persons within, but the wounded
and dead. He was the first to inform General Gates, that the
enemy had deserted their camp, and had taken another posi-
tion, nothing more secure ; for indeed at that time, there was
no asylum for the unhappy Burgoyne, whose fate resembled
that of the victim, who is almost suffocated, and is ready to be
broken under the contracting and tortuous folds of the Ana-
conda. There was no year of the war, after the surrender of
Burgoyne's army in which so many soldiers were furnished by
Goshen, as in 1776, and 1777, unless it was in 1779, at the in-
57
vasion of New Haven, and Fairfield, when many volunteered
to repel the mvasion, but as the British soon retired, the sol-
diers soon returned. But all the demands of the Congress and
of the colony were promptly met in furnishing men for the
Continental army, and the Connecticut line ; and from year to
year, town meetings were held to raise men and money and
to lay taxes to defray all expenses. I have thirteen names,
now recollected, of men who entered the Continental army
after 1777, most of whom enlisted during the war. John
Norton, fourth son of David Norton, was at the execution of
Major Andre, in 1780, at Tappan, was one of the guard
and stood so near the unfortunate man as to hear all that was
said.
And that this town was true to her first, vote of adherence
to the voice of Congress, and to the cause of her country, I
will give a vote of the town, passed June 29, 1780, when the
seat of war had passed from the North to the South, where the
final blow was struck, which decided the long conteste 1 ques-
tion of our Independence. " Voted to give to each able bodied,
effective soldier to the number of ten, (wliich is the Quota
now demanded of this town,) who shall by the 29th day of July
next, enUst into the Continental battalion for three years, or
during the war, so as to be allowed towards our quota, now
demanded, shall be entitled to a bounty, over and above all
public bounties and wages, to be paid out of the Treasury of
this town, the sum of twelve pounds, silver money, or in other
money equivalent thereto, for each six months they shall serve
in said battalion, to be paid out at the end of each six months ;
and in the same proportion for a less time at forty shillings per
month." To this bounty they added ten shillings per month
before the meeting adjourned, and voted the same to those
who had enlisted since the first day of .April, and to all who
should enlist before the first day of September.
Just let us look at the magnitude of this vote, for a small
town oppressed with other taxes. We will take the number
ten, the least number specified for three years. Their bounty
8
58
will amount to 2400 dollars, and if the war continued five
years, and they continued in service, their bounty would
amount to 4000 dollars. But it seems that other soldiers had
enlisted, and it was expected and hoped that more would en-
list before September ; yet all were to share the same ! I
ask, do we see any thing like this devotion to country now ?
Nothing like it ; I say, nothing. And yet when we speak of
deterioration in their sons, both in moral principle and in true
magnanimity of spirit and patriotism, we are almost denounc-
ed as defamers, and more in love with antiquity, than with the
" spirit of the times." But facts will speak for themselves,
and they will speak in louder accents, the further we go from
the generations that have passed away. It is my full conviction
that the generations which took possession of this wilderness,
repelled the assaults of the ferociou ? inhabitants, destroyed the
beasts of prey, subdued the forest, broke the tough soil, and
then defended it by two long and bloody wars at the expense
of ease, wealth and blood, were such as the same world pro-
duces but once, and that we are not to expect to see their like
again ! There will be a holier generation, a happier genera-
tion, but they will not be prepared by a holy Providence to do
the things that were done by the Pilgrims of New England,
and their immediate successors. Nor do we speak of these
men only, but their mothers, their wives, and their daughters
were like them. They were worthy of such men, worthy of
our gratitude, and worthy of our eulogies. They sustained
their full share in all the trials and dangers of the Ocean, of
the wilderness, and of war ! Their courage in times of peril,
and their fortitude in trials never forsook them ! They gave
up their husbands and their sons for the cause of God and
their country, and their example was all powerful. And this
was true, not only of Pilgrim women, but of women in
the Revolution. This town possessed them. I will give
one instance of this, that it may be a memorial of her. Abra-
ham Parmele was a warm patriot in the Revolution, and
shrunk not from any demand of him ; but in tliis, it is said, he
59
was thrown into the shade by the patriotism of his wife, Mary
Stanley that was. She was fixed in the righteousness of the
cause of the Colonies, and when war broke out, she said they
would prevail ! She said she could pray for the cause of
America; and not in the darkest period of the conflict, when
many faces were pale, aud many hands were on their loins,
did this woman's confidence fail her in the least, and her actions
corresponded with her words. Four different times did she
fit out her own son Theodore, for the battle field, and gave
him her parting blessing ; and with her own hands did she
make five soldier's blankets, not to sell, but sent them a present
to the poor soldiers, who after the battles of the day, had
neither bed, nor covering for the night. Could soldiers, thus
sustained, ever relinquish the cause of their Country 1 Never.
