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Full text of "History of ancient Woodbury, Connecticut, from the first Indian deed in 1659 ... including the present towns of Washington, Southbury, Bethlem, Roxbury, and a part of Oxford and Middlebury"

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1147108 


•NEALOCSV  COLLECTION 


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Entered  according  to  Ace  of   Congi-ess,  in    the  year  1854,  by 

^^^LLIAM  cothren, 

in  tlie  Clerk's  Office  of  the  District  Court  of  Connecticut. 


PRESS  OF  CASE,  TIFFANY  AND    COMPANY,  HARTFOnO,  CT. 


PREFACE,  n  .^, 

1147108 


To  a  casual  conversation  with  a  stranger,  a  few  years  since,  the 
public  is  indebted  for  the  following  pages.  They  are  not  the  result 
of  hasty  examination,  or  crude  investigation,  but  have  consumed  the 
hours  that  could  be  spared  from  the  incessant  demands  of  a  most 
laborious  profession,  for  nearly  seven  years  ;  and,  during  all  that 
time,  have  greatly  encroached  on  the  hours  that  should  have  been 
devoted  to  sleep.  The  labor  of  compilation  was  not  undertaken  for 
the  want  of  other  occupation ;  but  because,  after  a  little  examination, 
the  historical  incidents  of  the  town  were  found  to  be  of  so  important 
and  interesting  a  character,  I  felt  unwilling  to  see  them  irretrievably 
lost  to  the  world.  Nor  did  I  undertake  it  with  the  hope  of  acquir- 
ing "  filthy  lucre,"  being  fully  assured,  that  such  labors  are  never 
suitably  rewarded — not  even  appreciated,  by  the  thoughtless  many. 
Notwithstanding  this,  labors  not  to  be  understood,  except  by  those 
who  have  been  engaged  in  similar  undertakings,  have  been  cheer- 
fully boi-ne.  More  than  fifteen  hundred  manuscript  volumes  of  ec- 
clesiastical, ministerial,  state,  probate,  town,  and  society  records,  and 
many  thousands  of  old  manuscripts,  of  all  sorts,  have  been  carefully 
examined,  and  the  facts  contained  therein  relating  to  the  history  of 
the  town,  collated.  Every  source  of  information  has  been  laid  under 
contribution,  from  the  archives  of  the  state,  to  the  forgotten  files  of 
old  papers  in  the  neglected  garret  of  the  private  citizen. 

When- this  work  was  commenced,  if  one  had  asserted  that  tiventy 
pages  could  be  written  concerning  the  history  of  the  town,  he  would 


IV  r  R  E  F  A  C  E  . 

have  been  greeted  with  the  smile  of  incredulity.  Yet  the  materials 
have  grown  on  my  hands,  till  a  large  work  has  been  produced,  and 
it  would  have  been  far  easier  to  have  written  several  additional 
volumes,  than  to  have  corapi'cssed  the  materials  in  hand  within  the 
present  limits.  It  has  been  said  by  a  worthy  friend,  that  he,  who 
can  write  a  good  town  history,  is  well  fitted  to  write  an  excellent 
book  on  any  other  subject.  Whether  this  assertion  be  strictly  cor- 
rect or  not,  it  is  certain  that  such  an  individual  is  well  fitted  for  any 
kind  of  hard  labor  ! 

The  difliculty  attending  an  enterprise  of  this  nature,  is  greatly 
increased  by  the  apathy  and  indifference  manifested  by  many  indi- 
viduals, of  whom  information  is  solicited.  And  the  same  persons, 
who  neglect  or  refuse  to  give  information,  are  the  first  to  complain 
of  the  errors  or  incompleteness  of  a  work,  when  published.  But 
amid  the  many  discouragements  of  this  kind,  it  becomes  a  pleasant 
duty  to  mention,  in  this  place,  the  names  of  a  few  of  the  numerous 
friends,  whose  kindly  sympathies  and  intelligent  aid  have  cheered 
me  on  in  these  dilficult  and  painful  labors.  But  for  these,  it  is  prob- 
able, that  continued  ill  health,  and  the  pressure  of  other  duties, 
would  have  caused  the  abandonment  of  the  work,  however  much  I 
might  have  regretted  the  stern  necessity. 

To  my  fellow-townsman,  and  professional  brother,  Hon.  Charles 
B.  Phelps,  who  has  been  long  a  resident  of  the  town,  I  have  been 
indebted  for  many  suggestions  in  the  progress  of  the  work,  and  for 
valuable  assistance  in  the  biographical  part,  in  addition  to  his  sketch 
of  St.  Paul's  Church. 

Hon.  Seth  P.  Beers,  of  Litchfield,  Conn.,  and  Dr.  Avery  J.  Skil- 
ton,  of  Troy,  N.  Y.,  have  very  essentially  aided  me  in  the  genealog- 
ical chapter. 

To  Charles  C.  Thompson,  Israel  Minor,  and  Augustin  Averill, 
Esqrs.,  of  the  city  of  New  York,  I  am  imder  great  obligations  for 
their  active  cooperation  with  me,  in  various  ways,  in  accomplishing 
the  objects  of  the  publication. 

Gen.  Daniel  B.  Brinsmade,  of  Washington,  Conn.,  and  Joseph  A. 


I'  K  E  F  A  C  E  .  V 

Scovill,  Esq.,  of  New  York,  have  greatly  assisted  me  by  well-timed 
labors. 

In  the  genealogical  and  biographical  portions  of  the  work,  I  have 
received  indispensable  assistance  from  Mitchell  S.  Mitchell,  Esq., 
"William  E.  Curtis,  Esq.,  Col.  John  Lorimer  Graham,  Robert  M. 
C.  Graham,  Esq.,  and  Alexander  Eraser,  Esq.,  of  New  York ;  the 
venerable  Roger  Sherman,  of  New  Haven,  Conn.;  Col.  Heniy  Stod- 
dard, of  Dayton,  Ohio  ;  Hon.  Amasa  Parker,  of  Delhi,  N.  Y. ;  Dr. 
E.  T.  Foote,  of  New  Haven  ;  Rev.  Samut4  Fuller,  D.  D.,  of  Ando- 
ver,  Mass.;  Rev.  Wm.  S.  Porter,  of  New  Haven,  Conn.;  Henry  H. 
Martin,  Esq.,  of  Albany,  N.  Y.;  Hon.  Henry  Dutton,  of  New  Ha- 
ven ;  Rev.  Fosdick  Harrison,  Rev.  A,  B.  Chapin,  D.  D.,  of  Glas- 
tenbury.  Conn.;  William  Moody,  Esq.,  of  Washington,  Conn.;  Rev. 
Grove  L.  Brownell,  of  Sharon,  Conn.;  Eliphalet  Whittlesey,  Esq., 
of  Salisbury,  Conn.;  Rev.  William  T.  Bacon,  Hon.  Thomas  Bull, 
and  Garwood  H.  Atwood,  M.  D.,  of  this  town  ;  Dr.  Laurens  Hull,  of 
Angelica,  N.  Y.,  and  others,  too  numerous  to  mention.  Many  ladies, 
also,  entered  into  the  si)irit  of  the  work,  and  lent  me  their  valuable 
assistance. 

To  my  friends,  Philo  M.  Trowbridge,  Willis  A.  Strong  and  David 
S.  Bull,  who  have  proved  themselves  "  friends  in  need"  to  me,  and 
true  lovers  of  their  native  town,  I  am  under  more  than  ordinary  obli- 
gations for  the  continued  and  indispensable  aid  they  have  afibrded 
me,  during  the  entire  progress  of  the  work. 

In  regard  to  the  spelling  of  Indian  names,  entire  uniformity  has 
not  been  attempted.  As  a  general  rule,  however,  the  orthography 
of  Capt.  John  Minor,  the  early  settler  and  Indian  interpreter,  has 
been  followed.  Christian  names  have  been  spelled  in  the  mode 
adopted  by  those  who  bear  them.  Throughout  the  work,  tradition 
has  been  discarded,  and  facts  introduced  in  its  stead.  Where  state- 
ments were  well  authenticated,  they  have  been  stated  without  quali- 
fication ;  but  where  there  has  been  any  doubt,  they  have  been  intro- 
duced with  some  qualifying  term.  Whatever  suited  my  purpose  in 
any  author,  has  been  taken,  without  hesitation,  giving  credit  where 


VI  r  U  K  V  A  C  K  . 

the  amount  approj)riatcHl  seemed  to  warrant  it.  lu  discussing  every 
question,  entire  impartiality  has  been  the  aim  of  the  author. 

The  utmost  jiains  has  been  taken  to  have  the  work  free  from 
errors  ;  but  in  a  book  of  this  nature  entire  accui'acy  is  not  to  be 
expected.  Errors  will  doubtless  be  discovered  by  careful  anti(iuan- 
ans,  but  it  is  believed  that  it  will  be  found  as  free  from  such  defects, 
as  it  is  possible  ibr  painful  solicitude  and  indomitable  labor  to  make 
it.  Many  persons,  undoubtedly,  will  take  up  the  work,  and,  glancing 
hastily  and  carelessly  over  its  pages,  pronounce  this  or  that  state- 
ment erroneous,  without  consideration  or  investigation.  Such  read- 
ers will  invariably  be  wrong  in  their  criticisms,  while  a  careful 
reader  may  detect  mistakes.* 

A  town  history  gives  an  author  very  little  scope  for  the  display  of 
any  literary  or  artistic  ability  he  may  possess.  I  have  given  myself 
still  less  opportunity  than  usual  for  any  display  of  this  sort.  For 
although  the  collection  of  the  facts  has  occupied  my  leisure  time  for 
nearly  seven  years,  yet  the  composition  of  the  work  has  occupied 
only  seventy-five  days,  with  frequent  interruptions  from  professional 
business.  Notwithstanding  this,  in  submitting  the  followmg  pages 
to  a  candid  and  intelligent  public,  the  author  neither  courts  nor  dep- 
recates criticism.  He  has  only  to  say,  that  whoever  will  follow  in 
his  footsteps,  and  present  to  the  public  a  work  with  fewer  imperfec- 
tions than  he  has  done,  a  feat  which  can  probably  be  accomplished, 
will  deserve  and  receive,  not  the  criticisms,  but  the  encomiums  of 
the  writer. 

WooDBURV,  January  2,  1854. 


1  Persons  discovering  errors  in  this  volume,  are  respectful!}'  requested  to  commu- 
nicate them  to  the  author. 


CONTENTS, 


Introduction,  and  map  of  Indian  purchases, 


CHAPTER  I.— PHYSICAL  HISTORY 


Situation,  boundaries  and  rivers,     .        11 
Orenaug,  Bethel  and  Castle  Rocks,        12 

Geology — Trap  formation,  .  .     12 

Bacon's  Pond;  Quanopau"' Falls,    .        13 

Nonnewaug  Falls ;  Steep  Rock,  .     14  I 


iliues  and  minei-als,            .        .        14,  15 
Mine  Hill — Spathic  iron  ore,        .      15-19 
Chalybeate  springs,         .        .        .        19 
Squaw  Rock ;  fniits ;  trees ;  wild  ani- 
mals  19,  20 


CHAPTER  n— HISTORY  OF  THE  INDIAN  PURCHASES. 


Tautannimo's  deed. 

First,  or  Pomperaug  purchase, 

Yohcomge's  deed,    . 

Cheabrooke's  deed,     . 

Wesunck's  deed. 

Second,  or  Shepaug  purchase, 

Pootatuck  purchase, 


21  TMrd,  or  Quassapaug  purchase,  .     26 

22  Fourth,  or  Nonnewaug  purchase,  .  27 

23  Fifth,  or  Kettleto-mi  purchase,   .  .    28 

24  Sixth,  or  Confirmatory  pui'chase,  .  29 
23  Promiseck  purchase,  .        .        .  .31 

25  South  purchase,       ....  31 
31 


CHAPTER  HI.— CIVIL  HISTORY. 


Church  dissensions  at  Sti-atford, 

Causes  the  settlement  of  Woodbury, 

Rev.  Mr.  Walker  begins  to  preach. 

Three  hours  allowed  him  each  Sabbath,  33  :  The  old  "  White  Oak 

Mr.  Walker  excluded  the  church,   .        33    Location  of  the  settlers. 

Main  Street;  the  old  Indian  trail,  .     38  j  Fundamental  articles, 

Division  of  lands 41 1  Reflections, 


32    Pomperaug  granted, 

32  I  Mr.  Walker's  church  removes, 

33  I  Good  Hill  prayer,     . 
W]- 


CHAPTER  IV.— CIVIL  HISTORY,  CONTINUED. 


Woodbury  incorporated, 
Signification  of  its  name,    . 
Paugussett  Ferrv,    . 
King  Philip's  AVar,     . 
The  people  driven  to  Sti-atford, 
Advice  of  the  General  Court, 
Woodbury  patent,    . 
Parson  Walker's  letter. 


44  '  Inhabitants  ordered  back,    .        .        .51 

44  Rev.  Z.  Walker  moves  his  family,   .        51 

45  i  General  Court  establishes  town'boun- 

46 !  daries,        ....       52-54 

47  j  Town  first  represented,    ...        54 

48  Representatives'  salary,  .  .  .54 
55  I  North  pm'chase  granted,  .  .  56 
48  i 


C  O  N  T  K  N  T  8 . 
CHAPTKR  v.— CIVIL  HISTORY,  CONTINUED. 


C'lmnictcr  of  Cni>t.  .lolin  Minor, 
Clianictor  uf  Cui)t.  Williiim  Curtis'^, 
I-ife  III"  Hon.  Samuel  Slicniian, 
Life  ofLt.  Joseph  Jiulson,  Senior, 
Life  or.)ohn.Iud>ii)n, 


f.8  1  Character  of  Lt.  Israel  Curtiss,  .  .    CI 

00  i  Cliaractcr  of  Col.  Joseph  Mirior,      .  C2 

60  I  Character  of  Hackaliah  Preston,  .    C2 

CI  j  Character  of  Hon.  William  Preston,  62 

01 


CHAPTKli  VI.— CIVIL  HISTORY,  CONTINUED. 


List  of  early  settlers,  1C82, 

Divisions  of  land, 

Home-lots  of  tlie  esirly  settlers, 

Palisaded  houses. 

Old  Panionugc  iiousc, 

First,  second  and  third  mills, 

First  meeting-house. 

The  drum  for  a  church  bell. 

First  marriage,  birth  and  death. 

First  wheelwright, 

First  clothier,  .... 

Town  brand ;  roads,     . 

First  physicians. 

Localities, 


65  ]  liuckskin  clothing, 

65  Wooden  shoes,    .... 

66  Matters  of  etiquette, 

66  Advent  of  Sir  Edmund  Andross, 

66  List  of  inhabitants  of  1702, 

67  First  blacksmith, 

69  First  divorce,   .... 

72  Bachelors'  accommodations, 

72  Fortifications, 

72  Parson  Stoddard  kills  two  Indians, 

72  Indians  restrained,   . 

7.3  List  of  inhabitants  of  1712, 

74  AVood  Creek  expedition, 

74  Reflections,  .... 


CHAPTER  VII.— INDIAN  HISTORY. 


Foi-mation  of  tribes. 
Oppression  of  the  Mohawks, 
Pomperaug's  burial-place. 
Succession  of  chiefs,   . 
Nounewaug's  grave. 
Human  sacrifices. 
Legend  of  Hetliel  Rock, 
Legend  of  Scjuaw  Rock, 
Legend  of  Xonnewaug  Falls, 
Numbers  of  the  Pootatucks, 
List  of  principal  Pootatucks, 
Watchibrok's  disclosure,    . 
The  belt  of  wampum, 
Shepaug  garrison, 


Caleb  Martin's  petition,  . 

Lt.  Warner's  petition, 

Indian  treaty, 

Indian  orchard  at  Pootatuck, 

Petition  of  Hatchet  Tousey,     . 

Mowehu's  petition, 

Life  of  Weraumaug, 

Mr.  Boardman's  praying-match 

Scatacook  clan, 

Moravian  missionaries, 

Last  sale  at  Pootatuck,    . 

Last  Pootatuck  Indian, 

Remnants  of  the  red  men. 

Remarks,  .... 


99 
99 
99 
100 
101 
103 
105 
106 
106 
107 
107 


CHAPTER  VHL— ECCLESIASTICAL  HISTORY. 


113 


lis 


Half-way  covenant  system,   . 
Church  at  Stratforddivide  on  tliis 

question,      .... 
Cliauncey  and  Walker  coiTespond-' 

ence,  ....  115-130  j 
Mr.  Walker  ordained,  .  .  .  131 1 
<Jhurch  covenant,  .        .        .        132 

Second  church  moves  to  Woodbury,    133 
Walker  and  Reed  storv,  ."      1.331 


Life  of  Rev.  Mr.  Walker,         .  .    134 

Settlement  of  Rev.  Mr.  Stoddard,  135 

"Build  liim  an  house,"          .        .  136 

Mr.  Stoddard  ordained,     .        .  .     137 

Prosperity  of  the  chiu-ch,       .        .  137 

Second  meeting-house,      .        #  •    139 

New  Style, 139 

Life  of  Mr.  Stoddard,        .        .  .140 

Review  of  ninety  3-ears,         .        .  142 


CHAPTER  IX.— CIVIL  HISTORY,  CONTINUED  FROM  CIL.\PTER  VI. 

Burial  grounds  sequestered,          .  151 
Ministerial  lands,        .         .         .         .152 

Ell'orts  to  fonn  county  of  Woodbury,  153 

Mine  Hill, 155 

Wolves  and  wild-cats,       .        .        .  165 

"  Town  House"  repaired,      .        .  150 

Casualties, 156 

Ancient  iron  kettle,        ...  157 


Land  divisions, 

145-147 

Education,   .... 

148 

Apple-trees   and  cider  mills. 

148 

Sea«<.ns  of  great  mortalitv. 

.     148 

Northern  Lights,    . 

149 

HnbbelPs  Ferrv,        .        . 

.     150 

Hinman'.H  Ferrv, 

150 

idgo  built  by  Washington,    . 

.     150 

CONTENTS, 


Model  tea-party, 
Ruloof  Dutcher's  estate, 
Umbrellas,  calico,  witchcraft, 
List  of  original  proprietors,    . 


157  1  Expedition  to  Havanna, 

158  j  The  French  Neutrals,  . 
158  French  and  Indian  Wars, 
161! 


CHAPTER  X— REVOLUTIONARY  HISTORY. 


Cause  of  the  war,           .        .        .  172 

Convention  of  1766,           .        .  .173 

Town  meeting  of  1774,           .        .  174 

"  Great  Boston  Alarm,"     .        .  .     175 

Town  accepts  American  league,   .  176 

Continental  articles  of  association,  .    177 

Capture  of  Ticonderoga,        .        .  182 

Tories — Committee  of  Observation,  184 

Rev.  5Ir.  Marshall  suspected,        .  184 

Dr.  Wheeler  "  must  have  salt,"  .     186 

Committee  of  inspection  appointed,  187 

Copy  of  Tory  complaint,           .  .     188 

Enlistment  bounties,      .        .        .  189 

Council  of  safety,      .         .        .  .190 

Life  of  Daniel  S'herman,        .        .  190 

Soldiers'  wives  provided  for,     .  .     191 

Supplies  furnished  bv  tlie  towu,  192 

Events  of  1775,       .  "     .        .        .  194 

List  of  companies,      ....  195 

Events  of  1776,      ....  195 

All  the  militia  go  to  New  York,  .     196 

The  eight  sailor  prisoners,      .        .  197 

Bethlcm  volunteers,           .        .  .     197 


i  Woodbury  census. 

Sugar-house  prisoners, 
j  Col.  Ethan  Allen  taken  prisoner,    . 

Alarm  lists, 

I  Events  of  1777,      '.        .        .        . 

Danbury  alarm,  .... 

I  Draft  of  1777,         .... 
I  "  Tluree  years'  men," 
!  Capt.  Nathan  Stoddard  killed, 
I  Appearance  of  Continental  army,     . 

Events  of  1778,       .... 

Events  of  1779,  .... 

Events  of  1780,       .... 

Abel  Wakeley,  .... 

Volunteers  to  take  New  York, 

Bounty  for  enlistments,     . 

Events  of  1781,       .... 

La  Fayette  passes  through  AVoodbiirv, 

Events  of  1782,  .        .        .        ". 

"  The  Johnsons,"    .... 

Peace  declared,  .... 

General  review,      .... 


200 
200 
201 
201 
203 
204 
205 
205 
206 


209 
210 
210 
212 
213 
214 
215 
215 
216 


CHAPTER   XI.— HISTORY  OF   SOUTHBURY  AND   SOUTH  BRITAIN  SOCI- 
ETIES, AND  THE  TOWN  OF  SOUTHBURY. 


Southbury  society-  incorporated,  219 
Remonstrance  by  sixty-three  persons,  219 

Society  line  changed,"   .        .        .  221 

First  meeting-house,          .        .  .     221 

Rev.  John  Graham  settled,     .        .  222 

Church  "  embodied,"        .         .  .     224 

Character  of  Mr.  Graliam,      .        .  225 

Mode  of  church  singing,    .        .  .     226 

Rev.  Benjamin  Wildman  settled,  227 

Second  meeting-house,      .        .  .     227 

Character  of  Mr.  Wildman,   .        .  228 

Rev.  Elijah  Wood  settled,         .  .    230 

Rev.  Daniel  A.  Clark  settled,        .  280 

Rev.  Thomas  L.  Shipman  settled,  .    231 


Rev.  Williams  H.  Whittemore  settled. 
South  Britain  society  incorporated, 
Ministerial  "  settlements,"     . 
Church  organized,     .... 
Life  of  Rev.  Dr.  Tyler, 
Rev.  Matthias  Cazler  settled,    . 
Rev.  Bennet  Tyler,  D.  D.,  settled, 
Rev.  Noah  Smith  settled, 
Rev.  Amos  E.  Lawrence  settled,    . 
Rev.  Oliver  B.  Butterfield  settled,    . 
List  of  deacons,      .... 
Town  of  Southbury  incorporated, 
Present  state  of  the  town, 


234 
235 
235 
235 


CHAPTER  XII.- 


-HISTORY  OF  BETHLEHEM  SOCIETY,  AND  THE  TOWN 
OF  BETHLEM. 


North  Purchase  settled,         .        .  239 

Betlilehem  society  incorporated,       .  240 

First  meeting-house,       .        .        .  241 

Rev.  Joseph  BeUamv,  D.  D.,  settled,  241 

Rev.  Dr.  Bellamy's  Chm-ch  History,  242 

Great  sickness  of  1750,           .        .  243 
Half-way  covenant  practice  abolished,  244 

Old  and  New  Lights,      ...  244 

"  Great  Awakenmg,"        .        .        .  244 

Character  of  first  settlers,      .        .  247 

First  currant  bushes  and  elm  trees,  248 

Second  meeting-house,      .        .        .  248 


Life  of  Rev.  Dr.  Bellamy,      .        .  249 

Rev.  Azel  Backus,  D.  D.,  settled,  .     253 

Origin  of  Sabbath  schools,     .        .  253 

Character  of  Rev.  Dr.  Backus,  .     253 

Rev.  John  Langdon  settled,            .  256 

Rev.  Benjamin  F.  Stanton  settled,  .     256 

Rev.  Paul  Couch  settled,       .        .  256 

Rev.  Aretus  G.  Loomis  settled,  .     257 

Town  of  Bethlem  incorporated,      .  257 

Third  church  built,            .        .  .     257 

Present  state  of  the  town,      .        .  258 


C  O  N  T  r.  NTS. 


CHAPTKR  XIII.-IIISTORY  OF  .lUDKA  AND  NEW   I'RESTON  ECCLESIAS- 
TICAL SOCIETIES,  AND  THE  TOWN  OF  WASHINGTON. 


Jiiilfii  first  scltloJ, 

.ludoa  sooioty  incorpnralod, 

Rev.  Kciibcn  Jii.hl  settloJ,     . 

Churcli  giitliercd,       .... 

Lociitioiiof  settler.^, 

First  clmrcli  built,     .... 

Rov.  Diinicl  Brinsinadc  settled, 

Rov.  Noali  Mcrwiii  settled, 

Rov.  EbiMu'ziT  Porter,  D.  I).,  settled, 

Clmraeter  of  Rev.  Dr.  Porter, 

Socond  ami  tliinl  cliurclies, 

Great  mortality,     .... 

Murder  of  Cale'b  Mallory's  family,    . 

State  of  the  church,        .        .        265 

Rev.  Stephen  Masou  settled. 

Incident  at  church,    .... 

SettJeuieut  of  Rev.  Cyrus  W.  Gray, 


259  I 
2G0; 
201  1 
2til  j 
261  ' 

261  I 

262  1 
262  1 
263 
203 
265 


2671 


Rev.  Gordon  Ilayos  settled,           .  267 

New  Preston  society  incorporated,  268 

First  meetinfr-house,       .         .         .  209 

Rev.  Noah  VVadhams  settled,    .  .     269 

Location  of  school-houses,      .         .  269 

Rev.  Samuel  Whittlesey  settled,  .     270 

Church  gathered,           ...  270 

Rev.  Jeremiah  Day  settled,       .  .     270 

Rev.  Charles  A.  Hoardman  settled,  271 

Rev.  Robert  B.  Campficld,        .  .    271 

Rev.  Benjamin  B.  Parsons,    .        .  271 

List  of  deacons,          ....  271 

Town  of  Wiishington  incorporated,  271 

Rev.  Hollis  Read  settled,           .  .     271 

Revolutionary  incident,          .        .  272 

Present  state  of  the  town,         .  .    272 


CHAPTER  XtV. 


-HISTORY  OF  ROXBURY  ECCLESIASTICAL  SOCIETY, 
AND  THE  TOWN  OF  ROXBURY. 


Sh( 


Mtlod, 


273 

"  Winter  Privile-os,"  .  .  .274 
Roxburv  society  incorporated,  .  "  275 
First  clmrch  built,  .  .  .  .276 
Rev.  Thomas  Canlicld  settled,  .  276 
Church  gathered,  ....  276 
Ancient  ordination,  .  .  .  277 
Mr.  Cantield  dies 280 


Town  of  Roxburv  incorporated,    .  281 

Rev.  Zcphiiniah  Swift  settled,  .    281 

Rev.  Fosdick  Harrison  settled,       .  281 

Rev.  Austin  Isliam  settled,        .  .    281 

List  of  deacons,      ....  281 

Casualties, 282 

Lt.  Thomas  Weller  killed,      .        .  283 

Present  state  of  the  town,         .  .    283 


HAl'TKK  XV.— HISTORY  OF  THE  OTHER  CHURCHES  BESIDE  THE 
CONGREGATIONAL. 

284 


Review  of  ecclesiastical  law, 

"  Signing-ofl""  certificates,         .  .     286 

Zecliariah  Beers'  certificate,  .        286 

Episcopal  clnnvh,  Woodbury,  .     287 
Rev.  .John  K.  Jlar.hall,  first  rector,       288 

Church  edifice  built,      .         .  .         289 

"  Father  Sherman,"           .        .  .    290 

List  of  clergymen,          .        .  .        291 


Episcopal  church,  Roxbury,      .  .     292 

Episcopal  church,  Judea,       .  .        293 

Episcopal  church,  New  Preston,  .     295 

Kpi-^oopal  cliuivh,  Bethlem,  .        297 

Uaiiti-l  cliun-li,  Kuxbury,          .  .     297 

Methodist  church,  Woodbury,  .         298 

Methodist  churches,  Southbury,  .    299 


CHAPTER  XVL— ECCLESIASTICAL  HISTORY,  CONTINUED  FROM 
CHAPTER  VIII. 


Bov.  Noah  Boucdict  settled,  .        301 

Half-way  (covenant  practice  abolished,  302 
Rev.  Wortiiington  Wright  settled,  303 
List  of  deacons,  ....  303 
Rev.  Hcnrv  P.  Strong  settled,  .     304 

Life  of  Rev.  Mr.  Benedict.     .        .        304 


Rev.  Samuel  R.  Andrew  settled, 
Ciiaracter  of  L'ev.  Mr.  Andrew,     . 
lion.  No;ih  B.  Benedict's  bequest. 
Rev.  Lucius  Curtis  settled,     . 
Ministerial  fund, 


305 

306 


-IllsroUY  OF  THE  STRICT    CONGREGATIONAL  SOCIE- 
TY IN  WOODBURY'. 


Society  controversies. 
Committee  of  1795,  . 
Committee  of  1814, 


308  I  Seventy-one  sign  off, 

809    Meeting-house  law, 

310  I  Prepare  to  build  a  church. 


310 
310 
311 


CONTENTS 


Become  a  Baptist  church, 
Strict  Congi-egational  society  incor- 
porated,      .        .      '. 
Reuben  Walker's  certificate, 
Church  organized,     . 


Rev.  John  Churchill  settled, 
312  I  State  of  the  church, 
312  I  Ministerial  fund, 
313. 


314 
315 
316 
317 


CHAPTER  XVm.— CIVIL  HISTORY,  CONTINUED  FROM  CHAPTER  IX. 

Slavery  in  Woodbury, 
"  Redcniptioners" — Matthew  Lyon. 
Small-pox  hospital,        .        .    '    . 
Town  approves  U.  S.  constitution. 
Ravages  of  canker  wonns,    . 
Public  libraries, 
Guernsey  town  robbery, 
Funeral'of  Washington,     . 
New  Milford  fever, 

War  of  1812 

"  Hartford  Convention," 
Constitution  of  1819, 
Daniel  liacon's  town  hall. 


318 

Influence  of  localism, 

329 

320 

New  burial  ground  laid  out. 

331 

321' 

Mexican  War, 

331 

321 

South  academy,     .... 

331 

322  1 

North  academy,         .        .        .        . 

331 

322! 

History  of  Masonry, 

331 

.'523  ' 

Bethel  Rock  Lodge,  LO.  O.F., 

339 

324 

Pomperaug  Division  S.  of  T., 

339 

324 

Woodbury  Bank,       .        .        .        . 

340 

325 

;  S:i\-ings  Bank  and  Buildmg  Associa- 

327 

;             tion, 

34T 

328 

i  Present  state  of  the  town. 

341 

328 

CHAPTER  XLS.— BIOGRAPHICAL  SKETCHES  OF  NATIVES  AND  RESI- 
DENTS OF  ANCUSNT  WOODBURY,  YmO  HAVE  REMAINED  IN  THE 
TERRITORY. 

The  names  will  be  found  in  alphabetical  order 343 


CHAPTER  XX.— SHORT  BIOGRAPHICAL  SKETCHES  OF  NATIVES  OF 
WOODBURY,  WHO  HAVE  EMGRATED  FROM  THE  ANCIENT  TOWN, 
AND  BECOME  DISTINGmSHED  IN  THE  PLACES  OF  THEIE  ADOPTION. 

The  names  will  be  found  in  alphabetical  order, 412 

Alphabetical  Est  of  distinguished  persons, 466 


HISTORY  OF  ANCIENT  WOODBURY. 


INTRODUCTION. 

Lkss  than  two  hundred  years  ago,  these  pleasant  hills  and  sunny 
valleys,  now  teeming  with  life,  intelligence  and  happiness,  were  one 
vast  solitude,  unvisited  by  the  cheering  rays  of  civilization.  Here 
roamed  the  savage  wild  beasts,  and  untutored  men  more  savage  still 
than  they.  From  Wyantenuck  to  Mattatuck,  and  from  Pootatuck  to 
Bantam,  were  heard  the  dismal  howl  of  the  wolf,  and  the  war-cry  of 
the  red  men  of  the  forest.  Amid  these  secluded  wilds  sported  the 
timid  deer,  and  coy  doves  built  their  lonely  nests.  Among  these  hills 
the  red  hunter  pursued  his  game,  and  sauntered  by  our  murmuring 
streams,  drawing  thence  his  daily  food.  Here  desperate  fights  and 
deadly  ambuscades  were  planned.  Here  did  the  prisoner  of  war 
suffer  the  extreme  tortures  of  his  enemies.  Here  the  romantic  lover 
"  wooed  his  dusky  mate"  in  primitive  simplicity.  Here  too  the  pow- 
wow held  his  dread  incantations,  and  if  tradition  is  to  be  believed, 
oiFered  human  sacrifices  to  appease  the  anger  of  Hobbamocko,  the 
spirit  of  evil,  the  author  of  all  human  plagues  and  calamities.  Here 
too  in  the  golden  days  of  the  Indian  Summer,  the  poor  savage  mused 
of  the  Great  Spirit,  the  benevolent  Kiehtan,  giver  of  his  corn,  beans 
and  tobacco,  who  lived  far  away  to  the  south-west,  in  whose  blest  do- 
minions he  hoped,  at  death,  to  find  his  happy  hunting-grounds. 

Everything  now  is  changed.  The  desert  waste  that  met  the  first 
gaze  of  our  pioneer  forefathers,  has  been  made  to  bud  and  blossom 
as  the  rose.  Where  once  were  but  scattered  huts  of  the  former  race, 
are  now  enterprising  and  busy  villages.  The  ceaseless  hum  of  ma- 
chinery, giving  employment,  competence  and  happiness  to  hundreds 
of  families,  is  now  heard  in  our  vaUeys,  which,  in  those  early  days, 
but  echoed  the  growl  of  the  bear,  or  the  cry  of  the  panther.  Instead 
2 


10  niSTOKY      OK     ANCIENT     WOODBURT. 

of  the  wretched  orfjies  of  the  powwow,  and  the  inhuman  sacrifices 
of  tlie  midnight  of  barbarism,  are  churdies  dedicated  to  the  service 
of  the  living  God,  where  prayer  and  praise  are  wont  to  be  made. 
"NVhere  once  were  cherished  the  savage  instincts  of  men,  and  a  taste 
for  war,  now  are  cuUivated  the  arts  of  peace,  and  schemes  for  the 
happiness  and  advancement  of  mankind.  Intelligence  and  enterprise 
now  take  the  place  of  ignorance  and  sloth.  These  hills  and  vales 
that  groaned  with  scenes  of  violence  and  blood,  have  been  made 
vocal  with  the  praises  of  the  Great  Creator.  Instead  of  a  race 
groping  in  the  shadow  of  dim  imaginings,  we  find  one  filled  with  hopes 
of  a  rational  and  glorious  immortality.  Our  fathers  found  a  howling 
wilderness  ;  we  behold  to-day  as  the  result  of  their  labors,  from  which 
they  long  have  rested,  one  of  the  most  happy  and  beautiful  of  New 
England's  many  lovely  villages.  An  upright  and  an  honored  race, 
they  wrought  well  and  their  works  do  follow  them. 

The  simple,  unfortunate  race  of  the  early  days  has  departed — 
fiided  from  the  view,  and  almost  from  the  memory  of  men.  In  their 
lowly,  unnoticed,  and  unknown  graves,  they  sleep  well.  "  The  chiefs 
of  other  times  arc  departed.  They  have  gone  without  their  fame. 
Another  race  has  arisen.  The  people  are  like  the  waves  of  the 
ocean  ;  like  the  leaves  of  woody  Morven ;  they  pass  away  in  the 
rustling  blast,  and  other  green  leaves  lift  their  heads  on  high." 


CHAPTER   I. 


PHYSICAL     BISTORT. 


Location  ;  Boundaries  ;  Face  of  the  Country  ;  Hills  and  Mountains  ;  Riv- 
ers, Streams  and  Cascades;  Geology;  Mineralogy;  Forest  Trees  and 
Fruits  ;  Soil  and  Productions  ;  Climate  ;  Wild  Animals  ;  Capabilities,  &c. 

The  ancient  town  of  Woodbury  possessed  very  extended  limits, 
and  for  many  years  after  its  settlement  was  one  of  the  largest  and 
most  important  of  the  towns  in  the  western  part  of  the  Colony  of 
Connecticut.  It  was  about  fifteen  miles  in  length  from  north  to 
south,  and  about  ten  miles  in  width.  It  was  bounded  on  the  north  by 
Bantam,  (Litchfield,)  east  by  Mattatuck,  (Waterbury,)  south  by  the 
Pootatuck  (Housatonic)  River,  and  west  by  TVeantinogue,  (New  Mil- 
ford. 

It  is  watered  on  the  south-east  by  the  Eight  Mile  Brook,  taking  its 
rise  in  Quassapaug  Lake,  a  beautiful  sheet  of  water  lying  in  its  eastern 
limits.  Through  the  center  of  the  territory  from  noi'th  to  south,  runs 
the  Pomperaug  River,  receiving  as  tributaries  the  East  Sprain'  from 
the  north-east,  North  Sprain  from  the  north,'  "West  Sprain  from  the 
north-vrest,  and  further  on  in  its  course  the  Hesky  Meadow  and 
Transylvania  mill  streams.  On  the  -west,  through  the  whole  length 
of  the  town,  flows  the  Shepaug  River,  taking  its  rise  in  Bantam  Lake, 
in  Litchfield.  The  three  principal  streams  mentioned  above,  empty 
into  the  Pootatuck  River.  This  river  is  now  called  the  Housatonic, 
but  its  earlier  and  more  appropriate  name  was  the  Pootatuck,  from 
the  tribe  or  clan  of  Indians  which  had  its  principal  village  on  the 
northern  side  of  the  river,  about  two  miles  above  Bennett's  Bridge. 

The  present  town  of  Woodbury  is  situated  in  Litchfield  county, 
Connecticut,  near  the  center  of  the  ancient  territory,  in  latitude  41® 
33'  N.  and  longitude  78°  14'  W.     It  is  on  the  southern  border  of 

1  Erroneously  spelled  Spraw  in  the  accompanying  map. 


12  HISTORY     OF     ANCIENT     WOODBURY. 

the  county,  adjoininj^Ncw  Haven  county,  twenty-five  miles  from  New- 
Haven,  thirty-six  from  Hartford,  and  ninety  from  New  York.  The 
central  village  is  pleasantly  situated  in  a  level  and  extended  valley 
on  the  Pomperaug,  near  the  confluence  of  the  small  streams  which 
form  that  river.  It  is  surrounded  on  every  side  by  high  hills,  form- 
ing a  kind  of  amphitheater.  Beautiful  walks  and  drives  abound  in 
every  direction.  The  hill  lying  immediately  east  of  the  main  street, 
known  as  the  Orenaug'  Rocks,  is  of  considerable  elevation,  and  on  its 
southern  descent,  fronting  the  west,  the  rocks  descend  perpendicular- 
ly, presenting  a  front  similar  to  those  of  the  East  and  West  Rocks, 
near  New  Haven,  though  upon  a  much  smaller  scale.  The  same  is 
true  of  the  eastern  side  of  this  range  of  rocks.  They  give  the  land- 
scape a  bold  outline  as  one  enters  the  village,  Avhile  from  their  sum- 
mit a  most  delightful  view  toward  the  west  is  obtained.  On  the 
eastern  side  of  Orenaug  is  Bethel  Rock,  of  which  more  will  be  said 
hereafter. 

South  of  the  village,  on  the  west  of  the  Pomperaug,  Castle  Rock, 
said  to  have  been  the  location  of  the  fort  of  the  chief  from  whom  the 
river  takes  its  name,  rears  its  hoary  head. 

These  cliffs  are  all  of  the  trap  formation,  and  are  particularly  de- 
scribed by  Percival,  in  his  Geological  Account  of  Connecticut,  as 
follows,  viz. 

"The  trap  in  this  formation  forms  only  a  single  range,  presenting  in  its 
whole  extent,  a  well  marked  curvature,  and  divided  by  cross  valleys,  into  three 
distinct  sections,  succeeding  each  other  in  receding  order.  Of  these  the  south- 
ern extends  from  the  south-east  point  of  the  range,  to  a  pass  crossing  the  latter 
at  the  road  from  Southbury  to  Roxbury  ;  the  middle  extends  from  that  pass  to 
the  Pomperaug,  south  of  "Woodbury  village  ;  while  the  northern  includes  all 
the  remaining  portion  of  the  range.  The  curve  of  this  range  is  apparently 
formed,  throughout  a  great  part  of  its  extent,  by  a  series  of  parallel  ridges, 
overlapping  each  other  in  a  greater  or  less  degree,  and  arranged,  toward  the 
opposite  extremities  in  reverse  order;  namely,  in  advancing  order  toward  the 
southern,  and  in  receding  order  toward  the  northern  extremity.  This  arrange- 
ment is  mo^t  remarkable  at  the  two  extremities  of  the  range;  its  middle  por- 
tion, for  some  distance,  presenting  only  a  single  line  of  elevations,  nearly  in 
continued  order.  Apparently,  the  small  extent  of  the  basin  has,  as  it  were, 
compressed  the  range,  particularly  at  its  extremities,  and  thus  prevented  its 
extension  into  a  long  continued  ridge,  or  the  formation  of  a  gradual  curve. 
The  range  at  its  southern  extremity,  presents  an  abrupt  front  to  the  south, 
formed  by  the  points  of  its  parallel  ridges,  and  recedes  back,  toward  the  north 
at  its  south-east  point,  where  it  approaches  very  near  the  eastern  border  of  the 
baain.     The  larger  ridges,  at  this  southern   extremity,   toward  its  south-west 

1  In  the  map  Oremug  is  a  misprint  for  the  above. 


HISTORT     OF     ANCIENT     WOODBURY.  13 

point,  present  each,  two  distinct  ranges,  separated  by  a  band  of  friable  red 
sliaie,  with  beds  of  bituminous  shale  and  limestone,  containing  fish  impressions. 
The  eastern  and  higher  of  these  ranges,  consists  of  compact,  crystalline  trap  ; 
the  lower  western,  of  a  porous  amygdaloid.  The  latter,  in  the  most  western 
of  these  ridges,  is  underlaid  by  sandstone,  and  the  same  rock  occurs,  at  the 
south  points  of  the  more  posterior  ridges,  between  the  amygdaloidal  range,  and 
the  trap  range  of  the  more  anterior  ridge.  This  arrangement  in  the  ditferent 
ridges,  corresponds  very  exactly  with  that  along  the  west  front  of  the  eastern 
line  of  elevation,  in  the  southern  basin  of  the  larger  secondary  formation.  The 
main  trap  range,  in  its  southern  section,  and  the  south  part  of  its  middle  sec- 
tion, is  bordered  on  the  east  by  an  apparently  distinct  range  of  a  very  porous 
chloritic  and  decomposable  amygdaloid,  forming  a  series  of  low,  rounded 
swells,  generally  covered  with  the  rock  in  small  fragments.  This  latter  range 
is  accompanied,  at  least  toward  the  south-east  point,  by  a  bituminous  shale 
and  limestone,  recently  excavated  for  coal.  Similar  excavations  have  been 
made  in  the  bands  of  the  shale  at  the  south-west  extremity  of  the  main  range. 
"  The  northern  section  rises,  in  strong  receding  order,  east  of  the  Pomperaug, 
in  the  south  part  of  Woodbury  village,  and  extends  N.  N.  E.  in  a  group  of  parallel 
ridges,  east  of  that  village,  so  arranged  as  to  present  at  their  northern  extremity, 
a  distinctly  curved  outline,  convex  to  the  north.  These  ridges  rise  in  low  points 
toward  the  south,  and  attain  their  greatest  elevation  toward  the  north.  This 
group  may  be  considered  as  divided  into  two  parallel  sections  by  a  deep  valley 
opening  north  and  south  ;  the  eastern  being  projected  rather  further  north  than 
the  western.  Each  of  these  sections  presents  a  middle,  higher  ridge,  composed 
of  a  more  compact  crystalline  traj),  and  two  lower  lateral  ridges,  composed  of  a 
more  amygdaloidal  trap,  abounding  at  different  points  in  prehnite  and  agates. 
On  the  east  this  group  approaches  very  near  the  primary,  being  separated  only 
by  a  narrow  valley,  at  one  point  of  which,  the  primary  and  trap  rocks  are 
nearly  in  contact." 

Besides  the  Quassapaug  Lake  before  mentioned,  which  is  of  con- 
siderable extent,  is  a  small  artificial  pond,  called  Bacon's  Pond,  cov- 
ering some  six  or  eight  acres  of  land  at  the  north  end  of  the  rocks 
above  described,  in  a  quiet,  sequestered  spot,  where  one,  wearied  with 
the  cares  of  life,  can  well  beguile  a  leisure  hour. 

At  the  north  end  of  East  Meadow  is  a.  beautiful  cascade,  called  the 
Quanopaug  Falls,  where  a  considerable  stream  of  the  same  name 
falls  some  twenty  feet  over  a  projecting  ledge  of  rocks.  This  stream 
is  also  known  by  the  name  of  East  Meadow  Brook.  It  is  a  lovely, 
sylvan  retreat,  embosomed  among  the  sturdy  giants  of  the  forest. 

Fair  stream  !  thou  call'st  me  from  the  busy  cares 

With  which  I  am  surrounded,  and  bid'st  me 

For  the  time  forget  this  fleeting  life  is 

Full  of  evil.     Thou  makest  me  forget 

That  all  is  not  as  bright  and  beautiful 

As  thine  own  fairy  form,  whilst  thou  in  haste. 

Art  pressing  on  to  join  old  Ocean's  tide. 

2* 


14  IIISTOUY     OF     ANCIENT     WOODBURY. 

On  the  East  Sprain,  near  the  north-cast  corner  of  the  town,  are 
the  Ntmnewaug  Falls,  which  are  a  succession  of  cascades,  three  in 
number,  in  an  exceedingly  romantic  and  beautiful  dell.  The  whole 
descent  must  be  from  forty  to  fifty  feet.  At  a  short  distance  below 
these  fivlls,  near  an  apple-tree,  beneath  his  stately  hillock,  repose  the 
remains  of  Nonnewaug.  The  murmurs  of  the  falling  waters,  and  the 
evergreens  which  surround  the  falls,  whisper  a  perpetual  requiem 
over  the  sleeping  chieftain,  and  the  silent  braves  around  him. 

A  large  part  of  the  present  town  of  Washington  is  elevated  and 
mountainous.  There  is  in  Judea  Society,  as  it  is  called,  about  two 
miles  south-west  of  the  center,  a  place  called  "  Steep  Rock."  The 
ascent  to  this  eminence  from  the  north  is  easy,  and  from  its  top,  the 
spectator  has  one  of  the  most  interesting  and  lovely  prospects  in  the 
State.  Tlie  scene  presents  at  the  south,  an  area  in  the  form  of  an 
amphitheater,  the  sides  of  which  are  covered  with  the  primeval  for- 
est. The  Shcpaug  River  is  seen  flowing  in  a  beautiful  circle  at  the 
base  of  the  bluff,  inclosing  in  its  curve,  cultivated  fields,  the  whole 
scene  furnishing  to  the  admiring  beholder,  one  of  the  finest  land- 
scapes in  nature. 

Nature  has  done  much  for  this  part  of  the  old  town.  Iron  ore  has 
been  found  in  several  places.  Ocher,  fuller's  earth,  and  white  clay 
have  also  been  found.  Limestone  abounds  in  many  of  its  valleys, 
jind  several  quarries  are  worked,  from  which  large  quantities  have 
been  raised.  The  greater  part  of  the  latter,  however,  are  not  inclu- 
ded within  the  limits  of  the  ancient  town.  Percival  gives  the  follow- 
ing description  : 

"The  great  limestone  valley  extends  from  the  north  of  Bethel,  along  the 
course  of  Still  River,  through  Brookfiehi,  to  the  Ilousatonic,  at  New  Milford> 
whence  it  is  continued  through  New  Preston,  to  its  north-east  termination,  near 
the  Shepaug.  The  rock  in  this  valley  consists  chiefly  of  white  limestone,  par- 
ticularly toward  its  northern  extremity,  alternating  with  a  light  grey,  generally 
even,  striped  micaceous  gneiss,  with  large  beds,  in  some  parts,  of  a  very  coarse 
white  granite,  and  with  occasional  beds  of  a  light  gray  porphyritic  rock,  quite 
similar  to  that  accompanying  the  limestone  in  the  south  section.  The  limestone 
in  this  valley  is  generally  dolomitic,  but  beds  of  it  occasionally  occur  of  a  pvirer 
carbotiiite  of  lime,  one  of  which,  in  the  north-east  part  of  Danbury,  has  been 
lately  wrought  by  Mr.  L.  S.  Piatt,  for  purposes  of  agriculture.  Usually  the 
limestone  is  line-grained,  partly  very  decomposable,  and  in  part,  harder  and  of 
a  pure  white,  forming  an  elegant  marble.  The  marble  quarries  of  New  Pres- 
ton, near  the  north  termination  of  tlie  valley,  have  long  been  noted.  A  vein  of 
galena  has  been  worked  to  a  small  extent,  in  the  limestone  west  of  Still  River, 
in  Brookfield." 


HISTORY     OF     ANCIENT     WOODBURY.  15 

A  great  variety  of  minerals  is  found  in  the  ancient  territory,  but 
mostly  in  small  quantities.  In  the  present  town  of  Woodbury,  have 
been  found  in  the  trap  range,  agates  of  considerable  beauty,  though 
small  in  size  ;  an  abundance  of  balls  and  veins  of  prehnite,  epidote, 
chalcedony,  crystals  of  purple  quartz,  (amethyst,)  and  specimens  of 
plumbago  or  black  lead  in  small  lumps,  of  a  pure  quality,  in  the 
Orenaug  Rocks. 

In  an  excavation  made  some  years  ago,  in  search  of  gold,  which 
proved  fruitless,  magnetic  iron  pyrites  were  found  in  a  hornblendic 
gneiss,  traversed  by  seams  of  epidote.  The  only  deposit  in  the  State, 
of  sand  well  suited  to  the  manufacture  of  plate  and  flint  glass,  and 
porcelain  ware,  is  found  on  the  shores  of  the  Quassapaug  Lake.  It 
consists,  almost  exclusively,  of  quartz,  the  grains  of  which  are  color- 
less, transparent,  and  of  great  purity. 

In  Bethlem,  albite  and  galena  are  found.  "Washington  is  rich  in 
its  varieties.  There  have  been  discovered  there,  white  copperas  in 
Brown's  Mountain,  dyalogyte,  triplite,  gypsum,  kyanite,  mesotype, 
andalusite,  spar,  hornblende,  botryoidal  chalcedony,  idocrase,  garnet, 
magnetic  iron,  and  large  quantities  of  dolomite  employed  as  marble. 
Some  sixteen  mills  for  slitting  this  into  slabs  have  been  erected,  but 
are  not  all  kept  in  constant  operation.  The  average  yield  of  the 
quarries  per  annum,  in  rough  blocks,  is  between  seven  and  eight 
thousand  dollars  ;  and  nearly  the  same  amount  is  derived  to  the  mills 
and  marble  shops  of  the  immediate  vicinity,  for  preparing  the  marble 
for  use.' 

In  Southbury,  are  found  bitumen,  calcareous  spar,  grayish  black 
bituminous  limestone,  compact  limestone  containing  ichthyolites, 
clayey  marl,  hydraulic  limestone,  kilns  of  which  are  occasionally 
burnt,  radiated  chlorite,  prehnite,  lymonite,  purple  quartz,  chalcedony, 
opal,  chrichtonite,  mispickel  and  yellow  copper  pyrites.  Slight  tra- 
ces of  coal  have  been  discovered  in  bituminous  shales,  in  the  trap 
region,  but  the  coaly  matter  is  compact  bitumen.  It  ignites  slowly, 
and  bums  without  flame  or  odor. 

In  Roxbury,  are  found  mica,  mica-slate,  chrichtonite,  blende,  fine 
shestoze,  gray  granite,  gneissoid  flagging  stone,  galena  and  yellow 
copper  pyrites.     All  these  are  found  on  and  around  Mine  Hill. 

But  far  the  most  important  and  valuable  mineral  in  the  whole 
territory,  which  has  hitherto  been  almost  wholly  unappreciated,  is 


1  Shepard's  Geol.  Survey  of  the  State. 


16  HISTORY     OF     ANCIENT     WOODBURY. 

the  spathic  or  steel  ore  of  ISIine  Hill  in  Roxbury.  This  has  been 
overlooked  as  an  iron  ore  in  this  State,  nearly  to  the  present  time  ; 
and  still  continues  to  be  almost  totally  neglected,  although  it  is  by 
far  the  most  remarkable  mine  of  this  ore  in  the  United  States.  The 
mine  was  discovered  at  a  very  early  period,  and  the  abundance  and 
peculiar  properties  of  the  ore  excited  a  high  degree  of  curiosity  and 
expectation.  Numerous  attempts  were  made  to  work  it  as  a  silver 
mine,  and  immense  sums  expended,  without  exciting  even  a  suspi- 
cion of  its  value  for  iron. 

Spathic  iron  ore  is  one  of  the  most  disguised  of  all  the  ores  of  iron 
possessed  of  economical  value.  Its  high  specific  gravity,  added  to 
the  development  of  iron-rust  occasioned  by  exposure  to  the  weather, 
are  the  only  properties  by  which  its  ferruginous  character  is  generally 
detected.  Its  name  of  spathic  (or  sparry)  iron  was  bestowed  in 
allusion  to  its  brilliant  and  easily  effected  cleavages  in  three  direc- 
tions, and  which  result  in  rhombic  fragments  of  constant  dimensions. 
Its  hardness  is  greater  than  that  of  calcareous  spar,  and  its  color 
when  freshly  taken  from  its  repositories  is  a  light  yellowish  gray, 
which  passes,  however,  by  exposure  to  the  air,  to  a  reddish  brown. 
It  is  composed  of  protoxide  of  iron  from  57  to  60  per  cent.,  carbonic 
acid  34  to  36  per  cent.,  with  a  proportion  of  manganese  from  0.5  to 
1.5,  and  about  the  same  quantity  of  lime  and  magnesia.  The  lime 
and  magnesia,  however,  are  liable  to  shght  variations  in  their  pro- 
portions. 

The  spathic  iron  mine  in  question  occurs  in  a  mountain  about 
three  hundred  and  fifty  feet  in  height,  situated  on  the  west  bank  of 
Shepaug  River  in  Roxbury,  about  six  miles  above  its  junction  with 
the  Housatonic.  The  mountain  is  known  in  the  vicinity  by  the 
name  of  Mine  Hill.  The  rock  of  which  it  is  composed  is,  for  the 
most  part,  concealed  by  a  soil  supporting  a  fine  growth  of  hard  wood. 
Wherever  the  rock  makes  its  appearance,  however,  it  exhibits  a 
remarkable  uniformity  in  character  and  arrangement.  The  direction 
of  the  strata  is  nearly  N.  E.  and  S.  W.,  with  a  dip  of  25  or  30°  to 
the  north-west.  The  ore  occupies  a  perpendicular  vein  from  six  to 
eight  feet  in  width,  cutting  directly  across  the  strata ;  and  has  been 
detected  at  numerous  places,  fi-om  the  base  of  the  hill,  near  the  banks 
of  the  river,  quite  to  its  summit,  a  distance  of  above  half  a  mile. 
The  course  and  width  of  the  vein,  wherever  exposed,  appear  uniform. 
The  vein  stone  or  gangue  of  the  ore  is  white  quartz,  which  frequently 
preponderates  in  bulk  over  the  ore.  No  other  substances  deserve  to 
be  mentioned  as  entering  into  the  comijosition  of  this  very  remarkable 


HISTORY     OF    ANCIENT     WOODBURY.  17 

vein — minute  portions  of  iron  pyrites,  yellow  copper  pyrites,  galena 
and  blende,  being  the  only  foreign  substances  present,  and  as  these 
occur  principally  near  the  summit,  where  the  most  extensive  explo- 
rations were  made  for  silver,  it  is  altogether  likely  that  blende  was 
the  principal  object  of  search. 

Whoever  examines  this  vein,  must  be  convinced  of  the  abundance 
of  the  ore,  as  well  as  struck  whh  the  facility  of  its  situation  for  being 
wrought.  The  expense  to  be  incurred  in  raising  it  from  its  reposi- 
tory, and  its  delivery  upon  the  banks  of  the  Shepaug,  where  the 
necessary  water-power  is  afforded  for  carrying  on  extensive  iron 
works,  must  be  comparatively  triiling ;  while  an  abundant  supply  of 
hard  wood  is  at  hand  for  fuel,  and  a  land  carriage  of  four  miles 
would  connect  the  works  with  the  navigable  waters  of  the  Ilousa- 
tonic. 

The  spathic  iron  being  an  ore  of  such  unusual  appearance,  and 
nowhere  wrought  in  the  United  States,  it  is  not  surprising  that  the 
remarkable  deposit  here  alluded  to,  has  been  so  long  treated  with 
neglect.  Public  attention,  however,  can  in  no  way  perhaps  be  better 
excited  toward  so  valuable  a  resource,  than  by  making  known  its 
extensive  use  in  other  countries,  and  by  pointing  out  a  few  of  the 
leading  facts  connected  with  its  conversion  into  steel.  It  furnishes 
almost  exclusively  the  well  known  German  steel,  so  largely  manu- 
factured in  the  Austrian  dominions.  Thus  in  the  Tyrol,  the  annual 
produce  is  two  thousand  quintals,  and  in  Carinthia  seventy  thousand, 
and  large  quantities  are  manufactured  in  several  other  countries  of 
the  Old  World. 

Dr.  Sliepard,  in  his  ''  Report  on  the  Geological  Survey  of  Con- 
necticut," from  which  the  foregoing  account  is  mostly  extracted,  also 
gives  the  history  of  this  mine,  as  follows,  with  slight  alterations : 

"  The  first  digginj^  at  this  place  was  made  about  the  middle  of  the  last  cen- 
tury, by  Hurlbut  and  Hawley,  but  the  history  of  their  operations  is  nearly  lost. 
The  second  company,  organized  by  the  Messrs.  Bronsons  (brothers)  near  the 
year  17G4,  prosecuted  the  enterprise  with  much  spirit. 

"  They  sunk  a  shaft  into  the  vein  near  the  top  of  the  mountain,  one  hundred 
and  twenty-five  feet  deep,  besides  carrying  down  another  of  considerable  depth 
for  the  ventilation  of  the  first.  The  working  was  conducted  under  the  direction 
of  a  German  goldsmith  of  the  name  of  Feuchter,  who  carried  on  his  processes 
of  pretended  separation  and  refining  with  great  secrecy.  It  is  said  that  he 
produced  occasionally  small  quantities  of  silver,  which  kept  alive  the  hopes  of 
his  employers. 

"  Thus  the  undertaking  went  forward  for  several  years,  until  the  means  of 
the  company  were  wholly  exhausted.     The  result  of  this  experiment  might,  in 


18  HISTORY     OF     ANCIENT     WOODBURY. 

all  probability,  havo  put  the  working  of  the  mine  for  silver  cotnpletely  at  rest, 
except  for  a  circuinstaiice  which  occurred,  connected  with  the  departure  of  the 
German.  When  he  left,  lie  was  assisted  by  a  slave  in  removing  a  numbi-r  of 
very  heavy  boxes,  one  of  which  accidentally  falling  to  the  ground  in  the  journey 
between  Southbury  and  Derby,  burst  open  and  revealed  to  the  eyes  of  the  negro 
a  quantity  of  bars,  which  he  described  as  having  the  appearance  of  silver. 
The  agent  was  now  suspected  to  have  carried  on  the  working  of  the  mine 
fraudulently,  and  to  have  caused  its  products  to  be  surreptitiously  conveyed  out 
of  the  country  for  his  private  advantage  ;  consequently  the  mine  again  acquired 
the  character  of  a  valuable  dei)Osit  of  silver. 

"  A  new  company  was  organized  in  the  city  of  New  York,  who  took  a  lease 
of  the  property  for  forty-two  years.  They  commenced  operations  on  a  much 
wider  scale,  and  have  left  behind  them  proofs  of  a  very  heavy  expenditure. 
The  excavations  made  by  this  company  exhibit  more  skill  in  the  working  of 
mines.  They  descended  the  mountain  toward  the  river,  in  the  direction  of 
the  vein,  removing  at  intervals  the  accumulations  of  soil  and  loose  rocks  which 
conceal  it  throughout  its  whole  distance,  until  they  reached  half-way  to  the 
base  of  the  mountain,  when  they  commenced  carrying  in  a  level  having  the 
full  width  of  the  veiti,  and  which  was  prosecuted  seven  rods  to  the  vein,  and 
two  rods  on  the  vein.  The  result  of  thii  enterprise  was  equally  unpropitious 
with  the  former  one,  though  not  sufliciently  discouraging  to  lead  to  the  final 
abandonment  of  the  project.  Still  another  company  was  formed,  consisting 
chiefly  of  persons  living  in  Goshen,  who  recommenced  the  diggings  at  the  top 
of  the  mountain,  and  persevered  in  the  undertaking  until  the  failure  of  several 
of  the  stockholders  compelled  them  to  relinquish  it. 

"  The  last  working  of  the  mine  was  by  Mr.  Asahel  Bacon,  an  extensive 
landholder  in  that  neigliborhood.  It  finally  began  to  attract  attention  as  an 
iron  mine,  and  considerable  quantities  of  the  ore,  raised  by  the  dilferent  com- 
panies, were  carried  to  Kent,  and  there  reduced  along  with  the  hematite  of 
that  place,  with  which  it  is  said  to  have  formed  a  very  tough  and  excellent 
iron.  An  unskillful  attempt  was  afterward  made  to  reduce  the  spathic  iron  by 
itself,  in  a  furnace  at  no  great  distance  from  the  mine,  which  proving  unsuc- 
cessful, no  farther  notice  has  been  taken  of  the  ore. 

"The  present  proprietor  of  this  mine,  Mr.  D.^vid  J.  Stiles,  of  Soutlibury, 
procured  a  sample  of  pig-iron,  obtained  during  the  last  mentioned  trial,  and 
caused  it  to  be  forged  into  steel  under  his  own  inspection,  by  an  experienced 
iron-master  in  Salisbury.  The  operation  was  attended  with  great  facility; 
and  a  variety  of  cutting  instruments  were  manufactured  from  the  steel,  all  of 
which  proved  of  excellent  quality." 

Within  the  last  three  years,  the  "  old  shaft "  and  side  drain  have 
been  cleaned  out,  and  spathic  ore  has  been  raised  in  considerable 
quantities  on  various  parts  of  the  vein,  by  a  company  from  New 
York,  who  had  bought  the  old  mining  title.  A  powder-house,  dwell- 
ing-house and  furnace  were  erected  by  them,  and  they  were  pro- 
ccf'ding  with  their  operations,  when  legal  proceedings  were  com- 
menced against  them  by  Mr.  David  J.  Stiles,  who  holds  the  title  of 
Mr.  Bacon.     Suits  arc  still  pending  in  the  courts,  for  the  purpose  of 


HISTORY     OF     ANCIENT     WOODBURY.  19 

testing  the  title  to  the  mine.  But  it  is  believed  that  the  suits  -will 
pro\^  a  richer  mine  to  members  of  the  legal  profession,  than  the  ore 
in  question  to  the  contending  parties  for  years  to  come.  The  belief 
in  the  existence  of  an  exceedingly  rich  vein  of  silver,  some  two  feet 
in  diameter,  traversing  the  entire  extent  of  the  vein  of  spathic  iron, 
about  one  hundred  and  twenty-five  feet  below  the  surface,  has  again 
become  paramount  in  the  minds  of  the  litigants ;  and  it  must  be 
admitted  that  there  are  many  facts  tending  to  show  that  belief  well 
founded.  It  is  much  to  be  regretted  that  the  parties  can  not  agree 
on  a  compromise  of  their  claims,  and  turn  their  energies  and  resources 
to  the  working  of  the  mine,  acknowledged  to  be  one  of  the  richest  in 
the  world,  for  at  least  spathic  iron  ore. 

There  are  three  chalybeate  springs  in  the  territory,  of  some  effi- 
cacy. One  of  these  is  situated  in  Woodbury,  by  the  side  of  the  road, 
not  far  from  the  house  of  Mr.  James  Morriss ;  another  in  Washing- 
ton, by  the  road-side,  between  the  furnace  and  the  marble  quarries ; 
and  the  other  on  Mine  Hill,  at  no  great  distance  from  the  "  old  shaft " 
of  the  mine. 

The  village  of  South  Britain  is  nearly  surrounded  by  high  hills 
and  ledges,  and  the  place,  viewed  from  the  south,  has  a  very  romantic 
appearance.  The  two  principal  blufis  are  called  Squaw  Rock  and 
Rattlesnake  Rock — of  which  more  will  be  said  hereafter. 

The  face  of  the  country  throughout  the  territory  is  of  an  undulating 
character,  being  pleasantly  diversified  with  hill  and  dale.  It  is  well 
watered  with  numerous  streams  besides  those  already  described,  fur- 
nishing an  excellent  watei'-power  for  numerous  manufacturing  estab- 
lishments. Upon  the  rivers  and  streams  there  are  intervals  of  con- 
siderable extent,  and  other  level  tracts  in  the  many  valleys.  The 
soil  is  generally  a  gravelly,  and  in  some  places  a  calcareous  loam, 
warm  and  fertile,  well  adapted  to  the  production  of  corn  and  the 
various  kinds  of  grain.  Tlie  lands  are  good  for  grazing  purposes, 
and  favorable  for  fruit  of  the  various  kinds.  Valuable  orchards  of 
apples,  pears,  cherries,  peaches  and  other  fruit-trees  abound. 

The  natural  growth  of  timber  is  oak  of  the  different  kinds,  maple, 
elm,  ash,  birch,  walnut,  chesnut  and  other  deciduous  trees.  Hem- 
lock, fir,  pine,  cedar  and  other  evergreens  appear  in  various  places. 

The  climate  is  mild  and  healthful,  and,  in  the  valleys  particularly, 
many  degrees  warmer  than  in  the  neighboring  towns. 

The  first  settlers  found  here  the  bear,  the  wolf,  the  moose,  the  deer 
and  the  wild-cat,  in  considerable  numbers.  To  these  we  owe  at  the 
present  day  some  of  our  local  names ;  as  Bear  Hill,  Moose  Horn 


20  n  I  S  T  O  K  Y     OF     ANCIENT     AV  O  O  D  B  U  R  Y  . 

Hill,  Cat  Swamp,  "Wolf  Pit,  near  the  junction  of  the  North  and 
"West  Sprains,  at  Ilotchkissville,  and  "Wiiite  Deer  Rocks,  near  the 
head  of  Quassapau<^  Lake.  Beavers  were  found  on  many  streams  ; 
otters  were  numerous  many  years  after  the  settlement  was  com- 
menced, and  some  are  now  occasionally  found.  The  Indians  carried 
on  quite  an  extensive  commerce  in  the  furs  of  these  animals  with  our 
forefathers.  "Wild  turkeys  were  also  abundant.  Shad  and  other 
choice  fish  were  taken  in  the  Pootatuck  River. 

On  the  whole,  Woodbury  may  be  considered  a  good  agricultural 
and  manufacturing  town,  and  our  forefathers  may  well  have  con- 
gratulated themselves,  that  their  "  lines  had  fallen  to  them  in  pleas- 
ant places."  In  the  quaint  language  of  the  Indian  recommendation, 
when  they  were  negotiating  the  sale  of  the  First  Purchase  at 
Stratford,  "it  is  a  goodly  place  for  many  smokes  of  the  white  man." 


jr  A.JT  TAX 


CHAPTER   II. 

HISTORY    OF    THE    INDIAX    PURCHASES. 

Deed  from  the  Pagassetts  ;  Six  Purchases  from  the  Pootatucks  ;  First, 
OR  Pomperaug  Purchase  ;  Deed  from  Avomockomok  ;  Kettletown  Pur- 
chase ;  Second,  or  Shepauo  Purchase;  Third,  or  Quassapauo  Purchase  ; 
Fourth,  or  Nonnewaug  Purchase  ;  Fifth  Purchase  ;  Sixth,  or  Confirm- 
atory Purchase;  Reservation,  or  "  Purchase;"  Promisick;  1659 to  175S. 

The  descendants  of  the  founders  of  "Woodbury  can  look  upon  their 
landed  possessions  as  having  come  to  them  by  fair,  honest  and  legit- 
imate titles.  No  violence,  no  conquest,  no  stain  of  blood,  attaches  to 
the  hem  of  the  garments  of  our  forefathers.  They  not  only  pur- 
chased their  lands  of  the  Indians,  but,  in  some  instances,  several 
times  over  from  conflicting  claimants  and  dishonest  pretenders. 
They  were  very  particular  in  this  respect,  and  had  the  alienations 
executed  in  legal  and  solemn  form.  They  were  the  more  careful, 
that  they  might,  in  this  manner,  more  vividly  impress  on  the  minds 
of  the  Indians,  the  binding  nature  of  their  contracts.  Some  of  the 
earlier  purchases  were  made  before  there  was  any  distinct  idea,  or 
perhaps  any  idea  at  all,  of  making  here  a  new  plantation.  Some  of 
these  conveyances  are  lost.  The  earliest  deed  on  record  is  given  be- 
low. It  is  taken  from  the  first  book  of  Woodbury  Land  Records,  to 
which  it  was  transferred  from  the  Stratford  records.  The  first  vol- 
ume of  our  records  was  copied,  by  vote  of  the  town,  about  a  hundred 
years  after  its  settlement,  and  the  original  has  been  lost.  By  this 
means,  much  of  the  ancient  spelling  is  lost. 

A  Record'  of  a  parcell  of  Land  to  Lew.  Wheeler,  by  Tautanaimo,  a  Sacliem 
at  Pagasett,  is  as  followetli : 

This  present  writing  witnesseth,  that  I,  Tautannimo,  a  Sachem  at  Pagasett, 
considerations  moveing  me  thereunto,  do  freely  and  fully  make  over,  alienate 
and  give  from  myself,  and  heirs,  and  all  other  Indians,  and  their  heirs,  a  par- 

1  Woodbury  Land  Records,  Book  I.,  p.  67. 


22  II  I  S  T  O  II  Y     OF     ANCIENT     WOODBURY. 

cellorLnnd  bounded  as  followeth ;  Potateuk  River  southwest;  Naugatunck 
River  northeast ;  and  Ijounded  on  ye  northwest  with  trees  marked  by  me  and 
other  Indians;  ye  said  Land  I  (h),  with  yeconst-nt  of  all  Paj^asett  Indians,  freely 
give  it  to  Lew.  Thos.  Wheeler,  and  his  heirs  forever.  And  I  do  fully  give  ye 
s'l  Lew.  Thomas  Wheeler  full  power  to  have  it  recorded  to  hiin,  and  his  heirs, 
according  to  ye  Laws  and  Customs  of  ye  English. 

In  witness  hereunto  I  interchangeably  set  to  my  hand,  this  20  of  April,  1G59, 
the  names  of  ye  Indians  that  subscribed. 
Subscribed  in  i)resence  of 

John  Wells  Tautannimo 

Kichard  Harvey  Paquaha 

Thomas  Utfoot  Pagasett  James 

John  Curtis  Monsuck 

John  Minor  Sasaazo 

This  is  a  true  copy  of  the  deed  by  me  Joseph  Ilawley. 

This  deed,  as  will  be  seen,  is  signed  by  the  Sachem  of  Pagasett, 
(Derby,)  and  four  of  his  sagamores,  or  counselors,  and  comprises  a 
territory  in  Litchfield  and  Ncav  Haven  counties,  nearly  as  large  as 
Litchfield  county  itself.  This  seems  to  have  been  the  last  sale  of 
lands  made  by  the  Derby  Indians  in  this  direction,  and,  no  doubt, 
covered  all  the  territory  claimed  by  them  at  the  north.  Their  right 
to  sell  the  land  at  all,  seems  somewhat  doubtful,  as  the  most  of  the 
territory  sold,  was  occupied  by  the  Pootatuck'  tribe  of  Indians.  By 
a  deed  to  Joseph  Judson,  of  Stratford,  of  a  tract  of  land  lying  on  Pe- 
quonnuck  River,  dated  9th  Sept.,  1G61,  signed  by  Wompegan,  Sachem 
of  Paugassett,  supposed  to  be  the  nephew  of  Tautannimo,  by  Ake- 
notch,  his  sagamore,  and  Ansantanay,  his  father,  it  appears  that 
Aquiomp,  then  Sachem  of  Pootatuck,  and  his  equal  in  rank,  was  his 
relative,  and  gave  his  consent  to  that  alienation  on  the  18th  day  of 
May  in  the  next  year,  by  a  separate  indorsement  on  the  deed,  in 
presence  of  other  witnesses.  In  this  indorsement,  it  is  stated,  that 
he  was  related  to  Wompegan.  What  the  relationship  was,  whether 
by  blood,  or  marriage,  is  not  stated.  It  is  certain  that  Aquiomp  was 
independent  of  the  Paugasett  Sachem,  and  that  his  successors  in  the 
sachemdom,  after  that  date,  made  numerous  grants  to  the  English. 

The  record  of  the  First  Purchase  from  the  Pootatucks,  the  Indians 
of  our  territory,  marked  1  in  the  accompanying  map  of  Indian  Pur- 
chases, is  lost,  and  can  not  now  be  found.  Its  date,  however,  was 
26th  April,  1C73.     It  is  referred  to  in  five  later  deeds,  is  called  the 


1  Tills  name  was  spelled  in  a  great  v.iriety  of  ways,  as  Puttatuck,  Potatuck,  Pohta- 
tnck,  Potateuk,  Putatuke,  Pootatuck,  &c.  The  latter  spelling  is  the  one  adopted  by 
the  author,  as  it  corresponds  with  the  pronunciation  of  the  word. 


HISTORY     OF     ANCIENT     WOODBURY.  23 

Pomperaug,  or   First   Purchase  ;  the  title  to  it  confirmed  and  the 
boundaries  given : 

«<  Wh  former  purchase  runs  about  foure  miles  North  &  South,  and  about  two 
miles  East  &  West,  on  both  sides  of  y=  riuer,  and  comp'hending  y"  whole  Town 
platt  of  Woodbury  ;  Extending  Northward  to  y"  North  end  of  y'  East  Meadow, 
and  so  running  West  to  ye  lowland,  or  meadow  on  West  Spraine  to  M'  Judsons 
Wolf-pitt,  where  y'  West  Sprayn  &  North  Sprayn  meet,  and  running  South- 
ward nigh  to,  or  facing  upon  y'  place  commonly  called  y'  Bent  of  y«  Riuer, 
taking  in  transiluania  and  rag-land,  and  so  Easterly  on  homelots  at  known 
Boundaries."! 

It  is  curious  to  note,  in  the  foregoing  description,  the  inaccuracy, 
so  common  in  early  times,  in  giving  distances  and  measurements. 
This  grant  is  said  to  be  about  four  miles  in  length,  when,  in  reality, 
it  is  not  far  short  of  nine.  The  width  of  two  miles,  as  stated,  is 
doubtless,  proportionably  inaccurate.  The  north  end  of  East  Mead- 
ow is  nearly  a  mile  north  of  the  North  Meeting  House,  and  the  "  Bent 
of  y°  River"  is  the  curve  in  the  Pomperaug,  not  far  from  the  village 
of  South  Britain.  The  "Wolf-pit  forms  a  good  boundary,  being  loca- 
ted in  the  hill  westerly  of  the  new  Shear  factory,  called  "VYolf-pit  Hill. 
The  pit  is  on  the  northerly  side  of  the  hill,  near  Weekeepeemee,  and 
is  a  hole  leading  into  the  face  of  a  rock,  within  which  is  quite  a  spa- 
cious chamber.  This  purchase  was  well  chosen,  comprising,  as  it 
does,  much  of  the  most  fertile  and  desirable  land,  in  the  whole  terri- 
tory of  the  ancient  town.  It  is  probable,  though  not  certain,  that 
some  of  those  interested  in  the  purchase,  had  been  up  to  examine  the 
lands,  before  the  bargain  was  concluded.  This  deed  was  executed  at 
Stratford. 

The  next  deed  in  point  of  time  is  that  of  Yohcomge  and  Avomock- 
omge.  It  makes  mention  of  the  Pomperaug  Purchase,  and  is  accom- 
panied by  a  rude  map,  showing  the  Pomperaug  Purchase  on  both 
sides  of  the  river,  and  the  land  by  them  granted,  which  was  all  the 
territory  south  and  west  of  said  First  Purchase,  between  the  Pom- 
peraug, Shepaug  and  Pootatuck  Rivers.  It  is  not  known  whom  they 
represented,  but  it  was  probably  one  of  the  small  clans,  resident  with- 
in the  town,  and  dependent  upon,  or  related  to,  the  Pootatucks. 
This  is  rendered  the  more  probable  from  the  fact,  that  the  deed  is 
witnessed  by  Wecuppeme,  who  was,  at  a  later  day,  sagamore  of  one 
of  them.  This  grant  seems  never  to  have  been  regarded  by  the 
Pootatucks,  or  the  settlers,  as  the  tract  conveyed  was  twice  repur- 

1  Woodbury  Land  Records,  Book  II.,  p.  137. 


24  HISTORY     OF     ANCIKNT     WOODBURY. 

chased  aftiTwanl  ;  once  within  a  few  years.  It  comprehended  even 
tlie  l\)olatuck  vilhi^rc  itself,  the  chief  seat  of  that  tribe.  A  copy  of 
tliis  conveyance  follows  : 

"July  14th,  lf.73. 

"  Yohcomge  i)romiseih  y*  same  Tr:ut  of  land  y'  Avomockomge  doth  below, 
and  in  jiart  of  jjay,  received  five  shillings  in  powder. 

The  very  mark  of  ) 
Yolicomge  ) 

"  Avomockomge  y*  proprietorof  y*  land  w""  in  this  square, doth  hereby  ingage 
to  sell  unto  M^  Sherman,  Lieu' Joseph  Judson,  &  M'.  John  Minor  y' above 
s"!  Land;  viz.,  what  is  w^'in  the  Comprehension  of  this  square,  both  West  k 
South  of  y  purchase  at  Poinperoge  ;  And  hath  al  heady  received  as  earnest  one 
grey  coat  at  IP  10«  price  this  17'''  of  May,  1673. 

"  In  consideration  of  y' uppermost  purchase  of  Land  upon  y'  West  &  South  of 
Pomperaug  purchase;  viz.,  y«  fust  purchase,  July  y«  G  ,  1C73,  Avomockomge 
received  one  hatchett  4'  &  in  lead  &  powder  10". 

Witness  Kenonge  Avomockomge 


(^>t^ 


mark 


Wecuppemee  j 

English  witnesses, 
Zechariah  Walker, 
Samuell  Galpin. 

From  the  consideration  mentioned  in  this  deed,  it  would  seem,  that 
the  price  of  land  was  not  very  high  in  these  Indians'  estimation,  how- 
ever doubtful  may  have  been  their  title. 

A  gray  coat  of  homespun  manufacture,  a  hatchet,  a  little  powder 
and  lead,  seem  very  trivial  payment,  yet  no  doubt  these  untutored 
savages,  who,  as  yet,  considered  their  lands  of  little  or  no  value,  re- 
joiced greatly  over  the  acquisition  of  such  rare  articles,  and  probably 
thought  they  had  by  far  the  best  of  the  bargain.  They  knew  not  how 
soon  they  would  be  straightened  for  land,  and  their  tribe  scattered  like 
the  leaves  of  the  forests. 

At  a  very  early  period,  a  large  tract  of  land  had  been  purchased 
of  the  Indians  for  the  consideration  of  a  brass  kettle,  and  received, 
from  this  circumstance,  the  name  of  Kettletown,  which  it  has  borne 
to  the  present  time.  On  the  IGth  of  April,  1679,  this  tract  was 
again  sold  by 

"  Cheabrooke,  an  Indian,  together  with  the  consent  and  approbation  of 
Coshusheougemy  Sacbern,  the  sagamore  ol"  puttatuck." 


IIISTORT     OF     ANCIENT     WOODBURY.  25 

together  with  Quaker's  Farms,  in  Derby,  east  of  the  Eight  Mile 
Brook,  to  Ebenezer  Johnson,  of  Derby,  and  his  associates,  in  consid- 
eration of  "corn  &  other  goods,  as  allso  of  our  meer  love  and  Good 
will ;"  the  former  being  described  as 

"  Sam's  field,  or  Kitle  Town,  Bounded  on  the  west  with  puttatuck  Riuer, 
that  is  to  say,  with  the  west  side  the  Hand  in  the  Riuer  &  y^  west  Chanell  of  the 
Riuer  &  Bounded  on  the  South  East  «fc  North  East  with  the  Eight  Mile  Brook 
&  Bounded  on  the  North  &  North  W-est  with  the  Hill  aboue  the  playn  called 
araugacutack,  fe  so  to  go  with  a  straight  line  from  the  upper  end  of  the  playne 
to  the  Eight  Mile  Brooke." 

The  Kittletown  part  of  this  conveyance  is  represented  on  the  map 
by  the  division  marked  5,  being  thus  numbered  from  the  fact,  that  it 
was  the  fifth  of  the  subsequent  regular  purchases  from  the  Poota- 
tucks. 

On  the  lOth  of  July,  1G82,  another  irregular  deed  seems  to  have 
been  received  by  the  town,  thi'ough  its  committee,  from  "Wesuncks 
and  Wonnokekunkbom,  for  which  the  latter  received  "  two  pair  of 
trading  cloth  breeches  &  one  yard  of  trading  cloth,"  and  in  consider- 
ation of  which,  they  engaged  that  the  inhabitants  "  shall  have  liberty 
to  improve  land  anywhere  west  or  south  of  their  first  purchase,  where 
they  shall  see  cause."  What  claim  they  set  u}}  to  the  territory  is  not 
known.  No  notice  seems  to,  have  been  taken  of  it  till  nearly  twenty- 
four  years  aftex'ward,  when  it  was  confirmed  in  a  deed  ratifying  all 
former  sales,  and  it  was  not  even  recorded  till  two  years  after  that.' 

The  second  purchase  of  lands  from  the  full  board  of  regularly  con- 
stituted authorities  of  the  Pootatucks,  was  made  on  the  17th  of  March, 
1685-6.  This  was  the  Shepaug  purchase,  comprising  two-thirds  of 
the  present  town  of  Roxbury,  and  part  of  Southbury,  and  is  marked 
"  2"  on  the  accompanying  map.  This  deed  was  granted  to  Lieut. 
Joseph  Judson,  Ensign  John  Wiatt,  John  Sherman,  John  Hurd  and 
John  Mitchell,  in  behalf  of  the  town.  It  acknowledges  and  fully 
confirms  the  First  Purchase,  and  then  grants  that 

"  Tract  of  Land  lying  and  situate  nere  to  y^  place  Commonly  called  by  us 
Munnacommock  running  in  length  w"'  y°  former  purchase  above  exprest,  about 
six  Miles  in  length  East  and  West  for  about  four  miles  and  an  halfe  North 
and  South.  More  p'ticularly  Bounded  on  y«  North  East  w""  y«  former  purchase, 
and  a  little  part  of  it  at  y'  North  end  w"'  Land  not  yet  alienated  ;  Bounded  on 
y*  North  w"*  Land  not  yet  sold  ;  The  mark'  trees  or  boundaries  to  bee  made 
clere  and  tfayre  and  so  to  be  kept  between  us,  Bounded  uppon  y«  West  w'*"  Shee- 

1  W.  Land  Records,  vol.  2,  p.  1. 


2G 


ni  STORY     OF     AN  CI  EXT     "VVOOPRrRY. 


paug  Riuer ;  And  Bounded  on  y'  South  w""  n  part  of  a  hill,  called  horse-hill ; 
and  so  bending  something  South  East  from  thence  to  w'Mn  a  small  matter  about 
fourscore   rod   of  y«   place  called  y«  bent  of  y*  Riuer.     More   p,ticuJarly  for 
J*  Bounds  wee  refer  to  y'  exact  Bound  Marks." 
It  was  signed  by 
"  Witnessed  pr  us  iV:  ^^ 

subscribed  in  o'  p'sence  Waramaukeag       ^.^^J^^  ^''^  "^^^ke 

Punnahun  Interp'te'  •7~~^r~.___ 

Womoqui     f\       T~~~~,  his  marke 

\      , 1  Keshooshamau  g  /\)  his  marke 

John  Banks  ^ ;CI!l!/  '''^  '"^""ke 

^'^^  Chuhabanx 

Nathaniel  Ilerrand  Sen' 

Nathaniel  flerrand  Junr 
Many  othe'  or  more  Yonngamoush 

both  English  &  Indians  were 
p'esent  at  y*  same  time."       ^  , ,  /^  *) 


a 


marke 


o 


his 

marke 

his 

marke 

liis 

marke 

his 

marke 

his 

marke 

his 

marke 

"  This  deed  was  acknowledged  y«  same  day  at  y«  same  time  of  ye  subscrip- 
tion and  delivery  before  Me. 

John  Minor,  Comiss'."' 

The  Third,  or  Quassapang  Purchase,  comprising  a  part  of  "Wood- 
bury, INIiddlebury  and  Southbiiry,  was  acquired  on  the  30th  of  Octo- 
ber, 1687.  This  tract  is  marked  3  on  the  map,  and  was  sold  to  the 
town  for 

"  Severall  sums  of  Money  in  hand  received.  And  good  Assurance,  to  receive 
in  the  whole,  to  y'  value  of  fifty  pounds,  and  a  mortgage  of  a  certain  parcell  of 
meadow  Land  lying  to  y«  Southward  of  y'  Read  Northward  or  westward  of 
y«  Eight  Mile  Brook." 

This  tract  is  described  as  a 

"Parcell  of  Land  lying  to  y«  East  of  y'  first  purchase,  made  by  y«  Inhabitants 
of  Woodbury,  extending  Northwardly  about  halfe  a  mile  north  of  y^  first  pur- 
chase, and  so   running   duo  East,   or    Easterly  to   fourscore  rod   Eastward  of 


1  Woodbury  Land  Records,  vol.  2,  p.  136. 


HISTOKT     OF     ANCIENT     WOODBURT. 


27 


y«  Easternmost  of  ye  pond  called  and  commonly  known  by  y*  Name  Quassa- 
paug ;  and  so  running  Southward  between  \Vaterbery  and  us  and  Darby  and 
us  till  it  comes  to  y'  place  where  y'  road  between  Woodbury  and  Darby  cross- 
eth  y'  Eight  Mile  Brook ;  and  bounded  West  w""  y'  first  purchase  y'  y'  s''  Inhab- 
itants of  Woodbury  made." 

It  was  signed  by 


Witnesses  present 
Israel  Curtis 
John  Wiatt 
John  Minor  Sen' 


Chevoramauge 
his  marke 


Punhone 
his  marke 


Youngstockum 
his  marke 


Chohees 
•  his  marke 


a 


Kesoshamaug  Sagamore 
his'^^^^^^"*marke 


marke 


marke 

Tantamohoh 

his  ^^      — .  marke 


Indian  witnesses 


l_y 


"  Exactly  recorded  from  y=  originall  y«  29'''  of  May  1699  as  attest 

John  Minor  recorde'"! 

On  the  18th  of  May,  1700,  the  inhabitants  of  the  town,  having 
become  numerous  for  those  clays,  made  their  fourth,  or  Nonnewaug 
Purchase.  To  this  time,  it  seems  that  the  sagamore  of  that  name 
had  retained  his  possessions  in  the  valley  of  the  Nonnewaug  or  East 
Sprain  stream.  But  now  it  came  his  turn  to  make  room,  and  it 
seems  that  he  and  his  companions  did  it  with  a  good  grace,  as  the 
deed  informs  us,  the  sale  was  made 

"  For  valid  considerations  moveing  thereto,  besides  y'  y*  desire  y'  is  w"''in  us 
of  a  friendly  correspondency  w'*"  y*  English  Inhabitants  of  s''  Woodbury." 

For  these  considerations  and  inducements  they  granted 

"  All  y'  parcell  of  Land,  bee  it  more  or  less,  by  estimation  six  square  miles; 
And  bounded  on  y«  East  w'^  y^  stated  Boundaries  between  y'  inhabitants  of 
s"i  Woodbury  and  Waterbury,  Bounded  North  wt""  y«  Bound  granted  by 
y«  Gen'i  Court  to  y«  s'^  Inhabitants  of  Woodbury ;  Bounded  West  w""  Land  be- 
longing to  Indians  as  yet  not  purchased  by  y°  s''  English  at  a  Brook  well  known 
both  by  English  and  Indians,  called  y=  North-Spraine,  taking  in  y«  s^  Brook, 
as  it  runs  North  and  South,  so  that  this  o'  Deed  of  sale  comp'hends  all  y'  Land 


1  W.  L.  R.,  vol.  2,  p.  137. 


28 


HISTORY     OF     ANCIENT     WOODUURT. 


bounded  Wi-st  \v>h  y*  s"'  Xorth-Spraine,  and  East  w"'  Waterbury  &  Woodbury 
Bounds,  taking  in  all  y«  land  on  botk  :sidcs  of  y«  East  Sprain.  And  bounded 
South  w""  y'Land  fornu-rly  purcliasi-d  by  y«  English  Inhabitants  of  s*"  Wood- 
bury."' 


It  Ava.s  signed  by 


"Witnessed  by  us 
Joseph  Huributt 
Robert  AVarnor 

Wombumniaug' 

his  s. 


ibummaug  ^^^-»  "'^'" 

squaw        ^y      mar 


Wombummaug  V   ^ 

Nucquollozomaug  <q 

Mashagasse 


Wunnuntcone 


i_  his  inarke 

'^J^f^^^X-  Cacapattanees  Sonn 


his  marke 
his  niarke 
his  marke 


his  marke 
C_^^       his  marke 


V 


his  marke 


This  Instrum'  was  ac- 
knowledged before  me  y^ 
same  day  by  all  y'  sub- 
scribed as  their  ffree  act 
and  dec-d. 

.lohn  Minor  Justice 


In  y^  behalf  of  himself  and  all  potatuck  Indians 
confirming  this  Bill  of  Sale 
Exactly  recorded  from  y'  originall  this  1 6th  day  of  May  1701  P'  John  Minor 
recordr"2 

On  the  25th  of  October,  1705,  it  became  necessary  to  buy  Kettle- 
town  purchase  for  the  third  time.  Something  more  than  a  quarter 
of  a  century  had  passed  since  the  last  sale,  and  by  this  time  it  is 
probable  they  felt  the  need  of  the  "  consideration."  It  is  represented 
on  the  map  by  division  5,  being  the  fifth  regular  purchase  of  the 
Pootatucks.  Its  description  is  obscure  and  defective,  but  it  evidently 
means  this  division.     It  is  described  as  being 

"  Bounded  northerly  by  our  first  and  former  purchases,  bounded  southerly  by 
y«  Heep  of  rocks  or  hill  on  y»  south  of  a  Brook  called  Transilvania,  which 
rocks  incompasse  8"^  brook,  and  all  ye  lowland  rounding  till  it  comes  at  our 
river;  on  y<  South-East  part  6f  it  &  bounded  on  y=  West  with  s''  rocks  at  an 
angle  with  a  purchase^  formerly  made  running  from  Chepague  Falls  to  this 
tract."'^ 

1  Meaning  the  First  Purchase,  or  town  plot.     2  W.  T.  R.,  vol.  2,  p.  137. 

3  The  Second  Purchase.  4  W.  Land  Records,  vol.  2,  p.  137. 


HISTORY     OF     ANCIENT     WOODBURY. 


29 


It  was  signed  by 


Witnesses  present 
John  Minor  sen' 
Jo  Judson  Jan. 
The  Minor :  In- 
terpreter 


the  Indians  y' 
subscribed  &: 
sealed  appeared 
y«  same  day  and 
acknowledged  y« 
above  written  to 
be  their  free  act 
and  deed  before 
me  John  Minor 
Justice 


Chyiondge 


Cotsure 


A' 


^ 

^ 


his  marks 


Wapumbom 


<^ 


On  the  28th  of  May,  170G,  the  inhabitants  of  the  town  made  the 
sixth,  o^  confirmatory  Purchase.  This  covered  all  former  grants 
and  purchases,  and  a  considerable  tract  marked  6  on  the  map,  to- 
gether with  a  piece  of  land  eighty  rods  in  width,  from  Steep  Rock 
in  "Washington,  to  the  mouth  of  the  Shepaug,  on  the  west  side  of 
that  river.  In  this  deed  the  Indians  still  retained  a  large  tract  of 
land  called  the  Pootatuck  Reservation.  This  reservation  compre- 
hended the  tract  bounded  on  the  north  by  a  hue  drawn  from  Shepaug 
Falls  to  the  "  Bent "  of  the  Pomperaug,  east  by  that  river,  or  by  a 
line  drawn  parallel  to  and  a  few  rods  east  of  it,  from  the  "  Bent "  to 
its  mouth,  south  by  the  Pootatuck,  and  west  by  the  Shepaug  river. 
This  reservation,  afterward  called  "  The  Purchase,"  contained  their 
principal  village  on  the  Pootatuck  River.     The  deed  is  as  follows : 

"  Know  all  men  p""  these  presents,  y'  We  hereunto  subscribing,  being  ye  propri- 
eto's  to  all  y«  Lands  and  Accommodations  belonging  to  y«  Township  of  Wood- 
bury, being  and  belonging  to  potatuck,  together  w""  all  oth""  fellow  proi3rieto''s, 
both  fo'  o'selves,  Heires  successors  and  all  oth's,  younge  and  Elde;  being  desi- 
rous of  neighborly  Correspondency,  and  Real  friendship  between  us  &  o'  Neigh- 
bors, y^  English  Inhabitants  of  Woodberry,  in  y'  county  of  ffayrfield  :  in  Her 
Majes"  Collony  of  Connecticott,  fo'  and  in  consideration  of  sufficient  &;  valuable 
considerations,  from  time  to  time,  and  at  several  times,  bearing  Date  w^  seve- 
rall  Bills  of  sale  perticuler  for  several  tracts  of  Land  as  Exprest  in  those  Deeds ; 
And  least  any  of  those  Instruments  should  be  lost,  or  through  any  Mishap  bee 
obliterated,  or  defaced.  Wee  hereto  subscribing,  this  2Sth  May  1706;  fully, 
absolutely,  and  to  all  intents,  Ends  &  purposes,  confirm  unto  y^  inhabitants  of 
y'  s'*  Woodberry,  theire  Associates,  Heires,  successors  and  Assigns,  all  and  every 
Deed  &  Instrumen',  Bill  of  sale,  or  Deed  of  gift,  obtayned,  or  procured  by 
ye  s*^  Inhabitants 

from  any  Indian  or  Indians  w'soever;  Altho'  in  y«  formation  something  differ- 
ent from  y=  usuall  forming  of  Deeds  of  sale.  And  yet  more  prticularly,  wee  say 
wee  confirm,  not  only  y^  first  purchase,  w*"  was  about  five  Miles  North  &  South, 
y'  very  Town  platt,  and  about  two  miles  East  &  West,  but  also  a  Lat'  pur- 


30 


HISTORY     OK     ANCIENT     WOODBUKY. 


chase  mado  by  y*  s**  Inhabitants  as  an  addition  Eastward  quite  home  to  Water- 
bcry  Bounds.  And  also  anoth'  purchase  Northward  to  y"  extent  of  Woodbury 
then  Hounds..  And  Also  anoth'  junchase  West  to  Sheepaug  River.  All 
w'""  were  subscribed  by  y«  major  part  of  y«  Indian  proprietors;  We  do  also 
Ratify  and  Conlirm  all  oih'  perlicul'  Bills  of  sale  or  lustrum"  as  ji'ticuUly 
y'  Mile  stjuare  by  KcL-suoshamaug  to  m'  hawly  of  Stratford,  Souwenys  sale, 
and  Chuhees,  Matehaek,  Wonnukeriuunibom  and  Wesuncko ;  Wee  say,  all 
and  every  of  them  are  hereby  confirmed,  as  fully  as  if  every  of  them  had  bin 
formally  written  and  acknowledged  according  to  law  ; — All  w«''  Bills  of  sale, 
more  Gen"  or  jjerticuK,  do  contcyn,  by  estimation,  seven  Miles,  at  y«  North 
end,  between  Waterberry  and  Milford  late  purchase  about  fourscore  Rodd 
West  of  Sheepaug  River  at  y"  Steep  Rock  ;  &  so  running  on  y'  West  side  of 
s**  Riv',  of  y«  same  breadth  westward  to  y»  mouth  of  s"*  River;  to  y«  great  Riv^ 
till  wee  come  to  known  Bounds  below  kettle  town,  and  uppon  y'  East  w"'  Dar- 
by and  Waterberry  Bounds ;  onely  we  have  as  yet  reserved  to  o'selves;  viz 
from  y'  falls  uppon  Sheepaug  Riv''  to  y^  great  Rive',  and  from  s"^  falls< Eastward 
to  y6  Riv',  y'  runs  through  Woodbury  Town  at  y^  Bent  of  y^  River,  or  little 
southward,  contayning  more  or  less  as  to  y^  quantity. 


English  prsent  and  at  y« 

subscription 
John  Minor  Interp't' 
John  Slierman  Justice 
Elizabeth  Minor 
Rebeckah  Minor 

The  Indians  y'  sub- 
scribed ai)peared  pfson- 
ally  y"=  same  day  of  y° 
date  liereof  and  ac- 
knowledged y« above  in- 
strument to  be  y'free  act 
<.V  Deed  before  me  this 
Twenty-Eighth  of  May 
in  y'  y'  one  thousand 
seven  hundred  and  six 
John  Minor  Justice 

1706  May:  2S'i> 


Nunnawaoke 

Tumaseet 

Chesquaneag 

Mauquash 

Wussebucome 

Accommy 

Wirasquancot 


his  marke 


his  marke 


his  marke 


Recorded  originally  ye  dal 
Above  written  as  attests 
John  Sherman  Record' 


Wussockanunckqucen  /"    (^Jt    i^;^  „ 

Kehore  \/^       his  marke 

Noegoshemy  ^\/^     ^"s  marke 

Munmenepoosqua  \j^    ^^^^  marke 

e  — ^ 

'       Muttanumace  C^^^ —  her  marke' 


1  W.  T.  R.,  vol.  2,  p.  138. 


HISTORY     OF     ANCIENT     WOODBURY.  31 

A  part  of  this  reservation,  at  its  south-west  corner,  west  of  the 
Shepaug  River  below  the  Falls,  was  sold  to  Doct.  Ebenezer  Warner, 
March  6th,  1728-9.  This  tract  was  called  Promiseck  by  the  In- 
dians. The  conveyance  was  executed  by  Manquash,  Cockshure  and 
Conkararum,  in  presence  of  Chob,  John  Chob,  Passacoran,  and  three 
English  witnesses. 

As  the  numbers  of  the  tribe  became  reduced,  and  the  white  set- 
tlers cleared  up  the  land  all  around  them,  so  that  there  was  no  longer 
sufficient  game  to  support  existence,  they  made  further  sales  of  their 
Reservation.  On  the  18th  of  June,  1733,  the  Indians  conveyed  to 
a  committee  of  the  town,  about  one-half  of  the  Reservation,  and  on 
the  3d  of  January  next  year,  about  one-half  of  the  remainder.  These 
two  sales  constituted  what  has  since  been  known  as  the  South  Pur- 
chase. The  consideration  of  the  first  sale  was  £160,  four  shirts  and 
a  gun ;  and  that  of  the  last,  £40.  Both  conveyances  were  signed 
by  Quiump,  Cockshure,  Maucheere  and  Naucathora.  After  these 
sales,  there  was  left  to  the  Indians  only  a  remnant  of  their  posses- 
sions at  the  south-east  corner  of  their  Reservation,  in  which  was 
situated  their  last  remaining  village,  called  the  Pootatuck  Wigwams. 
They  retained  their  title  to  this  last  resting-place  for  the  soles  of 
their  feet,  for  a  quarter  of  a  century,  when,  being  reduced  to  a  mere 
handful  in  point  of  numbers,  in  1758,  they  parted  with  their  cher- 
ished Pootatuck,  and  the  remnant  that  remained  took  up  their  abode 
with  other  tribes.  In  all  their  late  sales,  however,  they  had  reserved 
to  themselves  the  right  to  take  game  on  the  lands  forever — a  right 
which  was  always  religiously  respected  by  the  whites,  whenever  a 
straggling  Pootatuck  revisited  the  graves  of  his  ancestors,  or  wan- 
dered in  his  once  wide  dominions. 

Thus  it  is  seen,  that  the  early  fathers  fairly  purchased  every  foot 
of  this  ancient  town,  and  took  conveyances  with  due  and  proper 
solemnities.  From  the  known  character  of  the  men,  it  is  to  be 
presumed  that  these  bargains  were  fairly  conducted,  and  it  does  not 
appear  that  any  disputes  of  any  account  ever  arose  in  regard  to  them 
between  the  parties.  In  the  order  of  Providence,  one  race  had 
arisen,  another  had  passed  away.  Sampson's  locks  were  shorn — his 
glory  and  strength  had  departed.  The  red  man,  with  a  sad  prodi- 
galrty,  had  parted  with  his  only  wealth.   ■ 


CHAPTER   III. 

CIVIL    DISTORT. 

Chcpch  Dissensions  in  Stratford  the  cause  or  the  settlement  of  Wood- 
bury ;  Action  of  the  General  Court  in  1G67,  1609,  1670;  Pomperaug 
granted,  and  settlement  commenced  in  1672  ;  Fresh  arrivals  next  year; 
Appearance  of  the  country;  Locations  chosen  by  the  settlers  ;  White 
Oak  ;  Rf  ain  street  laid  out  on  an  old  Indian  trail  ;  Fundamental  arti- 
cles; Remarks. 

The  settlement  of  Woodbury  was  the  result  of  difference  in  reli- 
gious opinions,  among  the  inhabitants  of  Stratford.  It  was  ushered 
in  by  "  thunderings  and  lightnings,  and  earthquakes  ecclesiastical." 
The  first  ministers  in  the  colony  being  dead,  and  a  new  generation 
coming  on  the  stage  of  action,  alterations  in  respect  to  church  mem- 
bership, baptism  and  the  mode  of  church  discipline  were  imperiously 
demanded.  Great  dissensions  on  these  subjects  accordingly  arose  in 
the  churches  at  Hartford,  Windsor,  "Wethersfield,  and  other  places, 
and  continued  in  various  parts  of  the  colony,  from  1656  to  about 
1670.  The  discord  not  only  affected  all  the  churches,  but  it  "insin- 
uated itself  into  all  the  affairs  of  societies,  towns  and  the  whole  com- 
monwealth." 

About  16G4,  while  these  contentions  were  going  on  at  Hartford, 
and  other  places,  the  people  at  Stratford  fell  into  the  same  unhappy 
divisions  and  controversies  in  regard  to  the  same  subjects.  During 
the  administrations  of  Mr.  Blackman,*  their  first  pastor,  the  church 
and  town  enjoyed  great  peace,  and  conducted  their  ecclesiastical 
affairs  with  exemplary  harmony.  About  1G63,  being  far  advanced 
in  years,  he  became  very  infirm,  and  unable  to  perform  his  ministe- 
rial labors.  The  church,  therefore,  applied  to  Mr.  Israel  Chauncy, 
son  of  President  Charles  Chauncy,  of  Cambridge,  to  make  them 
a  visit,   and  preach   among    them.      A   majority   of    the  church 

1  Trumbull's  Ilist.  of  Coun. 


HISTORY     OF     ANCIEXT     WOODBURY.  33 

chose  him  for  their  pastor,  and  in  1665,  he  was  ordained  in  the  inde- 
pendent mode.  But  a  large  and  respectable  part  of  the  church  and 
town  were  opposed  to  his  ordination.  It  was  therefore  agreed,  that 
if,  after  hearing  Mr.  Chauncy  a  certain  time,  they  should  continue  to 
be  dissatisfied  with  his  ministry,  they  should  have  liberty  to  call  and 
settle  another  minister,  and  have  the  same  privileges  in  the  meeting- 
house, as  the  other  party.  Accordingly,  after  hearing  Mr.  Chauncy 
the  time  agreed  upon,  and  continuing  to  be  dissatisfied  with  his  min- 
istrations, they  invited  Mr.  Zechariah  Walker  to  preach  to  them,  and 
finally  chose  him  for  their  pastor.  Both  ministers  performed  public 
worship  in  the  same  house.  Mr.  Chauncy  performed  his  services  at 
the  usual  hours,  and  Mr.  Walker  was  allowed  two  hours  in  the  mid- 
dle of  the  day.  But  after  some  time,  it  so  happened  that  one  day  Mr. 
Walker  continued  his  service  longer  than  usual ;  Mi".  Chauncy  and 
his  people  finding  that  Mr.  Walker's  exercises  were  not  finished,  re- 
tired to  a  private  house,  and  thei'e  held  their  afternoon  devotions. 
They  were,  however,  so  much  displeased,  that  the  next  day  they 
went  over  to  Fairfield,  and  made  a  complaint  to  Major  Gold,  one  of 
the  magistrates,  against  Mr.  Walker.  The  Major,  upon  hearing  the 
case,  advised  pacific  measures,  and  that  Mr.  Walker  should  be  allowed 
three  hours  for  the  time  of  his  public  exercises. 

In  May,  1669,  these  disputes  came  before  the  General  Court,  by 
petition  of  the  parties,  and 

"Upon  the  petition  of  the  church  of  Stratford,  this  court  doth  decUire  that 
whereas  y^  church  haue  setled  Mr.  Chancey  their  officer  and  doe  desire  that 
they  may  peaceably  injoy  the  full  improuement  of  their  minister  and  adminis- 
trations without  hindreranse  or  disturbance,  the  court  grants  their  petition 
therein,  onely  the  court  seriously  aduiseth  both  parties  to  choose  some  indiffer- 
ent persons  of  piety  and  learning  to  compose  their  differences  and  setle  an 
agreement  among  them,  and  that  till  October  Court  there  may  be  liberty  for 
Mr.  Walker  to  preach  once  in  the  day,  as  they  haue  hitherto  done  by  their 
agreement,  the  church  allowing  him  full  three  howers  between  the  church  two 
meetings  for  the  same."' 

Notwithstanding  this  advice  of  the  General  Court,  all  attempts  at  a 
reconciliation  were  unsuccessful.  The  parties  became  more  fixed  in 
their  opposition  to  each  other,  and  their  feelings  and  conduct  more 
and  more  unbrotherly.  At  length  Mr.  Chauncy  and  the  majority 
excluded  Mr.  Walker  and  his  hearers  from  the  meeting-house,  and 
they  convened  and  worshiped  in  a  private  dwelling.     They  were 


1  Trumbull's  Colonial  Records, 


34  HISTORY     OF     ANCIENT     ■WOODBURY. 

expelled  in  the  lace  of  the  recommendation  of  the  Court  in  October, 
IGGO,  advising  them  that 

"  This  Court  therefore  recommend  it  to  the  church  of  Stratford  that  Mr. 
Walker  hsiue  liberty  the  one  parte  of  the  Sabboth,  whether  parte  Mr.  Chancy 
will,  and  that  they  would  hold  coiiiniunion  together  in  preaching  &  prayer. 
But  in  case  Mr.  Chansey  and  the  Brethren  w""  him  will  not  agree  to  that,  it 
shall  not  be  ollensiue  to  this  Court  if  IMr.  Walker  and  his  Company  doe  meet 
distinctly  elsewhere  ;  prouided  each  of  them  prouide  well  for  the  comfortable 
supply  of  their  ministers."' 

It  seems  to  have  been  apparent  to  some  of  Mr.  Walker's  party,  at 
an  early  period  in  the  controversy,  that  it  would  result  in  the  settling 
of  a  new  plantation.  It  is  probable,  that  with  this  in  view,  some  of 
them  a])plied  for  liberty  to  purchase  lands  of  the  Indians,  as  we  find 
it  recorded  as  early  as  October,  1G67,  that 

"This  Court  grants  Mr.  Sherman,  Mr.  Fayrechild,  L"'  Curtice,  Ens:  Judson, 
Mr.  Hawley  &  John  Minor,  liberty  to  purchase  Potatuke  and  the  lands  ailjoyne- 
ing,  to  be  reserved  for  a  village  or  plantation."^ 

In  May,  1G70,  this  vote  was  referred  to,  and  an  additional  power 
granted  the  committee  to  arrange  for  a  new  settlement. 

"  Whereas  seuerall  inhabitants  of  Stratford  luiue,  Octob'',  '67,  had  liberty  to 
purchase  Potatuck  for  a  village  or  tovvne,  the  afoarsayd  Committee  w""  Mr. 
Sherman  of  Stratford  are  hereby  impovvered  to  order  the  planting  of  the  same, 
if  it  be  judged  fitt  to  make  a  plantation  ;  prouided  if  they  doe  not  setle  a  plan- 
tation there  within  fower  yeares  it  shall  returne  to  the  Courte's  dispose 
agayne."3 

These  acts  were  rendered  necessary,  as  a  law  bad  been  framed  at 
a  very  early  date,  that  no  person  should  "buy,  hire,  or  receive  as  a 
gift  or  mortgage,  any  parcel  of  land  of  any  Indians,"  except  for  the 
use  of  the  colony,  or  the  benefit  of  some  town,  with  the  sanction  of 
the  court. 

Pootatiick  was  the  Indian  name  of  Newtown.  The  Pootatiichs 
owned  the  entire  territory  of  that  town,  besides  their  possessions  in 
Woodbury  and  other  places.  The  territory  of  Woodbury  was  called 
Po;np(?raj<y,  from  an  early  distinguished  chief  or  sagamore  of  that 
tribe,  who  had  his  principal  residence  and  fortress  on  or  near  Castle 
Rock.     It  will  be  seen  by  this,  that  our  forefathers  might  have  been 

1  Trumbull's  Col.  Rec,  p.  124. 

2  Trumbull's  Col.  Rec,  p.  75. 

3  Trumbull's  Cul.  Rec,  p.  128. 


HISTORY     OF    ANCIENT     WOODBURY,  35 

the  first  settlers  of  Jyewtown  instead  of  "Woodbury,  had  they  not 
chosen  the  latter  for  their  residence. 

At  length  Governor  "Winthrop,  affected  with  the  unhappy  contro- 
troversy  and  animosities  subsisting  in  the  town,  advised  that  Mr. 
Walker  and  his  church  and  people  should  remove,  and  that  a  tract  of 
land  for  the  settlement  of  a  new  town,  should  be  granted  for  their  en- 
couragement and  accommodation.  Accordingly  we  find  on  record, 
May  9,  1672,  the  following  grant :  JLi 4 T  JL  0 3 

"  This  Court  grants  Mr.  Sam"  Sherman,  L""  "Wm.  Curtice,  Ens:  Joseph  Jud- 
son  and  John  Minor,  themselues  and  associates,  liberty  to  errect  a  plantation  at 
Pomperoage,  prouided  it  doth  not  prejudice  any  former  grant  to  any  other  plan- 
tation or  perticuler  person  ;  prouided  any  other  honest  inhabitants  of  Stratford 
hau  liberty  to  joyne  with  them  in  setleing  there,  and  that  they  cnterteine  so 
many  inhabitants  as  the  place  will  conueniently  interteine,  and  that  they  setle 
there  within  the  space  of  three  yeares."' 

This  is  the  initial  point  from  which  the  existence  of  Woodbury  is 
dated.  This  grant  being  made  at  the  May  session,  it  was  too  late  for 
our  forefathers  to  move  their  families  into  the  wilderness  that  season, 
but  the  preliminary  arrangements  were  immediately  commenced,  and 
it  is  related,  a  few  of  the  proprietors  came  up,  and  raised  some  corn, 
which  they  secured  in  log  cribs,  but  when  they  returned  the  next 
spring  they  found  that  the  beasts  or  Indians  had  rifled  them  of  their 
contents. 

Early  the  next  spring,  fifteen  of  Mr.  Walker's  congregation  started 
with  their  families  for  the  wilderness  of  Pomperaug.  They  were 
directed  to  follow  the  Pootatuch,  or  Great  River,  till  they  came  to  a 
large  river  flowing  into  it  from  the  north.  They  were  to  follow  up 
this  stream  about  eight  miles,  when  they  would  reach  a  large  open 
plain  on  the  river,  Avhich  had  been  previously  under  the  rude  cultiva- 
tion of  the  Indians.  They  accordingly  commenced  their  journey, 
and  arriving  at  the  Pomperaug,  they  thought  it  too  small  a  stream  to 
answer  the  description,  and  continued  their  journey  till  they  came  to 
the  Shepaug  River.  Although  this  was  scarcely  larger  than  the  one 
they  had  passed,  they  concluded  to  ascend  it.  After  they  had  gone 
the  prescribed  distance  on  this  stream,  they  found  themselves  near 
Mine  Hill,  in  Roxbury.  The  -country  here  was  mountainous,  and  did 
not  at  all  answer  the  description  given  them.  They  perceived, 
therefore,  that  they  had  passed  the  object  of  their  search,  and  so  jour- 
neyed in  an  easterly  course  over  the  hills,  till  arriving  on  Good  Hill, 

1  Col.  Kec,  p.  177. 


36  niSTORY     OF     ANCIENT     WOODBURT. 

tbey  perceived  the  valley  of  the  Pomperang  lying  below  in  solitude 
and  sih-nce.  Great  was  the  gratitude  of  these  pioneers  of  our  town 
on  this  discovery,  and  it  is  related  that  Dea.  John  Minor  fell  on  his 
knees,  leading  to  prayer  that  little  band  of  hardy  adventurers,  invo- 
king the  blessing  of  Heaven  upon  their  enterprise,  and  praying  that 
their  posterity  might  be  an  upright  and  godly  people  to  the  latest  gen- 
eration. So  far  as  his  own  posterity  is  concerned,  his  prayers  seem 
to  have  been  answered,  for  it  has  never  since  been  without  a  Deacon 
to  proffer  the  same  petition.' 

They  encamped  on  Good  Hill  that  night.  The  next  day  they  pro- 
ceeded to  the  valley  to  examine  their  possessions.  Much  of  the  in- 
tervals and  plains  on  the  river,  throughout  the  whole  extent  of  the 
first  purchase,  had  been  divested  of  trees  and  undergrowth,  by  the 
Indian  custom  of  burning  over  the  woods  in  the  autumn,  and  the  na- 
tives had  for  many  years  raised  their  slender  crops  of  com,  beans 
and  tobacco,  in  these  pleasant  valleys,  before  the  whites  set  foot  in 
Connecticut.  By  this  method,  the  forests  were  cleared  of  under- 
brush, so  that  the  hunters  could  better  pursue  their  game,  and  could 
have  some  open  spots  for  their  rude  husbandry.^ 

The  adventurers  spent  the  day  in  examining  the  capabilities  of  the 
valleys,  and  at  its  close  found  themselves  in  that  part  of  the  present 
town  of  Southbury,  now  called  White  Oak.  Here  they  encamped 
beneath  the  spreading  branches  of  a  large  oak,^  and  from  this  cir- 


1  A  story  is  told  in  several  accounts,  seen  by  the  author,  that  one  of  the  company 
of  the  name  of  Hinman,  put  up  a  different  sort  of  a  petition  from  that  of  the  Deacon ; 
praying  that  his  posterity  might  always  be  blessed  with  a  plenty  of  "  Jium  and  3fili- 
tary  Glory.''  It  is  believed,  however,  that  this  story  is  apocryphal.  It  is  not  in  accord- 
ance with  the  puritanical  character  of  those  Christian  men,  thus  to  make  light  of  re 
ligious  things. 

2  Dr.  Hildreth,  of  Ohio,  in  describing  the  new  lands  at  the  West,  no  doubt  gives  a 
good  description  of  our  primeval  forests  : 

"  While  the  red  men  possessed  the  country,  and  every  autumn  set  fire  to  the  fallen 
leaves,  the  forests  presented  a  most  noble  and  enchanting  appearance.  The  annual 
firings  prevented  the  growth  of  shrubs  and  underbrush,  and  destroying  the  lower 
branches  of  the  trees,  the  eye  roved  with  delight  from  ridge  to  ridge,  ,and  from  hill  to 
hill ;  which  like  the  divisions  of  an  immense  temple,  were  crowded  with  innumerable 
pillars,  the  branches  of  whose  shafts  interlocking,  formed  the  arch-work  of  support  to 
that  leafy  roof,  which  covered  and  crowned  the  whole.  But  since  the  white  man 
took  possession,  the  annual  fires  have  been  checked,  and  the  woodlands  are  now  filled 
with  slirubs  and  young  trees,  obstructing  the  vision  on  every  side,  and  converting 
these  once  beautiful  forests  into  a  rude  and  tasteless  wilderness." 

3  This  oak  has  not  been  standing  for  many  years,  but  some  pieces  are  yet  preserv- 
ed ;  one  of  them  is  in  the  possession  of  Mrs.  \\Tiitlock,  of  Southbury.  This  piece  was 
taken  from  the  tree  by  the  late  Shadrack  Osborn,  Esq.,  a  very  respectable  inhabitant 
of  the  town,  on  which  appears  in  his  handwriting  the  following : 


HISTORY     OF     ANCIENT     WOODBURY.  37 

cumstance  the  locality  has  received  its  name.  All  of  the  first  settlers 
that  came  that  year,  were  not  in  this  company.  In  a  few  days 
another  company  came,  that  encamped  in  Middle  Quarter,  and  oth- 
ers followed.  After  fully  examining  localities,  they  began  to  select 
their  home-lots.  The  Stileses,  Curtisses,  Hinmans  and  some  others, 
chose  their  lots  in  White  Oak. 

The  Shermans  pitched  their  tents  in  Middle  Quarter,  jlnd  it  is  re- 
lated that  some  of  them  spent  the  first  night  in  a  hollow  walnut  tree, 
that  stood  below  the  Gideon  Sherman  place. 

The  first  Sherman  house  was  near  that  now  occupied  by  Deac.  Eli 
Summers.  The  Hurds  located  in  the  Hollow,  near  Mr.  D.  Curtiss', 
the  Minors  near  Mr.  Erastus  Minor's,  the  Walkers  near  Mr.  Levi 
S.  Douglass',  and  the  Judsons  on  the  street  leading  north-west  from 
the  first  Congregational  meeting-house,  called  from  them,  Judson 
Lane,  to  this  day.  The  Roots,  who  came  later,  settled  in  West  Side, 
and  the  Johnsons,  near  the  ancient  burying-ground  in  Southbury. 
Some  of  the  land  thus  taken  up  by  the  first  settlers,  has  never  passed 
by  deed,  since  the  title  was  obtained  of  the  Indians,  but  still  remains 
in  the  original  names,  having  passed  from  father  to  son,  by  devise,  or 
distribution,  for  nearly  two  centuries.  The  homestead  of  Mr.  Eras- 
tus Minor  is  one  of  these  tracts,  the  house  of  Capt.  John  Minor,  his 
first  ancestor  in  this  town,  having  stood  a  little  westerly  from  his  res- 
idence, near  the  river.  David  J.  Stiles,  Esq.,  owns  the  home-lot  of  his 
first  ancestor  here.  His  house  stood  but  a  little  east  of  that  of  his 
descendant,  the  present  owner. 

Those  who  selected  White  Oak  for  their  abodes,  undertook  to  live 
on  the  intervals  near  the  banks  of  the  river,  but  a  great  freshet  hap- 
pening soon  after,  drowned  them  out,  and  drove  them  up  to  the  pres- 
ent street.  The  first  framed  house  was  built  in  Judson  Lane,  a  few 
rods  west  of  the  residence  of  Mr.  Merrit  Piatt.  The  cellar  is  not  en- 
tirely filled  up  to  the  present  day. 


"  This  is  a  piece  of  the  ancient  wliite  oak  tree,  taken  from  the  tmnk  after  it  fell 
down,  Aug.  19th,  1808,  bv  Shadrack  Osborn. 

'  The  sturdy  oak,  the  boast  of  every  clime, 
Must  bow  to  the  relentless  hand  of  time.' 

"  The  tree  of  which  this  is  a  part,  stood  about  eighty  rods  east  of  the  river,  by  the 
old  field  road,  in  the  corner  of  the  Mitchell  land.  The  settlers  of  the  ancient  town  of 
"Woodbury  encamped  under  it  when  they  fii-st  explored  the  town.  It  gave  the  name 
of  White  Oak  to  the  northern  part  of  Southbury,  and  remained  in  a  state  of  vegeta 
tion  for  a  number  of  years  after  the  limbs  wei-e  broken  off,  and  the  body  was  partde 
cayed,  and  feU  down  in  the  year  1808.  This  piece  was  taken  from  the  trunk,  Ang. 
19th,  the  same  year,  by  me  Shadrack  Osbom." 


88  HISTORY     OF     ANCIENT     WOODBURY. 

The  next  was  built  near  the  resilience  of  the  late  Ilermon  Stod- , 
dard.  Deac.  John  Minor's  was  built  about  the  same  time.  These 
were  covered  with  rent  oak  clapboards,  in  the  old  lean-to  style.  The 
most  of  the  houses,  in  the  early  years  of  the  settlement,  were  built  of 
logs,  and  all  of  them  in  the  first  instance.  These  rude  dwellings 
passed  away  with  the  first  generation. 

That  the  intervals  on  the  river  were  cleared  up,  to  a  considerable 
extent,  before  the  arrival  of  the  first  settlers,  and  that  this  fact  was 
well  known,  we  have  proof  from  the  Colony  Records.  In  May, 
1671,  in  order  to  encourage  a  settlement  at  Derby,  the  General 
Court,  after  granting  a  tract  of  land  extending  from  Milford  to  the 
Pootatuck  River,  and  reaching  to  twelve  miles  to  the  north,  further 
granted, 

"  That  they  shall  have  liberty  to  improve  all  the  meadow  lyeing  on  Pompa- 
wraug  River,  allthough  it  be  out  of  their  bounds,  till  the  Court  shall  sec  cause 
otherwise  to  dispose  of  it." 

It  might  well  be  said  to  be  out  of  their  bounds,  for  the  Court  in 
1670,  as  already  seen,  had  given  authority  to  a  committee  to  make* 
a  plantation  at  Pootatuck  and  lands  adjoining,  if  they  saw  fit,  and 
gave  them  four  years  to  accomplish  it  in.  But  it  does  not  appear 
that  the  Derby  planters  made  any  use  of  the  privilege,  as  no  consid- 
erable progress  was  made  in  that  plantation  till  May,  1 675,  when  we 
are  informed  that  there  were  about  "  twelve  famalyes  setled  there 
allreadey,  and  more  to  the  number  of  eleven  prepareing  for  a  setle- 
ment  forthwith ;"  and  King  Philip's  war  breaking  out  that  spring, 
drove  even  this  small  band  back  to  the  towns  from  which  they  came. 

The  present  street,  from  the  North  Meeting-IIouse  in  Woodbury 
to  the  Southbury  Meeting-IIouse,  was  laid  out  nearly  upon  tlie  old 
Indian  trail  leading  from  the  Nonnewaug  wigwams  to  Pootatuck 
village,  passing  the  grave  of  Pomperaug  by  the  rock,  near  the  car- 
riage house  of  N.  B.  Smith,  Esq.  It  was  a  custom  of  the  Indians  to 
have  their  trails  pass  the  graves  of  their  buried  chieftains,  and  as 
each  warrior  passed  the  grave  in  his  various  expeditions,  he  dropped 
a  pebble  stone  upon  it  in  honor  of  his  memory.  A  large  pile  of  these 
pebbles  had  accumulated  upon  this  consecrated  spot  previous  to  the 
settlement  of  the  town,  which  remains  till  the  present  time. 

Among  other  preparations  which  the  early  fathers  made  for  their 
removal  into  the  wilderness,  was  a  code  of  laws,  or  articles  of  agree- 


HISTORY  OF  ANCIENT  WOODBURY.         39 

ment,  for  their  government  after  their  arrival  at  the  place  of  desti- 
nation. This  model  constitution,  containing  all  the  elements  of 
civilization,  justice  and  religious  liberty,  has  been  preserved  entire. 
These  pages  can  be  no  better  occupied  than  by  a  copy  of  it,  which 
follows. 

Fundamental  Articles  agreed  upon  in  order  to  y^  settlement  of  a 
plantation  at  Pomparague. 

We  the  committee  appointed  by  ye  Honored  General  Court  for  ye  erecting  a 
plantation  at  Pomparague  in  ye  behalf  of  ourselves  &  our  Society  being  met 
together  ye  14th  of  feb""  1672  and  having  been  serious  &  deliberate  in  ye  con- 
sideration of  ye  benefit  of  ye  s^"  place,  and  ye  prosperity  of  ye  same  have 
consented  &  Agreed  to  ye  following  perticulers  : 

1.  Imprimis  :  that  y^e  shall  be  so  many  admitted  to  interest  in  ye  s"*  plantation 
as  ye  place  may  comfortably  Accomodate  : 

21y  That  These  Inhabitants  shall  be  accounted  of  these  following  Ranks  or 
orders  as  to  ye  distribution  of  ye  lands  there  to  be  distributed,  viz:  ye  first 
Rank  or  order  shall  have  25  acres  to  their  homelott :  ye  2d  order :  20  :  ye  3d 
Rank  1S=:  the  fourth  order  10  :  ye  next  shall  have  12  :  ye  last  &  least  shaJJ 
have  ten  acres  to  their  homelott  and  each  shall  have  ye  same  proportion  of 
meadow;  or  lowland  to  ye  proportion  of  ye  homelott  that  is  to  say  one  halfe 
joyning  to  their  homelott  where  it  falls  it  can  be  so  and  ye  other  halfe  in 
ye  next  convenient  place  by  ye  order  of  ye  Committee  &  in  all  oth'er  divisions 
of  land  to  be  proportional  according  to  ye  first  proportion  or  order  viz : 
ye  homelotts  :  a  fift  part  of  which  first  proportion  shall  be  homelott  proper, 
ye  other  homelott  division. 

3.  Thirdly  we  agree  &  consent  that  all  publike  charges  as  it  relates  to  this 
plantation  shall  be  borne  proportionable  by  ye  inhabitants  according  to  y* 
land  each  inhabitant  shall  Receive  as  below  exprest :  Which  is  agreed  upon 
to  be  with  y'  in  lieu  &  consideration  of  all  Ratable  estate  thereby  included. 

41y  We  do  further  agree  that  yf  shall  be  Accomodation  Reserved  for  ye  minis- 
try besides  what  shall  be  allotted  to  ye  first  removing  minister ;  as  also  a 
parsell  of  land  for  yg  Incouriging  a  schoole  y'  learning  may  not  be  neglected 
to  children. 

5  :  We  agree  and  consent  that  ye  power  of  selling  ye  homelotts  to  each  inhab- 
itant as  before  exprest  shall  remaine  with  ye  major  part  of  ye  committee  the 
which  we  do  promise  and  also  purpose  to  be  with  our  Greatest  care  for 
ye  publick  good  and  greatest  advantage  to  ye  plantation  and  ye  satisfaction 
&  comfort  of  each  inhabitant  as  shall  more  fully  appeare  in  ye  acting 
ye  same. 

61y  We  agree  and  consent  that  notwithstanding  what  is  above  exprest  as  to 
ye  proportion  of  each  inhabitants  meadow  or  lowland  it  shall  be  considered 
in  ye  second  division  viz ;  the  other  halfe  of  their  proportion  of  meadow 
according  as  ye  meadow  either  holds  out  or  falls  short : 
It:  The  committee  aforenamed  at  another  meeting  upon  ye  20th  of  March 
167|  amoi.gst  other  perticulers  by  them  apprehended  for  ye  good  &  benefitt 


40  HISTORY     OF     ANCIENT     WOODBURY. 

ofyo  said  plaiitiition  did  iigree  A:  con.-icnt  that  all  persons  intending  there  to 
be  inhabitants  according  to  orders  shall  ingage  to  remove  themselves  & 
y'  families  to  ye  s*"  plantation  before  ye  first  of  next  may  come  two  years  from 
ye  date  hereof 

It:  They  are  also  to  make  ye  same  their  dwelling  place  four  whole  years  after 
ye  such  y'  removal  before  they  shall  have  liberty  to  dispose  of  their  Accomo- 
dations yro  granted  them  Granted  to  any  other  person  in  way  of  sale  or 
alienation  to  prevent  discouragement  to  ye  s""  plantation  &  if  any  do  sel  after 
such  time  as  he  hath  hereby  liberty  so  to  do  he  shall  neither  sell  alienate  nor 
lett  ye  same  Accomodations  to  any  other  person  but  such  as  ye  town  shall 
approve  of,  the  town  also  promises  either  to  purchase  ye  accomodations  of 
ye  removing  person  or  to  approve  of  such  blameless  man  in  his  conversation 
with  certificates  according  to  law  :  that  shall  be  presented  to  buy  ye  same. 

It:  It  is  further  agreed  on  that  in  case  of  removal  whereby  any  person  con- 
tinues not  ye  whole  above  exprest  viz :  foure  years  they  shall  forfitt  ye  Ac- 
comodations to  ye  town  only  it  is  Granted  &  consented  to  that  ye  person  so 
removing  shall  be  allowed  what  he  hath  bettered  the  s'^  Accomodations  by 
his  Improvement,  and  it  shall  be  paid  by  ye  town  within  one  twelvemonth 
after  ye  removing  person  so  leaves  ye  s""  plantation  :  death  is  no  wais  intend- 
ed by  ye  s""  removal  upon  which  ye  s''  Accomodations  shall  be  forfit"^  as 
aforesaid. 

It:  It  is  further  agreed  on  that  in  case  of  removal  as  above  exprest  the  person 
removing  shall  be  allowed  whateuer  money  he  hath  layd  out  as  to  ye  pur- 
chesses  besides  ye  allowance  for  his  improvement  as  aforesaid  with  ye  prom- 
ise that  if  any  man  shall  pay  his  proportion  to  ye  purchess  &  then  hold  it  in 
su>pence  without  removal  thither  and  improvement  yr  of  during  ye  aforesaid 
two  years  spoken  of  he  shall  without  any  allowance  or  consideration  from 
ye  town  lose  both  his  money  so  disbursed  and  ye  accomodation  also. 

It:  It  is  further  agreed  on  that  every  person  receiving  land  as  before  exprest 
and  subscribing  hereto  shall  ingage  to  pay  scot  &  lott,  viz:  all  publick 
charges  to  all  ciuil  and  eccleseastical  aflaires  in  such  ways  and  in  such  order 
as  shall  be  judged  most  convenient  for  ye  benifitt  of  ye  s<i  plantation  & 
ye  comfort  &  advantage  of  each  Inhabitant. 

It:  It  is  further  agreed  on  that  ye  purchess  of  ye  said  Pomparague  together 
with  ye  charges  expended  about  ye  same  be  payd  to  ye  committee  or  their  . 
order  in  Wheat  pease  &  pork  a  third  in  each  &  in  case  of  ye  want  of  these 
sorts  of  pay  then  other  ways  to  ye  Committees  satisfaction  by  each  inhabitant 
hereto  subscribing  within  ten  months  after  his  homelott  be  layd  out  upon 
forfiture  of  his  land  so  layd  out :  and  for  as  much  as  ye  desire  of  y'  remain- 
ing in  theire  peaceble  injoyment  of  that  way  of  chh  disiplin  which  they  are 
persuaded  is  according  to  God  we  do  hereby  ingage  each  ibr  himselfe  not 
only  that  we  will  not  any  way  disturb  ye  peace  y""  in  but  also  that  we  will 
personally  subject  ourselves  to  that  Ecclesiastical  Gouerment  that  shall  be 
there  established  or  practised  agreeable  to  ye  Word  of  God. 
We  whose  names  are  hereunto  subscribed  being  desirous  to  be  admitted  In- 
habitants of  ye  new  plantation  that  is  to  be  erected  at  pompcrogue  do  hereby 
ingage  ourselues  to  ye  strict  obseuance  and  attendance  of  ye  true  interest  of 
ye  forgoing  articles     Acknowledging  ye  attendance  thereof  to  be  a  condition 


HISTORY     OF     ANCIENT     WOODBURY.  41 

upon  which   we  shall  injoy  what  kind  shall  there  be  allotted  &z  layd  out 
unto  us. 

Samuel  Sherman  Sen'  Samuel  Styles 

Joseph  Judson  Sen'  Titus  Hinman 

John  Minor  David  Jenkins 

Israel  Curtiss  Moses  Johnson 

John  Wheeler  Samuel  Munn 

John  "Wyatt  Roger  Terrill 

John  Sherman  Eleazer  Knowles 

John  Judson  Thomas  Fairchild  ' 
Joshua  Curtiss 

These  articles,  as  it  appears,  were  executed  early  in  the  year 
1673,  and  the  settlers  probably  arrived  here  in  April  or  May  the 
same  year.  By  them  it  was  stipulated,  that  all  Avere  to  enjoy  equal 
privileges,  both  civil  and  religious.  The  Committee,  or  principal  men, 
composed  a  Court  to  judge  between  man  and  man,  doing  justice  accor- 
ding to  the  "  written  word  "  until  a  town  was  legally  organized.  The 
expense  of  the  original  purchases  of  the  Indians,  and  of  obtaining 
the  grant  from  the  General  Court,  the  expenses  of  the  removal,  the 
building  of  roads,  bi'idges,  and  all  other  expenses  of  a  public  nature, 
were  to  be  ascertained.  "When  this  was  accomplished,  each  one  was 
to  have  an  interest  in  the  lands  of  the  township,  proportional  to  tfie 
amount  of  said  expenses  paid  by  him.  But  there  was  a  restriction 
as  to  the  quantity  of  land  which  a  proprietor  might  have.  No  one 
could  have  more  than  twenty-five  acres  for  his  home-lot,  and  the 
poorest  among  them  was  entitled  to  ten ;  so  that  a  few  rich  men 
could  not  control  the  township.  It  was  desirable,  in  those  early  days, 
for  the  inhabitants  to  live  near  together.  So  that  their  entire  home- 
lots  were  not  then  laid  out  on  the  street,  one-fifth  only  being  laid 
out  as  home-lots  proper  for  their  dwellings.  Tlie  largest  were  there- 
fore only  five  acres  in  extent,  and  the  smallest  two.  The  remaining 
four-fifths  were  "  home-lot  division,"  and  were  laid  in  contiguous  and 
convenient  places.  The  remainder  of  the  lands  of  the  plantation 
were  reserved  for  future  divisions  among  the  inhabitants,  as  exigen- 
cies should  require,  and  to  be  laid  out  to  sons  arriving  at  majority, 
and  to  such  newly  admitted  inhabitants  as  should  be  received.  Ac- 
cordingly, as  the  settlers  cleared  their  lands,  other  divisions  became 
necessary ;  such  as  meadow,  or  lowland,  woodland,  upland,  and  pas- 
ture divisions.     They  also,  in  the  early  years  of  the  settlement,  had 

1  W.  T.  R.,  vol.  2, 175. 


4'2  HISTORY     OF     A  X  C  I  i:  N  T     WOODBURY. 

common  fields,  to  which  .ill  had  a  right.  In  all  these  divisions,  each 
proprietor  had  his  share  in  proportion  to  his  home-lot.  All  taxes 
civil  and  ecclesiastical,  were  borne  ratably  according  to  the  same 
rule.  Adjustment  books  were  kept,  in  which  each  planter  was  made 
debtor  to  the  land  he  received,  and  was  credited  with  what  he  sold 
for  the  equalization  of  taxes. 

From  these  articles  we  learn  that  here,  as  in  all  the  other  towns 
of  New  England,  the  settlers  had  a  particular  regard  to  the  establish- 
ment of  religious  institutions.  It  was  their  design  to  erect  churches 
in  strict  conformity  to  Scripture  example ;  and  to  transmit  evangeli- 
cal purity,  in  doctrine,  worship  and  discipline,  with  civil  and  religious 
liberty  to  their  posterity.  So  great  was  the  attention  they  paid  to 
these  interesting  points,  that  they  not  only  made  ample  provision  for 
the  minister,  Avho  was  to  remove  with  them,  but  they  also  sequestered 
lands  for  the  future  support  of  the  ministry. 

Another  truly  New  England  feature  is  noticed,  in  this  their  first 
solemn  agreement,  in  the  ample  provision  made  for  a  school,  "  that 
learning  might  not  be  neglected  to  children."  Our  fathers,  though 
living  under  kingly  rule,  wei'e  republicans,  rejecting  with  abhorrence 
the  doctrines  of  the  divine  right  of  kings,  passive  obedience,  and 
non-resistance.  Upon  these  principles  they  formed  their  civil  insti- 
tutions. This,  like  the  other  towns,  in  its  constitution  was  a  pure 
republic  in  embryo.  They  thought  the  church  should  be  accompa- 
nied by  the  school-house,  religious  principle  by  an  educated  and 
ennobled  understanding.  In  this  way,  they  judged,  intelligence  and 
good  morals  could  best  be  propagated. 

We  notice  also,  the  poverty  of  our  ancestors  at  this  time — the 
almost  entire  want  of  a  currency.  All  the  expenses  growing  out  of 
the  purchase  and  settlement  of  the  plantation,  were  to  be  paid  in 
wheat,  peas  and  pork,  in  equal  proportions,  as  to  value,  if  these  could 
be  obtained,  and  if  they  could  not,  then  in  other  articles  to  the  satis- 
faction of  the  committee  of  the  settlement. 

Under  such  severe  difficulties  were  these  pleasant  dwelling-places 
and  habitations,  which  we  now  enjoy,  prepared.  And  yet  our  ances- 
tors were  not  the  paupers  nor  the  fortune  hunters  from  the  old  world. 
They  were  the  sturdy  yeomanry,  the  intelligent  mechanics  and 
farmers,  the  middle  classes,  whose  independent  spirits  spurned  the 
yoke  of  tyranny.  Oppressed  and  harassed  in  the  old  country,  our 
sainted  sires  sought  in  the  wilds  and  fastnesses  of  this  wilderness 
world,  a  place  for  that  freedom  of  thought  and  of  action,  which  they 
could  not  find  in  "  Old  and  enlightened  and  self-satisfied  Europe." 


HISTORY     OF     AXCIEXT     WOODBURY.  43 

Thoroughly  impressed  with  the  idea  that  time,  faith  and  energy  will 
accomplish  all  that  can  be  done  in  this  life,  the  most  appalling  diffi- 
culties were  met  and  overcome.  They  did  not  for  a  moment  doubt 
that  "  God  would  raise  their  state,  and  build  up  his  ohurch  in  that 
excellent  clime  to  which  they  had  come."  To  their  enlightened 
vision,  there  beamed  from  the  distant  west  the  light  of  liberty,  which, 
like  "  another  morn  risen  on  mid-noon,"  would  continue  to  shine  till 
the  "  perfect  day." 


CHATTER    IV. 

CIVIL    niSTORY    CONTINUED. 

POMPERAUQ    MADE    A   TOWN,    AND    CALLED     WoODBURY,    IN     1G74  ;     SIGNIFICATION 

OF  THE  name;  Kino  Philip's  war  in  1675;  Inhabitants  of  "Woodbury  go 
BACK  to  Stratford  ;  Orders  of  the  General  Court  ;  Watching  and 
Warding  ;  Rev.  Mr.  Walker's  Letter  in  1676  ;  Inhabitants  return  in 
1677 ;  Town  released  from  taxes  for  two  years  ;  Action  of  General 
Court  in  relation  to  the  Boundaries  of  the  Town  ;  Town  first  rep- 
resented in  the  General  Court  in  16S4  ;  Patent  granted  in  ample 
form  in  16S6  ;  General  Court  grants  the  North  Purchase  to  the  town 
IN  1703;  Same  purchased  of  the  Indians  in  1710. 

So  numerous  had  the  arrivals  of  our  ancestors  become  in  the  new 
plantation  of  Pomperaug,  during  the  year  1 673,  that  at 

"A  Court  of  election  held  at  Hartford,  May  14th,  1674,^ 

"  This  Court  grants  that  Paumperaug  and  the  plantation  there  shall  be  called 
by  the  name  of  Woodbury,  which  town  is  by  this  Court  freed  from  Country 
Rates  fower  yeares  from  this  date."^ 

This  was  the  only  charter  the  town  had  till  May,  1686,  and  was 
as  formal  as  the  charters  or  grants  to  the  other  towns  of  the  colony 
to  this  date.  In  accordance  with  the  usual  gratuity  to  the  new  towns, 
it  was  freed  from  taxes  for  four  years. 

The  town  continued  to  go  on,  in  the  full  tide  of  "  successful  ex- 
periment," as  we  glean  from  the  scanty  means  of  information  left  us 
at  this  day.  It  had  chosen  a  beautiful  name,  characteristic  of  its  lo- 
cation and  history.  Our  fathers,  in  a  somewhat  poetic  vein  of  mind, 
as  we  may  imagine,  called  their  new  town  Woodbury.  The  word 
bury  is  a  different  orthography  for  hurg,  hurh,  borough.  It  signifies  a 
house,  castle,  habitation,  or  a  dwelling-place.  Hence  Woodbury  is  a 
dwelling-place  in  the  wood.  There  Avas  a  cluster  of  "burys"  in  the 
vicinity  of  tliis  town  within  its  first  century.     Besides  Woodbury, 

1  TrumbuU's  Col.  Rec,  p.  227. 


HISTORY     OF    ANCIENT     WOODBURY.  45 

this  part  of  the  State  gloried  in  the  names  of  Southbury,  Roxburv, 
"Westburj,  (Watertown,)  Middleburr,  TTaterbury,  Northbury,  (Ply- 
mouth,) Farmingbury,  ("Wolcott,)  and  Danbury. 

In  May,  1675,  the  General  Court  appointed  "  Capt"  John  Nash, 
Capt"  ^Ym.  Curtice  and  L"'  Tho:  Munson  to  lay  out  the  highway 
from  Woodbury  to  Pawgasuck,  (Derby,)  to  the  most  convenient 
place  for  a  ferry,  and  allso  to  lay  out  a  convenient  parcell  of  land  for 
a  ferry  place.  And  the  towne  of  Stratford  are  allso  by  this  Court 
appoynted  to  lay  out  a  country  highway  from  their  town  to  Pagasuck 
in  the  most  convenient  place  where  the  ferry  shall  be  settled."  It 
would  seem  by  this,  that  the  inhabitants  were  becoming  numerous, 
and  that  they  wished  to  establish  a  good  route  to  their  former  homes 
in  Stratford,  and  the  present  abode  of  their  friends  and  relations. 
In  fact,  their  minister  had  not  yet  removed  his  family  to  their  new 
town,  but  while  part  of  his  church  had  removed  to  "Woodbury,  a 
part  remained  still  in  Stratford,  and  he  ministered  to  them  as  occa- 
sion allowed,  in  both  places.  It  was  therefore  an  object,  much  to  be 
desired,  to  open  a  good  and  direct  communication  between  the  two 
places. 

At  the  same  session  it  was  enacted,  that  "  This  Court  doth  grant  that  Wood- 
bury shall  haue  liberty  to  choose  of  what  county  they  shall  belong  to.  Whether 
Hartford,  New  Haven,  Fayrefeild."' 

The  first  book  of  town  acts  is  lost ;  so  that  we  find  on  record  no 
action  taken  by  the  town  upon  this  matter.  Many  of  the  interesting 
particulars  of  the  settlement  of  the  town  arc,  for  this  reason,  irrecov- 
erably lost.  The  people,  probably,  chose  to  belong  to  Fairfield 
County,  as  we  find  it  always  mentioned  in  the  list  of  towns  belonging 
to  that  county,  from  this  date  to  1751,  when  it  became  a  part  of  the 
new  county  of  Litchfield. 

The  committee,  mentioned  above,  to  lay  out  a  ferry  and  a  road,  re- 
ported to  the  General  Court  in  May,  1677,  two  years  from  the  date  of 
their  appointment.  The  reason  of  the  delay  will  presently  be  obvi- 
ous.    They  say  among  other  things, 

"And  first  concerning  the  ferry,  they  order  and  appoynt  it  to  beat  the  lower 
end  of  the  old  Indian  feild,  and  that  litle  peice  of  land  between  the  rocks  and 
the  gully  or  creeke  to  be  for  a  place  to  build  any  house  or  houses  upon,  and 
yardes  for  secureing  of  goods  or  cattell  that  may  be  brought  to  the  ferry  from 
Woodbury,  Mattatuck,  &c. 


1  Trumbull's  Col.  Rec. 


46  II  1  S  T  O  U  Y     OK     A  N  C  I  E  X  T     ^V  O  O  D  B  U  U  Y  . 

"  Livetcnaiit  Joseph  Judsou  declared  that  if  the  inhabitants  of  Derby  would 
put  in  a  ferry  man  in  convenient  time,  tliey  were  content,  or  els  upon  notice 
^'iuen  they  of  Woodbury  would  put  in  one  whoine  the  towne  or  Derby  should 
approue  for  an  inhabitant,  and  that  without  any  charge  to  Derby  or  the  coun- 
t.y.'> 

These  facts  are  notoil,  and  exti-acts  made,  with  a  view  to  present 
to  the  mind  tlie  extreme  dillicidty  and  delay,  which  attended  every 
eftbrt  to  found  this  inland  town. 

But  far  more  serious  evils  awaited  the  adventurous  pioneers,  in  this 
"  dwelling-i^lace"  in  the  forest.  In  June,  1G75,  King  Philip's  war 
broke  out,  and  filled  this  and  neighboring  colonies  with  the  gloom  and 
terror  which  always  accompany  Indian  warfare.  After  the  Pequot 
war,  for  nearly  forty  years,  the  whites  bad  been  at  peace  with  their 
Indian  neighbors.  But  now  the  news  spread  through  the  United 
Colonies,  that  a  general  combination  of  "Wampanoags,  Narragansetts, 
and  other  tribes,  had  been  formed,  with  the  desperate  design  of  utter- 
ly removing  the  white  race  from  their  land.  Philip,  with  his  fierce 
bands  of  relentless  warriors,  appeared  suddenly  on  the  scene  of  ac- 
tion, and  blood  and  misery  followed  in  his  trail.  This  war  affected 
all  the  eastern  colonies.  The  eastern  part  of  Connecticut  was  the 
most  exposed  part  of  that  colony,  but  every  portion  of  it  suffered 
from  the  predatory  excursions  of  the  savages,  and  continual  alarms. 
The  frontier  towns,  like  Woodbury,  were  particularly  exposed  to 
danger. 

In  October,  1675,  the  General  Court,  deeply  affected  with  the  ap- 
parent danger,  enacted  military  regulations  of  the  most  careful  and 
vigorous  kind.  It  was  equivalent  to  putting  the  -whole  colony  under 
martial  law.  Among  their  regulations  were  :  "  Sixty  soldiers  to  be 
raised  in  every  county  ;  places  for  defense  and  refuge  to  be  immedi- 
ately fortified  in  every  plantation  ;  neglect  of  order  in  time  of  assault 
to  be  punished  with  death  ;  no  provisions  to  be  carried  out  of  the  col- 
ony without  special  license ;  no  male  between  the  ages  of  fourteen 
and  seventy  suffered  to  leave  the  colony  without  special  permission 
from  the  council,  or  from  four  assistants,  under  penalty  of  £100." 
Each  plantation  was  also  to  keep  a  sufficient  watch,  from  the  shutting 
in  of  the  evening  till  the  sunrise ;  to  have  one-fourth  part  of  the  town 
in  arms  every  day,  by  turns,  and  those  who  worked  in  the  fields  to 
go  in  companies,  and  when  going  half  a  mile  from  town,  to  be  not  less 
than  six  in  number,  with  arms  and  ammunition  well  fixed  and  fitted 

1  Trumbull's  Col.  Eec,  p.  302. 


niSTORT     OF     ANCIENT     WOODBURI.  47 

for  security."  These  orders  were  carried  out  by  the  towns,  with 
alacrity.  Many  were  partially  fortified,  and  in  all  a  constant  guard 
was  maintained.  Guards  were  stationed  in  the  belfry  of  meeting- 
houses, on  high  hills  and  bluffs,  and  even  in  sentry-boxes  erected  for 
their  accommodation,  to  watch  for  the  enemy,  and  protect  the  inhab- 
itants.    Every  effort  was  made  for  the  public  safety. 

This  war  continued  during  the  winter,  and  at  a  meeting  of  the 
council  at  Hartford,  March  16,  1675-6,  the  following  action  was 
taken  : 

"  In  regard  of  the  present  troubles  that  are  vpon  vs,  and  the  heathen  still  con- 
tinuing their  hostility  against  the  English,  and  assaulting  the  plantations,  to 
pervent  their  designs  against  vs.  It  is  by  the  Councill  ordered,  that  the  watch 
in  the  severall  plantations,  about  an  hower  at  least  before  day,  in  each  day, 
doe  call  up  the  severall  inhabitants  in  each  plantation  within  their  respectiue 
wards  whoe  are  forthwith  upon  their  call  by  the  watch,  to  rise  and  arm  them- 
selves, and  forthwith  to  march  to  their  severall  quarters  they  are  appoynt- 
ed  to  in  theire  wards  and  elsewhere,  there  to  stand  upon  their  guard  to  defend 
the  town  against  any  assault  of  the  enemie  vntill  sunn  be  halfe  an  hower  high 
in  the  morning,  and  then  the  warders  are  to  take  their  places ;  and  scouts  in 
each  end  of  every  town  are  to  be  sent  forth  on  horseback,  to  scout  the  woods  , 
and  discouer  the  approach  of  the  enemie,  and  to  continue  on  the  scout  goeing 
so  far  into  the  wods  as  they  may  return  the  same  day  to  giue  an  acco'  of  what 
they  shall  discouer ;  and  the  scouts  are  to  take  direction  from  the  chiefe  millitary 
officers  resideing  in  their  respective  townes,  how  and  which  way  they  shall 
pass,  to  make  their  discovery.  And  whosoeuer  shall  neglect  to  giue  attend- 
ance to  this  order  in  all  and  euery  of  the  particulars  thereof,  shall  forfeit  fine 
shillings  for  euery  defect.     This  to  be  attended  till  further  order. "^ 

It  is  to  be  particularly  noted  here,  that  the  "watch"  was  to  call  up 
all  the  inhabitants  an  hour  before  day,  and  have  them  on  duty  till  after 
sunrise.  This  precaution  was  taken  from  the  fact,  that  men  sleep 
soundest  at  this  time,  and  as  the  Indians  had  knowledge  of  the  fact, 
attacks  were  most  frequently  made  at  this  hour.  It  is  difficult,  at 
this  distance  of  time,  to  imagine  the  dangers,  trials  and  alarms,  that 
must  exist  in  feeble  communities,  reminded  as  they  were  each  morn- 
ing, of  their  desperate  condition,  by  regulations  such  as  these. 

This  state  of  affairs  drove  the  inhabitants  of  "Woodbury  back  again 
to  Stratford.  How  long  they  continued  to  maintain  their  position  in 
the  new  town  is  not  known  ;  but  they  no  doubt  returned  during  the 
summer  or  autumn  of  1675.  A  little  light  is  thrown  upon  the  ques- 
tion by  the  advice  given  by  the  General  Court  to  Derby,  which  was 
nearer  the  old  towns  and  in  a  somewhat  safer  position. 


1  TnmibuII's  Col.  Eec,  p.  416. 


48  niSTonv    of    ancient    woodbury. 

"  At  a  General  Court  held  at  Hartford,  October  1-1,  1C75. 

««Tlie  inhabitants  of  Derby  having  desired  the  advice  of  this  Court,  what  is 
their  best  way  to  attend  for  their  safety  in  this  time  of  dimculty,  the  Court  re- 
turn that  they  judg  it  the  best  and  safest  way  to  remoue  their  best  goods  and 
their  corn,  what  they  can  of  it,  with  their  wives  and  children,  to  some  bigger 
towne,  wlio,  in  a  way  of  Providence,  may  be  in  a  better  capacitie  to  defend  it ; 
and  that  those  that  stay  in  the  town  doe  well  fortify  tliemselves,  and  stand  up- 
on their  guarde,  and  hasten  the  removeall  of  their  corn  as  afores''  what  they 
may  ;  and  all  inhabitants  belonging  to  the  place  may  be  compelled  by  warrant 
from  any  Assistant  to  reside  there  untill  this  may  be  done.  The  like  advice  is 
by  this  Court  given  to  all  small  places  and  farraes  thorow-out  this  Colony  to  be 
observed."' 

"Woodbury  was  at  this  time  farther  inhand  than  any  other  western 
town  in  the  Colony,  and  it  is  highly  probable,  that  the  "  wives,  chil- 
dren and  best  goods  of  the  planters  had,  even  before  this  advice  was 
given,  been  removed  to  Stratford,  a  place  of  "  more  hopeful  security." 
It  is  equally  probable,  that  the  resolute  men  of  the  town  had  remain- 
ed to  bring  off  their  crops.  But  fortunately  we  are  not  left  to  con- 
jecture as  to  the  entire  removal  of  the  inhabitants  of  the  town,  al- 
though the  day  and  month  can  not  be  noted.  There  is  on  record,  in 
the  archives  of  the  State,^  an  original  letter,  in  the  handwriting  of 
Rev.  Zechariah  AYalker,  signed  by  himself  and  the  first  minister  of 
Derby,  asking  to  be  protected  if  they  should  return  with  their  people 
to  their  several  plantations.  It  is  a  fine  specimen  of  the  style  of  the 
early  ministers'  reasoning,  and  is  deemed  worthy  of  being  inserted,  at 
full  length,  in  this  place. 

To  ye  Honoured  Gen^  Court  convened  at  Hartford  Octob'  12"'  167G— We 
whose  names  are  hereunto  subscribed  do  humbly  propose  as  followeth. 

That  whereas  ye  providence  of  God  hath  so  ordered  that  by  means  of  late 
troubles  brought  upon  ye  country,  we  the  inhabitants  of  Woodbury  and  Derby 
have  been  necessitated  to  remove  from  o'  dwellings.  And  a  more  favorable 
aspect  of  providence  at  ye  present  inviting  us  to  a  return,  &  ye  necessity  of 
many  of  o'  families  in  part  inforcing  it ;  yet  forasmuch  as  we  cannot  be  assured 
but  ye  like  danger  may  again  arise  ;  we  make  bold  before  such  o"^  return,  to  re- 
quest this  honoured  Court  to  resolve  us  in  one  important  inquiry,  viz  :  in  case 
the  war  w""  ye  Indians  should  be  again  renewed  what  we  may  expect  &  trust 
to,  from  ye  authority  of  this  Colony  in  order  to  o'  protection  ic  safety  ?  We 
humbly  request  that  o''  inquiry  may  neither  be  judged  oHensive,  nor  concluded 
irrational,  till  ye  following  grounds  of  it  be  considered. 

1.  First  we  cannot  be  insensible  of  o'  former  experience  viz  :  that  in  a  time 
when  danger  threatned  ye  loudest,  &  o''  two  plantations  afores''  were  probably 


1  Trumbull's  Col.  Rec,  p.  267.  2  War,  vol.  1,  p.  115. 


HISTORY     OF     AXCIEXT     -SVOODBUET.  49 

in  greatest  hazzard,  we  were  not  only  witliout  any  other  help  but  o"^  own  for 
ye  guarding  ofor  said  places  but  o''  own  also,  wch  were  indeed  too  few  were 
taken  from  us,  time  after  time,  being  pressed  from  ye  sea-side  towns  when  oc- 
casionally they  came  thither  about  necessary  business,  whereby  we  had  more 
proportionally  to  C  numbers  from  o'  two  plantations,  imployed  in  y^  publick 
service,  then  (we  suppose)  any  other  town  of  y^  Colony;  And  as  by  y'  means 
we  were  ibrced  to  a  removall,  so  y^in  we  had  not  the  least  benefit  of  any  guard 
for  ye  safety  of  o' persons  or  goods. 

2.  Neither  can  we  be  insensible  how  unable  many  persons  will  bee,  after  a 
second  remove  to  those  plantations  without  ruine  to  yc  families,  to  return  again* 
to  these  older  plantations  :  partly  by  means  of  ye  chargeableness  of  such  re- 
moves A;  partly  by  means  of  what  disapointnients  we  have  already  met  with. 

3.  Thirdly  we  desire  ye  mutuall  obligation  betwixt  rulers  &  subjects  may  be 
considered,  viz  :  y'  as  ye  latter  owe  subjection,  respecting  both  ye  persons  & 
estates  ;  so  ye  former  are  obliged  to  protect  both  according  to  ye  best  ability 
providing  that  they  may  lead  a  quiet  &;  peaceable  life. 

4.  Let  it  be  considered  ;  that  though  formerly  the  country  had  cause  enough, 
because  sin  enough,  to  beget  an  expectation  of  affliction,  yet  y''  was  little  or  no 
expectation,  y"  it  should  arise  from  such  means,  before  it  did  begin  ;  the  expe- 
rience y'fore  of  so  unexpected  an  atlliction  allbrds  (notwithstanding  a  present 
seeming  cessation)  ye  more  cause  to  expect  ye  like  again,  sooner  or  later  ;  espe- 
cially so  little  of  reformation  any  where  appearing  :  If  therefore  new-begun  & 
remote  plantations,  may  not  in  such  hazzards  have  any  promise  of  just  protec- 
tion ;  ye  non-incouragm'  of  such,  (as  will  endanger  their  desertion)  so  it  will 
discourage  any  other  persons  from  erecting  any  other,  for  ye  inlargement  of 
ye  Colony,  &  whether  y'  will  not  be  much  to  ye  disadvantage  of  ye  Colony,  we 
leave  upon  inquiry. 

5.  The  secureing  of  those  two  plantations  of  "Woodberry  &  Darby  will  ac- 
cording to  second  causes,  be  one  of  ye  most  considerable  securities,  in  a  time  of 
such  dangers,  unto  ye  two  western  counties,  viz  :  of  New  Haven,  &  Fairfield  : 
for  it  can  hardly  be  expected  y'  any  strength  of  Indians  will  adventure  to  set 
upon  any  lower  plantation,  till  they  have  attempted  ours  above  &  if  they  fail, 
they  will  be  ye  more  shy  of  pounding  themselves  by  coming  lower. 

6.  Though  we  cannot  affirm,  yet  we  are  not  without  some  reason  to  suspect 
(vfc  y'fore  only  propound  it  as  a  conditional!  argument)  that  ye  charges  expend- 
ed in  other  colonies,  for  garrisoning  some  of  their  out  towns,  &  fetching  offe 
ye  parsons,  &  goods  of  some  others,  will  come  upon  account  in  ye  publick 
charges  of  ye  war,  to  be  proportionably  borne  by  ye  three  Colonies  :  which  if  it 
be,  this  Colony  will  be  so  much  ye  shorter  in  ye  bill  of  expenses  because  they 
have  not  done  ye  like,  &  vertually  fined  to  ye  other  Colonies,  because  they  had 
not  as  extensive  &  generall  a  care  of  y""  out  plantations  y'  were  most  exposed  to 
danger  as  other  Colonies  had  of  theirs. 

We  humbly  request  yo"'  consideration  of  ye  premises,  &  y^  yo'  worships  will 
so  far  regard  o"'  infant  plantations,  as  to  afford  us  some  intimation  of  yo"^  pleasure 
concerning  this  o""  inquiry. 

Yours  in  all  due  observance, 
JOHN  BOWER  in  ye  behalfe  of  Derby 

^^>tcMxK/r-io^A  A/Vat-^VH-     in  ye  behalfe  of  Woodberry 


50  H  I  S  T  O  U  Y     OF     ANCIENT     W  O  O  D  B  U  K  Y  . 

From  this  letter  it  appears  that  our  forefathers  were  not  only 
obliged  to  meet  and  brave  all  the  dangers  of  the  wilderness,  all  tlic 
lion-ors  of  Indian  warfare,  but  that  some  of  their  best  men  were 
forced  into  service,  when  they  went  into  the  older  towns  on  their 
necessary  business,  which  was  frequently,  as  they  were  entirely  des- 
titute of  the  conveniences  and  many  of  the  necessaries  of  life.  It 
seems,  too,  that  these  outrages  were  the  immediate  cause  of  their 
removal;  and  that,  had  it  not  been  for  these,  they  might  have  been 
able  to  stand  their  ground  against  the  incursions  of  the  enemy. 
Tlie  argument  contained  in  this  letter  is  a  cogent  one,  and  the  case 
well  put. 

AVhat  action  the  General  Court  took  in  the  premises  does  not 
appear.  It  is  not  probable,  however,  that  any  guard  was  furnished 
them,  although  one  of  the  first  settlers  of  "Woodbury,  John  Minor, 
was  sent  to  this  session,  as  one  of  the  Deputies  from  Stratford,  prob- 
ably with  a  view  of  obtaining  aid  for  the  new  town.  He  however 
might  be  said  to  be  a  resident  of  both  places,  having  "  large  accom- 
modations" in  both  Woodbury' and  Stratford,  and  being  for  five  or 
six  consecutive  years  the  only  town-clerk  for  both  towns.  The 
plantation  was  by  no  means  given  up,  as,  at  the  same  session,  their 
lands  were  put  in  the  list  of  the  towns  whose  valuation  for  taxation 
was  made  by  a  committee,  and  the  valuation  of  "Woodbury  home-lots 
was  within  5s.  per  acre  of  that  of  the  more  favored  towns  in  the 
Colony.  This  valuation  was  20^.  per  acre  for  home-lots,  and  one- 
fourth  of  all  other  land  improved  for  tillage,  mowing  and  pasture, 
10s.  per  acre  for  the  remaining  three-fourths  used  for  those  purposes, 
and  Is.  per  acre  for  all  other  land  inclosed  by  fences. 

A  part  of  the  inhabitants  went  back  to  "Woodbury  in  1G7G,  but 
not  all,  for  at  the  same  session  we  find  it  still  further  enacted  that 

"  The  inhabitants  of  Woodbury  haveing  been  much  down  at  Strnlford  with 
their  stocks  this  summer,  and  some  are  likely  to  winter  there,  all  such  persons 
and  stocks,  that  shall  so  winter  at  Stratford  are  to  pay  rates  in  proportion  as  the 
rest  there,  but  the  others  shall  pay  but  a  fourth  part  of  those  exterordinary  rates 
to  the  country;  which  easement  is  as  much  priuiledg  to  them  as  other  towiis 
usually  had  at  their  beginning."^ 

The  list  of  Stratford,  at  the  same  time,  was  ordered  to  be  increased 
to  the  amount  of  property  brought  there  by  the  inhabitants  of  "Wood- 
bury. 


1  Trumbull's  Col.  lice,  p.  209. 


HISTORY     OF     ANCIENT     WOODBURY.  51 

During  the  year  1G77,  the  inliabitants  slowly  returned  to  the  new 
settlement.  As  late  as  May  15,  1678,  some  were  yet  remaining  in 
Stratford.  Upon  tlie  application  of  those  who  had  returned,  the 
General  Court  at  its  May  Session  in  1678,  ordered  those  who  had 
taken  up  land  at  Woodbury,  to  inform  the  authorities  of  the  town 
whether  they  would  go  there  to  reside,  according  to  the  regulations 
of  the  plantation,  their  answer  to  be  sent  within  one  month  after 
notice,  and  their  residence  to  take  place  by  the  first  of  November 
following. 

At  the  same  session  it  was  ordered 

"And  in  regard  the  progress  of  the  planting  of  that  plantation  hath  been 
retarded  by  the  late  warr  &  they  have  not  rec''  the  Benefitt  in  the  grant  of  the 
General  Court  which  exempted  them  from  Rates  for  Three  yeares.  This 
Court  sees  meet  to  grant  them,  the  Town  of  Woodbury  viz  the  persons  there 
Inhabiting,  a  further  exem])tion  from  country  rates  for  their  estates  of  Wood- 
bury for  the  Space  of  Two  yeares  from  October  next."^ 

Upon  the  passage  of  this  order,  the  inhabitants  of  the  town  imme- 
diately held  a  meeting,  and  voted  to  avail  themselves  of  the  Court's 
action.  A  letter  in  Capt.  John  Minor's  handwriting  was  accordingly 
addressed  to  those  remaining  in  Stratford,  informing  them  that  the 
town  had  passed  a  vote,  that  if  those  who  had  taken  up  land  in 
Woodbury,  did  not  personally  or  by  letter,  within  three  weeks  make 
known  their  intention  of  removing  thither,  they  should  allot  their 
lands  to  others.     They  urge, 

"  Ffriends  it  is  farr  from  o'  desire  y'  any  of  you  should  be  aboose''  by  this  act 
of  o^ :  wee  covett  not  yo'  Lands,  but  yo'  company.  Wee  desire  not  to  displease 
any  of  you,  but  yett  if  wee  cannot  please  you  uppon  lower  termes  y"  by  undoe- 
ing  o'seluesv  wee  assure  you,  that  wee  cannott  come  to  yt  price  ;"2 

Assuring  them  again  at  the  close  of  the  letter,  that  at  the  end  of  the 
three  weeks,  they  should  proceed  to  allot  the  lauds  to  others'. 

This  action  of  the  Court  and  town  probably  brought  up  most  of 
those  who  had  lands.  On  the  27th  of  June,  1678,  their  minister, 
Mr.  Walker,  came  with  his  family  to  reside  permanently  with  his 
people  at  Woodbury.  Previous  to  this  time,  it  seems  that  his  family 
had  resided  at  Stratford,  he  having  had  liberal  grants  of  land  made 
him  by  the  town  of  Stratford,  while  his  church  was  the  second  church 
of  Stratford,  and  before  there  was  any  decision  to  found  a  new  town. 


1  Trumbidl's  Col.  Rec,  p.  3,  vol.  94,  95. 

2  Towns  &  Lands,  vol.  1,  p.  246. 


52  HISTORY     OF     ANCIENT     AV  O  O  D  B  U  R  T . 

The  controversy  in  Stratford  hail  ended  in  dividing  the  ministerial 
lands  between  Mr.  Cliauncey  and  Mr.  AValker,  Mr.  Chauncey  having 
the  first  choice.  A  house  liad  been  built  by  Mr.  "Walker  on  his 
home-lot,  and  his  family  continued  to  reside  there  till  the  date  above, 
after  which  he  sold  his  land  at  intervals  till  nearly  the  close  of  his 
life.  But  as  a  further  account  of  these  transactions  will  be  intro- 
duced in  a  subsequent  chapter,  nothing  more  in  relation  to  them  will 
be  said  in  this  place.  It  is  introduced  now,  to  show  that  the  action 
of  the  town  was  so  decided  that  even  their  minister  could  not  be 
excepted  from  it.  An  additional  reason  for  his  remaining  at  Strat- 
ford was,  that  a  part  of  his  church  remained  there,  and  he  carried  on 
his  ministrations  in  both  places. 

In  1 675,  the  General  Court  first  acted  in  relation  to  the  bounda- 
ries of  the  new  town.  In  various  ways  these  gi*adually  became 
settled,  but  had  not  been  fully  ratified  till  May,  1715,  and  the  boun- 
daries of  the  North  Purchase  were  not  settled  till  1724.  The  fol- 
lowing votes  and  reports  explain  themselves. 

"May  1675  This  Court  appoynts  Lieut  JoMiulson,  IMr  John  Bankes  Ed- 
ward Worcester  i5c  "Wm  Judd  to  view  the  lands  of  Derby,  Woodbury,  Matta- 
tock,  Pottatock  &  Wyantenuck  &  the  distance  between  place  &  place,  ic  to 
consider  what  may  be  suitable  bounds  for  each  town  &  present  the  same  to  the 
Court  in  October  next.^ 

"October  1G79 — This  Court  desires  &  order  the  committee  appoynted  by 
this  Court,  May  13,  1675,  to  view  the  lands  of  Derby,  Woodbury,  Mattatock, 
Potatuck  &  Wyantenug  &c.  &  to  consider  what  may  be  suitable  bounds  for 
each  town,  that  they  attend  the  sayd  service  as  soon  as  may  be,  &  make  report 
thereof  to  the  Court  in  May  next,  &  that  no  farm  be  layd  out  within  eight  miles 
of  either  of  those  places,  till  the  committee  have  made  their  return. 

"  October,  16S0.  To  all  whom  it  may  concern  &c,  be  it  known,  that  we  here- 
vnto  subscribing  in  the  behalfe  of  the  plantations  of  Woodbury  &  Mattatuck, 
by  the  motion  of  honourable  freinds  &  weighty  argimients  vs  hereunto  induce- 
ing,  have  had  a  meeting  upon  the  29th  of  June  IGSO,  in  order  to  the  settlement 
of  the  boundaryes  between  the  sayd  two  plantations,  and  doe  freely  ic  vnany- 
mously  agree  and  consent  as  followeth  viz.  that  there  be  a  line  run  due  east 
from  the  westermost  part  of  the  bounds  agreed  and  concluded  between  Matta- 
tuck &  Derby  to  Mattatuck  river  &  so  that  line  to  be  runn  from  the  sayd  riuer 
two  miles  &  twelue  score  rodd  due  west,  &  then  a  line  runn  from  the  easter- 
most  part  of  tlie  great  pond,  comonly  known  by  the  name  of  Quassapauge, 
from  such  a  part  of  the  pond  as  by  vs  allrcady  is  agreed  on  fouer  score  rod  due 
east,  and   then  a  straight  line  from   that  four  score   rod  to  the  aforesaid  west 


1  Towns  &  Lands,  Tol.  8,  pp.  152,  153,  154. 


HISTORY     OF    ANCIENT     WOODBURY.  53 

corner  between  Derby  &  Mattatuck,  &'  from  the  aforesaid  corner  fouer  score 
rod  due  east  from  the  aforesaid  pond, — the  bounds  is  agreed  &  conchided  to 
run  due  north  to  the  extent  northward  of  each  plantation  bounds,  and  that  this 
is  our  mutuall  agreement  and  firm  settlement  of  our  diuident  lines  between  our 
plantations  aforesaid  is  signifyed  by  otir  subscribeing  herevnto  this  29th  day  of 
June  in  the  year  of  our  Lord  Sixteen  hundred  &  eighty. 

JOHN  MINOR 
WILLIAM  JUDD 
JOSEPH  JUDSON 
THOMAS  JUDD 
ISRAEL  CURTICE 
JOHN  STANDLY  Jun 

"  May  16S1.  This  Court  have  granted  that  the  bounds  for  the  plantation  of 
Mattatuck,  shall  runn  eight  miles  north  from  the  town  plott,  as  their  stated 
bounds,  and  doe  confirme  and  rattify  the  boundaryes  agreed  upon  by  Mattauck 
it  Woodbury  plantations  and  the  boundaries  agred  upon  between  Mattatuck  >Sc 
Derby  inhabitants,  which  more  at  large  is  sett  down  in  their  subscribed  papers 
by  the  hands  of  the  committees  appoynted  by  each  plantation  &  Mattatock 
bounds  on  the  east  shall  be  upon  Farmington  bounds. 

"Oct  16S3.  This  Court  grants  that  Woodbury  bownds  shall  be  seuen  miles 
due  west  from  Mattatuck  west  bownds  which  is  eastward  of  the  pond,  about 
eight'  rods  from  said  pond  at  the  road,  and  the  Court  grants  them  eight  miles 
from  the  north  bownds  of  Derby  where  the  line  runs  between  Woodbury  and 
Derby. 

"  May  1CS5.  This  Court  appoyntes  John  Stanly  of  INIattatuck  &  Abell  Gunn 
of  Derby  to  lay  out  the  north  (fc  west  bownds  of  Woodbury  from  the  Noreast 
corner  seuen  miles  west,  &  Irom  thence  south  till  it  meets  with  Pototuck  riuer 
&  run  by  the  riuer  till  it  meets  with  Derby  bounds. 

"May]6S6.  This  Court  appoynts  Lieut  Ebenezer  Johnson  to  joyn  with 
John  Standly  of  Mattatuck,  in  the  laying  out  of  the  bowns  of  Woodbury  accor- 
ding to  the  grant  of  the  Court  to  sayd  towne. 

"  May  1715.  These  may  certify  the  generall  assembly  of  the  Colony  of  Con- 
necticut in  New  England  or  any  concerned,  that  whereas  wee  the;  subscribers 
were  by  said  assembly  appointed  to  lay  out  the  north  &  west  bounds  of  Wood- 
bury as  may  be  seen  upon  record  about  the  year  16S5  or  S6,  pursuant  to  said 
act,  wee  began  at  their  Northeast  corner  which  was  a  white  Oak  tree  standing 
in  the  dividing  line  between  Waterbury  and  said  Woodbury,  and  from  thence 
wee  measured  a  west  line  seven  miles,  which  extended  west  over  Chippaug 
River  about  eighty  rods  upon  a  rising  laud  &  there  wee  marked  a  white  Oak 
tree  and  laid  up  stones  near  it,  which  was  the  extent  of  their  north  bounds 
then  granted.  Wee  do  further  testify  by  these,  that  wee  did  upon  the  second 
tfe  third  days  of  Nov'  1714,  draw  a  South  line  from  said  tree  according  to  our 


1  Eiarhtv  rods. 


54  n  I  S  T  O  R  Y     OF     ANCIENT     AV  O  O  D  n  U  U  T  . 

best  skill,  which  ended  or  abutted  South  upon  Potatnck  riuer,  which  ended 
directly  agnihst  a  brook  on  the  other  side  of  the  riuer  supposed  to  be  or  known 
by  the  name  of  Yanumpaug  brook,  and  set  up  plentiful  monuments  in  said 
South  line. 

EBENEZER  JOHNSON 
JOHN  STANLEY" 

The  above  return  was  accepted  by  the  Court  in  IMaj,  1715,  and 
the  bounds  of  the  town  became  fixed  till  the  acquisition  of  the  North 
Purchase,  which  was  simply  an  addition  to  the  old  town. 

At  the  May  session  of  the  General  Court  in  1681,  Capt.  John 
Minor  and  Lieut.  Joseph  Judson  appeared  as  members.  This  was 
the  first  time  the  town  had  been  represented,  and  at  that  session  the 
Court  granted  that  the  "  Woodbury  sallery  for  their  deputies  shall 
be  fifty  shillings  a  session."  This  would  probably  be  considered  by 
the  "  magnates  "  who  at  present  represent  us  yearly  at  the  General 
Assembly,  as  rather  a  meager  compensation.  There  was,  however, 
a  previous  regulation,  by  which  each  town  was  to  furnish  the  use  of  a 
suitable  nag  upon  which  its  representatives  might  be  carried,  in 
proper  state,  to  the  place  of  legislation. 

About  the  same  time,  uneasiness  began  to  arise  in  the  minds  of 
some  of  the  inhabitants,  in  relation  to  the  title  by  which  they  held 
their  lands.  The  territory  of  the  town  had  originally  been  granted 
to  the  committee  of  the  Second  Church  at  Stratford,  under  the  in- 
junction or  proviso,  th'at  they  should  receive  as  many  inhabitants  to 
rights  and  privileges  in  their  lands,  as  the  plantation  would  conven- 
iently accommodate.  The  extent  of  territory  was  large,  and  it  was 
a  much  more  desirable  place  for  habitation  than  most  inland  towns. 
Under  these  circumstances,  many  persons  offered  to  be  admitted  to 
the  privileges  of  proprietorship  in  the  plantation,  and  the  authorities 
did  not  see  fit  to  admit  all  of  them.  It  was  very  natural  for  these 
persons  to  question  the  rights  of  those  already  located  there,  and  to 
threaten  to  have  the  title  by  which  they  held  their  lands  inquire^l 
into. 

It  is  possible,  that  this  was  the  particular  moving  cause,  that 
induced  the  town  to  send  deputies  to  the  General  Court  this  year, 
when  it  had  rested  very  quietly  without  representation  for  ten  years 
since  its  first  legal  organization  as  a  town.  Previous  to  this  time 
the  people  had  remained  content  with  the  measure  of  law  and  justice 
meted  out  to  them  by  their  committee  of  the  principal  men  of  the 
place,  who  ruled  in  accordance  Avith  the  "  written  word." 


HISTORY     OF     ANCIENT     WOODBURY.  55 

At  the  session  of  the  General  Court  held  in  May,  1685,  the  citi- 
zens petitioned  for  a  Patent  in  due  and  ample  form.  For  some 
reason,  it  was  not  acted  on  or  not  granted  at  that  or  the  next  session. 
But  at  the  May  session,  1686,  it  was  granted  in  legal  form,  a  copy 
of  whicli  follows : 

Woodbury  Patent. 

Whereas  the  Generall  Court  of  Conecticutt  have  formerly  granted  unto  the 
Inhabitants  of  the  town  of  Woodbury  all  those  Lands  within  these  following 
abutments  viz.  on  Mattatucki  Bownds  &:  the  Comons  in  part  on  the  East,  &  on 
the  Comons  on  the  North,  &  upon  potatuck  Riuer  the  Midle  of  the  Streame  & 
the  Comons  on  the  West,  &  upon  Derby  Bownds  on  the  Sowth,  &:  is  about 
Eight  Miles  in  length  &  Seuen  miles  in  bredth  East  &  west;  the  Sayd  lands 
haveing  been  by  purchass  or  otherwise  lawfully  obteyned  of  the  Indian  natiue 
proprietors  ,'&  whereas  the  prietors,  Inhabitants  of  Woodbury  in  the  colony 
conecticut  in  New  England,  haue  made  application  to  the  Governor  &  company 
of  the  Sayd  colony  of  conecticut,  assembled  the  14th  day  of  May  1GS5,  that 
they  might  haue  a  patent  for  confirmation  of  the  aforesayd  lands  to  them,  so 
purchased  and  granted  to  them  as  afores''  &  which  they  have  stood  seized  & 
quietly  possessed  of  for  some  years  last  past,  without  Interuption ;  now  for  a 
more  full  confirmation  of  the  afoars''  Tracts  of  land  (as  it  is  butted  &  Bownded 
afoars"^)  unto  the  present  proprietors  of  the  sayd  Township  of  woodbury,  know 
yee ;  that  the  Sayd  Governor  &;  company,  assembled  in  Generall  court,  accor- 
ding to  the  Commission  &  by  vertue  of  the  power  Granted  to  them  by  our  late 
Soveraigne  Lord  king  Charles  the  2''of  Ilapj^y  memory,  in  his  letters  patents,  bear- 
ing date  the  Three  &  Twentyeth  day  of  Aprill  in  the  fowcrteenth  year  of  his  s^ 
Ma''"  Reigne,  haue  giuen  &  granted,  &:  by  these  presents  doe  giue,  grant,  rattify 
&  Confirme  unto  Ln'  Joseph  Judson,  M'  Zachary  Walker,  Capt.  John  Minor,  Mr. 
John  Hurd  &  Ensigne  John  Wyot,  &  all  the  rest  of  the  Sayd  present  proprietors 
of  the  Township  of  Woodbury  &  their  heires  &  assignes  for  Euer  &  to  each  of 
thera  in  such  proportion  as  they  haue  allready  agreed  upon  for  the  diuision  of 
the  same,  all  that  afoarsayd  Tract  or  pacells  of  lands  as  it  is  butted  &z  Bownd- 
ed, together  with  all  the  woods,  uplands,  arable  lands,  Meadowes,  pastures, 
waters,  Rivers,  Islands,  fishings.  Huntings  fowlings,  mines,  Mineralls,  Quarries 
&  precious  stones  upon  or  within  the  sayd  Tracts  of  land,  with  all  other  proffits 
&  comodities  thereunto  belonging  or  in  any  wise  appertaining,  &  doe  allso 
Grant  unto  the  afoarnamed  Ln'  Joseph  Judson,  M'  Zachary  walker,  Capt. 
Jn°  Minor  m"'  John  Hurd  &  Ensigne  John  Wyott  &  all  the  rest  of  the  present 
proprietors,  Inhabitants  of  woodbury  theire  heires  &  assignes  foreuer,  that  the 
afoarsayd  Tracts  of  lands  shall  be  foreuer  hereafter  deemed,  reputed  &  be  an 
Intire  Township  of  itselfe,  to  haue  &  to  hold  the  Sayd  Tracts  of  land  &  premi- 
ses with  all  &  singular  their  appurtenances,  together  with  the  Immunities, 
priuiledges  &  franchizes  herein  giuen  &  Granted  to  the  sayd  Lnt.  Joseph  Jud- 
son, Mr.  Zachary  Walker,  Capt°  John  Minor  Mr.  John  Hurd  &  Ensign  John 
Wyott  &  all  other  present  projjrietors  Inhabitants  of  woodbury,  their  heires  & 
assignes  forever,  &  to  the  onely  proper  use  &  behoofe  of  the  Sayd  Lni  Joseph 

1  Waterbiuy. 


56  n  I  S  T  O  li  Y     OF     ANCIENT     WOODBURY. 

Judson,  m'  Zacliary  walker,  Captn  John  Minor,  m'' John  Ilurd  &  Ensigne  John 
Wyott  (k  others,  all  the  present  propiielors,  Iiiliabitants  of  woodbury  their  heirs 
&  assignes  forener  according  to  the  Tenor  of  liis  I\Ia''"  Manor  of  East  Green- 
wich in  the  County  of  kent  in  the  kingdom  of  ^England  in  free  iV  common 
Soccage  «.V;  not  in  Capitee  nor  by  knight  seruice,  they  yielding  ic  payeiiig 
therefore  to  our  Soucraigne  lord  the  king,  his  heirs  &  Successors,  onely  the  fifth 
part  of  all  the  oare  of  Gold  &  Siluer,  which  from  time  to  time  &  at  all  times 
hereafter  shall  be  there  gotten,  had  or  obtayned  JnLiewofall  rents  seruices, 
dutyes  &  demands  whatsoeuer,  according  to  Charter. 

in  Witnesse  whereof  wc  haue  caused  tlie  Scale  of  the  Colony  to  be  herevnto 
aflixed,  this  Seventeenth  of  May  IGSG,  &  In  the  Second  yeare  of  the  reigne  of 
our  Soveraigne  lord  James  the  second,  by  the  grace  of  God  of  England,  Scot- 
laud,  franco  &  Ireland,  king,  defender  of  the  fayth  >.Vc. 

ROBERT  TREATE  Governor. 

pr.  order  of  the  Gencrall  Court  of  Conecticvit,  Signed 

pr.  JOHN  ALLYX  Secretary. 

March  00,  16^7.  pr.  order  of  the  Governor  &  Company  of  the  Colony  of 
Conecticut,  Signed  pr.  JOHN  ALLYN  Secretary. 

The  aboue  written  w""  that  on  the  other  side,  is  a  true  coppy  of  the  originall, 
being  Examined  &  compared  therewith  May  19,  IGSG. 

pr.  JOHN  ALLYN  Secretary. 

At  the  May  session,  1703,  this  Patent  was  confirmed,  for  what 
reason  does  not  appear,  except  that  au  act  was  passed  that  session 
making  the  soil  in  all  the  patented  towns  an  estate  in  fee  simple.  It 
is  not  known  that  any  question  in  relation  to  its  validity  ever  arose. 
The  town  during  the  same  year  confii-med  all  grants  of  land  which  it 
had  previously  made. 

At  the  same  session  it  was  resolved  that 

"  This  Court  doe  grant  to  Woodbury  an  addition  to  their  township,  viz'  from 
the  west  bounds  of  Waterbury  upon  a  parrallel  line  to  the  north-east  bounds  of 
the  purchase  made  by  the  good  people  of  Milford  at  Wiantenock."  (New 
Milford.) 

This  grant  was  not  ordered  to'be  surveyed  till  the  October  session 
in  1723.  This  was  done  by  the  surveyor  of  Fairfield  County,  who 
made  hia^report  to  the  May  session  of  the  Court  in  1724.  By  it  we 
learn  that  this  tract,  which  was  called  the  North  Purchase,  and 
included  the  present  town  of  Bethlcm  and  a  part  of  Washington, 
contained  seventeen  thousand  four  hundred  and  eighty-two  acres  and 
sixty  rods  of  land.  A  Patent,  in  due  form,  was  issued,  bounding  it 
east  by  Waterbury,  north  by  a  line  drawn  from  the  N.  W.  corner 
bounds  of  Waterbury,  W.  5°  30'  N.  to  the  N.  E.  corner  of  New  Mil- 
ford, Avest  by  New  Milford,  and  south  by  the  original  town  of 
Woodbury. 

The  town,  having  obtained  this  grant  of  the  Court  in  1703,  com- 
menced negotiations  for  the  purchase  of  the  same  of  the  Indians,  but 


HISTORY     OF     AXCIENT     WOODBURY.  57 

did  not  complete  the  bargain  till  June  23d,  1710,  when  a  deed  was 
executed  by  Nunawague,  Chesguneage,  Cockshurj,  Wussuttanunck- 
quet  and  Sasaw,  describing  the  tract  as  being  by  estimation  "  seven 
or  eight  miles  east  &  west  &  about  five  or  six  miles  north  &  south 
at  y^  east  end  &  about  two  or  three  miles  north  &  south  at  y®  west 
end  as  granted  to  the  town  by  the  General  Court,"  bounded  east  on 
"Waterbury,  south  on  the  original  town  of  "Woodbury,  west  on  New 
Milford  '-alias  Oantanuck,"  and  "northerly  on  our  own  land  as 
yet.'"  This  is  the  "  North  Purchase  "  shown  on  the  accompanying 
map. 

The  town  had  now  full  and  undisputed  title  to  its  entire  limits, 
both  from  the  General  Court  and  the  native  proprietors.  Having 
been  somewhat  minute  in  tracing  the  title  of  our  fathers  to  their 
habitations,  we  pass  on  more  rapidly  with  other  particulars  in  their 
history. 

1  W.  T.  R.,  vol.  2,  p.  179. 


CHArXER    V. 


CIVIL    HISTORY    CONTINUED. 


Character  of  the  First  Settlers;  Capt.  John  Minor;  Capt.  William 
CuRTiss ;  Hon.  Samuel  Sherman;  Hon.  John  Sherman;  Liept.  JosErii 
Ji'DSON  ;  Lieut.  Israel  Curtiss  ;  Col.  Joseph  Minor  ;  IIackaliah  Preston  ; 
Hon.  William  Preston. 

We  come  now  to  a  pleasing  task,  the  contemplation  of  the  char- 
acter of  our  forefathers,  who  subdued  tlie  Avilderness,  and  left  to  our 
inheritance  these  pleasant  valleys  and  hills.  They  were  emphatically 
a  moral  and  religious  people,  and  retired  to  this  forest  land  to  enjoy 
more  freely  their  religious  opinions,  than  they  could  even  in  the 
older  towns  of  the  Colony. 

The  original  signers  to  the  Fundamental  Articles,  as  we  have 
seen,  were  seventeen  in  number.  Fifteen  of  these  undoubtedly 
removed  to  the  new  plantation  during  the  first  year.  It  is  not  cer- 
tain that  the  two  aged  planters,  Samuel  Sherman,  Sen.,  and  Joseph 
Judson,  Sen.,  ever  i-esided  here,  although  they  had  larger  "  accom- 
modations "  than  most  of  the  other  planters. 

Of  their  minister  and  head.  Rev.  Zechariah  Walker,  who  did  not 
move  with  the  first  company,  an  account  will  be  given  in  a  subsequent 
chapter,  and  our  limits  will  allow  us  only  to  notice  a  few  others, 
which  may  serve  for  a  sample  of  the  whole. 

First  among  the  settlers,  men  of  note  in  Woodbury,  and  foremost 
in  all  diificult  undertakings,  was  John  Minor,  an  interpreter  to  the 
Indians,  a  justice  of  the  quorum  among  the  magisti'ates,  a  captain 
in  the  militia,  and  a  deacon  in  the  church.  He  was  also  a  surveyor, 
a  necessary  and  important*  character  in  a  new  country.  All  the 
Indian  deeds  in  this  region  were  executed  before  him,  from  his  being 
able  to  act  as  interpreter.  He  was  town-clerk  of  Stratford  for  ten 
years  from  16G6,  with  the  exception  of  a  year,  and  held  the  same 
.  olTicc  in  Woodbury  for  thirty  years  from  its  beginning.     He  was 


HISTORY     OF     ANCIENT     "WOODBURY.  59 

also,  for  twenty  years,  almost  always  a  member  of  the  General  Court, 
held  an  influential  petition  there,  and  was  frequently  appointed  on 
committees  for  the  composing  of  serious  differences  and  the  solving 
of  ditficult  questions.  Early  in  life  he  acquired  a  good  knowledge 
of  the  Indian  dialects',  and  conversed  in  them  with  ease  and  fluency. 
In  consequence  of  this,  the  rulers  of  the  Colony  wished  to  prepare 
him  for  a  preacher  of  the  gospel  to  the  Indians.  In  accordance  with 
which  desire,  the  General  Court,  Sept.  14th,  1G54,  expressed  by 
positive  action, 

"  Whereas,  Notwithstanding  former  provision  made  for  the  conveyance  of 
the  knowledge  of  God  to  the  Natives  amongst  us,  little  hath  hitherto  beene 
attended  through  want  of  an  able  Interpreter, this  Courte  being  earnestly  desirous 
to  promote  and  further  what  lyes  in  them  a  worke  of  that  nature,  wherein  the 
glory  of  God  &  the  euerlasting  welfare  of  those  poore,  lost,  naked  sonnes  of 
Adam  is  so  deeply  concerned,  doe  order  that  Thomas  Mynor,  of  Pequott  shall 
bee  wrott  unto  from  this  Courte  &  desired  that  hee  would  forthwith  send  bis 
Sonne  John  Mynor  to  Hartford,  where  this  Courte  will  provide  for  his  main- 
tenance &  schooling,  to  the  end  hee  may  bee  for  the  present  assistant  to  such 
elder,  elders  or  others,  as  this  Courte  shall  appoint,  to  interprett  the  things  of 
God  to  y'"  as  hee  shall  bee  directed  and  in  the  meane  time  fitt  himselfe  to  bee 
instrumental!  that  way  as  God  shall  fitt  &  incline  him  thereunto  for  the 
future. "1 

Upon  the  23d  of  Sept.,  1654,  the  subject  was  brought  before  the 
Columissioners  of  tlie  United  Colonies,  and  they  enacted, 

"  Vpon  a  motion  made  to  ye  Commissioner?  by  Cap'  Cullick,  from  the  Gene- 
rail  Courte  of  Connecticott,  to  take  into  y'  consideration  ye  instruction  of  ye  In- 
dians in  theire  Jurisdiction,  in  ye  knowledge  of  God,  and  their  desire  y'  John 
Minor  might  be  enterteined  as  an  interpreter,  to  communicate  to  ye  said  Indians 
those  instructions  w'^  shall  bee  delivered  by  M'  Stone,  M'  Newton,  or  any 
other  allowed  by  the  Courte,  and  allso  y'  ye  said  Minor  may  be  further  instruct- 
ed and  fitted  by  M'  Stone  to  bee  a  meete  instrument  to  carry  on  the  worke  of 
propagating  ye  Gospel  to  ye  Indians,  ye  Commissioners  conceivieng  ye  said 
propositions  to  be  much  conducing  to  ye  propogating  y'  hopefull  work,  doe 
desire  ye  Magestrates  of  Connecticott  to  take  care  y'  ye  said  INIinor  bee  enter- 
tained at  M'  Stones,  or  some  other  meet  place,  and  they  shall  order  y'  due 
allowance  bee  made  for  his  dyet  and  education  out  of  the  Corporation  Stock. "''^ 

Under  this  action,  both  John  Minor  and  John,  son  of  Thomas 
Stanton,  were  received  and  kept  at  school  and  college  for  two  or 
three  years.  Minor  lived  with  Mr.  Stone  for  some  time  after,  and 
acted  as  interpreter  for  him  when  he  preached  to  the  Indians.     But 


1  Trumbull's  Col.  Rec,  265.  2  Eec.  U.  Colonies. 


CO  II  I  S  T  O  U  Y     OF     ANCIENT     W  O  O  U  IJ  U  R  Y . 

ho  did  not  follow  out  the  plan  of  his  patrons.  What  induced  him  to 
turn  his  attention  to  other  attairs,  does  not  apjiear.  He  became, 
however,  an  honorable  and  useful  citizen,  turning  his  knowledge  of 
the  Indian  tongue  and  his  education  to  good  account.  He  died  at 
an  advanced  age,  and  was  buried  in  the  south-west  part  of  the  an- 
cient burying  ground,  but  no  stone  remains  to  mai-k  the  spot — naught 
save  a  numerous  posterity  sleeping  around  him. 

Capt.  AVilliam  Curtiss  was  another  early  founder  of  Woodbury,  of 
high  standing  in  the  Colony,  and  one  of  the  grantees  of  the  planta- 
tion. He  was  from  Roxbury,  Mass.  His  name  was  usually  spelled 
"  Curtice."  It  does  not  appear  that  he  bought  an  interest  in  the 
plantation  himself,  but  he  was  its  fast  friend,  and  sent  two  of  his 
sons,  Lieut.  Israel  and  Joshua,  with  the  first  settlers.  He  was  a 
member  of  the  General  Court  ten  or  twelve  years  from  Stratford ; 
often  a  commissioner,  or  justice  of  the  peace  ;  and  from  year  to  year, 
appointed  by  the  Court  on  important  committees  in  various  parts  of  the 
Colonv.  He  was  appointed  Nov.  23d,  1673,  captain  of  the  forces 
raised  in  Fairfield  County  tci  serve  against  the  Dutch  at  New  Am- 
sterdam, (New  York.)  In  Oct.,  1 G75,  he  was  appointed  by  the  Gene- 
ral Court,  captain  of  the  sixty  men  to  be  raised  in  Fairfield  County,  to 
serve  in  King  Philip's  war,  with  power  to  appoint  his  inferior  offi- 
cers. In  May,  1676,  when  the  people  of  Woodbury  Avere  at  Strat- 
ford, on  account  of  this  war,  he  and  Mr.  Samuel  Sherman  were 
appointed  commissioners  for  "  Stratford  and  AVoodbury." 

Intimately  associated  with  the  last  named,  in  all  that  related  to 
the  welfare  of  the  new  town,  Avas  the  Hon.  Samuel  Sherman.  He 
was  at  the  date  of  its  settlement,  undoubtedly  the  most  distinguished 
man  connected  with  the  enterprise.  He  was  from  Dedham,  Essex 
County,  England,  came  to  this  country  in  1634,  and  previous  to  the 
date  of  the  new  plantation,  had  been  a  leading  man  in  the  Colony. 
He  had  assisted  in  the  settlement  of  several  other  towns  in  the  Colo- 
ny, and  now  undertook  the  same  for  AVoodbury.  He  had  been  a 
member  of  the  Court  of  Assistants,  or  Upper  House  of  the  General 
Court,  and  supreme  judicial  tribunal,  for  five  or  six  years  from  1663, 
and  held  various  offices  and  appointments  of  honor  and  trust.  He 
is  referred  to  in  ancient  deeds  and  documents  as  the  "  Worshipful 
Mr.  Sherman."  In  1676,  as  stated  above,  he  was  one  of  the  com- 
missioners for  "Stratford  and  AVoodbury."  It  is  not  certain  that 
be  ever  resided  here,  although  he  took  a  first  class  "  accommodation" 
in  the  grant  of  the  General  Court.  If  he  did  not  remove  personally 
to  AVoodbury,  he  evidently  caused  his  lands  to  be  improved,  in 


HISTORY     OF     ANCIENT     -WOODBURY.  CI 

accordance  with  the  articles  of  the  settlement.  They  are  "  recorded 
to"  him  on  the  26th  of  May,  1675,  and  on  the  22d  of  June,  1679,  it 
is  further  recorded  that  "  Mr.  Sherman  having  injoyed  and  improved 
his  accommodations  to  this  22d  of  June,  1679,  according  to  the  grant 
of  ye  town,"  has  now  an  "  absolute  and  positive  record  to  him  of  the 
same  according  to  law."  He  deceased  previous  to  Oct.,  1684,  and 
his  sons,  Matthew  and  John,  agreed  on  a  division  of  said  lands.  He 
may  have  resided  here,  but  it  is  probable  that,  being  advanced  in 
in  years,  and  comfortably  settled  in  Stratford,  he  continued  to 
reside  there  till  he  was  "gathered  to  his  fathers."  He  furnished 
one  son  (John)  for  the  first  company,  and  subsequently  two  others, 
Samuel  and  Matthew,  for  other  companies.  His  son,  Hon.  John 
Sherman,  was  one  of  the  first  company,  and  his  fame  is  rhore  partic- 
ularly the  property  of  the- town  than  the  two  last.  He  was  distin- 
guished not  only  in  his  town,  but  also  in  the  Colony.  He  was  a 
justice  of  the  quorum,  or  associate  county  court  judge  for  forty-four 
years  from  1684,  a  representative  of  the  town  seventeen  sessions, 
and  speaker  of  the  Lower  House  in  INIay  and  October,  1711,  and 
May  and  October,  1712.  He  was  town-clerk  twenty-five  years,  and 
captain  in  the  militia,  a  high  honor  in  those  days.  He  was  the  first 
judge  of  probate  for  the  district  of  Woodbury,  from  its  organization 
in  1719,  for  nine  years.  The  district  then  comprised  all  the  settled 
portion  of  the  present  county  of  Litchfield,  and  "Waterbury  in  New 
Haven  County.     He  was  also  an  assistant  for  ten  years  from  1713. 