I mentioned in the course of the narration that George
Dear of this town, who lived on the North side of Whist Pond
Hill, was killed by a cannon ball on Lake Champlain, in the
war of the Revolution. He and Timothy Gaylord of West
Street, who was killed in the old French war, were the only
persons of this town who were ever known to have been killed
in battle since the settlement of the town. This is to be
acknowledged with thankfulness to Him who saveth from
death in the day of battle, whilst we at this distance of time,
mourn for the fallen of our towns-men, and would sympathise
with the bereaved.
But although so few fell in battle, yet many were the dead
of this town. Sickness was the great destroyer of our soldiers.
I cannot ascertain the number of those who died of sickness,
but they were many. The Campaign of 1776 was very fatal
to our men. A number were taken away by the small pox,
and still more by the camp distemper. Especially was this
true of the soldiers who went that year to New York and
Ivong Island. A number died in Camp : others were dismissed
on account of sickness, and died while they were striving to
reach their home. Abraham Beach, and Martin Beach, cousins,
and both Grand-sons of Deacon John Beach of East Street,
reached Milford in this State, but there died, and one grave
60
received them. Thomas Lucas, a young man of 27 years, and
of great promise to this town, left New York with this disease
upon him. His friends heard of his condition, and Allen Lucas,
his brother, and the Father of Olive and David Lucas, went
out to meet him and bring him in. The brothers met under
affecting circumstances. Thomas says to Allen, " Brother I
am glad to see you, I hope I shall live to get home, and not die
under the fence as some do." He reached his home and died
in ten days ! Oh, what distresses did that cruel war of eight
years bring upon this infant nation ! They are written and
most of them sealed up for the great day, and we must repress
all further desire to break the seal, and to read the Book at
this time.
From the acknowledgment of the Independence of these
States in 1783, by England and other nations, our town and
country have held on the even tenor of their way, and it has
been prosperous with occasional interruptions. The war of
1812 brought its calamities, but it was maintained in a manner so
different from the wars preceding it, and was so exclusively in
the hands of Congress, that towns in the interior, as towns, did
little more than pay their taxes, and read their News-papers.
The public records will tell all the story to the generations to
come.
I will here state that during the war of the Revolution there
were three Pest houses established in this to wn,whe rein persons
were inoculated with the small pox. One on Whist Pond hill,
one about half a mile East of Robert Palmer's, and one where
Timothy Wadhams now lives. In this last house one patient
was lost, by the name of Joel Davis, as I learn from the old
men.
The question often arises, was this town ever the permanent
residence of Indians 1 And this question may have arisen in
the minds of many on hearing of houses here, fortified in the
early settlement. I think we have no sufficient evidence to
convince us that a tribe of Indians was ever permanently estab-
lished here. Their camps, when located from choice and
not from necessity, were found on soft, and dry soil, in vallies
and upon the banks of streams and rivers, where they might
61
raise corn and pulse in the use of such implements as they
possessed, and where they might take fish. This town was
not adapted to their necessities, like the towns of Farmington,
New Milford,or the bottom lands on the Housatonicin general.
But that they visited this place for hunting in certain seasons
of the year, is beyond a question. None can doubt that these
hills and vallies were once well stocked with such meats as the
Indian craves for his food, and with such furs as he needed for
clothing and for trade. Moose, Bear, Deer, Beaver, Otter,
Mink, and Muskrats would resort hither when it was no
longer safe for them to appear in the valleys below. Many of
these animals were abundant in the town at its settlement.