Lieut.  Joseph  Judson,  Sen.,  another  subscriber  to  the  Fundamental 
Articles,  was  a  man  of  note  before  the  removal  to  this  town.  He 
came  from  Concord,  Mass.  He  was  deputy  to  the  General  Court 
for  some  six  years,  and  otherwise  distinguished.  After  the  settle- 
ment of  "Woodbury,  he  was  sent  as  a  deputy  with  John  Minor  to  the 
session  of  1684,  being  the  first  time  the  town  had  been  represented, 
and  continued  to  represent  the  town  for  four  sessions  afterward. 
He  was  one  of  the  leaders  of  Rev.  Mr.  Walker's  party  at  Stratford. 
He  had  a  first  class  "  accommodation,"  but  it  is  not  certain  that  he 
lived  here  till  the  close  of  his  life,  as  a  part  of  his  land  was  after- 
ward sold  to  pay  a  ministerial  rate.  His  son  John,  another  "  original 
signer,"  was  a  prominent  individual  in  the  town  and  Colony.  He 
died  12th  Jan.,  1709-10,  aged  sixty-three  years. 

Lieut.  Israel  Curtiss,  son  of  Capt.  William,  was  another  of  the 
"  original  signers,"  and  took  a  prominent  part  in  the  settlement  and 
interests   of  the  town.      He  was  a  lieutenant  in  the  militia,  and 


62  II  1  S  T  O  K  Y      O  1'     A  N  C  1  K  NT     "VV  O  O  D  ii  U  K  Y  . 

represented  the  town  at  the  IMay  sc^r.-ion,  IGS'J,  and  for  seventeen 
sessions  afterward. 

Colonel  Joseph  ]\Iinor,  son  of  Ca])t.  John,  was  not  one  of  the 
''  original  signers,"  but  was  one  of  the  early  settlers,  and  for  eighty 
years  afterward  held  a  ])roniinent  position.  He  attained  the  greatest 
age  to  which  any  inhabitant  of  the  town  has  ever  ai'rived  since  its 
settlement.  He  was  born  4th  March,  1G72-3,  and  died  20th  Oct., 
1774,  being  nearly  102  yearg  old.  He  was  boi'n  sixteen  days  after 
the  signature  of  the  "Fundamental  Articles,"  came  to  Woodbury  a 
child,  and  spent  a  long  life  in  its  service.  He  passed  through  the 
various  grades  of  military  service  to  the  rank  of  colonel,  and  was 
very  efficient  in  prejjaring  men  for  service  in  the  French  and  In- 
dian wars.  He  was  representative  thirty-two  sessions,  town-clerk 
twenty-eight  years,  justice  of  the  quorum  fourteen  years  from  1725, 
and  judge  of  probate  thirty  years.  As  above  stated,  he  hved  to  a 
good  old  age,  and  retained  all  his  physical  powers  to  such  an  extent, 
that  on  his  hundredth  birthday  he  rode  a  horse  through  the  streets 
of  Woodbury.  The  fame  of  the  feat  is,  however,  mari-ed  by  the 
fact  that  he  did  not  alight,  but  fell  from  his  horse.  His  descend- 
ants are  still  numerous  in  this  town.  He  lived  under  the  hill  in 
rear  of  Erastus  Minor's.  He  inherited  a  piece  of  land  from  his 
father,  which  Erastus  Minor,  one  of  his  descendants,  now  owns,  and 
it  is  a  remarkable  fact,  that  it  has  never  passed  by  deed  since  the 
deed  from  the  Indians,  nearly  200  years  ago.  It  has  passed  from 
father  to  son  through  the  probate  court. 

Another  early  settler,  but  not  an  "  original  signer,"  was  Hacka- 
liah  Preston.  He  was  a  native  of  Wales,  but  came  to  Stratford  from 
Turkey.  Tradition  says  the  Turks,  for  some  reason,  sought  to  kill 
him,  and  that  he  fled  to  save  his  life.  He  married  Emm  Fairchild, 
daughter  of  Thomas  Fairchild,  of  Stratford,  one  of  the  principal 
planters  and  first  magistrates  of  that  town,  who  had  come  thither 
directly  from  England.  He  soon  removed  to  Woodbury  in  one  of 
the  comjjanies  of  the  first  settlers. 

Hon.  William  Preston,  son  of  the  above,  was  born  at  Stratford, 
21st  March,  1G76,  just  before  his  father's  removal  to  Woodbury,  and 
was  therefore,  in  one  sense,  a  son  of  the  soil,  having  spent  his  active 
life  in  the  town,  and  rested  from  his  labors  5th  Sept.,  1754,  in  the 
seventy-eighth  year  of  his  age.  He  was  a  leading  man  in  the  town, 
county  and  Colony.  He  was  a  member  of  the  General  Court  thirty- 
five  sessions,  and  stood  high  in  the  militia,  having  attained  the  rank 
of  colonel.     He  was  justice  of  the  quorum  eleven  years  from  1740. 


HISTORY     OF     ANCIENT     WOODBURY.  G3 

On  the  formation  of  the  new  county  of  Litchfield  in  1751,  he  was 
appointed  its  first  judge,  which  office  he  held  for  three  years  till  his 
death,  performing  its  duties  to  the  credit  of  himself,  and  the  interests 
of  the  people.  lie  was  a  man  of  fine  talents  and  commanding  influ- 
ence— of  sterling  integrity  and  unflinching  determination.  He  was ' 
active  and  efiicient  in  all  the  walks  of  life,  and  died  much  lamented. 
Such  was  the  character  of  the  early  men  of  Woodbury.  We 
would  gladly  delineate  the  lives  of  more  of  them,  did  time  and  space 
permit.  Such  was  the  caliber  of  the  men  who  laid  the  foundations, 
firm  and  sure,  of  our  institutions,  both  local  and"  general.  It  is  of 
such  ancestors  a  virtuous  descendant  has  a  right  to  be  proud,  and 
the  memory  of  whom  should  shame  into  reformation  any  one,  who 
may  have  departed  from  the  boundaries  of  good  character  and  correct 
principles.  ^ 


CHAPTER    YI. 

CIVIL    HISTORY    CONTINUED. 

List  op  Settlers;  Home-lots;  1G72-1712;  Old  Parsonage  of  1702;  Pali- 
saded Houses;  School  Lot;  First  Mill,  1674;  Second  Mill;  Third  Mill; 
Meetings  at  Bethel  Eock;  First  Meeting  House,  16S1;  First  Birth, 
Marriage  and  Death  ;  Samuel  Munn,  the  first  Wheelwright  ;  Abraham 
Fulford,  the  first  Clothier;. Town  Brand;  First  Ferryman;  Docts. 
Butler  Bedient  and  Ebenezer  Warner,  the  first  Physicians;  Localities; 
Buckskin  Breeches;  Wooden  Shoes;  Ancient  Titles;  Sir  Edmund  An- 
DRoss  ;  Shepaug  Proprietors  ;  Dea.  Samuel  Bull,  the  first  Blacksmith  ; 
First  Divorce  ;  Bachelors'  Accommodations  ;  French  and  Indian  War  of 
1707;  Fortifications  and  Garrisons;  Action  in  relation  to  the  Poota- 
TUCKS  ;  Parson  Stoddard  kills  two  Indians  ;  Soldiers  at  Wood  Creek  in 
1709;  North  Purchase  Rate,  1712;  Reflections., 

In  this  part  of  our  labor,  we  find  considerable  difficulty  from  the 
fact,  that  the  first  volume  of  town  records  is  lost,  together  with  its 
contents,  except  some  portions,  which  could  be  deciphered  from  its 
fragmentary  remains,  and  which  Avere  judged  important  by  the  town 
to  be  preserved.  These  were  collected  into  what  now  forms  the  first 
volume  of  town  records  by  Nathan  Preston,  then  town-clerk,  and 
certified  by  him  March  Gth,  1793,  one  hundred  and  twenty  years 
after  the  founding  of  the  town.  The  same  is  true  in  regard  to  the 
first  book  of  proprietors'  records,  or  acts  of  the  town.  These  were 
in  hke  manner  copied  in  1771,  so  far  as  could  be  done,  or  was  deemed 
necessary,  by  Benjamin  Stiles  and  Gideon  "Walker,  the  latter  being 
at  that  time  town-clerk. 

Besides  the  original  signers,  there  was  a  large  number  of  families 
which  removed  to  Woodbury  before  King  Philip's  war,  but  no  record 
remains  to  tell  their  names.  After  that  war,  the  inhabitants  slowly 
returned,  and  new  names  appeared  among  them.  The  following  list 
had  arrived,  in  addition  to  the  original  signers,  and  been  assigned 
home-lots  and  divisions,  previous  to  1G82,  as  nearly  as  can  now  be 
collected. 


niSTORT     OF     ANCIEXT     WOODBURY. 


65 


Rev.  Zecliariah  Walker, 
John  Hiithwitt, 
John  Skeels, 
Ainbi-o*e  Thompson, 
Andrew  Nichols, 
Hackaliah  Preston, 
John  Leavenworth, 
Thomas  Leavenworth, 
Samuel  Munn, 
John  Mitchell, 
Ebenezer  Blackman, 
Abraham  Blish, 
John  Iliird, 
Ebenezer  Hurd, 
John  Stratton, 
Henry  Hill, 
Matthew  Mitchell, 
Alexander  Bryan, 
Benjamin  Galpin, 
John  Root, 


Isaac  Nichols, 
Samuel  Hinman, 
Dennis  Hart, 
Samuel  Galpin, 
Sgt.  Moses  Johnson, 
Thomas  Drakely, 
Joseph  Booth, 
William  Frederick, 
Isaac  Bennett, 
Henry  Castle, 
Joseph  Seelye, 
Nathan  Hough, 
Joseph  Hicock, 
Benjamin  Hicock, 
John  Minor,  Jim., 
Jonathan  Hurd, 
Joseph  Hurd, 
Henry  Castle,  Jun., 
James  Beers,  Sen., 
Zechariah  Walker,  Jr. 


Benjamin  Stiles, 
William  Martin, 
Samuel  Jenner, 
IMatthew  Sherman, 
Joseph  Hurlbut, 
Joseph  Seelye, 
Samuel  Nichols, 
Richard  Beach, 
Isaac  Curtiss, 
Samuel  Sherman,  Jr. 
Samuel  Hull, 
Thomas  Hurlbut, 
William  Roberts, 
Edward  Hinman, 
Jonathan  Squire, 
Cornelius  Walker, 
Caleb  Nichols,  Sen., 
Thomas  Bedieiit, 
John  Pierce, 
Thomas  Appleby. 


All  these  had  an  interest  in  the  land,  and  were  householders. 
From  this  list  of  men,  we  may  estimate  the  number  of  inhabitants  in 
the  town  at  this  time,  at  four  or  five  hundred. 

The  settlers  laid  out  their  home-lots  in  quantities  of  from  two  to 
five  acres,  with  narrow  fronts,  which  were  arranged  on  both  sides  of 
the  main  street,  or  "  Indian  Trail,"  as  before  described,  from  East 
Meadow  to  the  "  Bent"  of  the  river.  The  "home-lot  division,"  four 
times  as  large  as  the  home-lot,  was  laid  out  in  rear  of  it,  and  extended 
back  one  mile  from  the  street,  that  "  run  through  the  middle  of  the 
town  from  end  to  end  of  the  town."  On  the  west  side  of  the  street 
the  same  rule  prevailed.  This  rule  was  adopted  by  an  order  of  the 
General  Court  to  all  new  towns,  for  protection  against  the  Indians. 
Next  followed  the  "  meadow  division "  or  lowland,  which  was  laid 
on  the  intervals  and  plain  lands.  After  this  came  the  "upland 
division,"  laid  out  on  the  irregular,  hilly  grounds.  At  the  same 
time  the  "  pasture  division  "  was  laid  out  for  the  accommodation  of 
their  cattle.  In  process  of  time  came  the  "  woodland  division,"  after 
they  had  cleared  their  other  divisions,  and  a  provision  for  fuel  be- 
came necessary.  Still  later,  after  they  had  subdued  and  brought 
under  cultivation  their  other  lands,  came  the  "  Good  Hill  division," 
and  "  White  Oak  Plain  division,"  which  designate  their  own  locali- 
ties. All  these  divisions  were  assigned,  or  laid  out,  to  the  settlers  in 
proportion  to  the  size  of  their  home-lot,  and  that  was  determined  by 
the  amount  paid  in,  under  the  original  articles. 


66  IIISTOUY     OF     ANCIENT     WOODBURY. 

It  is  impossible  now  to  trace  the  exact  localities  of  all  the  first 
settlers.  Their  home-lots  were  small,  and  the  present  holders  of 
land  occupy  each  several  of  the  original  sites.  Several  of  the  fami- 
lies have  been  before  located  in  these  pages.  The  first  regular 
town  miller  lived  where  Hon.  Nathaniel  B.  Smith  now  resides.  His 
name  was  John  Ilurd.  After  him  Doct.  Joseph  Perry  lived  in  the 
same  place.  Rev.  Zechariah  Walker's  house  stood  where  Levi  S. 
Douglass,  Esq.,  now  lives,  and  covered  a  part  of  the  present  cellar. 
Isaac  Judson  lived  opposite  the  jilace  occupied  by  Nathan  Warner, 
Jun.,  and  his  house  was  one  of  those  surrounded  with  palisadoes,  as 
a  protection  against  the  Indians.  «  Another  palisaded  house  stood  on 
the  site  occupied  by  Horace  Kurd's  new  dwelling-house.  Capt. 
John  Minor's,  und(;i*  the  hill  in  rear  of  Erastus  Minor's,  was  another. 
Ajiother  of  the  fortified  houses  was  that  of  one  of  the  Bronsons  in 
Transylvania,  now  in  existence.  It  had  a  look-out  on  its  top  by  the 
chimney  for  observation.  Doct.  Jonathan  Atwood's  house  occupied 
nearly  the  site  of  the  "Old  Town  House."  Adino  Strong  settled  at 
Scuppo,  but  he  came  after  1700.  The  reservation  of  land  for  a 
school,  as  agreed  in  the  "  fundamental  articles,"  was  laid  out  north 
of  the  Cranberry  Pond  before  1700.  In  the  next  year  some  change 
was  made,  when  Mr.  Stoddard  was  settled  in  the  ministry,  and  his 
home-lot  was  laid  out  on  the  12th  of  May,  in  this  place,  then  called 
Foot's  Neck.  It  was  part  of  the  contract  of  the  town  with  him,  to 
build  him  a  house  of  certain  dimensions  on  this  lot.  It  was  immedi- 
ately commenced,  and  finished  so  that  he  could  move  into  it  late  in 
1701.  He  alludes  to  it  as  his  dwelling-house,  in  a  communication 
•written  in  1702.  It  was  surrounded  with  palisadoes,*  was  the  most 
strongly  fortified  house  in  the  plantation,  and  could  receive  more 
peojile  than  any  other  in  case  of  an  alarm.  One  of  the  bounds  in  a 
deed  of  the  lot  next  north  of  this,  dated  31st  March,  1702,  was  laid 
within  a  foot  of  "  y'  pallasadoes  in  Mr.  Stoddard's  fence."  George 
W.  De  Wolf  now  occupies  this,  the  oldest  house  in  the  county.  The 
parsonage  meadow  division  was  that  in  rear  of  Hon.  N.  B.  Smith's, 
the  remainder  of  his  home-lot  was  near  John  P.  Marshall's,  and  his 


1  Houses  were  palisaded  in  the  following  manner,  viz. :  a  deep  ditch  was  dug 
around  the  house ;  logs  were  then  placed  perpendicularly  in  the  ditch  all  around  it, 
leaving  a  space  only  for  a  gate.  The  logs  were  sharpened  at  the  top,  placed  close 
together,  and  extended  eight,  ten  or  twelve  feet  above  the  ground.  The  earth  was 
then  returned,  and  beaten  down  around  the  logs  till  they  stood  firmly.  This,  with 
a  gate  well  secured,  was  a  pretty  good  defense  against  a  sudden  attack. 


IIISTORT     OF     ANCIENT     AVOODBURT.  G7 

"Good  Hill  division"   (50  acres)  -was  laid  out  "•  in  or  near  TVeaco- 
peniis  playn." 

"When  the  first  settlei's  came,  they  had  few  of  the  conveniences  of 
life.  Among  the  things  they  had  not,  was  a  mill  to  grind  their  grain. 
They  were  twenty-five  miles  from  any  inhabitants,  in  the  wilderness, 
with  no  roads,  or  even  a  path  leading  to  the  older  settlements.  They 
imitated  their  "  red  brethren,"  and  used  mortars  to  reduce  their  grain 
to  a  state  fit  for  cooking.  But  this  was  not  to  be  endured  long. 
There  were  weddings,  and  other  great  occasions  to  be  provided  for, 
and  something  must  be  done.  Accordingly,  they  sent  to  Stratford, 
and  procured  two  small  mill-stones,  so  diminutive  in  size  that  they 
were  brought  here  through  the  forests  on  horseback.  They  prepared 
mill-gearing,  built  a  small  shed  on  Middle  Quarter  Brook,  a  few  rods 
easterly  from  Dea.  Eli  Summers'  house,  and  set  their  mill  in  opera- 
tion. It  is  said  that  when  it  was  in  complete  running  order,  it  could 
grind  the  enormous  quantity  of  a  bushel  of  grain  per  day.  Great 
was  the  rejoicing  of  our  fathers,  when  this  vast  improvement  was 
obtained.  They  took  turns  at  the  mill,  each  grinding  his  own  grist ; 
or  rathei",  one  carried  his  grain  in  the  mox-ning,  set  the  mill  in  motion, 
and  went  after  his  grist  at  night.  This  was  probably  built  in  1 674, 
and  was  the  only  mill  in  the  territory  till  1G81.  One  of  these  mill- 
stones is  still  in  the  door-yard  of  INIiss  Lucy  Sherman,  serving  in  the 
humble  capacity  of  a  door-stone,  and  the  other  in  Hartford.  They 
are  about  two  feet  in  diameter,  and  six  inches  in  thickness.  Traces 
of  the  dam  still  exist.  These  are  highly  interesting  memorials  of  the 
early  days,  and  carry  us  back  in  memory  to  the  long-ended  toils^and 
suiferings  of  our  fathers.  Long  should  these,  rude  memorials  be 
preserved,  as  rare  fragments  which  have  escaped  the  ruthless  hand 
of  Time. 

But  the  inhabitants  had  become  so  numerous  before  1681,  that  the 
old  mill  was  entirely  inadequate  to  the  wants  of  the  town.  It  had, 
therefore,  granted  "  mill  accommodations  "  of  land  and  other  consid- 
erations, on  the  west  side  of  the  river,  to  John  Hurd,  to  "  encourage  " 
him  to  take  upon  himself  the  responsibility  of  building  a  "  corn  mill " 
of  sufiicient  capacity  to  do  all  the  grinding  required  by  the  town. 
The  date  of  this  agreement  is  the  28th  of  August,  1681.  He  pro- 
ceeded to  erect  his  mill  about  fifty  rods  south-westerly  from  his 
dwelling-house,  which  stood  where  Hon.  N.  B.  Smith's  now  stands. 
It  was  erected  immediately  under  the  hill,  and  the  water  for  its 
accommodation  was  brought  in  a  ditch,  faint  traces  of  which  remain, 
from  the  river,  about  one  hundred  rods  distant,  and  discharged  into 


68  n  1  S  T  O  K  Y     OF     ANCIENT     W  O  O  D  n  U  IX  T  . 

the  river  aj^ain  at  al»out  half  that  distance  below  the  mill,  nearly  in 
rear  of  "  Parson  Stoddard's  house."  The  dam  was  built  across  the 
river  at  the  still  water  in  the  Pomperaug,  nearly  west  of  the  niilh 
and  no  vestiges  of  it  now  remain,  yet  the  locality  has  retained  the 
name  of  the  "  ^lill  Pond  "  to  this  day.  The  late  aged  Ashbel  Moody 
told  the  author  that  he  recollected,  when  a  boy.  going  there  to  bathe, 
and  that  a  part  of  the  dam  was  then  in  existence.  In  time  of  fresh- 
ets, all  the  intervals  in  this  place  were  overflowed,  and  it  was  not  a 
fortunate  location  for  a  dam.  It  was,  besides,  a  gigantic  work  for 
private  enterprise  in  those  early  days.  The  frequent  inundations 
injured  the  dam  repeatedly,  so  that  Ilurd  was  about  to  give  up  the 
attempt  to  maintain  a  mill  in  despair.  A  town  meeting  was,  there- 
fore, called  on  the  11th  June,  1G83,  and  it  was  agreed  that  the  town 
would  provide  "sufficient  help  to  repair  the  present  break  in  the 
dame  upon  two  days'  warning,  except  it  be  in  harvest  time."  Ilurd 
was  to  pay  for  this  labor  at  the  rate  of  "  100  feet  of  sawed  boards  or 
other  satisfaction  equivalant,"  to  each  person  for  three  days'  work. 
He  was  to  have  the  liberty  of  erecting  a  "  cart-bridge  a  little  below 
the  saw-mill,  and  to  keep  it  in  repair,  at  his  own  proper  charge, 
seven  years  from  date,  and  then  to  throw  it  up  again,  as  no  Town 
bridge."  As  additional  "  encouragement  for  his  seasonably  grinding 
the  Town's  Corn "  for  seven  years,  which  he  agreed  to  do,  taking  no 
other  "  Toll  than  the  Law  allows,"  the  "  Town  granted  him  ten  acres 
of  Land  next  Southward  of  the  mill  accommodations,  on  the  West 
side  of  the  river."  No  person  was  to  be  called  on  to  help  him  more 
tha^  three  days,  and  he  was  to  give  security  for  the  fulfillment  of  his 
contract.^  How  far  the  saw-mill  was  located  from  the  corn-mill  is 
not  now  known,  but  probably  at  no  great  distance.  This  arrange- 
ment continued  in  full  force  till  1691,  when  Ilurd  having  deceased, 
the  mill  accommodations  were  given  to  his  heirs  on  the  same  condi- 
tions ;  but  the  heirs  not  fulfilling,  the  town  took  further  action  in  the 
premises,  and  on  the  15th  of  February,  1G91,-  its  authorities  entered 
into  solemn  contract  Avith  John  Mitchell  and  Samuel  Stiles, 

"  Tliat  the  s''  John  Mitchell  and  Stunuel  Stiles  shall  and  may,  at  their  own 
proper  charge  and  cost,  policiy  and  continuance,  build,  set  up  and  continue 
from  this  date  forever,  a  good  sufficient  Corn  Mill,  at  or  within  four  rods  dis- 
tance from  that  place  where  the  present  Corn  Mill  stands,  together  with  a 
sufficient  dam,  whereby  they  may  be  capacitated,  well  and  seasonably  to  grind, 
from  time  to  time,  and  at  all  times,  successively,  all  such  corn  as  all,  each  and 


1  W.  T.  R.,  vol.  1,  p.  90.  2  Probably  lGOl-2. 


HISTORY     OF     ANCIENT     -WOODBURY.  69 

every  of  the  inhabitants  of  Woodbury  shall  bring  to  the  s''  mill  to  be  ground, 
the  which  they  do  hereby  covenant,  promise  and  engage,  faithfully  to  perform, 
well  and  seasonably,  upon  the  conditions  herein  exprest,  from  the  date  hereof 
forever.  In  Consideration  of  which,  the  Committee  hereunto  subscribing  do  in 
behalf  of  themselves,  and  the  town  of  Woodbury  afore«^,  by  way  of  encourage- 
ment that  the  abovesaid  work  may  be  well  and  truly  done,  promise  and  engage 
to  the  abovesaid  Millers  a  ten  acre  accommodation,  to  be  layed  out  as  nigh  and 
convenient  to  said  Mill,  as  may  be,  of  land  not  yet  particularly  impropriated, 
whicii  ten  acres  accommodation  is  to  all  intents  and  purposes  as  absolutely 
entailed  to  the  Mill  and  Miller,  that  doth  perform  the  abovesaid  covenant  of 
well  and  seasonably  grinding,  as  any  particular,  absolute  and  firm  entailment 
explicitly  can  be  drawn. "' 

As  a  further  "  encouragement  to  said  millers  to  perform  the  con- 
tract on  their  part,  £30  were  to  be  paid  in  provision  pay,  or  otherwise 
to  the  s*^  millers  satisfaction."  Those  inhabitants  who  could  not  pay- 
in  provisions,  had  the  liberty  of  paying  in  "  days  work."  The  town 
engaged  to  have  all  its  grinding  done  at  this  mill,  as  long  as  it 
should  continue  to  do  it  "  seasonably."  It  was  further  agreed,  that 
if,  "  after  a  further  experiment,  it  be  found  that  the  dam  can  not  be 
made  to  stand  at  that  place  above  exprest,"  then  it  was  to  be  located 
"  elsewhere  with  the  advice  of  the  town."  The  land  in  this  agree- 
ment was  laid  out  in  Ragland.  Ens.  Samuel  Stiles  had  also,  IGth 
Oct.,  1697,  twenty-eight  acres  of  "  meadow  and  upland"  laid  out  to  him 
as  town  miller.  It  appears  that  advantage  was  taken  of  the  last  clause 
in  this  agreement,  soon  after,  to  establish  the  mill  near  the  present 
mill  and  factory  of  Daniel  Curti?s,  Esq.,  in  Avhich  place  a  mill  has 
ever  since  been  kept  up,  there  being  a  very  good  water  privilege 
there.  As  evidence  of  this  removal,  we  find  the  "  old  ditch,"  men 
tioned  in  a  conveyance  as  early  as  five  or  six  years  later  than  the 
date  of  this  agreement.  The  mill  accommodations  continued  an 
appendage  to  the  mill  till  within  a  recent  period,  although  other  mills, 
in  various  parts  of  the  ancient  territory,  were  subsequently  estab- 
lished as  the  new  societies  were  formed. 

After  the  settlers  were  in  some  measure  located,  and  began  to  have 
some  of  the  comforts  and  conveniences  of  life,  their  thoughts  natu- 
rally turned  to  the  prime  object  of  all  the  plantations  in  New  Eng- 
land, the  establishment  of  public  worship,  and  the  location  and  con- 
struction of  a  suitable  house  in  which  to  enjoy  the  ministrations  of 
the  gospel.  From  their  first  settlement  hitherto,  they  had  worshiped 
in  each  other's  houses,  in  the  inclement  months  of  the  year,  and  in 

1  W.  T.  E.,  vol.  1,  p.  84. 


70  HISTORY     OF     A  X  C  1  K  X  T     WOODBURY. 

the  summer  months  liad  convened,  in  the  stillness  of  the  Sabbath 
morn,  in  a  beautiful  and  retired  spot  on  the  east  side  of  the  Orenaug 
Rocks,  between  the  clitfs,  with  their  sentinels  placed  on  the  top  of 
the  adjacent  rocks,  to  guard  against  surprise  from  savage  foes,  and 
there  made  "the  sounding  aisles  of  the  dim  woods"  vocal  Avith  the 
high  praises  of  God.  In  a  rude  pulpit  of  stone,  still  standing  in  that 
lonely  dell,  we  may,  in  imagination,  see  the  faithful  Walker  address- 
ing his  attentive  hearers  and  delivering  to  them  the  words  of"  truth 
and  soberness."  This  spot  received  the  name  of  Bethel  Rock  from 
this  circumstance,  and  has  been  ever  held  as  a  consecrated  place  by 
the  descendants  of  those  early  Christian  fathers,  whither  they  have 
at  times  resorted  for  meditation  and  prayer  to  the  present  day. 

The  unsettled  state  produced  by  King  Philip's  war,  having  passed 
away,  and  the  inhabitants  having  become  quite  numerous  for  a  new 
town,  they  now  resolved  to  "build  them  an  house"  for  public  wor- 
ship. As  has  ever  been  the  case  in  such  matters,  they  did  not  readily 
agree  on  a  location.  But  it  does  not  appear  that  they  fell  into  those 
violent  contentions  which  so  often  occur.  They  had  tried  various 
ways  to  solve  the  difficulty.  Among  other  methods,  they  attempted 
a  determination  of  the  question  by  lot,  thus  showing  us  a  glimpse  of 
the  superstition  of  the  age  in  Avhich  they  lived.  But  although  they 
had  "  solemnly  left  the  matter  to  God  "  for  a  decision,  vague  suspi- 
cions of  some  human  agency  in  the  result  obtained,  arose  in  the 
minds  of  many.  They  therefore,  in  a  peaceable  and  orderly  manner, 
took  the  following  rational  action  in  the  premises. 

"  Woodbury  June  22nd  IGSl. 

'"  At  a  Lawful  Town  Meeting  whereas  notwithstanding  former  endeavors  for 
y-  settlement  of  y«  place  for  a  meeting  House  lor  publick  worship  in  Woodbury, 
there  yet  remaining  something  of  scruple,  and  these  indeed  not  yet  successful!, 
and  particularly  a  lot  drawn  upon  that  account.  To  prevent  contention  and 
that  peace  and  union  may  be  obtained  and  continued,  we  have  agreed  and 
consented  that  to  refer  y«  decision  of  y«  s'^'  Lot  with  y'=  circumstances  thereto 
relating,  wether  y'  Lot  were  regular  or  unlawfuU  to  y"^  isue  and  determination 
of  our  honorable  friends  Major  Treat  Dep.  Govenor  and  Major  Gold,  and  in 
case  y«  abovementioned  Majors  do  not  determine  an  isue  of  themselues  we  do 
fully  leave  it  to  them  to  make  choice  of  a  3''  person  to  act  in  thee  afaires  herein 
cxprest.  In  case  y'  Lot  be  determined  regular  y'  work  is  finished  and  we  will 
acquies  therein.  If  y=  Lot  is  irregular  then  we  refer  y«  whole  settlement  of  a 
place  for  a  meeting  House  unto   them,  and  we  do  hereby  engage   and   bind 


1  W.  T.  R.,  vol.  1,  p.  91. 


HISTORY     OF     ANCIENT     -WOODBURY.  71 

ourselves  to  rest  fully  satisfied  with  what  isue  and  determination  shall  be  by 
our  honorable  friends,  or  any  two  of  them  concluded  on. 

Per  JNO.  MINOR  Recorder. 

"  The  same  day  and  time  y^  town  made  choice  of  John  Minor  to  present  this 
act  of  y°  town  to  y*  above  named  honorable  friends,  and  to  solicit  to  as  speedy 
an  action  herein  as  with  their  convenience,  y"  which  he  speedily  did,  and 
y«  Gentlemen  came  to  Woodbury  upon  y'  4  of  July  next  following,  and  haveing 
considered  y«  affaires  gave  in  the  following  conclusion  and  settlement  upon 
y^S'hof  July,  1681. 

"  Woodbury,  July  S'*",  IGSl.  Inanswertoy'  desires  of  our  neighbors  and  good 
friends  of  y^  town  of  Woodbury  aforesaid  to  refer  y«  answer  and  resolution 
where  there  procedure  were  regular  in  and  about  y' casting  a  lot  for  y'=  i^lace  of 
ye  setting  a  Meeting  House  unto  us  Robert  Treat  and  Nathan  Gold,  which  after 
we  had  heard  and  considered  what  was  on  both  hands  said  pro  and  con  in  the 
matter,  we  return-cd  our  answer  in  ye  negative,  and  whereas  ye  whole  settle- 
ment and  determination  of  y^  place  of  ye  setting  of  ye  meeting  house  was  also 
then  refered  to  us  ye  s'^  Robert  Treat  and  Nathan  Gold  with  liberty  of  new 
choice  of  a  third  man  in  case  we  found  need,  and  accordingly  we  made  choice 
of  Nicholas  Camp  to  be  ye  man,  and  after  we  had  heard  what  was  said,  and 
viewed  ye  several  places  propounded,  we  did  jointly  agree  and  determine 
ye  place  of  ye  setting  up  of  their  s**  meeting  house  is  to  be  on  ye  right  hand  of  a 
hollow  where  goes  down  ye  Cart  way  from  M'  Walker's  house  to  the  corn  mill 
about  twenty  rod  below  his  house,  where  we  pitched  down  a  stake,  and  that 
this  is  our  determination  may  appear  by  our  Joint  subscribing  our  names  ye  day 
and  year  above  written. 

Robert  Treat  Sen^ 
Nathan  Gold, 
to  the  latter  part  Nicholas  Camp 

Dilligently  Recorded  from  ye  original  at  ye  same  time 


A  72  c^tmcrO:  ^^^cco^^Z: 


The  site  here  indicated,  is  that  now  occupied  by  the  carriage  house 
of  Hon.  N.  B.  Smith.  This  fixes  the  location  of  the  corn  mill,  and 
that  of  Pai-son  Walker's  house,  where  Mr.  Levi  S.  Douglass  now 
lives,  as  well  as  that  of  the  meeting-house. 

The  decision  of  the  committee  appears  to  have  given  satisfaction  to 
the  town,  and  the  work  of  building  immediately  commenced.  The 
dimensions  of  this  house  are  not  preserved,  but  it  was  of  a  large  size 
for  those  times,  and  was  used  as  a  place  of  worship  till  the  erection  of 
the  second  meeting-house  in  1747,  a  period  of  sixty-six  years.  The 
seats  were  raised  one  above  the  other,  on  either  side  of  the  center  of 
the  house,  the  pulpit  being,  as  usual,  at  the  end  of  the  house  opposite 
the  'entrance.     The  people  were  called  to  church  on  the  Sabbath,  by 


<-  HISTORY     OF     ANCIEXT     -WOODBURY. 

the  beat  of  a  drum  upon  the  rock  on  which  the  Masonic  Lodge  now 
stands.  The  same  instrument  was  used  to  call  the  people  together 
on  other  days  in  the  week,  and  for  other  purposes.  It  beat  for  meet- 
ings of  the  town,  for  the  assembling  of  the  train-band,  and  in  cases  of 
alarm  in  time  of  war.  There  was  a  particular  beat  for  each  of  these 
occasions,  but  what  was  the  difference  in  the  roll  of  the  drum  ecclesi- 
astical, the  drum  military  and  the  drum  civil,  is  not  known.  During 
the  perilous  times  of  the  French  and  Indian  wars,  guards  were  placed 
on  Lodge  Rock,  and  the  rock  the  other  side  of  the  church,  near  Pom- 
peraug's  grave,  while  the  people,  who  also  carried  their  arms,  wor- 
shiped within.  After  the  dedication  of  the  second  meeting-house,  the 
old  one  was  used  as  a  town  hall  for  many  years,  and  also  by  the 
Episcopal  Society  for  their  service.  Still  later,  it  was  used  by  Mr. 
Tallman  for  a  slaughter-house.  But  it  was  many  years  ago  taken 
down,  and  its  place  is  now  occupied  as  before  stated. 

The  first  female  born  in  "Woodbury,  was  Sarah,  daughter  of  Sam- 
uel Sherman,  Jun.,  and  the  first  male,  Thomas,  son  of  John  Wheeler. 
They  were  both  born  in  1673,  and  baptized  in  Stratford. 

The  first  three  children  born  and  baptized  in  Woodbury,  after  the 
war  with  the  Indians,  were  Bezaleel,  son  of  Edmond  Sherman,  and 
Emm  and  Sarah  Fairchild,  whose  baptism  took  place  11th  April, 
1G75-6.     The  first  marriage  appearing  on  the  records  is  that  of 

"Benj"  Hinman  and  Elizabeth  Lumm,  both  of  Woodbury,  in  ye  County  of 
Fairefield,  in  his  Majes'^  Collony  of  Connecticott  were  niarrifd  ;  Man  and  AVife  ; 
yetwelvelh  day  of  July;  one  thousand  six  hundred  eighty  and  foure  as  attested 
und'  ye  hand  of  Justice  Rickbell,  who  married  them." 

The  first  death  on  record  is  that  of  "  Henry  Castle,  sen',  after  a  long 
sickness  above  a  twelve-moneth,"  2  Feb.,  1697-8.  But  there  were, 
doubtless,  both  marriages  and  deaths  in  the  town  previous  to  this 
date.  ^ 

The  first  wheelwright  who  settled  in  the  town  was  Samuel  Munn, 
whose  home-lot  was  laid  out  to  him  in  1681.  In  1688,  he  contracted 
with  Parson  Walker  to  make  him  a  cart  and  cart-wheels  for  a  piece 
of  land,  "  only  Mr.  Walker  is  to  cart  the  timber  to  said  Munn's,  and. 
find  iron  as  hoops." 

Dr.  Trumbull,  in  his  History  of  Connecticut,  says,  that  in  1713, 
"  there  was  but  one  clothier  in  the  colony.  The  most  he  could  do 
was  to  full  the  cloth  which  was  made.  A  great  proportion  of  it  was 
worn  without  shearing  or  pressing.'" 

1  Hist,  of  Coun.,  vol.  1,  p.  478. 


HISTORY     OF     AKCIEXT     WOODBURT.  73 

If  this  assertion  is  corr^t,  and  we  see  no  reason  to  doubt  it,  "Wood- 
bury was  the  location  of  that  first  clothier,  and  Abraham  Fulford  Avas 
the  man.  In  the  month  of  January,  1700,  we  find  the  following 
record,  signed  by  foi'ty-four  of  the  principal  inhabitants  of  the  town. 

"  We  whose  names  are  hereunto  subscribed  do  hereby  Grant  unto  Abraham 
FuUford,  a  well  accomplished  person  both  for  combing  wooll,  weaving  and 
fulling  cloth  :  if  he  se  cause  to  cohabitt  in  this  town,  and  be  beneficiall  upon 
\-e  s<^  accounts  a  tenn  acre  accommodations  in  Woodberry  :  January  1700."' 

lie  saw  "  cause"  to  accept  the  offer,  and  his  home-lot  was  laid  out 
next  to  that  of  Ens.  Samuel  Stiles,  the  town  miller.  Other  lands 
were  laid  out  to  him  at  Scuppo,  Hull's  Brook,  Good  Hill,  and  Grassy 
Hill.  From  a  de^ed  dated  3d  April,  1712,  it  appears  that  his  fulling 
mill  was  on  the  East  Sprain,  near  the  "  East  Meadow  Rocks." 

At  the  October  session  of  the  General  Court,  1665,  it  was  enacted 
that  every  town  in  the  colony  should  have  a  town  brand,  and  one 
chosen  in  each  town  to  brand  all  the  horses  owned  therein,  and  make 
an  entry  in  a  book,  kept  for  that  purpose,  of  all  horses  so  branded, 
"  w'^  their  naturall  and  artificiall  marks."  For  this  service  he  had 
six[)ence  for  each  horse  so  branded  and  entered.  The  brand  of  Wood- 
bury was  the  letter  P,  and  was  identical  with  that  of  Stratford,  the 
parent  town.  The  original  town  brand  was  in  existence  a  few  years 
since,  and  was  to  be  seen  at  John  P.  Marshall's  hotel. 

In  May,  1675,  the  General  Court  appointed  a  committee  to  layout 
a  highway  from  "  Woodbury  to  Pawgasuck  to  the  most  convenient 
place  for  a  ferry,  and  allso  to  lay  out  a  convenient  parcell  of  land  for 
a  ferry  place."  Stratford  was  also  ordered  to  lay  out  a  highway 
from  that  place  to  the  ferry.  This  was  the  first  action  toward  open- 
ing a  communication  between  Woodbury  and  Stratford.  At  the  May 
session,  1G77,  the  committee  reported  that  they  had  located  the  ferry 
"  at  the  lower  end  of  the  old  Indian  field"  in  Derby,  and  "  for  the 
incouragement  of  a  ferryman"  they  laid  out  eight  acres  of  land  in 
said  "old  field,"  and  twenty  acres  in  other  convenient  places  near  the 
ferry,  together  with  the  right  to  the  other  divisions  depending  on 
these. 

"  LIvetenant  Joseph  Judson  declared  that  if  the  inhabitants  of  Derby  would 
put  in  a  ferryman  in  convenient  time,  they  were  content,  or  els  upon  notice 
given  they  of  Woodbury  would  put  in  one  whome  the  tovvne  of  Derby  should 
apjirove  for  an  inhabitant,  and  that  without  any  charge  to  Derby  or  the  coun- 
try."'^ 


1  W.  T.  E.,  vol.  2,  p.  29,  2  Col. 

6 


74  II  I  S  T  O  K  Y     OF     ANCIENT     AV  O  O  D  15  U  R  Y . 

It  seems  that  this  otTer  of  Lieut.  Jiulson  was  accepted,  and  that  he 
either  furnished  a  man,  or  acted  himself  as  the  first  ferrj^man.  In 
January,  108.'),  he  conveyed  these  ''ferry  accommochvtions"  to  Ileniy 
Hill,  of  Woodbury,  upon  condition  that  he  would,  "at  his  own  charge 
and  cost,"  keep  '•  a  suitable  ferry-boat  always  in  readiness,  and  ferry 
over  travelers  from  Woodbury,  or  elsewhere,  seasonably  and  readilyr 
and  jjarticularly  those  from  "Woodbury,  at  sixpence  for  a  horse  and 
man.'"  This  with  the  highway,  furnished  a  very  satisfactory  com- 
munication with  Stratford,  and  was  their  only  communication  with 
Stratford  and  with  the  world  beyond  them. 

Doct.  Butler  Bedient  was  the  first  physician  who  settled  in  the 
town,  but  at  what  exact  date  is  not  known.  His  name  first  appears 
in  the  North  Purchase  rate  in  1712.  He  had  evidently  been  here 
somewhat  earlier  than  that.  History  is  silent  as  to  his  merits  and 
qualifications  in  the  healing  art,  but  it  is  fair  to  presume  from  the  well- 
known  intelligent  character  of  the  first  settlers,  that  his  acquirements 
must  have  been  respectable,  or  he  would  not  have  been  admitted  an 
inhabitant. 

Nearly  contemporary  with  the  latter,  was  Doctor  Ebenezer  War- 
ner, a  man  of  more  skill  and  greater  note  in  his  profession,  and  in  the 
town.  He  left  a  large  posterity,  and  his  descendants,  at  the  present 
time,  are  numeious.  He  often  went  abroad  to  practice  in  the  neigh- 
boring plantations.  To  prevent  this,  and  secure  his  valuable  ser- 
vices, the  town  granted  him  sixty  acres  of  land  in  the  •riginal  town 
plot,  "  for  his  Incurigement  to  practice  phissick  in  y^  town  and  attend 
the  sick  in  y®  town  rather  than  strangers."^  He  lived  to  a  good  old 
age,  useful  in  his  sphere,  and  respected  by  the  people  ;  and  died  car- 
rying with  him  the  commendations  of  all  who  knew  him. 

The  names  of  .the  various  localities  in  the  ancient  town,  were  nearly 
all  established  within  the  first  few  years  after  its  settlement.  Among 
these  were  Good  Hill,  Grassy  Hill,  Chestnut  Tree  Hill,  Ash  Swamp, 
Alder  Swamp,  and  Moose  Horn  Hill.  Saw-pit  Hill  early  received  its 
name,  from  the  manner  of  sawing  trees  or  logs  upon  its  sides.  A 
hole  or  pit  was  dug  in  the  ground,  a  log  placed  over  it,  and  in  the 
operation  of  sawing,  one  man  stood  in  the  pit,  and  the  other  on  the 
log.  Ram-pit  Hill,  which  is  near  Robert  Peck's  house,  received  its 
name  from  a  pit  which  was  dug  to  entrap  a  wolf,  that  had  been 

1  W.  T.  R.,  vol.  1,  p.  92.  2  W.  T.  R.,  vol.  2,  p.  121. 


HISTORY     OF     ANCIENT     WOODBURY.  75 

making  great  havoc  among  the  sheei^.  A  ram  was  placed  within  it, 
as  an  inducement  for  the  wolf  to  enter  during  the  night.  The  lure 
proved  sufficient.  In  the  morning  the  wolf  was  found  in  the  pit,  and 
the  ram,  instead  of  being  devoured,  had  defended  himself  with  so 
much  spirit  and  bravery,  that'  he  had  reduced  the  wolf  to  a  state  of 
great  docility.  The  wolf  was  dispatched,  and  his  companion  re- 
leased. 

White  Deer  Rocks  are  situated  westerly  from  Quasapaug  Pond, 
and  have  retained  their  name  from  the  first  settlement,  from  the 
abundance  of  deer  that  were  found  in  those  wild  solitudes,  occasion- 
ally venturing  with  dainty  tread  to  the  borders  of  the  lake,  to  drink 
its  silvery  waters.  Many  of  these  were  white,  and  hence  the  name. 
The  Lightning's  Playground  is  east  of  the  Orenaug  Rocks.  Ragland 
is  the  rough  ridge  of  hills  south-west  of  the  village  of  Woodbury. 
Scuppo  is  a  place  in  the  south-easterly  part  of  the  present  town  of 
Woodbury.  Carmel  Hill  is  in  the  western  pan  of  Bethlem.  Tophet 
Hollow  is  in  the  east  part  of  Roxbury.  Hooppole  is  south-west  of 
Hotchkissville.  Hazel  Plain  lies  along  the  West  Sprain.  Wee- 
keepeemee  lies  on  the  North  Sprain,  or  Weekeepeemee  River,  so 
called  from  an  Indian  sagamore,  who  once  had  his  hunting  grounds 
in  this  place.  Flanders  is  in  the  north  part  of  the  present  town  of 
Woodbui-y,  and  Transylvania  lies  on  the  brook  of  the  same  name,  in 
the  south  part  of  the  town.  There  are  numerous  other  local  names 
in  the  ancient  limits,  but  the  above  must  suffice  for  the  present. 

During  the  period  under  consideration,  much  of  the  outer  clothing 
of  our  fathei's  was  made  of  the  skins  of  deer  and  other  animals.  The 
former  were  in  great  demand.  As  early  as  1G77,  the  General  Court 
made  a  law  that  no  "skinns  of  bucks  and  dowes,  which  are  so  ser- 
uiceable  and  vsefull  for  cloathing,"  should  be  transported  out  of  the 
colony,  on  pain  of  forfeiture  of  the  skins  so  shipped,  and  that  they 
should  not  be  sent  for  sale  to  any  other  place  in  the  colony,  till  a  suf- 
ficient bond  to  the  value  of  the  skins  was  given,  that  they  should  be 
delivered  at  the  place  proposed,  and  not  be  carried  thence.  Accord- 
ingly, we  find  in  all  the  early  inventories  of  estates,  and  even  in  those 
of  a  hundred  years'  later  date,  leather  breeches,  coats  and  other  arti- 
cles of  attire,  prominent  articles  for  appraisal. 

Another  article  used  in  those  early  days,  strikes  us  of  the  present 
time  with  astonishment,  and  that  is  the  enormous  wooden  shoes  worn 
by  our  fathers.  It  is  difficult  for  us  to  imagine,  how  they  contrived  to 
accomplish  the  process  of  locomotion  with  such  ungainly  contrivances 


7G  IT  I  STORY     OF     AXCIKXT     WOODnURV. 

for  the  feet.     This  subject  also  enj^'agcd  the  attention  of  the  General 
Court  in  1G77,  and  it  was  ordered  that 

"  No  slmoinakoi-  Minll  take  above  five  ponce  half-penny  a  size  for  all  plaync 
and  wooden  hecld  shoes,  for  nil  sizes  above  mens  senens,  three  soled  shoes  w.ll 
made  and  wrought,  nor  above  scTen  pence  half-penny  a  size  for  well  wrought 
French  falls." 

'\\''itli  such  impediments,  one  would  tliink  it  no  ;jreat  credit  to  the 
Puritan  Fathers,  that  they  abstained  from  the  "  vain  and  sinful 
amusement  of  dancing,"  for  it  would  seem  impossible  to  be  conven- 
iently done,  even  with  their  best  pair  of  "  French  fiills." 

Our  fathers  were  somewhat  punctilious  in  matters  of  etiquette. 
Olficial  station  was  held  by  them  in  high  estimation,  and  the  titles  be- 
longing even  to  the  lowest  grades  of  public  sen-ice,  especially  if  that 
grade  was  military,  were  always  scrupulously  bestowed-  on  the  pos- 
sessor of  them.  In  the  early  records,  and  in  their  intercourse  with 
each  other,  Corporal  Martin  was  as  naturally  addressed  by  his  title, 
as  Col.  Minor.  The  title  of  Mr.  was  a  title  of  honor,  by  which  min- 
isters, deacons,  constables,^  (very  important  officers  at  that  date,) 
assistants,  judicial  functionaries,  and  other  distinguished  characters^ 
were  addressed.  Church  members  called  each  other  brethren  and 
sisters.  Other  individuals  were  characterized  as  Goodman,  Good- 
wife  or  Neighbor.  How  greatly  times  are  changed!  Little  respect 
for  titles  of  any  kind  now  remains.  Every  man  is  called  INIr.  or  Esq., 
and  every  woman  "  Mrs.,  3Iadain  or  Lady  /" 

In  1687,  the  colony  of  Connecticut,  with  the  rest  of  New  England, 
was  filled  with  anxiety  and  alarm,  on  account  of  the  pretensions  and 
proceedings  of  Sir  Edmund  Andross.  Woodbury,  secure  in  its  re- 
tirement among  the  hills,  in  the  interior  of  the  colony,  was  not  so 
much  excited  with  apprehension  as  other  towns. 

No  allusion  to  the  advent  of  that  bad  man  appears  on  its  records, 
nor  was  the  usual  action,  in  their  town  meetings,  in  any  manner 
changed,  except  that  no  representatives  were  elected  to  the  General 
Court.  He  dissolved  the  General  Court  at  Hartford,  wn-ote  "  Finis" 
on  its  records,  and  assumed  the  reins  of  government,  October  31st, 
1G87.      Tlic  colony  had  always  lived  under  governors   elected  by 


1  Tlie  ancient  townis  chose  their  on^,  Gnistuhle,  who  was  to  them  the  rifjht  arm  of 
tl>e  king  liiniRelf,  a  functionary  treated  with  reverent  awe,  and  obeyed  with  implicit 
deference.  AVhoever  resisted  his  power,  resisted  the  ordinance  of  God. — Porter's 
ITistoi-ij  of  Farviinglon^  Conn, 


HISTORY     OF     ANCIEXT     WOODBURY. 


77 


themselves,  while  the  other  colonies  were  suffering  the  tyrannies  of 
the  royal  governors,  appointed  by  the  crown.  This  was  the  first, 
and  only  interruption  to  this  right,  which  it  had  always  maintained, 
and  continued  for  eighteen  months.'  After  the  imprisonment  of  An- 
dross,  by  the  citizens  of  Boston,  in  April,  1689,  Connecticut  resumed 
its  government,  and  "Woodbury  was  represented  by  Capt.  John  Minor 
and  Lt.  Israel  Curtiss,  in  the  General  Court,  which  was  immediately 
convened. 

In  April,  1G93,  the  town  voted,  that  for  the  future  each  one  who 
should  be  admitted  as  an  inhabitant,  should  be  received  free  from 
payments  for  past  expenses,  should  subscribe  the  "  fundamental  arti- 
cles," should  build  "  a  tenantable  house,"  make  "  actual  improvement" 
of  his  land  six  years,  and  "  clear  and  break  up"  at  least  six  acres  of 
land  in  said  six  years,  before  he  should  have  a  right  to  sell  his  land. 
The  penalty  for  not  conforming  to  this  rule  was  forfeiture  of  his  land 
and  improvements  to  the  town. 

In  1702,  a  division  of  the  meadow  on  Shepaug  River  was  made  to 
the  landholders  of  Woodbury,  from  which  it  appears  that  there  were 
at  this  date  seventy-eight  householders,  or  heads  of  families,  as  no 
others  would  be  entitled  to  a  portion  of  the  land.  The  families  in 
those  days  were  larger  than  at  present,  and  this  number  would  show, 
that  Woodbury  must  hjjve  contained,  at  that  date,  five  or  six  hunch-ed 
inhabitants,  perhaps  more.     The  list  follows. 


Eleazer  Kiiowles, 
Ebenezer  Warner, 
Elizabeth  Walker, 
John  Roots, 
John  Skeel,  Jun  , 
Thomas  Squire,  Jim., 
Benjamin  Hinman, 
Joseph  Hicock, 
John  Mitchell, 
Deacon  Mitchell, 
Lieut.  Stiles, 
Parsonage, 
John  Curtiss, 
Thomas  Minor, 
Sergeant  Johnson, 
Benjamin  Stiles, 
Zeohariah  Walker, 
Mr.  Judson, 
Isaac  Castle, 
Nathaniel  Tuttle, 
John  Huthwit, 


Mr.  Stoddard, 
Samuel  Jenner, 
John  Judson,  Jun., 
Capt.  Minor, 
Widow  Preston, 
John  Hurlbut, 
]Mr.  Bryan, 
John  Nichols, 
James  Beers, 
John  Pierce, 
Josiah  Nichols, 
John  Wheeler, 
Jonathan  Attwood, 
John  Stratton, 
Caleb  Nichols, 
John  Bartiett, 
Samuel  Blakely, 
Ephraim  Minor, 
Ebenezer  Hurd, 
John  Hnrlbut,  Jun 
Sergeant  Galpin, 


Henry  Castle,  Jun., 
Samuel  Castle, 
Roger  TerriU, 
Cornelius  Brownson, 
Joseph  Waller, 
Titus  Hinman, 
Benjamin  Hicock, 
Israel  Curtiss, 
Lieut.  Curtiss, 
Thomas  Applebee, 
Joseph  Minor, 
Abraham  Fulford, 
John  Davis, 
Henry  Castle, 
William  Marks, 
Samuel  Munn, 
William  Martin, 
John  Thomas, 
Thomas  Drakely, 
John  Minor,  Jun., 
John  Faron, 


78  HISTORY     OF     A  X  C  I  K  X  T     WOODBURY. 

William  Roberts,  Rol)ert  Wariior,  Jnsepli  Ilicock,  Jun., 

Thomas  IK-dii-iit,  William  FR-dcrick,  David  Jc-iikiiis, 

Josopli  Ilnrd,  SiT!.'oaiit  Siiiiin-,  John  Skc'el,Jun., 

Josepli  llnrlbut,  Jim.,  John  Wliiilir,  Jnn.,  Joiin  Sherman, 

Samuel  llinman,  S-rireant  llurd,  William  Preston. 

Tlio  first  blacksiuitli  in  AV()0(lI)ury  of  whom  the  records  give  us 
any  information,  was  I)ea,  Samuel  Bull,  who  came  here  from  Far- 
mington,  and  the  inhabitants  granted  him  May  13th,  1706,  a  "ten 
acre  accommodation,"  provided  he  should  "  cohabit  with  us  six  years, 
and  Carie  on  the  trade  of  a  Smith  in  tlie  town." 

The  first  application  for  a  divorce  in  the  town  was  made  by  Jona- 
than Taylor,  October  10th,  1708,  to  the  General  Court.  He  asked 
divorce  from  his  wife,  on  the  ground  of  her  endeavoring  to  "  take  his 
life,  by  her  violence,  deserting  him,  and  living  with  Joseph  AUin,  a 
negro,  at  Sackett's  Farm,  New  York."  The  case  was  duly  consid- 
ered and  the  divorce  granted.  For  such  causes  it  would  seem  that  it 
was  well  granted. 

As  has  been  stated,  the  home-lots  on  which  all  other  divisions  of 
land  were  grounded,  and,  in  proportion  to  which,  they  were  granted, 
differed  in  size  from  ten  to  twenty-five  acres.  Bachelors  received  the 
smallest  number,  as  we  learn  from  a  grant  made  to  Jehiel  Preston. 
On  the  13th  of  May,  1706,  there  was  granted  him  a  "five  acre  ac- 
commodation in  all  the  divisions,  that  is  the  half  of  a  Bachelor's  ac- 
commodation." Whether  he  was  considered  but  half  a  bachelor,  or 
what  the  reason  was  for  granting  him  but  half  a  home-lot,  does  not 
appear.  It  would  seem  from  this  fact,  that  bachelors  were  then  con- 
sidered of  little  account,  as  has  been  the  case  in  most  communities, 
both  before  and  since  that  day. 

In  the  beginning  of  1707,  reports  of  an  expedition  by  the  French 
and  Indians  against  some  part  of  New  England,  gave  general  alarm 
to  the  country.  On  the  Gth  of  February  of  that  year,  a  council  of 
war  convened  at  Hartford,  consisting  of  the  governor,  most  of  the 
council,  and  many  of  the  chief  military  otficers  of  the  colony.  In- 
formation of  various  kinds  Avas  received ;  among  the  rest,  that  suspi- 
cions were  entertained,  that  the  Pootatuck  and  AVyantenuck  Indians 
designed  to  join  the  French  and  Indians. 

The  council  determined  that  the  western  frontier  towns,  Simsbury, 
Waterbury,  Woodbury  and  Danbury,  should  be  fortified  with  the  ut- 
most expedition.  It  was  resolved  that  each  of  these  four  towns 
should  keep  a  scout  of  two  faithful  men,  to  be  sent  out  every  day,  to 
discover  the  designs  of  the  enemy,  and  give  intelligence  should  they 


HISTORY     OF     ANCIENT     TTOODEUE^.  79 

make  their  appearance  near  the  frontier.  The  people  of  TVoodbury, 
with  great  alacrity,  set  about  the  work  of  preparing  defenses.  They 
repaired  the  fortified  houses  of  Isaac  Judson,  in  Judson  Lane,  Capt. 
John  Minor  and  Rev.  Anthony  Stoddard.  They  also  put  in  order 
the  one  that  stood  on  the  site  now  occupied  by  Mr.  Horace  Kurd's 
new  house,  the  Bronson  house  in  Transylvania,  and  others  whose 
.  location  are  not  known.  So  great  was  the  zeal  shown  by  this  town, 
in  common  with  others,  that  the  General  Court  made  them  a  liberal 
compensation. 

To  prevent  damage  from  the  Pootatuck  and  "Wyantenuck  Indians, 
Capt.  John  Minor  and  Mr.  John  Sherman  were  appointed  to  remove 
them  to  Stratford  and  Fairfield.  If  by  reason  of  sickness  or  any  oth- 
er cause,  they  could  not  be  removed,  it  was  ordained  that  a  number 
of  their  chief  men  should  be  carried  down  to  those  towns,  and  kejit  as 
hostages  to  secure  the  fidelity  of  the  rest.  No  difficulties,  however, 
occurred  between  the  whites  and  these  Indians,  but  they  continued  at 
peace  with  them,  while  they  existed  as  distinct  clans. 

At  the  October  session  of  1708,  it  was  enacted,  that  garrisons 
should  be  kept  at  Woodbury,  and  the  other  towns  mentioned  above. 
During  this  year,  a  body  of  Indians  appeared  in  AYest  Side,  and  drove 
the  people,  by  their  sudden  and  formidable  appearance,  into  the  forti- 
fied houses.  "What  their  intention  was  in  coming  is  not  known.  If 
their  design  was  a  hostile  one,  no  doubt  the  watchfulness  of  the  people, 
and  the  strength  of  their  fortifications,  warned  them  that  it  was  better 
for  them  to  depart,  which  they  accordingly  did,  without  attempting  to 
do  any  damage. 

During  the  continuance  of  this  war,  it  is  related,  that  one  Sabbath 
evening,  after  the  conclusion  of  the  services  at  church,  while  the  Rev. 
Mr.  Stoddard  was  walking  in  his  garden  near  the  Cranberry  Pond, 
he  discovered  an  Indian  skulking  among  the  surrounding  trees  and 
bushes.  Apparently  without  noticing  the  movements  of  the  Indian, 
he  contrived  to  reenter  his  house,  and  obtain  his  gun.  After  playing 
the  same  game  of  skulking  with  his  adversary  for  a  while,  Mr.  Stod- 
dard got  a  fair  view  of  him,  discharged  his  piece,  and  he  fell  among 
the  bushes.  He  dared  not  investigate  farther  that  night,  but  having 
quietly  given  the  alarm,  the  inhabitants  sought  their  palisaded  houses 
for  the  night.  Early  in  the  morning,  he  discovered  another  red  foe, 
in  the  vicinity  of  his  companion,  whom  lie  also  laid  low  with  his 
musket.  By  this  time  the  people  had  assembled,  and  after  scouring 
the  country,  in  all  directions,  for  several  hours,  and  no  other  savages 
being  found,  the  alarm  subsided. 


80 


II  I  S  T  O  R  V     OF     ANCIENT     WOODBURY. 


Beginning  with  King  Philip's  war,  in  which  it  furnished  more  than 
its  just  share  of  men,  being  then  little  more  than  two  years  old, 
"Woodbury  has  always  furnished  her  men  liberally,  for  all  the  wars 
which  have  arisen  in  which  our  country  has  been  interested.  In  that 
fruitless  and  fatal  expedition  to  Wood  Creek,  under  Gen.  Nicholson, 
of  the  royal  service,  to  assist  in  the  reduction  of  INIontreal  and  Que- 
bec, in  1709,  Connecticut  furnished  her  full  quota  of  men,  and  Wood- 
bury her  full  share  of  that  quota,  which  was  nine.  This  undertaking 
was  a  serious  loss  and  expense  to  the  colonies.  More  than  one-fourth 
of  the  troops  died.  Connecticut,  however,  more  fortunate  than  the 
rest,  sustained  only  the  loss  of  ninety  men.  Of  this  number,  two 
were  of  Woodbury,  viz.,  Sergeant  Thomas  Skeel  and  John  J.  John- 
son, who  died  a  few  days  after  their  return  home,,  of  disease  con- 
tracted by  exposui-e  in  the  camp.  In  1713,  peace  was  made  with 
Fi-ance,  the  Indians  buried  the  tomahawk,  and  peace  once  more  glad- 
dened the  colonies. 

Forty  years  had  elapsed  since  the  planting  of  the  town,  and  it  now 
held  a  very  respectable  rank  among  its  sister  towns  of  the  colony. 
New  inhabitants  had  been  admitted  besides  those  already  given,  but, 
from  the  imperfection  of  the  records  it  has  been  deemed  best  not  to 
attempt  to  give  the  dates  of  arrival.  The  purchase  rate,  or  tax  for 
paying  the  expense  of  obtaining  the  North  Purchase,  laid  in  1712,  is 
given  below,  as  the  most  perfect  list  of  householders  that  can  be 
offered.  It  also  gives  the  amount  of  their  estates.  The  list  contains 
a  hundred  aud  tw^enty-five  names,  showing  a  population  of  about  a 
thousand  at  this  date. 


"  A  Rate  according  to  town  order  for  the  Xortli  Purchase,  by  those  apjioint- 
c\\  by  the  town  to  make  the  same,  and  hereto  subscribing,  April,  1712." 

£,  s.  d.                                   £  s.  ct.  £  s.  d. 

Capt.  Sherman        0  2  2     Samuel  Bull             0  3  3  Noah  Ilinman  0  2  2 

Cupt.  John  Minor    0  2  2     Samuel  Jenner        0  3  3  Timothy  Walker  0  2  2 

Mr.  Anth.  Stoddard  0  2  2     Nathaniel  Tuttle     0  2  2  John  Squire  0  2  2 

Ephraim  Tuttle      0  2  2  Joseph  IMartin  0  2  2 

John  Bartlit             0  2  2  Samuel  Knowles  0  2  2 

Samitel  Sherman   0  2  2  Benj.  Ilurd  Jun.  0  2  2 

John  Wheeler  Sor.  0  4  4  Eliphalet  Judson  0  2  2 

John  Wheeler  Jr.   0  2  2  Samuel  Hicoek  0  2  2 

Joseph  Kurd            0  4  4  Thomi\s  Mallory  0  2  2 

Adino  Strong           0  4  4  John  Kurd  0  2  2 

Thomas  Wheeler    0  2  2  Elnathan  Strong  0  4  4 

William  Gaylord    022  Joseph  Galpin  0  22 

William  Preston     0  2  2  Jno.  Baker,  0  2  2 

Jehiel  Preston        0  2  2  Ilobert  Warner  0  2  2 


Mr.  Judson  dec'd  0  4  4 

William  Martin  0  2  2 

John  Nichols  0  2  2 

Valentine  Prentice  0  2  2 

John  Minor  0  2  2 

Samuel  Minor  0  2  2 

Roger  Terrell  0  2  2 

Stephen  Terrell  0  2  2 

Jonathan  Atwood  0  2  2 

JcJin  Judsoji  Jr.  0   4    1 

Joseph  Judson  0  2  2 


niSTOHT 

£s  d. 

Jonathan  Jndson 

0  2  2 

Thomas  ]Miiior 

0  2  2 

Jo-seph  Minor 

0  2  2 

Ephraim  Minor 

0  2  2 

Josiah  Minor 

0  2  2 

Benja  Galpin 

0  2  2 

Doctr  Warner 

0  2  2 

Ensign  iNIitchel 

0  4  4 

JohnMitchel,  Jor 

.022 

Thos.  Squire,  dd. 

0  4  4 

Thos.  Sipiire,Jor 

.022 

Ebenezer  Squire 

0  2  2 

Joseph  Booth 

0  4  4 

Dea  Mitchel 

0  4  4 

9 

Jonatlian  Mitchel  0  2  2 

John  Root 

0  4  4 

Josiah  Root 

0  2  2 

Henry  Castie 

0  2  2 

Jo.  Hurlbut,  Sor. 

0  2  2 

' 

Jo.  Hurlbut,  Jor. 

0  2  2 

Jo.  Wallar 

0  2  2 

Cor'-^Hnrbut 

0  2  2 

Jonathan  Hurbut  0  2  2 

Jno  Hurlbut 

0  2  2 

Jno  Thojnas 

0  2  2 

Cor""^  Brownson 

0  2  2 

Will  Mark 

0  2  2 

Thomas  Drakly 

0  2  2 

OF     AXCIENT     TTOODBURY. 


John  Curtiss  0 

Stephen  Curtiss  0 

Joseph  Hicock  0 

Francis  Stile  0 

EleazerKnowles  0 

Thomas  Knowles  0 

Sergant  Johnson  0 

John  Johnson  0 

Moses  Johnson'  0 

John  Skeel,  Sor.  0 

John  Skeel,  Jor.  0 

Thomas  Skeel  0 

Samuel  Stiles  0 

Eben.  Brownson  0 

Benjamin  Hicock  0 

John  Pierce,  Sor.  0 

John  Pierce,  Jor.  0 

John  Huthvvit  0 

Benj    Hinman  0 

Adam  Hinman  0 

Titus  Hinman  0 

Samuel  Hinman  0 

Mr.  Bryan  0 

Lt.  Curtiss  ^  0 

Israel  Curtiss  0 

Samuel  Squire  0 
Thomas  and  John 

Leavenworth  0 


81 


s.d. 

£  s.  d. 

3  3 

Jeremiah  Thomas  0  2  2 

2  2 

Jno  Sherman 

0  2  2 

4  4 

NathanielHurlbutO  2  2 

4  4 

Cori"s  Brownson 

0  2  2 

.3  3 

Roger  Terrill,  Jr. 

0  2  2 

2  2 

John  Thomas 

0  2  2 

3  3 

Henry  Castle 

0  2  2 

2  2 

Isac  Castle 

0  2  2 

2  2 

Sam''  Blakly 

0  2  2 

3  3 

Jonathan  Hough 

0  2  2 

2  2 

Will  Fradriek 

0  2  2 

2  2 

Joshua  Curtiss 

0  2  2 

2  2 

Will  Castle 

0  2  2 

2  2 

Samuel  Martin 

0  2  2 

3  3 

Sam''  Castle 

0  2  2 

2  2 

Josiah  Nichol 

0  2  0 

2  2 

Sergant  Hurd 

0  5  5 

2  2 

Ebenr  Hurd 

0  4  4 

0  6 

Robert  Hurd 

0  2  2 

2  2 

Dea.  Walker 

0  3  3 

5  5 

Daniel  and  Samut 

il 

3  3 

Mun 

0  6  6 

S  4 

John  Davis 

0  2  2 

2  2 

Doctor   Butler  foi 

2  2 

Thomas  Bedient  0  2  2 

2  2 

Hezekiah  Tuttle 

0  2  2 

Andrew  Hinman 

0  2  2 

It  will  have  been  noticed,  that  great  minuteness  has  been  ol)served, 
in  tracing  the  history  of  the  early  fathers  to  this  point,  and  not  with- 
out reason.  There  is  an  interest  lingering  about  the  history,  sayings 
and  doings  of  those  iron-hearted  men,  which  belongs  to  no  later  race. 
The  most  trivial  details,  in  regard  to  them,  seem  important,  and  we 
gather  them  up  with  ever  increasing  interest.  It  was  they  who  sub- 
dued this  wilderness  land,  and  established  here  our  happy  homes,  and 
the  germ  of  our  enduring  liberties.  It  Avas  they  who  laid  here  the 
foundations,  deep  and  broad,  of  our  religious  institutions,  and,  when 
they  themselves  had  no  "  temple  made  with  hands,"  in  which  to  wor- 
ship the  God  of  their  fathers,  led  their  children  to  the  secluded  fast- 
ness of  Bethel  Rock,  to  pour  forth  their  prayers  and  praise.  In  later 
years,  when  they,  by  the  labor  of  their  own  hands,  had  been  able  to 
erect  a  house  to  worship  in,  they  devoutly  gathered,  on  the  holy  Sab- 
bath morn,  themselves  and  their  households,  to  thank  the  Great  Cre- 
ator for  the  undeserved  blessings  which  they  enjoyed,  while  guards 


^S  HISTORY     OF     AXCIF.  XT     AVOODBURV. 

wtitclietl  without  against  the  dangers  of  suilden  ambuscade.  It  was 
they  who  Laid  the  first  foundation  of  the  educational  institutions  which 
Ave  now  enjoy.  The  few  errors  they  had,  were  errors  of  the  head 
and  not  of  the  lieart.  They  labored  amid  difficulties,  and  we  have 
entered  into  the  results  of  those  labors.  They  sleep  well,  in  these 
religious  vales,  far  from  the  land  of  their  fathers.  "The  dark  brown 
years"  have  passed  over  the  sacred  mounds  which  cover  them,  for 
many  generations.  Is  it  wonderful,  then,  that  their  posterity  linger 
with  a  sad  interest  over  the  lightest  trace  of  their  doings  ?  Is  it 
strange,  that  we  notice,  with  approbation,  acts  which,  at  the  present 
day,  would  be  unworthy  of  remark?  Who  can  contemplate  the  hard- 
ships, labors  and  dangers  of  our  ancestors,  their  self-denial,  magna- 
nimity, firmness,  and  perseverance  in  defending  and  transmitting  to 
us  the  fairest  inheritance,  and  not  highly  esteem  and  venerate  their 
characters  ?  It  must  be,  that  a  proper  estimate  of  the  wisdom,  so- 
briety, industry,  economy  and  integrity,  which  enabled  our  fathers  to 
do  so  much,  will  induce  us,  their  descendants,  to  emulate  their  ex- 
ample, and  by  constant  vigilance,  to  hand  down  untarnished,  our  dis- 
tinguished liberties  and  happiness  to  the  latest  generation. 


I 


CHAPTER   VII. 


INDIAN    HI  STORT. 


1C39  TO  1774  ;  Formation  and  Western  tendency  of  the  Trtbes  ;  Succession 
OF  Ci.ANs,  WErAWAUGS,  Paugussetts,  Pootatucks,  Wyantenucks  and  Scat- 
ACooKS  ;  The  Mohawks  oppress  the  Western  Indians  ;  Pomperaug,  the 
First  Pootatuck  Sacheji  ;  His  Burial  Place;  Character  and  Religion 
of  the  Pootatucks;  Great  Powwow  of  1720;  Human  Sacrifices;  Le- 
gend of^Uethel  Kock  ;  Legend  of  Squaw  Rock;  Legend  of  Nonnewaug 
Falls  ;  Their  Numbers  ;  List  of  Pootatucks  ;  Watchibrok's  Disclosure  ; 
The  Wampum  Belt  ;  Restrictions  upon  the  L\dians  ;  Caleb  Martin's 
Petition;  Lieut.  Ebenezer  Warner's  Petition;  Treaty;  Cockshure's 
Island  and  Tummasseete's  Old  Orchard  ;  Location  of  Pootatuck  Vil- 
lage ;  Romantic  View  ;  Religious  Efforts  ;  Atchetoset's  Petition  ; 
Mowehu's  Petition;  Sale  of  South  Purchase  in  1733;  Weraumaug; 
Mr.  Boardman  prays  three  hours  with  him  ;  Gideon  Mauwehu  forms 
the  Scatacook  Clan;  Moravian  JMissio.naries;  Sale  of  Pootatuck  in 
1759;  Indian  Relics;    Burial  Grounds;  Reflections. 

Before  the  adveiit  of  Columbus,  geographical  science  was  at  a 
low  ebb.  The  mind  had  not  learned  to  expand  in  lofty  speculations? 
to  seek  out  the  hidden  resources  and  boundless  extent  of  nature's  do- 
mains. Its  loftiest  flights  were  limited  ;  its  conclusions  erroneous  and 
absurd.  Against  the  western  shores  of  Europe  dashed  the  majestic 
waves  of  the  broad  Atlantic,  but  all  beyond  was  unknown,  an  un- 
fathomable abyss.  "  Darkness  sat  upon  the  face  of  the  waters,"  and 
to  the  minds  of  men,  "  all  was  without  form  and  void."  They  thought 
of  what  Avas  beyond  the  western  waters  with  superstitious  dread. 
The  earth  in  their  view  Avas  an  extended  jjlain,  from  whose  edges  the 
incautious  traveler  must  inevitably  fall.  The  fearful  mariner  scarce- 
ly dared  to  trust  his  bark  from  sight  of  land,  but,  like  the  groping 
snail,  took  his  slow  course  along  the  jutting  coasts. 

"With  Columbus  the  scene  changed.  Darkness  began  to  fly  away, 
and  the  mists  of  the  mind  to  be  dispelled.  That  bold  adventurer 
came  forth  the  advocate  of  new  and  strange  doctrines.  In  energetic  • 
language,  he  urged   "  there  is  land  beyond  the  blue  waves  of  the 


84  IIISTOUY     OF     ANCIKNT     "WOODBUnY. 

mighty  Atlantic.  A  new  continent  will  be  discovered  in  those  un- 
known regions.  After  years  of  disapiJointnient  and  difficulty,  he 
takes  his  course  across  those  fearful  waters,  where  never  mariner 
ventured  before.  Storms  were  on  the  deep,  and  the  "sea  was  con- 
trary." Dangers  from  the  elements,  and  the  groundless  fears  of  his 
men  beset  him,  but  he  persevered ;  and  as  the  reward  of  his  labors 
and  trials,  a  new  world  burst  upon  his  sight.  A  beautiful  scene  was 
befo;'e  him,  and  novelties  of  every  kind  continually  met  his  delighted 
gaze.  A  singular  race  of  men  inhabited  these  new  regions,  not  liv- 
ing in  comfortable  dwellings,  suri'ounded  by  verdant  fields,  which 
they  cultivated,  but  wandering  in  small  elans,  in  the  dense  forests, 
among  the  lofty  mountains,  by  the  mui'muring  streams,  and  along  tlie 
meandering  rivers.  This  people  were  destitute  of  the  arts  of  civili- 
zed life — had  strange  rites  and  unheard  of  customs.  Notwithstand- 
ing this,  in  one  part  of  their  domains  appeared  mounds  of  cui'ious  con- 
struction, in  another  ruins  as  of  cities  and  temples,  pyramids  inscribed 
with  hieroglyphics,  and  specimens  of  rude  statuary.  In  still  another 
part,  were  found  some  of  them  enjoying  a  degree  of  civilization.  All 
this  appeared  ;  yet  they  had  been  hitherto  unknown,  and  insulated 
from  the  rest  of  the  world. 

This  rude  and  barbarous  race  Avas  scattered  throughout  the  whole 
extent  of  the  continent.  The  Indians  were  less  numerous  in  Con- 
necticut and  other  northern  territories,  than  in  states  farther  south. 
Almost  every  early  town  in  the  State  had  more  or  less  of  these  people 
within  its  borders,  in  the  early  part  of  its  settlement.  Woodbury  was 
no  exception  to  the  rule  in  this  respect.  An  important  and  numer- 
ous, though  peaceful  tribe,  dwelt  within  its  limits  for  nearly  a  century 
after  its  first  settlement. 

De  Forest,  in  his  intei'esting  work  on  tlie  "  History  of  iIk;  Indians 
of  Connecticut,"  dismisses  the  Indians  of  Woodbury  in  the  ibllowing 
summary  manner : 

"North-west  of  the  Paugussetts,  within  the  limits  of  Newtown,  Southbury, 
Woodbuiy,  and  some  other  townshijis,  resided  a  chin  known  as  tiie  Potatiuks. 
Their  insignificance  is  sufhciently  proved  by  the  almost  total  silence  of  anlhors 
concerning  them,  and  by  their  noiseless  disappearance." 

It  is  believed,  if  the  author  had  made  a  somewhat  more  careful 
inquiry,  he  would  hardly  have  placed  the  Pootatucks  so  much  below 
the  otlier  tribes  of  Connecticut.  If  to  live  quietly  and  peaceably  in 
imitation  of  their  white  neighbors,when  well  used  by  them,  is  a  proof 
of  "  insignificance,"  then  the  Pootatucks  richly  deserved  that  epithet. 


niSTOKY     OF     ANCIENT     WOODBURY.  85 

If  to  make  a  "  noiseless  disappearance  "  by  death,  at  the  tnne  ap- 
pointed by  Providence,  constitutes  a  title  to  "  insignificance,"  then 
the  people  of  this  tribe  were  verily  guilty.  The  whites  ever  culti- 
vated friendship  with  these  Indians.  They  purchased  their  lands, 
from  time  to  time,  in  good  faith,  and  for  considerations  satisfjictory 
to  the  parties.  They  allowed  them  to  build  wigwams,  and  live  on 
the  very  lands  which  they  had  purchased  of  them,  and  cut  their  fire- 
wood on  the  uninclosed  lands.  They  granted  them  the  privilege  of 
attending  their  schools  and  religious  assemblies.  These  kind  offers 
were  by  many  of  them  accepted.  Some  of  their  children  gained  the 
rudiments  of  knowledge,  many  of  them  put  themselves  under  the 
care  of  the  ministers  of  the  town,  and  some  of  them  became  approved 
members  of  the  churches.  Some  of  them  cultivated  their  lands  like 
the  whites,  and  enjoyed  the  decencies  of  civihzation.  They,  no 
doubt,  were  a  race  greatly  inferior  to  the  whites,  and  as  such  finally 
dwindled  away,  but  in  no  manner  different  from  the  other  tribes  of 
the  State.  Such  being  the  case,  the  "  silence  of  authors  "  can  prove 
very  little  one  way  or  the  other. 

So  far  as  can  be  leai'ned,  there  were  never  any  wars  among  the 
tribes  of  Indians  in  the  western  part  of  Connecticut,  found  there  by 
the  first  settlers,  or  among  those  formed  afterward.  It  was  not  un- 
usual among  the  small  tribes  of  the  State,  for  the  son  of  a  sachem  to 
leave  the  "  old  home  "  with  a  few  followers,  and  form  a  subordinate 
clan  under  the  former ;  or  for  two  brothers  of  the  "  blood  royal "  to 
agree  on  a  division  of  the  hunting  grounds ;  and  thus  form,  in  time, 
distinct  tribes,  which  always  remained  in  strict  alliance-  The  Poo- 
tatucks  in  this  way  had  clans  at  Nonncwaug,  Bantam,  Wyantenuck, 
besides  their  principal  seat  on  the  Ilousatonic.  From  a  careful 
inspection  of  the  scanty  facts  remaining  in  regard  to  these  matters, 
there  is  little  doubt  that  all  the  Connecticut  clans,  except  the  Pe- 
quots,  were  only  fragments  of  one  great  tribe,  of  which  the  principal 
branches  wei'e  the  Xehantics  and  Narragansetts,  dispersed  and  bro- 
ken by  some  such  process  as  this,  aided  perhaps  by  incursions  from 
outside  foes. 

"  The  Nehantics  of  Lyme,  for  instance,  were  clearly  related  to  the 
Nehantics  of  Ehode  Island  ;  Sequassen,  chief  of  the  Farmington  and 
Connecticut  River  countries,  was  a  connection  of  the  Narragansett 
sachems ;  and  the  Indians  of  Windsor,  subjects  of  Sequassen,  were 
closely  united  to  the  WepaAvaugs  of  Milford.  Thus  various  connec- 
tions might  be  traced  between  the  Narragansetts  and  the  tribes  of 
western  Connecticut,  while  both  united  in  holding  the   Pequots  in 


8C  IIISTOUY     OF     AXCIKXT     WOODBURY. 

abljoiTciu-c,  and  seldom  bore  any  otlier  relations  to  them  than  those 
of  enemies  or  of  unwilling  subjects.'"  The  Paugussetts*  of  Derby, 
Stratford  and  other  townships,  and  the  AVepawaugs  of  Milford,  were 
but  one  people  divided  into  two  elans.  The  names  of  the  chiefs  of 
both  are  appended  to  the  various  deeds  of  sale  found  on  the  records 
of  both  :\Iilford  and  Stratford.  As  the  Wcpawaug  clan  waned,  while 
a  few  joined  the  Six  Nations,  the  larger  part  took  up  their  abode 
with  the  Paugassetts,  whose  principal  seat  was  in  Derby,  where  they 
had  a  fgrtress  on  the  Ilousatonic  River,  about  half  a  mile  above  its 
junction  with  the  Naugatuck.  It  is  well  established  by  record  evi- 
dence, that  there  was  a  relationship  between  the  sachems  of  the 
Paugassetts  and  those  of  the  Pootatucks,  and  a  close  alliance  between 
them,  although  the  latter  were  entirely  independent  of  the  former. 
After  parting  with  most  of  their  lands,  a  part  of  the  former  removed 
to  Golden  Hill  in  Bridgeport,  a  part  to  Naugatuck  Falls  under 
Chuse,  and  the  remainder  joined  the  Pootatucks,  which  was  at  the 
first  settling  of  Woodbury  in  1672,  by  far  the  most  powerful  clan  in 
the  western  part  of  Connecticut.  The  name's  of  their  chiefs  are 
appended  to  deeds  of  sale  extending  from  "  Pequonnock  "  in  Bridge- 
port on  the  south,  to  Goshen  and  Torrington  on  the  north,  and  from 
Waterbury  on  the  east  to  the  New  York  line  on  the  west ;  compri- 
sing the  territory  of  fifteen  towns  surrounding  and  including  "Wood- 
bury. After  selling  a  large  part  of  their  lands  in  "  Ancient  "Wood- 
bury," many  of  the  leading  men  of  the  tribe  joined  with  others  in 
forming  the  New  JMilford  tribe,  which  had  previously  been  but  a 
clan  under  the  former.  Although  other  Indians  joined  with  them, 
they  constituted  a  leading  element  in  that  tribe,  and  later  in  the  tribe 
at  Kent.  The  Indians  had  then,  as  now,  a  tendency  locstivard.  It 
might  in  truth  be  said,  that  the  "Wepawaugs  melted  into  the  Paugas- 
setts, the  Paugassetts  into  the  Pootatucks,  the  Pootatucks  into  the 
"Wyantenucks,  and  the  Wyantenucks  into  the  Scatacooks.  Wliile 
they  maintained  a  separate  existence  as  clans,  they  were  in  firm 
alliance  in  everything,  offensive  and  defensive,  and  were  closely 
linked  by  intermarriages.  There  was  still  another  reason  for  their 
uninterrupted  friendship  and  alliance.  They  were  sorely  harassed 
by  the  Pequots  on  the  east,  and  the  IMohawks  on  the  west,  especially 
before  the  coming  of  the  whites.  These  oppressions  continued  in- 
deed till  long  after,  those  east  of  the  Connecticut  River  being  tributary 


1  I)e  Forest's  Hist,  of  the  Indians  of  Connecticut. 

2  The  name  of  this  tribe  is  always  spelled  on  the  Woodbury  Records,  Pagasett. 


IIISTOKY     OF     ANCIENT     WOODBURY.  87 

to  the  Pequots,  and  those  west  of  it  to  the  Mohawks.  The  Pequots, 
however,  were  soon  broken  up  as  a  tribe  by  the  wliites.  Two  old 
Moliawks  might  be  seen,  once  in  every  year  or  t^yo,  issuing  their 
orders  and  collecting  their  tribute,  with  as  much  authority  and  aus- 
terity as  a  Roman  dictator.  Great  was  the  fear  of  them  in  all 
western  Connecticut.  If  they  neglected  to  pay  the  tribute,  the 
Mohawks  would  come  against  them,  and  plunder,  destroy  and  carry 
them  away  captive.  They  would  come  down  upon  their  pleasant 
valleys  with  the  fearful  cry,  "  We  are  come,  we  are  come,  to  suck 
your  blood."  When  they  made  their  appearance,  the  Connecticut 
Indians  would  instantly  raise  a  cry  from  hill  to  hill,  "  A  Mohawk,  a 
Mohawk,"  and  fly,  without  attempting  the  least  resistance,  to  their 
forts,  and  if  they  could  not  reach  them,  to  the  houses  of  the  English 
for  shelter.  Sometimes  their  enemies  would  pursue  them  so  closely, 
that  they  would  enter  the  houses  with  them,  and  kill  them  in  pres- 
ence of  the  family.  If  there  was  time  to  shut  the  doors,  they  never 
forced  an  entrance,  nor  did  they  on  any  occasion  do  the  least  harm 
to  the  English,  always  being  on  the  most  friendly  terms  with  them. 
It  is  said  that  on  these  occasions,  all  the  tribes  on  the  Housatonic 
for  a  distance  of  two  hundred  miles,  could  communicate  the  intelli- 
gence to  each  other  within  two  hours,  by  a  system  of  cries  and  sig- 
nals from  the  chain  of  "  Guarding  Ilights,"  which  they  had  estab- 
lished. One  of  these  was  Castle  Rock  in  AVoodbury,  and  Mount 
Tom  in  Litchfield  was  another.  There  were  others,  both  interme- 
diate and  latei'al  to  these. 

Bancroft,  speaking  of  the  Indians  of  New  England,  says : 

"  The  clans,  that  disappeared  iVom  the  ancient  hunting  grounds,  did  not 
always  become  extinct ;  tliey  ol'ten  migrated  to  the  north  and  west.  The  coun- 
try between  the  banks  of  the  Connecticut  and  the  Hudson  was  possessed  by 
independent  villages  of  the  IV!ohegans,  kiradredrwith  the  Manhattans,  whose 
few  smokes  once  rose  amidst  the  forests  of  York  Island." 

The  Indians  of  these  villages  spoTce  the  same  language,  the  Mohe- 
gan,  which  was,  with  some  variation  of  dialect,  the  language  common 
to  all  the  aborigines  of  New  England. 

The  Pootatucks  were  known  as  a  tribe  from  the  date  of  the  set- 
tlement of  Milford  and  Stratford  in  1630.  At  the  date  of  the  settling 
of  these  towns,  Pomperaug  was  the  sachem  of  this  tribe.  He  was  a 
chief  of  note  among  the  western  clans,  had  a  strong  fortress  on  Cas- 
tle Rock,  and  gave  his  name  to  the  river  that  runs  through  Wood- 
bury, which  name  it  bears  to  the  present  day.     Although  the  princi- 


88  n  I  S  T  O  R  Y     OF     A  X  C  I  K  N  T      "VV  O  O  P  n  U  U  Y  . 

pal  seat  of  tins  tribe  was  the  Pootatuck  village,  on  the  north-east 
side  of  the  Ilousatonic,  ahout  two  miles  al)ove  Bennett's  Bridge,  in 
the  present  town  of  Southburj,  yet  Tomperaug  on  his  death-bed,  for 
some  cause,  chose  to  be  buried  by  a  small  rock  near  the  carriage- 
house  of  Hon.  N.  B.  Smith.  There  was  another  village  of  the  tribe 
in  Nonncwaug,  and  a  trail  led  from  that  village  to  Pootatuck  village, 
by  this  grave,  nearly  on  the  line  of  the  present  street,  as  has  been 
before  stated.  This  trail  had  existed  some  twenty-live  years  before 
the  settlement  of  Woodbury.  In  accordance  with  an  Indian  custom, 
each  member  of  the  tribe,  as  he  passed  that  way,  dropped  a  small 
stone  upon  the  grave,  in  token  of  his  respect  for  the  fame  of  the 
departed.  At  the  first  settlement  of  the  town,  a  large  lieap  of  stones 
had  accumulated  in  this  way,  and  a  large  quantity  remain  to  this 
day.  It  is  related  that  a  brother  of  Pomperaug,  who  was  a  medi- 
cine-man, or  Powwow,  was  also  buried  at  first  in  this  place,  near  hiS 
brother;  but  was  afterward  disinterred,  and  buried  in  the  Pootatuck 
burying-ground. 

Tiie  next  chief  of  whom  w^e  have  any  account,  was  Aquiorap,  wlio 
ruled  the  tribe  for  a  long  period  of  years.  His  name  appears  in 
1662,  on  a  deed  of  some  land  at  Pequonnock  in  Bridgeport,  which 
had  been  previously  executed  by  Wompegan,  sachem  of  Paugussett, 
and  to  which  he  now  gave  his  assent.  In  the  same  instrument  it  is 
stated  that  he  is  related  to  "Wompegan.  It  is  impossible  now  to  state 
the  exact  time  of  the  accession  to  office  of  each  sachem,  but  we  find 
from  ancient  documents  Avomockomge  sachem  in  1G73,  Coshushe- 
ougemy  in  1679,  Waramaukeag  in  1685,  Kesooshamaug  in  1687, 
Wonibummaug  in  1700,  Nonnewaug  in  1706,  Chesqueneag  in  1715, 
Qniump  in  1733,  and  Mauquash  in  1740.  Mauquash  was  the  last 
sachem,  and  died  about  1758.  He  was  buried  under  an  apple-tree 
in  the  "old  chimney  lot,"  so  called,  now  belonging  to  Amos  Mitchell, 
a  short  distance  east  of  the  old  "  Eleazer  Mitchell  house."  There 
was  still  quite  a  mound  remaining  over  him  a  few  years  since. 
Nearly  or  quite  all  these  had  been  sagamores,  and  several  others 
held  this  station  who  did  not  arrive  at  the  supreme  dignity.  Some 
of  them  became  so  attached  to  the  villages  they  governed  while  saga- 
mores, that  they  gave  orders  to  be  buried  there.  Such  was  the  case 
with  Nonnewaug,  who  was  buried  under  an  apple-tree  near  Nonnc- 
waug Falls.  A  large  hillock  or  jnound  was  raised  over  him,  and 
remained,  distinguishing  his  by  its  size  from  the  other  graves  around 
him,  till  within  two  or  three  years,  when  the  present  owner  of  the 
field  committed  tire  sacrilege  of  plowing  it  down,  much  to  the  regret 


HISTORY     OF.    ANCIENT     WOODBUItY.  89 

of  every  antiquarian.  Weekeepeemee  was  a  sagamore,  and  was 
buried  somewhere  near  the  village  of  that  name  in  "Woodbury ;  but 
the  locality  is  not  now  known.  Shepaug,  who  gave  his  name  to 
Shepaug  River,  Towecomis  and  Tummasseete,  were  sagamores  among 
the  Pootatucks  before  they  joined  the  New  Milford  clan,  and  became 
so  noted  among  them.  Chesqueneag  was  for  a  time  sachem  before 
he  removed  to  the  Wyantenucks.  Weraumaug,  or  Raumang,  after- 
ward so  distinguished  a  sachem  at  New  Milford,  was  previously  a 
counselor  of  note  among  the  Pootatucks  at  their  principal  council- 
fire.  In  short,  the  Wyantenucks  were  but  a  clan  of  the  Pootatucks/' 
as  has  been  before  stated. 

All  agree  that  at  the  coming  of  the  English  settlers,  the  Indians 
were  a  race  of  savages,  eking  out  a  subsistence  by  hunting  and  fish- 
ing, with  small  quantities  of  corn,  beans  and  squashes,  which  they 
raised,  and  nuts  which  they  gathered.  They  lived  for  the  most  part 
in  rude  huts,  and  their  morals  were  of  a  very  loose  character.  They 
beheved  in  one  great  and  invisible  deity,  who  was  benevolent  in  his 
nature,  and  had  given  them  their  corn  and  beans,  and  instructed 
them  in  their  cultivation.  He,  however,  in  their  estimation,  troubled 
himself  very  little  about  the  affairs  of  men.  As  they  feared  him  not, 
they  gave  him  veiy  little  of  their  veneration.  But  there  was  another 
powerful  spirit,  the  author  of  all  evil,  to  whom  they  paid  the  greatest 
respect.  Fearing  his  power  and  supposed  malignant  disposition, 
they  perfoi'med  numerous  dances  in  his  honor,  and  made  many  sacri- 
fices to  ward  off  liis  wrath.  It  is  believed  that  they  went  so  far 
sometimes,  as  to  offer  human  sacrifices.  President  Stiles,  in  his 
Itinerary,  preserves  an  account  of  a  great  powwowing,  which  took 
place  at  the  village  of  the  Pootatucks,  probably  about  1720.  An 
account  of  this  is  drawn  from  the  president's  manuscript  by  De- 
Forest,  which  follows : 

"The  scene  was  witnessed  by  a  Mrs.  Bennett,  then  a  little  girl;  and  after 
her  death  was  related  by  one  of  her  children  to  the  president.  The  ceremonies- 
lasted  three  days,  and  were  attended,  she  said,  by  five  or  six  hundred  Indians, 
many  of  whom  came  from  distant  towns,  as  Hartford  and  Farmington.  While- 
the  Indians,  excited  by  their  wild  rites  and  dark  superstition,  were  standing  in  a, 
dense  mass,  a  little  girl,  gaily  dressed  and  ornamented,  was  led  in  among  them, 
by  two  squaws,  her  mother  and  aunt.  As  she  entered  the  crowd,  the  Indiana- 
set  up  their  '  high  pow-wows,'  howling,  yelling,  throwing  themselves  intO' 
strange  postures,  and  making  hideous  grimaces.  Many  white  people  stoo«S 
around  gazing  at  the  scene ;  but  such  was  the  excited  state  of  the  savages,  that,, 
although  they  feared  for  the  child's  safety,  none  of  them  dared  to  interfere,  or 
to  enter  the  crowd      After  a  while  the  two  sfj,uaws  emerged  alone  froia  ihee 

7 


90  HISTORY     OF     ANCIENT     -VVOODBUnY. 

press,  stripped  of  all  their  ornaments,  and  walked  away  shedding  tears  and 
uttering  mournful  cries.  The  informant,  deeply  interested  in  the  fate  of  one  so 
near  her  own  age,  ran  up  to  the  two  women,  and  asked  them  what  they  had 
done  with  the  little  girl.  Thoy  would  not  tell  her,  and  only  replied  that  they 
should  never  see  that  litde  girl  again.  The  other  Indians  likewise  remained 
silent  on  the  subject;  but  Mrs.  Bennett  believed,  and  she  said  all  the  English 
then  present  believed,  that  the  Indians  had  sacrificed  her,  and  that  they  did  at 
other  times  oiler  human  sacrifices." 

Bethel  Rock  has  been  before  mentioned  in  these  pages  as  the  place 
where  the  first  settlers  convened  for  public  worship,  before  the  erec- 
tion of  their  first  meeting-house.     But 

"  There  is  a  tale  about  these  grey  old  rocks, 
A  story  of  unhappy  love  and  sorrows. 
Borne  aad  ended  long  ago," 

which  will  ever  render  this  locality  a  most  romantic  spot.  The 
legend  has  been  variously  related,  both  orally  and  in  printed  accounts, 
as  is  by  no  means  uncommon  in  legendary  matters.  There  are  some 
historical  facts,  however,  which  go  far  toward  rendering  probable  the 
version  of  the  story  which  will  follow.  Waramaukeag,  who  figure? 
as  one  of  the  characters  in  the  affair,  was  a  young  Pootatuck,  who 
became  sachem  of  the  tribe  in  1G85,  and  was  succeeded  in  the  sa- 
-chemdom  in  1687,  the  date  of  our  story,  by  Kesooshamaug.  so  that  he 
must  have  died  about  this  date.  The  latter  was  the  brotlier,  and  not 
the  son  of  the  former,  who  was  never  married.  Sarah  "Walker,  the 
fcteroine  of  the  story,  was  the  niece  of  Mr.  Walke:-,  the  fir^t  minister. 
She  was  at  this  date,  in  her  seventeenth  year,  having  been  born  in 
1670,  and  we  have  no  other  account,  or  further  knowledge  of  her, 
except  that  given  in  the  legend.  From  these  and  other  considera- 
tions, he  who  believes  the  legend  true,  will  doubtless  be  held  excusa- 
ble by  charitable  minds. 

"Waramaukeag,  as  the  story  goes,  was  an  Indian  of  manly  propor- 
tions, of  a  graceful  figure,  and  finely  molded  limbs.  He  was  highly 
intelligent,  virtuous,  and  a  fast  friend  of  the  whites.  He  constructed 
for  himself  a  cabin  of  uncommon  elegance,  adopted  many  of  the  cus- 
toms of  civilization,  and  cultivated  a  close  acquaintance  with  his 
white  neighbors.  Among  his  friends  he  numbered  the  venerable 
pastor,  Mr.  Walker ;  was  often  at  his  house,  and  on  terms  of  much 
intimacy  with  him;  while  the  latter  embracing  the  opportunity  thus 
offered,  instructed  him  in  matters  of  religious  faith. 

In  the  early  part  of  1687,  a  niece  of  the  old  pastor,  his  Ijrother's 
child,  came  to  the  parsonage  on  a  visit,  which  continued  tli rough  the 


HISTORY     OF     ANCIENT     WOODBURY.  91 

summer.  Sarah  Walker  was  at  this  time  in  her  seventeenth  year, 
and  the  possessor  of  great  beauty,  and  rare  personal  attractions. 
Without  descending  to  particulars,  she  seemed  the  "rare  ideal  of 
feminine  loveliness,  such  as  often  haunts  the  dreams  of  the  imao'ina- 
ative  and  young,  but  seldom  meets  us  in  the  walks  of  life."  She  was 
the  type  of  innocence  and  purity.  She  was  possessed  of  unaffected 
piety,  and  loved  to  wander  in  the  beautiful  sylvan  retreats  about  the 
village.  The  place  she  preferred,  and  to  which  she  oftenest  resorted, 
for  the  quiet  contemplation  of  nature  and  private  devotion,  was  Bethel 
Rock,  This  she  could  easily  reach  by  ascending  the  south  point  of 
the  Orenaug  Rocks,  immediately  back  of  her  uncle's  residence. 

Being  frequently  at  the  pastor's  house,  Waramaukeag  became  ac- 
quainted with  his  beautiful  niece.  He  was  instantly  struck  with  her 
lovehness,  and  soon  became  madly  enamored  with  her.  In  accord- 
ance with  aboriginal  custom,  he  endeavored  to  gain  her  favor  by  lay- 
ing at  her  feet  many  rich  and  rare  presents,  but  she,  understanding 
their  import,  in  her  kindest  and  blandest  manner,  declined  them  all. 
She,  however,  continued  to  treat  him  kindly,  not  wishing  to  arouse  his 
anger.  Meeting  with  no  encouragemefit  from  the  young  lady,  he 
pressed  his  suit  upon  her  uncle's  attention,  desiring  him  to  intercede 
in  his  behalf.  This  the  old  pastor  gently  declined  to  do,  striving  to 
show  him  the  impropriety  of  the  alliance,  and  the  liopelessness  of 
attaining  his  desires. 

Thus  failing  on  all  hands  in  the  prosecution  of  his  suit,  he  depai'ted 
and  was  seen  no  more  at  the  parsonage.  The  sachem  was  aware  of 
the  maiden's  custom  of  retiring  to  Bethel  Rock.  One  delightful  eve 
in  the  glorious  "  Indian  summer,"  she  wandered  out  from  the  cot- 
tage, just  as  the  sun  set  behind  the  western  hills,  and  betook  herself 
to  her  favorite  resort  for  her  evening  devotions.  She  had  not  been 
long  at  the  spot  before  she  was  surprised  and  startled  by  the  appear- 
ance of  Waramaukeag  at  her  side.  Supposing  him  to  be  angiy,  as 
he  had  not  been  at  her  uncle's  in  a  long  time,  and  to  have  come  with 
evil  intent,  she  started  back  in  alarm,  and  being  near  the  edge  of  the 
rock,  which  in  that  place  is  precipitous,  she  fell  with  great  violence 
upon  the  jagged  rocks  below,  and  was  killed  by  the  fall.  The  young 
chief  hurried  round  by  a  more  secure  path  to  the  scene  below,  where 
he  evidently  endeavored  to  reanimate  the  lifeless  form  of  the  fair 
maiden.  When  found  next  morning  by  her  anxious  friends,  no  evi- 
dence of  violence  appeared,  except  that  received  by  the  fall.  Her 
disordered  tresses  were  smoothed  back  from  her  brow,  and  her  body 
lay,  with  her  dress  properly  adjusted,  a  few  feet  from  where  she  fell. 


92  HISTORY     OF     ANCIENT     WOODBURY. 

in  its  final  rest,  an  emblem  of  innocence  and  purity.  At  a  short  dis- 
tance from  her  body,  lay  the  mangled  corpse  of  Waramaukeag.  He 
had,  after  vain  attempts  to  renew  life  in  the  sleeping  maiden,  and 
composing  her  form  in  a  comely  attitude,  evidently  ascended  the 
rocks,  thrown  himself  headlong  from  the  lieight,  and  joined  the  maid- 
en of  the  silver  hair,  on  the  spirit  shore. 

Near  South  Britain  is  a  beetling  cliff,  which  received  the  name  of 
Squaw  Rock.  It  derived  its  name  from  the  following  circumstance. 
An  Indian  brave  preferred  his  suit  to  a  red-browed  daughter  of  the 
forest,  and  was  by  her  accepted,  but  by  her  parents  expelled  the 
Icdfre.  They  wished  her  to  become  the  wife  of  another,  and  by 
threats  had  succeeded  in  obtaining  a  seeming  acquiescence  in  their 
desires.  The  day  for  the  marriage  was  appointed,  and  she  made  her 
simple  preparations  with  apparent  cheerfulness.  She  went  so  far  as 
to  be  arrayed  for  the  occasion,  Avhen  she  slipped  out  of  the  wigwam, 
and  ascended  this  rock,  hotly  pursued  by  her  incensed  relatives. 
She  allowed  them  to  approach  within  parleying  distance,  when  she 
upbraided  them  with  their  unkindness,  sung  her  own  brief  requiem, 
and  assuring  them  that  "  her  own  true  brave"  would  have  the  cour- 
age to  follow  her  to  the  "  happy  hunting  grounds  of  the  Great  Kieh- 
tan,"  she  threw  herself  from  the  I'ock,  and  was  found  a  mangled  corse 
below. 

Nonnewaug  Falls*  were  incidentally  noticed  in  the  opening  chap- 
ter, but  their  romantic  situation,  and  exceeding  loveliness,  together 
with  a  legend  connected  with  them,  demand  a  recurrence  to  them. 
The  stream  on  which  they  are  situated  is  not  large,  but  when  swollen 
with  the  spring  floods,  a  large  volume  of  water  passes  over  them. 
They  are  enveloped  and  shaded  by  a  vigorous  growth  of  evergreens. 
They  consist  of  three  cascades,  at  a  short  distance  from  each  other. 
The  water,  which  falls  over  a  projecting  ledge  of  rocks,  has  worn  a 
deep  and  smooth  channel  for  its  passage.  At  the  foot  of  each  cas- 
cade is  a  beautiful  basin,  forty  or  fifty  feet  in  diametci*,  surrounded 
by  high  cliffs,  or  walls  of  rock,  surmounted  by  lofty  trees.  Viewed 
as  a  whole,  it  is  as  wild  and  romantic  a  place  as  can  anywhere  be 
found  in  our  country. 

The  legend  referred  to  is  only  in  the  memory  of  the  aged.  The  ac- 
tive, surging  population  of  to-day  takes  little  note  of  such  matters. 


1  The  height  of  these  falls,  m  a  former  chapter  was  stated  to  be  forty  or  fifty  feet. 
On  a  visit  to  them  since  that  was  written,  it  is  found  that  the  whole  descent  is  more 
than  one  hundred  feet. 


HISTORY     OP     ANCIENT     WOODBURY.  93 

The  story  is  brief.  TVoraoqui,  an  aged  sagamore,  residing  at  the 
wigwams  located  at  these  falls,  was  averse  to  the  sale,  and  did  not  sign 
the  conveyance  of  the  North  Purchase.  This  sale  included  the  Non- 
newaug  village  ;  and  the  old  sagamore,  having  roamed  these  forests, 
in  entire  freedom,  before  the  whites  appeared  in  the  territory,  could 
not  now  in  the  evening  of  his  days,  bear  the  thought  of  living  in  his 
former  pleasant  abode  at  the  sufferance  of  the  "  pale  face."  Accord- 
ingly, one  day  he  crawled  forth  from  his  cabin,  and  seated  himself  on 
the  "  table  rock,"  at  the  head  of  the  upper  cascade  of  the  falls,  sung, 
in  feeble  tones,  his  own  requiem,  and  cast  himself  into  the  flood  be- 
low. "While  musing  of  the  legend,  a  few  years  ago,  the  author 
imagined  that  lament  to  be  : 

From  my  well-beloved  cabin  the  sunlight  is  gone  ; 

The  day  long  since  closed  in  the  far  distant  west; 
And  Womoqui  now,  in  this  wide  world  alone. 

Composes  himself  for  his  deep,  silent  rest. 

Ills  braves  are  all  scattered  like  leaves  in  the  wind ; 

Departed  the  valor  that  inspired  them  of  yore; 
While  he  still  is  left,  in  his  sadness  behind. 

And  earnestly  looks  for  the  spirit-land's  shore. 

The  graves  of  my  people  encompass  me  round  ; 

My  brothers,  long  gone,  lie  slumbering  near. 
Scarce  a  trace  of  the  red  man  is  now  to  be  found. 

And  i'bw  of  my  race  are  still  lingering  here. 

Farewell !  my  tired  spirit  now  pants  to  be  free  ! 

Farewell !  ye  who  stay  on  the  earth's  sullen  shore  ! 
Farewell !  for  your  faces  no  longer  I  see ! 

Farewell !  faithful  friends,  I'm  with  you  no  more  ! 

The  chief  had  ceased,  and  his  spirit  fled. 

The  chief  of  the  hoary  hair; 
A  grave  near  the  falls  his  people  made, 

And  buried  the  chieftain  there. 

In  regard  to  the  numbers  of  the  Pootatucks  and  other  western 
tribes,  authors  have  differed  largely  in  their  estimates.  Dr.  Trum- 
bull thinks  their  numbers  were  very  considerable,  while  De  Forest 
thinks  these  tribes  contained  a  mere  handful  each.  It  is  believed 
that  the  mean  between  these  two  extremes  is  nearer  the  correct  esti- 
mate. They  were  doubtless  greatly  reduced  in  numbers  before  the 
coming  of  the  English  settlers,  by  the  incursions  of  the  Mohawks,  but 
while  Dr.  Trumbull's  estimate  is  probably  too  large,  De  Forest's  is 
evidently  too  small.     President  Stiles  estimates  the  number  of  war- 


94  HISTORY     OF     A  N  C  I  i:  N  T     WOODBURY. 

riors  in  the  ruotutuck  tribe  in  1710,  at  fifty.  This  estimate  is  cer- 
tainly not  too  large,  as  the  author  of  this  volume  has  in  his  posses- 
sion, a  list  of  more  than  fifty  names,  who  were  interested  in  the  lands 
of  the  tribe,  just  before  this  time.  A  few  years  earlier,  they  were 
considerably  more  numerous,  as  at  this  time,  the  tribe  having  parted 
with  most  of  its  lands,  many  of  the  younger  Indians  had  joined  the 
Wyantcnuck  elan.  The  author  has  also  a  list  of  more  than  a  hun- 
dred names  of  sachems,  sagamores  and  chief  men  of  the  tribe,  who 
resided  here  during  the  first  fifty  years  after  the  settling  of  the  town. 
Eleazer  Mitchell,  who  bought  four  acres  of  land  of  the  Indians  about 
1740,  within  a  fourth  of  a  mile  of  their  village,  related  that  there 
were  many  wigwams  standing  in  the  surrounding  forests,  all  the 
way  from  his  house,  which  is  still  standing,  to  Elizur  Mitchell's  house 
on  the  Pootatuck.  From  this  it  would  seem  that  their  niimbers 
must  have  been  very  respectable,  and  they  doubtless  numbered  two 
hundred  warriors  in  1672.  By  a  petition  to  the  General  Assembly 
from  the  Pootatuck  and  Wyantenuck  Indians,  as  late  as  1742,  we 
learn  that  the  Pootatucks  numbered  forty  individuals  ;  but  whether 
this  means  adult  males,  or  the  whole  number  of  men,  women  and 
children,  is  not  known. 

As  there  is  but  little  left  of  the  former  race  except  the  names  of 
some  of  its  chiefs  and  braves,  a  list  of  such  of  the  sachems,  sagamores 
and  principal  men  of  the  Pootatucks,  as  with  great  labor  it  has  been 
possible  to  rescue  from  oblivion,  has  been  deemed  of  sufficient  im- 
portance to  be  inserted  here.  The  antiquarian^  who  has  delved  in 
such  matters,  will  look  with  a  kindly  interest  on  the  list,  and  the 
general  reader,  who  passes  it  now,  will  read  it  with  avidity  fifty 
years  hence. 

List  of  principal  Pootatucks. 

Aquiomp,  Cash, 

Avomockomge,  Chesqueneag, 

Accommy,  Conkaiarum, 

Appacoco,  Chob, 

Awashkenum,  '  John  Chob, 

Aunumetae,  Calouskesc, 

Atchetoset,  ■  Coshusheougemy, 

John  Banks,  Comcuclieson, 

Cheabiooke,  Chyonde, 

Chuhabaux,  Cockshuie, 

Chevoramauge,  Coksuer, 

Chohees,  Samuel  Coksuer, 

Cacapatanees,  Thomas  Coksuer, 

Cacapatanees  Sonn,  John  Cockshure, 


TORY     OF     ANCIENT     WOODBURY. 


95 


Jeremiah  Cokshure, 

Corlcskrew, 

Cheery, 

Sam  Cheery, 

Cony, 

Cockenon, 

Jacob  C'urkey, 

Ceapy, 

Cuttouckes, 

Docames, 

Gumehampiska, 

Hatchet  Tousey, 

Benajah  Hatchet  Tousey, 

David  Hatchet  Tousey, 

Hatchet, 

John  Harry, 

John  Hatchet, 

Havvwasues, 

Javrey, 

Jamphney, 

Joman, 

Job, 

James, 

Kenonge, 

Kehore, 

Kesooshamaug, 

Kehow, 

Mashagasse, 

Mauquash, 

Muttanumace, 

Momaucheway, 

Miinmenepoosqua, 

Rlagnash, 

Mattehack, 

Mansumpaush, 

Mastunck, 

Munapusk, 

Merammue, 

Gideon  Mauwehu  (by  adoption,) 

Mowehu, 

Massumpus, 

Mattousksqua, 

Mesunckseo, 

Maucheere, 

Montooe, 

Nanhootoo, 

Nonnevvaug,    " 

Nemoumbam, 

Norkgnotonckquy, 


Nokopurrs, 

Nuccaddamo, 

Noegoshemy, 

Naucuttora, 

Nucquelozomaug, 

Pomperaug, 

Papenau, 

Punnahun, 

Passacoran, 

PunnantavvannoHio, 

Peeney, 

Papetoppe, 

Quiump, 

Quepy, 

Ocess, 

Poquannow, 

Punhone, 

Poni, 

Poconaus, 

Pukin, 

Papiream, 

Paramethe, 

Raumaug, 

Rapiscotoo, 

Sepunkum, 

Sukanunque, 

Shepaug, 

Sukanaux, 

Simon, 

Siecuss, 

Shamenunckgus, 

Souwenys, 

Seauweag, 

Suckqunnokqueen , 

Suffenso, 

Sasaw, 

John  Sherman, 

Tom  Sherman, 

Shoran, 

Shoopack, 

Tantamahok, 

Toweecume, 

Towcomis, 

Tummasseete, 

Tawask, 

Umbouge, 

Wecuppeme, 

Weraumaug, 

Waramaukeag, 


96  HISTORY     OP     ANCIENT     WOODBURY. 

Woinoqui,  Wirasquancot, 

Wonokequfimbom,  Wognacug, 

Wurimiiuc'oiie,  Watchunaman, 

Wii'SSL'bucoinu,  Womperowask, 

Wusfsockaiiunckqucen,  Wotnpomod, 

Wonposet,  Wonowak, 

Waewatux,  Wewinapuck, 

WussiUtanunckquet,  Wanuppe, 

Wevvinaponck,  Youngamousk, 

Woinpotoo,  Yoncomis, 

Whemut,  Yohcomge, 

Wesuncks,  Youiigstockuni, " 

Wombuinmaug,  Yongan. 
"Wapumboin, 

Tlie  Pootatiicks,  both  individually  and  coUectivelj,  maintained  a 
peaceable  character.  One  of  their  number,  however,  "  lives  in  histo- 
ry" with  a  bad  fame.     The  particulars  are  thus  related : 

"In  1646,  Sequassen  came  into  general  notice  through  one  of  the  most  sin- 
gular circumstances  in  the  aboriginal  history  of  Connecticut.  Tliis  sachem, 
while  he  hated  Uncas  as  his  own  successful  rival,  disliked  the  English  as  the 
friends  and  supporters  of  Uncas.  He  therefore  formed  a  plan  which,  if  success- 
ful in  its  operation,  would  enable  him  to  be  revenged  upon  both.  He  resolved 
to  effect  tlie  murder  of  some  of  the  principal  colonists,  and,  by  causing  the  name 
of  the  deed  to  fall  upon  the  Mohegan  sachem,  embroil  him  with  his  powerful 
allies.  The  person  he  selected  as  his  instrument  was  Watqhibrok,  a  rascally 
Potatuck,  whom  he  was  said  to  have  once  before  employed,  in  a  similar  way, 
to  get  rid  of  a  hated  sagamore.  During  the  spring  of  1616,  Watchibrok  and  Se- 
quassen were  both  visiting  at  Waranoak,  now  Westfield,  in  the  southern  part 
of  Massachusetts,  and  while  there  lodged  in  the  same  wigwam.  After  some 
time  Watchibrok  proposed  to  go,  but  Sequassen  persuaded  him  to  stay  longer, 
and  went  with  him  to  a  fishing  place  on  the  river.  There  they  remained  four 
days,  when  Watchibrok  again  proposed  to  leave,  saying  that  he  wished  to  visit 
some  of  his  friends  in  other  places.  Sequassen  told  him,  that  traveling  in  that 
way,  alone,  he  ran  a  risk  of  being  killed,  and  walked  on  with  him  to  a  spring, 
where  they  both  stopped.  Here  the  sachem  opened  the  design,  over  which  he 
was  brooding,  to  his  companion.  He  told  him  that  '  if  he  ever  wished  to  do 
Sequassen  a  kindness,  now  was  the  time.'  He  was  almost  ruined,  and  the 
English  of  Connecticut  were  the  cause  of  it.  He  wanted  his  friend  Watchibrok 
to  go  to  Hartford  and  kill  Governor  Haynes,  Governor  Hopkins,  and  Mr.  Whi- 
,tiug.  The  two  would  then  fly  to  the  Mohawks  with  store  of  wampum,  and  on 
the  way  would  give  out  that  it  was  Uncas  who  murdered  the  white  sachems. 
Thus  the  English  would  be  set  against  Uncas,  and  Sequassen  would  have  a 
chance  to  rise  again. 

"  The  sachem  drew  out  of  his  pouch  three  pieces  of  wamptnn  and  part  of  a 
girdle  of  the  same  material ;  these  he  gave  to  Watchibrok,  and  promised  him  a 
great  deal  more.  The  Potatuck  did  not  show  himself  averse  to  the  bargain, 
and  left  Sequassen  with  the  understanding  that  the  assassination  should  be  per- 


HISTORY     OF    ANCIENT     WOODBURY.  97 

formed.     On  reflection,  however,  he  beg;in  to  consider  that  it  would  be  a  dan- 
gerous business  to  kill  so  many  of  the  leading  men  arnong  the  English.     He 
called  to  mind  how  Busheag,  of  Stamford,  had  been  put  to  death  at  New  Ha- 
ven, for  only  attempting  to  murder  an  English  squaw.     He  therelbre  concluded 
that  it  would  not  be  safe  to  execute  his  part  of  the  plot,  and  finally  that  it  would 
be  safer  still,  and  perhaps  more   profitable,  to  reveal   the  whole   to   the  white 
men.     He  came   to  Hartford  and  told  the  story  to  the  magistrates.     Sequassen 
soon  heard  of  this,  and  sent  a  sixpence  to  Watchibrok,  with  a  message  to  con- 
ceal as  much  as  he  could  of  the  plot,  and  not  lay  it  all  open.     The  conscientious 
and  excellent  man,  in  great  wrath,  'bade  the  said  sixpence  hold  his  peace; 
he  had  discovered  it  and  would  hide  nothing.'      Governor  Ilayiies  summoned 
the  sachem  to  Hartford,  to  answer  to  this  charge;  but  he  refusect  to  aj-pear,  and 
continued  to  remain  at  Waranoak.     The  affair  was  laid  before  the  commis- 
sioners, then  sitting  at  New  Haven,  and  they  dispatched  one  Jonathan  Gilbert 
to  Waranoak,  with  a  message  for  Sequassen,  and  all  who  might  be  concerned 
in  the  plot  with  him.     He  was  to  encourage  the  sachem  to  come   to  New  Ha- 
ven and  make  his  own  defense,  and  was  authorized  to  promise  hiin  a  safe  and 
unrestricted  passage  to  and  fro.     Gilbert  went  to  Waranoak,  but  Sequassen 
could  not  be  found,  having  either  gone  away,  or  secreted  himself  for  fear  of  an 
arrest.     A  few  days  after,  and  while  the  court  was   still  in  session,  two  saga- 
mores, named  Nepinsoit  and  Naimataique,  came  into  New  Haven,  and   stated 
before  the  commissioners  that  they  were  friends  of  Sequassen,  and  had  just 
been  with  him  to  Massachusetts  Bay.     They  had  carried  a  present,  they  said, 
to  the  governor  there,  who,  although  he  would  not  then  accejjt  it,  consented  to 
give  it  house  room.     The  governor  advised  them   to  attend  the  meeting  of  the 
commissioners,  and  told  them  that  if  Sequassen  cleared  himself,  he  would  then 
decide  what  should  be  done  with  the  present.     They  then  came,  with  their 
friend,  to  New  Haven,  and  bad  almost  reached  the  town  fence,  when'liis  heart 
failed  him  and  he  wished  to  go  back.     Each  of  them   laid  hold  of  one  of  his 
arms  to  urge  him  forward,  but  such  was  his  fear,  that   he  broke  away  from 
them  and  escaped.     They  added  that  their  friend,  having  been  a  great  sachem 
once,  and  now  being  poor,  was  ashamed  to  come  in,  because  he  had  no  present 
for  the  commissioners.     Some  other   Indians  stated  that  Sequassen  was  still 
within  a  mile  of  the  town,  and  that  he  would  be  glad  to  obtain  peace  in  some 
other  way  than  by  an  examination.     The  homeless  sachem  at  la;st  sought  shel- 
ter among  the  Pocomtocks,  a  considerable  tribe  which  held  the  country  about 
Deerfield,  in  Massachusetts.     The  colonists  requested  the  assistance  of  Uneas  to 
secure  him,  and  this  chieftain  readily  undertook  an  enterprise  which  would  at 
once  gratify  the  English,  and  revenge  himself  on   an  ancient  enemy.     Some  of 
his  bold  and  dexterous  warriors  surprised  Sequassen  by  night  in  his  place  of 
refuge,  and  brought  him  to  Hartford,  where  he  lay  several  weeks  in  prison. 
Nothing,  however,  was  finally  considered  proved  against  him,  and  he  was  set 
at  liberty.     He  seems  to  have  remained  an  exile,  through  fear  of  the  colonists, 
or  of  Uncas,  until  1650,  when  the  Mohawks  requested  the  government  of  Con- 
necticut that,  for  the  sake  of  their  ancient  and  steady  friendship  toward  the 
English,  their  friend  Sequassen  might  be  permitted  to  return  home.     The  court 
of  commissioners  answered  the  message,  stating  that  it  had  never  forbidden 
Sequassen  to  return  provided   he  behaved  inotiensively  ;  but,  nevertheless,  for- 
mally granting  the  request.     Such  is  the  curious  story  of  Sequassen's  conspira- 


98 


HISTORY     OF     ANCIENT     WOODBURY. 


cy.  1  have  j,'ivcn  it  a  place  because  the  jjarticuUirs  which  it  relates  are  in  ac- 
cordance with  tlie  custom!- of  the  Iiiilians,  and  thus  give  it  an  air  of  jirobability. 
On  the  other  hand,  it  must  be  remembered,  that  these  i)articular3  rest  ahnost 
wholly  ujion  the  evidence  of  Wateliibruk,  and  that  Watehibrok  was  unques- 
tionably a  liar  and  a  villain.'" 

Altliougli  the  Indiiins  were  always  friendly  toward  the  settlers, 
yet  the  latter  were  occasionally  alarmed  by  circumstances  happening 
among  them.  In  1720,  the  settlers  in  Avcstern  Connecticut  were 
someAvhat  startled  by  a  circumstance  that  occurred.  It  became 
known  that  »  belt  of  wampum  had  been  brought  from  an  Indian 
place  at  the  south  called  Towattowau,  to  Ammonaugs  on  the  Hudson 
River,  after  which  it  was  received  by  an  Indian  at  Horse  Neck  in 
Greenwich.  It  was  taken  from  him  to  Chickens,  or  Sam  Mohawk, 
in  Redding ;  thence  it  was  carried  successively  to  the  Pootatucks 
and  Wyantenucks,  where  it  remained.  The  matter  Avas  deemed  of 
sufficient  importance  to  be  inquired 'into  by  the  General  Assembly; 
when  an  Indian  named  Tapauranawko  testified  to  that  honorable 
body,  that  the  belt  was  a  token,  that  captive  Indians  would  be  re- 
ceived and  sold  at  every  place  where  it  was  accepted.  He  informed 
them  that  it  would  be  sent  back  by  the  same  route  whence  it  came 
to  Towattowau,  which  was  far  away  to  the  south,  and  was  inhabited 
by  a  large  tribe  of  Indians.  No  farther  notice  Avas  taken  of  the 
matter  by  the  Assembly,  except  to  direct  the  Indians  to  send  it  back 
whence  it  came,  and  to  order  them  to  receive  no  more  such  presents 
in  future  without  notifying  the  magistrates.- 

The  occasional  attacks  which  the  settlers  received  during  the  vari- 
ous Indian  wars,  were  made  by  parties  of  straggling  Indians  from 
other  and  probably  distant  places.  During  the  war  with  the  Maine 
Indians  in  1723  and  1724,  the  inhabitants  were  forced  to  keep  gar- 
risons against  such  attacks,  which  several  times  occurred.  One  of 
these  garrisons  was  on  the  Shepaug  River,  where  six  men  were  sta- 
tioned. The  General  Court  passed  regulations,  Oct.,  1723,  that 
the  Pootatuck  and  other  Indians  might  hunt  "without  frighten- 
ing the  English,  or  being  mistaken  for  enemies,  it  being  a  time  of 
war  with  the  eastern  Indians."  Capt.  Joseph  Minor  was  directed  to 
inform  the  Indians  that  they  could  hunt,  and  be  considered  as 
friendly,  by  reporting  a  list  of  the  Pootatuck  Indians  to  said  Minor, 


1  De  Forest's  Hist,  of  the  Indians  of  Conn.,  p.  218  to  222. 

2  Indian  Tapers,  vol.  1,  docs.  92  and  94. 


HISTORY     OF     ANCIENT     WOODBURY.  99 

and  being  able  to  produce  any  Indian  said  Minor  might  wish  to  see, 
within  forty-eight  hours  after  notice.' 

In  Oct.,  1724,  these  restrictions  were  removed,  and  they  were 
allowed  to  hunt  in  the  western  counties  as  usual,  provided  they  wore 
something  white  on  their  heads,  and  had  some  Enghsh  with  them  du- 
ring the  first  fortnight.  As  late,  however,  as  Oct.,  1726,  the  General 
Court  resolved  to  station  five  men  under  Lt.  Ebenezer  Warner,  for 
•'  the  defense  of  the  village  of  Shepaug."  As  proof  of  the  foregoing, 
we  find  in  May,  1725,  that  Caleb  Martin,  of  "Woodbury,  petitioned 
the  General  Assembly  for  a  reward  for  being  the  "  instrument  of 
death  to  an  Indian  in  August,  1724."  It  seems  that  in  one  of  the 
night  attacks,  when  the  citizens  were  aroused  to  defend  themselves, 
Martin  had  "  killed  his  man."  Col.  Joseph  Minor  testified  to  his 
•'  wounding  the  Indian  in  a  night-fight  in  a  corn-field,"  and  of  his 
tracing  him  by  the  blood  on  the  ground,  on  the  fence,  and  in  the 
tracks  of  the  retreating  foe."  As  a  reward  for  his  services,  the  As- 
sembly granted  him  £10." 

In  1724,  during  the  same  war,  Lt.  Ebenezer  Warner  was  appoint- 
ed to  raise  a  scout  for  the  defense  of  the  frontiers  of  the  town.  This 
service  he  accomplished,  as  appears  by  a  memorial  from  him,  pre- 
ferred at  the  May  session  of  the  General  Assembly  in  1725.  He 
paid  the  men  he  enlisted  for  service  on  Sundays  as  well  as  on  week 
days,  which  was  not  allowed  by  the  accounting  officers.     He  says : 

"  Whereas  the  Committee  of  Warr  did  in  the  year  1724,  order  and  appoint 
yo'  memorialist  to  take  the  care  of  the  grand  Scout,  ordered  for  the  security  of 
our  Northern  Frontiers  ;  and  by  Order  of  His  Hon'  the  Gov'  I  was  to  signify  to 
those  that  I  Listed  for  that  service,  that  they  should  have  allowed  for  the  Eng- 
lish 4s  Per  Diem,  and  for  the  Indians  that  Listed  3^  Per  Diem,  ice.  and  when  I 
made  up  my  acco'  with  the  Comm'"  of  Warr,  they  did  not  allow  any  thing  for 
Sabbath  days,  During  the  time  of  our  service,  wherefore  I  am  brought  under 
difficulty  to  answer  those  persons  that  Listed  in  s''  service  according  to  the. 
Declaration  I  made  to  them  from  the  Comm"«  of  Warr." 

He  accordingly  prays  the  Assembly  to  grant  him  relief  in  the 
premises.  It  is  not  known  what  action  the  Assembly  took  in  regard 
to  the  matter,  but  it  was  probably  favorable  to  the  petitioner. 

A  treaty  was  made  with  these  Indians  by  the  council  of  war,  Sept. 
23d,  1675,  during  Philip's  war,  by  which  they  agreed  to  continue  in 


1  Indians,  vol.  1,  p.  113.  2  War,  vol.  3,  p.  225. 


100  niSTOUY      OF     ANCIENT     WOODBURY. 

"  friendship  with  the  white  settlers,  and  be  enemies  to  tlieir  enemies, 
and  disfoucr  them  timely  or  destroy  them."  A  deputation  of  Indians 
from  the  tribe  were  present  before  the  council,  who  gave  them  each 
a  "  payre  of  breeches  "  for  their  attendance.  In  this  instrument  they 
were  styled  the  "Wyantineck  Indians;"  showing  that  the  Indians  at 
that  locality  were  Pootatucks;  for  it  could  hardly  be  supposed  that 
the  council  would  make  treaties  Avith  New  Haven  and  Milford  In- 
dians, and  passing  over  the  Pootatucks  proper,  make  a  treaty  with 
a  small  clan  beyond  them. 

After  the  sale  of  most  of  their  lands,  partly  from  necessity,  and 
partly  in  imitation  of  their  white  neighbors,  the  Indians  cultivated 
their  reservation  with  considerable  industry  and  fidelity,  constructed 
wigwams  of  respectable  size,  neatness  and  comfort,  and  in  various 
Avays  adopted  the  arts  of  civilization.  They  planted  orchards,  built 
corn-stalls,  and  some  of  them  owned,  individually,  parcels  of  land. 
Accordingly,  we  find  mentioned  in  a  deed  executed  by  them  in  1733, 
"  Cockshure's  Island"  near  Pootatuck  village,  "Maucheere's  corn- 
stall,"  and  "  Tummaseete's  old  orchard."  Thirteen  of  the  trees  in 
this  orchard  are  still  existing,  and  in  quite  a  thriving  condition,  there 
being  apples  now,  (July  18th,  1853,)  growing  on  some  of  them. 
Several  of  them  are  more  than  three  feet  in  diameter,  and  arc  dis- 
posed around  the  area  or  plaza  of  the  Pootatuck  village  of  wigwams. 
This  orchard,  a  hundi-ed  and  twenty  years  ago,  in  the  deed  we  have 
mentioned,  and  other  old  instruments,  was  called  the  "  old  orchard." 
In  one  of  them  of  this  date,  the  Indians  say,  "  we  reserve  to  ourselves 
y'  use  of  y=  Apple  Trees,  all  of  them,  within  y'  Land  above  men- 
tioned." From  this  we  infer  that  it  must  have  been  planted  about 
the  time  of  the  first  settling  of  the  town,  and  consequently  must  be 
from  a  hundred  and  sixty  to  a  hundred  and  eighty  years  old.  The 
enormous  size,  and  other  circumstances,  of  these  trees,  furnish  satis- 
factory evidence  that  this  estimate  must  be  correct.  AYithin  the 
inclosure  of  the  trees  was  their  council-fire.  Here  they  engaged  in 
their  athletic  sports,  and  here  their  powwows  performed  their  orgies. 
Outside  of  this  amphitheater,  which  contained  some  two  or  three 
acres,  their  wigwams  were  arranged  in  all  directions.  This  village 
was  located  on  a  nearly  level  piece  of  ground,  on  a  hill  rising  some 
three  or  four  hundred  feet  above  the  Housatonic,  on  Elizur  Mitchell's 
land,  a  short  distance  north  of  Cockshure's  Island,  now  known  as 
llubbell's  Island.  From  this  spot  is  obtained  one  of  the  most  de- 
lightful views  toward  the  south  and  west,  that  can  be  found  in  the 


IIISTOKY     OF     ANCIENT     WOODBURY.  101 

State.  A  series  of  gentle  hills,  still  covered  for  the  most  part  with 
dense  forests,  as  in  the  early  days,  rise  one  above  another  in  all 
directions.  Beautiful  cultivated  fields  lie  beneath  the  feet,  while  the 
noble  Ilousatonic  takes  its  quiet  course  away  to  the  south-east ;  the 
whole  forming  a  picture  on  which  the  beholder  may  gaze  ibr  hours 
without  wearying.  If  the  red  man  had  an  eye  or  a  soul  to  appreciate 
the  loveliness  of  nature,  his  heart  must  have  expanded  with  admira- 
tion when  contemplating  such  a  scene  as  this.  "  A  thing  of  beauty 
is  a  joy  forever."  None  should  wonder  that  the  poor  native  left  this 
enchanting  spot  with  sad,  lingering  steps.  Truly  this  is  classic 
ground,  and  well  worthy  a  visit  from  the  antiquarian,  or  the  lover  of 
nature. 

Many  efforts  were  at  various  times  put  forth  to  Christianize  the 
Indians.  They  had  the  privilege  of  attending  the  schools  and  other 
instructions.  Some  of  them  embraced  the  Christian  faith,  and  joined 
the  churches ;  but  the  major  portion  lived  on,  and  died  in  the  blind 
faith  of  their  farefathers.  An  instance  of  the  former  occurred  in 
1741,  as  will  appear  in  the  following  petition  of  Hatchet-Tousey,  or 
Atchetoset,  one  of  this  tribe  : 

"  The  prayer  of  Hachct  Touscy,  an  Indian  now  Living  in  the  "West  part  of 
Woodbury  called  Shepaug. 

"  To  the  Honourable  Governour  and  general  assembly  of  the  Colony  of  Con- 
necticut no\\'  .setting  at  hartford.  I  your  honours'  memorolist  humbly  sheweth 
that  I  a  pojr  Itidiun  native,  Hachet  Tousey  by  name,  who  beeing  born  and 
brought  up  in  heathenism  and  darkness  and  with  shame  now  confess  that  I 
have  been  worshipping  the  devil  and  the  unknown  gods,  and  have  not  known 
the  god  that  made  nie  by  darkness  and  want  of  instruction,  but  now  the  great 
god  that  lias  made  all  things  out  of  nothing  has  moved  me  to  seek  him,  he  has 
been  aftlicting  me,  (but  I  hope  for  my  good,)  by  taking  away  one  of  my  chil- 
dren by  death,  a  girl  about  sixteen  years  old  who  in  the  time  of  her  sickness 
often  and  oliep  would  call  upon  me  to  be  a  christian,  and  to  beieeve  in  the 
great  god  tliat  made  me,  She  would  cry  with  tears  and  groans  to  me  and  her 
mother  and  ;ill  her  brethren  to  forsake  the  wicked  way  of  the  Indians,  and  she 
would  often  have  me  go  to  get  the  English  minister  to  pray  with  her  tho  she 
understood  but  little  what  they  said  in  English,  yet  she  declared  that  she  be- 
lieved the  Chiistian  religion  to  be  true.  She  has  made  me  promise  to  bring  up 
the  rest  of  her  brethren  in  the  knowledge  of  the  christian  religion  and  learn 
them  to  read  &  always  to  think  of  her  dying  words  and  prayers  and  shall  never 
forget  them.  Wherefore  I  am  very  desiriovs  to  be  taught  the  christian  religion, 
and  that  my  children  might  learn  to  read  and  understand  god's  word,  the  holy 
Bible,  and  tliat  I  and  my  family  might  go  to  meeting  and  keep  the  sabbath, 
and  that  I  might  know  and  understand.  I  have  eight  in  the  family  though  two 
are  at  work  abroad  and  are  not  with  me.     ye  oldest  is  about  12  years  old  and 


102  IIISTOUY     OF     ANCIENT     AVOODBUUY. 

yo  youngest  at  three,  which  I  would  keep  at  school  this  summer:  the  honoura- 
ble j-ovenour  Joseph  tallcot  esqr.  has  written  I  hear  to  Cornell  Minor  of  Wood- 
bury to  take  care  that  my  family  should  be  school''  but  s''  Cornell  Minor  has 
taken  no  care  about  it,  I  hear  that  mr.  ^^raham  was  desired  in  the  letter  by  his 
honor  to  take  care  of  me:  but  yesterday  mr  graham  told  me  that  Croronell 
Minor  had  never  Lett  him  see  the  govenour's  Letter  and  therefore  he  did  not 
know  what  to  do:  Said  Coronel  Minor  has  had  said  Letter  this  month  and  has 
done  nothing  ;  but  a  certain  person  has  hired  a  school  for  me  for  a  while,  and  has 
promised  to  pay  if  the  honourable  goverment  would  not.  Therefore  your  me- 
morialist prayeth  this  honourable  assembly  would  hear  the  poor  prayers  and 
petitions  of  one  of  these  poor  Indians;  that  you  have  ordered  the  ministers  of 
this  government  so  often  to  pray  for  in  all  your  proclamations  for  public  fasts 
and  thanks"lvings,  Therefore  I  a  poor  Indian,  who  desire  to  be  christianized 
humbly  prayeth  this  honourable  assembly  would  assist  me  in  these  perticulars 
yt  I  might  not  lose  their  prayers:  first  I  humbly  prayeth  this  Honourable  as- 
sembly would  alow  and  give  something  towards  the  schooling  and  supporting 
of  my  children  this  summer,  that  I  might  have  some  help  under  my  difficult 
circumstances,  for  I  have  expend  allmost  all  my  substance  this  Last  winter  and 
spring  by  reason  of  sickness  in  my  family.  And  furthermore  I  would  assure 
this  honourable  assembly  if  my  children  slioul''  go  to  school,  then  I  cannot  sup- 
port them  with  victuals,  for  my  Lands  are  at  potitouch,  and  if  I  go  there  the 
other  Indiajis,  will  Qurrell  with  me  and  my  family,  for  they  are  much  offended 
with  me  because  I  have  a  mind  to  be  christianized.  Therefore  I  pray  this 
lionourable  assembly  would  order  something  for  my  relief  and  help,  although 
it  be  but  a  small  matter  2'y  your  humble  memoralist  prayeth  this  assembly 
would  help  me  to  a  division  of  the  Indian  Lands  at  potitouch,  that  I  might  have 
my  right  and  just  part  set  out  to  mc,  so  that  they  might  not  quarrel  with  me, 
for  they  say  if  I  am  a  christian  then  I  shall  not  have  my  land.  Thus  your  hum- 
ble petitioner  Hatchet  Tousey  prayeth  for  relief  and  help,  wherefore  I  put  my 
hand  and  name  to  this  prayer  in  the  presence  of  these  my  neighbors  who  can 
testify  to  the  truth  of  my  Cencerity  what  I  profess.and  say,  and  that  I  am  reso- 
lute to  eiribrace  the  christian  faith,  and  I  desire  your  prayer  for  me  and  my 
family,  and  in  duty  bound  I  shall  ollways  pray. 

"Woodbury  May  15  1741 


Henry  Cassell 

Benijah  Case 

Eleazer  Warner 

Henry  Castle  Jr 

Telle  Blakeslee  Hachet      ^^^S^rasaSEy''       Tousey 

William  Harris  Jr 

Adam  Hurd 

Eleazer  Towner 


niSTORT      OF     ANCIENT     WOODBrRY.  103 

"I  Hachet  Toiisey  constitute  and  appoint  Abraham  Hurd  my  agent  and  at- 
torney at  the  honorable  assembly  for  me 

his 


Hachet 


mark 


The  petition  of  this  Indian  was  granted,  and  £20,  -which  were 
raised  by  subscription  among  the  members,  were  placed  in  the  hands 
of  the  Rev.  Anthony  Stoddard  and  Col.  William  Preston,  to  carry 
out  the  purpose  intended.  The  governor  was  requested  to  encour- 
age him  in  his  good  purposes,  and  Messrs.  Stoddard  and  Preston  to 
take  care  that  he  and  his  children  be  instructed  in  the  Christian  reli- 
gion, and  that  his  children  be  sent  to  school. 

Encouraged,  perhaps,  by  the  success  of  Atchetoset,  Mowehu, 
Cheery,  son  of  Raumaug,  the  great  sachem,  who  died  a  Christian  a 
few  years  before,  and  others  representing  seventy  souls  residing  at 
Pootatuck  and  New  Milford,  petitioned  the  General  Court  in  May 
of  the  next  year  for  like  privileges.  The  Indians  residin"^  at  these 
two  places,  as  we  have  seen,  had  never  been  but  two  clans  of  the 
same  tribe,  while  still  another  small  clan  of  the  Pootatucks  resided 
alternately  at  Bethlem,  Litchfield  and  Nonnewaug,  the  location  of 
the  wigwam  in  Bethlem  being  near  Mr.  Seth  Martin's  dwelling- 
house.  The  latter  have  been  known  as  the  Bantam  Indians.  Nei- 
ther of  these  clans  were  in  a  well  organized  state  at  this  time.  The 
clan  at  New  Milford,  was  entirely  disbanded,  "Weraumaug,  their 
chief,  having  died  a  few  years  before,  and  the  larger  portion  of  the 
tribe  joining  the  Scatacook  tribe,  which  had  but  recently  been  formed 
under  Gideon  Mauwehu.  Cheery,  son  of  the  deceased  chief,  and 
one  of  the  signers  of  the  petition,  had  not  force  enough  to  keep  his 
clan  together,  and  was  never  sachem. 

"  To  the  Honourable  gen  Ass.  sitting  in  Hartford  May  Anno  Dom:  1742 
"  The  Humble  memorial  of  Mowehu,  Cheery  and  others.  Hereunto  Sub- 
scribing Being  Indian  Natives  of  this  Land  Humbly  showeth  that  there  are  at 
New  Milford  and  Potatuck  the  Places  where  we  Dwell  about  seventy  souls  of 
us  poor  natives,  who  are  now  awakened,  many  of  us  to  some  curiosity  of  Being 
Taught  the  word  of  god  and  the  gospel  of  Jesus  Christ  in  order  to  obtain  Eter- 


1  Colleges  and  Schools,  vol.  1,  pp.  104, 105. 


104  II  I  S  T  O  U  Y     Of     A  N  C  I  i:  N  T     WOODBURY. 

nal  Life  tliroiifjli  Him,  and  now  Humbly  Crave  the  care  of  this  Ass.  that  we 
and  our  childrfn  may  be  Tauj^lit  to  read  the  English  tongue  and  may  have 
some  iniui>tLr  appointed  to  preach  the  Gosjjel  of  Jesus  Christ  untuus;  and 
Instruct  us  in  the  I'rineiples  of  the  Christian  Religion,  and  we  also  Humbly  ask 
as  a  Deed  of  the  Highest  Cliarity  to  us,  that  the  Goverment  will  Bestow  some- 
thing upon  ns  to  support  some  jjcrson  or  jjcrsons  in  Teaching  of  uss,  and 
Preaching  to  uss,  That  our  souls  may  not  Perish  for  want  of  Vision  in  this 
Land  of  Lighl  ;  and  if  it  may  be  the  means  of  saving  any  Soul  of  uss,  the  gos- 
pel whicli  you  are  favored  with  assures  you  that  you  Shall  not  Loose  your 
Reward,  and  your  Poor  Petitioners  hath  hereunto  put  our  marks 
"  Hartford  xMay  13th  1712.' 

Mowchu  John  Coksurc 

Job  Pukin 

Sam  John  Slierman 

Peeney  Cheery 

Simon" 

Forty  of  tliese  Indians  resided  at  Woodbury,  and  thirty  at  New 
Milford.  The  committee  to  whom  this  petition  was  referred  reported 
favorably,  proposing  that  the  thirty  Indians  on  the  borders  of  New 
Milford  should  be  assisted  to  attend  school  and  public  worship  at 
New  Milford  ;  and  the  forty  residing  at  Pootatuck,  on  the  borders  of 
Woodbury,  lie  aided  in  attending  school  and  preaching  in  Woodbury, 
or  Newtown  ;  the  ministers  of  New  Milfoixl,  Woodbury  and  New- 
town being  requested  to  take  them  under  their  care  and  instruction. 
The  report  of  the  committee  was  accej^ted,  and  £26  were  appropria- 
ted to  aid  the  Indians  at  New  Milford  in  these  matters,  and  £25  to 
assist  those  at  Woodbury ;  the  money  being  placed  in  the  hands  of 
Mr.  Anthony  Stoddard  and  the  minister  at  Newtown. 

In  1733  the  Pootatucks  sold  about  three-fourths  of  their  "  reser- 
vation "  in  the  south-west  part  of  the  present  town  of  Southbury,  and 
tlie  larger  portion  removed  to  New  Milford,  and  joined  the  other 
clan  of  their  tribe  residing  there,  so  that  the  Indians  residing  at  New 
Milfox'd  at  this  time  were  quite  numerous.  Stragglers  from  other 
clans  in  Fairfield  county  also  joined  them.  President  Stiles  states 
the  number  of  warriors  at  about  three  hundred,  and  Rev.  Stanley 
Griswold,  in  a  century  sermon  preached  at  New  Milford  in  1801, 
estimates  them  at  two  hundred  warriors.  The  latter  estimate  is 
doubtless  nearer  the  truth  than  the  former,  though  it  maybe  a  pretty 
liberal  one.  The  young  and  vigorous  Indians  of  Pootatuck  had 
for  several  years  been  moving  to  New  Milford.     About  1715,  We- 


1  Indians,  vol.  1,  p.  240. 


HISTORY     OP     ANCIENT     WOODBURY.  105 

raumaug,  or  Raumaug,  an  intelligent  Pootatuck  sagamore,  joined  the 
Wyantenuck  clan,  and  soon  became  sachem.  His  residence  was  on 
a  reservation  at  the  falls  on  the  Housatonic,  about  two  miles  below 
the  village  of  New  Milford,  which  the  Indians  long  kept  after  they 
had  sold  the  Indian  field  west  of  the  river,  opposite  the  village. 
Weraumaug  also  had  a  personal  reservation  of  two  thousand  acres  in 
the  society  of  New  Preston  in  the  town  of  Washington.  This  reser- 
vation was  called  the  "  hunting  grounds  of  Raumaug,"  and  was  after- 
ward sold  by  Cheere,  son  of  the  sachem.  At  the  falls,  called  by  the 
natives  Mitichawon,  was  an  excellent  fishing  place,  especially  in  the 
spring,  when  shad  and  great  numbers  of  lamprey  eels  swarmed  up 
the  river,  and  attempted  to  ascend  the  rapid  descent  of  waters. 
Shad  and  other  valuable  fish  are  still  taken  on  this  river  quite  up  to 
this  point.  At  this  romantic  spot,  on  the  banks  of  the  river,  stood 
the  palace,  or  "  great  wigwam  "  of  Weraumaug.  On  the  inner  walls 
of  the  palace,  which  were  made  of  bark  with  the  smooth  side  inward, 
were  pictured  every  known  species  of  beast,  bird,  fish  and  insect, 
from  the  largest  down  to  the  smallest.  This  was  said  to  have  been 
done  by  artists  whom  a  friendly  prince  at'a  great  distance  sent  to 
him  for  that  purpose,  in  the  same  manner  as  Hiram  sent  artists  to 
Solomon.  Pie  died  about  1735,  as  near  as  can  be  ascertained,  and 
was  buried  in  an  Indian  burying-ground  at  no  great  distance  from  the 
place  of  his  residence.  His  grave  is  distinguished  from  those  sur- 
rounding him,  out  of  many  of  which  large  trees  are  growing,  by  its 
more  ample  diinensions. 

Weraumaug  was  a  man  of  uncommon  powers  of  mind,  sober  and 
regular  in  his  life,  and  took  much  pains  to  suppress  the  vices  of  his 
people.  The  first  minister  of  New  Milford,  Rev.  Daniel  Boardman, 
ordained  in  1716,  finding  this  Indian  sachem  to  be  a  discreet  and 
friendly  man,  became  much  interested  in  him,  and  took  great  pains 
to  instruct  him  in  the  Christian  religion.  From  the  account  he  gives 
of  him,  it  appears  he  died  penitent,  and  cheered  by  the  Christian's 
hope.     In  a  letter  to  a  friend  he  calls  him 

"  That  distinguished  sachem,  whose  great  abilities  and  eminent  virtues, 
joined  with  his  extensive  dominion,  rendered  him  the  most  potent  prince  of 
that  or  any  other  day  in  this  Colony;  and  his  name  ought  to  be  remembered 
by  the  faithful  historian  as  much  as  that  of  any  crowned  head  since  his  was 
laid  in  the  dust." 

Although  this  statement  of  Mr.  Boardman  is  the  best  evidence 
that  need   be  had  of  the  power  of  this  chief,  and  the  extent  of  his 
8 


106  nisTonv    of   ancient    woodbury. 

tribe,  yet  it  is  hardly  accurate  to  say  that  he  Avas  the  most  potent 
prince  tliat  had  existed  in  Jlie  Colony.  It  will  not  do  to  overlook 
King  Philip  and  other  sachems.  During  Weraumaug's  last  illness, 
Mr.  lioardman  constantly  attended  him,  and  endeavored  to  confirm 
his  mind  in  the  vital  truths  of  Christianity.  It  was  a  sad  [dace  for 
the' dying  chieftain;  for  the  larger  part  of  his  people,  and  even  his 
wife,  were  greatly  opi)Osed  to  the  religion  of  their  white  neighbors, 
and  used  all  their  influence  to  keep  him  true  to  the  dark  and  cheer- 
less faith  of  his  forefathers.  Their  conduct  was  not  only  rude  and 
abusive  of  the  minister,  but  in  other  respects  such  as  comported  little 
with  the  solemnity  of  the  occasion.  One  day  when  Mr.  Boardman 
Avas  by  the  sachem's  bedside,  the  latter  asked  him  to  pray,  to  which 
he  assented.  It  happened  that  there  was  a  sick  child  in  the  village, 
and  a  powwow  was  in  attendance,  who  had  undertaken  to  cure  it 
with  his  wild  and  superstitious  rites.  As  soon  as  the  clergyman 
commenced  his  prayer,  Weraumaug's  wife  sent  for  the  medicine- 
man and  ordered  him  to  commence  his  exercises  at  the  door  of  the 
lodge.  The  powwow  at  once  set  up  a  hideous  shouting  and  howl- 
ing, and  Mr.  Boardman  prayed  louder,  so  that  the  sick  man  might 
hear  him  above  the  uproar.  Each  raised  his  voice  louder  and  louder 
as  he  went  on,  while  the  Indians  gathered  around,  solicitous  for  the 
success  of  their  prophet.  The  powwow  was  determined  to  tire  out 
the  minister,  and  he,  on  his  side,  was  quite  as  fully  resolved  not  to  be 
put  to  silence  in  the  discharge  of  his  duty  by  the  blind  worshiper  of 
Satan.  The  invincible  minister  afterward  gave  it  as  his  belief  that 
he  prayed  full  three  hours  before  he  was  permitted  to  come  off  con- 
queror. The  powwow  having  completely  exhausted  himself  Avith 
his  efforts,  gave  one  unearthly  yell,  and  then,  taking  to  his  heelS, 
never  stopped  till  he  was  cooling  himself  up  to  his  neck  in  the  IIou- 
satonic. 

In  173G,  a  part  of  the  Wyantenucks  moved  to  Scatacook,  one  of 
their  reservations,  and  located  on  the  beautiful  plain  on  the  west  side 
of  the  river.  These  Indians,  in  the  years  1742  and  1743,  were 
visited  by  the  Moravian  missionaries,  under  Count  Zinzendorf.  They 
remained  with  them  several  years,  and  to  appearance,  Avere  very- 
religious  and  inoffensive  men.  They  also  visited  the  Indians  still 
left  at  the  Great  Falls  and  Pootatuck,  but  these  having  in  the  former 
year  applied  to  the  General  Assembly  for  the  means  of  instruction, 
which  had  been  granted  them,  gave  little  heed  to  the  strangers.  Tlie 
Scatacooks  were  at  this  -time,  perhaps,  the  largest  tribe  left  in  the 
Colony.     It  was  founded  about  1728,  by  Gideon  MauAvehu,  a  Pe- 


HISTORY     OF     ANCIENT     WOODBFRY.  107 

quot  Indian,  who  was  endowed  with  the  same  energy  of  character 
for  which  his  nation  was  so  distinguished.  We  first  hear  of  hiim 
among  the  Paugussetts,  where  he  was  the  leader  of  a  small  band, 
and  settled  one  of  his  sons  over  a  small  clan  at  the  falls  on  the  JS^au- 
gatuck  River,  near  Humphreysville.  He  next  appeared,  for  a  time 
among  the  Pootatucks,  soon  afterward  at  New  Milford,  and  in  1729, 
he,  with  eleven  others,  signed  a  deed  of  "  all  the  unsold  lands  in  New 
Fairfield,"  now  Sherman.  He  afterward  moved  to  Dover,  N.  Y.,  on 
Ten  Mile  River,  some  ten  miles  west  of  Kent.  After  living  there 
awhile,  in  one  of  his  hunting  excursions,  from  a  mountain  in  Kent, 
west  of  the  Housatonic,  his  eye  fell  upon  that  river,  winding  its  way 
tlirough  the  fertile  and  beautiful  valley,  shut  in  by  mountains,  and 
covered  with  dense  forests.  The  white  man  had  not  penetrated  this 
beautiful  sylvan  retreat.  It  had  only  been  used  occasionally  a^  their 
hunting  and  fishing  ground  by  the  Wyantenucks.  He  was  enchanted 
with  the  capabilities  of  the  place,  and  immediately  moved  thither 
with  his  family.  Having  invited  his  old  friends  among  the  Paugus- 
setts, Pootatucks,  Wyantenucks,  and  others  among  the  tribes  with 
which  he  had  lived,  they  flocked  to  him  in  considerable  numbers. 
In  1736,  after  the  death  of  Weraumaug,  a  considerable  number 
joined  him  from  New  Milford  as  above.  It  is  believed,  that  at  this 
date  he  had  more  than  one  hundred  wairriors. 

The  Moravian  missionaries  began  to  preach  to  his  tribe  some  tinue 
in  1742,  and,  although  Mauwehu's  name  was  among  the  signers  of 
the  petition  to  the  General  Assembly  in  May  of  that  year,  for  reli- 
gious instruction  from  the  colonists,  yet  he  received  them  with  great 
favor,  and  their  labors  had  a  happy  influence  on  the  tribe.  In  1743', 
he  accepted  their  faith,  and  was  baptized,  with  about  one  hundred 
and  fifty  of  his  people.  A  church  was  built,  and  a  large  congrega- 
tion collected.  Most  of  their  conversation  with  the  English  was  on 
religion,  and  they  spent  much  of  their  time  in  devotional  exercises. 
After  a  time,  many  of  these  Indians  followed  the  missionaries  to 
Bethlehem  in  Pennsylvania.  The  change  of  climate  proved  fatal  to 
them,  and  they  returned  to  their  old  homes.  Here  in  the  absence  of 
their  religious  teachers,  they  seemed  to  forget  their  religion,  became 
intemperate,  and  began  to  waste  away.  Such  was  the  sad  termina- 
tion of  the  most  successful  religious  effort,  perhaps,  ever  made  among- 
the  Indians  of  Connecticut. 

In  Mav.  1759,  the  Pootatucks,  or  rather  Tom  Sherman,  or  Sho- 
ran,  one  of  their  number,  to  whom  the  rest  had  quit-claimed,  their;- 


108  niSTOUT     OF     ANCIENT     WOODBURY. 

right  the  year  before,  sold  their  last  acre  of  land,  including  their 
village  of  I'ootatuck,  and  took  up  their  abode  at  Scatacook,  except  a 
few  that  lingered  in  the  neighborhood  of  their  old  abodes,  by  the 
sufferance  of  the  purchasers.  In  1761,  these  consisted  of  one  man, 
and  two  or  three  broken  families.  In  1774,  they  were  reduced  to 
nine,  and  at  this  date  there  were  none  remaining  at  New  JMilford,  and 
but  sixty-two  at  Scatacook.  In  1786,  the  latter  were  reduced  to 
thirty-six  males  and  thirty-five  females,  twenty  of  the  number  being 
children  of  suitable  age  for  attending  school.  In  ISOl,  they  num- 
bered thirty-five  idle  and  intemperate  beings,  who  cultivated  six 
acres  of  ground.  In  the  fall  of  1849,  the  number  of  Indians  remain- 
ing was  eight  or  ten  of  the  full  blood,  and  twenty  or  thirty  half  breeds. 
A  few  of  them  are  sober  and  industrious,  cultivating  good  gardens, 
and  living  comfortably  ;  but  the  majority  are  of  the  opposite  character. 
Three  or  four  of  them  attend  church, -and  a  few  of  the  children  go  to 
school.  They  are  under  the  care  of  an  overseer,  and  their  property 
consists  of  a  considerable  tract  of  land  on  the  mountain  too  rough  for 
cultivation,  and  about  five  thousand  doillars  kept  at  interest,  which 
for  the  last  forty  years  has  more  than  paid  the  annual  expenses  of 
the  tribe.* 

It  will  be  seen  tlmt  the  Indians  of  Woodbury,  New  Milford  and 
Kent,  have  been  treated  as  though  tliey  were  one  people,  which  is 
strictly  correct,  except  in  regard  t©  the  Kent  Indians.  Although  we 
find  among  the  principal  men  in  1746,  selling  land,  Samuel  and 
Thomas  Coksure,  two  of  tlie  sons  of  a  sagamore  of  the  name  of  Cock- 
shure  at  Pootatuck,  and  Cheere,  son  of  Weraumaug,  soon  after,  sell- 
ing his  reservation  in  New  Preston,  yet  Mauwehu,  having  resided 
in  many  other  tribes,  collected  together  many  from  them  also.  Be- 
yond this  the  dividing  line  between  them  is  not  discernable.  Gideon 
Mauwehu,  leader  of  the  Kent  clan,  -was  present  in  Woodbury  at  the 
■execution  of  two  deeds  next  to  the  last,  conveying  lands  at  Pootatuck, 
giving  his  assent,  and  signing  as  witness,  while  two  of  his  principal 
men,  Jeremiah  and  Samuel  Cokshure,  were  among  the  grantors. 

It  is  many  years  since  the  last  remaining  Pootatuck,  an  old  squaw, 
«ame  back  to  Pootatuck  village  to  visit  the  graves  of  her  ancestors. 
Looking  up  to  the  place  where  stood,  and  still  stand  the  few  remain- 
ing trees  of  "  Tummasseete's  old  orchard,"   "  There,"  she  said,  the 


'  1  The  major  portion  of  the  foregoing  account  of  the  Wyantcnucks  and  Scatacooks, 
on  the  la>t  tliree  or  fjur  pages,  "has  been  collected  from  the  works  of  Dr.  Trumbull, 
Barber,  and  De  Forest. 


HISTORY     OP     ANCIENT     -VTOODBtTKY.  109 

tears  streaming  down  her  wrinkled  cheeks,  "  there  is  Pootatuck," 
After  lingering  near  the  graves  of  her  people  a  few  days,  she  re- 
turned to  the  place  whence  she  came.  A  few  monuments  of  the 
existence  of  the  fated  race  now  remain  to  tell  us  that  here  a  former 
race  once  flourished,  scarce  sufficient,  so  fleeting  is  their  nature,  to 
arrest  our  attention.  Arrow  heads,  stone  chisels,  hatchets,  axes, 
gouges,  knives  and  mortars  are  found  in  the  "  ancient  territory."  One 
of  these  localities  is  on  Mr.  Anthony  Strong's  land,  opposite  Mr. 
Fred.  S.  Atwood's  dwelling-house,  where  they  had  a  hunting  village; 
and  another  on  Mr.  Frederick  M.  Minor's  land,  a  few  rods  in  rear 
of  his  dwelling-house.  They  are  also  found  in  Bethlem,  near  Seth 
Martin's  dwelling-house,  and  at  the  locality  of  the  village  of  Poota- 
tuck. Large  deposits  of  clam  and  oyster  shells  are  also  found  in  the 
latter  locality.  This  village  was  about  two  miles  above  Bennett's 
Bridge  on  the  Housatonic,  near  where  Pootatuck  Brook,  called  by 
the  Indians  Cowams,  enters  into  that  river.  In  addition  to  the  arti- 
cles mentioned  above,  some  have  been  found  which  the  natives  evi- 
dently received  from  the  English.  Glass  bottles,  brass  kettles,  rings 
and  jugs  have  been  found.  In  digging  for  some  purpose  a  few  years 
ago,  a  brass  kettle  was  found  rimmed  and  bailed,  and  under  it  a  piece 
of  scarlet  woolen  cloth  about  the  size  of  a  dollar,  in  good  preserva- 
tion. In  this  kettle  were  three  rings  and  three  thimbles.  A  finger 
bone  with  a  ring  on  it,  at  another  time,  was  found,  the  flesh  under 
the  ring  being  pretty  well  preserved.  In  "  Hatchet  meadow,"  on 
Cyrus  Mitchell's  land,  the  Indians  left  a  spring  protected  by  a  tub 
made  of  a  hollow  tree. 

They  had  burying-grounds  on  the  banks  of  the  Housatonic  near 
their  village,  where  skeletons  have  been  exhumed  as  late  as  the 
present  date,  (1853,)  which  were  found  buried  in  a  sitting  posture, 
having  various  trinkets  and  implements  buried  with  them.  Many 
were  buried  so  near  the  banks  of  the  river,  that  a  great  freshet  that 
happened  several  years  ago  laid  bare  many  skeletons.  Some  eighty 
rods  further  up  the  river,  bones  have  been  plowed  out  in  throwing  up 
the  highway.  Near  the  school-house  in  this  locality,  are  many 
mounds  of  a  circular  form,  depressed  in  the  center.  Many  skeletons 
have  been  at  various  times  exhumed  a  fourth  of  a  mile  lower  down^ 
on  the  opposite  side  of  the  river,  near  Cockshure's  Island,  below  Fort 
Hill.  There  was  another  burying-ground  on  the  banks  of  the  brook 
near  the  residence  of  David  J.  Stiles,  Esq.,  in  Southbury,  now  occu- 
pied by  the  ancient  burying-ground  of  the  first  white  settlers ;  and 


110       HISTORY  OF  ANCIENT  WOODBUUT. 

anotlier  still,  at  tlie  upper  end  of  Nonnewaug,  on  the   East  Sprain, 
where  rest  the  remains  of  the  chief  of  that  name. 

Such  are  tljc  simple  annals  of  the  unfortunate  and  benighted  race 
that  once  had  j)ossession  of  this  fair  heritage,  and  roamed  in  haughty 
inde|)endence  through  these  sequestered  vales.  Not  a  Pootatuck 
remains  in  the  territory  of  the  '•  ancient  town,"  to  revisit,  with  Indian 
wail  and  lamentation,  the  forsaken  and  almgst  forgotten  graves  of 
his  ancestors.  When  the  floods,  or  the  excavations  of  the  present 
inhabitants,  exhume  the  bones  of  a  long-bliried  brave,  they  are  gath- 
ered up  with  eager  interest,  to  grace  a  public  museum  or  private 
collection  of  antique  curiosities.  Their  sun  has  set  in  darkness  and 
in  gloom.  Advancing  civilization,  so  fortunate  and  hap]>y  for  the 
white  race,  brought  nothing  to  the  red  man  but  disaster  and  decay. 
With  a  sad  infatuation,  he  embraced  its  vices  instead  of  its  virtues. 
Before  the  white  man  touched  these  shores,  they  enjoyed  their  wild 
and  savage  mode  of  life  without  molestation.  This  was  their  own 
land.  Here  were  their  council  fires.  On  the  beautiful  rivers  they 
paddled  the  light  canoe,  and  pursued  their  game  in  the  unbroken 
forests.  They  went  up  by  their  mountains;  they  came  down  by 
their  valleys ;  they  followed  their  own  desires  for  happiness  in  wild, 
reckless  exuberance.  The  mossy  cliffs,  and  the  dells  in  tlie  thick 
woods,  echoed  back  their  shrill  songs  and  fearful  cry  of  war.  But 
the  white  man  took  up  his  abode  in  their  ancient  hunting  grounds. 
The  strength  of  civilization  met  the  weakness  of  barbarism.  From 
that  inauspicious  hour  the  poor  natives  waned,  and  retreated  farther 
into  the  wild  solitudes.  The  children  of  the  forest  have  passed 
away. 

"  Alas,  for  them,  their  day  is  %'er — 
Tlieir  fires  are  out  from  shore  to  shore! 
No  more  for  them  tlie  wild  deer  bounds — 
The  plow  is  on  their  hunting  grounds." 

Their  existence  has  become  a  matter  of  antiquarian  research,  and 
oft-told  legend.  Their  brief  history  has  been  written  in  desolation.  \ 
In  the  depth  of  the  forest,  in  the  silence  of  nature,  away  from  thQ 
busy  haunts  of  men,  the  contemplative  mind  is  sometimes  led  invol- 
untarily to  exclaim,  "  Where  are  they  ?"  and  echo  answers,  "  Where 
are  they  ?"  In  such  solemn  communion  with  nature  and  the  spirits 
of  the  past,  one  is  startled  by  the  very  depth  of  the  silence  around 
him. 


HISTORY     OF     ANCIENT     WOODBURY,  111 

"  Where  are  they,  the  forest  rangers, 

Children  of  this  western  land, 
Who,  to  greet  the  pale-faced  strangers, 

Stretched  an  unsuspecting  hand  ? 

"  Were  not  these  their  own  bright  waters  ? 

Were  not  these  their  natal  skies? 
Reared  they  not  their  red-browed  daughters 

Where  our  stately  mansions  rise  ? 

^'  From  the  vales  their  homes  are  banished^ 

From  the  streams  their  light  canoe; 
.Chieftains  and  their  tribes  have  vanished, 

liike  the  forests  where  they  grew" 


CHAPTER    VIII.  ' 

ECCLESIASTICAL    HISTORY. 

1666  TO  1760 ;  The  Half-way  Covenant  Controversy  at  Stratford  leads  to 
THE  Settlement  of  the  Town  of  Woodbury;  This  Practice  explained; 
Joseph  Judson  and  others'  Letters  to  Rev.  Mr.  Chauncy  ;  Church  An- 
swer to  the  Men  ;  Town  Proposition  to  Mr,  Chauncy  ;  The  Parties 
divide  the  Ministerial  Lands  in  1666;  Rev.  Zechariah  Walker  begins  to 
preach  to  the  Minority  in  166S;  Mr.  Walker  allowed  the  use  of  the 
Church  two  Hours  each  Sabbath  ;  Mr.  Walker's  Bill  of  particulars  to 
THE  General  Court  in  1669  ;  Three  Hours'  use  of  the  Church  each  Sab- 
bath all'^wed  Mr.  Walker;  Mr.  Walker  excluded  from  the  Church; 
Mr.  Walker  ordained  over  the  Second  Church  of  Stratford  May  5, 
1670;  Covenant;  Second  Church  removes  to  Woodbury  in  1672-3;  Mr. 
Walker's  Death  and  Character;  State  of  the  Church;  Rev.  Anthony 
Stoddard  settled  in  1700,  and  ordained  in  1702  ;  He  preaches  sixty  years  ; 
Great  prosperity  of  the  Church  under  his  Ministry;  Revivals;  His 
Death  in  1760 ;  Second  Church  built  in  1747  ;  Old  and  New  Style  ;  Char- 
acter of  Mr.  Stoddard  ;  Review  of  the  last  Ninety  Years. 

Rich  as  the  historical  incidents  relating  to  Ancient  Woodbury 
have  been  from  the  very  first,  and  endowed  as  it  has  ever  been  witli 
men  of  mark — minds  of  the  first  order — it  is  remarkable  that  this 
town  has  never  found  its  historian.  It  has  always  occupied  in  deeds, 
if  not  in  fame,  a  prominent  place  in  all  the  historical  events  of  the 
State.  Wherever  there  has  been  labor  to  be  performed,  or  deeds  of 
valor  to  be  done,  the  sons  of  Woodbury  have  ever  been  in  the  front 
rank.  As  in  local  position  it  is  retired  and  secluded  among  the  sweet 
valleys,  surrounded  by  verdant  hills ;  so  in  historical  position,  her 
sons  have  allowed  her  to  remain  in  the  silent  consciousness  of  unob- 
trusive worth,  while  later-born  and  less  gifted  sisters  have  occupied 
the  fields  of  fame  before  her.  Even  now,  at  the  end  of  nearly  two 
centuries,  the  work  of  gathering  the  memorials  of  its  long-buried 
worthies,  the  work  of  gratitude  and  reverence,  is  left  to  one  not  a 
native  of  the  soil,  nor  bound  by  ties  of  consanguinity  to  the  early 


HISTORY     OF     ANCIENT     WOODBURY.  113 

fathers.  Tlie  first,  and  it  might  be  said,  the  only  history  of  the  town, 
physical  or  biographical,  if  we  except  the  brief  paragraphs  in  Trum- 
bull's History  of  Connecticut,  Pease  &  Niles'  Gazetteer,  and  Barber's 
Collections,  is  comprised  in  the  following  extract : 

"  Woodbury  lies  on  the  same  river,  (Osootonoe,)  and  resembles  Kentish-Town. 
The  township,  twelve  miles  square,  is  divided  into  seven  parishes,  three  o^ 
them  Episcopal.  In  this  town  lives  the  Rev.  Dr.  Bellamy,  who  is  a  good 
scholar  and  a  great  preacher.  He  has  attempted  to  shew  a  more  excellent  way 
to  heaven  than  was  known  before.  He  may  be  called  the  Athenian  of  Con- 
necticut ;  for  he  has  published  something  new  to  the  Christian  world — Zuinglius 
may  learn  of  him."' 

This  seems  to  be  rather  a  brief  history,  for  a  town  of  which  so 
much  may  justly  be  said.  It  would  have  been  fortunate  had  the 
present  labor  fallen  into  better  hands,  but  it  is  proposed  to  supply  in 
some  measure  the  desideratum  of  an  accurate  local  history. 

It  has  been  before  stated  in  these  pages,  that  the  settlement  of 
"Woodbury  was  the  result  of  religious  dissensions  among  the  people 
of  Stratford.  The  principal  cause  of  difference  Avas  in  regard  to 
church  membership,  baptism,  and  the  discipline  of  church  members. 
What  the  precise  nature  of  the  controversy  was,  could  not  be  dis- 
tinctly understood  by  the  most  learned  and  pious  even  of  that  day. 
It  was  the  same  as  that  which  existed  at  Hartford,  "Wethersfield, 
and  other  places.  One  would  say,  at  this  distance  of  time,  that  the 
question  to  be  decided  was,  whether  the  "  Half-way  Covenant  Prac- 
tice "  should  be  introduced  into  the  church  or  not.  Upon  this  ques- 
tion there  was  the  most  grave  difference  of  opinion  among  the  best 
and  most  distinguished  men  in  New  England.  By  this  plan,  a  per- 
son of  good  moral  character  might  own  or  renew  the  covenant  of 
baptism,  confessing  the  same  creed  as  members  of  churches  in  full 
communion,  and  affirming  his  intention  of  becoming  truly  pious  in 
heart  and  in  life,  and  have  the  privilege  of  presenting  himself  and 
children  for  baptism.  Nor  did  the  privilege  stop  here ;  he  might 
also  present  for  baptism  his  grandchildren,  children  bound  to  him 
as  apprentices,  and  even  his  slaves,  by  giving  a  pledge  for  their  reli- 
gious education.  Persons  thus  owning  the  covenant  were  considered 
church  members  to  all  intents  and  purposes,  except  that  they  might 
not  come  to  the  communion  table.  For  conduct  unbecoming  church 
members,  they  could  be   and  were  dealt  with  and   punished  in  the 


1  Hist,  of  Conn.,  1781,  By  a  Gentleman  of  the  Province.    Printed  at  London. 


Ill  HISTORY      OF     ANCIENT     "WOODBURY. 

same  manner  as  members  in  full  communion.  In  this  way  a  church 
couUl  never  mm  down  in  point  of  niimliers,  so  long  as  unconvei'ted 
persons  enou^li  to  keep  it  up  were  willing  to  own  the  covenant  of 
baptism.  Abundant  proof  of  the  foregoing  statements  is  found  in 
the  first  book  of  ministerial  records  of  the  Second  Church  of  Strat- 
ford, now  the  First  Church  of  "Woodbury,  happily  in  a  fine  state  of 
preservation.  Consequent  upon  this  practice,  baptisms  followed 
close  upon  births ;  very  many  instances  may  be  found  upon  these 
records,  where  the  child  was  but  from  one  to  eight  days  old  at  the 
time  of  the  ceremony.  If  the  child  appeared  to  be  in  danger  of 
"  non-continuance,"  it  was  baptized  on  the  day  of  its  birth.  The 
children  of  ministers,  deacons,  and  other  leading  men  in  the  church, 
were  generally  less  than  a  week  old  when  presented  for  baptism. 
Young  persons  did  not  usually  own  the  covenant  till  they  became 
parents,  and  wished  baptism  for  their  children. 

Previous  to  1650,  great  watchfulness  had  been  exercised  to  admit 
only  such  as  gave  visible  evidence  of  piety.  The  choice  of  pastors, 
also,  had  been  confined  exclusively  to  the  church,  and  nearly  all  the 
honors  and  offices  of  the  colony  had  been  distributed  to  professors  of 
religion,  who  in  the  New  Haven  colony  were  the  only  ones  possessed 
of  the  right  of  suffrage,  in  meetings  of  a  political  character.  In  the 
colony  of  Connecticut,  not  only  these,  but  also  other  orderly  individ- 
uals, having  a  certain  amount  of  property,  were  entitled  to  the  privi- 
lege of  being  admitted  freemen.  During  the  lives  of  the  early  fathers, 
little  trouble  had  arisen  on  these  points,  nearly  all  the  first  emigrants 
being  professors  of  religion.  But  this  generation  had  passed  away, 
and  a  new  one  had  succeeded,  many  of  whom,  on  account  of  their  not 
belonging  to  the  church,  were  excluded  from  their  proper  influence 
in  community.  Most  of  them  had  been  baptized,  and  by  virtue  of 
this,  it  was  claimed,  that  they  might  own  their  covenant,  have  their 
children  baptized,  and  thus  perpetuate  the  church.  All  New  Eng- 
land became  interested  in  this  controversy,  and  in  1657,  the  matter 
in  dispute  was  referred  to  a  council  of  the  principal  ministers  who 
met  at  Boston,  and  declared 

"That  it  was  the  duty  of  those  come  to  years  of  discretion,  baptized  in  in- 
fancy, to  own  the  covenant;  that  it  is  the  duty  of  the  church  to  call  them  to 
this  ;  that  if  they  refuse,  or  are  scandalous  in  any  other  way,  they  may  be  cen- 
sured by  the  Church.  If  they  understand  the  grounds  of  religion,  are  not  scan- 
dalous, and  solemnly  own  the  covenant,  giving  up  themselves  and  tlieir  children 
to  the  Lord,  baptism  may  not  be  denied  to  their  children." 

In  consequence  of  this  decision,  many  owned  their  covenant,  and 


HISTORY     OF     ANCIENT     WOODBURY.  115 

pi-esented  their  children  for  baptism,  but  did  not  unite  with  the 
church  in  the  celebration  of  the  supper,  nor  in  most  other  duties  of 
members  in  full  communion.  Hence  it  was  termed  the  half-way  cov- 
enant. In  process  of  time,  the  privilege  here  mentioned  was  en- 
larged in  some  of  the  churches.  Many  churches  in  Connecticut  never 
adopted  this  practice,  and  toward  the  end  of  the  eighteenth  century,  it 
was  generally  abandoned  throughout  New  England. 

The  first  church  at  Stratford  would  not  adopt  this  practice,  although 
a  large  and  influential  part  of  its  members  were  in  favor  of  it,  togeth- 
er with  a  majority  of  the  town,  who  were  not  church  members.  Rev. 
]Mr.  Chauncy,  who  was  not  in  favor  of  the  practice,  was  settled  over 
the  church  in  Stratford,  in  1665,  though  there  was  strong  opposition 
to  him  on  this  and  other  accounts.  The  efforts  of  the  dissenting 
party  to  settle  their  difficulties  seem  to  have  been  sincere.  Their 
communications  to  their  brethren  were  couched  in  respectful  and 
brotherly  terms,  and  their  arguments  were  not  easily  refuted.  In 
fact,  little  pains  seem  to  have  been  taken  by  the  church  proper  dur- 
ing the  whole  controversy,  to  answer  the  reasoning  of  the  dissatisfied 
party,  but  it  seemed  rather  to  throw  itself  back  on  its  dignity,  with 
an  intention  of  allowing  the  malcontents  to  take  their  own  course. 
The  latter  were  in  the  majority  in  the  town  meetings,  and  John  Mi- 
nor, one  of  their  leaders,  was  town-clerk  during  the  whole  time  of  the 
controvei-sy,  and  for  several  years  after,  with  the  exception  of  a  year. 
This  fixmous  controversy,  so  far  as  the  records  show  it,  is  deemed  of 
sufficient  interest  to  be  inserted  here,  almost  entire.  It  opens  with  a 
letter  from  eight  of  the  dissatisfied  party,  who  were  the  advocates  of 
the  half-way  covenant  system,  and  who  state  their  wishes  as  follows  : 

"  To  Mr.  Chancy  and  the  rest  of  the  Church  at  Stratford. 

*'  Loving  brethren  and  friends,  God  by  his  good  providence  having  brought 
us  hither,  who  are  of  his  church  and  people,  and  separated  us  from  tlie  world' 
and  of  hi«  free  and  abundant  grace  hatli  taken  us  and  our  seed  into  covenant 
with  himself  and  with  his  church  and  people,  and  hath  given  us  an  interest  in 
himself  to  bee  our  God,  and  taken  us  to  bee  his  own,  giving  us  his  own  disci- 
pline and  ordinances  for  our  spiritual!  and  eternal  good,  and  owning  us  hath 
given  us  equall  right  with  yourselves  in  all  his  ordinances,  his  providence  also 
having  seiled  us  together  in  this  plantation  that  we  might  jointly  together  wor- 
shipp  him  in  all  his  ordinances,  and  that  we  should  be  mutuall  helpers  of  one 
another  in  our  Christian  race.  These  lew  lines  are  to  informe  you  that  wee 
whose  names  are  underwritten  doo  declare  to  you  our  earnest  desire  to  enjoy 
communion  in  all  God's  ordinances  with  you,  that  we  may  together  worshipp 
him  according  to  his  holy  will ;  desiring  also  that  wee  and  our  posterity  may  be 
owned  as  immediate  members  of  the  Church  of  Christ  by  you;  as  Christ  own- 
eth  us  and  ours  by  his  own  institution,  taking  us  into  covenant,  and  solemnly 


1 1  G  HISTORY     OF     A  N  C  I  K  N  T     AV  O  O  D  B  U  U  Y . 

setting  his  own  seal  upon  us.  We  further  declare,  that  owning  it  to  be  our 
iluty,  and  liDping  it  to  bee  our  desire  to  account  you  our  best  friends,  wljo  shall 
use  nienni's  to  convince  us  wiierein  we  have  sinned,  and  bring  us  to  tiie  sight  of 
our  evills:  wi-  desire  that  if  any  man  being  converted  according  to  God's  rules, 
and  doo  not  hold  forth  repentance,  then  no  such  person  so  remaining  may  bee 
admitted  to  communion,  till  he  hold  forth  repentance.  And  whereas  there 
hath  beene  ilitference  about  the  calling  of  Mr.  Chancy,  and  severall  of  us  have 
declared  our  objections  against  his  selling  amongst  us  till  those  objections  were 
answered,  and  we  judge  they  never  were  unto  satisfaction  ;  yet  if  you  shall  see 
cause  to  answer  our  earnest  and  reall  desires  in  the  premises,  as  we  hope  you 
will,  wee  shall  passe  by  what  hath  beene,  and  endeavor  lovingly  to  close  to- 
gether and  to  walke  together  according  to  the  rules  of  Gocl's  holy  word,  hoping 
and  desiring  you  will  so  farr  respect  us  as  to  give  us  an  ans%ver  hereunto  in 
writing  as  soone  as  you  conveniently  can. 

"Yours  in  all  due  respects  and  dosircous  of  unity  according  to  the  rules  of 
Christ. 

"January  Itj,  1CG5.'  Joseph  Judson, 

Richard  Butler, 
David  Mitchell, 
Henry  Wakelyn, 
James  Blalcman, 
John  Minor, 
Samuel  Sherman, 
Daniel  Titterton."'^ 

This  respectful  and  kind  letter,  offering  to  forget  past  grievances, 
and  soliciting  a  union  with  the  rest  of  the  church  in  a  truly  fraternal 
and  Christian  feeling,  received  no  attention,  either  from  Mr.  Cliauncy, 
or  the  remainder  of  the  church,  who  were  of  his  way  of  thinking. 
Accordingly  on  the  9th  of  the  following  month,  the  dissentients  ad- 
dressed them  another  letter  in  the  same  spirit,  still  further  making 
known  their  wishes,  and  mildly  reproaching  them  for  their  want  of 
courtesy  and  kindness : 

"  Whereas  wee  have  formerly  made  known  onr  mindes  unto  you  in  writing, 
as  concerning  our  desire  of  communion  in  all  God's  ordinances  with  you  ;  hold- 
ing forth  unto  yon  by  way  of  preface,  our  right  unto  them,  from  the  free  grace 
of  God  owning  us  and  externally  sealing  the  priviledges  of  y' Covenant  unto  us  ; 
have  also  declared  our  mindes  concerning  such  letts  as  may  hinder  us  from 
proceeding  unto  such  attaynments  mentioned  in  some  clauses  thereof;  and 
comeing  together  to  know  how  you  stood  affected  to  our  desires,  hoped  you 
might    have   seen    good    soe  farr  to    have  betrusted  those  y'  were  to  declare 


1  New  Style,  Jan.  27,  1666. 

2  This  and  the  other  papers  relating  to  this  controversy  are  to  be  found  in  the  Sec- 
retary of  State's  office,  m"  Ecclesiastical,"  vol.  1,  Nos.  18  to  37. 


HISTORY     OF     ANCIENT     WOODBURY.  117 

yo'  minde  unto  us  as  in  conferring  witli  us  to  tiiice  Ikrther  knowledge  of  our 
desire  pioj>oiinded  ;  and  to  putt  us  in  a  way  of  farther  proceeding;  should  have 
bin  glad  soe  farr  to  have  bin  tender  by  you  that  they  might  have  took  it  into 
consideration.  And  if  anything  did  on  our  j)art  lye  in  y' way,  have  seriously 
appointed  us  a  time  for  examining  of  us  in  respectof  our  fayth  and  knowledge  : 
Accounting  it  requisite  y'  y'  Minister  may  take  perticular  knowledge  of  all  those 
y'  are  to  have  Comunion  in  the  whole  worshipp  of  God  ;  And  herein  (to  deale 
plainely)  y'  nothing  may  hereafter  bee  laid  as  a  block  in  our  way;  we  desire 
that  in  this  examination  by  ye  minister  or  Ministers  and  Elder  wee  may  issue 
in  their  questioning  and  examining  onely.  And  whereas  we  have  openly,  sol- 
lemnly,  wholly  and  onely  ingaged  ourselves  to  be  the  Lord's,  who  hath  gra- 
ciously taken  us  into  Covenant  w"'  himself  and  his  faithful  people  ;  we  desire, 
y'  in  the  owning  liereof,  wee  may  not  be  further  troubled  with  any  imposition 
of  that  nature.  The  exercise  of  yo''  tenderness  unto  us  wee  cannot  but  hope  for, 
according  as  you  are  allowed.     Ro.  14  :   1. 

"•  February,  9"',  1605.  Joseph  hulson, 

Richard  Butler, 
David  Milchell, 
Henry  Wakelyn, 
John  Minor, 
James  Blacknian, 
Samuel  Sherman, 
Daniel  Titterton." 

By  this  letter  we  learn  that  so  great  was  their  desire  to  be  recon- 
ciled to  the  church,  that  they  were  willing  to  be  again  examined  in 
regard  to  their  "fayth  and  knowledge,"  that  the  church  might  be 
convinced,  that  their  peculiar  views  had  not,  in  any  manner,  under- 
mined their  religious  principles,  or  purity  of  character.  More  than 
two  months  elapsed  before  any  answer  was  vouchsafed  them,  and 
then  we  find  the  following 

"  Church  Answer  to  the  Men  :" 

"  Neighbours,  whereas  wee  received  fro  you  two  writings  the  sum  of  both 
which  was  to  hold  forth  your  earnest  desire  as  to  communion  in  all  the  ordinan- 
ces of  Christ  with  us.  These  are  to  give  you  to  understand  that  our  apprehen- 
sion concerning  the  order  of  discipline  is  the  same  that  we  have  formerly  man- 
ifested it  to  bee,  both  by  our  practice,  and  answer  to  your  proposalls.  And 
whereas  you  apprehend  you  haveequall  right  with  ourselves  in  all  the  ordinan- 
ces of  Christ  in  this  place.  These  may  certifie  you  at  present  that  we  are  of  a 
different  apprehension  from  you  in  that  matter.  And  whereas  you  desire  that 
your  posterity  may  :  etc  :  wee  would  put  you  in  mind  that  as  yet  the  matter  is 
in  controversie  among  the  learned  and  godly.  Likewise  whereas  you  seeme  to 
intimate  in  the  close  of  your  first  page  that  you  have  taken  offence  at  our  late 
proceedings,  but  as  you  say  upon  the  granting  of  the  premises  are  willing  to 
pass  it  by  ;  we  return  no  more  at  present  but  this;  viz.    wee  hope   if  you  had 


118  HISTORY     OP     ANCIENT     AV  O  O  D  B  U  n  Y  . 

had  suflicient  f^iomicl  so  to  doo,  tlio  '^oiUy  aiul  loJirncd  would  have  spied  it  out, 
vind  liavi!  end  vivorcd  to  convinco  us  of  our  evilU  lijrein.  Lastly,  wlii-rcas  in 
your  latter  pa;;e  you  prescribe  the  way  wherein  you  desired  to  be  att'ndfd  : 
viz  ;  you  account  it  requisite  :  etc  :  To  which  we  answer  in  the  words  of  Paul 
in  another  case,  wee  have  no  such  custome  nor  the  churches  of  Christ  with 
whom  we  hold  communion,  and  moreover  it  is  practised  you  know  by  those 
whose  principles  in  discipline  are  farr  different  from  ours.  And  truly  nei},'li- 
bours,  as  it  relates  to  your  case,  (notwithstanding  wee  gladly  and  heartily  de- 
sire yc  increase  and  eidargcment  of  y^  Clnnch  when  it  may  bee  attained  in  a 
rulable  and  satisfactory  way  yet,)  wee  must  plainely  tell  you  that  we  cannot  at 
present  see  how  it  will  stand  with  the  glory  of  God  the  peace  of  ye  Church  ai  d 
our  and  your  mutuall  edification  (which  ought  to  bee  deare  unto  us,  and 
earnestly  sought  by  us)  for  you  to  embody  with  us  in  this  society:  The  Apo<tle 
Paule  exhorts  the  Coriutliiaiis,  and  so  all  that  walk  together  in  church  fellow- 
ship :  1  Romans  10,  to  avoide  divisions  and  to  be  perfectly  joyned  together  in 
the  same  mind  and  in  the  same  judgment,  otherwise  it  is  not  likely  we  should 
keepe  the  unity  of  the  spirit  in  the  bond  of  peace,  to  which  we  are  exhorted, 
Epli.  4  :  3.  And  notwithstanding  wee  give  this  answer  in  generall  to  you  all 
that  were  concerned  in  the  yys  presented  to  us;  yet  you  may  easily  imagine 
that  we  have  particular  exertions  as  it  relates  to  particular  persons  whereof  we 
find  that  we  are  thereunto  called,  wee  shall  manage  and  desire  satisfaction  in 
before  they  are  admitted  to  communion  in  all  the  ordinances. 
"Apr.  IG'S  1GG6. 

This  is  a  true  Coppyeof  y" 
answer  given  unto  us  as  it  was 
tryed  by  both  papers. 
Church  Answer  to  the  men." 

One  woukl  think  this  a  rather  short  and  crispy  reply  to  letters  as 
humble  and  inoffensive  as  the  two  former  had  been.  The  "  Church" 
begins  with  calling  the  dissenters  "  neighbors"  and  ends  with  char- 
acterizing them  as  "  the  men."  They  assume  a  very  lofty,  and  some- 
what arrogant  tone ;  sufficiently  so,  one  would  think,  to  have  pre- 
vented further  efforts  toward  an  accommodation  of  their  differences. 
This  was  undoubtedly  written  by  Mr.  Chauncy,  the  former  letters 
having  been  addressed  to  him,  and  it  is  probable  that  the  remainder 
of  the  papers  on  the  side  of  the  church  were  written  by  him. 

Although  by  this  communication  they  had  been  flatly  refused  ad- 
mittance to  tlie  church,  even  on  a  satisfactory  examination,  yet  they 
persevered  in  their  efforts  to  accomplish  the  desired  end.  It  is  to  be 
recollected,  that  Stratford  belonged  to  the  Connecticut  colony,  and 
consequently  had  other  freemen  besides  the  members  of  the  church. 
The  freemen  joined  with  the  dissentients  in  their  efforts.  It  is  to  be 
further  notfd,  that  IMr.  Cliauncy  had  been  settled  by  a  majority  of 
the  inciiilxTs  oi'  th(!  cliureh  alone,  the  otlier  freemen  of  the  town  hav- 


HISTORY     OF     ANCIENT     AVOODBURT.  119 

ing  no  voice  in  the  matter.  As  by  the  laws  of  the  colony  they  were 
obliged  to  pay  taxes  for  his  support  equally  with  the  church  mem- 
bers, they  wished  a  voice  in  the  selection  of  the  minister.  The  dis- 
senting part  of  the  church,  together  with  the  other  freemen  of  the 
town,  as  we  have  seen,  constituted  a  majority  in  the  meetings  of  the 
freemen.  So  that  although  the  chvrch  could  choose  and  settle  a  min- 
ister, it  took  a  majority  of  the  voters  of  the  toion  to  provide  for  his 
support.  Failing  as  individuals  and  members  of  his  church  to  effect 
an  arrangement  with  Mr.  Chauncy,  they  held  a  town  meeting,  and 
passed  a  vote  embracing  the  conditions  under  which  they  would  con, 
tribute  to  his  support.  The  vote  is  a  very  interesting  one,  as  it  con- 
tains a  lucid  explanation  of  the  half-way  covenant,  and  is  as  follows  : 

"  Townc  propositions  to  Mr.  Chauncey,  May  13,  '69. 

"  Mr.  Clianccy, 

"  We  a  Christian  people  by  the  providence  of  God  settled  together  in  this 
l)lantation  of  Straltford  Judging  it  our  duty  as  from  the  command  of  God  soe 
for  our  own  iiccessary  spirituall  &  eternall  good  to  indeavo''  after  maintain  & 
uphoiild  a  minister  orthodox  in  doctrine  and  practice  y'  y'  word  of  life  &  salva- 
tion may  be  held  forth  unto  us  &  all  the  ordinances  of  God  disspenced  amongst 
us.  And  whereas  you  have  been  some  time  amongst  us  we  accounting  rea- 
sonable, very  necessary  &c  equall  y'  some  mutuall  agreem'  be  made  in  a  Chris- 
tian way  betu-een  you  &  us  ;  We  hereuppon  think  good  to  propound  to  you 
fo'yo"'  settling  &  continuing  w'*"  us  as  foUoweth  ;  We  desire  y'  you  would  per- 
form y=  work  of  a  Minister  of  y«  Gospel  unto  us  in  y«  preaching  of  y«  word,  and 
administering  of  the  sacraments.  More  particularly  we  desire  y'  all  they 
y  profess  fayth  &  obedience  to  the  rules  of  Christ  not  scandalous  in  life  and  doe 
present  themselves  in  owning  y«  covenant  wherein  they  have  given  themselves 
unto  the  Lord  in  baptism  may  be  admitted  and  accounted  members  of  y=  Church 
and  uiider  the  care  and  discipline  thereof  as  other  members  and  have  their 
children  baptized.  Yet  notwithstanding  we  desire  not  that  any  thus  admitted 
may  approach  unto  the  Lord's  table  till  in  and  by  examination  and  due  tryali 
they  make  testimony  unto  the  Judgment  of  Charity  of  their  fitness  thereunto. 
Moreover  as  God  owneth  the  Infant  children  of  believers  in  y=  Covenant  of 
Grace  neither  doth  exclude  ye  same  children  w"  grown  up  from  keeping  their 
standing  in  y'  covenant  while  they  soe  walk  as  they  doe  not  reject  it.  God 
owneth  y""  and  would  not  have  y"  grace  of  his  covenant  shortned  or  straitened 
nor  put  y™  from  under  the  disspensations  of  his  grace  giving  his  ministers  a 
soUemn  charge  to  take  care  of  &  trains  up  such  as  a  part  of  their  flock :  We 
desire  also  y'  y^  children  of  churchmembers  may  be  accounted  churchinembers 
as  well  as  their  parents  and  y"  tliey  doe  not  cea?e  to  bee  members  by  being 
grown  up  but  that  they  doe  still  continue  in  y'^  church  successively  untill  ac- 
cording to  y«  rules  of  Christ  they  bee  cast  out  and  y' they  are  still  y«  subjects  of 
Church  discipline  even  as  other  members,  and  y'  they  should  have  their  chil- 
dren babtized  notwithstanding  their  present  unfittness  for  partaking  of  the 
Lord's  supper.  And  farther  wee  assure  you  hopeing  without  the  least  suspi- 
cion you  may  creditt  us  y' uppony' accepting  o"^  propositions  and  grunting  them 


120  HISTORY     OF    ANCIENT     WOODBURY. 

unto  us  wee  shall  according  to  o'  abillity  contribute  fo'  yo'  comfortable  subsist- 
ence amongst  us.  Expecting  an  answer  t'roiu  you  hereunto  in  time  convenient, 
subscribe  in  the  y'name  of  y'  Towne.  • 

"  June  1,  liiGlj.     Extracted  from  the  original!;  Thomas Fayrechilde, 

being  Rccordiul  ife  therewith  Joseph  Judson, 

diligentlye  compared  y»  2G''' :  9-"  :  'GS.>    Henry  Wakelyn, 
p     Jolm  Minor,  Recorder.  Thomas  UlToote." 

It  does  not  appear  that  Mf.  Chauncy  made  any  reply  to  this  propo- 
sition, though,  as  the  matter  had  now  assumed  a  serious  aspect,  it 
was  doubtless  discussed  during  the  next  few  months  with  much  fre- 
quency by  the  two  parties.  Efforts  were  also  made  by  the  minority 
of  the  church,  together  with  others  of  the  town,  to  procure  another 
minister  for  themselves,  probably  with  the  tacit  consent  of  the  other 
party ;  and  it  would  seem  that  they  applied  to  Mr.  Peter  Bulkley  to 
preach  to  them.  It  does  not  appear,  however,  that  they  were  suc- 
cessful in  obtaining  him.  But  later  in  the  year  the  two  parties  were 
able  to  agree,  that  each  party  should  have  its  own  minister,  and  also 
agreed  upon  a  division  of  the  land  sequestered  for  the  use  of  the 
ministry  between  the  two  ministers,  as  appears  by  the  following 
vote : 

"  D.'cember  ISth  1666. 

"  Att  a  lawfull  Towns-meeting  it  was  voated  and  agreed  on  y'  there  should 
bee  in  case  yi  it  be  found  in  nowayes  contradictory  to  a  courte  order  to  have 
another  Minister  here  in  Strattford.  a  layingout  of  the  sequestered  land  reserved 
for  the  ministry:  viz:  A  quarter  part  of  it  to  Mr  Chancey  and  a  quarter  part 
of  it  to  Mr  Peter  Bulkley.  or  any  other  man  by  y'  party  obteyned  y'  now  in- 
deavo''  for  Mr  Bulkley  And  y'  w^''  shall  be  laid  out  to  Mr  Chansey  shall  by 
him  be  improved  as  his  own  during  his  life  or  continuance  in  Strattford.  And 
in  case  of  reinoveall  y=  s''  land  is  to  return  to  y*  town  again  :  Provided  alwayes 
y'  y^  town  pay  him  for  w'  it  is  bettered  by  his  improvement  according  as 
y*'  Town  and  Mr  Chansey  shall  agree,  in  case  of  difference  then  ;  as  it  shall  be 
judged  better  by  indifferent  men  chosen  by  both  parties  :  And  in  case  of  decease 
y"  Town  is  to  pay  Mr  Chansey  his  Heires  w'  y'  whole  accommodations  together 
with  y  improvement  shall  be  judged  worth  at  his  disease.  It  is  further  agreed 
on  in  case  Mr  Bulkley  or  any  other  Minister  be  obteyned  hee  shall  have;  liould 
and  injoy  his  part  in  every  respect  as  Mr.  Chancey  doth.  It  is  further  agreed 
on  y'  as  respecting  a  house  lott  y'  reserved  land  for  y'  purpose  shall  bee  equally 
divided  into  two  lotts  and  Mr  Chancey  is  to  have  his  choyce,  w"^''  of  y^  two  he 
will  please  to  have.  It  is  further  agreed  on  and  voated  y"  IS'''  10''' :  ("ii),  in  case 
of  decease  or  removal  of  either  of  y'c  aforesaid  ministers  y'  y«  Town  shall  joynt- 
ly  make  y''  payments  y'  will  be  due  to  y'  deceased  or  removed  minister.  And 
y'  party  y'  is  destitute  of  a  minister  either  by  death  or  removall  shall   have  free 


1  The  year  at  this  date  began  with  the  25th  of  March;  consequently  26''':  9'": 
was  Nov.  26, 1668, 


HISTORY     OP     ANCIENT     WOODBURY.  121 

libberty  to  provide  for  themselves  another.     And  shall  have  ye  same  intrest  in 
y'  accommodations  and  improvement  y'  formerly  they  had. 