Within the memory of one now present, Jacob Beach of the
North part of the town, took in traps and by other means,
seventeen bears in one year. Samuel Wilcox killed sixteen
another year. Said Beach killed four wolves in one year, and
took £16 bounty for their heads. Francis Beach relates that
he has seen four deer at once, and at another time three wolves,
and that it was no uncommon thing for him to fall in with a
bear in his rambles in the woods, and sometimes they were
destructive to their fields of wheat and corn, and sometimes to
their herds of swine. And we have repeated mention made
in our Town records, of bounties given for lulling wolves, and
of fines collected for killing deer contrary to law. Now would
Indians suffer these dainties to fatten here and perish, and they
not regale themselves on this savory meat, or line their jackets
with the furs at the approach of winter ? Impossible ! Be-
sides, Indian arrow heads, and other equipments for the chase,
have been found in great abundance in this place, especially
on the sides of the hills and in the valleys between the dwelling
of Capt. Timothy Collins, and the widow Lucy Street ;
also in the vicinity of each of the ponds at the west end of the
town. At the North-west side of Dog Pond, on a high and dry
point of land, some distance from the pond, there were found
in the early settlement of the town, large quantities of mus-
cle shells, that had been taken from the pond, carried there,
and their contents feasted upon by the Indians. Moses Cook^
62
senior, has ploughed through them, and thinks their fertilizing
qualities may be traced in the vegetation to the present day.
And, indeed, the practice of Old Whist coming from Farming-
ton every year after the town was settled to spend the milder
part of the season around his favorite pond, until like thousands
of others, he lost his life in the pursuit of pleasure, teaches us
that Goshen was the Indian's summer Elysium : That hither
came the newly wedded pair, to meet newly acquired connex-
ions, to be introduced, to compare agility and strength, and to
rejoice in all the gifts of nature ! But although this was not
the permanent residence of the Indian, this might not preclude
the necessity of fortifying houses against an Indian foe. For
if once aroused by the demon spirit of war, he went through
the wilderness like a spirit, and in the moment of falling upon
his prey he crouched like a leopard, he bounded from his copse,
and the unprotected fell a sacrifice to his ferocity ! I suppose
some of my little friends, the little boys and girls, will wish me
to tell them some things about the condition of their schools
and school-houses in those early days of our ancestors, I
must do it in few words. The Government of the Colony
granted to the town one right of land, the use of which was to
be forever appropriated to the benefit of schools. But such
was the pressure of the times, and such the state of the roads
for many years, but little was done to furnish competent in-
struction for children. An old gentleman of eighty-three years,
told me a few days ago, that while under age, he never had
lived nearer a school house than four and ahalf miles, and that
he never attended school a day in his life : but his mother
taught him to read and write some, and he applied himself, and
thus saved him from the calamity of knowing nothing. The
first school house that was ever built in this town, stood about
ten rods North-east of the dwelling house of Thomas Gris-
wold, near the corner on your left, as you cross the meadow
and turn south to go to Mr. Griswold's house. The second
house, and built nearly the same time, stood twenty rods
south from the house of Mr. Street, late deceased. From
63
tlMs time school districts were organized, one after another^
and school houses were built until all were supplied as at this
day. Children, be mindful of your present advantages, im-
prove them as faithfully as did the old Gentleman to whom I
referred, and you may be happy and useful in life.
It is said, the following is a Ust of clergymen born in this
town, Noah Wadhams, Elisha Parmele, Reuben Parmele,
Luther Hart, Darius O. Griswold, Abraham Baldwin, Theron
Baldwin, William Thompson, Orlo Bartholomew, Ephraim
Lyman, Mark Ives, John F. Norton, and Augustus C. Thomp-
son — thirteen. The following Physicians were born in this
town, Joseph North, senior, Gideon Thompson, Isaac Humph-
rey, Daniel Lyman, Hunn Beach, Isaac Pratt, Westal Wil-
oughby, Elisha North, Joseph North, Jr., Ethel North, Ezekiel
North, Stephen Stanley, Daniel Goodwin, Horace V. Beach,
Henry Denison, William Denison, Alfred C. Thomson, Silas
Wright, Albert Wright, Isaac H. Brown, — twenty. Judges,
Samuel Lyman, Birdsey Norton, Moses Lyman, Augustus
Baldwin, John Newton, Orson Oviatt, Van R. Humphrey —
seven. Samuel Lyman was second son of Dea. Moses lay-
man, a graduate of Yale College, a lawyer in the city of Hart-
ford, succeeded the late Governor at the head of the Pay-
table office in this State, removed to Springfield, Mass., was
a member of Congress a number of years, and died while sus-
taining the office of judge in that State. Lawyers, Joab Gris-
wold, Theodore Sill, Ebenezer F. Norton, Darius Lyman,
Theodore North, Birdsey Baldwin, Marcus Humphrey, Eb-
enezer Newton, Daniel Raymond, and David Raymond — ten.
Men who have received the honors of College, but have not
entered into a Profession, are Solomon Wadhams, Truman
Starr, Ephraim Starr, Frederick A. Norton, Willard Wad-
ams, and Theodore S. Gold — six. We have had two Gen-
erals of the Militia, David Thompson, and Moses Cook, Jr.
I shall now give a concise but connected view of the ec-
clesiastical concerns of this Church and Society, and with
this I shall dismiss my statistics.
The Church in this place was organized, Nov. 1740, and
the Rev. Stephen Heaton was ordained at the same time Pas-
64
tor. He continued to sustain that relation until June, 175?J, 3
He was then dismissed from his charge, and the Rev. Abel
Newell was settled over the Church and people on the 2d
Tue&day of June, 1755. He sustained this relation until Jan-
uary 30th, 1781. He was then dismissed, and the Rev. Jo-
siah Sherman installed their Pastor in the summer of 1782.
He sustained this relation but about seven years, and was
dismissed in the spring of 1789. Sept. 7th, 1791, Rev. Asahel
Hooker was ordained their Pastor, and from this period we
can avail ourselves of Church Records. Previous to this, all
* . . . .
our information relative to ecclesiastical concerns is derived
from the Town Records, or private writings of individuals, or
the recollection of aged people. We cannot therefore say
much of revivals or nigatherings into the Church prior to the
settlement of Mr. Hooker ; but quite a number were received
under the Ministry of Mr. Sherman, and some were excinded
from the Church. It was a day of trouble in Israel. At the
time when Mr. Hooker was ordained, the Church consisted of
111 members, nor was there more than an ordinary enlarge-
ment, until 1799, when 72 were received. That year this
Church and people experienced wonderful measures of grace I
The Lord was coming down to revive the work of 1736 to
1745 in New England, and it pleased him to visit this place.
From all I can learn of it, it was the greatest work of grace
ever experienced m this town. I have observed that the old
people, and those who were savingly wrought upon at that
time, can seldom speak of it but with meltings of heart, and with
a kind of awe in view of the power and grace of God, which
they witnessed and felt. There was another revival in 1807,
which added to the church twenty-five. In 1808, thirty more
were added, the revival being continued into that year. Mr.