"Exactly  transscribed  and  diligently  compared  w"'  the  originall  records  the 
24,hApr":  1669. 


\fl  7Z  o^i  '^cr^  ^.rfSYc  c  o-j~^i^ 


At  the  October  session  of  the  General  Court  in  1667,  this  action 
of  the  parties  was  approved  and  established  on  motion  of  Ens.  Joseph 
Judson : 

*'  Ensigne  Joseph  Judson  moveing  this  courte  for  a  confirmation  of  y'  agree- 
ment of  y«  Town  of  Strattford  made  December  18"' 66.  in  relTerence  to  y«  divis- 
ion of  sequestred  Land  to  Mr  Chansey  ye  present  Minister  and  Mr  Peter  Buikley 
or  any  other,  etc;  there  haveing  nothing  appeared  to  this  courte  therein  y' is 
contrary  to  law  yecourt  doth  approve  ofyesd  agreement  and  desires  Enssigned: 
Judson,  Mr  Fayrechilde,  Mr  Hawley:  Leif  Curtiss,  Rich.  Butler  and  Henry 
Waklyn  to  lay  out  ye  land  according  to  ye  sd  agreement.  And  that  from  hence- 
forth they  shall  all  joyntly  make  payment  of  their  proportions  towards  the 
mayntenance  of  Mr  Chancey  till  theire  bee  another  minister  at  Strattford  there 
cohabiting. 

"  This  is  a  true.coppie  out  of  y'  originall  diUigentlye  transscribed  and  com- 
pared this  31st  December  1667. 

"  Per  JOHN  MINOR,  Recorder." 

Early  in  the  year  1668,  the  minority  engaged  Rev.  Zechariah 
"Walker,  of  Jamaica,  L.  I.,  to  perform  pastoral  labors  among  them. 
Having  obtained  a  minister,  they  perceived  they  had  no  house  of 
their  own  to  worship  in.  They  had  contributed  equally  with  Mr. 
Chauncy's  party  toward  the  construction  of  the  meeting-house  occu- 
pied by  the  first  church,  and  the  first  idea  that  occurred  to  them 
was,  that  they  might  agree  with  the  other  party,  to  allow  Mr.  Walker 
to  preach  one  part  of  each  Sabbath  in  the  meeting-house,  and  Mr. 
Chauncy  the  other  part,  thus  joining  the  two  congregations.  They 
accordingly  made  known  their  proposition  to  Mr.  Chauncy's  party, 
to  which  they  received  two  elaborate  answers,  in  better  spirit  than 
former  communications,  and  in  which  the  plain  word  "  neighbors  " 
had  been  exchanged  for  "  loving  neighbors  :" 


122  IirSTOUY     OF     ANCIENT     WOODBURY. 

"  1st 
"  OcK  Answer  to  ouk  Nkiuours  IMotion 

"  Loving  Neibours, 

•«  You  are  no  strangers  to  the  afllicting  troubles  which  through  the  malice  of 
the  common  adversary  have  bin  occasioned  amongst  us  by  different  persuasions 
as  to  order  in  the  house  of  God,  which  we  may  truly  say  have  cost  us  not  a  few 
prayres  and  tears,  and  no  little  aflliction  of  spirit ;  fearing  indeed  whilst  we 
have  bin  contending  about  the  shell  we  have  lost  much  of  the  kernal  of  reli- 
gion :  Dill'erences  continuing  thus  uncomfortable  amongst  us  for  a  long  time, 
at  length  it  pleased  the  most  High  to  guide  us  to  a  joint  agreement  whereby  we 
did  hoi)e  through  his  blessing  an  end  might  be  put  to  these  our  exercising 
troubles  and  differences  and  on  earth  have  a  better  way  found  out  for  our  mu- 
tual edification  which  in  truth  was  the  main  thing  scoped  at  by  us  in  our 
agreement;  And  we  for  our  parts  (the  generality  of  xis)  did  conclude  that  it 
was  the  intention  of  all,  for  the  attaining  of  this  end,  that  we  should  meet  scp- 
erately  and  apart,  one  from  another,  we  by  ourselves,  and  you  by  yourselves, 
that  we  might  enjoy  the  ordinances  of  God  according  as  we  are  persuaded 
without  disturbance  each  to  other  and  therefore  shall  not  cease  to  wonder  at 
your  motion  (so  different  from  our  expectation  and  as  we  judge  not  a  little 
predjudicial  to  your  edification)  for  you  and  us  to  meet  together  publickly  to 
worship  God  in  the  same  place.  Neverthelesse  we  have  not  bin  wanting  seri- 
ously to  consider  and  earnestly  to  enquire,  what  may  be  the  mind  of  God  in 
this  matter  since  we  have  had  knowledge  of  this  your  motion  and  iuieution, 
(according  to  the  little  time  allowed  us.)  And  we  do  declare, 
1st     That  it  is  not  our  intention  or  desire  in  the  least  to  deviate  from  the  true 

sense  and  meaning  of  our  agreement. 
2d     That  in  our  agreement  we  had  still  an  eye  to  meeting  in  distinct  places: 
3d     As  to  Mr  Walker  that  he  is  one  whom  we  desire  to  honour  and  esteem  in 

the  Lord ;  yet 
4th     That  wee  cAnnot  see  how  two  though  godly  can  walke  together  (especially 

two  ministers)  except  they  are  agreed. 
5th  We  doe  account  ourselves  bound  by  covenant  to  that  order  and  dispensa- 
tion of  the  worship  of  God  that  hath  hitherto  bin  peaceably  practised  in  this 
church  and  other  churches  of  Christ,  holding  communion  with  us  ;  this  bond 
being  upon  us,  we  al^o  continuing  tlnis  persuaded,  we  can  (now)  doe  nothing 
against  the  truth,  but  for  ilie  initli. 
6th  That  though  our  differences  be  not  about  fundamentals,  and  essentials  ol 
faith  and  Christian  religion,  yet  it  reacheth  to  the  fundamentals  of  order  in 
church  administrations,  which  are  styled  Ezek.  4-4. .5.  The  comings  in  and 
the  goings  forth  of  the  sanctuary  ;  how  each  party  therfore  can  comfortably 
enjoy  his  own  persuasion  with  edification  (we  all  agreeing  to  meet  in  one 
place)  at  present  we  see  not. 
7th  That  we  desire  to  retain  and  maintain  those  dispensations  which  we  have 
80  dearly  bought  and  so  long  enjoyed  without  interruption  siiouid  we  not 
possesse  what  the  Lord  our  God  hath  given  us  to  possesse  as  they  said  in 
another  case:  should  we  therefore  consent  to  and  be  instrumental  in  thr 
parting  of  these  out  of  our  hands.  We  fear  it  would  be  a  great  dishonour 
and  provocation  to  the   Holy  one  of  Israel :  seeing  that  for  the  peaceable 


HISTORY     OF    ANCIENT     WOODBURT.  123 

enjoyment  of  the  truth  that  we  now  professe  and  practise  some  of  us,  among 
many  others  of  the  Lords  servants  have  put  our  lives  in  our  hands,  and  have 
said  to  our  fathers,  we  have  not  seen  them  neither  kave  we  acknowledged 
our  brethren  or  kindred  that  we  might  keep  the  word  of  the  Lord,  and  the 
covenant  of  our  God.  Deut.  33.6.  Finally,  at  present  as  there  are  many 
difficulties  in  our  way  that  forbid  our  consent  to  your  motion,  soe  we  cannot 
but  declare  tliat  for  you  to  Ibrce  the  attendance  of  your  motion,  we  fear  it 
will  be  a  means  to  widen  our  ditferences  and  (as  we  judge)  will  be  esteemed 
no  less  than  opposition  and  disturbance.  Now  the  very  God  of  truth  and 
peace  guide  us  and  you  all,  in  his  ways,  that  so  the  glory  of  his  great  name 
together  with  the  comfort  peace  and  edification  one  of  another  may  still  be 
aimed  by  us  all. 

"Voted  as  an  answer  to  our  Neibours. 

"Nov.  11.  6S." 

Uniting  their  meetings  was  evidently  not  the  best  way  of  obtaining 
the  end  desired.  Although  their  differences  might  not  be  "  funda- 
mental," as  admitted  in  this  communication,  yet  their  opinions  being 
so  diverse  in  regard  to  church  membership,  they  could  hardly  have 
been  much  "  edified,"  in  being  obliged  to  listen  to  the  defense  of  what 
they  did  not  believe.  It  would  be  not  unlike  the  mingling  of  the  wor- 
ship of  the  various  religious  denominations  of  the  present  day.  "While 
the  ministers  might  have  confined  themselves  to  points  upon  which 
all  agreed,  they  would  be  in  danger  of  treading,  at  times,  on  forbidden 
ground.  It  seems  there  had  been  some  further  explanation  of  their 
desires,  before  they  received  the  following : 

"Hond  and  truly  Respected. 

'*  We  have  with  all  seriousnesse,  weighed;  prayed  over,  counselled  upon  the 

question  that  was  left  to  our  consideration,  and  the  answer  that  is  with  us  at 

present  is  as  foHoweth. 

•'  The  question  (as  we  tooke  it  up)  that  was  left  to  our  consideration,  was, 

Q.  Whether  we  could  not  consent  to  have  Mr  Walker  preach  in  a  transient 
way  one  i)art  of  the  Sabbath  untiU  the  next  Gen"  Court  ? 

Ans.  We  the  Church  of  x'  at  Stratford  answer  negatively,  viz  :  we  cannot 
consent,  and  that  this  our  answer  is  not  irrational,  these  few  words  further 
may  be  seriously  weighed. 

Ist  For  neither  can  we  hear  in  a  transient  way  nor  Mr  Walker- so  preach, 
because  he  is  not,  (as  our  Neibours  say)  a  transient  man,  but  hired  accom- 
modated and  settled,  and  in  all  respects  equally  priviledged  with  Mr  Chaun- 
cy,  and  preaching  part  of  his  worke  for  which  hired;  therefore  if  we  should 
ever  admit  him  in  such  a  way,  our  Neibours  might  begin  to  conclude  settle- 
ment. 

21y  Our  Agreement  in  intention,  and  as  we  understand  it  in  termes  also  for- 
bids Our  consent,  discources  also  at  the  agreement  making  will  help  y'  Inter- 
pretation so  to  your  understanding. 

Sly     The  Court  order  forbids  it :  it  being  in  opposition  to  the  present  settled 


124  niSTOUY     OF     ANCIKNT     WOODBURY. 

approved  minister,  consent  also  of  Neibonr  Churches  not  being  yet  obtained: 
If  it  be  said  that  Law  is  Null  to  us  by  virtue  of  the  Courts  conliru)ation  of 
our  a<;reenient,  then  what  hinders  our  neibours,  but  that  they  may  meet  by 
themselves. 

41y  We  reason  from  our  Neibours  themselves,  who  are  different  in  their  per- 
suasions, and  cannot  carry  on  to  satisfaction  with  us,  which  (as  it  hath  ap- 
peared many  wayes)  so  by  the  already  withdrawing  of  some  of  tluni  Irom 
us,  propounding  to  themselves  and  us  diflererit  administrations,  now  how 
each  minister  can  vindicate  his  own  persuasion,  and  dilferend  Administra- 
tions be  carryed  on  together,  and  no  disturbance  each  to  other,  but  peace 
preserved,  we  see  not. 

5Iy  Rule  forbids  us,  which  gives  a  church  power  to  choose  her  own  feeders. 
Mr  Walker  was  never  chosen  by  us  to  be  our  feeder. 

61y  As  to  Edification,  which  will  be  much  hindred  a  reason  fell  from  sjome  of 
your  worships,  if  different  jjcrsuasions  and  different  udministrations  be  at- 
tended in  one  place. 

71y  We  Query  whether  it  can  be  judged  rational  or  ruleable  that  a  church 
should  consent  to  silence  their  settled  oiliccrone  part  of  every  Sabbath,  which 
we  judge  we  shall  doe  in  consenting  to  ye  motion  propounded. 

Lastly.  Much  more  we  might  have  added  but  with  this  at  present  we  con- 
clude, that  we  shall  not  admit  any  further  consideration  in  this  matter,  untill 
our  Neibours  (whose  worke  it  is  and  long  ago  was)  have  procured  the  appro- 
bation of  the  Gen"  Court  and  the  consent  of  Neibour  Churches.  And  we  hum- 
bly conceive  Mr.  Walker  cannot  account  himself  silenced,  whde  your  worships 
shall  maintain  Churches  priviledges,  untill  such  time  as  he  have  liberty  to 
preach  orderly ;  and  we  must  needs  crave  leave  to  leave  this  further  with 
your  worship,  that  we  rather  tremble  to  thinke  that  we  should  deviate  from 
any  rule  of  x' and  our  ancient  patterns  and  undervalue  our  ancient  Lawes 
and  Law-makers,  then  as  some  tremble  to  thinke  what  will  be  the  end  of  sep- 
aration ;  nor  shall  we  dare  to  join  where  our  consciences  are  persuaded  x' 
would   have  us  separate,  having  no  farther  at  present  we  rest. 

Yours  to  serve  and  obey  to  our  power, 
Stratford,  Israel  Chauncy, 

7'''  (lOih)  OS. I  riiillip  Graue. 

'In  the  name  and  with  the  consent  of  the  Church  of  x'  at  Stratl'ord. 
The  Church's  answer  to  Mr.  Gold's  projjosition  or  Qu." 

In  this  answer  of  Mr.  Chauncy  to  the  proposition  of  Mr.  Walker's 
party,  made,  as  it  seems,  by  Maj.  Gold,  of  another  town,  for  the  pur- 
po*e  of  reconciliation,  he  a{)pears  for  the  moment  to  have  the  best  of 
the  argument,  but  Mr.  Walker  was  a  man  of  decided  abilities,  and 
rejoins  with  effect,  as  will  be  seen  by  the  following  answer. 

"  Beloved  Neighbours, 

*'  Wee  have  deliberately  and  wee  hope  duely  weighed  w'  you  were  pleased  to 
present  unto  us,  relating  to  o'' former  dilferences,  &  agreement  and  present  trans- 


1  Dec.  r,  1668. 


HISTORY  OF  ANCIENT  WOODBURY.      125 

actions  &  intentions,  in  answer  whereunto  wee  doo  declare  y'  wee  have  been 
(at  y'  least)  sharers  w'*"  you  in  y'  afflicting  sence  of  y'  soe  predudiciall  incon- 
veniences offormer  differences;  neither  are  wee  willing  without  thankfullness 
to  y"  Supreani  dissposer  to  remind  w'  agreement  his  divine  providence  hath 
directed  us  unto,  which  was  (as  wee  hope)  on  all  hands  designed  to  bee  a  totall 
abolition  of  those  uncomfortable  contentions  y'had  bin  too  long  amongst  us,  and 
a  provision  for  each  part,  to  injoy  their  own  persuasion  without  mutuall  dis- 
turbance. But  whereas  you  are  pleased  further  to  adde  y'  it  was  y'  conclusion 
of  y«  generallitye  of  yciirselves  y'  a  seperate  meeting  was  intended  by  all,  and 
y'  as  a  necessary  meanes  to  o'  mutuall  and  undisturbed  injoyment  of  y'  ordi- 
nances of  God  according  to  o"'  ditferent  persuasions,  and  thereuppon  y'  you 
have  an  incessant  admiration  at  o''  motion  concerning  meeting  together,  as  be- 
ing disscrepant  from  y'  expectations,  &  also  (as  you  judge)  predudiciall  to 
o"'  own  edification.  To  y'  wee  answer  y'  wee  have  much  more  cause  of  admi- 
ration, y'  you  should  soe  far  forgett  yourselves  as  to  disown  y'  which  hath  bin 
soe  plainely  and  fully  concluded  amongst  us  at  least  as  wee  have  alwayes  un- 
derstood it :  viz  :  y'  motion  of  o''  joynt  meeting,  which  wee  doe  affirm  had  your- 
selves (if  not  for  its  first  parents  yet  at  least)  for  its  most  careful  nurses,  being 
(if  not  first  started)  yet  at  least  strongly  urged  by  yourselves,  before  it  was  con- 
sented to  by  some  of  us,  soe  much  wee  hope  may  be  a  sufficient  reply  to  your 
preface.  As  for  w'  you  are  farther  pleased  in  sundry  perticulers  to  declare  unto 
us  in  your  writing,  wee  further  answer.  First,  as  to  your  first  perticular  where- 
in you  are  pleased  to  intimate  your  desire  not  to  deviate  in  the  least  from  y*  true 
sence  of  o''  former  agreement;  wee  say  no  more  but  this,  y'  wee  are  as  reall  in 
these  desires  as  yourselves  can  bee. 

"As  to  y'  second  \<'herein  you  affirm  y'  in  your  agreement  you  had  still  an 
eye  at  meeting  in  distinct  places  wee  have  in  part  answered  it  already,  wee 
shall  onely  adde  this  y'  if  your  intentions  were  different  from  your  expressions 
y*  blame  of  any  mistake  thereby  occassioned  is  your.",  and  not  ours,  on  y«  other 
handif  at  o"^  former  agreement  your  expressions  and  intentions  were  agreed, 
wee  cannott  but  declare  ourselves  muchdissatisfyed  with  your  present  assertion 
having  soe  little  affinity  with  truth  according  to  our  understanding  of  our 
agreement.  And  fo'  your  third  perticular  which  is  an  expression  of  your  re- 
spect to  Mr.  Walker,  wee  onely  say  this,  y'  it  will  hardly  bee  thought  by  indif- 
ferent judges,  y'  hee  truly  respects  any  minister  as  such,  y'  is  unwilling  to  hear 
him  preach. 

"  As  for  your  4"',  viz  :  your  professed  ignorance  how  too  (though  Godly)  es- 
pecially ministers  can  walk  together  except  they  are  agreed;  wee  answer  y'  if 
by  walking  together  you  understand  meeting  or  sitting  together  in  y'  same  house 
or  seat;  (which  is  our  present  question)  and  if  by  agreement  you  intend  thier 
conjunction  in  affection,  wee  hope  thier  neither  is,  nor  will  bee  in  y'  persons 
intended  iny'  your  proposition  any  such  mutuall  dissaffection  as  may  prejudice 
such  an  accomplishment  of  our  desires.  If  by  agreement  you  intend  y"  concur- 
rent apprehensions  of  y'  partys  intended  in  all  matters  controversall,  and  then 
conclude  y'  persons  in  y'  sence  not  agreed,  cannott  sitt  or  meet  together  wee 
doe  declare  y'  wee  cannott  understand  y«  reason  of  any  such  conclusion,  being 
mindefull  of  y'  exhortation  once  given  to  Christians,  (y^  know  but  in  part;  & 
y'  not  in  like  measure  but  as  God  was  pleased  to  distribute  severally  to  each  of 


126  niSTOKY     OF     ANCIKNT      WOODKURY. 

them  according  to  his  own  will)  y'  they  siiouhl  not  forsake  y'   as^^embling  of 
themselves  together. 

"5th.  As  to  your  5""  wlierein  you  acquaint  us  with  y'  sence  of  an  obligation 
uppon  you  obieiging  you  to  attend  y'  order  and  dispensation  of  y«  worship  of 
God  formerlye  practised  and  attended  in  this  and  otlier  Churches,  A:  that  there- 
fore you  can  doe  nothing  against  the  truth,  but  for  the  truth.  Wee  answer  y'  it 
is  far  from  us  to  desire  to  disturb  y'  your  order  or  hinder  your  most  religious 
respect  to  any  such  obligation,  as  (in  reason)  you  can  intend,  much  less  doe 
wee  desire  y'  you  should  doe  anything  against  the  truth,  but  for  the  truth  & 
y'  (if  God  may  incline  your  hearts)  more  y"  hitherto  you  have  done  ;  wee  know 
nothing  in  our  propositions  or  actions,  y'  hath  any  look  or  tendency  to  your 
prejudice  in  such  respects;  but  by  the  way  wee  think  it  but  rationall  to  desire 
y'  wee  may  with  like  freedome  from  disturbance  (at  least  in  respect  of  you)  an- 
swer these  obligations  of  conscience  y'  are  alike  upon  ourselves. 

"G.  As  for  the  sixth,  if  ye  comeings  in  and  goings  forth  of  tlie  Sanctuary  in 
Ezek.  44,  5,  intend  as  yourselves  expound,  not  ye  improvement  of  y»  place  of 
worship,  but  ecclesiasticall  administrations  y'  attended  wee  cannott  see  y'  this 
hath  the  least  show  of  an  argument :  against  w'  wee  desire  ;  w'  is  there  in  this 
y'  can  intimate  any  unsutableness,  or  inconveniency  in  meeting  in  ye  same 
place  uppon  a  joynt  agreement,  soe  to  doe  (as  yourselves  propound  itt)  seeing 
y'  yourselves  sayy'  ye  place  alleadged  speakes  not  of  the  place,  but  of  the  form 
of  worship. 

"  7.  As  to  y'  7"'  perticular,  viz  :  y'  you  desire  to  rctayn  and  maiutayn  these 
dispensations,  you  have  soe  derely  bought,  and  soe  long  injoyed  without  inter- 
ruption, wee  say  y'  wee  desire  not  y'  prejudice  herein,  but  withall  wee  adde 
y*  wee  also  desire  to  attayne  those  gosspell  priviledges,  y'  many  of  us  have  as 
derely  bought  and  hitherto  longed  to  injoy  without  opposition.  As  for  your 
inquiry  in  ye  words  of  Jeptha,  should  wee  not  possesse  what  the  Lord  our  God 
hath  given  us  to  possess.'  we  answer  y'  wee  neither  desire  to  hinder  you,  nor 
are  wee  willing  in  y^  like  respects  to  bee  hindred  by  you,  to  which  wee  may 
adde  almost  in  your  own  words  y'  should  wee  therefore  consent  to,  or  bee  in- 
strumentall  in,  ye  parting  with  such  gospell  priviledges  out  of  our  hands,  wee 
feare  it  would  bee  a  great  dishonor  and  provocation  to  ye  holy  one  of  Israeli ; 
seeing  y'  for  ye  peaceable  injoyment  of  ye  truth  y'  wee  have  professed  &  doe 
profess,  and  desire  to  practice;  some  of  us  amongst  many  others  whether  of 
ye  same  or  ditferent  persuasions,  have  adventured  upon  as  great  hardships, 
dangers  <fc  difficultyes  as  any  or  most  in  these  parts,  whose  adventures  and  en- 
deavours in  such  respects  have  hitherto  been  more  successfuU  than  ours. 

"  Lastly,  you  declare  that  there  are  many  dilficultyes  in  ye  way  forbidding 
your  consent  unto  our  motion,  to  which  wee  say  that  wee  know  not  any  dillicul- 
ty  attending  you  y'  will  justifye  your  diverting  from  your  rationall  agreement ; 
a  righteous  man  ingageth  sometimes  to  his  hurt ;  yet  changeth  not  but  your  case 
is  easier  then  soe  And  whereas  you  adde  y'  for  us  to  force  the  attendance  of  our 
motion  will  (as  you  feare)  bee  a  meanes  to  widen  our  dilference,  wee  doe  de- 
clare y'  we  are  assured  «Jc  y'  (as  wee  are  persuaded)  uppon  far  better  grounds, 
y'  for  you  to  oppose  ye  attendance  of  our  motion  (being  no  other  but  ye  accom- 
plishment of  our  ancient  agreement)  will  evidence  to  all  indilferent  judges 
yt  you  were  never  reall  in  y'  agreement ;  and  whereas  fo'  a  conclusion  you  say 


HISTORY     OF     ANCIENT     "WOODBURY,  127 

y'ye  prosecution  of  our  motion  will  (as  you  judge)  bee  accounted  no  lessy"  op- 
position and  disturbance,  we  answer  y'  wee  cannott  see  how  either  yourselves, 
or  others  y'are  wise,  uppon  a  serious  perusal  of  y<^  former  agreement,  can  soe 
judge,  and  for  ye  censures  of  those  y'  will  judge  a  matter  before  they  understand 
it ;  we  see  as  little  reason  to  vallew  y". 

This  (as  we  esteem)  may  suffice,  for  an  answer  to  what  you  were  pleased  to 
present  to  our  consideration.  To  which  we  shall  farther  adde  this  y*  there 
being  nothing  therein  by  you  proposed  of  any  vallidity  to  dissuade  us  from 
proceeding  according  to  our  formerly  declan  d  intention  we  doe  purpose  and 
resolve  y'  next  Sabbath,  (God  willing)  to  begin  with  the  execution  of  y"  sd 
intention  viz  :  to  hear  our  own  minister  viz.  (Mr  Walker)  one  part  of  day,  and 
y«  in  y'  place  ordinarily  used  for  such  purposes  and  doe  therefore  desire  y'  wee 
may  bee  without  disturbance  in  soe  doeing,  and  for  y«  part  of  ye  day  you  may 
please  to  intimate  which  you  choose  for  your  own  performances  and  we  shall 
take  the  other,  (if  not  we  doe  purpose  to  take  the  latter  part  of  the  day.)  No 
more  at  y^  present  but  to  desire  the  God  of  peace  to  guide  both  us,  and  you  to 
what  may  bee  for  our  niutuall  peace  and  comfort. 

"  Strattford  ye  13th  November  1668. 

"  An  answer  to  Mr  Chancy's  particulars  The  Second." 

By  this  answer  it  seems  that  Mr.  Walker's  party  was  becoming 
somewhat  incensed  at  the  disposition  shown  by  the  other  party.  A 
question  of  veracity  is  raised  between  them,  and  we  begin  to  see  how 
really  good  men,  as  the  individuals  composing  both  these  parties 
undoubtedly  were,  may  forget  themselves,  and  do  things  unworthy  of 
their  position  and  character.  Some  of  the  men  of  these  two  parties 
were  among  the  leading  men  in  the  Colony,  and  none  were  more 
frequently  appointed  by  the  General  Court  to  act  on  committees  for 
composing  similar  differences  elsewhere,  than  they.  At  the  close  of 
the  communication,  it  will  be  seen  that  they  gave  notice  of  their 
intention  of  occupying  their  joint  property,  the  meeting-house,  on  the 
next  Sabbath.  This  design  was  not  carried  into  execution,  but  the 
matter  was  compromised  by  allowing  Mr.  "Walker  two  hours  in  which 
to  hold  his  services  in  the  meeting-house  on  the  Sabbath,  in  the  mid- 
dle of  the  day,  between  the  two  services  of  Mr.  Chauncy,  till  the 
meeting  of  the  General  Court  in  May,  1669. 

In  May,  1669,  both  parties  petitioned  the  General  Court,  and  Mr. 
"Walker's  party  were  directed  to  furnish  a  bill  of  particulars,  or  list 
of  their  demands.  In  compliance  with  this  order  we  find  the  fol- 
lowing : 

"This  honoured  court  having  required  us  to  bring  in  the  grounds  of  our 
desires  in  writing  respecting  our  joint  improvement  of  our  meeting-house  y'  is 
to  hear  our  own  minister  one  part  of  each  Sabbath  as  well  as  Mr  Chancy  the 


128  IIISTOnV     OF     ANCIENT     WOODnURT. 

other   jiart :  we   humbly  rcqiu-st   that  tlie   Ibllowiiig    particulars   may  be  duely 
consiiltTfil  : — 

1.  That  our  a<;roenu'nt  among  ourselves  did  lead  us  toy'  expectation  of  such 
an  order  in  our  |)roceeding. 

2.  Tliat  such  our  agreement  being  presented  to  y*  lionoured  Gen:  Court,  did 
receive  y'  approbation,  &  confirmation  &  wee  yn  granted  &  allowed  to  pro- 
cure a  minister  upon  such  an  account,  which  our  agreement  as  the  ground 
of  such  proceedings  in  y' court  hath  been  proved  by  testimony  given  in  upon 
oath  before  y«  lionoured  generall  court. 

3.  That  we  have  at  least  an  equall  interest  in  y«  publick  meeting  house,  with 
our  present  opposities  &  desire  no  other  improvement  of  it  than  what  religion, 
&  law  allowetli  us. 

4.  That  our  above  said  agreement  having  been  allowed,  &  our  desires  therein 
granted  by  y«  highest  authority  in  this  colony,  we  shall  not  be  so  ungrateful! 
to  authority  as  to  relinquish  y'  said  grant, — but  do  humbly  conceive  we  may 
improve  it  as  our  own,  and  do  request  your  countenance  and  protection 
therein. 

JOSEPH  JUDSON, 
in  y''  name  of  the  rest  concerned  with  him. 
"Hartford  May  IS,  1GG9." 

By  this  it  appears  that  their  principal  difficulty  continued  to  be 
in  regard  to  the  manner  in  which  they  should  "  enjoy  the  meeting 
house."  Without  reflecting  upon  the  matter,  one  might  say  that  the 
simplest  way  of  arranging  the  difficulty  would  have  been  to  have 
built  another  church.  But  it  is  to  be  borne  in  mind,  that  the  country 
was  new,  and  the  inhabitants  poor.  It  was  a  great  undertaking  to 
erect  a  suitable  building,  and  heavy  taxes  for  years  were  necessary 
to  be  laid  to  complete  it. 

The  petition  of  the  first  church,  which  follows,  is  indefinite,  simply 
asking  the  General  Court  to  take  the  case  into  consideration,  and  do 
something : 

"  To  the  Hon''  Gen"  Court  assembled  at  Hartford  May  14,  1069. 

"The  petition  of  the  church  of  Christ  at  Stratford  with  many  of  the  inhabit- 
ants, humbly  sheweth.  That  uncomfortable  diflerences  have  too  long  bin, 
and  yet  remain  amongst  us  in  Stratford,  to  our  no  small  attliction,  and  to  the 
greife  of  many  of  our  I'reinds,  and  that  many  of  your  Worships  have  bin  ac- 
quainted with,  and  some  of  you  (which  we  cannot  but  thankfully  acknowledge) 
with  great  seriousnesse  have  travelled  in,  to  your  no  small  trouble;  and  seeing 
ditferences  still  remain  notwithstanding  some  essayes  for  redresse,  we  cannot 
but  account  it  our  duty  to  be  humbly  and  solicitously  urgent  with  this  Hon"" 
court  at  this  time,  that  you  will  please  to  looke  upon  our  condition  and  see  our 
state  and  be  pleased  to  hear  us  with  patience,  for  to  whom  should  we  come  but 
to  your  Worships,  as  such  under  Christ  appointed  for  that  end  by  him  to  leleive 
the  opjiressed,  and  such  we  take  ourselves  to  bee,  and  therefore  again  beseech 
you  to  hear  and  take  our  matters  into  your  judicious  consideration,  aud  doe 


HISTORY     OF     ANCIENT     -WOODBURY. 


129 


something  for  our  settlement,  and  you  will  thereby  (we  hope)  give  us  occasion 
to  gloril'y  God  in  you,  and  shall  not  cease  to  pray  that  the  wonderful  counsellour 
may  be  still  with  you,  and  the  spirit  of  counsel  upon  you  in  the  great  and 
weighty  aliaires  that  are  under  your  hands,  and  that  you  may  be  repairers  of 
the  breach,  and  restorers  of  paths  to  dwell  in. 

"  Stratford  7th  (3^)  09.  Your  unworthy  Petitioners 

Israel  Chauncey  John  Curtis 

Phillip  Graue 

Richard  Boothe 

"William  Curtis 

Joseph  Hawley 

Isaack  Niccolls 

John  Brinsmead  Sen' 

Moses  Wheeler 

Thomas  Kymberlye 

Francis  Hill 

John  Willcockson 

John  Pickitt  Sen' 

John  Beach 

John  Hurd  Ju° 

James  Blakman 

Jehiell  Preston 

Timothy  Wllcockson 

James  Clarke 

John  Fuller 

Benjamin  Peat 

Jabez  Hargar 

Israel  Curtis 

John  Peat  Jun"" 


John  Birdseye  Sen' 
John  Peatte  Sen' 
Adam  Hurd 
Henry  Tomlinson 
John  Peacoke 
Joseph  Beardsly 
Nathaniel  Porter 
Thomas  Fayrechild  Jun 
Samuell  Beardsly 
Benjamin  Beach 
Stephen  Berritt 
Tho.  Berritt 
John  Brinsmead  Jun' 
Jonas  Tomlinson 
Daniell  Beardsly 
Daniell  Brendsmed 
John  Piekitt  Jun' 
James  Pickitt 
Eliasaph  Preston 
John  Birdseye  Jun' 
John  Bostick 


"Mr  Chancy  and  the  Church  of  Stratford's  petition  May  14,  69." 

The  Court  took  the  ease  into  consideration,  as  desired,  confirmed 
their  choice  of  Mr.  Chauncy,  advised  both  parties  to  choose  "  some 
indifferent  persons  of  piety  and  learning  to  compose  their  differences," 
and  gave  Mr.  "Walker  liberty  to  occupy  the  church  three  hours  each 
Sabbath,  in  the  middle  of  the  day,  between  Mr.  Chauncy's  two  ser- 
vices, till  the  October  session.  Previous  to  this  session,  several 
attempts  were  made  by  the  parties  to  carry  out  the  advice  of  the 
Court  to  submit  their  differences  to  arbitration,  and  several  extended 
and  learned  communications  passed  between  them.  They  however 
resulted  in  no  definite  action,  as  they  could  not  agree  upon  the  points 
to  be  submitted  to  the  ax'bitrators. 

At'  the  October  session  the  matter  was  again  before  the  Court, 
which  passed  a  resolution  advising  the  first  church  to  comply  with 
the  desire  of  Mr.  Walker's  party,  to  have  union  services,  allowing 


180  IIISTOKY     OF     ANCIENT     WOODBURY. 

Mr.  Walker  to  preach  one  part  of  each  Sabbath.  Some  communi- 
cations passed  between  tlie  parties  in  relation  to  this  advice,  but  the 
first  church,  instead  of  granting  them  this  privilege,  which  they  had 
so  long  sought,  excluded  them  from  the  house  entirely.  After 
suffering  this  indignity,  they  only  addressed  a  letter  to  the  first 
church,  complaining  of  the  injustice  done  them,  and  proposed  to 
divide  the  town  into  two  parts,  that  they  might  go  and  live  by  them- 
selves, and  have  no  more  dissension.  They  further  inform  them 
that  they  shall  ask  the  same  of  the  General  Court : 

"  To  the  Elders  of  the  church  of  Stratford  with  any  others  of  our  neighbours 
joyning  with  you. 

"  Beloved  neighbours,  if  the  true  intent  of  most  solemn  covenants  and  ingag- 
ments  made  betwixt  you  and  us  in  the  presence  of  him  who  must  shortly  be 
our  judge  and  entered  on,  (at  least  on  your  part)  with  many  serious  pro- 

testations as  we  then  esteemed  you  might  have  been  accounted  any  obligation 
unto  consciense  and  acordingly  have  been  atended  in  practise  we  had  not  beene 
Buch  causless  suiBerers,  as  now  we  are ;  nor  had  we  had  such  an  ocasion  of 
making  propositions  to  yourselves,  or  had  our  sutferings  beene  such  as  had 
terminated  in  ourselves,  had  not  the  house  of  God  and  religion  suffered  as  well 
as  we  ;  we  might  have  excused  ourselves  in  a  silent  sufering  [An  erasure] 
of  our  present  injuries,  but  our  case  being  as  it  is  and  that  by  your  meanes  we 
are  nesesiated  to  present  you  with  the  following  propositions 

1.  -The  first,  and  that  which  we  chiefly  desire  is :  that  you  would  so  far  be- 
thinke  yourselves  what  injury  you  have  done  unto  us  in  excluding  us  from 
the  place  of  publick  worship  wherein  you  know  our  right  to  be  as  good  as 
yours,  and  how  unwillingly  yourselves  would  have  beene  to  be  so  dealt  with 
as  to  suffer  us  without  any  molestation  or  disturbance  to  return  to  the  injoy- 
mentof  that  our  right  in  the  meeting  house  therein  to  have  the  improvement 
of  our  minister  one  part  of  each  Sabbath 

2.  Or  Secondly,  if  you  still  wished  to  oppose  and  resist  so  rationall  and  just 
a  proposition  as  this  we  then  propose  that  for  prevention  of  the  continu- 
ance of  seperate  meetings  in  Stratford  you  would  either  allow  to  us  that  part 
of  Stratford  land  contayned  in  the  following  limits:  viz:  from  the  place 
where  the  river  commonly  caled  the  saw  mill  River  falls  into  the  great 
river,  to  the  head  of  the  westermost  branch  of  the  said  river  and  straight 
from  thence  to  the  head  of  Stratford  bounds,  and  soe  all  that  land  that  is  in 
Stratford  bounds  betwixt  that  line  and  the  great  river  that  then  we  may  setle 
ourselves  in  a  distinct  village  or  Township  or  else  that  with  the  like  allow- 
ance from  us  you  will  remove  thither  for  the  same  end  :  that  so  by  the 
removall  of  one  party,  there  may  at  length  be  a  cessation  of  those  so  long 
lasting  troubles  that  have  been  amongst  us. 

3.  Thirdly,  that  whether  you  or  we  shall  so  injoy  the  said  land  as  above  sayd, 
that  both  parties  joyntly  shalle  be  at  the  charge  of  clearing  it  from  any  other 
claymc,  that  may  be  made  onto  it.  These  propositions  we  desire  you  seri- 
ously to  consider  and  seasonably  to  answer  withall  informing  you  that  we 


HISTORY     OF     ANCIENT     WOODBUKY.  131 

intend  to  present  something  to  the  same  purpose  to  the  Generall  court :  now 
approaching,  no  more  at  present  but  to  remayn. 

"  Stratford  September  29:  1G70.  Your  loving  neibours 

Joseph  Judson, 
John  Minor, 
In  tlie  name  of  the  rest." 

According  to  the  notice  here  given  they  did  apply  to  the  General 
Court  at  its  session  in  October,  making  the  same  proposal,  and  a  com- 
mittee consisting  of  Captain  Nathan  Gold,  Mr.  James  Bishop,  Mr. 
Thomas  Fitch,  and  Mr.  John  Holly,  was  appointed 

"  To  viewe  the  said  lands  desired,  and  to  meet  some  time  in  November  next 
to  consider  of  the  afoarsayd  motion,  and  to  labour  to  worke  a  complyance  be- 
tween those  two  parties  in  Stratford;  and  if  their  endeauoures  ])roue  unsuc- 
cessful then  they  are  desired  and  ordered  to  make  returne  to  the  Court  in  May 
next  what  they  judg  expedient  to  be  attended  in  the  case." 

Nothing  was  effected  by  this  committee,  nor  did  they  even  report 
to  the  General  Court,  as  directed.  There  is  no  record  of  any  other 
action  in  the  matter,  on  the  part  of  the  authorities  of  the  colony,  till 
May,  1672,  when,  as  we  have  seen,  on  the  advice  of  Gov.  AVinthrop, 
Mr.  Walker  and  his  church  were  allowed  to  found  a  new  town  at 
Pomperaug. 

For  tAvo  years  after  Mr.  Walker  was  called  to  preach  to  the  dissent- 
ing party  in  Stratford,  he  had  done  so  without  ordination.  Amid  the 
other  difficulties  under  which  they  labored,  they  had  found  no  oppor- 
tunity to  accomplish  this  desirable  point.  But  now,  being  taunted  by 
the  first  church  on  account  of  their  disorganized  state,  being  excluded 
the  meeting-house,  and  there  being  no  longer  any  hope  of  arrange- 
ment with  the  other  party,  they  took  the  necessary  steps  to  '•  embody 
in  church  estate."  But  the  following  account  of  the  event,  by  Mr. 
"Walker  himself,  in  his  quaint  and  beautiful  style,  more  eloquently 
tells  the  story  than  any  language  the  author  can  frame. 

"May,  1G70. 
'♦  A  record  of  ye  proceedings,  «5c;  afiaires  of  y^  2"^  chh  at  Stratford,  from  its  first 
beginning.     By  me  n  /)  /v 

"  After  great  indeavours  for  an  union  w^  y®  former  chh,  &  much  patience 
therein,  w"  long  experience  had  too  plainly  evidenced  y'  irremoveable  resolu- 
tion, to  oppose  an  union  Wih  us,  though  nothing  had  appeared  of  any  such 
great  distance  in  o'  apprehensions,  as  might  be  inconsistent  y''with  :  All  hopes 
of  success  in  such  indeavours  being  at  length  taken  away,  we  thought  ourselves 
bound  to  seek  after  y^  injoynt  of  y^  ordinances  of  God  in  a  distinct  society,  find- 
ing ye  door  shut  agst  or  attaining  it  any  other  way  :  we  did  y'fore  first  more 


182  HISTORY     OF     ANCIENT     WOODHURY. 

privately,  (by  reason  of  yc  gretit  opposition  w'w,h  we  were  attended)  set  apart 
a  day  of  solemn  hinniliation,  w'in  to  seek  unto  God  for  guidance,  A:  a.s.^islanee, 
&  (a  considerable  part  y'of  being  si)int  in  prayer,  &  preaching)  in  y^  close  of 
y^  day  we  did  pnblickiy  read  over  ye  confession  of  faith  extracted  out  of 
yc  scriptures  by  yc  assembly  of  divines  at  Westminster,  Wch  being  publickly 
owned.  A:  [)rofessedly  assented  unto  by  us,  we  did  enter  into  a  solemn  cove- 
nant y'by  giving  up  o'selves,  &  ours  unto  y"  lord,  &  ingaging  o'selves  one  to 
another  to  walk  together  in  chh  society  in  attending  ye  ordinances,  &  institu- 
tions of  cht.  Afterwards  o' way  being  more  cleared  we  made  ©'application 
unto  neighbouring  churches  for  y'  approbation  of  o'  chh  standing  (ye  consent 
of  ye  court  being  suliiciently  implied  in  y' confirmation  of  ye  ancient  agreement 
betwixt  party,  >fc  party  in  Stratford,  &  by  other  acts  of  yi's  relating  to  u?.)  And 
having  attained  ye  approbation  of  yechhes  of  Fairfield,  Killingworth,  tSc  ye  new 
chh  at  Windsor,  we  did  solemnly  renew  oi^said  covenant  the  first  of  May,  1G70. 
The  covenant  thus  entered  into  by  us,  &  renewed  as  is  aboves'^  was  as  followeth. 
"The  Covenant. 
"  We  whose  names  are  hereunto  subscribed,  being  (by  ye  all-disposing  prov- 
idence of  God,  who  determines  yc  bounds  of  mens  habitations)  cast  into  cohab- 
itation on  w'"  another,  and  being  sensible  of  o' duty  unto  God,  &  one  to  anoth- 
er, &  of  o""  liableness  to  be  forgetful!,  &  neglective  of  ye  one,  &:  y^  other,  do 
hereby  (for  ye  further  incitent  of  o^selves  unto  duty  in  either  respect)  solemnly 
give  up  o'selves  &  ours  unto  ye  lord,  engaging  o'selves  by  his  assisting  grace  to 
walk  before  him,  in  ye  religious  observance  of  his  revealed  will,  as  far  as  it  is 
or  shall  bee  made  known  unto  us.  We  do  also  in  ye  presence  of  God  solemnly 
ingage  o'selves  each  to  other,  to  walk  together  in  church-society  according  to 
ye  rules  of  ye  gospel!,  jointly  attending  all  ye  holy  ordinances  of  God,  as  far  as 
it  shall  please  him  to  make  way  thereunto,  and  give  opportunity  y'of:  and 
walking  on  w"'  another  in  brotherly  love,  &  chtian  watchfullness  for  o'  mutual 
edification,  &  furtherance  in  ye  way  to  salvation.  And  jointly  submitting 
o'selves,  cV  ours  to  ye  goverment  of  cht  in  his  church,  in  yc  hand  of  such  church 
governours,  or  officers  as  shall  be  set  over  us  according  to  gospell  institution. 
The  good  lord  make  us  faithfuU  in  covenant  with  him  &  one  wih  another,  to 
walk  as  becomes  a  people  near  unto  himself,  accept  of  o' offering  up  of  o'selves, 
&  ours  unto  him,  &  establish  both  us  and  y'"  to  be  a  people  unto  himself  in  his 
abundant  mercy  through  cht  jesns,  who  is  o'  only  mediato'in  whom  alone  we 
expect  acceptance,  justification  and  salvation  :  to  him  be  glory  &  praise  through 
all  ages.  Amen. 

"The  names  of  ye  persons  y'  subscribed  this  covenant,  &  again  publickly 
owned  it.  May  5"',  viz  :  yeday  of  my  ordination,  were  as  foUuweth. 
Zechariah  Walker,  Hope  Washborn, 

Samuel  Sherman,  sen',  Hugh  Griflln, 

Jose[)h  Judson,  sen',  Ephraim  Stiles, 

John  Hurd,  sen',  John  Thompson,  jun', 

Nicholas  Knell,  Theophilus  Sherma, 

Robert  Clark,  Matthew  Sherman, 

John  Minor,  John  Judson, 

Samuel  Sherman,  jun',  Samuel  Mils, 

John  Wheeler,  Benjamin  Stiles, 

Samuel  Stiles,  Edmond  Shermond. 


HISTORY     OF     ANCIENT     WOODBUKY.  133 

"  Persons  since  added. 
John  Skeeles,  Riclmrd  Buller, 

Israel  Curtiss,  Robert  Lane, 

Tliomas  tfairechilde,  Moses  Johnson. 

Richard  Harvy, 
"  On  ye  a""  of  May,  1670,  I  was  ordained  pasto'  of  ye  2'^  chh:  at  Stratford. 
The  ministers  present  were  ra'  Wakeman,  m''  Haines,  ni'  John  Woodbridge, 
m'   Benjamin    Woodbridge.      m'   John    Woodbridge  was    ye    leading  person, 
m'  Benjamin  Woodbridge  was  assistant  in  ye  work  of  ordination." 

Thus  it  is  seen,  that  at  the  ordination  of  Mr.  "Walker,  his  church 
consisted  of  twenty  male  members.  This  number  was  as  large  as 
that  of  the  other  churches,  at  their  organization,  up  to  this  date,  with 
the  exception  of  those  in  four  or  five  of  the  larger  towns.  Seven 
more  were  added  a  few  days  after,  and  four  males  and  six  females 
were  also  added  previous  to  the  removal  to  "Woodbury,  in  1G72. 
More  than  one-third  of  these  were  members  by  the  half-way  cove- 
nant system,  yet  it  is  seen,  that  they  subscribed  and  publicly  owned 
the  same  covenant,  as  those  in  full  communion.  This  practice  went 
on,  and  this  identical  covenant  was  owned,  during  the  ministry  of 
Mr.  "Walker,  and  that  of  the  Rev.  Mr.  Stoddard,  the  second  minister, 
till  the  ordination  of  Rev.  Noah  Benedict,  the  third  minister,  in  1760, 
ninety  years  from  the  first  gathering  of  the  church,  when  it  was 
abolished. 

In  1672,  by  permission  of  the  General  Court,  the  second  church 
of  Stratford  made  preparations  for  removing  to  Pomperaug,  and 
early  the  next  year  a  majority  of  its  members  emigrated  thither. 
Mr.  "Walker"  ministered  to  his  church  in  both  places  till  June  27th, 
1678,  when  he  took  up  his  abode  permanently  in  "U^oodbury.'  The 
settlers  had  now  become  so  numerous  that  it  was  no  longer  problem- 


1  A  story  has  been  related  respecting  the  occasion  of  Mr.  Walkers  removing  with 
his  party  to  Woodbury,  in  substance  as  follows: 

"  At  the  period  of  the  first  settlement  of  Woodbury,  there  were  two  licentiates 
preaching  at  Stratford,  Mr.  Walker  and  Mr.  Reed.  As  there  was  some  controversy 
who  should  leave  and  go  with  the  Woodbury  settlers,  the  two  licentiates  were  re- 
quested to  deliver  a  discourse  on  the  day  when  it  was  to  be  decided,  Mr.  Walker  in  the 
forenoon,  and  Mr.  Reed  in  the  afternoon.  Mr.  VValker  took  for  his  text,  "  What  went 
ye  out  into  the  wilderness  for  to  see,  a  reec?  shaken  with  the  wind?"  He  enlarged 
upon  the  circumstance  and  propriety  of  a  reed  being  found  in  the  wilderness,  &c.  Mr. 
Reed,  in  the  afternoon,  took  for  his  text,  "  Your  adversary,  the  devil,  walketh  abotit," 
&c.  In  the  course  of  his  observations,  he  stated  that  the  great  adversary  of  men  was 
a  great  walker,  and  instead  of  remainuig  with  the  brethren,  ought  to  be  kept  walking 
at  a  distance  from  them." 

This  certainly  is  an  amusing  story,  but  it  lacks  one  ingredient  to  make  it  entirely 
satisfactory,  and  that  is  truth.    It  is  not  historically  cor.ec:.    Mr.  Israel  Chauncy  was 


184  niSTOTlT     OF     ANCIKNT     WOODBURY. 

atical  that  the  settlement  wonUl  be  iiermanent.  After  the  troubles 
in  Stratford  were  settled  by  colonizing  the  new  town,  and  the  angry 
feelings  that  had  been  aroused  had  subsided,  both  Mr.  Chauncy,  who 
was  an  able  and  learned  man,  and  INIr.  Walker,  became  sensible  that 
their  conduct  toward  each  other,  during  the  long  controversy,  had 
not,  at  all  times,  been  brotherly,  and,  after  some  time,  made  conces- 
sions to  each  other,  became  perfectly  reconciled,  and  conducted  them- 
selves toward  each  other  with  commendable  affection.  The  two 
churches  were  also  on  the  most  friendly  terms,  and  Mr.  Chauncy, 
in  1702,  after  the  death  of  Mr.  Walker,  assisted  at  the  ordination  of 
Mr.  Stoddard,  his  successor  in  the  ministry. 

The  personal  history  of  Mr.  Walker,  which  has  reached  us,  is  very 
brief.  He  was  the  son  of  Robert  Walker,  of  Boston,  where  he  was 
born  in  1G37.  He  was  educated  at  Harvard  College,  but  did  not 
graduate.  He  preached  as  licentiate  at  Jamaica,  Long  Island,  from 
1663  to  1668,  when  he  removed  to  Stratford,  and  preached  in  the 
same  capacity  to  the  members  of  the  second  church  in  Stratford,  till 
its  regular  organization,  and  his  own  installation  over  it  as  pastor. 
May  5,  1670.  After  the  troubles  growing  out  of  King  Philip's  war 
were  ended,  he  removed  with  his  family  to  AVoodbuzy,  and  there 
spent  the  remainder  of  his  days,  which  terminated  on  the  20th  day 
of  January,  1 699-1 700,*  in  the  sixty-third  year  of  his  age. 

He  was  a  man  of  solid  attainments,  as  indeed  he  must  be,  to  pass 
the  rigid  examination  given  him  and  other  candidates  for  the  minis- 
try in  those  days.  They  were  examined  not  only  in  the  "thi-ee 
learned  languages,"  Latin,  Greek  and  Hebrew,  but  in  respect  to  doc- 
trinal points  of  theology,  cases  of  conscience,  and  their  ability  to  de- 
fend the  tenets  of  Christianity  against  inlidels  and  gainsayers,  as  well 
as  their  own  experimental  knowledge  of  religion.  He  was  a  jiungent 
and  jiowerful  preacher,  greatly  beloved  by  the  people  of  his  charge. 
He  conducted  the  aifaii's  of  his  church  with  commendable  discretion, 
and  both  it  and  the  infant  town  flourished  durinji  his  administration. 


settled  over  the  first  chui'ch  in  Stratford,  in  16G5,  and  remained  there  till  his  death  in 
1703,  more  t'.an  thirty-seven  years  after  the  settlement  of  Mr.  Walker  over  the  second 
church.  No  person  of  the  name  of  Reed  ever  preached,  or  oflered  to  preach,  at  Strat- 
ford, before  the  settlement  of  Woodbury.  Eev.  Peter  Bulkier  was  solicited  to  preach 
by  the  dissenting  party  before  Mr.  Walker  was  engaged,  but  did  not  do  so.  The  set- 
tlement of  Woodbury  became  necessary  in  consequence  of  the  disagreement  of  the 
parties  of  Jlessrs.  Chauncy  and  Walker.  The  first  mention  of  this  tradition  is  made 
in  Barber's  Hist.  Coll.  of  Conn.,  and  it  is  suspected  that  a  certain  facetious  friend  of 
the  author,  residing  in  Woodbury,  should  have  the  honor  of  its  paternity. 
1  This  date,  according  to  new  style,  is  Jan.  31,  1700. 


HISTORY     OF    ANCIENT     WOODBURY.  135 

Tlie  number  of  persons  admitted  to  membership  in  his  church  during 
his  ministry  was  one  hundred  and  eight,  a  part  of  whom  had  been  re- 
ceived on  the  half-way  covenant  plan  in  the  first  instance,  but  nearly 
all  the  living  members  at  his  death  were  such  in  full  communion. 
Three  hundred  and  seventy-six  persons,  infant  and  adult,  were  by 
him  baptized.  Dea.  John  Minor  and  Dea.  Samuel  Miles  were  ap- 
pointed deacons  at  the  organization  of  the  church,  and  two  others 
were  subsequently  chosen,  on  the  death  or  resignation  of  the  former, 
viz.,  Matthew  Sherman,  in  1682,  and  John  Sherman,  in  1GS5.  Thus 
the  infant  church  had  secured  a  firm  foundation,  notwithstanding  all 
the  trials  and  hardships  that  beset  its  eai'lier  years. 

After  a  life  of  usefulness,  the  revered  Walker,  "  y<^  faithfull,  wor- 
thy, beloved  Minister  of  the  Gospell,  and  much  lamented  Pastor  of 
y<5  Chh  of  Christ,"  "  was  gathered  to  his  fathers,"  and  his  remains 
repose  in  the  southern  part  of  the  ancient  burying-ground.  He  lies 
amid  the  faithful  flock  to  whom  he  ministered  in  life.  A  rude  head- 
stone of  native  rock,  containing  only  his  name,  and  the  date  of  his 
death,  so  worn  and  obliterated  by  the  storms  of  more  than  a  century 
and  a  half,  that  the  name  can  scarcely  be  deciphered,  is  all  that  re- 
mains to  mark  the  place  of  sepulture  of  this  "  early  father."  It  might 
seem  strange  to  the  casual  visitor  within  our  limits,  that  the  town  he 
so  much  improved  and  benefited  by  his  labors,  and  honored  by  his 
public  and  private  virtues,  had  not  long  since  erected  a  fitting  monu- 
ment to  the  memory  of  its  earliest  and  most  faithful  servant.  It  is  to 
be  hoped,  that  the  time  is  not  far  distant,  when  this  debt  of  gratitude 
shall  have  been  paid. 

After  Mr.  "Walker's  death,  the  church  was  for  a  time  without  a 
pastor ;  but  the  Rev.  Anthony  Stoddard,  having  become  a  licentiate 
in  1700,  was  engaged  to  supply  the  pulpit  in  this  place.  Being 
pleased  with  his  labors,  the  church  and  town  soon  took  the  necessary 
steps  toward  his  settlement  in  the  ministry  over  them.  Accordingly 
we  find  the  following  action  on  record : 

"  At  a  lawful!  Towns-meeting  y=  13'''  of  August  1700  in  ord""  to  y°  settling  of 
Y"  Reverend  in"^  Anthony  Stoddard  amongst  us,  in  y^  work  of  y''  ministry.  And 
for  his  encouragem'  so  to  do  ; 

"It  was  Voted  and  agreed  to  allow  him,  as  Mayntenance  in  y^  Work  of  y" 
Ministry,  seventy  pounds  per  Annu,  in  provision  pay,  or  to  his  Satisfaction,  in 
Case  of  faylure  of  provision  pay.  By  provision  pay,  is  intended,  wheat,  pease, 
Indian  Corn  &  pork,  proportionally  :  as  also  fire  wood  : 

"  (Wee  do  also  promise,  to  build  him  an  house  here  in  Woodberry  of  known 
Demensions ;  y'  is  to  say,  the  Carpenters  work  &  Masons  work ;  hee  providing 


186  HISTORY     OF     ANCIENT     WOODBURY. 

nayles  and  glass;  by  building  y'  s*"  house  is  intended,  doors,  floiins,  niliiiK  up 
and  playsterinji  and  })a'titions,  fini>liin),'  it  as  also  a  well. 

••(We  do  also  promise  to  acconunodate  w'''  a  five  and  twenty  Acre  Accom- 
modations Hound  y«  is  to  say  live  A:  twenty  Acres  of  home  lolt  &c  honielott 
division,  five  A:  twenty  acres  of  Meadow  or  lowland;  five  &  twenty  Acres  of 
good  hill  Division,  five  and  twenty  of  Woods  Division.  Twelve  Acres  and  an 
halfe  of  pasture  Division;  !•  cure  Acres  and  an  halfe  of  wliite-oak-plaine  divis- 
ion so  Cajled:  And  all  as  Conveniently  as  may  bee:  Vppon  such  Conditions 
as  shall  be  hereafter  Contracted  lor  and  agreed  to  between  hitn  and  us,  and  all 
other  future  divisions,  successively  w'*'  other  five  and  twenty  Acre  Accommo- 
dations. 

"  The  Conditions  of  this  engagement  are;  That  in  Case  hee  y'  s""  m' Stod- 
dard, accepts  of  these  o'  proposalls  and  engages  to  live  and  Continue  w'*'  us  in 
y«  Work  ofy'  Ministry  six  years  after  y'  Date  hereof;  Then  w'  is  promised  as 
to  house  niul  Lands  to  bee  a  firm  grant  to  him  his  Heires  and  Assigns  forever 
to  all  inti^iiis  \:  purposes  w'soever,  in  Case  of  a  Removall  from  us  y«  building 
and  lands  lo  reiurn  to  us  againe,  to  yTown  againe.  we  say  a  Removall  w"'in 
y'  s''  Teaim.  Death  is  noways  intended  by  y'  s''  Removall,  neither  y=  Towns 
enforcing  him  to  a  removall :  In  w'*"  Covenant  it  is  agreed  on,  y'  in  Case  of  a 
Removall :  w'ever  y'  s"^  house  or  Accommodations,  shall  bee  really  bettered  by 
y"  s''  ni' Stoddards  own  expence  or  impiovem'  y^  Town  shall  pay  him  lor 
that  : 

"  Since  w^''  time  at  a  Lawful!  Towns-meeting  y'^  QS'*"  of  Xovenib"'  1700  It 
was  Voated  and  agreed  y'  y*  aboves'  specices  for  m'  Stoddard's  yearly  mayn- 
tenance  bee  levyed  at  y"  prices  following:  wheat  at  4«  6''  pi"  Bush  ;  pork  at 
3=  p""  lb:  Indian  Corn  2"  6  '  pr  Bush:  pease  three  shillings  p' Bush" :  And 
these  prices  fo''  this  yeare  y=  Town  will  not  vary  from  for  ye  future  Exterordi- 
nary  providences  interposing  being  Exeeapted; 

"Recoidtd  iVom  ye  originalls  p'  Jo"  Minor  Recorder,  March  1700-1701. "i 

By  this  it  will  be  perceived  that  the  town  not  only  voterl  him  a 
salary,  but  also  a  settlement  in  land.  They  granted  him  the  largest 
quantity  of  land  allowed  to  any  person,  thus  making  him  at  once  as 
rich  as  the  most  opulent  former.  His  salary  was  to  be  paid  entirely 
in  provisions,  a  fact  which  again  brings  to  our  notice  the  almost 
entire  want  of  a  currency  at  this  time.  The  contract  of  the  town 
was  carried  into  effect  with  all  possible  dispatch,  and  the  house,  still 
in  existence,  the  oldest  in  the  county,  a  cut  of  which  appears  on  the 
opposite  page,  was  the  result.  It  is  built  in  the  old  lean-to  style.  In 
front  is  the  portico,  on  the  second  floor  of  which  was  the  parson's 
study,  where  he  prepared  his  sermons  for  the  long  period  of  fifty- 
eight  years.  On  the  first  floor  of  this  projection,  the  probate  courts 
for  the  district  of  Woodbury  were  held  for  more  than  forty  years. 
It  is  located   in  the  midst  of  this  beautiful  valley,  with   the  hoary 


1 W.  T.  K.,  vol.  2,  p.  24. 


•a»^7 


#  ^ 


I 


HISTORY     OF     ANCIENT     WOODBURr.  137 

Castle  Rock  for  a  background.  It  is  a  venerable  relic  of  the  early 
days  of  the  town — one  of  tlie  few  links  connecting  us  with  a  former 
generation.  It  is  a  thing  of  history  in  a  historical  locality.  Long 
may  it  remain  to  remind  us  of  the  virtues  of  the  departed,  and  all 
that  is  valuable  in  the  past ! 

Mr.  Stoddard  did  not  preach  in  Woodbury  all  the  time  during  the 
two  years  succeeding  Mr.  Walker's  death.  The  pulpit  was  supplied 
a  part  of  the  time  by  others,  among  whom  was  Rev.  Mr.  Shove,  of 
Danbury.  No  entries  of  any  kind  for  these  two  years  appear  on 
the  church  records,  except  the  following  in  Mr.  Stoddard's  hand- 
writing : 

"  99,  1700,  1,  2:  In  ye  Vacancy  of  a  Pastor." 

In  May,  1702,  he  was  admitted  to  full  communion  with  the  church, 
a  measure  then  considered  necessary,  and  ordained  pastor  soon  after, 
as  he  informs  us  by  the  following  entry  on  the  records  : 

"On  May  27,  1702,  I  was  ordained  Pastor  of  ye  Ch''  of  Woodbury.  The 
ministers  acting  in  y'  atfair  were  Mr.  Chauncey,  of  Stratford,  Mr.  Webb,  Mr. 
Janes,  Mr.  Charles  Chauncey." 

The  church  was  thus  again  supplied  with  an  ordained  minister, 
and  one,  who,  fortunately,  was  to  remain  long  with  his  people.  Un- 
der the  contract  with  him,  which  was  a  very  liberal  one  for  those 
days,  rates  were  each  year  laid  upon  all  the  property  in  the  territory, 
that  the  laborer  might  receive  his  "  wages,"  the  town  taking  receipts 
for  the  same,  as  appears  by  the  following  : 

"  These  may  certifie  w™  it  may  concern  y'  I  ye  subscriber  have  received  to 
satisfaction  all  former  Rates  granted  as  annual  saleryes  to  this  day  &  have 
nothing  to  demand  of  y®  town  as  a  town  on  those  accounts.  Witness  my  hand 
ye  i4tbjay  of  December,  1719. 

The  ministry  of  Mr.  Stoddard  was  remarkable  for  its  duration 
and  the  peace  and  prosperity  which  attended  it.  From  the  date  of 
his  first  sermon  as  a  candidate,  to  that  of  his  last,  immediately  prece- 
ding the  brief  illness  that  terminated  his  useful  labors,  he  numbered 
sixty  years  in  his  holy  calling.  During  all  this  time,  the  church  was 
in  a  highly  prosperous  condition,  notwithstanding  the  low  state  of  the 
other  churches  in  New  England.  There  were  but  two  years  during 
the  whole  length  of  his  ministry,  in  which  there  were  not  more  or  less 
10 


138  niSTOUY     OF     ANCIENT     WOODBURY, 

admissions  to  the  church.  Groat  peace  and  haniiony  ever  prevailed 
under  his  administrations,  amid  the  intense  excitement  which  occa- 
sionally existed,  in  relation  to  various  matters,  among  the  ministers 
and  people  of  other  churches  in  the  colony.  The  number  of  commu- 
nicants was  always  large,  notwithstanding  four  important  societies 
were  taken  from  his  limits  during  his  ministry.  These  were  South- 
bury,  in  1730,  Bethlehem,'  in  1730,  Judea,  in  1741,  and  Roxbury,  in 
1743,  and  they  have  since  become  towns. 

The  good  work  seemed  constantly  to  glow  under  his  hands,  with  a 
steadiness  rarely  equaled.  But  there  were  several  seasons  of  revi- 
val, when  a  special  interest  in  religious  matters  engaged  the  attention 
and  aflfections  of  his  people.  During  the  years  1726  and  1727,  being 
the  year  preceding,  and  the  year  of  the  "  Great  Sickness,"  there  was 
a  special  awakening.  Forty-one  were  received  to  full  communion  in 
the  former  year,  and  thirty-four  in  the  latter.  For  seven  years  pre- 
ceding 1740,  the  beginning  of  the  "  Great  Awakening"  in  all  New 
England,  a  good  deal  of  religious  interest  prevailed,  and  ninety-seven 
were  added  to  the  church.  With  the  rest  of  the  colony  it  also  parti 
cipated  in  the  "  great  revival,"  and  nineteen  were  received  in  full 
communion  in  1740,  forty-five  in  1741,  and  forty  in  1742,  making 
two  hundred  and  one  additions  to  the  church  in  ten  years.  The 
whole  number  admitted  to  full  communion  during  his  ministry  was 
four  hundred  and  seventy-four,  and  one  hundred  and  forty-two  were 
admitted  by  the  half-way  covenant  system.  The  most  of  these,  dur- 
ing or  after  his  ministry,  were  admitted  to  full  communion.  The 
number  of  persons  baptized  by  him  was  fifteen  hundred  and  forty. 
Five  deacons  were  appointed  during  this  period, — Zechariah  Walker, 
son  of  the  first  minister,  date  not  noted,  Samuel  Sherman  in  1736, 
Samuel  Minor  in  1741,  Jehu  Minor  in  1751,  and  Daniel  Sherman 
in  1756.  The  latter  remained  in  this  ofl&ce  thirty-seven  years. 
Truly  the  labors  of  this  "  father  in  Israel"  were  highly  blessed  in  in- 
ducing numbers  to  walk  in  the  "  paths  of  jieace  and  the  ways  oi" 
pleasantness." 

On  the  24th  of  April,  1744,  the  ancient  society,  now  called  the 
first  society,  four  others  having  been  formed  out  of  its  original  limits, 
voted  to  build  a  church,  and  in  May  following,  petitioned  the  General 
Assembly  to  appoint  a  "  wise  and  faithful  committee,"  to  determine 


1  The  name  of  the  ecclesiastical  society  is  Bethlehem.  It  was  intended  to  have  the 
to\vn  of  the  same  name,  but  by  an  eiTor  of  the  transcriber  of  the  charter,  the  name  of 
the  town  was  spelled  Bethlem. 


HISTORY     OF     ANCIENT     WOODBURT.  139 

its  location.  On  the  26th  of  September,  1744,  the  committee  exam- 
ined the  various  locations,  and  reported  at  the  October  session  of  the 
Assembly,  that  they  had  located  the  house 

"  On  Broad  street,  40  rods  Xorth  of  the  old  house,  on  the  hill,  at  the  head  of 
a  street  running  Westward." 

The  report  was  approved,  the  location  established,  and  the  building 
went  forward.  In  May,  1745,  the  society's  clerk  reports  that  two 
rates  had  been  laid  to  build  the  same,  and  the  timber  was  i)rocured ; 
in  May,  1746,  that  it  was  ready  to  raise,  and  the  materials  for  finish- 
ing it  obtained;  and  in  October,  1747,  that  it  was  covered.  The 
latter  report,  by  the  clerk.  Col.  Joseph  Minor,  is  brief,  to  the  point, 
and  slightly  grandiloquent,  as  will  be  seen : 

"To  the  Honble  Assembly  at  New  Haven,  Octob'',  1747. 

"  These  may  Inform  your  Honrs  that  the  Prime  Society  in  Woodbury  Have 
set  up  a  Meeting  House  in  the  place  where  the  Court's  Comtee  set  the  stake. 
Have  Covered  &  Inclosed  it,  &  for  its  Bigness,  Strength  &  Architecture  it  Does 
appear  Transcendantly  Magnificent  ! 

^-wC.  ^TUridnr    society's  Clerk. 

Woodbury,  October,  1747. "i 

This  house  was  located  in  the  street,  a  little  south  of  the  hotel  of 
Mr.  John  P.  Marshall.  This  was  the  second  church  edifice  in  the 
first  society,  was  dedicated  immediately  after  the  date  above,  and  con- 
tinued the  place  for  public  worship  till  the  dedication  of  the  present 
church,  January  13th,  1819,  a  period  of  seventy-two  years.  The 
first  church  had  been  used  as  such  for  more  than  seventy-five  years 
before  the  dedication  of  the  second,  and  afterward  as  a  town  hall,  tiE 
after  the  close  of  the  Revolutionary  "War,  and  was  pulled  down,  after 
it  had  attained  the  age  of  more  than  one  hundred  years. 

A  word  respecting  the  chronology  of  this  work  may  as  well  be  in- 
troduced here  as  elsewhere.  It  is  well  known  that  in  September, 
1752,  a  change  in  dates  occurs,  occasioned  by  a  correction  of  the 
style.  In  Hempstead's  Diary,  we  find  the  following  remark,  next 
after  September  2d : 

"  Sept.  11,  1752. — Fair: — and  such  a  day  as  we  never  had  before  !  By  act 
of  Parliament  to  bring  Old  Style  into  New  Style,  eleven  days  is  taken  out  of 
this  month  at  this  place,  and  then  the  time  to  go  on  as  heretofore." 

In  this  work,  all  dates  of  the  month  previous  to  the  14th  of  Sep- 
tember, 1752,  are  old  style,  and  all  after  are  new  style.     The  year,. 

1  Ecclesiastical,  vol.  7,  index  28. 


140  HISTORY     OF     ANCIENT     WOODBURY. 

however,  between  the  1st  of  January  and  the  25th  of  March,  (before 
the  adoption  of  new  style,)  is  uniibrnily  treated,  where  a  double  date 
is  not  given,  as  new  style.  As  a  brief  explanation  of  the  cause  of 
the  difference  of  style,  we  give  the  following.  When  the  computa- 
tion by  the  Christian  era  was  introduced,  the  commencement  of  the 
year  was  fixed  on  the  day  of  the  annunciation,  or  incarnation  of 
Christ,  which  event  (the  nativity  being  fixed  December  25th)  was 
placed  on  the  25th  of  March.  This  continued  the  commencement  of 
the  year  in  England  and  her  dominions,  till  the  alteration  of  style  in 
1752,  when  by  the  act  of  Parliament,  above  referred  to,  it  was  enacted 
that  eleven  days  should  be  struck  out  of  the  month  of  September, 
that  the  3d  should  be  dated  the  14th,  that  one  day  should  be  added 
to  the  month  of  February  every  fourth  year,  to  conform  their  chro- 
nology to  that  of  the  other  nations  of  Europe,  (which  had  introduced 
a  similar  alteration  previously  in  order  to  correct  the  error  arising 
from  the  precession  of  the  equinoxes  ;)  and  that  the  year  should 
commence  with  the  1st  of  January  instead  of  the  25th  of  March. 
Before  that  time,  to  preserve  a  correspondency  of  dates  with  those  of 
other  nations,  it  had  been  usual  to  give  a  double  date  from  the  1st  of 
January  to  the  25th  of  March  ;  thus  February  12th,  1721,  was  written 
"ffebruary  y^  12"',  17|f."  The  omission  of  the  lower  number  would 
cause  an  error  of  a  year.' 

After  a  life  of  arduous  and  successful  labor,  the  second  i)astor,  at  a 
good  old  age,  came  down  to  the  grave  like  a  "  shock  of  corn  fully  ripe 
for  the  harvest."  He  died  September  6th,  1760,  in  the  eighty-third 
year  of  his  age,  and  the  sixty-first  of  his  ministry,  after  a  severe  ill- 
ness of  "  about  two  days'  continuance."  We  have  contemplated  him 
hitherto  only  as  a  minister  of  the  gospel.  But  his  labors  ended  not 
here.  He  was  at  the  same  time,  minister,  lawyer  and  physician. 
Like  many  of  the  early  ministers  of  the  colony,  he  prepared  himself 
for  the  practice  of  physic,  that  he  might  administer  to  the  wants  of 
the  body,  as  well  as  those  of  the  mind.  In  this  capacity  he  was  often 
called.  The  only  person  the  author  has  found  who  ever  saw  him, 
was  Dea.  Amos  Squire,  of  Roxbury,  who  died  two  or  three  years 
ago,  aged  ninety-nine,  and  who  recollected  having  seen  him  when  a 
lad  about  eight  years  of  age,  while  on  a  visit  in-  this  capacity  to  his 
father,  who  had  received  a  severe  wound  from  an  ax.  He  had  also 
done  what  other  ministers  did  not,  and  that  was  to  perfect  himself  in 


1  Lambert's  Hist,  of  New  Haven. 


HISTORY     OF     ANCIENT     WOODBURY.  141 

legal  knowledge.  This  was  the  more  necessary,  as  at  the  beginning 
of  the  eighteenth  century  there  were  few  lawyers  in  the  colony,  and 
as  late  as  1730,  an  act  was  passed  limiting  the  number  of  lawyers  that 
might  practice  to  three  in  Hartford  county,  and  two  in  each  of  the 
other  counties. 

He  was  clerk  of  probate  for  the  district  of  "Woodbury,  then  com- 
prising many  towns,  for  a  period  of  forty  years.  In  this  capacity  he 
drew  most  of  the  wills  for  his  parishioners,  and  did  nearly  all  the 
business  of  the  office,  the  judge,  for  the  time  being,  approving  his 
acts.  All  the  records  of  the  court  during  the  time  he  was  clerk,  ap- 
pear in  his  handwriting.  He  was  also  one  of  the  largest  farmers  in 
the  town,  the  inventory  of  his  estate  at  his  decease,  amounting  to 
£900,  besides  his  books  and  wearing  apparel. 

But,  as  we  have  seen,  amid  all  his  varied  and  onerous  duties,  he 
neglected  not  the  spiritual  wants  of  his  parish.  He  was  in  "  deed 
and  in  truth"  a  father  to  them,  and  by  them  greatly  beloved.  He 
lived  and  died  enshrined  in  the  hearts  of  his  people. 

He  was  the  son  of  Rev.  Solomon  Stoddard,  of  Northampton,  Mass., 
where  he  was  born  August  9th,  1678.  He  was  educated  at  Har- 
vard College,  and  graduated  in  1697.  He  studied  theology  with  his 
father  in  his  native  town,  and  with  some  of  the  able  divines  of  Bos- 
ton, and,  when  fully  prepared  for  his  high  calling,  retired  to  this 
"  dwelling-place  of  the  wood,"  to  spend  his  days  in  his  Master's  ser- 
vice. He  was  an  able,  earnest  and  experimental  preacher.  His  in- 
tellect and  acquirements  were  of  a  high  order.  As  proof  of  this,  he 
was  appointed  to  preach  the  "  election  sermon,"  at  the  May  session 
of  the  General  Court,  in  1716,  an  appointment  bestowed  on  the  more 
prominent  ministers  only  of  the  colony.  The  following  action  was 
taken  in  the  premises  : 

"  Richard  Christophers  and  Peter   Burr,  Esqrs,  are  appointed  a  Comtee  of 
this  House  to  Joyn  with  a  Comtee  of  the  Lower  House  and  Return  the  Thanks 
of  this  Assembly  to  the  Rev*""*  Mr.  Anthony  Stoddard  for  his  sermon  preached 
Yesterday  on  Occasion  of  the  Election,  and  desire  a  Copy  of  it  for  the  press. 
"Hartf:  May  ll"",  1716. 

"  Past  in  the  Tipper  House, 
"  Test.  Hez:  Wyllys,  Sec'y." 

The  lower  house  joined,  and  the  resolution  went  into  effect. 

The  aged  pastor  was  buried  in  the  central  part  of  the  old  burial- 
ground,  and  there  reposes,  surrounded  by  a  numerous  congregation, 
slumbering  in  death,  to  whom  in  life  he  had  ministered,  and  very 
many  of  whom  he  bad  himself,  while  living,  followed  to  the  grave. 


142  n  I  s  T  o  n  Y    of    ancient    w  o  o  d  b  u  r  v  . 

As  in  life  he  was  ever  united  to  his  people,  so  in  death  they  are  not 
divided.  There  let  them  rest  together  till  the  last  "  great  trump" 
shall  call  them  to  a  hriglit  reunion  around  the  throne  of  God. 

At  this  stand-point  in  the  religious  history  of  our  town,  ninety 
years  having  passed  away,  it  is  worth  while  to  take  a  glance  of  retro- 
spection at  the  trials  and  difficulties  that  met  the  early  fathers  in  the 
church.  ]\Iany  of  them  had  good  estates,  and  a  comfortable  position 
on  the  other  side  of  the  ocean,  before  coming  to  this  wilderness  land. 
But  they  came  for  "  conscience'  sake,"  and  it  was  their  design,  in 
founding  the  several  towns,  to  erect  churches  in  strict  accordance 
with  Scripture  example,  and  to  transmit  evangelical  purity,  with  civil 
and  religious  liberty,  to  their  posterity.  All  their  acts  and  all  their 
aims  tended  to  this  one  grand  design.  Accordingly,  we  find  that  all 
persons  were  obliged  by  law,  to  contribute  to  the  support  of  the 
church.  All  rates  for  the  support  of  ministers,  or  for  defraying  any 
ecclesiastical  expenses,  were  laid  and  collected  in  the  same  manner 
as  the  rates  of  the  respective  towns.  Great  care  was  taken,  that  all 
should  attend  the  means  of  public  instruction.  The  law  obliged  them 
to  be  present  at  the  public  worship  on  the  Sabbath,  and  upon  all  days 
appointed  by  the  civil  authority  for  public  fasts,  or  for  thanksgiving. 
The  Congregational  mode  of  worship  was  adopted  and  established  by 
law,  but  it  was  provided  that  all  sober,  orthodox  persons,  dissenting 
from  them,  should,  on  representing  it  to  the  General  Court,  be 
allowed  peaceably  to  worship  in  their  own  way.  Such,  however, 
were  beheld  with  distrust.  Our  fathers,  who  desired  religious 
freedom,  and  periled  all  for  it  in  this  wilderness,  probably  had  not . 
anticipated  that  they  would  speedily  have  an  opportunity  to  extend 
that  toleration  to  others,  which,  in  the  father-land,  they  had  in  vain 
sought  for  themselves.  But  while  in  their  weakness,  and  with  vivid 
recollections  of  the  past,  they  viewed  with  alarm  any  deviations  from 
their  doctrines  and  order,  they  yet  had  the  germ  of  toleration,  and 
developed  it  with  more  rapidity,  it  is  believed,  than  any  other  section 
of  Christendom  can  show. 

The  influence  of  the  pastor  in  the  early  days  was  very  great. 
Many  of  the  clergy,  who  first  came  into  the  country,  had  property, 
and  assisted  their  poor  brethren  in  the  expenses  and  difficulties  en- 
countered in  making  the  new  settlements.  The  people  were  far 
more  dependent  on  their  ministers  for  everything  at  that  time,  than 
they  have  since  been.  The  proportion  of  learned  men  was  far 
smaller  then,  than  at  the  present  day.  The  clergy  possessed  a  large 
part  of  the  literature  of  the  colony.     They  fitted  the  young  men  for 


HISTORY     OF     ANCIENT     WOODBURY.  143 

college,  and  assisted  tliem  in  their  studies,  and  with  their  advice  after- 
ward. By  example,  by  counsel  and  by  money,  they  encouraged  the 
people  in  their  difficult  circumstances,  and  were  ever  active  and 
abundant  in  their  labors.  They  were  also  fellow-exiles  and  sufferers 
with  them  in  this  new  and  strange  land.  All  these  circumstances 
combined,  gave  them  a  remarkable  influence  over  their  hearers,  of 
all  ranks  and  dispositions.  Perhaps  in  no  government  have  the 
clergy  had  more  influence,  or  been  more  rationally  and  sincerely  re- 
spected and  beloved,  by  the  rulers  and  by  the  people,  than  in  Con- 
necticut. 

All  these  influences  exhibited  their  happy  results  in  the  actions 
and  character  of  the  people.  The  huge,  old  meeting-house  was 
always  filled  with  the  "  great  congregation,"  in  summer's  heat,  or 
wintei*'s  cold.  Although  the  idea  of  warming  a  meeting-house  with 
a  stove  or  a  fireplace  never  entered  the  mind  of  the  boldest  innova- 
tor upon  ancient  customs,  yet  the  attendance  at  the  house  of  God 
was  scarcely  less  in  winter  than  in  summer.  The  meeting-house  was 
almost  always  built  on  the  top  of  the  highest  hill,  at  the  intersection 
of  roads  leading  to  the  various  parts  of  the  town,  as  near  the  geo- 
graphical center  of  the  territory  as  possible.  But  the  people  "  went 
up  to  the  temple"  to  worship  for  many  miles  around,  though  storms 
were  in  the  air,  and  the  cutting  wind  howled  fiercely  over  the  bleak 
hill  of  "  the  tabernacle."  By  means  of  the  "  ride-and-tie  system, 
frequently,  they  managed  to  get  to  the  place  of  worship,  where,  by 
the  aid  of  warm  clothing,  close  sitting,  and  a  glowing  fire  in  their 
"Sabbath-day  houses,"  or  at  the  parsonage,  at  intermission,  they 
seemed  not  to  be  aware  of  the  cold  weather.  By  the  ride-and-tie 
system,  it  was  a  common  thing  for  a  farmer,  who  had  a  good  horse, 
either  to  go  alone,  or  take  his  wife  behind  him,  on  a  pillion,  and  ride 
half  the  way  to  church  ;  then  dismount,  and  walk  the  rest  of  the  way, 
leaving  the  horse  fastened  by  the  wayside,  for  a  neighbor  and  his 
wife,  who  were  on  the  road  behind,  and  who  would  come  up  and 
share  the  accommodation  thus  afforded.  The  Sabbath-day  house, 
liberty  to  erect  which  on  the  common  around  the  church,  was  grant- 
ed by  the  town  to  such  individuals  as  applied,  consisted  of  a  small 
structure,  divided  into  two  rooms,  for  the  accommodation  of  the  two 
sexes,  in  which  was  built  a  good  fire,  where  they  could  partake  of 
their  refreshments,  and  spend  the  hour  of  intermission  in  such  a  man- 
ner as  was  suitable  to  holy  time.  The  hours  of  the  Sabbath,  after 
the  return  from  church,  were  generally  spent  in  employments  appro- 


144       HISTORY  OF  ANCIENT   WOODBURY. 

priate  to  the  conclusion  of  the  day  of  rest,  and  such  as  were  calcula- 
ted to  fit  them  for  the  everlastinj^  Sabbath  in  heaven. 

But  the  early  fathers  have  long  since  departed.  Several  genera- 
tions of  their  descendants  sleep  with  them,  and  it  is  to  be  feared,  that 
many  of  their  valuable  customs,  and  their  strict  purity  of  conduct, 
have  departed  with  them.  "  Ancient  Woodbury"  has  been  greatly 
favored  with  able,  learned  and  pious  ministers.  Within  the  period 
under  contemplation,  in  1750,  and  several  years  afterward,  there 
were  laboring,  at  the  same  time,  within  our  limits.  Rev.  Anthony 
Stoddard,  of  the  first  society,  Rev.  John  Graham,  of  Southbury,  Rev* 
Dr.  Bellamy,  of  Bethlem,  Rev.  Thomas  Canfield,  of  Roxbury,  and 
Rev.  Daniel  Brinsmade,  of  Judea  societies  ;  a  galaxy  of  talent, 
learning  and  piety,  without  its  equal,  perhaps,  in  a  single  town,  at  one 
time.  The  influence  of  those  revered  men  has  not  entirely  departed. 
It  "  still  lives,"  and  will  go  on  blessing  and  improving  those  within 
its  reach,  till  the  latest  "  recorded  syllable  of  time." 


CHAPTER  IX. 


CIVIL    HISTORY    COXTIXIJED    FROM    CHAPTER    VI. 

Miscellaneous  events  from  1712  to  1775;  Land  Divisions;  School-houses; 
Cider-mills;  Great  Sickness  of  1727,  1749  and  17"60  ;  Great  Earth- 
quake; Aurora  Borealis,  1719;  Pootatuck  Ferry,  1730;  Hinman's  Fer- 
ry, 1752;  Bridge  built  near  Hinman's  Ferry  by  Gen.  Washington, 
177S;  Carlton's  Bridge  Lottery,  17S0;  Sequestration  of  Burial 
Grounds,  1741;  Parsonage  Lands  located,  1741;  Parsonage  Lands 
sold,  1744;  Efforts  to  form  a  new  County  called  Woodbury,  in  174S, 
1751,  176S  AND  1791;  Mine  Hill,  1724;  Wolves  and  Wild-cats;  Town- 
house Repaired  ;  Casualties;  Relics;  Tea-party  at  Parson  Stoddard's; 
RuLooF  Butchers'  Estate  ;  Umbrellas  and  Calico  first  introduced  ; 
Witchcraft — Moll  Cramer  ;  List  of  Original  Proprietors  in  1751  ; 
War  with  Spain  ;  French  Neutrals,  175G  ;  Louisburg  taken,  1745  ;  War 
WITH  France — Expeditions  of  1755,  175G  and  1757  ;  Alarm  for  the  Relief 
OF  Fort  William  Henry,  1757  ;  Expeditions  of  175S  and  1759;  Louisburg, 
Forts  Frontenac,  Duquesne  and  Niagara,  Crown  Point,  Ticonderoga  and 
Quebec  taken. 

Again  we  betake  ourselves  to  the  task  of  gathering  up  the  frag- 
ments that  remain  of  the  ci^■il  history  of  the  town,  "  that  nothing  may 
be  lost."  The  limits  assigned  this  work  give  warning,  that  each  sub- 
ject must  be  briefly  touched,  and  it  is  proposed  to  take  heed  to  it. 

It  has  been  before  stated  that  all  divisions  made  in  the  public  lands 
of  the  town  to  the  original  proprietors,  or  their  representatives,  were 
proportioned  to  the  home-lot,  which  Avas  from  two  to  five  acres  in 
size.  The  former  divisions  of  land  having  been  brought  sulficiently 
under  cultivation,  new  allotments  were  occasionally  made,  as  neces- 
sity required.     Accordingly  in  1720, 

"  The  town  grants  a  Division  of  thirty  acres  to  each  ten  acre  accommodation, 
and  so  proportionably  according  to  articles,  in  the  old  township,  half  a  mile 
from  the  town." 

In  February,  1729,  the  town  voted  to  lay  out  seventy-five  acres  to 
each  "  ten  acre  accommodation,"  making  no  allowance  for  waste  land, 
and  proportionally  for  the  five  acre,  or  "  Bachelor's"  accommodations. 


146  HISTORY     OP     ANCIENT     WOODBURY. 

Previous  to  tliis  date,  in  all  the  divisions  of  land,  an  account  of  waste 
or  bad  land  had  been  taken,  and  more  in  quantity  was  given  him  to 
whom  it  fell,  in  the  survey,  or  more  land  was  given  elsewhere  to 
make  his  proportion  equal  to  others.  In  1734,  the  North  Purchase, 
which  had  been  granted  to  the  town  in  1703,  purchased  of  the  In- 
dians in  1710,  and  surveyed  in  1724,  was  laid  out  into  lots  for  the 
purpose  of  division  among  the  original  proprietors.  Col.  Joseph 
Minor.  Rev.  Anthony  Stoddard  and  Dea.  Noah  Ilinman  were  ap- 
pointed a  committee  to  draw  the  lots  for  the  proprietors,  according  to 
a  scheme  previously  agreed  upon, 

"  To  begin  att  Waterbury  bounds  in  the  first  or  Soutli  Tier,  and  mimljer 
west,  and  when  the  Lotts  in  that  tier  are  finished,  to  begin  in  the  second  tier 
and  so  number  West  untill  that  be  also  finished,  and  so  sucksessively  untill  the 
vholo  Six  tiers  be  finished." 

The  lots  were  drawn  by  the  committee  appointed  for  this  purpose 
January  14th,  I73f.  In  1733,  the  South  Purchase  was  acquired  of 
the  Indians  by  a  committee  of  the  town.  In  1738,  the  town  voted 
to  lay  out 

"The  South  Purchase  in  the  Southwest  part  of  Woodbury  bounds  into 
Equal  lots,  and  as  many  lots  as  there  are  original  proprietors  in  Woodbury 
Records," 

leaving  necessary  highways  and  lands  to  be  appropriated  for  com- 
mons. INIr.  Noah  Ilinraan,  Capt.  Thomas  Knowles,  Capt.  Richard 
Brownson,  Mr.  Knell  Mitchell  and  Mr.  Cornelius  Brownson  were 
appointed  a  committee  to  carry  this  vote  into  effect.  They  "judged 
convenient"  to  lay  out  highways  200  rods  apart,  over  hill  and  dale, 
without  regard  to  "  circumstances."  This  committee  also  established 
the  north  line  of  the  South  Purchase,  or  the  line  between  the  old 
proprietors  and  the  land  to  be  divided,  there  being  no  disi)ute  between 
the  whites  and  Indians  with  regard  to  the  lines  between  them.  This 
line  was  to 

•'  Run  from  New  Milford  bounds  Eastward  cross  the  falls  att  Shepoag  River, 
and  from  thence  Easterly  up  the  brook  that  runs  westerly  into  Shepoag  River 
near  the  falls  till  we  come  against  the  head  of  Mine-Hill  brook,  and  then  East- 
erly down  to  the  head  of  said  brook,  to  a  beach-tree  marked,  and  down  said 
brook  to  a  Certain  white  oak  tree  marked,  which  tree  stands  on  the  South  side 
of  said  brook." 

The  committee  reported  that  they  had  accomplished  the  object  of 
their  appointment  in  June,  1742,  and  their  report  was  accepted.  In 
November  of  the  same  year,  the  lots  were  drawn  for  the  proprietors 


I 


HISTORY     OF     ANCIENT     WOODBURY.  147 

hy  a  committee  appointed  for  the  purpose,  in  proportion  to  the  inter- 
est of  each  proprietor,  who  was  also  to  pay  his  proportion  of  the  ex- 
penses of  the  survey.  In  1754,  four  acres  were  granted  to  each  ac- 
commodation. In  April,  1758,  Joseph  Pierce,  Samuel  "Wheeler  and 
David  Boland  were  appointed  a  committee  to  purchase  the  Indians' 
land  at  Pootatuck.  This  they  immediately  accomplished,  with  the 
exception  of  a  small  tract  of  land  where  the  "  wigwams"  stood,  and 
even  this  narrow  foothold  was  purchased  of  them  the  next  year.  In 
the  early  part  of  this  year,  a  committee  was  appointed  to  lay  out  the 
Pootatuck  purchase  into  lots,  in  the  same  manner  as  had  been  done  in 
the  case  of  the  South  Purchase,  which  comprehended  the  north  and 
west  three-fourths  of  the  ancient  Indian  Reservation.  In  March, 
1760,  this  committee  made  a  report  of  their  doings,  which  was  ac- 
cepted by  the  proprietors,  and  another  committee  appointed  to  pre- 
pare drafts  for  the  drawing  of  lots,  to  be  so  contrived,  that  each 
original  proprietor,  or  his  legal  representatives,  should  have  a  lot  in 
the  Purchase,  and  so  that  the  representatives  of  two  or  more  original 
proprietorships  could  have  their  lots  in  one  body.  In  1771,  a  new 
division  of  five  acres  to  each  original  propi'ietor,  or  his  representa- 
tives, Avas  granted,  and  the  next  year  all  the  sequestered  lands  in  the 
old  township  were  in  like  manner  divided  between  them.  In  Decem- 
ber, 1782,  the  last  division  among  the  proprietox's  was  granted  in 
open  meeting,  and  consisted  of  one  acre  to  each  "  accommodation." 
Thus  the  original  proprietors  had  been  over  one  hundred  years  in 
dividing  their  surplus  land,  and  there  were  yet  remaining  considera- 
ble tracts  sequestered  for  various  purposes,  besides  land  in  the  South 
and  Pootatuck  Purchases.  This  might  well  be  considered  getting 
rich  by  degrees  from  "  mother  earth." 

Great  attention  was  paid  to  the  education  of  youth,  and  the  found- 
ing of  schools,  from  the  very  first  settlement  of  the  town.  It  is  be- 
lieved that  the  people  of  this  town  were  more  particular  in  this  re- 
spect than  in  many  other  towns  in  the  Colony,  or  in  New  England 
generally,  careful  as  they  invariably  were  in  these  matters.  Nearly 
all  were  educated  in  the  first  rudiments  of  knowledge.  Few  could  be 
found  who  could  not  read  and  write.  It  is  confidently  asserted  that 
an  inspection  of  our  early  records  will  compare  favorably  with  those 
of  the  present  day,  as  evidencing  the  dissemination  of  common  edu- 
cation among  the  people.  Rare  indeed  was  the  instance  of  a  person 
signing  a  deed,  or  other  document  with  his  mark.  And  yet  there 
was  but  one  school  in  the  ancient  territory  for  the  first  fifty  years. 
The  scholars  had  to  come  from  all  distances,  from  a  fourth  of  a  mile 


148  HISTORY     OF     ANCIENT     WOODBURY. 

to  six  or  eight  miles,  and  return  daily.  Previous  to  the  division  of 
the  town  into  soeieties,  which  commenced  in  1730,  a  vote  had  been 
passed  to  build  "  Several  School  Houses,"  in  various  parts  of  the 
town,  for  the  accommodation  of  the  children.  But  in  1735,  the  for- 
mer vote  not  having  been  carried  into  effect,  it  was  rescinded,  and  it 
was  by  "  ye  Town  Commended  to  y'  Several  Societies,  to  proceed 
amongst  themselves  in  y'  best  manner  as  may  be  for  their  Respective 
Conveniences." 

Accordingly,  as  each  ecclesiastical  society  was  incorporated,  the 
first  thing  in  order  was  to  establish  a  school. 

One  of  the  few  luxuries  of  the  early  fathers,  was  the  fruit  of  the 
orchard,  and  the  beverage  made  fi'om  it.  The  apple-tree  was  the 
constant  attendant  of  all  the  early  founders  of  towns,  and  followed 
them  in  all  their  wanderings.  If  the  early  patriarchs  could  not,  like 
their  eastern  prototypes,  "  sit  under  their  own  vine  and  fig-tree,"  they 
made  haste  that  they  might  as  soon  as  possible,  with  equal  satisfac- 
tion, sit  under  their  own  apple-trees.  Nor  does  it  appear  that  they 
had  the  fear  of  the  "  Maine  Law"  before  iheir  eyes,  for  they  freely 
granted  the  privilege  of  erecting  "  Cyder  Mills,"  to  the  inhabitants 
even  in  the  highways,  the  place  of  greatest  temptation.  Accordingly, 
we  find  in  the  doings  of  a  town  meeting  held  May  31st,  1739,  liberty 
granted  to  Matthew  Minor  "  to  set  up  a  Cyder  Mill  in  the  Highway," 
and  a  like  privilege  granted  to  Ebenezer  Strong.  The  same  boon 
was  granted  to  others  in  succeeding  years.  It  seems,  however,  that 
they  were  in  some  sense  "  restrictionists,"  having  the  germ  of  "  pro- 
hibition," as  they  did  not  allow  "unlimited  free  trade"  in  the  article. 

There  have  been  several  seasons  of  remai-kable  and  alarming  mor- 
tality in  the  town,  when  men  seemed  to  die  as  if  fated,  without  the 
power  of  cure  or  restoration.  One  of  these  seasons  was  in  the  year 
1727,  when  disease  seemed  to  make  the  burial  places  of  the  town, 
garner-houses  for  the  dead.  It  is  not  now  knoAvn  what  was  the  na- 
ture of  this  disease,  which  swept  off  the  inhabitants  of  the  new  town 
like  chaff.  The  records  show  forty-four  deaths,  which  is  probably 
not  more  than  half  the  actual  number,  taking  into  consideration  the 
defective  state  of  the  records,  and  the  unusual  neglect  in  causing 
deaths  to  be  recorded,  in  such  a  time  of  calamity  and  alarm.  The 
number  of  deaths  entered  for  several  years  previous  to,  and  succeed- 
ing this  date,  had  been  only  from  four  to  six  each  year.  This  was  a 
sad  decimation  for  a  community  that  had  struggled  for  years  with  all 
the  w^ants  and  deprivations  of  the  wilderness,  together  with  the  con- 
tinual alarms  and  attacks  in  the  Indian  wars,  growing  out  of  their 


HISTORY     OF     ANCIENT    AVOODBURY.  149 

frontier,  exposed  situation.  The  inhabitants,  with  the  notions  of  that 
early  day,  had  another  cause  of  aUirm  in  the  mighty  earthquake  that 
shook  the  earth  throughout  this  great  continent,  October  29th,  1727. 
In  deed  and  in  truth  could  the  people  of  Woodbury  cry  out  in  terror, 
'*The  Lord  is  wroth  ;  He  is  swallowing  up  His  people  in  His  fierce 
anger." 

In  1749,  the  town  was  again  visited  by  the  devouring  scourge,  as 
was  also  Waterbury.  It  was  a  very  malignant  disease,  a  sort  of  a 
nervous  fever,  called  by  some  the  yellow  fever,  as  the  bo(Jies  of  some 
of  the  patients  turned  yellow.  The  crisis  of  the  disease  was  the  ninth 
day,  and  if  the  patient  survived  that  day,  he  had  a  fair  chance  of  re- 
covery. From  the.  imperfection  of  the  records,  as  before  stated,  the 
exact  number  of  deaths  can  not  be  known.  They  show  sixty-one, 
and  there  were  doubtless  many  more  in  the  extended  limits  of  the 
town  at  this  time.  A  similar  disease  had  existed  in  Albany  some 
three  years  before  this  date.  The  colony  taxes  were,  for  this  reason, 
abated  to  the  town  of  Waterbury,  but  though  AYoodbury  only  applied 
for  a  postponement  in  the  time  of  payment,  for  some  reason,  it  was 
not  granted. 