Hooker took his dismission from this Church and people, June
12th, 1810, and the Rev. Joseph Harvey succeeded him in this
charge, Oct. 24th, 1810, and continued his Ministry nearly
fifteen years. He was dismissed Sept., 1825. During the
Ministry of Mr. Harvey, two seasons of revival were experi-
enced. In the year 1816, twenty were added to the Church,
65
'aftd in 1821, forty more were added, February 1st, 1826,
Rev. Francis H. Case was ordained Pastor of this Church
and people. Mr. Case sustained his relation to this Church
and people two years and a half, and was dismissed, Sept 30th,
1828. In this time a revival of religion was enjoyed which
brought in sixty-two persons. In 1828, the Congregational
Church in the North part of this town was organized, and
thirty persons were dismissed from this Church to help con-
stitute that. By reason of this, and on account of previous
subtractions by Baptist and Methodist denominations at the
North and West, this Ecclesiastical Society does not embrace
more than one-third part of the number of the inhabitants, that
it did in 1791. The present incumbent in office was installed
Pasktor, August 27th, 1829. The Church consists of 139
members, forty Males, and ninety-nine Females. Sixty-nine
of these have been added since 1829. Thirty of these were
received as the fruit of a revival in 1831, and ten of a
brief revival in 1835. 489 Persons have been members
of this Church since 1791. 350 are removed by death
or otherwise. The greater portion took letters of
commendation to Churches in the West. There have been
seventy baptisms in the last nine years. In regard to Meet-
ing houses, I would state, that the first house by the Old Ash
Tree, was improved occasionally by the people for worship
five years, from 1739 to 1744. The 2d, the Old Yellow house,
with double galleries, served them twenty-six years, from 1744
to 1770. The 3d house, which was removed to make way
for this, sixty-two years from 1770 to 1832, and this has stood
six years. Sixteen persons have sustained the office of Dea-
con in this Church. John Beach, Gideon Thomson, and Na-
thaniel Baldwin were the three first Deacons from 1740.
Moses Lyman succeeded Dea Gideon Thomson, who died,
May, 1759. Samuel Nash succeeded Dea. Nathaniel Baldwin,
who died 17G0. Ebenezer Norton succeeded Dea. Moses
Lyman, who died 1768. Edmund Beach succeeded his Father,
Dea. John Beach, who died, 1773. Stephen Thomson suc-
ceeded Dea. Ebenezer Norton, who died 1784. Samuel Nor-
9
66
ton succeeded the resignation ofDea. Stephen Thomson, 1798.
Nathan Hale and Jesse Stanley succeeded Deacons Edmund
Beach and Samuel Nash, both resigning on account of infirmi-
ty of years, 1800. Daniel Norton succeeded Dea. Nathan
Hale, deceased, 1811. Henry Hart succeeded Dea. Daniel
Norton, deceased 1815. Augustus Thomson succeeded Dea.
Samuel Norton, resigned on account of infirmity, 1817.
George Stanley succeeded Dea. Augustus Thomson, removed
to Norwich, 1831. Lewis M. Norton succeeded Dea. Henry
Hart, removed to Illinois, 1835. Here I promised to suspend
my statement of statistics. I do it amidst a profusion of inte-
resting facts. I do it with no ordinary sacrifice of feeling, but
absolutely, my strength and your patience can endure no
longer. But I offer a reflection.
What a re vealer of secrets is time ! How remote from the
minds of our Fathers were the leading events of the last Cen-
tury, when they came up from Old Bantayn to the New, and
entered this wilderness ! What mighty changes have taken
place in the face of Nature here ! What revolutions, in our po-
litical relations and our civil institutions ! And not only in ours,
but in every civilized nation upon earth ! And not less impor-
tant have been the changes in the aspect of Science, Litera-
ture, and Religion ! As we now contemplate the relative po-
sition of our Fathers in regard to time and events, they seem
to have stood in the birth-place of nations, and as they were
called to sympathize in the throes of nature to produce her
largest gifts for a world, so they participated in the joy of the
free and the blessed. But all these things were in the counsels
of Him who hath the end from the beginning, and with whom
there is nothing new. But this view of the subject teaches us
how little we know of the future, and how great may be the
vicissitudes through which we and our children may be called
to pass ! Another revolution is in motion. Nature again
travails, and whether the result will be for the weal or woe
of the present generation of men is known only to him who
holds the destinies of all in his hands. One thing is certain,
we must go the way of our Fathers. We already stand above
their ashes, and every memorial of theirs preaches to us the
67
brevity of life, its emptiness, and the all importance of a saving
interest in Jesus Christ. Let us hear with all readiness, the
instructions of God's w^ord, and of these merciful monitors,
and hearing, may we obey ! May we like our fathers, not
only provide Gospel instruction for ourselves, but for our de-
scendants likewise : and like them, may we strive to lead our
wives and children into the Ark of safety. Then, when
another shall here address that far distant generation on an
occasion like the present, although we are dead, and our
children are dead, may both we and they be triumphantly
happy : triumphantly glorious.
APPENDIX.
The hard winter of 1 779 and 80, as given by the old people of the town,
and authenticated by some manuscript papers. — The severity of this winter
set in about Dec. 20, 1779, and more or less snow fell forty successive days
and there were heavy winds much of the time. It was so cold that for six
weeks, the snow did not yield to the influence of the sun upon the roofs of
the houses, The snow became very deep. Some orchards were so buried in
snow, that scarcely a twig was visible. The fences were all covered. The
house of John Thompson, North of Robert Palmer's was nearly covered, and
a passage was dug under the snow from the road to the door of the house, a
distance of several rods. In March, the snow was four feet deep in the woods,
and so hard that oxen could travel upon it. At the usual time of making
sugar, the fences were buried in snow. Many sheep and some cattle had
been buried alive. Public worship on the Sabbath was maintained, but very
few attended besides those who went on snow shoes. The same contrivance
for a long time furnished the only means of communication between East and
Middle street, and indeed between all the diiFerent parts of the town. These
snow shoes were made to a considerable extent by Lieut Cyprian Collins, and
so great was the demand for them at that time, that several old horses were
killed, that their raw hides might be used in the manufacture. The people,
until the snow became so solid as to bear oxen, drew their grains to mill on
hand sleds. The little business that was done consisted chiefly in going to mill,
68
feeding their stock, and maintaining their fires. But few faraiiies attempted
to drive their cattle to water ; and the cattle soon learned to supply the de-
ficiency by eating snow.
This state of things remained until the latter part of March, and then the
weather became mild, the snow wasted gradually without a flood, and the
spring opened in usual time.
Tnis winter proved destructive to the deer in this county, for until the snow
became so solid as to bear up deer as well as wolves and dogs, they were
hunted and destroyed without mercy, and they never recovered from that
slaughter.
It may not be uninteresting to those who shall come after us to state in
this connexion, that the winter of 1835 and 6 was an unusually hard winter.
It set in on the 23d of Nov. 1835, and sledding and sleighing were maintained
uninterruptedly to the 17th of April, 1836, making 147 days, or twenty -one
weeks ! There were many days of extreme cold. On the 16th of Dec. 1835
mercury here fell to fourteen degrees below zero, at the city of Hartford
twenty-seven degrees below, at Woodstock Vt., to forty degrees below, and
at Franconia, N. H., to forty degrees below, or 76 degrees below the freezing
point. In all parts the mercury fell lower in the vallies than on the hills.
Many of the old people who could well remember the former hard winter
thought there were more extreme cold days in the latter than in the former,
but the cold not so uniform, and the snow not so deep at any one time.
Respecting Episcopalians in Goshen it may be stated ; that as early as 1767,
and sometime afterwards, the part of the ministerial tax which was collected
from " churchmen" was by a vote of the town annually paid over to " the
Rev. Mr. Palmer." Whether this Mr. Palmer was a resident here is not known.
A house of worship for persons of this denomination was erected about that
time, at the South end of East Street grave yard ; and meetings were held in
jt with more or less of frequency for several years. This house was respectable
in size, but was never finished within, or painted without. The Episcopalians
as such did not flourish here, and their house becoming useless to them, was
bargained to the North East winter parish, whither it was removed in 1793.
It was placed on nearly the same spot where stands the present North meeting
house, but was never fitted up for use. In the memorable storm of March,
1796, it was blown down, and the present house was first erected not long
afterwards.
Respecting the Methodist Episcopal Church in this town, the following sta.
tistics are given.
The first sermon was by Mr. Canfield, at the house of Capt. Jabez Wright,
on the last day of Dec. 1797.
The first quarterly meeting was held in the barn of the said Wright, in July
of 1798.
The first meeting house was on the same ground as the present one, in
Canada Village, and was built in 1809, and 1810. This was painted red.
The present neat and commodious house was erected in 1836.
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