In  1760,  another  malignant  fever  severely  afflicted  Woodbury  and 
some  other  places  in  this  vicinity.  The  disease  was  extremely  vio- 
lent, terminating  on  the  third  or  fourth  day.  Medical  aid  seemed  to 
be  of  little  avail,  but  the  disease  finally  disappeared  with  the  appear- 
ance of  frost.  In  the  society  of  Bethlehem,  thirty-four  persons  died, 
and  at  least  as  many  more  in  the  other  parts  of  the  ancient  town  must 
have  perished.  Mr.  Canfield,  in  Roxbury  parish,  at  the  close  of  an 
entry  of  seven  deaths,  remarks  in  a  note,  "  A  very  sickly,  dying  time 
in  Bethlehem."  '  There  were  not  enough  well  persons  to  attend  upon 
the  sick,  and  great  terror  existed  among  the  inhabitants.  Almost 
every  house  wore  the  badges  of  mourning,  and  orphans  walked  about 
the  streets.  Notwithstanding  these  se^asons  of  extraordinary  calami- 
ty, the  ancient  territory  justly  enjoys  the  reputation  of  possessing  a 
healthy  climate.  From  its  location,  its  latitude,  its  breezy  hills,  its 
numerous  fountains  of  cool,  sweet,  gushing  waters,  and  a  multitude 
of  other  circumstances,  it  would  be  wondei-ful  if  it  wei'e  otherwise. 

The  first  appearance  of  northern  lights  in  this  county,  after  its 
first  settlement,  was  December  11th,  1719  ;  * 

"  When  they  were  remarkably  bright,  and  as  people  in  general  had  never 
heard  of  such  a  phenomenon,  they  were  extremely  alarmed  with  the  apprehen- 
sion of  the  final  judgment.  All  amusements,  all  business  and  even  sleep  was 
interrupted,  for  want  of  a  little  knowledge  of  history." 


150  HISTORY     OF     ANCIENT     -SVOODBURY. 

The  more  superstitious  in  "NVoo(ll)ury,  as  in  other  i^laces,  were 
greatly  ahirmed  at  this  new  manifestation  of  "  Divine  Providence," 
and  for  many  days  the  quiet  of  this  rural  community  was  disturbed 
by  the  unusual  occurrence.  But  in  due  time  the  sagacity  of  Parson 
Stoddard  and  others,  restored  things  to  a  state  of  tranquillity. 

A  ferry  from  Newtown  to  Woodbury  was  granted  to  Peter  Ilub- 
bell,  at  Pootatuck,  May  13th,  1730.'  This  was  about  an  eighth  of  a 
mile  below  Fort  Hill,  which  is  located  on  the  west  side  of  the  Hou- 
satonic,  directly  opposite  the  Indian  village  of  Pootatuck,  on  the  east 
side  of  that  river.  At  these  two  points  within  gunshot  of  the  river, 
the  Indians  had  forts  to  protect  themselves  against  the  Mohawks,  and 
after  the  introduction  of  fire-arms  among  the  natives,  a  fleet  of  Mo- 
hawk canoes  on  the  river  Avould  afford  a  capital  mark  for  the  practice 
of  gunnery.  The  ferry  was  at  the  north  end  of  Cockshure's  Island, 
previously  to  this,  owned  by  a  sachem  of  that  name,  but  since  known 
as  Ilubbell's  Island,  from  the  ferryman  above  mentioned. 

In  1752,  a  ferry  was  granted  to  Wait  Ilinman,  three  miles  below 
Pootatuck  ferry,  and  was  located  about  a  mile  below  Bennett's 
Bridge.  In  1775,  this  ferry  was,  by  the  General  Assembly,  "  re- 
newed" to  Samuel  Hinman,  son  of  the  original  grantee.  In  1778,  we 
find,  by  documents  now  existing  in  the  archives  of  the  State  at  Hart- 
ford, that 

"Gen.  VVushingtoii,  on  liis  march  iu  177S,  built  a  l:)ri(lge  at  Hinnian's 
ferry.  "2 

A  part  of  tlie  bridge  fell  down  during  the  next  summer,  and  was 
rebuilt  by  Newtown  and  Woodbury,  at  an  expense  of  £7,656  Gs.  Qd., 
half  of  which  was  repaid  by  the  quarter-master-general,  by  order  of 
Gen.  Green.  The  bridge  was  again  impaired  in  1780,  and  Wood- 
bury and  Newtown  petitioned  the  General  Assembly  for  a  lottery  of 
£400,  to  enable  them  to  rebuild  it,  which  was  granted.  It  was  now 
called  Carlton's  Bridge,  for  what  reason  does  not  appear.  Col.  In- 
crease Moseley,  Shadrach  Osborn  and  Nathan  Preston  were  appoint- 
ed managers  of  the  lottery,  and  Col.  Benjamin  Ilinman  and  Edward 
Hinman,  Esq.,  were  appointed  to  take  bonds  of  the  managers.  On 
i-eceiving  a  letter  from  Gen.  Parsons,  promising  that  the  town  should 
be  aided  from  the  public  purse,  £100  in  bills  of  credit  of  the  State  of 
Connecticut  were  voted  in  a  town  meeting  in  November  for  the  ira- 


1  Stiitc  Papers,  Travel,  vol.  1,  p.  174.  2  Travel,  vol.  3,  p.  329. 


HISTORY     OF     ANCIENT     -WOODBURY.  151 

mediate  repair  of  the  bridge  on  account  of  the  extreme  urgency  of 
the  public  service.  By  this  it  seems  that  our  ancient  territory  has 
been  trod  by  the  feet  of  the  sainted  "  father  of  his  country,"  though  it 
was  sechided  in  the  wilderness,  far  removed  from  most  of  the  Revo- 
lutionary battle-fields.  He  probably  made  his  head-quarters  during 
his  brief  stay,  at  Hon.  Daniel  Sherman's,  who  Avas  that  year,  one  of 
the  council  of  safety,  or  at  the  house  of  Shadrach  Osbom,  who  was 
commissary,  and  actively  engaged  in  meeting  the  wants  of  the  conti- 
nental and  other  troops.  How  swiftly  does  the  bare  allusion  to  the 
feet  of  the  long  past  presence  of  "  him  who  was  first  in  war,  first  in 
peace,  and  first  in  the  hearts  of  his  countrymen,"  send  a  thrill  to  every 
patriotic  heart.  This  was  in  the  very  heat  of  the  contest,  in  the 
'•  days  that  tried  men's  souls." 

Previous  to  1741,  by  far  the  larger  portion  of  the  burials  had  been 
made  in  the  '•  ancient  buryal  ground,"  south  of  the  Episcopal  Church, 
and  no  action  of  the  town  in  regard  to  places  of  sepulture  appears  on 
the  records,  till  the  early  part  of  that  year,  when  a  vote  passed 
directing 

"  The  committee  for  the  Antient  Society  in  Woodbury,  and  also  for  South- 
bury,  to  call  for  the  committee  for  laying  out  Land,  and  lay  out  the  burying  Place 
in  Each  Society,  and  when  the  same  is  Laid  out,  it  is  hereby  Sequestered  for 
that  use,  and  also  to  be  returned  to  tlie  town  Clerk  to  be  Recorded,  and  also 
the  Inhabitants  in  the  Destrick  of  Shepoage  have  the  same  Liberty  of  two 
burying  places,  and  the  Inhabitants  of  the  West  End  of  the  North  Purchase 
have  like  Liberty,  and  the  Inhabitants  of  Bethlehem  have  the  same  liberty  of 
one  burying  place." 

At  the  time  of  this  vote,  it  is  probable  that  the  "  ancient"  burying 
ground  had  been  more  than  once  buried  over,  and  interments  in  it 
should  undoubtedly  have  ceased  at  that  time  ;  but  it  has  continued  to 
be  used  till  the  present  day  with  more  or  less  frequency,  the  space  of 
a  century  and  a  quarter  more.  Scarcely  a  grave  is  now  dug  there 
Avithout  throwing  up  the  remains  of  some  former  occupant  of  the 
"  narrow  house"  appointed  for  all  the  living.  No  more  interments  in 
this  locality  should  be  allowed  by  the  authorities  of  the  town.  The 
space  of  earth  occupied  by  each  lonely  sleeper,  after  "life's  fitful 
journey  is  over,"  is  full  small,  and  it  should  be  "  sequestered"  to  his 
use  forever.  The  "  city  of  the  dead"  should  be  guarded  well  by  the 
living,  free  from  intrusion — free  from  unhallowed  tread. 

With  the  final  resting  places  of  those  we  loved  in  life,  are  many 
endearing  associations  and  recollections.  Besides,  we  should  con- 
template it  as  our  own  home,  for  it  is  well  to  reflect  that  when 


152  IIISTOUY     OF     ANCIENT     WOODBURY. 

"  A  few  short  years  have  rolled  along, 

Willi  mingled  joy  and  pain. 
We  all  liave  passed — a  broken  tone. 

An  echo  of  a  strain." 

There  is  to  the  contemplative  mind  a  melancholy  pleasure  in  visit- 
ing the  home  of  the  departed,  and  wandering  among  the  couches  of 
the  lowly  dead.  A  grandeur,  a  sublimity  of  thought,  comes  over  one 
at  such  an  hour.  A  degree  of  pensiveness,  a  holy  chastening  of 
feeling,  is  experienced,  and  the  soul,  filled  with  higher  asjiirations,  is 
brought  nearer  the  throne  of  the  Eternal.  Under  the  influence  of 
such  an  hour,  he  is  a  better  being,  and  resolves  to  continue  such  from 
that  time  forth.  Man,  for  a  brief  space,  forgets  the  scenes  of  vice 
and  misery  with  which  he  is  suri'ounded,  and  contemplates  the  scenes 
of  that  far-off,  better  land,  where,  after  the  toils  of  this  life  are  over, 
he  may  rest  in  eternal  repose.  As  he  wanders  from  shaft  to  shaft, 
and  from  tomb  to  tomb,  in  imagination,  he  passes  in  review  the  joys 
and  sorrows,  the  various  events  in  the  life  of  each  lonely  sleeper,  and 
endeavors  to  look  away  into  that  distant  land,  whither  his  spirit  has 
winged  its  way.  If  some  of  his  friends  lie  slumbering  there,  with 
what  tender  interest  he  recalls  their  familiar  countenances  !  How 
vividly  the  recollection  of  each  little  act  of  kindness  comes  up  before 
the  mind.  And  as  he  muses  thus  all  earnestly,  he  seems  again  to 
enjoy  communion  with  them,  and  their  spirits  appear  to  hover  around 
him,  to  encourage  and  cheer  him  on  in  the  journey  of  life.  He  feels 
sure  that  they  are  near  him  as  his  guardian  angels,  and  he  joyfully 
exclaims, 

"  They're  with  us  yet,  the  holy  dead  ! 

By  a  thousand  signs  we  know  ; 

They're  keeping  e'er  a  spirit-watch, 

O'er  those  they  loved  below." 

By  a  vote  of  the  town  June  8th,  1702,  a  "  twenty  acre  accommo- 
dation round,  both  upland,  meadow  and  pasture  divisions,"  in  addition 
to  what  had  already  been  granted  to  Mr.  Walker  and  Mr.  Stoddard, 
was  sequestered  for  the  use  of  a  "  future  minister,  and  the  ministry 
forever,  established  according  to  the  Constitution  of  the  Churches  in 
this  Government  Established  by  law,  viz :  the  Presbyterian  and  Con- 
gregational, so  Called."  In  1741,  this  vote  was  referred  to,  and  the 
various  divisions,  which  had  been  granted  on  this  basis,  were  again 
dedicated  to  the  same  use  and  described  as 

"More  particularly  the  Sixty  acres  of  Land  Laid  out  att  the  Bent  of  the  River, 
Sed  to  be  laid  out  to  the  Parsonage ;  the  2S  acres  at  horse  pound  ;  tlie  OO  acres 


HISTORY     OF     ANCIENT     -SVOODBURY.  153 

Laid  out  to  the  Westward  (at  Shepaug)  Sed  to  be  Laid  out  for  a  pious  use  ; 
also  the  ten  acres  at  ye  good  hill,  and  the  four  acres  near  the  North  End  of  Bare 
hill ;  also  that  piece  of  Land  laid  out  Near  Bottle  Swamp;  and  the  34  Lott  in 
the  Second  tier  in  the  North  Purchase,  Drawn  on  the  parsonage  Right ;  and 
also  the  Divisions  belonging  to  said  twenty  acre  accomodation,  not  yet  laid 
out."i 

In  November,  1744,  a  committee  of  one  in  each  ecclesiastical  soci- 
ety  was  appointed  by  the  town  .to  sell  these  "  Parsonage  Accommo- 
dations." The  committee  consisted  of  Col.  William  Preston,  Mr. 
Noah  Hinman,  Lt.  Henry  Castle,  Capt.  Hezekiah  Hookei",  and 
Sergt.  Abraham  Hurd.  The  land  was  sold  at  auction  to  the  highest 
bidder.  The  funds  were  kept  at  interest  by  the  selectmen  for  ten  or 
twelve  years,  the  interest  being  annually  divided  among  the  five  so- 
cieties of  the  town,  to  be  laid  out  for  the  support  of  the  ministry,  in 
accordance  with  the  original  intention  of  the  proprietors.  In  1759, 
the  fund  was  divided  among  the  several  societies,  and  the  amount 
belonging  to  the  "  ancient  society"  was  £112  Os.  5c?.  In  1763,  the 
last  time  the  records  speak  about  it,  there  was  remaining  in  the  treas- 
ury of  the  same  society  £88  lis.  6c?.  of  this  fund. 

In  May,  1748,  previous  to  the  formation  of  the  county  of  Litch- 
field, "Woodbury  took  action  in  relation  to  a  new  county.  Col.  Wil- 
liam Preston  was  chosen  an  agent  to  attend  the  General  Assembly, 
and  prefer  a  memorial  for  a  new  county  to  be  called  the  county  of 
Woodbury,  having  Woodbury  for  its  county  seat,  and  to  consist  of 
this  town,  Waterbury,  Newtown,  New  Milford,  Litchfield,  New  Fair- 
field, (now  Sherman,)  and  as  many  of  the  new  northern  towns  as 
should  choose  to  join  the  new  county.  CoL  Preston  attended  to  the 
duties  of  his  appointment,  and  Waterbury  and  Newtown  gave  their 
assent  to  the  proposed  arrangement,  provided  they  were  at  no  ex- 
pense for  county  buildings.  The  petition,  howevei*,  was  negatived  by 
the  Assembly.^ 

In  May,  1751,  the  subject  of  a  new  county  having  been  further 
agitated.  Col.  WilHam  Preston  was  chosen  special  agent,  and  Deacon 
Samuel  Minor  and  Deacon  Benjamin  Ilicock  were  elected  represent- 
atives to  the  May  session  of  the  Assembly  at  Hartford,  that  year, 
with  full  power  to  act  for  the  town,  to  secure  the  new  county,  with 
Woodbury  for  its  shire  town.  The  town  also  voted  to  furnish  the 
county  buildings  free  of  charge.     The  object  was  not  attained  at  that 


1  Woodbury  Proprietors'  Book,  p.  39. 

2  State  Records,  Civil  Officers,  vol.  3,  p.  2£9. 

11 


154  HISTORY     OF     ANCIENT     -WOODBURY. 

session,  and  Capt.  Increase  IMoselcy  and  Deacon  Samuel  Minor  were 
sent  to  the  General  Assembly  in  October  following,  when  a  new 
county  was  indeed  made,  but  its  name  was  Litchfield,  and  Woodbury 
was  left  quite  in  its  south-east  corner.*  Great  was  the  dissatisfaction 
in  Woodbury  at  the  new  aspect  which  affairs  had  taken.  A  town 
meeting  was  immediately  called,  and  a  vote  passed  to  take  measures 
to  be  released  from  tlie 

««  New  County  of  Litchfield,  &  be  continued  as  heretofore  to  the  County  of 
Fairfield,  unless  the  Upper  Towns  in  Litchfield  County  will  appoint  an  agent 
from  Every  Town  dissatisfied,  to  meet  at  some  proper  time  &  place  to  Confer 
about  the  matter  &  come  to  some  other  Conclusion  respecting  a  County  than  is 
yet  Determined." 

'*  Mr.  Benjamin  Stiles  &  Capt.  Elisha  Stoddard  are  chosen  agents  to  appear 
at  the  upper  Towns,  to  Confer  Respecting  what  measures  may  bethought  Need- 
full  Respecting  the  New  County  of  Litchfield." 

In  December  following, 

"  Mr.  Noah  Himnan  was  chosen  an  Agent  for  the  Town  of  Woodbury,  to 
meet  at  Kent,  with  those  Gent,  from  the  other  Towns,  with  full  Power  to  act  in 
behalf  of  the  Town,  to  Endeavor  to  be  Released  from  the  County  of  Litchfield  '' 

The  representatives  sent  to  the  next  session  in  May,  1752,  were 
instructed  to  endeavor  to  have  the  town  set  off  again  to  Fairfield 
county,  and  gave  them  power  to  act  in  conjunction  with  the  i*epre- 
sentatives  of  other  towns,  as  should  be  judged  proper,  in  relation  to 
a  "  New  County  or  Counties."  Nothing  having  been  effected  at  this 
session,  the  same  representatives  were  sent  to  New  Haven,  at  the 
October  session,  and  two  others  were  sent  as  agents,  or  "  lobby  mem- 
bers," to  accomplish  the  desired  end.  Nothing,  however,  resulted 
from  all  these  effoi'ts,  and  the  county  remained  as  at  first  constituted.' 

In  1768,  a  period  of  twenty  years  after  the  first  attempt,  applica- 
tion was  again  made  to  the  General  Assembly  to  make  a  new  coun- 
ty, consisting  of  Woodbury,  Waterbury,  Newtown,  New  Milford  and 


1  The  tr.ailition  is,  that  the  county,  consisting  of  the  towns  desired  bj-  Woodbury, 
with  itself  for  a  county  seat,  was  on  the  point  of  being  established,  and  would  have 
been,  but  for  an  unaccountable  change  of  mind  in  Deacon  Minor  just  before  the  vote 
was  taken.  He  arose  and  informed  the  astonished  Assembly,  that  he,  on  prayerful 
reflection,  was  opposed  to  making  Woodbury  into  a  shire  town.  If  it  were  made 
snch,  a  great  many  idle  and  profligate  young  men,  and  much  "  vain  company,"  would 
flock  to  the  center  of  the  county,  the  morals  of  the  youth  would  become  corrupted, 
and  in  a  short  time  there  would  be  a  sad  departure  from  the  "landmarks  of  the 
fathers."  In  consequence  of  this  the  vote  failed,  and  at  the  same  session  Litchfield, 
•which  had  before  been  faintly  talked  of,  was  made  the  county  seat. 


HISTORY     OF     ANCIENT     WOODBURY.  155 

New  Fairfield,  to  be  called,  as  before  requested,  the  county  of  Wood- 
bury, with  that  town  for  a  county  seat.  Woodbury  laid  a  rate  of  a 
penny  and  a  half  on  the  pound,  in  addition  to  their  regular  propor- 
tiw,  to  be  applied  toward  defraying  the  expenses  of  the  county 
buildings,  and  also  granted  the  use  of  the  town  hall  for  a  court  house 
as  long  as  the  county  should  choose  to  occupy  it  for  that  purpose, 
with  liberty  to  make  such  additions  and  alterations  as  should  be  judged 
necessary.  This  application  was  no  more  successful  than  the  former, 
and  all  further  efforts,  on  the  part  of  Woodbury,  were  relinquished 
for  a  period  of  more  than  thirty  years,  when  in  1791,  another  move 
was  made  for  the  formation  of  a  new  county,  to  consist  of  the  towns 
of  Woodbury,  Bethlem,  Southbury,  Washington,  Waterbury  and^the 
parishes  of  AYestbury,  Oxford  and  Farmingbury,  with  Woodbury  for 
the  county  town.  Plon.  Nathaniel  Smith,  Ilezekiah  Thompson,  Esq., 
and  Nathan  Preston,  Esq.,  were  appointed  a  committee  to  meet  like 
committees  from  the  other  towns  mentioned,  at  Washington.  After 
ineffectual  efforts,  this  attempt  like  both  the  others,  ended  in  failure, 
and  the  county  of  Litchfield,  now  on  its  second  century,  remains  en- 
tire, with  the  exception  of  a  parish  of  Woodbury,  now  the  town  of 
Southbury,  which  has  been  set  off  to  New  Haven  county. 

The  mine  of  spathic  ore  on  Mine  Hill,  in  Roxbury,  which  has  been 
before  described,  was  known  as  a  mine  thirty  or  forty  years  before 
Hurlbut  and  Hawley  worked  it,  but  what  was  the  extent  of  the  oper- 
ations there  carried  on,  is  not  now  known.  It  was  owned  by  Hon. 
John  Sherman,  before  1724,  and  was  by  him  leased  to  Thomas 
Cranne,  of  Stratford,  and  others.  May  IGth,  1724*  for  atenxi  of  years, 
reserving  to  himself  one-sixteenth  part  of  all  the  ore  which  should  be 
there  raised.  John  Crissey  and  his  wife  Mary  also  had  some  rights 
in  the  hill.  Still  later,  Thomas  and  John  Wheeler,  Doctor  Jonathan 
Atwood,  and  Doctor  Thomas  Leavenworth,  acquired  rights,  by  lease 
or  otherwise,  to  said  mine.  The  mining  tract  at  this  date  was  sup- 
posed to  consist  of  six  aci'es,  and  that  is  the  number  of  acres  men- 
tioned in  the  various  deeds  and  mining  leases  that  were  then  execu- 
ted. It  is  thus  seen  that  the  most  valuable  mine  of  "  steel-iron  ore" 
in  the  United  States  has  been  known  about  a  hundred  and  fifty 
years,  and  has  not  yet  been  effectively  worked  for  one  of  the  most 
useful  of  metals.  It  is  believed  that  the  whole  territory  for  several 
miles  along  the  Shepaug  River,  is  rich  in  this  iron  ore,  and  perhaps 
in  copper  also,  and  that  at  no  distant  day,  this  will  become  a  prom- 
inent mining  district. 

For  nearly  a  hundred  years  after  the  first  settlement  of  the  town. 


156  II  1  S  T  O  K  Y     OF     A  N  C  I  n  N-  T     "W  O  O  D  15  U  R  Y  . 

the  inliabitants  were  much  troublcil  with  tlic  depredations  of  wolves 
and  wild-eats.  Bounties  for  their  destruction  were  at  various  peri- 
ods ollered,  both  by  the  General  Court,  and  by  the  town  authorities. 
As  late  as  174(i,  so  i^reat  was'the  dread  of  the  public  concerning  these 
animals,  that  it  was  in  open  town  meeting,  solemnly 

"Voted,  tliiU  he  iliut  funis  a  wolf,  that  by  his  track  is  gone  into  a  swamp  & 
there  lodged,  vk  brings  Intelligence  into  the  town  by  two  of  the  Clock  afternoon 
on  s''  Day,  or  any  time  before  on  s''  Day,  shall  have  twenty  shillings  allowed 
him  out  of  the  Town  Treasury,  provided  he  be  found  there,  !c  five  pounds  to 
be  allowed  to  the  Company,  If  they  shall  kill  s^  wolf, — out  of  the  Town  Treas- 
ury." 

A  wolf  hunt  was  a  common  sport  for  leisure  days  in  the  Indian 
summer  during  these  early  times.  Sometimes  large  parties  of  men 
with  dogs,  went  for  several  days  in  succession,  and  sooured  all  the 
swamps  for  miles  around.  On  some  of  these  occasions,  they  met  with 
fierce  encounters  from  the  pursued  and  infuriated  beasts.  The 
wolves  have  long  ago  disappeared  from  the  territory,  but  the  bounty 
for  killing  a  wild-cat  as  late  as  1761,  was  six  shillings.  And  even 
at  the  present  session  of  the  General  Assembly,  (1853,)  a  law  has 
been  passed  offering  a  bounty  of  five  dollars  apiece  for  their  destruc- 
tion. 

After  the  dedication  of  the  second  church,  in  1747,  the  "ancient 
Meeting  House'*  had  been  used  as  a  town  hall  till  1754,  but  the  old 
building  had  seen  many  Avinters  and  vicissitudes,  but  no  paint.  It 
had,  therefore,  become  considerably  dilapidated,  and  it  was  voted  to 
build  a  "  House  for  the  Town  in  the  Place  where  the  Old  Meeting- 
House  now  stands."  Afterwai'd  there  were  other  opinions,  and  it  was 
thought  by  some,  that  the  old  house  should  be  repaired  rather  than  a 
new  one  erected.  As  is  common  in  such  cases,  this  difference  of 
opinion  resulted  in  doing  nothing  for  several  years.  Finally,  after 
holding  town  meetings  much  of  the  time  for  several  years,  in  the  new 
church,  in  1759,  a  committee  w\as  appointed  to  repair  the  old  house 
so  far  as  they  should  think  proper,  which  being  accomplished  in  about 
two  years,  it  was  called  the  "  Town-House,"  and  a  regular  town 
meeting  held  in  it  January  12th,  17G1. 

There  were,  during  the  period  under  contemplation,  but  few  casu- 
alties worthy  of  notice.  There  was,  however,  one  afHictive  accident 
at  Southbury,  about  the  year  1745.  The  house  of  Solomon  Johnson 
took  fire  in  the  night,  was  burned  to  the  ground,  and  his  wife,  daugh- 
ter of  Deacon  Benjamin  Ilicock,  perished  in  the  fiaracs. 

Remember  Baker,  just  before  the  Revolution,  lost  his  life  on  Mine 


HISTORY     OF     ANCIENT     WOODBURY.  157 

Hill,  from  the  discharge  of  a  gun  in  the  hands  of  Abram  Hurlbut. 
Baker  had  climbed  a  tree  for  some  purpose,  and  Hurlbut,  who  nvas 
hunting,  getting  a  glimpse  of  his  head  from  a  distance,  and  thinking 
it  a  wild-turkey,  fired  and  killed  him. 

Although  there  are  no  relics  in  town,  so  far  as  the  author  has  been 
able  to  learn,  that  were  brought  over  in  the  "  Mayflower,"  that  his- 
torical bark,  which  was  so  heavily  freighted,  if  we  are  to  beheve  that 
it  actually  brought  over  all  the  articles  attributed  to  it,  and  which  are 
st\]l preserved;  yet  there  is  still  in  the  possession  of  Treat  Davidson, 
of  Roxbury,  an  iron  kettle,  which  was  brought  to  this  country  some 
forty  years  later,  in  1660,  and  has  descended  to  the  present  owner 
from  Nathan  Botsford,  one  of  his  ancestors,  who  himself  brought  it 
from  England.  This,  doubtless,  is  the  oldest  culinary  utensil  in  the 
territory. 

When  tea  was  first  introduced  into  town,  during  the  first  half  of  the 
eighteenth  century,  a  small  quantity  was  obtained  by  Parson  Stod- 
dard, for  use  in  "  case  of  sickness,"  or  on  occasions  when  company 
was  invited  ;  but  before  either  of  those  contingences  had  happened, 
the  parson's  daughters  took  it  into  their  heads  to  have  a  model  tea 
party  on  a  novel  scale,  and  test  the  quality  of  the  new  article  of  lux- 
ury in  advance  of  the  "old  folks."  They  accordingly  invited  their 
"  sweethearts,"  and  conducted  the  affair  with  great  secrecy.  On  the 
evening  of  the  proposed  banquet,  they  admitted  the  young  men  whom 
they  had  invited,  to  the  old  parsonage,  by  means  of  a  ladder  placed 
at  a  back  window.  But  a  new  difficulty  presented  itself.  They  did 
not  know  how  to  prepare  the  "  article"  for  use,  and  under  the  "  cir- 
cumstances," they  were  precluded  from  seeking  advice  and  enlight- 
enment, in  their  accustomed  manner,  from  their  parental  advisers. 
After  much  perplexing  thought,  and  great  tribulation,  they  put  a 
quantity  of  the  tea  in  an  iron  kettle,  kindled  a  large  fire  under  it,  and 
kept  it  boiling  violently  for  a  long  time,  till  they  thought  it  sufficiently 
cooked.  They  then  emptied  the  entire  contents  into  a  large  platter, 
and  consumed  it  in  the  form  of  soup,  the  herb  serving  as  thickening. 
A  Mr.  Mitchell,  of  Southbury  society,  was  one  of  the  "  preferred  gen- 
tlemen" on  this  interesting  occasion,  and  when  an  old  man,  for  many 
years  before  his  death,  used  to  tell  the  story  with  a  keen  reUsh. 

After  its  organization  in  October,  1719,  the  Woodbury  probate  dis- 
trict comprised  ancient  Woodbury,  Waterbury,  in  New  Haven  coun- 
ty, and  all  the  settled  portions  of  the  present  county  of  Litchfield. 
Indeed  its  northern  and  western  boundaries  were  not  well  ascertained, 
as  will  be  seen  by  the  following  entries  on  its  records : 


158  HISTOUY     or     ANCIENT      WOODBURY. 

"  June  'Jlh,  17,]7.  Cliristoiiher  Dutcliers  of  Weatog,  (Salisbury)  presented  to 
this  Court  the  will  of  Riiloof  Dutclu-rs,  of  said  Weatog,  for  approval,  which 
will  is  hereby  approved  by  said  Court." 

By  this  will.  ;iinonf]r  other  thinj^s,  he  heciucathcd  liis  slaves  to  sev- 
eral devisees.  In  the  latter  part  of  the  same  year  appears  another 
entry : 

"Oct.  21,  I7.'n  yc  Executor  of  ye  above  will,  viz:  Christopher  Dutchcrs 
came  and  took  ye  will  and  yc  business  out  of  this  oflice,  his  counsel  leading  him 
so  to  do,  apprehending  it  not  well  consisting  with  Law  to  Settle  ye  Estate  in 
and  by  this  Probate." 

The  doubt  as  to  whetlier  this  was  the  right  "  Probate"  or  not,  arose 
so  far  as  can  now  be  ascertained,  from  a  doubt  in  relation  to  the 
boundaries  between  Connecticut  and  New  York.  Nothing  further 
appears  on  our  records  in  regard  to  the  matter,  and  the  estate  was 
probably  settled  in  the  other  colony. 

Umbrellas  were  introduced  into  town  just  before  the  Revolution, 
and  were  at  first  considered  by  the  sturdy,  rural  population,  as  a  very 
effeminate  thing.  Parasols  were  not  used  by  the  fair  damsels  till 
many  years  later. 

When  calico  was  first  introduced,  it  was  sold  for  five  or  six  shil- 
lings sterling  per  yard,  and  the  favored  woman  who  was  able  to  have 
a  gown  of  that  fabric,  was  dressed  in  the  ''Jirst  fashion."  She  was 
the  "  observed  of  all  observers,"  and  the  envied  object  of  all  "  linsey- 
woolseydom."  The  finest  and  richest  fabrics  which  the  perfection  of 
manufactures  now  creates,  could  not  produce  a  greater  sensation 
among  the  bright-eyed  damsels  of  a  country  village  at  the  present 
day,  than  did  the  article  in  question,  coarse  and  homely  as  it  was, 
among  the  primitive  dames  of  our  town. 

It  may  appear  doubtful  to  some  whether  the  absurd  belief  in 
witches  ever  had  place  in  this  town.  But  just  as  well  might  one  be 
incredulous  whether  such  a  man  as  Cotton  Mather  and  other  cele- 
brated divines  of  his  day  also  believed  in  Avitchcraft,  and  pledged 
their  reputation  to  the  truth  of  many  cases  which  they  said  came  un- 
der their  own  view.  That  they  honestly  believed  what  they  related, 
can  not  be  doubted  by  one  who  carefully  peruses  the  original.  Be- 
sides they  could  gain  no  advantage  by  a  pretended  belief  in  the  su- 
pernatural developments,  as  they  were  afilictive,  and  that  only,  to  the 
sons  of  men,  and  never  subserved  any  useful  public  or  private  pur- 
pose. The  excited  state  of  public  feeling  existing  at  that  day,  con- 
spired more  to  keep  up  this  strange  belief  in  supernatural  events, 
than  ignorance  and  all  other  causes  combined.     It  was  difficult  for 


HISTORY     OF     ANCIENT     "WOODBURY.  159 

the  most  pious  and  learned  minds  to  give  up  the  infatuated  belief, 
even  after  prosecutions  had  ceased,  and  the  blood  of  victims  no  longer 
drenched  the  thirsty  earth.  As  proof  of  the  assertion,  witness  the 
following  extracts  fi'om  one  of  the  ablest  believers  : 

"  Flashy  people  may  burlesque  these  things,  but  when  hundreds  of  the  most 
sober  people  in  a  country  where  they  have  as  much  mother  wit,  certainly,  as 
the  rest  of  mankind,  know  them  to  be  true,  nothing  but  the  absurd  and  froward 
spirit  of  Saducism  can  question  them.  I  have  not  yet  mentioned  one  thing, 
that  will  not  be  justified,  if  it  be  required,  by  the  oaths  of  more  considerate  per- 
sons than  can  ridicule  this  od  phenomena." 

"  But  the  worst  part  of  this  astonishing  tragedy  is  yet  behind  ;  wherein  Sir 
William  Phips,i  at  last  being  dropt  as  it  were,  from  the  machine  of  Heaven, 
was  an  instrument  of  easing  the  distresses  of  the  land,  now  so  darkned  by  the 
Lord  of  Hosts.  There  were  very  worthy  men  upon  the  Spot  where  the  assault 
from  hel  was  first  made,  who  apprehended  themselves  called  from  the  God  of 
Heaven,  to  sift  the  business  unto  the  bottom  of  it ;.  and  indeed,  the  continual 
impressiveness  which  the  outcries  and  the  havocks  of  the  afflicted  people,  that 
lived  nigh  unto  them,  caused  on  their  minds,  gave  no  little  edge.  They  did  take 
it  for  granted,  that  there  are  witches,  or  wicked  children  of  men,  who  upon 
covenanting  with  and  commissioning  of  evil  spirits,  are  attended  by  their  min- 
istr}^to  accomplish  the  things  desired  of  them." 

"  In  fine,  the  last  Courts  that  sate  upon  this  thorny  business,  finding  that  it 
was  impossible  to  penetrate  into  the  whole  meaning  of  the  things  that  had  hap- 
pened, and  that  so  many  unsearchable  cheats  were  interwoven  into  the  conclu- 
sion of  a  mysterious  business,  which  perhaps  bad  not  crept  thereinto  at  the 
beginning  of  it,  they  cleared  the  accused  as  fast  as  they  tried  them ;  and  within 
a  little  while  the  afflicted  were  most  of  them  delivered  out  of  their  troubles 
also ;  and  the  land  had  peace  restored  unto  it  by  the  God  of  peace  treading 
Satan  under  foot." 

Perhaps  then,  the  people  of  Woodbury  will  be  excused,  if  some  of 
their  number  believed,  they,  at  one  time,  had  a  veritable  witch  within 
their  borders.  That  this  belief  existed  can  not  be  doubted.  The 
name  of  the  notorious  personage  was  Moll  Cramer.  She  was  the 
wife  of  the  elder  Adam  Cramer,  a  blacksmith,  who  lived  somewhere 
in  "West-Side,  about  the  year  1753.  As  popular  belief  goes,  he  hved 
with  Moll,  his  wife,  and  kept  her  in  good  temper  and  spirits  as  long 
as  he  could.  He  took  especial  pains  not  to  offend  her,  for  whenever 
he  was  so  unlucky  as  to  fall  under  her  ire,  everything  went  wrong 
with  hun.  If  he  was  shoeing  a  horse,  and  she  came  round  in  wrath- 
ful mood,  no  shoe,  however  well  secured  to  the  hoof,  no  strength  of 


1  Sh-  William  Phips,  at  this  time  (1691)  Governor  of  Massachusetts,  was  the  prin- 
cipal instrument  in  overthrowing  the  ridiculous  notions  concerning  witchcraft. 


IGO  niSTOUY     OF     ANCIENT     WOODBUnY. 

nails,  was  able  to  withstand  lior  inllueiice.  The  shoe  would  begin  to 
loosen,  and  immediately  fell  ofl". 

After  a  while  her  conduct  became  so  offensive  and  unendurable, 
that  her  character  as  a  witch  became  established,  and  it  was  then 
necessary  for  Adam,  in  order  to  maintain  a  good  character  among  his 
neighbors,  and  not  be  suspected  as  also  "  holding  familiarity  with 
Satan,"  to  dismiss  her  from  his  presence,  and  she  was  accordingly 
driven  from  his  house.  She  took  with  her  a  little  son,  and  went  to 
Good  Hill,  where  she  constructed  a  cabin  of  poles  and  boards  to  shel- 
ter herself  and  son  from  the  storms  of  heaven.  Here  she  lived  and 
eked  out  a  scanty  subsistence  by  begging  from  the  much  annoyed 
neighborhood.  Her  son,  who  was  believed  to  have  been  bewitched 
by  her,  and  could  not  be  separated  from  her,  was  her  constant  com- 
panion in  all  her  begging  peregrinations,  as  well  as  in  the  filthy  straw 
of  her  cabin.  No  one  of  the  neighbors  dared  refuse  her  anything  she 
asked  for.  If,  for  instance,  she  asked  for  a  piece  of  pork,  and  it  was 
denied  her,  a  blight  fell  upon  that  man's  swine,  and  like  the  "lean 
kine,"  it  was  imj^ossible  ever  to  fatten  them  sufficiently  to  render 
them  a  fit  article  of  consumption.  When  Moll  appeared  abroad,  she 
was  an  object  of  dread  and  ap[)rehension.  None  dared  to  offend  her. 
The  school  children  on  her  approach,  fled  to  the  school-house,  and 
when  they  came  rushing  with  fearful  countenances  into  the  room,  it 
was  always  a  sufficient'  answer  for  the  luckless  little  urchins,  when 
inquired  of  by  the  teacher  as  to  the  cause  of  their  mad  haste,  to  say, 
"  Moll's  coming."  If  she  visited  a  house  where  the  process  of  spin- 
ning was  going  on,  the  band  of  the  wheel  would  fly  off,  the  thread 
would  break,  the  flyers  would  become  disengaged,  or  some  unpleasant 
misfortune  Avould  continue  to  occur  during  her  stay. 

One  day  she  went  into  the  house  of  a  neighbor,  who  was  churning 
cream.  She  conversed  indifferently  with  the  lady  of  the  house  about 
butter  and  other  matters,  and,  after  a  time,  retired.  The  churning 
went  on  during  the  afternoon  and  evening,  but  no  butter  was  produced. 
Next  morning  the  churning  was  resumed  by  the  good  dame  and  her 
husband,  with  no  better  success  than  before.  After  a  long  time,  it 
occurred  to  them  that  Moll  had  been  there  the  preceding  day,  and 
that  she  had  doubtless  bewitched  the  cream.  The  good  man  of  the 
house,  determining  to  burn  the  witch  out  of  the  cream,  heated  a  horse- 
shoe and  dropped  it  into  the  churn.  A  few  moments  after,  the  pro- 
cess of  churning  ceased,  and  the  object  desired  was  attained. 

One  day  a  party  of  girls,  one  of  them  now  an  aged  lady  still  living 
in  the  ancient  territory,  and  who  attests  to  the  facts  above  related? 


HISTORY     OF     ANCIENT     AVOODBURT.  161 

together  with  this  occurrence,  went  to  gather  grapes  near  Moll's 
cabin.  They  picked  their  way  to  the  spot  with  great  caution  and 
secrecy,  for  fear  of  being  seen  by  Moll,  who  would  undoubtedly  be- 
witch their  grapes,  so  that  they  could  not  be  eaten.  AVliile  gather- 
ing the  grapes,  they  stationed  a  sentinel  to  give  them  warning  if  Moll 
appeared.  After  a  while  the  sentinel  observed  her  coming,  and  gave 
the  alarm.  They  ran  "  across  lots,"  kept  out  of  her  way,  and,  as 
they  supposed,  saved  their  fruit,  but  upon  trial  it  was  found  to  be 
utterly  unfit  for  use. 

Such,  in  the  language  of  Herodotus,  are  the  "  facts  related  to  me  in 
the  neighborhood,"  and  believed  by  many  people,  well  informed  on 
other  subjects.  They  are  to  be  classed  and  explained  with  similar 
events  happening  elsewhere  in  different  ages  and  diverse  climes. 

In  October,  1751,  as  various  divisions  of  land  had  been  granted 
and  were  still  to  be  granted,  it  was  desirable  to  know,  as  accurately 
as  possible,  who  were  the  original  proprietors,  and  what  was  the  ex- 
tent of  their  rights.  Accordingly  we  find  that  at  a  town  meeting  of 
this  date.  Col.  Joseph  Minor  and  Capt.  Thomas  Knowles  were  ap- 
pointed a  committee  to 

"Endeavor  to  find  out  what  is  the  propoitiou  of  Each  proprietor  according 
to  their  original  grants." 

Two  weeks  later,  October  21st,  1751,  they  reported  a  list  of  nana'es 
according  to  requirement,  and  the  town  took  the  following  action  in 
the  premises : 

"  The  list  of  the  Names  of  the  proprietors,  as  they  are  hereafter  Recorded, 
being  Drawn  by  Col.  Joseph  Minor,  and  Capt.  Thomas  Knowles,  a  committee 
appointed  for  that  purpose.  In  which  meeting  it  was  voted  and  Concluded  as 
follows,  viz  ;  Forasmuch  as  Many  of  the  Names  of  the  original  proprietors  of  the 
Lands  in  Woodbury  are  lost,  or  torn  out  of  said  Proprietors  Records,  whicli 
would  hereafter  be  likely  to  breed  many  unhappy  Contentions,  which  to  pre- 
vent, it  is  voted  and  concluded  as  follows,  viz  ; 

"That  the  List  of  the  Names  of  the  proprietors  of  Lands  in  Woodbury,  pre- 
sented to  this  meeting  by  CIol.  Joseph  Minor  and  Capt.  Thomas  Knowles,  a 
Committee  appointed  for  that  purpose.  Shall  be  held  good  and  valid,  both  as  to 
the  Number  of  proprietors,  ami  the  bigness  of  Each  accommodation  alTixed  in 
Said  list  unto  the  Name  of  Each  proprietor,  unless  any  one  proprietor  can  Shew 
Evidently  to  the  contrary.^ 
Jonathan  Atwood  12  John  Brooks, 
Thomas  Applebee  10  Ebenezer  Brownson 
James  Beers  12       Thomas  Bedient 

Samuel  Bull  10       John  Baker 

John  Bartlet  12       Cornelius  Brownson 

1  Proprietors'  Book,  p.  43,  et : 


10 

Richard  Brownson, 

10 

10 

Samuel  Blakelee 

10 

12 

Cornelius  Bronson 

12 

10 

Henry  Castle,  Jr. 

12 

10 

Samuel  Castle 

12 

162                      IIISTOKY     OK     ANCIKNT 

WOODBURY. 

Jolin  Curti-!s 

12 

Nathaniel  Hnrlbut 

10 

John  Nichols 

10 

Steplii'ii  Ciirliss 

10 

JohnHnthwit  2  grants  5 

Samuel  Nichols 

12 

Lt.  Israel  ("iirtiss 

If, 

"  Thomas  Hurlbut 

IG 

Andrew  Nichols 

10 

Isr:u-ll  Ciiitiss,  Jr. 

IJ 

Jonathan  Hough 

12 

Valentine  Prentis 

10 

Henry  Cusile  2 

12 

Benjamin  Hieoek 

12 

William  Preston 

5 

IsiuiC  Civstle 

12 

Lt.  Joseph  Judson 

25 

Jehicl  Preston 

5 

Joshuii  Ciiiliss 

10 

John  Judson  first 

12 

John  Pierce  1 

12 

William  ta.Mle 

10 

John  Judson  2J 

10 

John  Pierce  2 

10 

Tli.)in:)s  DialJy 

12 

Josepli  Judson 

10 

Hackaliah  Preston 

16 

John  Davis  •^runt 

10 

Jonathan  Judson 

10 

the  parsonage  right 

20 

Thomas  linikly  Vi ' 

10 

David  Jenkings 

10 

the  three  Prestons 

10 

Abraham  Fullbrd 

12 

Samuel  Jcnner 

12 

Mr.  Samuel  Slierman 

25 

John  Fern 

10 

Moses  Johnson  first 

12 

Capt.  John  Sherman 

12 

Thomas  Faircliiid 

12 

John  Johnson 

10 

John  Root  1 

12 

William  Fredrick 

10 

Moses  Johnson  2ii 

10 

William  Roberts 

10 

Benjamin  Galjjin 

12 

Eliphalct  Judson 

10 

Josiah  Root 

10 

William  Gaylord 

10 

Josejih  Judson  :J' 

10 

Mr.  Anthony  Stoddard 

25 

Joseph  (lalpin 

10 

Horace  Knowles 

12 

Thomas  Scjuire  1 

IG 

Joseph  Ilmlbut,  sen' 

■  12 

Thomas  Knowles 

10 

Thomas  Squire  2 

12 

Joseph  IIuilijuf2J 

12 

Samuel  Knowles 

10 

Ebenezer  Squire 

10 

Cornelius  Hurlbut 

10 

Thomas  Levenwortb 

1   12 

Samuel  Sherman 

10 

Jonathan  Hnrlbut 

10 

John  Levenworth 

12 

Adino  Strong 

10 

John  Ilurlhut 

12 

Thomas  Le 

10 

Francis  Stiles 

10 

Benjamin  Kurd 

10 

Capt.  John  Minor 

20 

Benjamin  Stiles 

12 

Ebenezer  Ilnrd 

10 

William  Martin 

12 

John  Skeel  1 

12 

Robert  Hurd 

10 

John  Minor  2 

12 

John  Skeel  2 

12 

Josepli  Hurd 

10 

Samuel  Minor 

10 

Thomas  Skeel 

10 

Peter  Hawiey 

10 

Thomas  Minor 

12 

Lt.  Samuel  Stiles 

16 

Joseph  Hieoek 

12 

Joseph  Minor 

12 

Samuel  Squire 

10 

John  Hiilhwit 

12 

Epluaini  Minor 

12 

John  Squire 

10 

Benjamin  Hinman 

10 

Josiali  Minor 

10 

Elnathan  Strong 

10 

Adam  Hinman 

10 

John  Mitchel  1 

12 

Jonathan  Squire 

10 

Edward  Hinman 

IS 

John  Mitcliel  2 

10 

John  Sherman  2 

10 

Titus  Hinman 

12 

Mathew  Mitchel 

12 

John  Stratton 

10 

Samuel  Hinman 

12 

Jonathan  Mitchel 

10 

Joseph  Seely 

15 

Andrew  Hinman 

10 

Samuel  Mun  1 

12 

Roger  Torrel  1 

12 

Noah  Hinman 

10 

Samuel  Mun  2 

10 

Stephen  Tin-rel 

10 

Benjamin  Hurd  2 

10 

Josi'ph  Martin 

10 

Jeremiah  Thomas 

10 

Samuel  Hieoek 

10 

Aaron  Mallary 

10 

Nathaniel  Tultle 

12 

John  Hurd 

10 

first  Mill  accommod: 

1- 

Ephraim  Tuttle 

10 

Samuel  Hull 

10 

tion 

IG 

Hezekiah  Tuttle 

10 

John  Hnr<l  lirst 

25 

■  William  Mack 

12 

Roger  Terrel  2 

10 

Joseph  Hinick  first 

10 

Ditto  for  his  sons 

10 

John  Thomas  2 

10 

Denis  Hart 

9 

Samuel  Martin 

10 

Ezra  Terrel 

10 

Henry  Hill 

10 

Daniel  Mun 

10 

John  Thomas  1 

12 

Epliraim  Hinman 

10 

Thomas  Mallary 

5 

Ambrose  Thompson 

IG 

Joseph,  l!riij"\-,  Sam' 

the  2  mill  accomoda 

.- 

Ebenezer  Warner 

12 

Hicorl; 

10 

tion 

10 

Robert  Warner 

12 

Joseph  Hinman 

10 

Caleb  Nichols 

18 

Joseph  Wallar 

12 

HISTORY     OF     ANCIENT     WOODBURY.  163 

Zacliariah  Walker  12  Thomas  Wheeler  12  Mr.  Zacbariah  Walker  25 
John  Wheeler  1  IG     John  Wyat  10     Dr.  Ebenezer  Warner^     5" 

John  Wheeler  2  10     Timothy  Walker  10 

This  list  is  given  entire,  as  it  is  probably  an  almost  perfect  list  of 
the  original  proprietors  to  this  time,  and  as  such  worthy  of  preserva- 
tion. 

In  the  expedition  against  the  Spanish  West  Indies,  in  1740,  "Wood- 
bury had  some  soldiers,  but  as  most  of  the  troops  in  that  fatal  cam- 
paign perished  of  pestilence,  their  names  are  lost.  In  May,  1743, 
and  during  the  same  troubles,  it  appears  that  some  suspicious  men 
were  lurking  about  on  the  frontiers  of  the  colony,  and  the  circum- 
stance was  deemed  of  sufficient  importance  to  be  brought  to  the  atten- 
tion of  the  General  Assembly  then  in  session.  The  matter  was  re- 
ferred to  a  committee,  who  immediately  reported, 

"  That  we  are  well  informed,  that  there  are  Several  Strangers,  and  we  sup- 
pose that  they  are  not  of  our  Kings  Subjects,  but  forraigners,  which  are  Strug- 
gling about  the  inland  parts  of  Fairfield  County,  and  the  Western  parts  of 
Hartford  &  Sometimes  in  New-Haven  County,  and  that  in  a  more  especiall 
manner,  they  are  conversant  with  those  Indians,  that  Inhabite  at  podetuck  in 
Woodbury,  and  those  that  live  West  of  the  Housatonick  River  Westward  of  the 
Town  of  Kent,  *  *  *  *  '  *  * 

and  that  the  Indians  are  more  and  morfe  estranged  I'rorn  his  Majesty's  Subjects 
by  their  means,  and  upon  the  whole  we  feare  his  Majesty's  Interests  may  be 
greatly  Indangered  by  Said  Strangers.'"^ 

For  which  reasons  they  recommended  the  arrest  of  those  "  Stran- 
gers," and  their  examination.  A  resolution  to  that  effect  was  ac- 
cordingly passed,  but  whether  the  men  were  arrested,  or  what  the 
subsequent  proceedings  were,  can  not  now  be  determined. 

The  story  of  the  unhappy  inhabitants  of  Acadia,  or  the  "  French 
Neutrals,"  is  well  known — a  story  of  wrong,  oppression  and  outi'age 
upon  humanity  without  excuse.  Acadia,  or  Nova  Scotia,  after  re- 
peated conquests  and  restorations,  was  at  last,  by  the  treaty  of 
Utrecht,  yielded  to  Great  Britain.  The  old  inhabitants  remained  on 
the  soil  they  had  subdued  and  cultivated,  and  for  nearly  forty  years 
after  the  peace  resulting  from  this  treaty,  they  had  been  left  to  them- 
selves, and  prospered  in  their  seclusion  from  the  great  world.  They 
had  promised  submission  to  England,  but  loving  the  language,  usages 
and  religion  of  their  forefathers,  they  would  not  fight  against  the 
standard  of  France,  or  renounce  its  name.     They  had  fertile  and 

1  Proprietors'  Book,  p.  43,  et  seq.  2  War,  vol.  4,  pp.  126, 127. 


1 G4  n  I  s  T  o  u  T    or    a  x  c  i  e  n  t    w  o  o  d  b  r  n  t . 

cultivated  fit-Ids,  which  were  covered  with  tlieir  flocks  and  herds. 
Tliey  constructed  lionses  neatly  built  in  clusters,  which  were  well 
furnished  with  the  comforts  and  conveniences  of  civilized  life.  They 
were  happy  in  the  abundance  their  own  hands  provided,  and  formed 
as  it  were,  one  great  family.  They  were  of  pure  morals,  and  actua- 
ted by  unaffected  devotion  to  the  faith  of  their  fathers.  When  Eng- 
land began  to  send  numerous  colonists  to  Nova  Scotia,  their  priests 
beraific  alarmed  for  the  security  of  their  church,  and  fomented  dis- 
aifection.  The  arrogance  of  the  British  oflicers,  and  the  cruelties 
inflicted  on  these  unoffending  people,  greatly  added  to  it.  Their 
property  was  taken  for  the  public  service  without  their  consent,  and 
without  stipulation  with  them  in  regard  to  payment.  Compelled  to 
fetch  fire-wood,  even,  for  their  oppressors,  they  were  assured,  that  if 
there  was  any  delay  in  bringing  it,  the  soldiers  would  "  absolutely 
take  their  houses  for  fuel."  Under  frivolous  pretenses  they  were 
compelled  to  give  up  their  boats  and  their  fire-arms,  leaving  them 
without  the  means  of  flight  or  defense. 

The  region  east  of  the  St.  Croix  was  entirely  under  the  power  of 
England,  and  no  resistance  was  to  be  feared  from  the  Acadians. 
They  bowed  in  meek  submission  before  their  masters,  willing  to  take 
the  oath  of  allegiance  to  England,  but  still  refusing  to  bear  arms 
against  their  beloved  France.  Their  taskmasters  could  have  exer- 
cised clemency  without  the  slightest  danger  to  themselves,  but  they 
had  determined  otherwise.  The  edict  had  gone  forth,  that  the 
French  Neutrals  should  be  carried  away  captive  to  other  parts  of  the 
British  dominions.  Their  haughty  oppressors  lusted  after  their 
comely  houses  and  fruitful  lands.  No  warning  of  their  purpose  was 
given,  till  it  was  ready  to  be  executed.  As  soon  as  they  perceived 
the  dangers  that  awaited  them,  they  offered  to  swear  unconditional 
allegiance  to  the  government,  but  they  were  not  allowed  to  do  so, 
being  told  that  having  once  refused  the  oaths,  they  could  not  now  be 
administered ;  and  some  of  the  principal  men  were  imprisoned.  It 
was  unanimously  determined  in  solemn  council,  to  send  the  French 
inhabitants  out  of  the  pi'ovince,  and  to  distribute  them  among  the 
several  colonies  of  the  continent,  that  they  might  not  be  able  to  re- 
turn and  molest  the  intruders  who  should  secure  their  beautiful 
homes  and  cultivated  fields. 

They  secured  their  persons  by  artifice.  By  pi-oclamation  all  the 
males  from  ten  years  old  and  upward  were  peremptorily  ordered  to 
appear  at  their  respective  posts,  on  the  5th  of  September,  1755. 


«  HISTORY     OF     ANCIENT     ^OODBURT.  16o 

Tliey  obeyed,  and  at  one  of  the  places  of  assembling,  Avhich  was  a 
church,  they  were  informed  by  the  American  commander 

"  You  ai-e  convened  together,  to  manifest  to  yon,  his  Majesty's  final  resolu- 
tion to  the  French  inhabitants  of  this,  his  province.  Your  lands  and  tenements, 
cattle  of  all  kinds,  and  live  stock  of  all  sorts,  are  forfeited  to  the  crown,  and  you 
yourselves  are  to  be  removed  from  this  his  province.  I  am  through  his  Majes- 
ty's goodness,  directed  to  allow  you  liberty  to  carry  oft'  your  money  and  house- 
hold goods,  as  many  as  you  can,  without  discommoding  the  vessels  you  go  in." 

They  were  then  declared  the  king's  prisoners,  and  their  wives  and 
families  shared  the  same  fate.  "  The  blow  was  sudden  ;  they  had 
left  their  homes  but  for  the  morning,  and  they  never  were  to  return. 
Their  cattle  were  to  stay  unfed  in  the  stalls,  their  fires  to  die  out  on 
their  hearths.  They  had  for  that  first  day,  even,  no  food  for  them- 
selves or  their  children,  and  were  compelled  to  beg  for  their  bread !" 

The  l()th  of  September  was  the  day  appointed  for  the  first  embark- 
ation of  the  exiles.  One  hundred  and  sixty-one  constituted  the  first 
company  ordered  to  march  on  board  the  vessel,  which  was  to  take 
them  from  their  homes  forever.  It  was  possible  for  them  to  leave 
their  homes,  their  lands,  and  their  garners,  but  it  severed  a  sensitive 
chord  in  the  human  bosom,  when  called  upon  to  leave  their  parents, 
wives  and  children.  Neither  the  pen  nor  the  imagination  can  paint 
the  scene  that  followed.  Forced  by  the  bayonet,  the  men  were  driv- 
en on  board,  and  the  women  and  children  were  left  till  other  trans- 
ports should  arrive.  The  miserable  people  left  behind  were  kept  near 
the  sea,  without  proper  food,  or  clothing,  or  shelter,  till  their  turn 
came,  but  the  fierce  winds  of  December'  "had  struck  the  shivering, 
half-clad,  broken-hearted  sufferers,  before  the  last  of  them  were  re- 
moved." Seven  thousand  of  these  exiles  were  forced  on  board  ships, 
and  scattered  among  the  colonies,  from  New  Hampshire  to  Georgia, 
according  to  previous  determination.  Four  hundred  were  sent  into 
Connecticut,  by  Gov.  Lawrence,  and  were  distributed  among  the 
towns  of  the  colony,  according  to  their  lists,  by  the  General  Assem- 
bly, which  convened  January  21,  1756,  for  that  purpose.  The  share 
that  fell  to  Woodbury,  was  nine.  The  names  of  four  only  are  now 
known,  Petre  Beaumont,  Henrie  Scisceau,  Alexandre  Pettigree,  and 
Philemon  Cherevoy.  The  descendants  of  the  latter  are  now  resi- 
dents of  the  town.  The  selectmen  of  the  several  towns  were  desired 
to  find  accommodations  for  them,  at  some  distance  from  the  settle-- 
ments,  and  take  care  to  keep  them  at  some  suitable  emjjloyment. 


166  IIISTOUY     OF     AN  CI  F.N  T     "WOOD  BURT.  • 

Thus  wore  these  unhappy  jioople  scattered  in  small  and  sorrowful 
bands  throu;?Iiout  the  land.  They  were  without  resources,  and  the 
households  to  which  they  belonged  were  scattered  they  knew  not 
where.  The  newspapers  of  the  day  were  burdened  with  advertise- 
ments from  members  of  families,  seeking  those  they  had  lost.  They 
si'^hed  for  their  native  land,  but,  to  prevent  their  return,  it  had  been 
laid  waste,  and  their  much  loved  homes  were  but  heaps  of  ruins. 
"A  beautiful  and  fertile  tract  of  country  was  reduced  to  a  solitude." 
Misfortune  pursued  them  wherever  they  fled.  "  I  know  not,"  says 
Bancroft,  "  if  the  aimals  of  the  human  race  keep  the  record  of  sor- 
rows so  wantonly  inflicted,  so  bitter  and  so  perennial  as  fell  upon  the 
French  inhabitants  of  Acadia."  "  We  have  been  true,"  said  they  of 
themselves,  "to  our  religion,,  and  true  to  ourselves ;  yet  nature  ap- 
pears to  consider  us  only  as  the  objects  of  public  vengeance." 

In  1744,  war  was  proclaimed  between  France  and  England.  In 
1745,  an  expedition  against  Louisburg  was  planned- and  put  in  exe- 
cution, and  its  capture  was  consummated.  Connecticut  furnished 
more  than  one  thousand  men  for  this  expedition,  commanded  by  Roger 
Wolcott,  afterward  governor  of  the  colony.  Woodbury  furnished  a 
portion  of  these,  but  how  many  is  not  now  known.  Zechariah  Brins- 
made,  to  whom  those  now  bearing  the  name  in  the  ancient  territory 
are  related,  was  one  of  these  soldiers. 

In  1755,  this  war  was  renewed,  and  during  its  continuance,  there 
were  four  expeditions  against  Crown  Point,  in  each  of  which  men 
and  officers  from  Woodbury  figured.  In  short,  during  all  the  wars 
between  France  and  the  mother  country,  which  affected  the  colonies, 
Woodbury  furnished  not  only  men  but  field-otficers.  In  the  first  year 
of  this  war,  Connecticut  i\aised  one  thousand  men,  under  the  com- 
mand of  Col.  Lyman  and  Elizur  Goodrich,  Esq.  Woodbury  fur- 
nished two  Captains,  Capt.  Benjamin  Ilinman,  and  Capt,  Adam  Hin- 
man,  and  a  large  number  of  soldiers.  In  the  battle  near  Lake 
George,  on  the  8th  of  September,  Capt.  Adam  Ilinman  was  wounded 
in  the  shoulder  by  a  grape-shot.  In  175G,  twenty-five  hundred  men 
were  raised  in  Connecticut  for  the  invasion  of  Canada,  and  the  quota 
from  Woodbury  was  increased,  under  the  command  of  the  same  offi- 
cers from  the  town  as  before.  Next  year,  Capt.  Benjamin  Ilinman 
was  again  in  the  field  by  commission  from  Gov.  Thomas  Fiteli.  In 
this  year  there  was  an  "  alarm"  for  the  relief  of  Fort  William  Henry, 
near  Lake  George.  Two  companies  marched  from  Woodbury  with 
all  haste.  One  numbered  eighty  men,  under  the  command  of  Capt. 
Ebenezer  Downs,  and  the  other  ninety-six,  under  the  command  of 


UISTORY     OF     ANCIENT     AVOODBUUY.  167 

Capt.  Wait  Hinman.  Among  the  rank  and  file  of  the  latter  compa- 
ny, were  Hezekiah  Thompson,  Esq.,  the  first  regular  lawyer  in  the 
town,  and  Doctor  Joseph  Perry.  These  companies  were  absent  from 
town  about  three  weeks.  A  full  list  of  the  men  engaged  will  be 
found  among  the  statistics  at  the  close  of  the  volume.  Connecticut 
had  already  furnished  fourteen  hundred  men  for  the  campaign,  and 
sent  five  thousand  more  in  this  "  alarm."  During  this  year,  1757, 
Adam  Hinman  was  appointed  captain  of  one  of  the  companies  that 
were  raised  in  Connecticut,  and  placed  under  the  command  of  the 
Earl  of  Loudoun,  for  resisting  the  encroachments  of  tlie  French  at 
Crown  Point.' 

But  hitherto  colonial  otRcers  had  had  little  standing  among  the 
"  regulars."  Every  officer  in  the  regular  service,  of  whatever  rank, 
took  precedence  of  those  in  the  colonial  service.  They  were  treated 
with  the  greatest  hauteur,  and  even  insolence,  by  the  royal  ofiicers 
sent  here,  swelling  with  pride,  to  domineer  over  the  provincials, 
caring  more  to  show  their  superiority  over  the  latter  than  to  advance 
the  king's  interests.  Although  the  colonists  had  answered  the  sum- 
mons of  the  king  with  the  greatest  alacrity,  yet  their  bui'ning  ardor 
was  unavailing,  abused  and  frowned  upon  as  they  were.  They  were 
kept  in  close  subjection  to  the  regulars,  and,  remaining  in  idleness, 
as  well  as  those  who  lorded  it  over  them,  they  had  no  opportunity  to 
exhibit  the  native  courage  which  burned  in  their  bosoms,  and  conse- 
quently had  done  nothing.  Yet  instances  of  courage  and  daring 
flashed  up  in  every  part  of  the  colonies,  disconnected  with  the  royal 
service.  During  the  years  175G  and  1757,  Abercrombie  and  the 
Earl  of  .Loudoun,  though  having  large  bodies  of  troops  under  their 
command,  both  regular  and  provincial,  through  indolence  and  imbe- 
cility, did  absolutely  nothing,  while  Montcalm  and  other  French  ofii- 
cers were  pressing  their  successes  in  every  direction.  The  campaign 
of  1757,  ended  most  ingloriously.  To  the  incapacity  and  pusillanimi- 
ty of  these  commanders,  are  to  be  attributed  the  constantly  recurring 
losses  of  that  yeai-.  Had  the  colonies  been  left  to  themselves  they 
would  have  done  better.  Indeed  the  ministry  of  England  and  the 
men  employed  by  them  were  such  that  disaster  and  loss  attended 
them  in  almost  every  part  of  the  globe.  Even  a  British  historian, 
speaking  of  the  campaign  of  1757,  says,  "  That  it  ended  to  the  eter- 
nal disgrace  of  those  who  then  commanded  the  armies,  and  directed 
the  councils  of  Great  Britain."     Yet  these  imbecile  men  contrived  to 

1  State  Archives,  War,  vol.  6. 


168  IIISTOHY     OF     ANCIENT     -WOODBrRY. 

satisfy  the  home  government,  by  coni]>hiints  of  America.  It  was 
nothing  that  the  few  successes  wliicli  had  been  gained,  had  been  prin- 
cipally the  result  of  the  efforts  and  bravery  of  the  provincials.  It  was 
nothing  that  they  had  saved  the  remnants  of  Braddock's  army  ;  noth- 
ing that  they  had  conquered  Acadia;  nothing  that  they  had  defeated 
Dieskau  at  Luke  George ;  nothing,  in  their  besotted  imagination, 
could  be  done  while  there  was  no  "  viceroy  or  superintendent  over  all 
the  provinces." 

With  sufh  imbecile  commanders  to  ruin  everything,  the  patriotism 
and  means  of  the  provincials  were  worse  than  wasted.  It  was  of  no 
avail,  that  with  a  ready  zeal  they  rushed  at  each  alarm  to  the  scene 
of  attack.  It  was  of  no  avail  that  each  little  town,  like  Woodbury, 
sent  a  hundred  and  seventy-six  men  for  the  defense  of  a  single  fort. 
It  was  of  no  avail  that  that  fort  was  defended  by  the  gallant  Munro, 
with  a  small  but  faithful  corps — naught  can  save  it.  "  How  peacefully 
rest  the  waters  of  Lake  George  between  their  ramparts  of  highlands  ! 
In  their  pellucid  depths,  the  cliffs  and  the  hills  and  the  trees  leave 
their  image,  and  the  beautiful  region  speaks  to  the  heart,  teaching 
affection  for  nature.  As  yet  not  a  hamlet  rose  on  its  margin  ;  not  a 
straggler  had  thatched  a  log  hut  in  its  neighborhood ;  only  at  its 
.head,  near  the  center  of  a  wider  opening  between  its  mountains.  Fort 
William  Henry  stood  on  its  bank  almost  on  a  level  with  the  lake. 
Lofty  hills  overhung  and  commanded  the  wild  scene,  but  heavy  artil- 
lery had  not  as  yet  accompanied  war-parties  into  the  wilderness.'" 
Such  was  the  scene  on  the  first  of  August,  1757.  A  few  days  later 
the  gallant  commander,  the  patriotic  band,  the  fort  itself,  had  disap- 
peared, and  nothing  remained  to  tell  that  civilization  had, reposed 
upon  its  margin,  but  the  charred  remains  of  the  fortification,  and  here 
and  there  among  the  hills  a  crucifix  to  mark  a  grave. 

But  Pitt  attaining  power  at  this  juncture,  the  P>arl  of  Loudolm  was 
recalled,  while  other  and  better  officers  took  his  jdace.  Lord  Howe, 
Wolfe  and  Amherst  were  leading  officers  under  the  new  regime,  though 
Abercrombie  was  still  nominally  commander-in-chief.  Pitt  rejected 
the  policy  of  degrading  the  colonists,  adopted  by  his  predecessors, 
and  relied  on  the  spontaneous  patriotism  of  the  people.  He  accord- 
ingly obtained  the  king's  order,  that  every  provincial  officer  of  no 
higher  grade  than  colonel,  should  have  equal  rank  with  the  ]iritish, 
according  to  the  date  of  their  respective  commissions.  He  infofmed 
tlic  colonists  that  he  expected  nothing  of  them  but  the  "  levying, 

1  Buuoroft. 


HISTORY     OF     ANCIENT     -WOODBTIKT.  169 

clothing  and  pay  of  the  men,"  and  that  for  these  expenses  he  -would 
''  strongly  recommend  to  parliament  to  grant  a  proper  compensation." 
Upon  his  summons  more  than  twenty  thousand  men  were,  without 
difficulty,  called  into  service. 

The  new  policy  produced  the  most  favorable  results.  In  1758, 
Connecticut  raised  five  thousand  men  for  the  invasion  of  Canada, 
which  were  divided  into  four  regiments.  Col.  Benjamin  Hinman,  of 
Woodbury,  was  commissioned  by  Gov.  Fitch,  as  lieutenant-colonel 
of  the  third  regiment,  and  captain  of  the  second  company  of  foot,  and 
Israel  Putnam,  major  of  the  same  regiment,  and  captain  of  the  third 
company  under  him.  The  greatest  enthusiasm  everywhere  pre- 
vailed. Louisburg  fell  before  the  well-directed  efforts  of  Amherst 
and  Wolfe.  Fort  Frontenac  yielded  to  Bradstreet,  and  Fort  Du- 
quesne  disappeared  in  smoke  before  the  sagacity  and  perseverance  of 
Washington  under  Forbes.  The  only  misfortune  of  the  year,  the 
disgraceful  and  disastrous  defeat  at  Ticonderoga,  came  through  the 
miserable  inefficiency  and  cowardice  of  Abercrombie,  who  had  been 
retained  in  command  by  the  partiality  of  Bute,  against  the  judgment 
of  Pitt.  In  this  expedition  perished  the  gallant  Howe.  Most  of  the 
soldiers  from  Woodbury  went  north  with  Abercrombie,  and  a  large 
proportion  of  them  never  again  saw  their  homes  in  this  pleasant  val- 
ley. Nearlyall  that  the  sword  spared,  disease  swept  away.  After 
this  disastrous  defeat,  Abercrombie  was  recalled  in  November,  and 
Amherst  was  appointed  commander-in-chief. 

In  1759,  Connecticut,  as  in  the  preceding  year,  raised  five  thou- 
sand men.  Col.  Benjamin  Hinman  and  the  other  surviving  officers 
of  the  previous  year,  from  Woodbury,  entered  again  into  the  service, 
with  the  full  quota  of  men  from  our  town.  Among  the  subordinate 
officers  were  Lieut.  Phineas  Castle,  Lieut.  Nathan  Tuttle,  and  Gra- 
ham Hurd.  This  campaign  was  rich  in  victories,  though  destructive 
to  the  troops.  Sir  William  Johnson  captured  Fort  Niagara,  and 
Amherst  forced  the  French  to  retire  from  Ticonderoga  and  Crown 
Point ;  but  by  far  the  most  glorious  event  of  that  campaign  was  the 
surrender  of  Quebec  to  the  victorious  army  under  Wolfe,  who  met 
death  on  the  battle  field,  and  whose  "  spirit  escaped  in  the  blaze  of 
his  glory." 

Of  the  soldiers  from  Woodbury  who  perished  in  this  campaign, 
only  three  names  are  preserved,  Amos  Hurd,  Benjamin  Sanford  and 
Lovewell  Hurd.  Great  was  the  rejoicing  in  Woodbury,  not  unac- 
companied with  sorrow  for  the  loss  of  the  slain,  when  the  news  of  this 
victory  arrived.  Not  here  only  was  such  the  case,  but  everywhere. 
12 


170 


HISTORY     OF     AITCIEXT     -WOODBURY. 


In  the  eloquent  words  of  Bancroft,  '•  America  rung  with  exultation  ; 
the  towns  were  bright  with  iUuniinations  ;  legislatures,  the  pulpit,  the 
press,  echoed  the  general  joy  ;  province  and  families  gave  thanks  to 
God.  England  too,  which  had  shared  the  despondency  of  Wolfe,  tri- 
umphed at  his  victory,  and  wept  for  his  death.  Joy,  grief,  curiosity, 
amazement,  were  on  every  countenance."  "When  the  i)arliament  as- 
sembled, Pitt  modestly  and  gracefully  put  aside  the  praises  that  were 
showered  upon  him.  "  The  more  a  man  is  versed  in  business,"  said 
he,  "  the  more  he  finds  the  hand  of  Providence  everywhere." 


CHAPTER   X. 


EETOLUTIOXART    HISTORY. 


Cause  of  the  War;  Convention  of  1765;  Boston  Port  Bill,  1774;  Town 
ACTION  1774;  Boston  Alarm,  1774;  First  Measures  of  Resistance  by 
THE  Town,  November,  1774;  Association  Articles;  Capture  of  Ticon- 
derooa  and  Crown  Point  by  Ethan  Allen,  1775;  Committees  of  Inspec- 
tion, AND  Acts  of  the  Town  ;  Toryism  ;  Jabez  Bacon's  Salt  sold  by  the 
Committee  of  Inspection  ;  Tory  Complaint  ;  Levies  of  Troops  and  Boun- 
ties ;  Council  of  Safety  ;  Character  of  Hon.  Daniel  Sherman  ;  Com- 
mittees to  provide  for  Soldiers'  Families;  Supplies;  Commissary  Os- 
born's  Purchases  ;  $500,000  worth  of  Provisions  furnished  ;  Salt  $100 
per  bushel;  Events  of  1775;  Lexington  Alarm;  Northern  Army;  150 
Woodbury  Men  in  the  Field;  Events  of  1776;  All  the  Militia  West 
of  Connecticut  River  go  to  New  York  ;  500  Men  furnished  by  the 
Town  ;  Detachment  to  Stamford  ;  New  York  Prisoners  of  War  ;  Beth- 
LEM  Volunteers  ;  Census  and  Militia  ;  Prisoners  at  New  York  ;  Ethan 
Allen  and  others  Prisoners  at  Halifax;  Events  of  1777 ;  Danbury 
Alarm  ;  Soldiers  at  Peekskill  ;  Supplies  furnished  ;  Battle  of  Still- 
water ;  Appearance  of  Troops  ;  Events  of  177S ;  Small  Pox  in  the 
Army;  Events  of  1779;  Affair  at  Norwalk  ;  Col.  Moseley  Resigns; 
Arnold  turns  Traitor;  £45  Bounty  offered  for  Enlistments;  Enlist- 
ments TILL  New  York  should  be  taken;  Events  of  1780  and  1781  ;  La 
Fayette  and  his  Army  pass  through  Woodbury;  Events  of  1752;  Bat- 
tle of  Yorktown  ;  Surrender  of  Cornwallis  ;  Rejoicings  of  the  Peo- 
ple ;  Peace  of  1783  ;  Reflections. 

"We  have  now  arrived  at  one  of  the  most  thrilling  and  interesting 
periods  of  the  history,not  only  of  our  own  town,  but  of  the  North  Amer- 
ican continent.  Many  long  years  have  rolled  their  slow  course  away, 
since  the  stirring  scenes  of  the  Revolution  were  acted,  but  they  live, 
engraved  in  a  manner  never  to  be  effaced,  on  the  memories  of  the  few 
individuals  who  have  "  come  down  to  us  from  a  former  generation," 
witnesses  of  the  events  in  the  "  times  that  tried  men's  souls."  The 
brilliant  events  of  that  important  period  shall  live,  too,  on  the  bright- 
est page  of  history,  while  thought  shall  endure,  or  the  recollection  of 
human  greatness  shall  remain.     Their  fame  shall  be  perennial  with 


172  IIISTOUY      OF     ANCIENT     WOODBURY. 

that  noble  langiiapjc  in  which  they  are  recorded,  now  "spread  more 
Avidely  than  any  that  has  ever  given  expression  to  human  tiiought," 
conveyinfT,  as  it  does,  the  strong  tendency  to  individuality  and  free- 
dom, of  the  Teutonic  race,  its  Imppy  possessor.  The  representatives 
of  that  language  liave  ever  been  famous  for  deeds  of  valor  and  high 
renown.  In  that  most  beautiful  apostrophe  of  Bancroft,  we  would 
most  fervently  join  :  "  Go  forth,  then,  language  of  Milton  and  Hamp- 
den, language  of  my  country  ;  take  possession  of  the  North  American 
continent !  Gladden  the  waste  places  with  every  tone  that  has  been 
rightly  struck  on  the  English  lyre,  with  every  English  word  that  has 
been  spoken  well  for  liberty  and  for  man  !  Give  an  echo  to  the  now 
silent  and  solitary  mountains  ;  gush  out  with  the  fountains  that  as  yet 
sing  their  anthems  all  day  long  without  response  ;  fill  the  valleys  with 
the  voices  of  love  in  its  purity,  the  pledges  of  friendsliip  in  its  faith- 
fulness ;  and  as  the  morning  sun  drinks  the  dew  drops  from  the  flow- 
ers all  the  way  from  the  dreary  Atlantic  to  the  Peaceful  Ocean,  meet 
him  with  the  joyous  hum  of  the  early  industry  of  freemen  !  Utter 
boldly  and  spread  widely  through  the  world  the  thoughts  of  the  com- 
ing apostles  of  the  people's  liberty,  till  the  sound  that  cheers  the  desert 
shall  thrill  through  the  heart  of  humanity,  and  the  lips  of  the  messen- 
ger of  the  people's  power,  as  he  stands  in  beauty  upon  the  mountains, 
shall  proclaim  the  renovating  tidings  of  equal  freedom  for  the  race !" 

It  became  generally  known,  that  at  the  end  of  the  war  with  France, 
new  regulations  would  be  introduced  into  the  governments  of  the 
American  colonies.  The  purpose  of  taxing  them,  and  raising  a  rev- 
enue out  of  them,  for  the  purpose  of  defraying  the  expenses  of  the 
colonial  system,  and  for  replenishing  its  needy  exchequer,  was  now 
planned.  The  mother  country  wished  also  to  punish  some  of  the  re- 
fractory colonies  for  their  insubordination,  and  to  repress  the  rising 
sentiments  of  freedom.  Connecticut  was  said  to  be  "  little  more  than 
a  mere  democracy,  most  of  them  being  upon  a  level,  and  each  man 
thinking  himself  an  able  divine  and  politician,"  and  to  make  its  in- 
habitants a  "  good  sort  of  people,"  it  was  supposed,  all  that  was  ne- 
cessary would  be  to  take  care  that  the  "  Church  should  be  supported, 
and  that  the  charters  of  that  colony,  and  of  its  eastward  neighbors,  be 
demolished." 

It  was  therefore  determined  to  tax  the  colonies,  and  human  ingen- 
uity was  brought  under  contribution  to  invent  the  most  feasible  way 
of  doing  it.  The  result  of  these  efforts  was  the  passage  of  the  Stamp 
Act,  a  most  odious  and  unjust  measure,  which  it  was  further  deter- 
mined should  be  executed  among  the  colonists  by  men  appointed  from 


HISTORY     OP    ANCIENT     WOODBURY.  173 

among  their  own  number.  This  act  required  all  the  business  of  the 
colonies  to  be  carried  on  upon  stamped  paper,  on  which  a  duty  had 
been  paid  to  the  mother  country,  and  rendered  invalid  all  wills,  deeds 
of  sale,  and  instruments  of  all  kinds,  unless  they  were  written  on 
stamped  paper.  This  struck  a  fatal  blow  at  every  interest,  and  the 
very  existence  of  the  commonwealth,  unless  the  arbitrary  provisions 
of  that  act  were  complied  with.  The  passage  of  this  act  aroused  the 
most  intense  excitement,  alarm  and  indignation  throughout  the  colo- 
nies. Absolute  resistance  to  the  execution  of  this  measure  every- 
where appeared,  and  the  men  who  had  been  appointed  by  the  crown 
as  stamp-masters,  were  everywhere  compelled  by  the  excited  people 
to  resign  their  offices,  by  menaces,  and  in  some  instances,  by  force. 
Associations  of  the  "  Sons  of  Liberty"  were  formed  in  various  parts 
of  the  country,  and  measures  taken  to  excite  the  people  to  resistance 
to  such  an  arbitrary  and  unjust  law. 

On  the  11th  of  February,  1766,  a  convention  of  nearly  all  the 
towns  in  Litchfield  county  was  held,  in  which  the  leading  men  of 
Woodbury  figured  largely.  By  this  body  of  men  it  was  "  resolved 
that  the  stamp  act  was  unconstitutional,  null  and  void,  and  that  busi- 
ness of  all  kinds  should  go  on  as  usual."  Then,  too,  the  hum  of  do- 
mestic industry  was  heard  more  and  more  ;  young  women  would  get 
together,  and  merrily  and  emulously  drive  the  spinning  wheel  from 
sunrise  till  dark  ;  and  every  day  the  humor  spread  for  being  clad  in 
homespun.  Delegates  of  the  "  Sons  of  Liberty,"  from  every  town  of 
Connecticut,  met  at  Hartford,  and  were  for  establishing  a  union  as 
the  only  security  for  liberty. 

No  colony  submitted  to  this  law  save  Canada,  Nova  Scotia,  and 
the  Floridas,  which  were  mere  military  governments.  England  be- 
gan to  discover,  that  the  law  could  not  be  executed,  and  sought  a 
way  to  escape  from  the  humiliating  position.  Pitt,  true  to  the  best 
interests  of  genuine  liberty,  took  the  side  of  the  colonists  in  favor  of 
the  unconditional  repeal  of  the  hated  and  unfortunate  law.  It  was 
repealed,  and  great  rejoicing  arose  in  all  the  colonies. 

But  it  soon  became  apparent  to  the  colonists,  that  the  mother 
country  had  by  no  means  abandoned  its  darling  purpose  of  bringing 
them  under  absolute  and  unconditional  subjection.  Discontent,  jeal- 
ousies and  contentions  from  various  causes,  followed  till  1774,  but  the 
more  prominent  and  immediate  cause  of  the  great  and  ever  memora- 
ble struggle  of  the  Revolution,  was  undoubtedly  the  passage  of  the 
Boston  Port  Bill.  This  outrageous  and  malicious  act  excited  uni- 
versal sympathy  for  that  town,  throughout  the  colonies,  but  nowhere 


174  HISTORY     OF     A  X  C  I  E  X  T     WOODBURY. 

wju  it  manifested  in  a  more  lively  or  effective  manner  than  in  Con- 
necticut. The  misery  brought  upon  the  great  commercial  emporium 
of  New  England,  by  this  unnecessary  act  of  the  British  parliament, 
raised  a  spirit  of  resistance  never  before  witnessed  in  this  sober  "  land 
of  steady  habits."  The  General  Assembly,  which  was  in  session  at 
Hartford,  passed  strong  resolutions  against  the  cruel  and  unjust  act, 
and  the  several  towns  in  the  colony  called  large  meetings,  and  passed 
resolutions  expressing  their  disapprobation  of  the  act,  and  their  sym- 
pathy with  the  people  of  Boston.  Donations  were  also  sent  from 
almost  every  town  in  the  state,  for  the  relief  of  the  distressed  inhab- 
itants of  Boston  and  Charlestown.  These  consisted  of  money,  live 
stock,  and  provisions  of  all  sorts.  The  town  meetings,  during  the 
year  1774,  were  conducted  with  the  greatest  propriety,  and  though 
the  people  continued  to  use  loyal  expressions  in  their  resolutions, 
they  breathed  the  utmost  decision  and  firmness  against  oppression, 
and  had  a  very  great  influence  in  arousing  an  almost  universal  spirit 
of  resistance  to  British  oppression,  and  a  full  determination  to  make 
common  cause  with  the  people  of  Boston,  in  their  aiflictions. 

The  people  of  Woodbury  caught  the  prevailing  spirit,  and  a  town 
meeting  was  called  September  20th,  1774,  to  take  into  consideration 
the  "  unhappy  Differences  and  Difficulties,"  and  the  alarming  cir- 
cumstances which  threatened  the  people  of  the  colonies,  and  espe- 
cially the  sufferings  of  the  inhabitants  of  Boston  and  Charlestown. 
The  meeting  was  fully  attended,  and  the  following  determination  was 
the  result  of  their  assembling : 

"  At  a  Meeting  of  the  Inhabitants  of  the  Town  of  Woodbury  on  the  Twen- 
ty'''Day  of  September,  A.  D.  1774,  being  Legally  Warned,  Increase  Moseley, 
Esq'  was  chosen  Moderator,  this  meeting  takeing  into  consideration  the  nnhapy 
Diferences  and  Disputes  subsisting  between  Great  Britain  and  her  colonies,  and 
Particularly  the  unhappy  State  of  Boston  and  Charlestown  and  the  many  Greav- 
iences  and.  Dificulties  the  poor  People  in  Each  of  those  Towns  Labour  under 
occationed  by  sundry  Late  acts  of  Parliment.  Voated  that  Capt  Matthew 
minor  Lieut  Increase  moseley  CajH  Elias  Duning  Mr  Jonathan  Fnrrand  Mr 
Samuel  Hurd  and  Capt  Ebenezer  Down  be  a  com'ee  to  Receive  Such  Gifts  and 
Donations  as  shall  be  Delivered  to  them  by  the  Inhabitants  of  the  Town  of 
Woodbury  for  the  support  of  the  poor  of  the  sd  Towns  of  Boston  and  Charles 
town  and  Shall  Send  such  Donations  as  they  so  Receive  to  the  Select  men  of 
the  Several  Towns  of  Boston  and  Charles  Town  to  be  laid  out  by  them  for  the 
Purpose  afore  sd  in  Such  manner  as  they  jude  Right. 

"a*!  voated  that  Increase  moseley  Esqr  Gideon  Walker  Esq^  Daniel  Everet 
Esqr  Col  Benjamin  Hinman  Thomas  Warner  Esqr  Increase  mosely  Jun^  Dea 
John  Pearse  and  Mr  Hesekiah  Thompson  be  a  comtee  of  correspondence  to 
Receive  and  Communicate  Such  Inteligence  as  may  Find  to  mairiiain  peace 
and  union  in   this  and  the  Neighbouring  Colonies.     The   Right  Rev''  Jonathan 


HISTORY     OF     ANCIENT     WOODBURY.  175 

Shipley  Bishop  of  St  Asaphs  speech  in  the  house  of  Lords  being  read  to  this 
meeting  voted  to  Desire  onr  Representatives  to  Recomend  to  the  General  As- 
sembly of  this  colony  at  their  sessions  in  October  Next  that  they  return  publick 
thanks  to  the  sd  Rev  Doct  Shipley  for  said  Noble  Patriotic  speech  in  favour  of 
British  America!  and  to  all  other  friends  of  America!  in  Great  Britain.  We 
Postpone  any  Particular  Resolves  Relative  to  the  afair  of  Americai  until  the  De- 
termination of  the  General  Congress  Shall  be  Known." 

It  will  be  seen  by  this  vote,  that  although  there  was  sufficient  loy- 
alty in  expression,  yet  the  committee  of  correspondence  was  expected 
to  perform  duties  quite  different  from  exciting  loyalty  to  the  king, 
while  oppression  continued  on  the  part  of  his  government.  In  ac- 
cordance with  this  vote,  a  respectable  amount  of  "  Gifts  and  Dona- 
tions" were  collected  and  forwarded  to  Boston  with  all  possible  dis- 
patch. It  is  to  be  noted,  that  it  was  not  forgotten  by  the  meeting  to 
take  especial  notice  of  the  "  noble,  patriotic  speech"  delivered  by  the 
Rt.  Rev.  Dr.  Shipley,  of  St.  Asaph's,  in  the  House  of  Lords,  in  favor 
of  the  American  colonies.  Besides,  this  meeting  took  place  just  after 
the  "  Great  Boston  Alarm,"  which  occurred  Sept.  3,  1774.  On  this 
occasion  quite  a  number  of  soldiers  marched  from  Woodbury,  and 
joined  the  companies  from  the  other  towns,  as  not  enough  to  make 
a  full  company  of  their  own  volunteered  in  time  to  march  together. 
The  cause  of  this  alarm  was  a  report  that  the  ships  of  war  were 
cannonading  Boston,  and  the  regular  troops  slaying  the  inhabitants, 
without  distinction  of  age  or  sex.  The  news  spread  with  the  great- 
est expedition,  in  all  directions,  and  in  less  than  thirty-six  hours,  the 
country  for  nearly  two  hundred  miles,  was  thoroughly  rallied.  "  From 
the  shores  of  Long  Island  Sound  to  the  green  hills  of  Berkshire,  to 
arms,  to  arms,  was  the  universal  cry.  Instantly,  nothing  was  seen 
on  all  sides,  but  men  of  all  ages  cleansing  and  burnishing  their  arms, 
and  furnishing  themselves  with  provisions  and  warlike  stores,  and 
preparing  for  an  immediate  march ;  gentlemen  of  rank  and  fortune 
exhorting  and  encouraging  others  by  their  advice  and  example.  The 
roads  were  soon  crowded  with  armed  men,  marching  for  Boston  with 
great  rapidity,  but  without  noise  or  tumult.  By  the  most  moderate 
computation,  there  were  in  the  colony  of  Connecticut  alone,  not  less 
than  twenty  thousand  men  completely  armed,  actually  on  their 
march  for  that  town,  with  full  speed,  until  counter  intelligence  was 
received  on  the  road."* 

As  it  had  become  apparent  to  thinking  minds,  that  war  with  the 


1  Hinman's  War  of  the  American  Revolution. 


17G  HISTORY     OF     ANCIENT     WOODBURY. 

inotlicr  country  was  inevitable,  their  great  ol)ject  had  been  to  form 
public  opinion  in  favor  of  a  contest  with  England.  To  do  this,  it  be- 
came necessary  to  infuse  into  the  people  a  proper  appreciation  of 
their  just  rights.  This  was  best  effected  in  that  day  of  scarcity  of 
newspapers,  by  holding  town  meetings,  in  which  they  could  read 
publicly  such  papers  as  treated  upon  the  subject  of  common  interest, 
and  discuss  their  rights  and  grievances.  In  this  manner  the  people 
became  highly  excited  and  exasperated,  and  patriotism  glowed  with 
more  or  less  intensity  in  the  coldest  breasts.  "  The  Congregational 
clergy  of  New  England  were  active  in  the  cause  of  liberty  during 
the  Revolution,  and  taught  the  people  from  their  pulpits,  that  the 
Christian  religion  was  a  stranger  to  mere  despotic  power,  as  the 
great  Montesquieu  declared."  This  was  to  be  expected,  as  they 
were  bound  to  no  "  Head  of  the  Church,"  on  the  other  side  of  the 
water,  to  whom  they  owed  supremacy  and  allegiance,  but  were  the 
representatives  of  a  Christian  democracy. 

Our  fathers  were  fully  up  to  the  spirit  of  the  times,  and  held  fre- 
quent meetings  to  consult  concerning  the  public  weal.  As  soon  as 
they  had  learned  the  action  of  the  Continental  Congress,  and  that  of 
the  October  sesi,ion  of  their  own  legislature,  a  town  meeting  was  duly 
warned  to  take  action  in  regard  to  the  subjects  to  which  the  attention 
of  the  several  towns  had  been  invited.  With  entire  unanimity  and  cor- 
diality, they  indorsed  the  action  of  the  two  bodies  mentioned,  and  took 
the  necessary  measures  to  carry  it  into  effect.  This  meeting  was 
held  Nov.  17,  1774,  and  copies  of  its  votes  follow. 

"At  a  meeting  of  the  Inhabitants  of  the  Town  of  Wooilbury  Novemr  the  17'*", 
1774  being  Legally  Warned  Daniel  Sherman  Esqr  Was  chosen  moderator. 
"  The  association  of  the  Deligatesof  the  american  Colonies  in  the  Late  General 
Congress  held  at  Pheladelphia  Was  Read  to  this  meeting,  and  also  the  Resolves 
Relative  to  it  in  House  of  Representatives  at  the  Last  Sessions  of  the  General 
assembly  of  this  Colony  at  New  Haven,  one  of  which  was  in  these  words 
Namely,  Resolved  that  it  be  and  it  is  hereby  Recommended  to  the  several  Towns 
in  this  Colony  to  Chuse  a  Com'"  of  their  own  Body  agreeable  to  the  Eleventh 
article  of  Association  for  the  purposes  in  s<^  article  Expressed,  this  meeting  ap- 
prove and  accept  said  association  and  prorniss  to  act  agreeable  to  it,  and  that 
the  plan  therein  proposed  may  be  Eliectually  Carryed  into  Eccecution  We  Do 
appoint  Daniel  Sherman  Esq  Mr.  Ilezikiah  Thompson  Cap'  Gideon  Stoddard 
Gideon  Walker  Esq  Edward  Hinman  Andrew  Graham  iSIajor  Increase  Mose- 
ley  Daniel  Everit  Esq  Capt.  Elias  Duning  James  Hannah  Jonathan  Farrand 
Increase  Moseley  Esq  Capt  Nathan  Hicok  Thomas  Warner  Esq  Cupt  Thadeus 
Lacy  Capt  David  Hurd  Eleazer  Mitchell,  Joseph  Tearse  Esq  and  Justus  Pearse 
a  com'"  Whose  Business  it  shall  be  agreeable  to  the  Eleventh  article  attentive- 
ly to  observe  the  conduct  of  all  persons  Touching  s''  association  ice — and  When 


IIISTOKY     OF     ANCIENT     WOODBURY.  177 

it  Shall  be  made  to  appear  to  the  majority  of  ye  s'^  com"^  that  any  Person  With- 
in the  Limits  of  this  Town  have  violated  the  s**  association,  that  s"'  majority  Do 
forthwith  cause  the  truth  of  the  case  to  be  published  in  the  Gazette  to  the  End 
that  all  such  foes  to  ye  Rights  of  British  americai  may  be  publikly  known  and 
uiiivorsially  Contenmod  as  Enemies  to  american  Liberty,  and  thensforth  we  Do 
bind  our  selves  to  break  off  all  Dealings  With  Such  Persons  and  also  with  all 
Persons  in  other  Towns  and  Citys  who  shall  be  found  Guilty  as  above  Ex- 
prcs:;ed,  and  that  it  shall  be  ye  Duty  and  Business  of  the  s'^  com*"'  to  Receive 
and  Communicate  all  Such  intelligence  as  they  shall  judge  to  be  conducive  to 
ye  Peace  and  Tranquility  of  this  and  the  Neighbouring  Colonies  ;  this  meeting 
presents  their  most  thankfull  acknowledgments  to  those  truly  Honourable  and 
Worthy  Gentleman  members  of  y^  Congress  who  have  Shewn  themselves  able 
advocates  of  the  civil  and  Religious  liberty  of  the  american  Colonys. 

"  Voted  that  the  doings  of  this  meeting  be  Recorded  by  the  Town  Clerk  and  a 
Copy  thereof  be  forthwith  sent  to  one  of  the  printers  of  the  Conneticut  Journal 
to  be  published  accordingly.  The  Whole  of  the  above  Written  as  voated  in 
said  Meeting." 

The  decisive  step  seemed  now  to  be  taken.  Neither  party  could 
recede  without  betraying  weakness  or  cowardice  to  the  opposite 
party.  The  Rubicon  seemed  to  have  been  passed,  and  all  waited  the 
next  move  with  intense  solicitude.  Darkness  and  gloom  had  settled 
upon  the  moral  vision,  the  vail  of  the  future  was  drawn  over  the  re- 
sult, and  it  was  impossible  for  the  man  of  greatest  wisdom  to  raise 
that  vail,  and  penetrate  the  mystery  beyond.  The  articles  of  the 
"  General  Congress,"  referred  to  in  the  foregoing  vote  of  the  town, 
are  of  much  interest,  and  were  recorded  by  the  town-clerk  on  the 
land  records  of  the  town.     They  are  as  follows  : 

"  Association  of  the  Continental  Congress  held  in  the  City  of  Philadelphia  on 

the  5th  day  of  September  A.  D.  1774 — 

"In  the  House  of  Representatives  The  Report  of  the  Delegates  of  this  Colony 
in  the  State  Continental  Congress  held  at  Philadelphia  being  made,  accepted 
and  approved.  Resolved  that  the  Association  entered  into  and  signed  by  them 
in  behalf  of  this  Colony  ought  to  be  faithfully  kept  and  observed,  and  that  the 
Same  may  be  fully  known  &  understood  Resolved  that  Said  Association  be 
printed  together  with  this  Resolve  and  Dispersed  throughout  this  Colony  ;  and  it 
is  further  Resolved  that  it  be  and  it  is  hereby  Recommended  to  the  Several 
Towns  in  this  Colony  to  Chuse  a  Committee  of  their  own  Body  agreeable  to  the 
Eleventh  Article  of  s"!  Association  for  the  purposes  in  s<*  article  Express"!. 

"  Test     Richard  Law     Clerk. 

"  Association  &c. 

"  We  his  Majesty's  most  Loyal  subjects  the  Delegates  of  the  Several  Colonys 

of  New  Hamshire,  Massachusets  Bay,  Rhode  Island,  Connecticut,  New  York, 

New  Jersey,   Pennsylvania,  the  three  lower  Counties  of  New  Castle  Kent  & 

Sussex  on  Delaware,  Maryland,  Virginia,  North  Carolina,  and  South  Carolina, 


178  HISTORY    or     AN-CIENT     WOODIiURY. 

Deputed  to  Represent  tliem  in  a  Continental  Congress  held  in  the  Cityof  Phila- 
delpliia  on  the  S'*"  Day  of  September  177-1,  avowing  our  allegiance  to  his  Maj- 
esty, onr  airection  and  Regard  for  our  fellow  subjects  in  Great-Britain  &  EUs- 
wliere,  atlected  with  tl»e  Deepest  anxiety  and  Most  alarming  apprehensions  at 
those  Grievances  and  Destresses  with  which  his  Majesty's  American  Subjects 
are  0|)pressed,  and  having  taken  under  our  Most  Serious  Deliberation  the  State 
of  the  whole  Continent,  find  that  the  present  unhappy  Situation  of  our  atlairs  is 
occasioned  by  a  Ruinous  System  of  Colony  administration  adopted  by  the  Brit- 
ish Ministry  about  the  year  1703,  Evidently  Calculated  for  Enslaving  these  Col- 
onies and  with  them  the  British  Empire,  in  prosecution  of  which  System  vari- 
ous acts  of  Parliament  have  been  passed  for  Raising  a  Revenue  in  America,  for 
Depriving  the  american  Subjects  in  Many  Instances  of  the  Constitutional 
Tryal  by  Jury.  Exposing  their  lives  to  Dangers  by  Directing  a  new  and  illegal 
Tryal  beyond  the  Seas,  for  crimes  alledged  to  have  been  Committed  in  amer- 
ica  and  in  prosecution  of  the  Same  System,  several  late  Cruel  and  oppressive 
acts  have  been  passed  Respecting  the  Town  of  Boston  and  the  Masechusets 
Bay,  and  also  an  act  for  Extending  the  province  of  Quebec  So  as  to  Border  on 
the  Western  frontier  of  these  Colonys,  Establishing  an  arbitrary  Government 
therein  and  Discouraging  the  Settlement  of  British  Subjects  in  Extended  Coun- 
try ;  thus  by  the  Inlluence  of  Civil  principles  and  antient  prejudices  to  dispose 
the  Inhabitants  to  act,  with  hostility  against  the  Free  Protostam  Colonies  ; 
whenever  a  Wicked  Ministry  Shall  chuse  so  to  direct  them. 

"To  obtain  Redress  of  these  grievances  which  Threatened  Distruction  to  the 
Lives,  Liberty  and  property  of  his  Majesty's  Subjects  in  Xorth  amcrica.  We  are 
of  opinion  that  a  non  Importation,  non  Consumpsion  and  non  Exportation  agree- 
ment faithfully  adhered  to  Will  prove  the  Most  Speedy,  Eftectualiy  and  peace- 
able Messure  and  therefore  we  do  for  ourselves  and  the  Inhabitants  of  the  Sev- 
eral Colonies  Whom  we  Represent  firmly  agree  and  associate  under  the  Sacred 
Ties  of  virtue  and  Honour  &;  Love  of  our  Country  as  followeth 

"  First— 

•'  That  from  and  after  the  first  Day  of  December  Nex  we  will  not  Transport 
into  British  america  from  Great  Britain  or  Ireland  any  such  goods  wares  or  Mer- 
chandise as  Shall  have  been  Exported  from  Great  Britain  or  Ireland,  nor  will  We 
after  that  Day  Import  any  East  India  Tea  from  any  part  of  the  world.  Nor  any 
Molasses,  Syrups,  paneles, Coffee,  or  pemento  from  the  British  Plantations  or  from 
Dominica,  nor  Wines  from  Mederia  or  y^  Western  Islands  nor  Foreign  Indigo 

"  Second 

"  that  we  will  neither  Import  nor  purchase  any  Slave  Imported  after  the 
first  Day  of  December  Next .  .  after  which  time  we  will  Wholly  Descontinut/ the 
Slave  trade,  and  will  neither  be  concerned  in  it  ourselves  nor  will  we  hire  our 
vessels  nor  Sell  our  Commodities  or  Manufactuers  to  those  who  are  Concerned 
jn  it. 

"  Third 

"  as  a  non  Consumption  agreement  Strictly  adhered  to  will  be  an  effectual 
Security  for  the  observation  of  the  non  importation.  We  as  above  Solcnmly  agree 
and  associate  that  from  this  day  we  will  not  purchase  or  use  any  Tea  Imported 
on  account  of  the  East  India  Company  or  any  on  which  a  Duty  hath  been  or 
Shall  be  paid,  and  from  and  after  the  first  Day  of  March  Next,  we  Will  not  pur- 
chase or  use  any  East  India  Tea  whatever,  nor  Shall  any  person  for  or  under 


HISTORY     OF     ANCIENT     WOODBUKT.  179 

us  purchase  or  use  any  of  those  goods  Wares  or  Merchandise  We  have  agreed 
not  to  Import  which  we  shall  know  or  have  cause  to  Suspect  were  Imported 
after  the  first  Day  of  December,  Except  Such  as  come  under  the  Rules  and  Di- 
rections of  the  tenth  article  hereafter  Mentioned — 

"  Fourth 

"  The  Earnest  Desire  we  have  not  to  Injure  our  fellow  Subjects  in  Great 
Britain,  Ireland  or  the  west  Indees  Induces  us  to  Suspend  a  non, Exportation 
untill  *he  tenth  Day  of  September  1775  at  which  time  if  the  s^  acts  and  part  of 
acts  of  the  British  Parliament  hereinafter  mentioned  are  not  Repealed,  we  will 
not  Directly  or  Indirectly,  Export  any  Merchandise  or  Comraodety  Whatsoever 
to  Great  Britain,  Ireland  or  the  West  Indies  Except  Rice  to  Europe — 

"  Fifth 

"  Such  as  are  Merchants  and  use  the  British  and  Irish  trade  will  give  Orders 
as  soon  as  possible  to  their  factors,  agents  and  Correspondents  in  Great  Britain 
and  Ireland,  not  to  ship  any  goods  to  them  on  any  pretence  Whatsoever,  as  they 
Cannot  be  Received  in  america,  and  if  any  Merchant  Resideing  in  Great  Brit- 
ain or  Ireland  Shall  Directly  or  indirectly  Ship  any  goods  Wares  or  Merchan- 
dise for  america  in  order  to  Break  the  s*^  non  importation  agreement  or  in  any 
Manner  Contravene  the  Same,  on  such  imworthy  Conduct  being  well  attested 
it  ought  to  be  Made  Publick,  and  on  the  same  being  done  we  will  not  from 
henceforth  have  any  Commercial  Connexion  With  Such  Merchant 

"  Sixth 

"  that  such  as  are  owners  of  vessels  will  give  positive  orders  to  their  Cap- 
tains or  Masters  not  ^to  Receive  on  Board  their  vessels  any  goods  prohibited 
by  S'l  non  importation  agreement  on  pain  of  emediate  Dismission  from  their 
Serviss — 

"  Seventh 

"  We  will  use  our  utmost  endeavours  to  improve  the  breed  of  Sheep  and 
increase  their  number  to  the  greatest  Extent,  and  to  that  end  we  will  use  them  as 
Sparringly  as  may  be.  Es])eceally  those  of  the  most  profitable  kind  nor  will  we 
Export  any  to  the  west  Indies  or  Elswhere,  and  those  of  us  who  are  or  may  be 
overstocked  with  or  can  Conveniently  Spare  any  Sheep  will  dispose  of  them  to 
our  Neighbours  especeally  the  poorer  sort  on  Moderate  terms — 

"  Eighth 

"  That  we  will  in  our  Several  Stations  Encourage  frugallity,  economy  and 
Industry  and  promote  agriculture  arts  ;  and  the  Manufacturies  of  this  Country 
Especially  that  of  Wool,  and  Will  Discountenance  and  Discourage  Every  Spe- 
cies of  Extravagance  and  Dissipation,  Especially  all  horse  Raceing  and  all  kinds 
ofGameing,  Cock  fighting.  Exhibitions  of  Shows,  plays  and  other  Expensive 
Diversions  and  Entertainments,  and  on  the  Death  of  any  Relation  or  friend  none 
of  us  or  any  of  our  famely  Will  go  into  any  further  mourning  Dress,  than  a  black 
Crape  or  Riband  on  the  arm  or  hat  for  Gentlemen  and  black  Riband  and  Neck- 
lace for  Ladies,  and  we  Discontinue  the  giving  of  Gloves  and  Scarfs  at  funer- 
als— 

"Ninth 

"  that  Such  as  are  venders  of  goods  or  Merchandize  Will  not  take  advan- 
tage of  the  Scarcity  of  goods  that  may  be  occasioned  by  this  association,  but 
will  sell  the  same  at  the  rates  we  have  been  Respectively  accustomed  to  do  for 
twelve  months  last  past  and  if  any  vender  of  goods  or  Merchandise  Shall  sell 


180  niSTOKY     OF     ANCIENT     WOODBURY. 

any  Such  goods  on  higher  terms,  or  Shall  in  any  manner  or  by  any  Divice 
Whatsoever  violate  or  Depart  from  this  agreement  no  person  ought,  nor  will  any 
of  us  Deal  with  any  Such  person  or  his  or  her  factor  or  agent  at  any  time  there- 
after for  any  Commodity  Whatsoever — 

"  Tenth 

"  in  Case  any  Merchant,  trader  or  other  persons  Shall  Import  any  goods  or 
merchandise  after  the  first  day  of  December  and  before  the  first  day  of  February 
next,  the  same  ought  forthwith  at  the  Election  of  the  owner  to  be  Either  Re- 
shiped  or  delivred  up  to  the  Committee  of  the  County  or  Town  Wherein  they 
shall  be  imported  to  be  stored  at  the  Risque  of  the  Importer  until  the  non 
importation  agreement  shall  Cease,  or  be  Sold  under  the  direction  of  the 
Con»'ee  ;iforo>'i,  and  in  the  last  mentioned  Case  the  owner  or  owners  of  Such 
goods  Shall  be  reimbursed  (out  of  the  Sales)  the  first  Cost  and  Charges,  the 
profit  if  any  to  be  applied  towards  Ilelieveing  and  imploying  Such  poor  Inhab- 
itants of  the  Town  of  Boston  as  are  Immediate  Sulferes  by  the  Boston  port  Bill, 
and  a  particular  account  of  all  goods  so  Returned,  stored  or  sold  to  be  inserted  in 
the  publick  papers,  and  if  any  goods  or  rnercliandize  shall  be  imported  after  the 
s<i  first  day  of  February  the  same  ought  forthwith  to  be  sent  back  again  Without 
breaking  any  of  the  packages  thereof — 

*'  Eleventh 

"  That  a  Committee  be  Chosen  in  every  County,  City,  or  Town  by  Those 
who  are  quallified  to  voate  for  Representatives  in  the  Legislature  Whose  busi- 
ness it  shall  be  attentively  to  observe  the  Conduct  of  all  persons  touching  this 
association,  and  When  it  shall  be  made  to  appear  to  the  satisfaction  of  a  major- 
ity of  any  such  Committee  that  any  person  within  the  limits  of  their  appoint- 
ment has  violated  this  association  that  such  majority  Do  forthwith  Cause  the 
truth  of  the  Case  to  be  published  in  the  Gazette  to  the  End  that  all  Such  foes  to 
the  Rights  of  British  America  may  be  publickly  known  and  universally  con- 
temned as  tlie  Enemies  of  American  Liberty,  and  thenceforth  we  Respectively 
break  ofl'  all  Dealings  with  him  or  lier — 

"  Twelfth 

"  that  the  Committee  of  Correspondence  in  the  Respective  Colonies  do  fre- 
quently Inspect  the  Entries  of  tlieir  Custom  Houses  and  Enfbrm  each  other  from 
time  to  time  of  the  true  State  thereof,  and  of  Every  other  material  Circumstance 
that  may  occur  Relative  to  this  Association — 

«•  Thirteenth 

"  That  all  manufactriesof  this  Colony  be  Sold  at  Reasonable  prices,  so  that 
no  undue  advantage  betaken  of  a  future  scarcity  of  goods — 

"  Fourteenth 

*'  And  we  do  further  agree  and  Resolve,  that  we  will  have  no  trade.  Com- 
merce, Dealing,  or  Intercoure  Whatsoever  with  any  Colony  or  Province  in  North 
america  which  shall  not  acceed  to,  or  Which  shall  hereafter  violate  this  Asso- 
ciation, but  will  hold  them  as  unworthyof  the  Rights  of  ireemen  and  as  Enemi- 
cal  to  the  Liberties  of  their  Country — and  we  do  solemnly  bind  ourselves  and 
our  Constituents  under  the  ties  aforesd  to  adhear  to  this  association  until  such 
of  the  several  acts  of  Parliament  passed  since  the  Close  of  the  last  warr  as  Im- 
pose or  Continue  Duties  on  Tea,  Wine,  Molasses  Syrup,  pameles  Colfee,  Sugar, 
Pimento,  Indigo,  foreign  paper,  glass  and  jiainters  colours  Imported  into  Amer- 
ica, and  Extend  the  powers  of  the  admiralty  Courts  beyond  aniient  Limits,  De- 


HISTORY     OF     ANCIENT     WOODBURl' 


181 


prive  the  American  Subject  of  Tryal  by  Jury,  authorize  the  Judges  Certificate  to 
Indemify  the  Prosecuter  from  Damages  that  he  might  otherwise  be  liable  to, 
from  a  trial  by  his  Peers,  Require  oppressive  Securities  from  a  Claimant  of 
Ships  of  goods  Seized  before  he  Shall  be  allowed  to  defend  his  property, 
are  Repealed,  and  until  that  part  of  the  act  of  the  12  G.  3d  Ch.  24  :  Entitled, 
"  an  act  for  the  better  seeureing  his  Majestys  Dock  yards,  magazines,  Ships, 
ammunition  and  Stores  by  which  any  persons  charged  With  Committing  any 
of  the  offences  therein  Discribed  in  America  may  be  tried  in  any  Shire  or  Coun- 
ty within  the  Realm"  is  Repealed,  and  until  the  four  acts  passed  in  the  last  ses- 
sion of  Parliament  (viz)  that  for  stoping  the  port  and  blocking  up  the  harbour 
of  Boston,  that  for  altering  the  Charter  and  Government  of  the  Machusetts  Bay, 
and  that  Which  is  Entitled  an  act  for  the  better  a:dministration  of  Justice  &c. 

"  And  that  for  Extending  the  limits  of  Quebec  &c  are  Repealed,  and  we  Re- 
commend it  to  the  provincial  Convention  and  to  the  Committees  in  the  Respect- 
ive Colonysto  Establish  such  further  Regulations  as  they  may  think  proper  fojr 
Carrying  into  Execution  this  association.  The  foregoing  association  being  de- 
termined upon  by  the  Congress  Was  ordered  to  be  subscribed  by  the  several 
Members  thereof,  and  thereupon  we  have  hereunto  set  our  Respective  names 
accordingly  in  Congress.     Philadelphia  October  20th  1774 

Signed  Peyton  Randolph,  President. 


New  Hampshire     . 

Massachusetts  Bay 

Rhod  Island       .     . 
Connecticut.       .     , 

New  York      .     .     . 


New  Jersey 


Pennsylvania 


New  Castle  &c 


Maryland 


C  John  Sullivan 

I  Nathaniel  Folsom 

C  Thomas  Cushing 

I  Samuel  Adams 

I  John  Adams 

(  Robert  Treat  Pain 

C  Ste[)hen  Hopkins 

1  Samuel  Ward 
r  Eliphalet  Dyer 

2  Roger  Sherman 
f  Silas  Deane 

f  Isaac  Low 

John  Alsop 
I  John  Jay 
■   James  Duane 

William  Floid 

Henry  Wisner 

S:  Boerum 

.lames  Kinsey 

William  Livingston 

Stephen  Crane 
[Richard  Smith 
r  Joseph  Galloway 
I  John  Dickinson 
I  CharlesHumphreys,  Mifflin 

Edward  Biddle 
I  John  Morton 
[  George  Ross 
C  Cesar  Rodney 
<  Thomas  McKean 
^  George  Read 
f  Mathew  Tiglhman 

Thomas  Johnson 

William  Paca 

Samuel  Chase 


182  HISTORY    OF    ANCir.XT    -svooniiURT. 

f  Richard  H.  Lee 
George  Washington 
P.  Ik-ury  Jimr 
Riohard  Bhunl  Harrison 
E(hiiiui(l  Pendleton 
C  William  Hooper 
Nortli  Carolina       .     .      -^  Joseph  Hewes 
^R.  Caswell 
f  Henry  Middleton 
I  Thomas  Lynch 
South  Carolina  .     .     .      -J  Christopher  Gadsden 
I  John  Rutledge 
i  Edward  Rutledge" 

These  articles  are  a  history  in  themselves.  They.give  us  a  bird's- 
eye  view  of  the  urgency  of  the  danger  that  threatened  the  colonists, 
and  of  the  extreme,  stern  measures  judged  necessary  by  the  coolest  and 
wisest  intellects  of  the  colonies.  It  shows  us,  too,  the  caliber  of  the 
men  who  settled  this  new  world,  and  sought  here  the  suijreme  blessing 
of  freedom.  Tlie  colonies  had  been  kept  in  dependence  on  the  moth- 
er country  for  nearly  all  manufactured  goods,  and  were  therefore  illy 
prepared  to  meet  the  struggle  which  must  ensue.  But  putting  their 
trust  in  the  God  of  battles,  and  in  the  justice  of  their  cause,  they  dared 
every  evil  that  might  befall  them,  earnestly  pledging  "  their  lives, 
their  fortunes  and  their  sacred  honor"  on  the  issue,  and  sacrificing  all 
the  dearest  interests  we  know  in  life,  on  the  altar  of  their  country's 
good. 

In  the  exuberance  of  the  materials  in  this  part  of  our  labor,  circum- 
scribed as  one  must  ever  be  in  a  work  of  local  history,  he  hardly 
knows  where  to  begin,  what  to  select,  or  in  what  manner  to  arrange 
the  wealth  of  facts  and  incidents  that  come  ready  to  his  hand.  It  will 
be  most  perspicuous,  however,  to  continue  an  account  of  the  action  of 
the  town,  in  the  various  emergencies  which  arose  in  that  most  event- 
ful struggle,  that  resulted  in  our  independence  from  "  every  foreign 
prince  and  potentate."  In  that  great  contest,  Connecticut  was  one  of 
the  foremost,  if  not  the  very  first  in  the  confederacy,  in  resisting  the 
tyranny  of  Great  Britain,  and  was  lavish  of  blood  and  treasure  in 
sustaining  the  conflict  against  her  oppressions.  Her  soldiers  were 
applauded  by  the  commander-in-chief  of  the  American  armies,  for 
their  bravery  and  fidelity.  The  honor  of  the  first  conquest  made  by 
the  united  colonies  during  the  Avar  of  the  Revolution,  belongs  chiefly 
to  Connecticut,  and  in  a  distinguishing  manner,  to  the  sons  of  "Wood- 
bury. This  was  the  capture  of  Ticonderoga,  May  lOth,  1775 — one 
of  the  most  brilliant  exploits  of  the  war.  The  projectors  of  this  expe- 
dition were  some  patriotic  members  of  the  General  Assembly,  which 


HISTORY     OF     ANCIEXT     WOODBURY.  183 

convened  at  Hartford,  in  April  of  that  year.  They  obtained  the 
funds  neccssaiy  (£810)  to  carry  out  the  design,  from  the  colony  treas- 
ury, as  a  loan,  and  gave  their  individual  guarantee,  with  security  for 
its  repayment.  The  Assembly,  in  May,  1777,  canceled  the  obliga- 
tion and  charged  the  amount  to  the  general  government.  Sixteen 
men  were  collected  in  Connecticut,  who  proceeded  to  Berkshire 
county,  Massachusetts,  where  forty  or  fifty  volunteers  were  added  to 
their  small  force.  The  expedition  continued  its  march  to  Benning- 
ton, Vermont,  where  it  was  joinecf  by  Ethan  Allen,  Seth  Warner,  and 
nearly  one  himdred  volunteers.  This  little  force  of  about  one  hun- 
dred and  fifty  men,  marched  to  Castleton,  where  Col.  Ethan  Allen,  a 
native  of  AVoodbury,  Connecticut,  was  appointed  commander ;  Col. 
Seth  "Warner,  of  the  same  place,  was  chosen  to  be  third  in  command, 
and  Capt.  Remember  Baker,  also  of  the  same  town,  held  a  subor- 
dinate station  in  the  expedition.  A  part  of  this  small  force  was 
sent  to  Skeensborough,  after  having  sent  Capt.  Phelps  to  examine 
the  fort.  The  remainder  of  the  troops,  amounting  to  only  eighty- 
three  chosen  men,  having  secured  the  assistance  of  Nathan  Beeman, 
as  guide,  and  awaited  the  return  of  Capt.  Phelps,  assaulted  the  fort 
of  Ticonderoga,  on  the  morning  of  May  10th,  1775,  and  on  the  demand 
of  surrender  by  Ethan  Allen,  in  the  name  of  the  "  Great  Jehovah 
and  the  Continental  Congress,"  its  capture  was  secured  without  the 
loss  of  a  man.  The  result  of  this  first  military  operation  of  the  war 
was  of  great  advantage  to  the  coloniesj  supplying  them  with  large 
quantities  of  arms  and  military  stores,  and  opening  to  them  an  en- 
trance into  Canada.  Connecticut  was  also  obliged  to  sustain  the  bur- 
den of  maintaining  the  post  acquired,  although  it  was  within  the  juris- 
diction of  the  colony  of  New  York.  One  thousand  men  were  sent 
from  Connecticut,  under  the  command  of  Col.  Ilinman,  of  Woodbury, 
in  1775,  to  garrison  the  forts  of  Ticonderoga  and  Crown  Point. 
Eighty  of  these  went  from  ancient  Woodbury,  a  list  of  whose  names 
is  in  the  possession  of  the  author,  and  will  appear  in  a  subsequent  part 
of  this  volume.  So  in  the  war  of  1812,  in  the  first  naval  battle,  the 
first  flag  struck  was  to  a  native  of  Connecticut ;  and  on  land,  the  first 
flag  which  was  taken,  was  surrendered  to  a  son  of  her  soil.  Our 
State  has  never  had  full  justice  done  her  Revolutionary  career,  in  any 
published  account.  No  State  did  more  according  to  her  population 
than  Connecticut,  to  carry  on  the  war,  or  more  to  bring  that  war  to 
a  successful  and  glorious  issue.  Her  troops  were  found  in  almost 
every  battle  of  the  United  Colonies. 

Woodbury  was  noted  for  the  vigilance  with  which  it  watched  the 


184  niSTOUY     OF     ANCIENT     "WOODBURT. 

movements  of  the  enemies  of  the  country,  or  tones  within  its  borders, 
of  which  it  had  a  few,  as  well  jus  for  its  active  cooperation  in  every- 
thing necessary  to  carry  on  the  great  struggle  which  had  now  begun 
in  good  earnest.  A  committee  of  inspection  and  observation  of  the 
conduct  of  the  inhabitants  of  the  town  was  appointed  from  its  chief 
men  and  patriots.  The  duties  which  this  committee  felt  themselves 
called  upon  to  perform,  were  of  the  most  delicate  and  difficult  nature. 
In  the  struggle  for  freedom  from  the  mother  country,  it  seemed  to 
them  necessary  to  suppress  all  Action,  and  every  expression  of 
thought,  which  did  not  run  in  the  popular  direction — the  independ- 
ence of  the  country.  A  species  of  inspection  and  interference  in 
men's  private  affairs  thus  became  necessary,  which  could  only  be  jus- 
tified in  such  a  case  of  emergency — a  question  of  life  and  death — as 
was  then  existing.  None  in  any  station  escaped  its  exactions,  from 
*  priest  to  common  people."  Slight  causes  often  attracted  the  atten- 
tion of  this  body — an  unguarded  word  spoken,  or  a  thoughtless  act 
done,  when  the  delinquent  was  forthwith  brought  before  the  "  com- 
mittee," to  be  dealt  with  as  the  "  law^  directs."  There  is  no  doul)t 
that  the  peculiar  dangers  and  alarms  of  the  period,  justified  all  this, 
and  there  is  scarcely  less  reason  to  doubt  that  many  innocent  persons 
unjustly  fell  under  the  odium  of  suspicion  of  being  enemies  to  their 
country.  Certain  it  is,  that  some  of  the  most  respectable  and  prom- 
inent citizens  fell  under  the  suspicion  of  toryism,  early  in  the  contest. 
Rev.  John  R.  Marshall,  the  first  Episcopal  clergyman  of  this  town, 
together  with  a  considerable  number  of  his  church,  fell  under  the 
suspicion  of  "  wishing  well  to  the  mother  country."  He  was  sum- 
moned before  the  committee  of  inspection,  and  "  put  on  the  limits," 
or  forbidden  to  go  beyond  certain  prescribed  bounds.  During  the 
war,  he  petitioned  the  General  Assembly  for  liberty  to  go  to  New 
York,  then  occupied  by  the  British  army,  to  see  his  relatives.  In 
this  petition  he  states,  that  he  lost  his  parents  in  New  York,  when  he 
was  four  years  of  age,  and  was  left  to  the  care  of  three  maiden  aunts, 
who  gave  him  a  liberal  education,  and  designed  to  make  him  their 
heir ;  that  the  only  survivor  of  these  was  eighty-two  years  old,  and 
he  wished  to  go,  and  return  with  the  property  of  the  deceased.  This 
petition  was  granted,  and  he  w%as  allowed  to  go  to  New  York.'  Jan- 
uary 9th,  1783,  he  petitioned  for  liberty  to  go  apiin  to  New  York,  to 
visit  his  surviving  aunt,  "whose  estate  is  wortli  £15,000,  and  bring 
home  clothing,  plate  and  money."     This  he   was  allowed  to  do  on 

1  State  Archives,  Rev.  War,  vol.  2,  p.  150. 


HISTORY     OF     ANCIENT     WOODBURY.  185 

condition  that  he  should  only  bring  articles  for  the  use  of  his  own 
family.  It  would  seem  by  this,  that  the  government  of  the  state  had 
full  confidence  in  his  word  of  honor.  He  was,  however,  subjected  to 
many  inconveniences  in  this  town,  in  common  with  others,  suspected 
of  being  in  favor  of  the  home  government.  One  of  the  regulations  of 
the  committee  of  inspection  was,  that  no  grain  should  be  ground  for 
such  persons  at  the  gristmills,  thus  rendering  a  return  to  the  samp 
mortars  of  the  "  early  fathers"  necessary.  Consequently  they  were 
obliged  to  get  this  important  service  done  in  the  names  of  their  whig 
friends. 

The  Episcopal  church  and  its  ministers,  during  this  eventful  strug- 
gle, fell  under  great  suspicion  on  account  of  their  subjection  in  church 
government  to  the  English  establishment.  In  many  places  their 
churches  were  closed 

"  From  the  time  whoii  it  became  unlawful  to  pray  for  the  king  as  our  king, 
till  the  time  when  the  recognition  of  our  independence  made  it  canonical  to 
omit  praying  for  him.  Some  ministers  of  that  denomination,  like  the  late  excel- 
lent Bishop  White,  of  Pennsylvania,  who  was  one  of  the  chaplains  to  Congress, 
yielded  to  their  patriotic  sympathies,  and  felt  that  no  vow  of  canonicarobedi- 
ence  could  be  of  force  to  annihilate  their  duty  to  their  country.  Others,  whose 
conscientiousness  ought  not  to  be  questioned,  while  their  hearts  were  on  the 
side  of  the  country,  were  perplexed  by  their  ecclesiastical  subjection  to  the 
church  of  England  ;  and  in  the  absence  of  any  ecclesiastical  authority  in  this 
country,  which  they  could  recognize,  they  dared  not  to  deviate  from  the  foraas 
and  orders  of  the  English  liturgy.  Nor  are  those  to  be  judged  harshly,  whose 
sympathies  in  the  conflict  were  altogether  with  the  parent  country.  England 
was  as  their  home;  thence  they  had  long  received  their  subsistence;  thither 
they  had  been  accustomed  to  look  with  grateful  and  humble  veneration  ;  there 
were  their  patrons  and  spiritual  superiors;  and  there  were  all  their  hopes  of 
prevailing  against  the  dissenters,  and  of  building  up  in  this  wehtern  world  what 
they  esteemed  the  only  true  church.  No  church  has  gained  more  than  theirs 
by  the  very  revolution  which  they  so  much  dreaded,  for  that  revolution  gave  to 
their  church  ecclesiastical  independence,  and  the  power  of  self-reformation. "i 

In  this  view,  could  Rev.  Mr.  Marshall  and  his  followers  be  ex- 
cused for  any  partialities  they  might  possess.  There  were  others 
who  were  also  supposed  to  be  "conservatives."  On  one  occasion 
Gen.  Arnold,  before  he  turned  traitor  himself,  ordered  the  deputy 
commissary  general,  Peter  Colt,  to  seize  certain  provisions  at  Derby 
belonging  to  Jabez  Bacon  and  Capt.  Isaac  Tomlinson,  of  Woodbury, 
as  they  were  supposed  to  be  unfriendly  to  the  country,  and  intended 
them  for  the  use  of  the  enemy.     They  were  afterward  tried  as  ene- 

1  Bacon's  Historical  Discourses,  p.  256. 

13 


186  n  I  S  T  O  U  Y     OF     A  N-  C  r  E  X  T     -WOODBURY. 

mies,  but  were  acquitted.'  IMany  others  at  intervals,  during  the 
progress  of  the  war  were  tried,  found  guihy,  and  their  estates  were 
confiscated.  Quhe  a  file  of  the  proceedings  in  the  settlement  of 
such  estates  is  now  in  the  probate  office  in  the  district  of  "Woodbury, 
but  as  it  can  serve  no  useful  purpose  to  drag  into  the  light  the 
names  of  such  as  were  tories  in  the  Revolution,  and  as  many  of  their 
descendants  are  among  the  most  respectable  and  useful  of  our  citi- 
zens, and  among  the  best  lovers  of  tlieir  country,  it  has  been  deemed 
appropriate  to  omit  the  list.  The  number  was  insignificant  when 
compared  with  that  of  the  "  Sons  of  Liberty,"  who  rushed  forth  to 
fisht  the  battles  of  their  country  at  every  call. 

During  almost  the  entire  length  of  the  war,  the  article  of  salt  was 
one  of  prime  importance,  and  most  difficult  to  be  obtained.  As  has 
been  seen,  it  was  one  the  "Articles"  agreed  upon,  not  to  raise  the 
price  of  the  necessaries  of  life  for  a  certain  period.  At  the  expira- 
tion of  that  time,  traders,  like  the  rest  of  the  world  in  other  times, 
demanded  such  prices  as  the  exigencies  of  their  pockets  required,  or 
their  avarice  deemed  most  convenient  and  consoling  to  its  voracious 
appetite.  At  one  period  Mr.  Jabez  Bacon,  the  most  opulent  mer- 
chant of  the  town  and  vicinity,  had  ou  hand  a  large  quantity  of  this 
article,  for  which,  it  was  deemed,  he  asked  an  exhorbitant  price. 
Accordingly  the  committee  of  inspection,  in  the  "due  exercise  of 
their  powers,"  as  they  judged,  took  possession  of  the  store,  estab- 
lished what  they  considered  to  be  a  sufficiently  remunerative  price 
to  Mr.  Bacon,  and  gave  notice  to  the  inhabitants  that  on  a  certain 
day  named,  salt  in  proper  quantities,  according  to  the  necessities  of 
the  purchasers,  would  be  for  sale.  On  the  day  appointed,  a  crowd 
of  hungi'y  applicants  appeared  at  the  rendezvous,  the  "  Hollow  Store" 
"  to  be  salted."  Among  the  rest,  who  were  in  pressing  need  of  the 
culinary  article,  came  Doct.  Obadiah  "Wheeler,  who  was  understood 
to  entertain  affectionate  feelings  for  the  "mother  country,"  and  who 
frequently  reprehended  mobs, — with  his  measure  for  the  reception  of 
the  "  coveted  necessary,"  which  should  fall  to  his  lot  to  obtain.  On 
seeing  him  approach,  an  ardent  whig  cried  out,  "  Ah  Doctor,  I  thought 
you  were  a  hater  of  mobs ;  why  do  you  show  yourself  here  ?"  The 
doctor  replied,  "  It  is  true,  I  hate  mobs  like  the  d — 1,  but  necessity  is 
the  mother  of  many  shifts — I  must  have  salt!"  The  ready  answer 
of  the  doctor  saved  him,  perhaps,  from  inconvenience,  and  concilia- 


1  State  Archives,  Rev.  War,  15  vol.,  p.  66. 


HISTORY     OF    ANCIENT     WOODBURY.  187 

ted  the  multitude  in  such  a  manner,  that  he  was  permitted  to  carry 
off  his  share  of  salt  under  the  same  regulations  as  the  rest. 

The  "  Committees  of  Lispection,"  it  will  he  seen,  were  of  great 
consequence  during  the  war,  and  had  manifold  duties  to  perform, 
which  they  executed  without  flinching  : 

"  At  a  Legal  Meeting  of  the  Freemen  of  the  Town  of  Woodbury,  September 
the  19th,  1775. 

"  Abijah  Mitchell  was  Chosen  Moderator  for  said  meeting. 

"  Gideon  Walker  was  chosen  Clerk  for  s^l  Meeting. 

"Capt.  Gideon  Stoddard,  Daniel  Sherman,  Esqr,  Gideon  Walker,  Esq'',  Dca. 
Clement  Minor,  Capt.  Thomas  Bull,  Doct.  Andrew  Graham,  Col.  Increase 
Mosely,  Agur  Curtiss,  Edward  Hinman,  Esqr,  Timothy  Osborn,  Daniel  Ev- 
erit  Esqr,  Capt.  Elias  Dunning,  Amos  Clark,  James  Hannah,  Timothy  Strong, 
Increase  Mosely  Esqr,  Jonathan  Farrand,  Capt  Kathan  fiicok,  Doct.  John 
Calhoon,  Elihu  Smith,  Thomas  Warner  Esqr,  Samll  Hurd,  Abraham  Brown- 
son,  David  Hurd,  Ebenezer  Hull,  Elijah  Hinman,  Thomas  Tousey,  Capt. 
Down,  Comfort  Hubbell,  and  Robert  Edmond,  Were  Chosen  a  Committee  of 
Inspection  or  Observation." 

Here  we  have  a  committee  of  thirty  of  the  principal  men  from  all 
parts  of  the  "  ancient  town,"  lawyers,  doctors,  deacons,  farmers  and 
militai-y  men.  They  were  men  upon  whom  dependence  could  be 
placed  in  times  of  difficulty  and  danger.  Well  did  they  play  their 
parts  in  this  and  various  other  capacities  during  the  war.  They 
continued  without  change  in  their  number,  except  by  death,  till  the 
close  of  the  war.  They  continued  their  "  fatherly  care"  over  the 
sentiments  of  the  town  even  after  peace  was  proclaimed  and  our  in- 
dependence gained.  To  their  influence,  in  part,  though  their  office 
had  become  vacant,  may  be  ascribed  the  following  vote,  though  when 
once  proposed  it  met  the  unanimous  support  of  the  town : 

"At  a  Lawful  Town  Meeting  held  April  12,  17S4. 

"  Doct.  Andrew  Graham  was  Chosen  Moderator. 

"Voted,  that  those  persons  who  joined  the  enemies  of  the  United  States  in 
the  course  of  the  late  civil  war  of  what  description  soever  are  denyed  a  resi- 
dence in  this  Town  from  this  date  until  the  Gen"  Assembly  shall  grant  them 
fuU  liberty  for  that  purpose."  i 

This  was  the  last  action  taken  by  the  town  in  relation  to  this  por- 
tion of  its  citizens.  Provision  was  soon  made  that  they  might  be 
restored  to  the  rights  of  citizenship,  and  in  some  cases  to  their  prop- 
erty, on  taking  what  was  called  the  "  Oath  of  Fidelity."     According- 


1  ToTra  Journal. 


188  HISTORY     OF     ANCIENT     AVOODBURT. 

ly  we  find  them  roluming  at  intervals  and  taking  that  oath.  The 
records  show  a  number  of  such  instances  till  some  years  afterward, 
when  all  fear  had  subsided,  it  fell  into  disuse.  As  a  matter  of  curi- 
ous record  a  copy  of  an  original  complaint  is  subjoined  which  ex- 
plains itself: 

"  To  the  Com" of  Observation  in  &  for  the  Town  of  Woodbury  in  Litchfield 
County  I  the  subscriber  hereunto  Do  hereby  Informe  Complain  and  Give  you 
gentelmcn  to  understand  that  Docir  Benjamin  Hawley  of  sJ  Woodbury  (in  my 
opinion)  has  been  Guilty  of  Violating  the  Association  of  the  Late  Continental 
Congress  llecomended  by  the  General  Assembly  of  this  Colony  by  Expressly 
Disavowing  the  whole  Doings  of  sd  Congress  &  said  Association  &  Declaring 
that  he  would  Pay  no  Regard  to  the  Same  and  Maintaining  the  acts  of  Parlia- 
ment Complained  of  as  Grievances  are  Constitutional  and  that  the  Brittish 
Parliament  have  a  Constitutional  Authority  to  imposetaxes  on  the  Inhabitants 
of  America  &  by  his  Boldly  Declaring  the  Colonists  to  be  in  a  State  of  actual 
Rebellion  against  the  Crown  of  Great  Brittian  &  by  his  Treating  with  open  Con- 
tempt the  Measures  and  Proceedings  of  the  Americans  for  Obtaining  Redress 
of  ihcire  Grievances  and  by  Endeavouring  in  his  Conversation  to  inspire  oth- 
ers with  his  above  Described  Sentiments  he  Discovers  himself  to  be  obstinately 
fixed  in  the  most  Criminal  opposition  to  the  Rights  and  Liberties  of  ameraica 
&c  which  Conduct  of  said  Hawley  (in  my  opion)  Claimes  the  attention  of 
sd  Comtt  who  are  hereby  Requested  to  take  the  matter  into  their  Consideration 
and  proceed  there  in  according  to  the  advice  of  sd  Congress  I  am  Gentelmen 
your  mostObedt  Ilumll  Ser'       Woodbury  Augt  2<l  A.  D.  1775. 

James  Hannah. 

To  Doctr  Benjn  Hawely  of  Woodbury  in  Litchfield  County  these  are  to  noti- 
fie  you  to  appear  before  the  Com"  of  Observation  for  the  Town  of  Woodbury 
at  the  Dwelling  house  of  Gideon  Walker  Esq'  in  sd  Woodbury  on  the  third 
monday  of  Instant  augt  at  Ten  of  the  Clock  in  the  fore  noon  (if  you  see  cause) 
then  and  there  to  answer  unto  the  foregoing  Information  and  Shew  Reasons  if 
any  you  Can  why  you  should  not  be  proceeded  against  and  dealt  with  accord- 
ing to  the  advic  of  the  Continantal  Congress  Dated  at  Woodbury  the  14th  Day 
of  Augt  A.  D.  1775. 

Daniel  Everit. 

One  of  Said  Comtt 


The  within  is' a  true  Coppy  of  the  origonal  Complaint  an  Citation 

C  Signer  of  the  Complaint  cVr  one 
Test         .         .         James  Hannah  <  of  the  Committe  of  Observation 

(  for  the  Town  of  Woodbury." 


During  the  first  two  years  of  the  war,  the  larger  jiart  of  the  mili- 
tia, which  comprised  all  the  able  bodied  men  from  the  age  of  sixteen 
to  fifty  years  old,  had  been  called  to  serve  at  various  posts,  and  on 
various  expeditions  a  great  part  of  the  time.  Early  in  1777,  enlist- 
ments for  three  years,  or  during  the  war,  were  called  for,  and  the 
quota  for  each  town  established.    It  was  a  severe  levy  on  the  already 


HISTORY     OF     ANCIENT     WOODBURY.  189 

weakened  strength  of  the  town.  But  they  met  the  call  with  a  ready 
zeal,  and  an  undaunted  perseverance.  Large  bounties  were  offered 
to  those  who  would  enlist,  and  heavy  taxes  laid  on  the  property  of 
the  inhabitants  who  were  not  liable  to  military  duty,  or  did  not  en- 
list into  the  army.  Immediately  on  the  reception  of  the  order  for 
new  levies  of  troops,  the  town  was  convened  in  lawful  meeting  and 
had  the  following  action  : 

"  At  a  Legal  meeting  of  the  Inhabitants  of  the  Town  of  Woodbury  April 
3d, 1777: 

"Daniel  Sherman,  Esq.,  was  Chosen  Moderator.  Voted,  that  the  Select 
men  in  this  Town  for  the  time  being  be  a  Com^e  as  is  specified  in  the  Resolve 
Issued  by  his  Honour  the  Governour  and  Committee  of  Safety.  Dated  March 
tlie  IS'li  1777,  to  take  Care  of  such  Soldier's  Famelys,  as  shall  Inlist  into  the 
Continental  Army, 

"  Voatcd,  that  Each  Able  Bodied  Effective  man,  who  hath  or  shall  volunta- 
rily Inlist  into  the  Continental  Army  in  such  way  and  Manner  toward  makeing 
the  Quota  of  this  Town  for  the  space  of  Three  years,  or  during  the  War,  shall 
be  Intitled  to  Receive  out  of  the  j^ublick  Treasury  of  this  Town  the  sum  of 
Twenty  Shillings  Lawful  money,  as  an  Addition  to  Each  month's  Wages  he 
shall  continue  in  the  service,  to  be  paid  to  him,  or  his  order,  at  the  End  of 
Each  six  month's  serviss."  ' 

This  was  in  addition  to  the  wages  the  soldier  received  from  the 
authorities  of  the  confederation,  and  a  tax  of  eight  pence  on  the 
pound  was  at  the  same  meeting  laid  "  on  the  Poles  and  Rateable  Es- 
tate of  the  Inhabitants"  to  pay  the  bounty  thus  offered.  It  will  be 
seen  that  this  order  was  given  by  the  governor,  with  the  advice  and 
consent  of  the  "  Council  of  Safety."  This  council  was  appointed 
annually  by  the  Assembly,  and  was  composed  of  from  nine  to  four- 
teen of  the  most  distinguished  men  in  the  state,  whose  duty  it  was 
to  assist  the  governor,  when  the  assembly  was  not  in  session ;  with 
authority  to  direct  the  militia  and  navy  of  the  state,  marches  and 
stations  of  the  troops,  either  in  whole  or  in  part,  and  give  all  neces- 
sary orders  for  furnishing  said  militia,  troops  and  navy,  in  every  re- 
spect, to  render  the  defence  of  the  state  effectual ;  to  fulfil  and  exe- 
cute every  trust  already  reposed  by  the  assembly  in  the  governor, 
with  power  and  authority  in  the  governor  to  notify  and  convene  the 
whole  of  said  councd  on  all  important  occasions.  But  in  cases  where 
necessity  and  safety  required  immediate  action,  or  on  small  matters, 
the  governor,  at  his  discretion,  was  authorized  to  convene  a  part  of 
said  council,  not  less  than  five,  to  act  with  him.     The  per  diem  al- 

1  Town  Journal. 


190  Tl  I  S  T  O  n  Y     OF     ANCIENT     AV  0  O  D  B  TJ  R  Y  . 

lowance  to  each  of  the  council  for  this  service,  including  their  ex- 
penses, was  settled  at  eight  shillings  per  day.  Woodbury  was  for 
four  years  from  ■Nlay,  1777,  represented  in  this  council,  by  Daniel 
Sherman.*  His  colleagues  the  first  year  Avere  Hon.  ^Matthew  Gris- 
wold,  "William  Pitkin,  Roger  Sherman,  Abraham  Davenport,  "Wil- 
liam "Williams,  Titus  Ilosmer,  Benjamin  Payne,  Gen.  James  "Wads- 
worth,  Bonj.  Huntington,  "William  Hillhouse,  Thaddeus  Burr,  Na- 
thaniel Wales,  Jr.,  and  Andrew  Adams.  A  more  brilliant  array  of 
names,  perhaps,  could  not  have  been  selected.  This  committee  were 
frequently  in  session,  and  the  most  responsible,  arduous  and  difficult 
details  of  the  service  were  confided  to  their  care.  Perhaps  no  body 
of  men  of  similar  numbers  contributed  more  by  wise  councils  and 
vigorous  action  to  the  success  of  the  general  cjiusc  than  this.  For 
his  attendance  and  services  during  the  years  1777  and  1778,  Daniel 
Sherman's  bill  was  £56,  8s.,  showing  an  attendance  of  141  days,  at 
the  established  price.  He  was  called  to  Hartford  on  public  duties 
four  times  during  1779,  and  was  in  attendance  forty-five  days. 

Daniel  Sherman  was  perhaps  the  most  distinguished  man  that  had 
arisen  in  the  town  previous  to  his  day.  He  was  a  descendant  of 
Samuel  Sherman,  of  Stratford,  who  emigrated  to  this  country  from 
England,  in  company  with  his  brother  Rev.  John  Sherman,  and  his 
nephew,  Capt.  John  Shei-man,  ancestor  of  Hon.  Roger  Sherman. 
He  was  a  justice  of  the  quorum  for  twenty-five  years,  and  judge  of 
the  Litchfield  County  Court  five  years  from  1786.  For  sixteen 
years  he  was  probate  clerk  for  the  district  of  "Woodbury,  and  judge 
of  that  district  thirty-seven  years.  He  represented  his  native  town 
in  the  General  Assembly  sixty-five  sessions,"  retaining  the  unbound- 
ed confidence  of  his  fellow-citizens.  This  was  by  far  the  longest  pe- 
riod of  time  any  one  has  ever  represented  the  town.     He  was  a  man 

1  Hinman's  Revolution. 

2  Mr.  Slierman  Avas  a  representative  at  tlie  May  Session  of  tlie  General  Assembly 
in  1791,  and,  it  is  related,  desired  to  be  elected  to  the  October  Session  of  the  same 
year,  in  order  to  make  the  fiiU  number  of  thirty-three  years  that  he  would  then  have 
represented  the  town.  But  at  tlie  time  of  the  election  for  the  October  Session,  the 
moderator  of  the  meeting  happened  to  think  that  he  had  had  his  share  of  honors,  and 
in  order  to  turn  the  tide  of  feelmg  in  Mr.  Shennan's  favor  agamst  hmi,  if  possible, 
when  he  made  proclamation  that  the  ballot  bos  was  open  for  the  reception  of  votes, 
remarked  in  a  loud  tone  of  voice,  "  Gentlemen,  the  box  is  now  open ;  you  will  please 
to  bring  in  yom*  ballots  for  him  whom  you  idllhave  for  your  first  representative — Hon. 
Dankl  Sherman,  of  course  /"  This  simple  incident  gave  a  ch;inge  to  tlie  popular  cur- 
rent, and  on  counting  the  votes  it  was  found  that  Hon.  Nathaniel  Smith  was  elected 
instead  of  Mr.  Sherman- 


HISTORY     OF     ANCIENT     WOODBURY.  191 

of  commauding  powers  of  mind,  of  sterling  integrity,  and  every  way 
qualified  for  the  various  public  trusts  confided  to  his  care.  He  died 
at  a  good  old  age,  full  of  honors,  and  was  followed  by  the  affection- 
ate recollections  of  the  inhabitants  of  the  town  among  whom  he  had 
so  long  lived. 

One  inducement  which  the  town  held  out  to  men  to  enlist  into  the 
army,  besides  increased  wages,  was  a  provision  which  required  it  to 
take  care  of  and  support  their  families  during  their  absence  in  their 
country's  service.  Committees  were  annually  appointed  to  carry 
this  provision  into  effect.  At  the  annual  town  meeting,  Dec.  20, 
1779,  the  committee  thus  appointed  consisted  of 

"  James  Juclson,  John  Minor,  Elisba  Atwood,  Jehiel  Preston,  Alexander  Kas- 
son,  Moses  Galpin,  Amos  Martin,  Jonathan  Mitchell,  Eleazur  Knowles,  Gideon 
Hicok,  Israel  Minor  ic  Isaac  Hunt." 

In  March,  1780,  Solomon  Minor,  Thaddeus  Judson,  Jonathan  Jud- 
son  and  Daniel  Tuttle  were  added  to  this  committee.  In  December, 
the  same  year,  the  following  persons  were  "  Chosen  a  Committee  to 
provide  for  the  Soldiers'  "Wives  :" 

"  Elisha  Stoddard,  Will™  Preston,  Solomon  Strong,  Tho^  Smith,  Jonas  Mar- 
tin, Dea.  Stephen  Curtiss,  Alexander  Kasson,  Ja'  Kasson,  Jr.,  Tho«  Roots  and 
John  Hunt." 

In  March,  1782,  Samuel  Carr  was  appointed  on  this  committee  in 
place  of  Thomas  Smith,  andSeth  Stoddard,  Jesse  Roots,  Capt.  Timothy 
Judson  and  Capt.  Nathaniel  Tuttle  added  to  it.  In  December  of  the 
same  year,  Ebenezer  Bird,  Elisha  Stoddard,  David  Mitchell,  John 
Martin,  and  Amos  Martin  were  appointed  to  take  care  of  the  families 
of  the  absent  soldiers.  March  3,  1783,  Barzillai  Hendee  and  Lee 
TerriU  were  added  to  this  committee.  From  a  return  to  the  Gen- 
eral Assembly,  Oct.  22,  1783,  we  learn  that  £2,718,  7s.  Sd.  worth  of 
provisions  had  been  furnished  to  soldiers'  families  by  one  man,  John 
Sherman.  Such  was  the  care  of  the  town  to  support  and  defend 
those  nearest  and  dearest  to  the  brave  men,  who  were  manfully  fight- 
ing the  battles,  and  consecrating  with  their  blood  every  battle-field 
of  their  country.  Those  who  went  forth  to  war  suffered  extreme 
hardships,  in  common  vrith  their  brethren  from  other  parts  of  our 
country,  and  those  who  remained  at  home,  sufiered  hardships  scarcely 
less  severe,  in  the  heavy  taxes  to  be  paid  for  the  soldiei's'  bounties, 
and  the  support  of  their  families,  while  their  own  business  was  crip- 
pled and  nearly  ruined. 


192  HISTORY     OF     ANCIENT     WOODBURY. 

No  colony  was  more  liberal  in  furnishing  supplies  than  Connecti- 
cut, and  AVootlbury  was  a  prominent  point  for  their  collection.  The 
streets  of  the  village,  in  those  days,  were  piled  high,  on  either  side, 
with  barrels  and  hogsheads  of  pork,  beef,  lard,  Hour,  and  other  mili- 
tary stores  for  the  use  of  the  army.  Nor  was  the  supply  of  clothing 
of  every  kind,  less  profuse  in  quantity.  In  1780,  the  selectmen  were 
directed  to  give  orders  on  the  town  treasury  for  all  sums  necessary 
for  the  purchase  of  clothing  for  all  the  soldiers  in  the  Continental 
army  from  this  town.  Eleazur  Knowles  Avas  appointed  a  committee 
to  provide  salt  and  other  provisions  for  the  soldiers.  At  this  time  it 
was  difficult  to  obtain  salt  at  any  price,  in  sufficient  quantities  for  the 
use  of  the  army,  and  the  inhabitants  generally.  On  the  8th  of  Jan- 
uary, 1781,  William  Preston,  Capt.  Amos  Ilicock,  Daniel  Hinman, 
Waitstill  Goodrich,  and  Samuel  Ilurd  were  appointed  a  committee 
to  '•  Provide  Clothing  for  the  Army."  In  July  following,  a  tax  of 
four  pence  on  the  pound  was  levied,  to  purchase  "  Beef  Cattle"  for 
the  use  of  the  soldiers,  and  Israel  Stoddard  was  appointed  to  collect 
the  tax,  and  buy  the  cattle. 

The  exact  amount  of  provisions,  furnished  by  the  town,  is  not  now 
known,  but  it  may  be  estimated,  from  isolated  facts  that  remain.  In 
July,  1775,  the  selectmen  furnished  £10  worth  of  powder,  lead  and 
Hints,  for  the  companies  under  the  command  of  Col.  Hinman  and 
Cupt.  Tuttle,  that  marched  to  Ticouderoga.  In  1776,  the  town  fur- 
nished £102,  Is.  Id.  worth  of  arms,  saltpetre  and  lead.'  Nov.  18, 
1777,  blankets  and  military  stores  to  the  amount  of  £46,  13s.  5d. 
were  sent  to  the  army  by  Capt.  Nathan  Stoddard  and  Lieut.  John 
Strong.  March  12,  1778,  the  selectmen  furnished  for  the  use  of  the 
soldiers,  159  pairs  of  shoes,  165  pairs  of  stockings,  141  woolen  shirts, 
6  linen  shirts,  117  fulled  overalls,  29  linen  overalls,  2  great-coats,  1 
pair  of  leather  breeches,  1  pair  of  breeches  and  1  vest ;  the  whole 
being  valued  at  £763,  Is.  Od.  In  1779,  the  town  petitioned  the  Gen- 
eral Assembly  for  liberty  to  "  forward  the  clothing  furnished"  by  its 
citizens,  "  directly  to  their  own  soldiers  in  camp,"  but  whether  the 
request  was  granted,  and  if  so,  what  was  the  amoimt  forwarded,  is 
not  known.  Enough  appears  from  the  foregoing  to  assure  us,  that 
our  revolutionary  fathers  were  not  wanting  in  labors  and  sacrifices  in 
the  cause  of  their  country,  even  those  of  them  exempt  by  disease  or 
age,  from  going  into  actual  service. 

Besides  the  amount  of  provisions  furnished  for  the  army  during  the 

1  State  Archives,  Eev.  War,  vol.  6. 


niSTORT     OF     AXCIENT     WOODBURY.  193 

war,  large  quantities  were  purchased  of  the  inhabitants  of  this  and 
neighboring  towns,  by  Shadrach  Osborn,  of  Woodbury,  who  was 
assistant  commissary  of  purchases,  and  also  an  issuing  commissary. 
•His  first  service  in  this  department  was  in  1775,  when  he  purchased 
and  furnished  supplies  to  the  army  at  Ticonderoga,  in  conjunction 
with  Truman  Hinman.  He  seems  also  to  have  acted,  during  that 
year,  as  a  sutler  to  the  army.  The  volume  from  which  the  following 
items  are  taken,  is  entitled  "  Truman  Hinman  «fc  Shadrach  Osborn's 
Book  of  Accounts  Kept  in  Connecticut  Courancy — began  at  Ticon- 
deroga, June  21st  1775."  The  reason  why  it  is  supposed  they  acted 
as  sutlers,  on  this  occasion,  is,  that  there  are  frequent  entries  on  the 
book  Uke  the  following  : 

"  Col"  Easton,  Dr.  To  1  Xip  Brandy  Toddy  £0—0—9 

Esq' palmer      Dr.  To  1  Bowl  Brandy  Toddy  0—1—6" 

They  were  with  the  array,  and  dealt  out  to  the  soldiers  whatever 
they  wanted.  Shadrach  Osborn's  accounts,  as  regular  assistant  com- 
missary of  purchases,  begin  with  Nov.  17,  1777.  He  rendered  his 
accounts  to  Coh  Peter  Colt,  deputy  commissary  general  of  purchases, 
and  by  them  we  learn,  that  he  expended  in  purchases  as  follows  : 


Nov. 

17, 

1777 

to 

March    1, 

1778 

£2742-13-2 

Mar 

3, 

177S 

to 

Sept.     2N, 

1773 

G079-13-7 

Sept 

2S, 

177S 

to 

Oct.      31, 

177S 

7620-00-0 

Oct. 

21 

17S8 

to 

Apl.     30, 

1779 

21573-02-Sf 

Apl 

30 

1779 

to 

Oct.     31, 

1779 

15475-02-10 

Oct. 

31 

1779 

to 

Aug.      2, 

17&3 

60S23-0G-4 

£ll4313-lS-7f' 

This  amount,  at  twenty  shillings  to  the  pound,  would  be  more  than 
S381,000.  There  were  other  expenditures  and  disbursements  con- 
nected with  his  office,  which  were  considerable,  the  exact  amount  of 
which  cannot  now  be  ascertained.  Add  to  this  the  amount  furnished 
by  the  authorities  of  the  town,  and  we  have  more  than  half  a  million 
dollars  worth  of  supplies,  furnished  by  this  town  and  vicinity  towards  , 
the  grand  amount  necessary  to  achieve  our  country's  independence. 
This  is  indeed  a  showing  of  which  any  town  may  be  proud. 

All  this  was  accomplished  under  the  pressure  of  most  unparalleled 
'financial  difficulties.  The  continental  money,  by  means  of  British 
counterfeiting,  and  the  unavoidable  loss  of  credit,  arising  from  so  long 
and  sanguinary  a  struggle,  constantly  depreciated,  and  at  last  became 
nearly  valueless.  By  Mr.  Osborn's  accounts  we  see,  that  on  the 
30th  of  January,  1780,  the  depreciation  was  so  great,  that  one  dollar 


194  niSTORT     OF     ANCIENT     "WOODBUKT. 

or  pound  in  specie,  was  equal  to  tliirtj-thrcc  and  one  third  of  conti- 
nental money  ;  and  in  1783,  the  ratio  was  one  for  seventy-two.  "We 
also  find  in  these  accounts,  pork  carried  out  at  eight  shillings  per 
pound,  tallow  at  twenty  shillmgs,  flour  at  eighteen  pounds  per  cwt., 
and  salt  at  one  hundred  dollars  per  bushel.  Money  had  become  an 
article  in  great  demand,  as  early  as  1774;  so  much  so,  that  we  find 
Elisha  Steele,  of  "Woodbury,  petitioning  the  General  Assembly  in 
that  year  for  a  reimbursement  of  two  twenty  shilling  bills,  which  he 
had  lost  the  year  before  while  plowing,  and  wliich  his  hired  man  had 
foimd  moulded  and  destroyed  in  his  pocket-book.  It  would  seem  a 
very  trivial  loss,  at  the  present  day,  but  the  matter  engaged  the  at- 
tention of  the  legislature,  and  the  prayer  of  the  petition  was  granted. 
At  the  same  session,  a  state  cei-tificate  for  £5,  10s.  was  reimbursed 
to  Daniel  Ilinman,  Jr.,  which  had  been  burned  with  his  house.* 
This  depreciation  went  on  from  bad  to  worse,  till,  at  last,  when  the 
soldiers  of  the  continental  army  were  discharged  after  the  peace  of 
1 783,  many  of  them  were  forced  to  beg  their  way  home,  their  wages 
being  scarcely  sufficient  to  buy  them  a  dinner. 

1775.  But  "Woodbury,  in  a  far  more  important  manner,  contrib- 
uted towards  a  successful  issue  of  the  dispute  wuth  Great  Britain. 
This  was  accomplished  by  sending  large  numbers  of  her  best  sous  to 
the  field  of  battle.  In  the  number  and  valor  of  her  troops,  it  is  be- 
lieved that  few  towns  of  similar  territorial  and  numerical  strength 
can  vie  with  her.  Their  heroic  deeds  should  grace  a  bright  page  of 
history.  A  list  of  nearly  a  thousand  of  her  sons  will  be  found  in  the 
succeeding  pages  of  this  volume,  who  "did  battle  for  their  country," 
and  the  list  is  by  no  means  complete.  It  is  believed  that  several  hun- 
dred more  names  are  irrecoverably  lost,  so  that  the  pen  of  the  histo- 
rian can  not  do  them  the  justice  they  so  hardly  earned,  and  so  richly 
merit.  Their  glorious  achievements,  their  noble  deeds,  their  peren- 
nial fame,  survive  ;  but  their  names  have  perished.  The  sacred  turf 
covers  them,  but  the  consecrated  places  may  not  be  found  to  be  wet 
with  the  grateful  tears  of  a  free  and  happy  people.  Tliey  sleep 
well ;  let  them  rest  in  then-  glory,  till  the  final  consummation  of  all 
thmgs,  when  they  shall  be  raised  to  a  bright  reward. 

In  April,  1775,  after  the  battle  of  Lexington,  there  was  an  "  alarm," 
called  the  "  Lexington  alarm,"  on  which  more  tlian  fifty  towns  sent 
companies  of  soldiers  with  all  haste  to  the  point  of  attack.     "Wood- 


1  State  Archives,  Miscellaneous,  vol.  iii.,  p.  335. 


HISTORY     OP     ANCIENT     WOODBURY.  195 

bury  sent  a  full  company  on  this  occasion,  but  the  roll  is  lost,  and  the 
names  cannot  be  recorded. 

At  the  commencement  of  the  war,  Col.  Hinman's,  or  the  13th 
regiment  of  militia,  comprised  only  the  three  towns  of  "Woodbury, 
Kent  and  New  Milford.  From  this  regiment  in  1775,  marched 
eight  companies  to  garrison  Ticonderoga  and  Crown  Point,  after  it 
had  been  taken  by  the  gallant  conduct  of  Ethan' Allen  and  the  brave 
men  under  his  command.  The  precise  proportion  of  these  companies 
furnished  by  "Woodbury,  cannot  be  stalled ;  but  as  it  contained  two- 
thirds  of  the  soldiers  in  the  regiment,  it  is  believed  that  its  quota  was 
in  the  same  ratio.'  Eighty  names  have  been  collected,  and  appear 
in  the  "  Revolutionary  list"  of  this  volume.  It  is  certain  that  the 
number  of  soldiers  furnished  for  the  continental  army,  exclusive  of 
those  in  the  Lexington  alarm,  was  one  hundred  and  fifty,  as  this  was 
the  number  whose  "  PoU  taxes"  were  abated  that  year  by  the  Gen- 
eral Assembly,  on  account  of  their  service.^ 

1776.  The  sun  of  1776,  although  our  armies  had  been  successful 
the  preceding  year,  arose  clouded  and  in  gloom.  The  "  note  of  prep- 
aration" was  sounded  throughout  the  land.  There  was  a  "  hurrying 
to  and  fro"  throughout  the  country  on  business  of  the  most  solemn 
import,  affecting  the  dearest  interests  we  know  in  life.  The  General 
Assembly  was  early  in  the  field.     Five  sessions  of  that  body,  three 


1  At  this  date  the  officers  of  the  regimeut  were  as  follows : 

"March  21=1:  1775.    The  Digiiification  of  the  Several  Companies  in  the  W^  Eegt: 
in  the  Colony  of  Connecticut — 
The  I'l:  Company.  Cap'.  Tim':  Judson  Woodbury  old  Society 
2"^.  Co.  Southbury — Capi.  Truman  Hiuman 
3'i  Co.  N.  Mihbrd— N.  C".  Epenetus  Piatt 
4.    Co.  Eoxbury     .    .    .    David  Leavenworth 
5ib    Co.  Bethlem      .    .    .    EUas  Dunning 
6.     Co.  Kent  1^<-  G".    .        Abraham  Trailer 

7  C".  Judea         .    .     .    David  Judson 

8  C^.  N.  Milford  S.  C-^. .  Isaac  Bostwick 

9  Co.  E.  Greenwich  .     ,  Jos:  Carter 
10th.  C".  N.  Preston  .    .     .  W'".  Cogswell 
11      Co.  S.bury  N.  Co. .    .  Jno.  Hmman 
12cii   C'^  S.  Britton  .    .    .  Eleazar  Mitchel 

Byn8       TBenj"  Hmman  1       Field 

<  Increase  Moselev  Jm  >    Otficers  of 
( Samuel  Canfield         )     s-i  Reg'"  3 

2  State  Archives,  Eev.  "War,  voL  6,  63. 

3  There  were  more  commissioned  officers  during  the  war,  of  the  name  of  Hinman, 
in  Connecticut,  than  of  any  other  name,  bemg  thirteen  in  number,  all  of  whom  were 
natives  of  Woodburs',  viz:  one  colonel,  five  captains,  four  heutenants,  two  ensigns, 
one  war-slaip  captain,  (Elisha  Hinman,  of  New  London,  captain  of  the  Alfred,)  and  one 
qnarter-mastei". 


196  HISTORY     OF     AXCIKNT     W  O  O  D  U  U  K  Y . 

of  which  were  special,  were  heUl  during  the  year.  Among  the  acts 
passed  at  the  May  session,  was  one  requiring  a  draft,  or  enlistment, 
of  one-third  of  the  soldiers  in  the  2d,  3d,  4th,  7th,  8th,  9th  and  "iOth 
regiments ;  and  one-fourth  of  all  the  rest.  By  an  order  dated  June 
10,  177G,  Col.  Benjamin  llinman  commanded  Capt.  David  Leaven- 
worth,'and  the  other  officers  of  his  rank  in  the  13th  regiment,  to 
draft,  or  enlist,  one-fourth  of  the  men  in  their  companies  forthwith,  and 
have  them  ready  for  service.  Capt.  Leavenworth's  company  was 
No.  4,  in  the  regiment.  It  is  not  now  known  how  large  his  company 
was  at  this  time,  consequently  it  cannot  be  determined  how  many 
were  enlisted  on  this  occasion. 

After  the  evacuation  of  Boston  by  the  British,  and  Gen.  Wash- 
ington had  taken  possession  of  this  town,  the  British  commander 
changed  tlie  plan  of  the  campaign,  and  concentrated  his  forces  near 
New  York.  At  this  time  of  danger  and  apprehension,  Washington 
in  like  manner  prepared  to  defend  that  post.  In  August,  177G,  he 
sent  a  very  urgent  request  to  Gov.  Trumbull,  to  order  to  his  aid  the 
whole  of  the  militia  west  of  Connecticut  River.  Accordingly  the 
whole  militia  was  ordered  to  New  York,  and  at  this  time  there  were 
not  less  than  20,000  men  in  the  service  from  Connecticut.  Col.  Ilin- 
man's  order  to  Capt.  Leavenworth  is  here  given,  and  a  like  copy  was 
sent  to  each  of  the  other  captains  in  the  limits  of  the  town : 

"  To  Cap'  David  Leavenworth,  Capt  of  the  4'h  Millitary  Comiiany  in  the 
13th  Rcgt  in  the  Colony  of  Connecticut,  Greeting, 

"  Whereas  I  have  received  order  from  his  Hon^  Gov-r  Trumbull  to  call  forth 
(on  notice  given  by  Genl  Washington,  that  Assistince  is  Necessary)  and  March 
the  sd  Regt  for  the  Defence  of  the  Colonies  to  bo  under  the  Commander-in-chief 
of  the  American  Army.  And  having  this  day  Received  a  Request  from 
Gen'  Washington  to  March  s^  Regt  immediately  to  New  York,  Armed  i.Vc. 

"  These  are  therefore  to  order  you  without  delay  to  call  forth  the  company 
under  your  command,  &  see  that  they  are  Equip'J  with  Arms,  Blankets,  Amu- 
nition  ifcc.  and  march  them  immediately  to  New  York,  at  which  place  I  expect 
to  join  you. 

"  Dated  at  Woodbury  the  10th  day  of  August  A.  D.  177G. 

"Benjn  Hinman,  Colo,  13th  Regt. 

"  N.  B.  You  will  make  Necessary  provision  ibr  the  March  of  your  Company, 
which  expense  will  be  paid  as  usual." 

By  this  it  will  be  seen  that  this  company  was  ordered  out  on  the 
10th  of  August.  It  was  mustered  on  the  11th,  marched  on  the  12th, 
and  most  of  the  men  were  gone  till  their  discharge  on  the  25th  of 
September  following.     IIow  many  were  called  out  by  this  oi'der  does 


HISTORY     OF     ANCIENT     WOODBUKT.  197 

not  appear.     It  comprised  all  the  able-bodied  men  between  the  ages 
of  sixteen  and  fifty  years.     It  was  probably  not  far  from  500  men. 

The  soldiers  had  just  arrived  from  this  expedition  at  their  homes, 
and  greeted  their  wives  and  children,  when  they  were  again  ordered 
into  service  by  a  resolve  of  the  legislature,  as  will  be  seen  by  the  fol- 
lowing : 

"  To  David  Leavenworth,  Cap'n  of  the  4tl>  Military  Company  in  the  13th 
Regt  in  Connecticut;  Greeting — 

"  In  pursuance  of  a  Late  Resolve  of  the  General  Assembly  of  this  State,  and 
an  order  from  Major  General  Wooster,  you  are  hereby  ordered  6c  directed  to 
call  forth  the  Company  under  your  Command,  Such  of  them  as  are  fit  for  Ser-' 
vice,  and  others,  Householders  &c.  who  are  able  bodied.  Elective  Men,  within 
the  limits  thereof;  without  Loss  of  time  &  have  them  well  Armed  &  Equiped: 
and  you  are  further  directed  to  March  tliem  immediately  to  Stamford  in  Fair- 
field Coimty,  and  there  wait  for  further  Orders. 

"  Dated  at  Woodbury  this  2t5th  day  of  October  A.  D.  1776. 

"Increase  Moseley,  Jr.  Col°of  s'^  Regt. 

"  N.  B.  Usual  Provision  will  be  made  for  you  on  the  March." 

Unfortunately  the  length  of  the  service  on  this  occasion,  and  the 
list  of  the  men  are  lost.  These  excessive  drafts  had  exceedingly  in- 
jured the  agricultural  interests  of  the  town,  and  it  had  scarcely  suffi- 
cient to  support  the  inhabitants  during  the  winter.  The  crops  had 
been  neglected,  and  consequently  there  was  little  food  to  be  garnered. 

The  committee  of  safety  of  Xew  York  sent  to  Woodbury,  October 
21st,  1776,  eight  sailor  prisoners,  and  a  child  belonging  to  one  of 
them,  for  safe  keeping.  Their  names  were  James  Wilson,  John 
Murray,  Samuel  Coppin,  Jeremiah  Rierden,  Henry  Killigrove,  Mi- 
chael Couney,  Caesar  Freeman,  William  Patterson,  and  his  daughter, 
Mary  Ann  Patterson.  The  General  Assembly  ordered  the  committee 
of  inspection  of  the  town  to  give  such  assistance  as  was  necessary  till 
further  orders,  which  was  accordingly  done.  The  Assembly  next 
year  reimbursed  the  expenses  to  Edward  Hinman,  Esq.,  chairman  of 
the  committee,  to  the  amount  of  £22,  16s.  dd.^ 

The  spirit  of  the  people  was  well  exemplified  by  their  action  in  the 
society  of  Bethlehem  during  this  year,  as  will  be  seen  by  the  follow- 
ing: 

"We  the  subscribers  in  Bethlem,  Considering  the  great  Danger  we  are  in 
from  our  unnatural  Enemies  do  voluntarily  Ingago  to  Equip  ourselves  as  soon 
as  we  Can  with  a  Good  Gun,  Sword  or  Bayonet,' &  Carterage  Box  for  any  Es- 
pecial Emergency,  for  the  Defence  of  our  Invaluable  Rights  &:  Priveleges  6c 
Promise  to  support  the  same  with  our' Lives  &  fortunes,  as  witness  our  hands 
the  18th  day  of  July  A.  D.  1776."2 

1  Rev.  War,  vol.  5,  p.  438.  2  Do.  vol.  5,  p.  9. 


198  HISTORY     OF     ANCIENT     -WOODBURY. 

This  agreement  was  signed  by  Cai)t.  Andrew  Martin,  and  forty- 
four  others.  By  such  means  as  this  was  the  jjatriotism  of  the  people 
kept  glowing  during  all  the  vicissitudes  of  the  protracted  warfare. 
This  was  a  company  of  householders,  exempt  from  military  duty, 
who  thus  formed  themselves  into  a  volunteer  company  for  the  com- 
mon defence,  on  any  sudden  emergency.  It  was  formed  in  accord- 
ance with  a  recommendation  of  the  governor  and  council  of  war,  to 
this  class  of  citizens,  in  all  the  towns. 

Toward  the  close  of  this  year,  a  census  Qf  the  town  was  taken, 
which  showed  a  population  of  5325  souls.  The  number  of  ofHcers 
and  soldiers  on  the  military  rolls  was  5G4,  and  the  number  of  "  Able 
bodied  Men  between  16  &  45  not  on  the  Militia  Rolls"  was  318, 
making  a  total  of  882  eifective  men,  a  decided  majority  of  whom 
were  subject  to  draft  or  detachment,  and  the  remainder,  if  tliey  chose, 
could  enlist  into  the  service.  Besides  these,  there  were  then  "  248 
Men  in  the  Continental  Army."  So  that  in  the  two  calls  for  the 
whole  militia  of  the  town,  Woodbury  had  furnished  the  whole  of  the 
above  number  of  564,  except  such  of  them  as  were  sick,  or  became 
liable  to  the  usual  forfeiture.  But  we  are  not  left  to  conjecture  on 
this  point.  We  have  the  exact  number  of  those  who  thought  it  bet- 
ter for  them  to  pay  the  fine  than  to  leave  their  business.  A  petition 
was  sent  to  the  General  Assembly,  signed  by  thirty-nine  persons,  who 
did  not  march  at  the,  call  of  the  commanding  officers.  They  peti- 
tioned to  be  released  from  bonds  for  not  marching  when  called  on  for 
this  service.  They  urged  that  they  "  were  overburdened :  that  they 
either  had  to  go  into  service  nearly  all  the  time,  or  have  their  estates 
ruined.'"  The  Assembly  took  the  petition  into  consideration,  but 
negatived  the  prayer  thereof,  not  deeming  it  best  by  any  act  of  clem- 
ency to  countenance  insubordination.  We  can,  therefore,  state  con- 
clusively, that  more  than  500  men  from  Woodbury  were  on  duty  in 
these  two  calls,  Avhich,  Avith  the  248  men  who  had  enlisted  into  the 
continental  army,  made  a  sum  total  of  more  than  850  men  from 
''Ancient  Woodbury,"  in  the  service  of  the  country  at  one  time. 
This  "  raw  militia"  was  present  in  the  unfortunate  operations  on  Long 
Island,  toward  the  close  of  this  year,  and  in  Washington's  retreat 
from  New  York,  soon  after  which  they  were  discharged. 

One  would  have  thought  that  it  would  be  impossible  to  arouse  and 
lead  to  the  field  of  battle,  at  a  moment's  warning  all  the  able-bodied 
men  in  the  militia  of  a  town,  in  this  manner,  but  the  interests  at  stake 

1  State  Archives,  Rev.  War,  vol.  10.  p.  347. 


HISTORY     OF     ANCIENT     WOODBURY.  199 

were  great,  and  tlie  most  prominent  and  popular  men  in  the  commu- 
nity were  in  the  movement  "heart  and  hand."  The  officers  addressed 
the  soldiers  in  the  most  patriotic  and  urgent  language,  and  even  the 
pulpit  lent  its  powerful  aid  to  the  cause  by  prayers  to  the  Almighty, 
by  encouraging  the  soldiers,  and  by  volunteering  to  go  with  them  as 
chaplains,  on  their  expeditions  against  the  common  enemy.  In  ac- 
cordance with  this  spirit,  Rev.  Mr.  "Wildman,  of  Southbury  society, 
went  as  chaplain  upon  one  of  the  calls  made  upon  the  soldiery  of  the 
town.  As  a  specimen  of  the  appeals  made  to  the  militia  and  enlisted 
soldiers  by  the  regimental  officers,  the  following  order  is  given,  which 
was  sent  particularly  to  the  enlisted  troops  that  had  not  yet  mustered 
into  service : 

"ToCapt  4th  July,  177G. 

"You  are  hereby  ordered  to  march  oil"  immediately.  Spare  no  pains,  nor 
loose  one  Moments  time,  as  our  army  is  in  the  Greatest  distress.  For  God's 
sake  push  off  every  man  you  have  inlisted  immediately,  beg  of  the  people  to  go 
on  to  carry  off  Soldiers.  Forward  them  with  all  your  Might.  Send  Expresses 
off  to  your  other  Officers  immediately.  Beg  of  the  Militia,  as  many  as  can  find 
it  in  their  Hearts  to  go  on  for  the  help  of  the  Lord  against  our  Inveterate  ene- 
mies. Unless  our  Army  have  help  immediately  we  are  gone.  Now  is  the 
Crisis  !     Press  Horses  if  you  want,  &  go  off  immediately. 

T.  F ,  Col>^." 

From  the  commencement  of  the  war  to  the  time  of  the  action  at 
White  Plains,  in  which  about  a  hundred  and  fifty  Avere  killed  and 
wounded  in  the  short  space  of  an  hour,  the  soldiers  from  Woodbury 
had  been  remarkably  fortunate.  Scarcely  one  had  been  killed  or 
wounded,  though  many  had  been  sick  of  smallpox,  at  Ticonderoga 
the  year  before,  insomuch  that  it  became  a  common  remark  that  the 
"  balls  Avould  not  hit  the  Woodbury  boys."  In  consequence  of  this 
feeling  of  security,  enlistments  went  on  briskly,  and  to  this  feeling,  in 
part,  is  to  be  attributed  the  large  number  of  soldiers  who  volunteered 
to  go  into  service.  But  at  this  action  quite  a  number  of  the  soldiers 
were  killed,  several  others  severely  wounded,  and  the  spell  was 
broken.  They  could  rely  no  longer  upon  the  preservation  of  "  blind 
chance,"  but  must  put  their  trust  in  the  protection  of  an  overruling 
Power. 

At  the  capture  of  Fort  Washington  by  the  British,  a  large  number 
of  soldiers  were  taken  prisoners,  carried  to  New  York,  and  confined 
in  the  sugar-house,  where  great  ci'uelties  and  sufferings  were  inflicted 
upon  them.  The  larger  part,  being  deprived  of  food  and  drink,  and 
crowded  together  in  dense  masses,  literally  died  of  starvation.    In  an 


200  n  I  S  T  O  K  Y     OF     ANCIENT     WOODBURY. 

extract  from  a  letter  of  a  distinguislieil  person  in  New  York,  from 
Connceticut,  dated  2Gtli  December,  177G,  it  is  stated  tliat 

"  The  distress  of  the  prrsonors  cannot  be  communicated  by  words.  Twenty 
or  thirty  die  every  day — tlicy  lie  in  he:i{)s  nnburied  !  What  numbers  of  my 
countrynu-n  have  died  by  cold  and  hunger,  perishqd  for  the  want  of  the  neces- 
saries of  life  !     I  have  seen  it! 

"  This,  sir,  is  the  boasted  British  clemency — I  had  nigh  perished — New  Eng- 
land people  can  have  no  idea  of  such  barbarous  policy  ;  nothing  can  stop  such 
treatment  but  retaliation.  It  is  due  to  the  Manes  of  our  murdered  countrymen, 
to  protect  the  survivors,  rather  than  experience  their  barbarity  and  insults. 
May  I  fall  by  the  swords  of  the  Hessians."i 

Woodbury  had  some  representatives  in  this  scene  of  misery,  but  it 
is  not  now  known  that  any  of  them  died  there.  With  the  large  num- 
ber of  men  it  had  in  service,  it  could  not  fail  to  be  represented  on 
every  field  of  battle,  during  the  eventful  struggle  in  which  our  inde- 
pendence was  gained,  and  the  mother  country  humbled  in  the  dust. 

At  the  October  session  of  the  General  Assembly,  177G,  it  was  rep- 
resented by  letters  from  Col.  Ethan  Allen,  that  himself,  together  with 
about  eighteen  other  natives  of  Connecticut,  among  whom  was  Zech- 
ariah  Brinsmade,  of  Woodbury,  had  been  taken  prisoners  while  in 
the  service  of  the  United  States,  by  a  party  of  British  troops,  near 
Montreal,  in  the  province  of  Quebec,  September  25th,  1775  ;  that 
they  had  suffered  great  hardships  during  their  captivity ;  and  that 
they  were  then  confined  in  a  suffering  condition,  incarcerated  in  a 
common  goal,  in  Halifax,  "  in  one  room,  among  felons,  thieves  and 
negroes."  The  Assembly  voted  £120  lawful  money,  to  be  sent  by 
Levi  Allen,  who  was  about  to  go  to  see  his  brother  Ethan,  that  thus 
the  prisoners  might  receive  their  wages,  and  be  relieved  from  their 
pressing  necessities.  The  governor  was  requested  to  write  a  letter 
to  General  Washington,  the  Continental  Congress,  or  the  commander 
in  Boston,  or  all  of  them,  to  solicit  their  seasonable  interposition  to 
effect  an  exchange  of  prisoners.^ 

At  an  adjourned  session  of  the  General  Assembly,  hold  December, 
177G,  considering  the  organization  not  adequate  to  the  defence  re- 
quired, the  militia  was  reorganized  into  six  brigades,  and  all  male 
persons  between  the  ages  of  sixteen  and  sixty  years,  not  included  in 
the  trainband,  with  certain  exceptions,  and  exempted  from  ordinary 
training,  should  constitute  an  alarm  list,  fully  equip  themselves,  and 
hold  themselves  ready  to  march  at  a  moment's  warning,  in  case  of 

1  Ilinman's  Revolution,  p.  121.  2  State  Records,  (Hinnian)  p.  242. 


HISTORY     OF     ANCIENT      WOODBURY.  201 

"  an  alarm."  It  was,  liowever,  provided  that  all  persons  above  sixty 
years  of  age  should  not  be  compelled  to  march  out  of  this  State.  In 
accordance  with  this  enactment  "  alarm  companies"  were  formed 
throughout  the  ancient  territory,  and  had  abundant  occasion  to  "  see 
service"  before  the  termination  of  the  war. 

1777.  The  campaign  this  year  opened  on  the  part  of  the  British, 
by  an  invasion  of  Connecticut ;  an  event  which  our  people  had  so 
long  feared.  Troops  were  called  for  to  defend  the  coasts,  and  Col. 
Moseley's  regiment  marched  to  Fairfield.  After  a  time,  as  it  did 
not  appear  that  the  enemy  would  make  this  the  point  of  attack,  this 
regiment  was  dismissed,  as  appears  by  the  following : 

"Fairfield  March  23rd:   1777 
"  Brit^ade  orders — 

"  Pursuant  to  Orders  Received  from  the  Governour  the  Genl.  Dismisses 
Colo.  Moseley  &  the  Troops  under  his  Command  that  were  ordered  in  here,  as 
their  Service  is  called  for  in  another  place:  and  Returns  the  Officers  &  Soldiers 
his  thanks  for  the  readiness  with  which  they  have  marched 

"  G  Selleck  Silliraan  Brigr;  Gena." 

On  the  2Gth  of  April,  1777,  there  was  a  sudden  call  for  troops  to 
go  to  Danbury,  as  the  British  troops  had  arrived  there  and  were 
burning  the  houses  and  destroying  the  property  of  the  inhabitants. 
The  alarm  lists  and  militia  of  "Woodbury  were  immediately  put  in 
motion,  and  as  fast  as  a  considerable  number  convened  at  their  posts, 
they  marched  to  the  scene  of  conflict.  A  considerable  number  arri- 
ved in  time  to  take  part  in  the  action  of  next  day,  in  which  Maj. 
Gen.  "Wooster  was  mortally  wounded.  Several  of  the  Woodbury 
soldiers  were  wounded.  Hon.  William  Edmond,  afterwards  a  judge 
of  the  superior  court,  was  wounded  in  the  right  thigh,  from  which 
he  experienced  much  pain  and  uneasiness  for  many  year^  after. 
Thomas  Torrance  Was  also  severely  wounded,  and  brought  home  on 
a  litter.  Others  were  more  or  less  wounded,  and  some  taken  prison- 
ers and  carried  to  New  York.  Among  the  latter  were  Simeon  and 
Timothy  Minor. 

May  8,  1777,  one-fourth  of  the  militia  of  the  13th  and  other  regi- 
ments, were  detached,  and  ordered  to  Horseneck.  About  one  hun- 
dred and  fifty  men  from  Woodbury  went  on  this  service. 

At  the  battle  of  Bennington,  Aug.  16,  1777,  under  the  gallant 
Gen.  Stark,  Col.  Seth  Warner,  of  Woodbury,  with  a  part  of  his  reg- 
iment, in  which  was  many  soldiers  who  had  joined  the  continental 
army  from  this  town,  did  good  service.  Yet  the  larger  part  of  the 
troops,  that  had  been  raised  in  Connecticut  during  this  year,  and 
U 


-0:2  IIISTOUV     OF     AXCIKXT     AV  O  O  D  B  U  R  Y. 

who  were  early  in  the  field,  Aveie  assigned  for  the  defense  of  the  im- 
portant military  posts  about  the  Highlands,  on  the  Hudson  Kiver. 
This  great  thoroughfare  of  communication  between  the  northern, 
southern  and  middle  states,  was  maintained  throughout  the  war 
mostly  by  Connecticut  forces.' 

Early  in  March,  1777,  on  Gen.  Washington's  requisition,  there 
had  been  a  draft  on  the  militia  to  march  to  Peekskill,  N.  Y.,  to  rein- 
force the  army  on  that  station  under  Gen.  Putnam.  Two  thousand 
men  were  sent  on  under  Gen.  Wadsworth,  in  ten  regiments.  The 
quota  of  the  13th  regiment,  under  Col.  Moseley,  consisting  of  two  and 
a  half  companies,  containing  240  men,  was  discharged  on  the  18th 
of  August,  for  reasons  stated  in  the  following : 

"  Head  Quarters  Peekes  Kill  august  IStli  1777. 
'•  The  General  considering  the  busy  Season  with  farmers  The  Importance  of 
the  Fruits  of  the  Earthbeing  Gathered — That  the  militia  many  of  them  came 
out  in  the  alarm  leaving  their  affairs  in  an  ill'Setuation  to  tarry  long — and  the 
dangers  that  seemed  then  immedeately  threatening,  removed  further  off — upon 
their  own  Earnest  Importunety  urging  these  matters — has  seen  fit  to  release 
Col  iMosely  &:  the  Regiment  of  militia  under  his  Command  and  they  are  hereby 
discharged  from  any  further  Service  at  this  Time  to  return  to  their  respective 
homes — with  the  Generals  Thanks  for  their  alacrity  in  Turning  out  on  the 
alarm,  and  the  good  Services  they  have  rendered  to  the  publick — Trusting  that, 
they,  one-third  of  them  at  least,  will  hold  themselves  in  readiness  to  march  on 
the  Shortest  notice  on  any  future  occasion — &  Special  Care  is  to  be  taken  that 
the  Camp  utensils  and  all  accoutrements  &  amunition,  drawn  from  the  Stores 
here  be  returned  before  the  Militia  go  away 

"  J  Root  D  Adju':  General." 

On  the  12th  of  September,  the  Governor  and  Council  of  "War  re- 
solved, that  each  town  in  the  state  should  procure  immediately,  one 
shirt  or  more,  either  linen  or  flannel ;  one  hunting  shirt  or  frock  ;  one 
pair  of  linen  overalls  ;  one  or  two  pairs  of  stockings,  and  a  pair  of 
good  shoes,  for  each  non-commissioned  officer  and  soldier  in  the  con- 
tinental army,  belonging  to  such  town.  If  any  wished  to  send  such 
articles  directly  to  their  relatives  or  friends  in  the  army,  they  were 
permitted  to  do  so  by  preparing  their  packages,  properly  marked  and 
directed,  and  have  the  same  accounted  for  as  a  part  oi  the  town's 
quota,  provided  no  more  was  sent  in  each  bundle  than  the  quantity 
prescribed  for  a  single  person.  Under  this  resolve  the  people  of 
AVoodbury  sent,  among  other 'articles,  159  pairs  of  shoes  and  1G5 
pairs  of  stockings,  showing  the  number  of  men  in  the  army  from 


HISTORY     OF     ANCIENT     WOODBURY.  203 

this  town  at  that  time.  The  same  rule  was  in  force  the  next  year,  and 
about  the  same  quantity  of  articles  were  sent  as  in  the  preceding 
year. 

In  September,  1777,  after  the  action  between  Generals  Washing- 
ton and  Ilowe  at  Chadsford,  most  of  the  regular  army  being  called 
to  reinforce  Gen.  Washington,  there  was  another  draft  on  the  militia, 
which  called  for  one-half  of  their  number.  Not  far  from  300  men 
marched  from  Woodbury  on  this  occasion.  Gen.  Silliman's  order  of 
detachment  to  Col.  Moseley,  together  with  a  copy  of  Gen.  Putnam's 
letter,  follows  : 

"Fairfield  Septemr  15,  1777 
11  oClock  P.  M. 

"Sir 

"  I  have  this  Moment  by  Express  reed:  a  Letter  from  Gen'  Putnam  in  the 
following  Words  viz. 

"  Peekskill  Uth  Sepr  1777  10  oClock  P.  M. 

"  Dear  Sir.  A  large  Bod}-  of  the  Enemy  have  crossed  the  North  River  at  Fort 
"  Lee  with  a  Number  of  Field  Peices. — have  advanced  above  Hackinsack, 
"  whether  to  attack  this  Post  or  penetrate  into  Jersies  is  uncertain  ;  &  thisMo- 
"  ment  arrived  an  Express  from  Congress  informing  that  a  severe  Action  has 
"  been  between  Gem  Washington  and  How  at  Chadsford  in  which  the  former 
"  has  been  obliged  to  leave  the  Ground  with  the  Loss  of  a  number  of  Field 
"  Peices  7  or  8  and  has  retired  behind  Chester ;  and  Congress  has  ordered  1500 
"  Men  to  be  sent  from  this  Post  immediately  to  reinforce  Genl  Washington, 
"  which  obliges  me  to  require  you  to  send  as  many  of  the  Militia  and  other 
"  Troops  as  you  possibly  can  without  Loss  of  Time  to  the  Succour  of  this  Post 
"  to  be  draughted  untill  the  first  of  January  next.  Gen'  McDougal  with  four 
"  Regiments  crossed  the  River  yesterday  to  pursue  the  Enemy  at  Hackinsack. 
"  Genl  Parsons  is  below  the  White  Plains. 
*'  P.  S.     Let  the  Men  be  furnished  )  from  Your  very  Hume  Serv^ 

with  Ammunition  as  far  as  they  can  )  Israel  Putnam" 

"  I  hope  &  trust  that  on  this  alarming  Occasion  every  Officer  &  Soldier  will 
be  fully  convinced  of  the  absolute  Necessity  there  is  at  this  Time  of  turning  out 
freely;  I  have  therefore  to  desire  &  direct  you  forthwith  to  detach  the  One-half 
of  every  Company  in  your  Regiment  &  a  proper  Number  of  Captains  &  Subal- 
tern Officers  to  command  them  &  to  see  that  they  are  directly  furnished  with 
good  Arms  Blankets  &  Knapsacks  &  Twenty-four  Rounds  of  Cartriges  each, 
and  that  they  be  in  Readiness  to  march  to  Peekskill  at  an  Hour's  Warning 
where  they  are  to  continue  in  Service  untill  the  first  of  January  next  unless 
sooner  dismissed.  Your  Major  is  directed  to  march  with  them,  &  You  Yourself 
are  to  march  &  command  them  and  also  the  One-half  of  Col'  I.  Piatt  Cook's 
Regiment  with  his  Lieut  Colonel  who  are  under  the  like  Orders  and  are  to  be 
under  Your  Command.  I  expect  an  Express  on  Wensday  from  the  Governour 
when  You  will  be  ordered  to  march. 

"  G.   Selleck  Silliman  Brign  Genl. 

•'  P.  S.  20s  pr  man  I  shall  advance  to  Your  Soldiers  as  soon  as  You  send  me 
An  Account  of  how  many  are  draughted." 


204  II I  s  T  o  u  Y    o  r   ancient    av  o  o  d  b  u  r  y . 

Major  Thomas  l5ull  was  also  onlcred  to  join  the  troops  at  Fishkill, 
with  his  coini)any  of  '*  Light  Horse."  So  that  at  this  call  a  large 
number  of  soldiers  from  this  town  responded,  and  marched  to  head- 
quarters. 

During  this  year,  as  we  have  seen,  enlistments  for  three  years  or 
for  the  duration  of  the  war,  were  called  for,  and  «  quota  for  each 
town  established.  The  towns,  as  an  encouragement  to  enlistment, 
were  to  take  care  of  the  families  of  sucli  soldiers  as  had  them.  It  is 
not  possible  now  to  state  the  exact  number  that  enlisted  into  the  ser- 
vice for  three  years.  The  return  made  by  the  town  authorities  to 
the  General  Assembly,  of  the  number  of  families  provided  for  by 
them,  is  still  extant,  and  shows  a  list  of  one  hundred  and  twenty-four. 
This  does  not  show  the  entire  number  that  enlisted,  but  only  those 
who  had  families  to  be  supported.  A  considerable  proportion  of  the 
soldiers  were  unmarried  men,  between  the  ages  of  sixteen  and  twenty- 
one.  The  number  stated,  therefore,  probably  includes  little  more 
than  half  the  actual  number  enlisted. 

In  all  the  alarms  of  the  several  years  of  the  war,  when  the  largest 
part  of  the  militia  turned  out,  "Woodbury  had  from  two  to  three  hun- 
dred men.  There  were  eight  companies  in  the  town,  and  from 
twenty-five  to  thirty  men  in  a  company  always  turned  out  at  each 
call,  and  sometimes  a  greater  number.  Thus  in  the  "  Danbury 
Alarm,"  forty-two  Avent  from  Capt.  Leavenworth's  company,  and 
twenty-six  to  Peekskill  where  they  were  ordered  October,  1777,  to 
save  that  post. 

Towards  the  close  of  this  year,  the  soldiers  suffered  greatly  for  the 
want  of  proper  food,  in  sufficient  quantities  to  sustain  life.  They 
were  driven  to  great  straits,  and  the  purchasing  commissaries  were 
most  urgent  in  their  calls  upon  the  peojde  to  furnish  supplies  for  the 
army.  An  idea  of  the  distress  of  tlie  times  in  this  respect,  may  be 
obtained  from  the  following  address  to  the  people  of  Woodbury,  by 
the  commissary  general  of  purchases  : 

"  To  the  Inhabitants  of  the  Town  of  Woodbury 

"Gentleman  from  a  Variety  of  causes,  the  Public  Magazines  of  Provision 
for  the  Armies  of  the  United  States — are  ahnost  exhausted,  and  tlieir  is  ilie 
greatest  Reason  to  fear  the  Army  will  be  obliged  to  be  fed  on  It-au  Beef,  or  at 
least  on  fresh  meet  intirely,  cither  of  which  wou'd  be  injurious  to  tlicir  liealtli 
&  might  perhaps  totally  destroy  them. 

"  You  are  therefore  earnestly  requested  to  part  with  so  much  of  your  salted 
meet  as  you  can  spare,  &  you  shall  Receive  a  Generous  price  for  it — I  flatter 
myself  every  Friend  of  the  United  States  will  exert  themselves  in  this  important 
occation — and  that  those  who  have  lean  Cattle,  will  fatten  them  as  speedily  as 


HISTORY     OF    ANCIENT     WOODBURY.  205 

possibel — as  tlie  Enemy  are  now  makaing  their  last  Efforts  ;  &  it  is  the  Oppin- 
ion  of  those,  best  able  to  Judge,  that  their  Vengencewill  be  levelled  at  this  State 
in  particular. — &  unless  we  can  feed  the  Continental  army  we  cant  expect 
their  assistance. 

"Jereh  Wadsworth  C.  G.  P." 

In  the  memorable  and  glorious  achievement  of  the  victory  of  Sara- 
toga, Connecticut  had  her  full  share  of  men  on  the  ground,  and  to 
fill  the  required  numbei",  Woodbury,  with  the  other  western  to\vns, 
stood  a  heavy  draft.  Her  soldiers,  on  this  occasion  as  ever,  fully  sus- 
tained the  high  character  they  had  previously  earned  for  skill  and 
bravery.  At  the  battle  of  White  Plains,  the  preceding  year,  the 
troops  from  Woodbury  had  suffered  much  in  killed  and  wounded, 
being  exposed  in  the  "  fore  front"  of  the  battle.  Nathaniel  Church 
was  wounded  by  a  grape  shot,  and  disabled  for  life.  Daniel  Downs 
was  killed  by  a  cannon  ball,  and  his  brains  were  spattered  upon  Amos 
Johnson,  who  stood  next  to  him.  Simeon  Rood  was  shot  through 
the  thigh.  Isaac  Thomas  was  wounded  by  a  cannon  ball,  brought  to 
Woodbury  by  his  father,  and  died  Dec.  9,  1776.  Capt.  Nathan  Stod- 
dard was  killed  by  a  cannon  ball,  Nov.  15, 1777,  at  Mud  Fort,  on  the 
Delaware.  He  raised  himself  up  from  the  trench  to  see  how  the 
battle  progressed,  and  the  ball  struck  his  head,  cutting  it  entirely  from 
his  body.  The  late  Lieutenant  John  Strong,  a  very  worthy  man, 
was  standing  near  him  at  the  time,  and,  in  his  life-time,  frequently 
related,  that  for  a  moment  after  the  occurrence,  the  body  of  Capt. 
Stoddard  stood  erect,  as  in  life,  without  a  head,  before  falhng. 

As  the  militia  rallied  on  the  several  calls  and  detachments,  at  a 
minute,  or  an  hour's  warning,  in  whatever  clothes  they  happened  to 
have  on,  with  whatever  weapon  of  war  that  came  first  to  hand,  or  had 
descended  to  them  from  their  fathers,  they  often  presented  a  very 
grotesque  appearance.  A  venerable  octogenarian  has  given  to  the 
authors  of  a  recent  work,^  a  description  of  a  body  of  soldiers,  gath- 
ered as  these  were,  in  a  neighboring  state,  during  this  period,  and 
whose  appearance  was  no  doubt  a  fac  simile  of  our  own.  "  To  a 
man,"  he  says,  "  they  wore  small-clothes,  coming  down  and  fastening 
just  below  the  knee,  and  long  stockings  with  cowliide  shoes,  orna- 
mented by  large  buckles,  while  not  a  pair  of  boots  graced  the  com- 
pany. The  coats  and  waistcoats  were  loose  and  of  huge  dimensions, 
with  colors  as  various  as  the  barks  of  the  oak,  sumach  and  other 
trees  of  our  hills  and  swamps  could  make  them,  and  their  shirts  were 

1  History  of  New  Ipswich,  N.  H. 


.Jb 


205      HISTORY  OF  ANCIENT  WOODBURY. 

all  made  of  flax,  ami  like  every  other  part  of  the  dress  -were  home- 
spun. On  their  heads  was  worn  a  large  round  top  and  broad  brim- 
med hat.  Their  arms  were  as  various  as  their  costume  ;  here  and 
there  an  old  soldier  carried  a  heavy  queen's  arm,  with  which  he  had 
done  service  at  the  conquest  of  Canada  twenty  years  previous,  while 
by  his  side  walked  a  stripling  boy,  with  a  Spanish  fuzee  not  half  its 
weight  or  calibre,  which  liis  grandfather  may  have  taken  at  Havana, 
while  not  a  few  had  old  French  pieces,  that  dated  back  to  the  reduc- 
tion of  Louisburg.  Instead  of  the  cartridge-box,  a  large  powder- 
horn  was  slung  under  the  arm,  and  occasionally  a  bayonet  might  be 
seen  bristling  in  the  ranks.  Some  of  the  swords  of  the  officers  had 
been  made  by  our  province  blacksmiths,  perhaps  from  some  farming 
utensil ;  they  looked  serviceable,  but  heavy  and  uncouth.  Such  was 
the  appearance  of  the  continentals,  to  whom  a  well-appointed  army 
was  soon  to  lay  down  their  arms.'" 

1778.  Although  so  large  a  number  had  inlisted  in  1777  into  the 
continental  army,  it  became  necessary  to  draft  thirteen  men  from 
each  company  in  town,  "  into  the  continental  army,  to  fill  it  up." 
This  would  make  a  sum  total  from  the  eight  companies  of  the  town, 
of  one  hundred  and  four.  This  was  done  by  order  of  the  General 
Assembly,  which  enacted,  that  if  the  quota  in  any  town  for  the  bat- 
talions then  raising  in  the  state,  sh  ould  not  be  filled  by  voluntary 
enlistment  by  the  20tli  of  February,  that  the  deficiency  should  be 
raised  by  peremptory  detachment,  to  serve  till  January  1,  1779. 

On  account  of  the  prevalence  of  the  small  pox  at  the  various  mili- 
tary posts,  and  the  fear  occasioned  by  it,  the  battalions  of  "  three  years' 
men"  during  the  preceding  year,  had  filled  up  slowly,  as  we  have 
seen,  and  it  became  necessary  to  resort  to  a  draft  to  fill  up  the  defi- 
ciency, and  even  those  who  had  enlisted,  repaired  slowly  to  their 
posts.  It  took  all  the  vigilance  and  perseverance  of  the  officers  to 
effisct  this  with  sufficient  promptness  for  the  public  service,  as  will  be 
seen  by  Gen.  Silliman's  letter,  which  follows  : 

"  Fairfield,  April  30*,  1773. 
"  Sir, 

"  I  have  this  Moment  received  a  Letter  from  his  Excellency  the  Govornor, 
and  I  give  You  a  Coppy  of  Two  Paragraphs  in  it  which  are  in  the  words  fol- 
lowing viz'. 

"  This  is  therefore  to  Command  You  in  the  most  positive  Terms,  to  see  that 
"  all  the  Recruits  as  well  draughted  as  inlisted  within  Your  Brigade  for  the 
"  Continental  Army  be  marched  to  New  Haven  on  or  before  Tuesday  tlio  -I"'  Daj' 

1  Burgoyiic's  army. 


HISTORY     OF     ANCIENT     WOODBURY.  207 

"  of  May  next.  The  Necessity  of  the  Men  Joining  the  Army  is  very  great  and 
"  will  not  admit  the  least  Excuse  for  Neglect  or  Delay  in  the  Execution  of  this 
"  Ortier.  I  am  Sir  Your  Humle  Servt 

Jontli  Trumbull. 
"  'iou  will  therefore  immediately  on  the  receipt  of  this  loose  not  a  moment 
but  mount  Your  Horse  and  Collect  every  Man  in  Your  Regiment  that  is  in- 
listed  or  draughted  for  the  Continental  Army  &  see  them  every  Soul  marched  to 
New  Haven  by  Tuesday  next  and  You  may  not  fail  on  any  account  whatever 
&  make  report  to  me  on  Tuesday  Evening  that  I  may  know  what  answer  to 
give  to  his  Excellency. 

"  G.  Selleck  Silliman,  Brig.r  Gen"." 

It  was  not  strange  under  the  painful  circumstances  and  sad  re- 
verses of  the  close  of  1777,  when  the  troops  under  Washington  had 
worn  out  their  shoes  and  clothing,  and  could  be  tracked  in  their 
marches  by  the  blood  of  their  feet,  that  new  recruits  were  obtained 
with  difficulty.  It  was  emphatically  the  midnight  of  the  revolution. 
The  hearts  of  men,  in  some  instances,  "  failed  them  for  fear."  It 
was  at  this  time  that  the  members  of  Congress  found  it  necessary  to 
frame  a  league  by  which  their  power  might  be  increased,  and  their 
determinations  enforced.  For  this  purpose  "  articles  of  confedera- 
tion" were  framed,  and  accepted  by  each  State.  The  war  was  now 
vigorously  prosecuted  in  all  directions,  aided  by  the  French.  In  all 
the  engagements  of  this  year,  Woodbury  had  soldiers,  and  the  blood 
of  its  sons  moistened  all  the  battle  fields.  There  was  so  large  a  num- 
ber of  "  three  years'  men"  in  the  continental  army,  that  they  were 
moi-e  or  less  scattered  among  the  various  divisions  sent  to  all  parts  of 
the  United  States.  Probably  no  town  was  more  widely  represented 
on  the  various  revolutionary  battle-grounds  than  our  own. 

1779.  The  principal  operations  during  this  year  were  carried  on 
in  the  South,  but  the  various  garrisons  were  kept  up  with  such  forces 
as  were  judged  necessary.  In  February,  there  was  an  "  alarm"  for 
the  defence  of  Norwalk,  in  which  the  whole  militia,  under  Col.  Mose- 
ley,  and  the  regiment  of  "  light  horse,"  under  Major  Thomas  Bull, 
were  ordered  to  that  place  by  Gen.  Silliman,  as  will  appear  by  his 
order  which  follows : 

"  New  Haven  Feby  26th  1779  6  Clock  P.  M. 
"  Gent  Mr.  Titus  Mead,  a  man  to  be  depended  on,  is  this  moment  ariv'd 
Express  from  Col.  Mead,  with  a  Message  by  word  of  mouth  only,  from  Col. 
Mead;  for  their  circumstances  were  Such  that  Col.  Mead  could  not  write.  He 
Says  that  when  he  left  Horse  Neck  (which  was  early  this  Morning)  a  Body  of 
about  600  Men,  and  a  Body  of  Horse,  had  pushed  up  the  road  into  Horse  Neck. 
and  were  on  this  Side  of  Knap's  Tavern  ;  and  it  was  reported  that  a  Body  of 
two  or  thres  Thousand  more  were  not  far  behind.     You  are  therefore  directed 


208  H  I  S  T  O  U  Y     OF     A  X  C  I  K  N  T     "\V  O  O  D  B  U  U  Y  . 

to  Muster  &  niaroh  your  Regiments,  forthwith  to  Norwalk  to  oppose  the  Ene  - 
my,  &;  where  you  will  receive  further  Orders,  loose  not  a  Moment  neither  by 
Night  nor  day.  G.  Sclleek  Silliman,  BrigrGenl  of  Foot 

and  Col.  Ct  of  Horse. 
^'To  Col.  Moseley  &  Maj^  Bull,  Woodhiny 

The  militia  turncil  out  ])ursuaiit  lo  (lie  call,  but  there  was  no  gen- 
eral action  at  that  time.  In  May,  a  detachment  of  one  hundred  was 
ordered  out  of  the  thirteenth  regiment,  and  ia  the  action  which  fol- 
lowed, several  of  them  fell,  and  a  number  more  were  wounded.  The 
original  order  of  Col.  AVhiting  on  this  occasion  folloAvs : 

"Sir,  Pur.'^uant  to  orders  from  his  Excellency  the  Governor  directed  to 
Gcu'  Sillimiui,  v\-ho  is  now  absent,  and  consequently,  as  I  am  the  oldest  Colonel 
m  the  4th  Brigade,  am  Comniandant,  You  are  hereby  required  and  Ordered  to 
Detach  one  hundred  Men  Exclusive  of  ollicers  from  your  Regiment:  and  you 
are  to  See  that  they  are  properly  Officer'd  &;  equip'd,and  Order  them  to  marcli 
to  Horse-Neck,  without  loss  of  time,  there  to  eoutnuie  for  the  defence  of  the 
Sea-Coast  in  the  western  part  of  this  State,  not  exceeding  one  month. 

"  Stratford,  May  4th,  177^. 

Sam'  Whiting,  Colol  Comm^le." 

'•  To  Colonel  Increase  Moseley." 

The  number  that  marched  from  Capt.  Leavenworth's  company,  on 
this  occasion,  was  fifty-seven,  being  more  than  his  quota.  It  was 
during  these  occurrences  that  Gen.  Putnam  made  his  famous  "  escape 
at  Horseneck,"  by  spurring  his  horse,  when  hotly  pursued,  down  a 
steep  precipice,  at  full  gallop.  Late  in  November,  1779,  the  army 
was  again  in  great  need  of  supplies,  being  really  in  a  suffering  condi- 
tion. In  this  emergency.  Gen.  Stark  looked  to  the  Woodbury  issu- 
ing and  purchasing  commissary.  "We  learn  this  from  the  following 
veiy  urgent  letter  from  Gen.  Stark  : 

"Danbury,  2Gth  Nov^,  1779. 
"  Sir,  Uppon  my  arrival  here,  find  no  flour  for  my  Brigade,  the  Troops  now 
are  entirely  out  &  very  little  expected  except  wliat  comes  from  you — You  wil' 
therefore  without  loss  of  time  purchase  and  send  forward  to  this  place  all  the 
Hour  ifc  meal  you  can  possibly  collect.  Gen.  Poor's  Brigade  is  expected  in  this 
day,  which  will  be  stationed  here  through  the  winter.  If  you  have  as  much  as 
twenty  or  10  Barrels  let  it  be  sent  immediately,  give  Orders  for  the  Teams  to 
Drive  night  &  Day  untill  they  shall  arrive  here,  &  in  the  mean  time  do  employ 
all  the  Mills  in  your  Quarter  to  Grind  for  the  Army  untill  a  suHicient  Quantity 
is  procured  for  the  present  necessity  of  this  army. 

I  am  Sir  your  most 

obedent  Humble  Ser 
'■  N.  B.  You  will  send  me  an  John  Stark,  Bg. 

Answer  by  the  bearer  what 
supplies  I  am  to  expect  from  you. 
WmXDrsborn.Mp. 


HISTORY     OF     ANCIENT     WOODBURY.  209 

1780.  During  the  winter  the  troops  had  sufFei'ed  greatly  in  their 
quarters  from  the  want  of  food  and  clothing.  They  were  paid  off  in 
continental  money,  as  it  was  called,  and  with  it  they  could  buy  neither 
food  nor  clothing.  It  was  with  the  greatest  difficulty  that  Washing- 
ton, by  the  most  solemn  and  urgent  entreaties  with  Congress,  and  by 
the  most  patriotic  appeals  to  the  people  in  all  parts  of  the  country^ 
saved  his  army  from  total  destruction. 

In  February,  1780,  Col.  Moseley  resigned  his  commission  as 
colonel,  having  filled  the  office  for  the  space  of  nearly  three  years. 
He  informed  the  General  Assembly  that  he  was  "  induced  to  accept 
the  appointment  out  of  Affection  to  my  Country,  and  an  Ardent  de- 
sire to  render  my  best  services  for  promoting  the  Good  of  the  same." 
He  resigned  the  office,  as  he  states,  on  account  of  infirm  health,  which 
unfitted  him  for  long  tours  of  service,  and  on  account  of  his  embar- 
rassed financial  matters.  The  urgency  of  the  public  service,  pre- 
vented his  resignation  being  a.ccepted  at  this  time.  In  the  latter  part 
of  October,  he  resigned  again,  and  this  time  the  Assembly  accepted 
his  resignation. 

At  this  period  of  the  war,  the  prospects  of  the  country  were  gloomy 
in  the  extreme.  Only  the  most  hopeful  and  persevering  could  see 
relief  in  the  dark  aspect  of  the  forbidding  future.  Successive  defeats 
and  rampant  toryism  disheartened  the  American  forces  at  the  South, 
and  the  uninterrupted  drain  of  men  and  money  had  produced  poverty 
and  wretchedness  at  the  North.  The  soldiers  in  their  winter  quar- 
ters, had  suffered  all  the  tortures  of  famine  and  nakedness. 

In  this  gloomy  state  of  affairs,  the  treachery  of  the  execrable  Ar- 
nold came  to  light.  He  had  previously  been  a  brave  and  gallant 
officer,  and  had  done  his  country  good  service.  But  luxurious  habits 
had  induced  him  to  embezzle  government  funds,  and  this  had  brought 
a  court-martial,  and  a  reprimand.  In  revenge  he  proved  traitor  to 
his  country.  He  became  active,  violent  and  cruel  in  his  new  rela- 
tions, and  his  name  was  branded  with  infamy.  He  has  the  sad  pre- 
eminence of  standing  alone  among  all  the  officers  of  the  Revolution, 
as  a  traitor  to  the  country  that  gave  him  birth.  Quite  a  number  of 
"Woodbury  soldiers  were  at  "West  Point  at  the  time  Arnold  concerted 
with  Andre  to  deliver  that  post  to  the  enemy.  Abel  "Wakeley,  who 
served  during  the  whole  war,  having  entered  the  service  in  his  six- 
teenth year,  was  one  of  them.  He  died  at  Greenville,  Greene  coun- 
ty, New  York,  April  13th,  1850,  in  the  ninetieth  year  of  his  age,  and 
used  frequently  to  relate  the  scene  of  the  traitor's  escape  from  West 
Point,  of  which  he  was  an  eye  witness. 


210  niSTOUV     OF     ANCIENT     -WOODBURY. 

So  worn  down  ami  cxliaustoil  had  the  people  become  wiih  constant 
service,  that  the  anthorities  of  the  town  had  the  greatest  difficulty  in 
filling  the  required  quota  from  this  date  till  the  close  of  the  war. 
Large  bounties  were  offered  for  recruits,  and  heavy  taxes  laid  to  pay 
the  expenses  thus  incurred.  This  will  be  seen  by  the  following  town 
action  : 

"  At  A  Mooting  of  tlio  IiihabitaiUs  of  the  Town  of  Woodbury,  Juno  tho  26th, 
17S0. 

"Daniol  Shorman  Esqr  was  Choson  Moderator  for  this  Mooting;. 

"Voatod,  that  Each  Able  Budyed  Ellective  Man,  Who  shall  Inlist  into  the 
Continental  Army  for  three  years  shall  Receive  as  A  Bounty  from  this  Town 
over  and  above  the  States'  Bounty  £l.'3  Lawful  Money  in  silver  at  C/S  p  ounce 
or  Currency  Equivilent,  to  be  [v.ud  on  his  Inlistment  &  being  Mustered  into 
service  the  sum  of  £20  :  and  on  the  Commencement  of  the  second  year  j£l5  : 
more,  and  on  the  Commencement  of  ye  3J  year  the  other  £10  :  provided  he 
Continues  in  the  serviss.  And  such  Able  Bodyd  Men  Who  shall  Inlist  During 
the  War  shall  Receive  tlie  same  Bounty,  and  Also  J£l5  :  on  the  Commence- 
ment of  the  4Hiyear,  Provided  they  Continue  in  the  service,  provided  also  that 
such  Inlisted  Soldiers  shall  be  accounted  a  part  of  the  Quoto  of  this  town  ; 
Provide  they  be  not  Inlisted  to  the  20/  P  Month  heretofore  Granted  to  Soldiers 
in  this  Town,  the  Comition  Officers  of  Each  Military  Company  for  the  time  be- 
ing are  Appointed  a  Committee  for  the  time  being." 

To  meet  the  payment  of  these  large  bounties,  a  tax  of  four  pence 
on  the  pound  was  laid  on  the  property  of  the  inhabitants.  In  No- 
vember, a  tax  of  two  pence  on  the  pound  was  laid  for  the  same  pur- 
pose, and  the  selectmen  were  made  a  committee  to  "find  out  the  De- 
fitionces  in  the  Continental  Army,  and  make  report  to  the  next  meet- 
ing." In  December,  Aaron  liinman,  William  Preston,  Sheldon 
Clark,  Capt.  Elijah  liinman,  Lieut.  Samuel  Curtiss,  and  Capt.  David 
Leavenworth  were  chosen  a  committee  to  hire  soldiers.  On  the  fif- 
teenth of  January  following,  fifteen  others  were  appointed  a  commit- 
tee to  assist  the  former  committee  in  the  performance  of  their  duties. 

The  army  this  year  were  again  in  the  greatest  Avant  of  the  necessa- 
ries of  life,  clothing  in  particular.  In  this  emergency,  Woodbury 
"  Sent  to  the  Connecticut  Line  by  INIr.  Hubbard,  Nov"-  7"'  1780,  1788 
p'  stockings,  1582  p"^  Woolen  Overalls,  379  Shirts,  570  vests,  1937 
p"^  of  Shoes,  and  G50  Blankets."  This  was  a  pretty  liberal  amount 
to  be  sent  by  one  exhausted  town. 

In  August,  1780,  Washington  conceived  the  plan  of  taking  New 
York  from  the  enemy,  and  consequently  desired  a  force  that  would 
not  be  constantly  leaving  him  by  the  expiration  of  the  time  of  their 
enlistment.  lie  therefore  suggested  to  his  general  officers  the  policy 
of  enlisting  "vokmteers  till  New   York  should  be  taken."     General 


HISTORY     OF     ANCIENT     "WOODBURY.  211 

Parsons  communicated  tlie  plan  to  the  captains  under  his  command, 
in  the  following  letter  : 

"Sir 

"  His  Excellency  General  Washington  informs  me,  that  in  Case  the  States 
furnish  their  Quota  of  Money  and  Supplies,  he  designs  New  York  for  the  object 
of  his  Operations  this  Campaign,  and  desires  me  to  Encourage  Volunteer  Com- 
panies to  Inlist  on  the  following  Terms,  viz.  That  they  sign  their  Names  to  A 
written  Ingagement  to  abide  with  the  Army,  subject  to  the  Orders  &  Regula- 
tions by  which  they  are  Governd  untill  the  City  of  New  York  is  taken,  or  the 
seige  kaisd,  unless  they  are  sooner  discharge,  and  that  the  persons  thus  Inga- 
ging  hold  themselves  in  Readiness  to  marck  whenever  the  General  calls  for 
them  ;  for  the  express  purpose  of  attacking  New  York,  &:  for  no  other  purpose. 
Every  50  Rank  &  File  are  entitled  to  have  1  Capt,  1  Lt,  &d  1  Ensign,  &  3  Ser- 
jeants, to  be  Elected  by  themselves,  and  so  in  proportion  for  a  less  number. 
Under  these  Circumstances  I  have  to  request  you  to  Confer  with  the  Gentlemen 
in  your  Vicinity,  &;  Endeavour  to  procure  A  Company  to  be  engagd  for  this 
purpose.  I  would  thank  you  to  acquaint  me  as  soon  as  you  can  of  your  pros- 
pects in  this  Matter.  Pay  and  Rations  Commence  from  the  Time  of  their 
taking  the  Field  21st  August,  17S0. 

"I  am,  Sir,  yr  obedt  Scrvt 

Saml  H.  Parsons. 
"  To  Capt.  David  Leavenworth  and  Capt.  Jon^  Brown. 

"  We  whose  Names  are  hereunto  Subscribed  do  Voluntarily  Inlist  &  Engage 
ourselves  to  serve  in  A  Company  of  Volunteers  to  be  rais''  in  pursuance  of  his 
Excellency  General  Washington's  Requisition  to  General  Parsons,  and  to  abide 
by  and  Conform  ourselves  in  every  respect  agreeable  to  the  within  Mention<i 
plan  exhibited  for  this  purpose. 

"  Adam  Ilurlbut,  Lovewell  liurd,  John  C.  Case,  Ezra  Lacey,  Moses  Hurd, 
Aaron  Hall,  David  Leavenworth,  Edward  Lake,  Wm.  Torrance,  Sam- 
no]  Hurd,  Ebenezer  Lacey,  Abijah  Brunson,  Issacher  Norton,  John  Mal- 
lory,  Eben'  Thomas,  Curtis  Hurd,  David  Booth,  John  Baker,  Thomas 
Torrance,  George  Norton,  Nathan  Rumsey,  Eldad  Baker." 

Scarcely  any  thing  could  show  the  indomitable  spirit  of  the  people 
better  than  this  inhstment  out  of  a  single  company,  under  the  circum- 
stances in  which  it  was  made.  It  was  but  a  few  days  previous,  that 
Col.  Moseley  had  been  ordered  by  Gen.  Parsons  to  make  a  very 
heavy  detachment,  as  will  appear  by  Col.  Moseley's  letter  to  the 
general : 

"  Woodbury  August  2Gth.  17S0. 
"  Bond  Sir— 

"  I  Received  your  Orders  of  the  20th.  Instant,  &  have  given  out  Orders  ac- 
cordingly ;  with  directions  to  the  Detaching-Officers  to  deliver  their  draughted 
Men,  to  such  Officer  &  Lieut.  Col.  Wells  should  appoint  to  receive  them  ;  at  Col. 
Canfield's  in  New  Milford  on  the  2Sth.  Instant ;  and  have  Wrote  to  Col.  Wells, 
Informing  him  of  the  time  &   place.     This  draught  compleats  440  Men  that 


212  HISTORY     OK     A  N  C  I  i:  X  T     WOODBURY. 

have  been  cali'd  for  from  this  Reg^  since  May  hist — The  last  Return  of  men  fit 
for  duty  luulor  fifty  years  of  Aye  could  not  exceed  4&0 — There  has  been  a  con- 
siderable number  who  have  njov'd  away  since  last  Return  ;  so  that  some  of  the 
Oflicers  say  that  they  can  not  find  Enough  to  compleat  their  Details  without 
taking  such  as  have  been  out  the  last  two  Months  :  but  I  hope  they  will  make 
out  some  how.  Capt.  Iline  of  New  Milford  inform 'd  me  to  day,  that  there  is  a 
dilllculty  attends  getting  the  Men  in  that  Town  :  which  is,  that  in  Consetiuence 
of  an  Order  or  Recommendation,  sent  by  Gen'.  Parsons  to  the  Minister  of  that 
Town,  to  raise  a  Company  of  Volunteers,  a  great  part  of  the  Men  there,  have 
Inlisted  for  that  purpose;  &  have  proceeded  so  far  as  to  Nominate  their  Cap*. 
&c.  in  full  expectation  of  soon  compleating  a  full  Company  in  that  Quarter: 
and  that  the  Oliicers  there  could  not  make  the  last  draugl)t  without  taking  the 
Men  out  of  those  Inlisted  Volunteers;  which  they  apprehend  would  frustrate 
the  whole  plan  of  raising  such  a  Company;  It  being  a  favourite  j)lan  among 
them,  which  they  are  Zealously  pursuing;  they  desired  Capt.  Hine  to  come  to 
me  ifc  see  if  they  could  not  be  indulged  the  favour  not  to  make  the  draught.  I 
told  Capt.  Hine,  that  I  was  much  in  favour  of  having  Volunteer  Companies; 
but  as  our  Minister  had  not  yet  Received  any  orders  on  that  subject,  I  was  un- 
acquainted with  the  General  Plan  ;  therefore  could  not  relinquish  any  part  of 
the  draugliting  Orders;  but  told  him  I  would  Represent  the  matter  to  your 
Honr.  and  if  any  allowance  could  be  mude  on  account  of  Volunteers,  you  would 
doubtless  grant  it.  I  understand  that  similar  Orders  arc  sent  to  the  Ministers 
of  Kent  ifc  Litchfield;  and  that  it  Originated  from  a  Requisition  from  his  Ex- 
celly  Genl.  Washington  for  that  purpose :  but  have  seen  nothing  of  the  kind  in 
this  Town  and  Hardly  know  what  to  depend  on  about  it. 

"  I  am  &rc.  "  I.  Moseloy." 

By  tins  letter  it  can  be  seen,  in  a  vivid  liglit,  how  much  the  regi- 
ment had  become  reduced  in  point  of  numbers,  more  than  two  years 
before  the  close  of  the  war. 

1781.  In  May  of  this  year,  the  Assembly,  u[)OU  the  representa- 
tion of  Gen.  Washington,  that  there  was  a  pressing  necessity  of  hav- 
ing fifteen  hundred  men  ready  to  march  on  the  shortest  notice,  to  be 
held  in  service  three  months  after  joining  the  army,  and  also  of  rais- 
ing a  number  of  men  equal  to  one-sixth  part  of  this  state's  quota  in 
the  continental  army,  to  supply  deficiencies  which  had  taken  place 
from  the  various  casualties  incident  to  an  army,  resolved  to  raise  by 
voluntary  inlistment,  2,100  men,  by  the  1st  of  July  following,  and  if 
the  number  was  not  filled  by  that  time,  to  complete  it  by  peremptory 
detachment  from  those  towns  which  had  not  raised  their  full  quota  of 
men.  The  larger  part  of  the  men  raised  in  this  regiment  was  sent 
to  Horseneck.  In  the  early  part  of  January,  a  committee  of  seven- 
teen were  appointed  to  hire  soldiers  for  that  post.  In  July,  another 
town  meeting  was  held,  in  which  it  was  voted, 

"That  the  IS  Men  to  fill  up  our  Quota  of  the  Continental  Army  &  Likewise 


HISTORY     OF     ANCIENT     WOODBURY.  213 

the  11  Men  for  the  State  Guards  at  Horse  Neck  bchii'^  by  a  Committee  as  here- 
tofore for  that  Purpose." 

I 

The  committee  was  appointed,  and  the  desired  number  raised.  In 
February,  it  had  been, voted,  to  give  tlie  State  bounty  of  £30  given 
to  the  several  towns  for  each  recruit  furnished,  to  eacli  soldier  who 
should  enlist  and  muster  into  service.  This  vote  materially  lightened 
the  labor  of  procuring  enlistments.  This  will  be  seen  from  the  fact, 
that  twenty-two  were  obtained  from  one  company,  Capt.  Thaddeus 
Kurd's.  The  quota  for  this  year  was  one  hundred  and  six.  The 
number  in  service  in  May  was  eighty-one,  and  consequently  the  defi- 
ciency was  twenty-five.  These  were  hired  by  the  committee  ap- 
pointed for  that  purpose. 

During  this  year,  the  French  army  under  Gen.  La  Fayette,  passed 
through  this  town  on  their  journey  south  to  join  Gen.  Washington, 
in  his  operations  against  Cornwallis.  This  was  a  pretty  direct  route 
from  Boston,  and  it  was  the  general's  design  to  keep  at  a  safe  dis- 
tance from  the  coasts.  They  came  through  White  Deer  rocks,  where 
they  were  obliged  to  cut  away  trees,  and  remove  stones,  in  order  to 
transport  their  heavy  baggage  through  the  defile.  The  army  en- 
camped for  the  night  in  town,  in  such  companies  as  suited  their  con- 
venience, and  when  they  had  pitched  their  tents,  they  extended  all 
the  way  from  Middle  Quarter  to  White  Oak,  a  distance  of  nearly 
three  miles.  That  part  which  encamped  near  the  house  then  occu- 
pied by  David  Sherman,  and  since  by  the  late  Gideon  Sherman,  eat 
for  him,  with  his  consent,  twelve  bushels  of  apples,  as  is  related,  and 
drank  seven  or  eight  barrels  of  new  cider  at  his  mill.  During  the 
evening  they  had  a  dance  in  which  some  of  the  Woodbury  damsels 
joined  with  the  polite  French  officers,  in  their  gay  uniforms,  while 
others  looked  on.  Multitudes  of  the  inhabitants  pressed  about  the 
tents  of  those  patriotic  foreigners,  who  had  come  so  far  to  fight  the 
battle  of  freedom  for  a  sufi'ering  people,  and  destined  to  act  go  distin- 
guished a  part  in  bringing  the  long  and  bloody  contest  to  a  close. 
La  Fayette,  with  his  chief  officers,  lodged  at  the  house  of  Hon.  Dan 
iel  Sherman,  and  was  waited  on  by  all  the  principal  men, of  the  town. 
The  late  Mr.  Ashbel  Moody,  and  two  or  three  other  aged  people, 
who  recollected  the  scene,  gave  the  writer  a  vivid  description  of  the 
incidents  of  the  occasion.  Fired  anew  with  martial  courage  by  the 
fine  display  of  the  French  troops,  a  considerable  number  of  soldiers 
volunteered  on  the  spot,  and  marched  with  them  on  the  following 
morning.  Among  these  were  Capt.  Joseph  Walker,  Lieut.  Nathan 
Beers,  Lieut.  John  Sherman,  Ebenezer  Hicock,  Wait  Hurlbut,  and 


214  HISTORY     OF     ANCIENT     WOOD  BURT. 

Enoch  Spcriy.  After  the  surroiuler  of  Cornwallis  at  Yorktown,  the 
army  pa>seil  through  town  again  on  their  return  to  take  shijjfor  their 
homes.  The  soldiers  encamped  on  Breakneck  Hill  in  Middlebury, 
about  a  mile  north  of  the  meeting-house,  it  derives  its  name  from 
the  circumstance  of  one  of  the  cattle  falling  and  breaking  its  neck  in 
descending  the  hill,  while  employed  in  transporting  the  baggage  of 
the  troops.  La  Fayette  and  some  of  his  officers  lodged  in  a  tavern, 
ill  a  valley  eastward,  then  kept  by  Mr.  Isaac  Bronson.  A  new  house 
has  since  been  erected  on  its  site  by  a  grandson  of  the  former  owner. 
1782.  The  campaign  opened  early  this  year,  and  a  meeting  of  the 
town  was  held,  Feb.  25th,  at  which  it  was 

"  A'otid  that  the  16  Chisses  that  are  uheacly  fixed  hire,  each  of  said  CIas.«es 
liire  one  Man  to  serve  in  the  State  Guard,  &  three  soklicrs  be  raised  by  the 
Town  to  Serve  in  sd  State  Guard." 

The  burdens  of  the  war  fell  very  heavily  on  Connecticut,  because 
that  in  addition  to  furnishing  its  full  quota  in  the  continental  anny> 
it  was  obliged  to  keep  many  of  its  soldiers  on  duty  at  the  several  posts 
in  the  State  for  its  defense. 

On  the  18th  of  December,  another  town-meeting  was  held,  at 
which  it  was 

"  Voted  to  fill  up  our  Quota  to  the  Xumber  of  lOtj  Men. 

"  Voted  that  the  Town  Raise  12  Men  &  that  the  Select  Men  Divide  the  Town 
into  12  Classes  Each  Class  to  Raise  one  Man  on  the  List  of  17S1." 

This  proved  to  be  the  last  time  the  town  was  to  be  called  upon  to 
show  its  devotion  to  the  interests  of  the  country  during  the  war  of 
independence.  It  will  be  seen  that  the  efforts  of  the  town  to  sub- 
serve the  good  cause,  in  common  with  the  whole  country,  had  con- 
stantly grown  weaker  and  weaker,  as  the  strength  of  its  soldiers 
wasted  away  before  the  pestilence,  and  the  deadly  struggle  on  the 
field  of  battle,  and  its  wealth  disappeared  under  the  ever  fresh  levies 
of  supplies  for  the  army,  and  the  support  of  the  troops.  It  would 
seem,  that  overwhelmed  with  debt  as  the  country  then  was,  it  could 
hardly  have  held  out  much  longer.  But,  however  that  may  have 
been,  it  seems  that  a  kind  Providence  had  designed,  in  his  wisdom, 
to  spare  them  the  trial.  To  Him,  "  who  tempers  the  wind  to  the 
shorn  lamb,"  it  seemed  good  to  say  to  pride,  power  and  oppression, 
"  thus  far  shalt  thou  go  and  no  farther." 

A  part  of  these  last  levies  were  present  at  the  ever  memorable 
siege  of  Yorktown  in  October,  and  at  the  surrender  of  Cornwallis  on 
the  10th  of  that  month,  which  virtually  closed  the  war.     Abel  Wake- 


UISTOKY     OF     ANCIE  XT-  WOODBURY,  215 

ley  was  one  of  these,  and  others  who  had  inlisted  during  the  war,  to- 
gether with  the  most  of  those  that  went  south  with  La  Fayette.  The 
eyes  of  these  survivors  of  a  ruthless  warfare  beheld  a  glad  sight  on 
the  morn  of  the  19th  of  October,  when  in  solemn  silence — not  amid 
the  smoke  and  carnage  of  the  battle-field — they  saw  the  brave  Gen. 
Lincoln  receive  the  sword  of  Lord  Cornwallis — the  strength  and 
glory  of  the  British  army  on  this  side  of  the  water,  broken  and  de- 
stroyed. Well  might  the  news  of  this  auspicious  event  spread  uni- 
versal joy,  as  it  did,  throughout  the  country.  Well  might  all  hearts 
unite  in  praise  and  thanksgiving  to  God  for  this  signal  blessing, 
which  was  to  terminate  our  struggle  for  independence.  It  was  not 
inappropriate  that  Washington  ordered  divine  service  to  be  perform- 
ed throughout  the  army ;  and  that  Congress  proceeded  in  solemn 
procession  to  the  house  of  God,  to  acknowledge  their  grateful  sense 
of  this  special  favor.^  It  was,  indeed,  the  final  blow,  the  immediate 
precursor  of  peace.  The  voice  of  the  whole  British  people  called  in 
earnest  tones  for  an  immediate  termination  of  the  war ;  so  earnest 
indeed,  that  it  penetrated  even  to  an  unrelenting  throne.  Early  next 
year,  just  eight  years  after  the  battle  of  Lexington,  Great  Britain 
proposed  peace,  and  hostilities  terminated.  John  Adams,  Benjamin 
Franklin,  John  Jay  and  Henry  Laurens,  were  appointed  agents  by 
the  United  States  to  conclude  the  terms  of  peace.  Preliminary  arti- 
cles were  signed  at  Paris,  Nov.  30,  1782,  and  on  the  19lh  day  of 
April;  1783,  a  formal  proclamation  of  the  cessation  of  hostilities  an- 
nounced the  glad  tidings  to  a  disenthralled  nation. 

It  would  be  a  pleasing  occupation  to  linger  for  a  moment  and 
gather  up  the  personal  incidents  scattered  thickly  throughout  the 
whole  of  this  long  and  eventful  period;  but  the  limits  of  our  work 
will  not  allow  us  that  gratification.  They  will  be  found,  however,  in 
the  biographical  and  genealogical  history,  which  will  occupy  the  ma- 
jor portion  of  the  remainder  of  this  volume,  and  also  in  the  list  of 
revolutionary  soldiers  from  this  town,  among  the  statistics,  at  its 
close. 


1  On  the  -west  side  of  the  Pomperaug  River,  three-fourths  of  a  mile  from  the  main 
street  in  Southbrn^i-,  lived  three  brothers,  sturdy  young  men.  Their  names  -n-ere  Jus- 
tus, Amos  and  Jiloses  Asa  Johnson.  "When  the  news  of  the  surrender  of  Cornwallis 
reached  town,  the  people  assembled  at  the  meetmg-house,  and  the  greatest  enthusiasm 
prevailed.  The  bell  pealed  forth  in  merrj',  violent  tones,  and  every  heart  was  full  of 
joy.  The  Johnsons  supposed  the  bell  was  ringuig  for  an  alann,  as  it  scarcely  rmig  for 
any  thing  else  except  on  Sundays.  In  an  horn-  or  two,  two  of  them  appeared  at  the 
alarm  post,  fully  armed  and  equipped,  their  knapsacks  filled  with  provisions  for  an 
immediate  march.     Such  was  a  specimen  of  the  patriotism  of  those  days. 


216  n  I  STORY     OF     AX  CI  EXT     AVOODnURT. 

* 

"  TIic  colonies  must  Ix'  faxed!"  Wliat  a  world  of  inten'.>t-;  was 
affected  by  that  steni  and  unjust  decision.  Little  dreamed  he  who 
spake  it,  that  it  would  inflame  a  continent,  and  rend  from  Old  Eng- 
land her  fairest  possession,  her  gem  of  greatest  value.  But  the  word 
was  spoken — the  decree  gone  forth  !  ''  Whom  the  gods  wish  to  de- 
stroy they  first  make  mad."  With  a  fated  madness,  an  unaccounta- 
ble folly,  the  mother  country  took  her  furious  course.  Her  children, 
driven  by  her  cruelty  into  the  savage  wilds  of  a  distant  continent, 
were  pursued  with  ruthless  barbarity.  She  little  knew  and  little 
cared,  if  far  away  over  the  mighty  Atlantic,  her  arbitrary  acts  was 
creating  the  "  land  of  the  free  and  the  home  of  the  brave."  Then 
came  the  war  of  the  Revolution  to  blast  the  dearest  hopes  of  the 
people  of  the  new  world,  yet  from  its  gloomy  shades  gleamed  forth 
the  light  of  liberty,  which  now  shines  with  such  dazzling  splendor. 
But  it  was  to  be  obtained  by  blood  and  toil  and  miseries  with  scarce- 
ly an  equal  in  the  annals  of  mankind.  The  blood  of  the  dwellers  in 
these  fiiir  vales,  and  in  each  town  and  hamlet  of  our  land,  was  shed 
like  water  oil  every  glorious  battle  field  of  our  country,  from  the 
skirmish  at  Lexington  to  the  ever  memorable  seige  of  Yorktown — 
from  the  sad  massacre  of  the  fair  and  poetic  vale  of  Wyoming  to  the 
field  of  honor  on  the  heights  of  Saratoga !  Ttteir  hardly  earned 
worldly  goods  were  freely  offered  on  the  altar  of  their  country's  good. 
Hunger,  cold  and  privation  of  every  sort  were  cheerfully  endured. 
Every  tie  which  nature  holds  dear,  and  which  binds  the  hearts  of 
men  in  conjugal,  paternal,  or  fraternal  bands  to  the  well-known 
liearthstone,  were  sundered  at  the  call  of  our  suffering  country  in  her 
hour  of  need  and  of  peril.  Tfiey  went  forth  with  bounding  hearts, 
and  athletic,  manly  forms.  Many  of  them  found  honored  graves  in 
various  parts  of  our  land,  and  many  more  returned  with  dire  diseases, 
mutilated  frames  and  shattered  health — the  merest  wreck  of  what 
they  were — to  the  firesides  \vhich  had  missed  their  presence  for 
months  and  years. 

But  the  result  of  their  labors  was  glorious  beyond  the  expectation, 
or  even  the  dreams  of  the  most  hopeful.  They  wrought  well — a  re- 
deemed and  widely  extended  people  now  rejoices  in  the  results  of 
their  toils  and  sufferings.  If  there  be  a  "  recompense  of  reward"  for 
those  that  do  well,  surely  our  patriot  sires  have  long  since  entered  on 
a  bright  fruition.  Great  indeed  have  been  the  results  of  the  Revo- 
lution, not  only  to  our  own  favored  land,  but  to  the  world.  Since 
that  hour  of  "  deadly  peril  was  overpast,"  our  nation  has  gone  pros- 
perously on,  and  we  are  almost  miraculously  increased  from  tliree  to 
more  than  twenty  millions  of  freemen.     Liberty  and  equality  are  in- 


HISTORY     OF     ANCIENT     WOODBURY.  217 

terwoven  with  every  fibre  of  our  institutions.  Freedom  of  thought 
and  of  conscience  is  the  pole-star  of  our  existence.  Knowledge  infi- 
nitely more  varied  and  extended  than  was  ever  before  known,  has 
embraced  all  classes,  and  it  will  have  its  "  perfect  work,"  till  the 
humblest  operative  shall  become  a  man  of  science.  Literature,  art, 
science,  a  brilliant  triad,  is  the  proud  possession  of  our  country,  and 
she  will  continue  to  enjoy  it  till  the  "  last  of  earth"  shall  have  been 
experienced  by  the  last  of  the  race.  The  universal  diffusion  of 
knowledge  is  the  grand  characteristic  of  our  country.  By  means  of 
this  the  most  distant  member  of  our  population,  which  surges  to  and 
fro  like  the  waves  of  the  ocean,  is  visited  in  his  home  on  the  broad 
prairie,  or  among  the  everlasting  hills,  and  prepared  to  act  his  part  in 
the  great  system  of  republican  institutions.  The  active  and  enter- 
prising spirit  of  the  age  has  given  us  a  vigorous  and  original  litera- 
ture. The  useful,  the  practical,  in  science,  in  art,  in  every  thing,  is 
the  grand  desideratum.  Improvements  are  made  in  every  thing. 
Even  news,  Avhich  has  in  all  ages  been  noted  for  its  agiUty,  no  longer 
takes  its  slow  course  by  stage,  or  by  railroad ;  nor  yet,  in  the  poeti- 
cal language  of  Scripture,  does  it  "  take  the  wings  of  the  morning, 
and  dwell  in  the  uttermost  parts  of  the  sea ;"  but  it  seizes  on  the 
"  firey  bolt  of  Jove,""  and  outstrips  the  ''  swift  wind."  The  time  is 
not  far  distant,  when  the  far  dweller  in  Oregon  shall  whisper  words 
of  affection  "  hy  telegraph"  to  an  Atlantic  lady-love,  all  too  impatient 
to  wait  the  slow  delay  of  the  "  lumbering  mail." 

"A  destiny  for  us  may  be  predicted  far  more  glorious  than  ever  the 
most  illustrious  days  of  Greece  or  Eome,  or  even  the  bright  Bi-itish 
Isles  have  gloried  in.  The  day  may  not  be  distant,  when  America, 
compared  wuth  England,  shall  be  as  a  fair  and  blooming  daughter 
beside  an  old  and  decrepid  mother."  In  the  spirit  of  liberty  lies  the 
secret  of  the  present  aspect  of  mankind.  Exalted  indeed  is  the  posi- 
tion of  the  men  of  the  nineteenth  century.  They  stand  amid  the 
mighty  ruins  of  the  past,  while  the  clear  light  of  liberty  has  just 
dawned  in  full  effulgence  upon  the  world.  Every  thing  proceeds 
with  the  utmost  velooity,  and  one  must  cast  himself  upon  the  rolling 
flood,  and  rule  and  direct  the  storm,  or  be  overwhelmed  by  it.  "  For 
them  has  been  reserved  the  glorious  yet  perilous  task  of  remodelling 
society — for  them  a  vital  share  in  the  final  regeneration  of  mankind." 
Their  trust  is  in  the  lofty  patriotism  and  intelligence  of  the  people, 
and  they  are  cheered  on  by  the  hope  that  the  perfection  of  humanity, 
having  sought  in  vain  throughout  the  whole  world  for  a  permanent 
resting  place,  may  here,  in  this  western  land,  take  up  its  final  abode. 
15 


CHAPTER   XI. 

HISTORY    OF    SOUTHBDRY    AXD     SOUTH     BRITAIN     ECCLESIASTICAL 
SOCIETIES,    AND    THE    TOWN    OF    SOUTHBURY. 

1731  TO  1S53;  Petition  for  a  Society,  1730;  Incorporated  in  May,  1731; 
63  remonstrate  at  the  next  session;  First  Meeting  House  in  White 
Oak,  1735;  Rev.  John  Graham  settled,  1732;  List  of  First  Church 
Members  ;  Character  of  Mr.  Graham  ;  Method  of  Singino  ;  Rev.  Ben- 
jamin Wildman  settled  in  1765;  Second  Church  finished,  1772;  Church 
Bell  obtained  in  1775;  Mr.  Wildman's  Character  and  Death;  Rev. 
Elijah  Wood  settled,  1813;  Rev.  Daniel  A.  Clark  settled,  1S16;  Rev. 
Thomas  L.  Shipman,  1826;  Rev.  Williams  H.  Whittemore  settled, 
1836;  Pulpit  now  supplied  by  Rev.  George  P.  Prudden  ;  Llst  of  Dea- 
cons; South  Britain  petitions  for  vs^inter  privileges,  1761,  which  aee 
granted;  Incorporated  as  a  Society,  May,  1766;  First  Meeting  Hou«e, 
1770;  Rev.  Jehu  Minor  settled  and  Church  gathered,  1769;  Settle- 
ment OF  Ministers — Remarks;  List  of  First  Church  Members;  Rev 
Matthias  Cazier  settled,  1799;  Rev.  Dr.  Ty'ler  settled,  ISOS,  and 
dismissed,  1822;  Rev.  Noah  Smith  settled,  1S22;  Rev.   Oliver  B.  But- 

TERFlELD    SETTLED,     1S37;     ReV.    AmOS     E.    LaWRENCE    SETTLED,    1S51  ;     LiST 

of  Deacons;  Town  of  Southbury  Incorporated,  17S7;  Pre.sent  state  of 
THE  Town  ;  Census. 

For  a  period  of  more  than  fifty-seven  years  after  the  first  settle- 
ment of  Pomperaug,  the  inhabitants  had  formed  but  one  ecclesiastical 
society.  On  the  day  of  sacred  rest  and  on  other  occasions,  our 
fathers,  the  hardy  pioneers  in  this  forest  town,  had  assembled  at  the 
old  meeting-house  of  the  "  ancient  society"  in  this  lovely  valley,  and 
offered  up  their  devotions  to  the  ever-living  God  as  an  "  undivided 
whole."  For  six  or  eight  miles  in  all  directions,  these  men  of  God 
descended  from  the  breezy,  life-invigorating  hills,  and  emerged  from 
their  rural  homes  in  the  sweet  vallies,  hastening  "  to  the  temple"  to 
worship  the  benign  Ruler  of  the  universe.  In  storm  and  in  sunshine, 
in  summer's  heat  and  winter's  cold,  they  paid  this  "  debt  of  duty," 
and  forgot  not  the  "  assembling  of  themselves  together."  Amidst  the 
wilds  tliey  sung  the  high  praises  of  the  Great  Creator,  and  the  star.-; 


HISTORY     OF     ANCIEXT     AVOODBURT.  219 

heanl  and  the  lea !  Their  affections  during  this  long  period  had  en- 
twined themselves  around  the  "  old  sanctuary."  They  loved  their 
aged  pastor,  and  scarcely  the  great  inconveniences  of  the  remote 
parts  of  their  town  could  induce  them  to  think  of  forming  new  socie- 
ties, and  new  church  relations. 

But  the  time  at  length  came,  when  it  seemed  necessary  to  manv  to 
separate  from  the  "  ancient  society,"  and  attempt  the  formation  of  a 
new  one,  so  that  a  place  of  worship  might  he  obtained  in  a  location 
which  would  better  accommodate  them.  By  a  petition  sent  to  the 
May  session  of  the  General  Assembly,  1730,  we  learn  that  early  in 
1718,  upon  the  question  arising  whether  the  first  meeting-house 
"should  be  added  to,  or  a  new  one  built/*  it  was  agreed  after  consid- 
erable discussion,  that  all  should  unite  in  repairing  the  old  house,  and 
that  at  the  end  of  twelve  years,  the  inhabitants  of  the  south  pai't  of 
the  town  should  have  liberty  with  the  consent  of  the  legislature,  to 
become  a  distinct  ecclesiastical  society,  and  the  inhabitants  of  the 
north  part  by  a  previous  agreement,  were  to  have  a  like  liberty  in 
twelve  years  from  1716.  They  therefore  say  that  having  complied 
with  the  terms  of  the  agreement  on  their  side,  and  the  time  having 
expired  they  wish  to  be  incorporated  into  a  society  accordingly,  es- 
pecially "  the  old  meeting-house  being  gone  to  decay  and  now  not 
big  enough  to  accommodate  the  inhabitants  of  s'*  Town."  They  also 
desire  "  that  the  line  to  divide  them  may  be  the  same  that  divides 
their  Train  Bands."  This  petition  was  signed  by  "  Titus  Hinman, 
Sen,  Benjamin  Hicock,  and  Andrew  Hinman  in  behalf  of  the 
Rest."'  A  committee  was  appointed  to  "view  the  circumstances  and 
report."  This  committee  having  attended  to  the  duties  of  their  ap- 
pointment, reported  favorably,  and  the  second  ecclesiastical  society 
in  "Woodbury  was  incorporated  and  called  Southbury,  May,  1731. 

This  act  was  displeasing  to  many  in  both  societies.  Accordinglv  a 
petition  signed  by  thirty-three  persons  in  the  north,  or  "  ancient  soci- 
ety," and  thirty  in  Southbury  society,  was  preferred  to  the  October 
session  of  the  Assembly,  in  1731,  asking  for  a  reconsideration  of  the 
vote  incorporating  the  new  society.     They  assign  as  reasons, 

1 .  The  north  society  is  left  very  narrow. 

2.  Mr.  Toucey,  one  of  the  committee,  is  interested,  "having  a 
large  farm  near  the  center  of  the  new  society." 

3.  They  allege,  among  other  things,  that  those  of  the  south  society 
who  must  bear  half  of  the  burden  and  expenses,  are  averse  to  the 

1  State  Archives,  Ecclesiastical,  vol.  5,  p.  193,  et  seq. 


220  n  I  S  T  O  K  Y     OF     ANCIENT     "VV  O  O  D  IJ  U  R  Y . 

separation,  and  live  as  near  the  old  house  as  the  proposed  new  one. 
Besides  they  "  have  Lived  under  y'"  Ministry  of  the  present  Minister 
(Mr.  Stoddard)  with  very  Great  Delight  for  nearly  30  years  whom 
they  chose  and  Stipulated  with,  and  are  of  opinion  they  ought  not  to 
be  forced  to  break  oft'  from  and  forsake  their  Minister." 

4.  The  south  society  will  not  harmonize. 

5.  It  would  be  a  great  "  hardship  to  the  ancient  minister  to  jduck 
up  stakes  and  move,  or  travel  far." 

G.  The  town,  in  the  vote  alluded  to,  did  not  contemplate  a  forcible 
separation. 

The  signers  of  this  petition,  who  lived  in  the  new  society  were 
William  Preston,  Peter  Mjpor,  Hezekiah  Culver,  Samuel  Sherman, 
Adino  Strong,  Sen.,  Andrew  Ward,  Thomas  Squire,  Josiah  Minor, 
David  Squire,  Isaac  Knowles,  Richard  Peet,  Ephraim  Tuttle,  Na- 
than Curtiss,  Nathaniel  Hurlbut,  Samuel  Waller,  Lemuel  Wheeler, 
John  Curtiss,  Jr.,  Caleb  Wheeler,  Thomas  Knowles,  John  Crissy, 
^Matthew  Mitchell,  Adino  Strong,  Jr.,  John  Curtis^,  Jr.,  Benjamin 
Wheeler,  John  Squire,  Ezra  Sherman,  Joseph  Tuttle,  Sarah  Wheel- 
er, Sarah  Curtiss,  (widow,)  David  Carman. 

The  Woodbury  signers  were  Joseph  Minor,  Zechariah  Walker, 
Joseph  Judson,  Samuel  Bull,  Jonathan  Atwood,  Stephen  Terrill, 
Valentine  Prentice,  Nathan  Hurd,  Samuel  Galpin,  Alexander  Ale- 
horn,  Jonathan  Mitchell,  David  Hurd,  John  Nichols,  Caleb  Martin, 
Robert  Warner,  Isaac  Peet,  Samuel  Martin,  Eliakim  Stoddard,  John 
Mitchell,  Jr.,  Knell  Mitchell,  Roger  Terrill,  Timothy  Minor,  David 
Mitchell,  Zadock  Hurd,  Epin-aim  jMinor,  Widow  Sai-ah  Judson,  Pe- 
ter Walker,  Joseph  Roots,  John  Roots,  Elizabeth  Squire,  Samuel 
Minor,  ThomaS  Minor,  Joseph  Martin. 

The  Assembly  took  the  petition  into  consideration,  but  negatived 
its  prayer.  During  the  same  session,  however,  it  was  proposed  and 
passed  in  the  "  Upper  House,"  that  the  dissatisfied  members  of  the 
south  society  might  return  to  the  old  society  again,  but  the  "  Lower 
House"  dissented.  At  the  May  session  of  next  year,  twenty-three 
persons  in  the  south,  and  twenty-seven  in  the  north  renewed  their 
petition  for  a  reconsideration  of  the  act  of  incorporation.  Taking  into 
consideration  "  the  unhappy  differences,"  the  Assembly  appointed 
James  Wadsworth,  Esq.,  Capt.  Thomas  Wells  and  Capt.  Isaac  Dike- 
man  a  committee  to  "  view  the  circumstances,"  hear  grievances,  ex- 
amine location,  and  report.  This  committee  reported  at  the  October 
session,  1732,  that  there  was  no  hope  of  healing  the  differences  in  the 
south  society.     "  On  the  whole"  they  say,  "  we  are  forced  to  look 


HISTORY     OF     AXCIEXT     WOODBURY.  221 

upon  TToodbury  in  two  societies  ;  and  as  to  the  northers  society,  we 
suppose  them  well  agreed  and  at  unity  among  themselves,  but  very 
much  to  the  contrary  in  the  southern  society."  Though  there  was 
more  than  one-hj<!f,  there  was  nothing  like  two-thirds  of  them,  who 
can  agree  to  settle  a  minister,  build  a  meeting-house,  and  carry  on  the 
other  necessary  business  pertaining  to  a  society.  But  they  could  not 
persuade  them  to  go  back  to  the  old  society.  For  these  reasons  they 
proposed  a  new  division-line  farther  south,  and  that  the  firat  society 
should  pay  the  south  £200,  and  if  the  south  society  dfd  not  then 
agree  to  said  proposals  within  five  months,  and  "  go  forward  as  a 
society,"  then  they  should  be  united  again  and  "  meet  in  y^  old  Meet- 
ing House  as  formerly."  The  Assembly,  on  this  report  being  made, 
raised  the  amount  to  be  paid  to  £300,  including  £55,  10s.  subscribed 
by  individuals,  and  then  passed  the  proposition  into  a  law.  At  the 
same  session,  the  two  houses  were  informed  that  Southbury  society 
had  voted  to  build  a  meeting-house,  and  asked  a  committee  to  locate 
the  same  according  to  law.  For  some  reason  the  houses  disagreed 
as  to  the  men  to  be  appointed,  and  nothing  was  done  in  the  premises. 

On  the  29th  of  November,  1732,  the  society  voted  unanimously 
"  except  one  man"  to'-build  a  meeting-house,  and  asked  a  committee 
of  location,  upon  which  TTilliam  Hicock,  Joseph  Lewis  and  Thomas 
Clark  were  appointed  to  perform  that  duty.  Having  examined  the 
premises,  the  committee  located  the  house  May,  1733,  "at  a  stake 
picht  Down  on  a  hill  Between  Lieut.  Andrew  Hinman's  Heirs,  and 
the  house  that  was  Elnathan  Strong's,"  and  reported  the  same.  May 
1733,  to  the  Assembly,  which  accepted  the  report  and  established  the 
location.  The  place  thus  established  was  the  point  of  land  between 
the  two  highways,  nearly  in  front  of  the  White  Oak  school-house. 

The  society  voted  to  build  a  house  forty-six  feet  in  length  by  thir- 
ty-five in  width,  with  twenty-three  feet  posts.  Deacon  Benjamin 
Hicock,  Kichard  Brownson,  Moses  Johnson,  Solomon  Johnson  and 
Noah  Hinman  were  appointed  a.  committee  "  for  carrying  on  the 
building  of  the  Meeting  House."  The  committee  represented  to  the 
General  Assembly  that  the  new  line  established  by  it,  in  accordance 
with  the  report  of  the  committee  appointed  to  determine  the  bounda- 
ries, cut  oif  half  of  the  grand  list  of  the  society,  as  at  first  established 
leaving  it  a  Ust  of  but  £2,000,  and  that  they  had  laid  two  taxes  of  Is- 
and  2  s.,  which  were  inadequate  to  defray  the  expenses.  Besides,  the 
north  society  claimed  the  "  Parsonage  Lands"  lying  in  Southbury, 
and  had  leased  them.  They  therefore  asked  a  "  comtee  and  libei-ty  to 
lay  a  land  tax,"  but  the  motion  was  denied.     October  19th,  1733,  the 


222  HISTORY   OF   ancient   avoodbuuv. 

clerk  of  the  society  reported  to  the  Assembly  that  the  house  was  raised, 
and  the  materials  procured  for  completing  the  same.  The  committee, 
at  the  same  session,  petitioned  for  a  land  tax  of  one  jienny  on  the 
acre,  which  was  granted.  In  October,  1735,  the  clerk  reported  that 
the  house  was  covered,  some  of  the  ghass  and  two  doors  put  in,  and 
''  most  of  the  under  floors"  had  been  laid,  "  So  that  it  is  in  some 
measure  comfortable  to  attend  y^  worship  of  God  in."  Three  years 
later,  October  17^8,  he  again  reports  that  little  progress  had  been 
made  in  completing  the  house,  which  he  said  was  to  be  attributed 
*'  not  to  the  want  of  a  willing  mind,  but  to  the  smallness  of  numbers 
and  other  bui'dens."  The  committee  stated,  that  by  the  last  line 
established  for  their  society,  they  were  left  with  only  twenty-eight 
families,  and  they  were  unable  to  finish  their  meeting-house,  which 
had  no  pulpit,  or  proper  seats,  and  that  their  minister's  rate  was  very 
heavy.  They  asked  the  "  benefit  of  the  County  rate,"  but  it  was  de- 
nied them.  At  what  precise  time  the  house  was  entirely  finished  is 
not  now  known — probably  not  till  several  years  after  this  date.  It  was 
used  as  a  church  more  than  forty  years.  It  will  be  noted  that  the 
clerk  reported  the  house  to  the  Assembly  as  "  comfortable"  when  it 
had  only  been  covered,  and  had  a  part  of  the  ground  floor  laid.  A 
very  good  idea  of  what  our  fathers  denominated  "  comfortable,"  may 
be  gained,  when  we  consider  that  the  idea  of  warming  a  meeting- 
house had  at  that  day  never  entered  the  minds  of  men.  It  would 
have  been  a  difficult  task,  as  stoves  were  then  unknown.  In  the 
state  it  was  then  in,  it  could  not  have  been  as  comfortable  as  an 
ordinary  barn.  It  is  difficult  for  us  of  the  present  day  to  obtain  a 
just  conception  of  the  extreme  trials,  difficulties  and  privations  of 
those  eax'ly  times. 

Notwithstanding  these  difficult  circumstances,  as  soon  as  remon- 
strances to  the  establishment  of  the  society  ceased,  they  proceeded 
at  once,  November  29th,  1732,  to  call  and  settle  a  minister.  They 
voted  him  a  respectable  salary  for  the  times,  and  made  other  provis- 
ions for  his  comfortable  maintenance,  as  will  be  seen  by  the  follow- 
ing votes : 

"  Nov.  29,  1732.  Votes  Respecting  the  culliiig  and  settling  a  Minister  in 
Sonthbury. 

"  1.  Voted  to  give  the  Reverend  Mr  John  Graham  now  present  amongst  us 
a  call  to  the  work  of  the  ministry  amongst  us,  and  to  take  the  pastorall  charge 
of  the  church  in  Southbury,  with  the  approbation  of  the  Reverend  association 
in  Farefleld  County. 

"  21y.  Voted  that  we  will  give  the  Reverend  Mr  Graham  for  his  incourage- 
meut  to  settle  amongst  us  that  orchard  of  capt  titus  Hinman's  which  was  for- 


HISTORY     OF    ANCIENT     WOODBURY.  223 

rnerly  the  orchard  of  Samuel  Hinmau  of  Woodbury  Dect  with  one  acre  of  that 
land  of  Wait  Hinman's  next  adjoining  to  it,  also  a  building  on  sJ  land,  a 
dwelling  house  two  stories  high  forty  foots  long  and  twenty  foots  wide,  and  to 
finish  ye  out  side  complete,  and  to  finish  the  inclosing  fences  with  the  chimneys. 

"  3.1y.  Voted  to  give  the  Reverend  Mr  Graham  as  a  yearly  salary  one  hundred 
Pounds,  pr  year  to  be  ))ayed  in  money  or  provissions  at  the  markitt  jirice. 

"4;ly.  Voted  that  the  ReuJ  Mr  Graham  shall  have  the  use  of  the  parsonage 
lands  within  this  parish  during  his  life,  or  ministry  amongst  us." 

On  being  informed  of  these  votes,  while  the  society  meeting  was 
still  in  session,  Mr.  Graham  suggested  some  verbal  alterations  in  the 
second  and  fourth  votes,  which  were  adopted  by  the  meeting,  and  Mr. 
Graham's  answer  to  their  call  was  immediately  sent  in,  a  copy  of 
which  follows : 

"  To  the  inhabitants  of  Southbury  in  their  present  meeting  by  adjournment 
December  19th,  1732:  Grace  and  peace  be  multiplied :  Dearly  beloved  foras- 
much as  your  Com"  have  in  your  name  and  no  doubt  by  your  order,  called 
and  invited  me  to  settle  with  you  in  the  sacred  work  of  the  gospel  minstry  :  I  : 
must  say  that  as  our  first  coming  together  was  wholly  providential  and  your 
vote  of  the  call  clear  and  unanimous  :  and  hoping  ye  sincerity  of  your  aim  att 
the  glory  of  God  and  the  spiritual  and  eternal  good  of  yourselues  and  children: 
I :  have  Reason  in  these  Regards  to  look  upon  it :  as  a  call  from  the  great  Lord 
of  the  haruest  and  therefore  :  tho  :  I:  must  acknowledge  myself  weak  and  in- 
sufficient for  ye  great  work  whereunto  :  I :  am  called  yet  through  Christ 
strengthening  me  :  (I  know)  :  I :  can  do  all  things  and  therefore  pray  that  his 
grace  may  be  sufficient  for  me  and  his  Divine  strength  be  perfect  in  my  weak- 
ness :  (I  hope)  :  your  continual  fervent  prayer  to  the  God  of  all  grace  for 
me:=:  I:  return  you  humble  and  hearty  thanks  for  the  generous  olfers  you 
have  made  me  of  the  severall  good  things  for  the  support  of  me  and  my  family, 
and  do  hereby  accept  the  votes  of  your  meeting  November  :  29^'^  last  past  with 
ye  limitation  and  alteration,  which  in  your  present  adjourned  meeting  you  have 
made  of  the  second  and  fourth  votes :  upon  my  own  request,  and  do  hereby 
declare  against  accepting  them  otherwise  than  with  such  alterations  :  Now  that 
ye  God  of  all  peace  may.be  with  you  and  succeed  all  your  lawfuU  and'lauda- 
ble  endeauers  for  the  establishment  of  his  gospel  ministry  and  ordinances 
amongst  you,  that  he  may  graciously  fit  you  for  and  bountfully  bestow  upon 
you  all  those  great  and  inestimable  blessings  and  privileges  which  render  you 
capable  of  gloryfying  his  name  here  and  fitt  you  for  the  enjoyment  of  himself 
as  your  everlasting  portion  hereafter,  is  the  hearty  desire  and  shall  be  (I  hope)  : 
the  constant  prayer  of  your  most  affectionate  friend  and  seru'  in  the  Lord  : 

"Southbury:  December:  19th:  1732." 


J'o/S^  ^iy^,^^ 


ci^'Tr's^,  -^ 


The  house  thus  furnished  Mr.  Graham  stood  on  the  site  now  oc- 
cupied by  the  residence  of  Mrs.  Whitlock.     The  salary  given  to 


224  HISTORY     OF     ANCIENT     "NV  O  O  D  B  UIl  T . 

him  by  the  preceding  vote  was  £100  per  annum.  Next  year  it  was 
raised  to  £130,  and  it  was  trradually  increased  afterward,  as  the  cur- 
rency varied  in  value  till  1747,  when  it  was  £400.  In  1748,  it  was 
again  reduced  to  £100.  At  a  meeting  of  the  society  held  January 
22d,  1753,  it  was  voted 

"  That  they  would  give  the  ReJ  M^  Graham,  as  a  yearly  salary  for  iireaching 
the  gospel  among  us  so  long  as  he  shall  remain  our  minister  the  full  sum  of  one 
hundred  and  ten  pounds  to  be  paid  in  the  following  manner,  viz  :  in  good 
wheat  at  six  shillings  per  bushel,  in  rie  at  four  shillings  per  bushel,  in  Indian 
corn  at  three  shillings  per  bushel,  or  in  Money  Equivalent  to  the  albresaid  spe- 
cies at  the  albresaid  prices;  and  a  sufliciency  of  firewood  delivered  at  the  said 
Mr  Graham's  Door." 

On  being  informed  of  the  vote  of  the  society,  Mr.  Graham  replied 
as  follows : 

"  I  tliankfully  accept  the  above  agreement  and  vote,  and  take  satisfaction 
therewith  as  witness  my  hand. 

"John  Graham." 

On  the  31st  of  December,  1764,  it  was  by  the  society 

"Voted,  that  whereas  the  Reverend  Mr.  Graham,  by  reason  of  age  and  In- 
firmity of  body  at  present  is  incapable  of  supplying  the  pulpit,  and  likely  never 
will  be  able  for  the  future  to  supply  the  same,"  tliat  certain  persons  named  be 
a  "  Committee  in  behalf  of  this  Society  to  confer  with  Mr.  Graham,  and  see  if 
they  can  agree  with  him  upon  a  sutable  support  for  him  during  his  life." 

The  committee  effected  an  arrangement  with  him,  and  immedi- 
ately proceeded  to  settle  a  colleague,  as  will  presently  be  seen. 

Immediately  after  the  settlement  of  Mr.  Graham,  measures  were 
taken  to  "  embody  into  church  estate,"  and  take  their  proper  position 
among  sister  churches.  This  was  accomplished  Jan.  17th,  173|, 
and  the  following  is  a  list  of  the  first  members  : — Rev.  John  Graham, 
Capt.  Titus  liinman,  Deac.  Benjamin  Hicock,  John  Pierce,  Nathan- 
iel Sanford,  Sen.,  Ephi-aim  Hinman,  Ebenezer  Squire,  Joseph  Iliu- 
man,  Richard  Brownson,  Deac.  Noah  Hinman,  Lieut.  Andrew  Hin- 
man, Titus  Hinman,  Jr.,  Solomon  Johnson,  Stephen  Hicock,  Timo- 
thy Brownson,  Thomas  Drakely,  Roger  Karby,  Ebenezer  Down, 
Nathaniel  Sanford,  Jr.,  Abigail  Brownson,  Hannah  Hicock,  Eliza- 
beth Hinman,  Abigail  Graham,  Mary  Hinman,  ^laney  Hinman, 
Eleanor  Squire,  Mary  Brownson,  Hester  Hinman,  Bethia  Sanford, 
Prudence  Johnson,  Comfort  Pierce,  Sarah  Hinman,  Dinah  Down, 
Bethiah  Hicock,  Maney  Jolnison,  Sarah  Hinman,  Eunice  Drakely, 
Sarah  Porter,  Abigail  Brownson,  Ann  Hinman,  Lois  Hicock. 


IIISTOKY     OF     ANCIENT     -WOODBURY.  225 

•'The  abovesaid  Persons  were  the  first  members  of  the  Church  of  Christ  in 
Southbiuy.  The  males  were  embodied  into  Church  estate  on  Wednesday  ye 
17ih  of  Juiiry,  1733,  being  also  ye  Day  v.-hereon  the  Gospel  ministry  was  settled 
in  Soiithbury,  and  the  females  admitted  on  ye  2-5th  of  said  month." 

From  what  has  preceded  and  will  follow,  we  perceive  that  Mr. 
Graham  had  preached  to  the  people  of  Southburj  from  his  ordina- 
tion early  in  1733,  to  ;^lie  month  of  August,  1766,  or  thirty-three 
years.  lie  had  previously  preached  some  twenty-one  years  at  other 
places  before  removing  to  Southbury.  At  the  latter  date,  being 
borne  down  by  severe  bodily  disease,  it  had  become  necessary  to  set- 
tle a  colleague  with  him,  which  was  accordingly  done.  He  came  to 
this  field  of  labor  ere  it  was  fully  a  place  for  the  laborer,  but  strength 
grew  out  of  weakness.  The  new  church  prospered  under  his  care. 
During  his  ministry,  300  members  were  received  into  its  folds,  and 
827  persons  were  by  him  baptized.  At  its  organization,  Benjamin 
Hicock  and  Noah  Hinman  were  appointed  deacons.  Whether  there 
"were  changes  in  this  office  during  the  period  of  his  labors,  does  not 
now  appear,  on  account  of  the  defectiveness  of  the  church  records. 
He  ever  maintained  the  affection  of  his  parishioners,  even  after  bod- 
ily infirmity  rendered  his  further  ministrations  to  them  impossible. 
He  lived  A^ith  his  people  till  1774,  when  he  was  "gathered  to  his 
fathers,"  and  slept  in  peace,  after  bearing  the  "  glad  tidings  of  the 
gospel"  for  the  space  of  o-l  years. 

Mr.  Graham  was  settled  in  Stafibrd,  before  his  removal  to  South- 
bury,  as  we  learn  from  an  entry  in  his  own  hand-writing,  the  first 
passage  of  which  is  here  inserted : 

"  On  Tuesday,  December  ye  IS^h  1722,  Mr.  Jolm  Graham,  a  candidate  for 
ye  ministry  (from  Ireland)  in  his  travels  from  y®  eastern  parts  of  N.  England 
(where  he  had  preached  some  years)  into  this  Colony  of  Connecticut,  was  prov- 
identially cast  into  this  town  of  Stafford,  where  he  tarried  that  night,  and  next 
morning  being  Invited  by  Mr.  Josiah  Standish  (one  of  the  committee)  he 
preached  there  the  next  Sabbath." 

His  settlement  over  the  church  immediately  followed.  By  the 
same  minutes  we  learn,  that  he  had  preached  at  Exeter,  N.  H., 
"  some  years"  before  removing  to  Stafibrd.  By  his  tombstone  we 
are  informed  that  he  died  in  the  eighty-first  year  of  his  age,  and  the 
fifty-fourth  of  his  ministry.'     He  preached  in  StaiFord  and  Southbury 


1  The  whole  uiscription  reads — "  In  truth  at  best — here  Hes  the  Kev.  John  Graham, 
■who  departed  this  hfe,  December  11th,  A.  D.  1774  in  the  81st  year  of  his  age  and  54th 
of  Ms  minis trv." 


22G  HISTORY     OF     AN  C  IK  NT     WOODBURY. 

forty-five  years,  and  by  liis  own  entry  it  appears,  that  he  had  preach- 
ed "  some  years"  before  comuig  to  the  former  phice.  For  more  than 
eight  years  before  his  death,  he  was  unable  to  perform  pastoral  la- 
bors. Before  entering  the  ministry  he  had  been  educated  in  Scot- 
land, as  a  i)hysician,  and  entered  on  the  practice  of  that  profession, 
but  was  induced  to  relinquish  it  and  become  a  clergyman.  It  is  not 
known  whether  this  change  occurred  before,  or  after  he  came  to  this 
country.  Mr.  Graham  was  a  descendant  of  the  Duke  of  Montrose, 
as  appears  by  the  grave-stone  erected  to  the  memory  of  his  son, 
DOct.  Andrew  Grahanj,  one  of  the  first  physicians  in  Southbury 
society,  by  John  A.  Graham,  LL.  D.,  a  lawyer  in  the  city  of  New 
York.  Hon.  John  Lorimer  Graham,  a  lawyer  of  the  same  city,  is 
a  son  of  Doctor  John  A.  Graham,  here  mentioned,  and  conse- 
quently great-grandson  of  the  minister.  He  was  a  man  of  medium 
size,  an  intelligent  and  earnest  preacher,  an  affectionate  pastor,  and 
an  excellent  man,  exemplary  and  faithful  in  all  the  relations  and  du- 
ties of  life.  He  was  learned  in  the  various  branches  of  knowledge, 
and  frequently  engaged  with  great  prudence  and  power  in  the  po- 
lemic discussions  of  the  day.  In  1737,  Yale  College  conferred  on 
him  the  honorary  degree  of  Master  of  Arts. 

In  these  early  days  prevailed  a  custom,  which  has  long  since  be- 
come obsolete  in  the  Congregational  churches,  though  it  is  still  prac- 
ticed in  the  congregations  of  some  bodies  of  professing  Christians  at 
the  present  day.  The  custom  alluded  to  is  the  mode  of  singing, 
which  was  done  in  this  manner.  A  person  was  appointed  to  act  as 
chorister,  or  "  to  set  the  psalm,"  who  selected  and  "  pitched"  the 
tunes  ;  then  jai,  line  or  two  was  read  off,  when  the  whole  congregation 
joined  in  singing  them,  and  thus  proceeding  alternately  to  read  and 
sing  the  lines,  in  this  manner,  till  the  whole  psalm  had  been  sung. 
It  seems,  that  soon  after  the  formation  of  this  society,  it  had  been  dis- 
cussed whether  the  church  would  adopt  the  new  mode  of  having  the 
singing  conducted  by  a  choir  for  that  purpose,  or  carry  it  on  by  the 
congregation  as  before.  The  action  taken  by  the  society  on  this  oc- 
casion is  somewhat  interesting,  and  is  here  introduced : 

"  At  a  gen'  Church  meeting  December  19'*»  1734,  appointed  in  order  to  agree 
uf)on  the  mode  of  Singing  the  praises  of  God  in  publick— and  ye  appointment 
of  a  Chorister,  Voted  and  agreed,  that  we  will  continue  to  Sing  the  praises  of 
God  in  the  public  worship  on  the  Sabbath,  in  the  common  way  wherein  we 
have  hitherto  gone  on,  Leaving  every  one  to  their  liberty  of  learning  or  not 
learning  to  Sing  the  Regular  way,  and  that  when  persons  have  generally 
Learned  to  sing  by  Rule,  yet  that  way  of  Singing  shall  not  be  introduced  into 
the  Congregation  here,  but  upon  farther  agreement  and  in  an  orderly  way. 


II  I  S  T  O  E  Y     OF     ANCIENT     WOODBURY.  227 

"2  Voted  and  agreed  that  Capi»  Aiuliew  Ilinman  (If  lie  will  accept  it)  be 
the  person  to  set  the  psalm,  and  Lead  iis  in  the  piiblick  praises  of  God,  and 
that,  if  Capin  Ilinman  do  not  accept,  tlun  Joseph  Ilinman  shall  be  the  man. 

"  3  Voted  and  agreed  that  he  who  Setts  the  psalm  shall  be  at  his  Liberty. 
what  tunes  to  Sing  on  Lecture  days." 

On  the  1st  of  July,  17G5,  and  again  on  the  18th  of  August,  17G6, 
the  society  voted  to  give  Rev.  Benjamin  WiUhiian  a  call  to  settle 
over  the  church  as  "  Colleague  with  the  Rev'^  M''.  Graham,"  with  a 
settlement  of  £350,  to  be  paid  in  four  equal  yearly  payments,  and  an 
annual  salary  of  £50,  together  with  his  firewood  ;  and  after  the  fourth 
year  this  salary  was  to  be  raised  to  £75  per  annum.  The  firewood 
judged  necessary  for  his  family  was  thirty  cords,  which  might  strike 
one,  at  first  glance,  as  a  liberal  allowance  for  a  single  family,  but  a 
little  reflection  will  show,  that  it  was  quite  a  different  matter  to  pro- 
vide a  year's  fuel  for  a  house  in  those  days,  not  well  finished,  with  its 
huge  stone  chimney,  and  all-devouring  fire-place.  Mr.  Wildman's 
letter  of  acceptance  of  this  call,  is  a  model,  brief,  to  the  point,  and 
covering  the  whole  ground  : 

"  To  the  Society  of  Soathbury  in  Woodbury  in  Litchfield  County,  grace, 
peace,  &c. 

"  Whereas  sfl  Society  in  Their  Meeting  on  the  ISth  of  August  177G,  by  their 
vote  called  and  invited  me  to  Settle  with  thern  in  the  work  of  the  gospel  minis- 
try, I  having  weigh'i  the  Call  and  Votes  of  the  Society  for  my  Support  Do  agree 
to  accept  their  oilers,  and  hereby  do  accept  and  engage  Tliro'  Divine  Assist- 
ance to  serve  them  in  the  great  work  unto  which  they  have  called  me  so  far  as 
my  abilities  admit. 

"  Benj.  Wildman." 

Although  the  first  meeting-house  had  been  so  long^'  in  building," 
yet  in  about  twenty  years  after  it  was  fully  completed,  another  was 
thought  necessary.  Accordingly,  the  society  voted  to  build  a  new 
one,  Nov.  30th,  1760,  during  the  latter  part  of  Mr.  Graham's  active 
ministerial  labors.  But  the  great  bane  of  religious  and  school  socie- 
ties, the  question  of  location,  intervened  at  this  point,  and  a  vigorous 
and  somewhat  bitter  contest  was  carried  on  for  many  years,  so  that 
it  was  more  than  twelve  years  before  the  house  was  completed.  In 
November,  1760,  the  county  court,  which  now  had  jurisdiction  over 
this  matter,  appointed  a  committee  to  locate  the  new  house,  which 
duty  they  performed  in  April,  1761,  and  placed  a  stake  "  on  Benja- 
min Hinman's  lot."  A  remonstrance  followed,  and  another  commit- 
tee was  appointed,  which  located  it  three-fourths  of  a  mile  further 
north,  at  which  place  they  could  not  get  a  vote  of  the  society  to 


228  HISTORY     OF     ANCinXT     "WOODBURY. 

build.  The  Assembly  was  asked  by  the  society's  agent,  May,  1762, 
for  a  new  committee  to  locate,  but  the  request  was  denied.  The 
same  request  was  renewed  at  the  next  May  session,  stating  that  the 
nouse  was  located  within  one  mile  and  a  fourth  of  the  northern 
boundary  of  the  society.  Tlie  doings  of  the  county  court  were  set 
aside,  and  a  committee  appointed,  who  reported  at  the  October  ses- 
sion, the  same  year,  that  they  had  located  it  in  the  "  Main  Street, 
40  rods  South  of  the  last  location."  The  northern  part  of  the  soci- 
ety remonstrated,  but  the  location  was  confirmed.  In  May,  17G4, 
fifty-five  of  the  southern  inhabitants  of  the  society  represented  to  the 
General  Assembly,  that  they  "  cannot  get  a  vote  to  build  in  the  last 
place  fixed  upon,  and  mountains  separate  the  western  inhabitants, 
some  of  whom  go  round  South,  and  some  go  round  North  ;"  and 
therefore  pray  that  there  may  be  a  division  into  north  and  south  so- 
cieties ;  but  this  petition  was  not  granted.  Finding  that  no  more 
committees  would  be  appointed,  the  society,  in  some  measure,  acqui- 
esced in  the  stern  necessity,  as  they  thought  it,  and  laid  a  land  tax  of 
one  shilling  in  the  pound  to  build  the  edifice.  In  1770,  a  further  tax 
of  sixpence  in  the  pound  was  laid  to  complete  it.  In  December, 
1767,  a  vote  was  passed  to  "  get  all  ready  to  frame  the  meeting-house 
by  the  1st  of  April  next,"  and  in  December,  1770,  another  vote  was 
passed,  "  to  proceed  to  finish  the  meeting-house  by  the  1st  of  January, 
1772."  The  church  was  finally  finished,  and  a  bell  procured  for  its 
use  in  1775.  This  was  one  of  the  largest,  and  most  expensive 
churches  in  this  region,  and  was  an  imitation,  in  its  architecture,  of 
one  previously  built  in  Litchfield.  It  was  located,  as  will  be  seen,  in 
the  street  near  the  lane  that  leads  down  to  the  new  burying-ground, 
and  was  used  as  a  chui'ch  seventy-two  years,  till  the  dedication  of 
the  present  church  edifice  in  1844. 

Mr.  Wildman  became  pastor  in  the  midst  of  these  troubles,  but 
soon  after  his  accession,  a  better  feeling  began  to  prevail,  and  tlie  re- 
sult was  a  fine  church  edifice,  as  we  have  seen.  His  ministry  com- 
menced October  22d,  17G6,  and  closed,  with  his  death,  in  1812.  Dur- 
ing his  ministry,  the  prosperity  of  his  church  was  at  first  impeded  by 
the  meeting-house  controversy,  and  immediately  after  by  the  events 
of  the  Revolutionary  War ;  yet  one  hundred  and  one  persons  were 
added  to  its  members,  and  two  hundred  and  twenty-one  were  bapti- 
zed by  him.  Under  his  ministry,  Stephen  Curtiss,  Samuel  Strong 
and  Jonathan  Mitchell,  acted  as  deacons — perhaps  others  ;  the  rec- 
ords are  very  imperfect. 

Mr.  Wildman  was  a  native  of  Danbury,  and  was  a  man  of  noble 


niSTOKT     OF     ANCIENT     -SYOODBURY.  229 

bearing,  both  in  stature,  manners  and  mind.  He  was  easy  of  access, 
pleasing  and  instructive  in  his  conversation,  and  warm  in  his  friend- 
ship. He  graduated  at  Yale  College  in  1753.  It  is  not  known  how 
he  spent  the  eight  years  between  his  graduation  and  his  entrance  on 
his  ministerial  duties.  Perhaps  he  had  not  the  moral  qualities  deem- 
ed necessary  to  fit  him  for  that  high  calling,  for  in  playful  allusion  to 
the  name  he  bore,  in  former  years,  he  frequently  remarked,  that  when 
in  college,  he  was  a  wild-man  !  Even  after  he  had  become  a  luinister, 
an  humble,  pious  man,  his  forte  was  wit  and  humor.  Not  even  se- 
vere and  long  protracted  trials  and  afflictions,  were  sufficient  to  drive 
from  his  temperament  this  constitutional  tendency  to  wit.  In  this 
department,  he  was  always  the  equal  of  his  Bethlehem  neighbor,  Dr. 
Bellamy,  although  the  Dr.  was  his  superior  in  some  other  things. 
He  once  consulted  Dr.  Bellamy  as  to  the  best  means  to  be  usecl  to 
get  his  people  to  meeting.  The  specific  recommended  by  the  learned 
Doctor,  was  to  place  a  barrel  of  rum  under  the  pulpit.  "  Ah,"  said 
Mr.  Wildman,  "I' am  afraid  to  do  this,  for  I  should  have  the  attend- 
ance of  half  of  the  church  in  Bethlehem  every  Sabbath."  As  a  case 
of  discipline  for  intemperance  was  then  pending  in  the  Doctor's 
church,  the  witticism  cut  close  home.  The  people  of  his  parish  were 
accustomed  to  have,  every  year,  what  was  termed  a  "  wood  bee,"  to 
furnish  the  pastor  with  the  quantity  of  wood  stipulated  in  their  arti- 
cles of  settlement.  It  was  also  in  accordance  with  the  customs  of  the 
times,  for  the  pastor  to  invite  his  parishioners  to  "  take  something  to 
drink,"  on  arriving  at  his  wood-yard,  before  unloading  their  wood. 
A  certain  poor,  but  jocose  man,  who  had  no  team,  but  who  liked  well 
the  customary  "  treat,"  on  one  occasion,  took  a  large  log  on  his  shoul- 
der, and  bore  it  with  much  difficulty  into  the  yard.  His  pastor  was 
ready  to  welcome  him,  and  said,  "  come,  come,  good  friend,  come  in 
and  drink  before  you  unload  P'  Some  one  once  spoke  to  Mr.  "Wild- 
man  about  his  pleasant  relations  Avith  Mr.  Benedict  of  Woodbury, 
and  the  remarkable  coincidences  in  their  lives.  They  were  origin- 
ally townsmen  ;  settled  unusually  near  together ;  had  lived  long  and 
harmoniously  in  the  ministry  ;  had  acted  much  in  concert,  and  for 
their  mutual  accommodation  and  gratification.  "  Yes,"  said  he,  "  it 
has  been  remarkable  and  pleasant ;  but  there  has  been  one  great  con- 
trast ;  brother  Benedict  was  born  a  minister,  but  I  was  born  a  wild- 
ass'  colt;"  On  all  occasions,  whenever  wit  was  possible,  he  was  ever 
ready  with  his  joke. 

His  afflictions  were  numerous,  of  great  severity,  and  of  long  con- 
tinuance.    The  unfortunate  habits  of  a  son-in-law,  made  it  necessary 


230  HISTORY     OF     ANCIENT     AVOODBURT. 

for  him  to  support  a  tlaughtei-  with  her  large  family  of  chilrlrcn. 
His  wife  was  an  invalid,  and  suffered  great  pain,  which  for  many- 
years  she  could  only  endure  under  the.  constant  infhience  of  opiates. 
None  of  these  things  bowed  liim  down,  for  he  had  a  constitution,  and 
a  grace  to  be  buoyant  to  the  last.  "  He  was  fitted  not  only  to  endure, 
but  to  be  a  submissive  and  exemplary  Christian  ;  an  active  and  faithful 
pastor ;  a  preacher  orthodox,  instructive,  animated,  able  and  popu- 
lar." His  death,  August  2,  1812,  at  the  age  of  seventy-six,  termina- 
ted a  ministry  of  more  than  forty -five  years.  Rev.  Dr.  Backus,  of 
Bethlehem,  preached  his  funeral  sermon,  in  which  occurs  an  account 
of  what  Mr.  Wildman  said  to  one  of  his  ministerial  brethren  a  short 
time  before  the  close  of  his  life.  It  was  on  an  occasion  of  a  public 
meeting  of  ministers.  "  I  feel,"  said  he,  "  that  this  is  the  last  time  I 
shall  ever  meet  you.  I  shall  soon  go  the  way  of  all  the  earth.  I 
wush  for  no  parade  at  my  funeral.  If,  as  usual,  many  good  things 
are  said  of  my  character,  they  will  not  be  truth.  I  Avas  a  gay,  and 
alas  a  thoughtless  youth — a  Wildman  by  name,  and  a  wild-man  by 
nature !  If  the  Lord  has  ever  made  me  to  differ  from  others,  it  has 
been  wholly  an  effort  of  divine  power,  and  by  a  series  of  merciful 
and  fatherly  chastisements.  I  bless  God  for  them,  for  I  needed  more 
chastisements  than  any  two  men  I  ever  saw.  Of  all  saved  sinners, 
it  will  be  most  proper  for  me  to  cast  my  crown  at  my  Saviour's 
feet."' 

In  1813,  the  year  succeeding  the  death  of  Mr.  "Wildman,  Rev. 
Elijah  Wood  was  ordained  pastor  over  the  church  and  people  of 
Southbury.  During  the  year  of  his  ordination  a  x-evival  took  place 
which  added  twenty  members  to  the  church.  He  was  a  good  man 
and  devoted  Christian,  but  his  ministry  was  short.  He  died  in  June, 
1815. 

In  January,  1816,  Rev.  Daniel  A.  Clark  was  called  and  ordained 
over  the  chui'ch,  and  dismissed  September,  1819,  after  a  ministry  of 
a  little  less  than'  four  years.  As  a  vigorous  writer  and  an  eloquent 
preacher,  Mr.  Clark  was  considered  by  good  judges  as  having  few 
equals  in  the  county.  Yet  he  was  regarded  by  some  as  unfortunately 
deficient  in  some  important  qualifications  for  usefulness  in  the  sacred 
office.  After  leaving  Southbury,  he  was  successively  settled  in  Am- 
herst, Mass.,  Bennington,  Vt.,  and  in  a  town  in  the  state  of  New 
York.     He  was  the  author  of  a  premium  tract,  "  The  Rich  Believer 


1  For  tlic  principal  part  of  tliis  sketch  of  ]\Ir.  Wildman,  tlie  author  is  indebted  to 
Dr.  JIcKwen's  Discourse  at  Litchfield  in  1852,  and  to  the  minutes  of  Rev.  Williams  II. 
Whittemore. 


HISTORY     OF     ANCIENT     -WOODBURY.  231 

Bountiful ;"  also  a  highly  popular  sermon,  "  The  Church  Safe,"  be- 
sides three  volumes  of  sermons,  and  some  posthumous  works.  He 
departed  this  life  about  1842,  and  his  remains  -were  carried  to  New 
Haven  for  interment. 

After  Mr.  Clark's  dismissal,  there  was  no  settled  pastor  over  the 
church  till  June,  1826.  Among  the  ministers  who  preached  there  for 
a  longer  or  shorter  time,  during  these  years,  the  names  of  three  occur 
to  the  writer.  Rev.  Levi  Smith,  the  eloquent  Carlos  Wilcox,  and  a 
brother  of  the  Rev.  Dr.  Payson. 

In  June,  1826,  Rev.  Thomas  L.  Shipman  became  pastox',  and  con- 
tinued in  that  relation  till  June,  1836.  He  graduated  at  Yale  Col- 
lege in  1818.  "While  here  he  proved  an  intelligent,  faithful  and  suc- 
cessful minister.  In  1821,  during  the  great  revival  of  that  year 
throughout  the  country,  twenty-five  were  added  to  this  church,  and 
in  1827,  was  another  in  which  eight  were  received  as  members.  On 
occasions  like  these,  he  was  ardent  and  successful  in  his  labors. 

On  the  16th  of  November,  1836,  Rev.  Williams  H.  Whittemore 
was  installed  into  the  pastoral  office  over  the  church,  and  remained 
till  his  dismissal  in  1850.  He  graduated  at  Yale  College  in  1825, 
and  preachedthree  years  each  at  Rye,  N.  Y.  and  Charlestown,  Mass., 
before  his  settlement  in  Southbury.  He  is  now  Principal  of  a  Young 
Ladies  Seminary  at  New  Haven.  Since  his  removal,  there  has  been 
no  settled  preacher  over  this  church.  The  pulpit  is  at  present  sup- 
plied by  the  Rev.  George  P.  Prudden,  a  graduate  of  Yale,  who  gives 
good  satisfaction  to  the  people.  The  state  of  his  health  does  not 
allow  him  to  make  a  permanent  engagement  anywhere. 

Among  those  who  have  held  the  office  of  deacon  in  this  church 
since  the  days  of  Rev.  Mr.  Wildman,  are  Timothy  Osborn,  Adam 
Wheelei',  Marcus  D.  Mallory,  and  Noah  Kelsey.  There  have  been 
others,  but  their  names  are  unknown  to  the  writer  for  reasons  here- 
tofore given. 

Thirty  years  after  the  incorporation  of  Southbury  society,  and  a 
few  years  after  the  purchase  of  lands  made  of  the  Indians,  called  the 
South  Purchase,  had  been  settled,  there  was  a  desire  to  have  reli- 
gious meetings  during  the  winter  months,  in  a  place  beyond  the 
"  mountains,"  now  called  South  Britain.  The  high  hills  between  the 
eastern  and  western  parts  of  the  present  town  of  Southbury  had  very 
soon  after  the  settlement  beyond  them,  niade  differences  among  the 
members  of  that  society.  Accordingly,  we  find  twenty-nine  persons, 
who  lived  in  "  Southbury  new  purchase,"  petitioning  the  Assembly  in 
October,  1761,  for  four  months'  "winter  preaching"  each  year,  on 


232  HISTORY     OF     ANCIENT     WOODBURY. 

the  ground  of  their  "Hviug  far  from  the  place  of  Avorship,"  and  the 
bad  state  of  the  roads.  The  prayer  of  their  petition  was  granted  at 
the  same  session,  and  they  were  allowed  to  "  choose  the  necessary 
officers."  Three  years  later,  thirty-eight  petitioners  said  the  society 
was  nine  miles  in  extent  east  and  west,  and  seven  miles  north  and 
south,  and  had  a  list  of  £12,000.  On  account  of  the  mountains,  no 
spot  for  a  meeting-house  could  accommodate  all  the  society,  and  they 
therefore  prayed  for  another  ecclesiastical  society,  the  line  to  be  run 
by  the  course  of  the  mountains.  Sixty-nine  persons  signed  a  remon- 
strance, alleging  that  this  would  leave  the  society  in  a  bad  shape,  that 
it  was  a  time  of  heavy  public  taxes,  that  Mr.  Graham  was  old,  and 
they  must  proceed  to  settle  another  minister,  that  the  memorialists 
are  not  able  to  pay  the  expenses  of  a  new  society,  that  those  within 
the  proposed  limits  were  not  united,  and  that  those  limits  did  not  fol- 
low the  natural  boundary.  Fourteen  other  persons,  living  within  the 
proposed  new  society,  remonstrated,  asserting  that  the  lines  were  not 
such  as  would  accommodate  a  society,  that  the  "  winter  parish"  is 
now  divided,  and  that  the  application  was  got  up  by  a  few,  who 
wished  to  live  in  the  center  of  a  society.  The  application,  in  conse- 
quence of  these  objections,  and  somewhat  numerous  reasons,  failed. 
At  the  May  session  of  the  Assembly,  1765,  the  petition  for  a  new 
society  was  renewed  by  forty-five  individuals.  They  urged  that  it 
would  save  them  more  than  one-half  of  their  travel  to  a  place  of  pub- 
lic worship.  "Xo  one  place  can  accommodate  the  whole  society." 
A  tax  of  "  12'^  in  the  pound"  had  been  laid  to  build  a  meeting-house. 
They  therefore  prayed  for  a  new  society,  or  a  release  from  taxes. 
The  petition  was  signed  by  the  following  persons  :  Wait  Hinman, 
Ebenezer  Down,  James  Edmonds,  Samuel  TTheeler,  Ebenezer  Hin- 
man, John  Pearce,  Samuel  Hinman,  Eleazer  Mitchell,  Ebenezer 
Squire,  Benjamin  Allen,  John  Garrit,  Aaron  Down,  Zebulon  Nor- 
ton, David  Pearce,  Robert  Edmonds,  John  Mallory,  Moses  Johnson, 
Abraham  Pearce,  Gideon  Curtiss,  Michael  Han,  Samuel  Curtiss, 
Joseph  Darling,  Ichabod  Tuttle,  John  Park,  Timothy  Allen,  Gideon 
Booth,  Matthew  Hubbell,  Amos  Brownson,  Comfort  Hubbell,  Samuel 
Hicock,  Thomas  Tousey,  Moses  Down,  John  Hobart,  John  Johnson, 
Solomon  Johnson,  James  Edmonds,  Jr.,  Silas  Hubbell,  Russell 
Franklin,  James  Stanclift,  Joseph  Baldwin,  Joseph  Baldwin,  Jr., 
Elijah  Hinman,  Ebenezer  Downs,  Bethel  Hinman,  Samuel  Pearce. 
The  petition  was  continued  to  the  October  session  of  the  Assembly, 
when  a  committee  was  appointed  to  inquire  into  the  matter  and  re- 
port.    The  committee  reported  at  the  May  session,  17GG,  that  the 


HISTORY     OF     ANCIENT     WOODBURY.  2oo 

"  mountain  renders  the  meeting  in  one  society  impracticable,"  and 
recommended  the  incorporation  of  a  new  society.  The  report  -was 
accepted,  the  society  incorporated,  called  South  Britain,  and  released 
from  the  12'i  tax,  notwithstanding  twenty-one  persons  remonstrated, 
preferring  to  remain  with  the  old  society,  as  they  had  joined  with 
them  in  a  contract  for  a  new  meeting-house.  In  October,  1770,  they 
report  to  the  General  Assembly  that  they  have  settled  a  minister, 
have  begun  to  build  a  meeting-house,  that  the  list  of  the  society  was 
only  £4,379,  4s.  Qd.,  that  a  large  land  interest  was  owned  by  persons 
living  in  other  parishes,  which  was  increased  in  value  by  the  incor- 
poration of  the  new  society,  and  that  they  therefore  asked  aland  tax. 
The  request  was  grantedf,  and  a  tax  of  2'^  per  acre  allowed  for  three 
years.  The  society  had  previously  voted  a  tax  of  #  in  the  pound  of 
the  grand  list  for  each  of  the  two  preceding  years,  toward  building 
the  house.  In  December,  1770,  the  building  committee  report  it 
enclosed,  and  the  society  in  debt  £80  or  £90  in  consequence. 

From  the  foregoing,  it  will  be  perceived,  that  the  people  of 
South  Britain  had  "  winter  privileges"  for  five  years  before  their  in- 
corporation into  a  distinct  society.  The  particulars  of  the  organiza- 
tion of  the  church  can  not  now  be  ascertained,  on  account  of  the 
almost  entire  want  of  church  records.  A  few  entries,  on  loose  sheets 
of  paper,  are  all  that  remain  to  cast  a  glimpse  of  information  on  the 
benighted  world.  No  minister  was  settled  over  the  church  till  three 
years  after  the  incorporation  of  the  society.  Rev.  Jehu  Minor,  the 
first  pastor,  was  settled  early  in  1769.  The  society  gave  him  a  set- 
tlement of  £200,  and  a  salary  of  £70  per  annum.  The  settlement 
granted  the  ministers  on  their  being  installed  over  a  church,  in  those 
early  days,  was  a  very  convenient  thing  for  a  young  man,  who  per- 
haps had  spent  his  last  penny  in  fitting  himself  to  assume  the  respon- 
sible duties  of  his  high  calling.  It  enabled  him  to  sustain  himself 
with  dignity  and  independence  among  his  parishioners,  and  to  dis- 
pense chai'ities  among  the  needy  of  his  congregation,  instead  of  being 
as  now — in  some  sense  a  beggar — dependent  upon  niggardly  salaries 
for  a  livelihood.  Under  the  old  regime,  the  ministers  held  a  respect- 
able position  among  the  wealthy  families  of  their  parishes,  and  their 
descendants  could  remain  in  the  town  of  their  birth,  and  become 
prominent  in  the  various  relations  of  life.  For  instance,  we  have  to- 
day, in  the  ancient  town,  the  descendants  of  a  Bellamy,  a  Brinsmade, 
a  Stoddard,  and  a  Graham.  One  or  two  hundred  years  have  not 
Ijeen  able  to  scatter  their  descendants  from  the  territories  their  an- 
cestors did  so  much  to  improve  and  bless.  Heaven  knows  where  the 
16 


234  II I s T o n Y   OF   ancient    av o o d b u u y . 

children  of  later  ministers  are,  or  where  those  of  the  present  ■will  be 
after  the  lapse  of  a  few  years.  Under  the  present  system,  the  de- 
scendants of  the  ministers  are  doomed  to  be  poor,  and  to  be  scattered 
from  the  place  of  their  birth  to  seek  a  better  fortune  elsewhere. 
Change  is  the  order  of  the  day — nothing  is  stable.  However  much 
men  may  regard  the  "  higher  calls  of  duty"  to  enter  this  holy  em- 
ployment, yet  many  will  feel  themselves  imperatively  called  to  other 
fields  of  usefulness,  when  they  behold  in  this,  only  a  moderate  sus- 
tenance for  themselves,  and  pauperism  for  their  children.  Much  of 
the  best  order  of  intellect  is  and  will  be  engaged  in  other  profes- 
sions and  employments,  which  would  be  found  in  this,  but  for  this 
ever-present  spectacle  of  sadness.  "  The  laborer  is  worthy  of  his 
hire,"  saith  the  '*  Book  of  Books."  There  is  no  reason  why  he  who 
labors  in  "  things  spiritual,"  should  be  reduced  to  starvation  in  per- 
son, or  in  posterity,  any  more  than  he  who  labors  in  "  things  temporal." 
This  is  a  matter  which  needs  reformation. 

At  the  organization  of  the  church  in  1769,  John  Pearce  and  Eben- 
ezer  Down  were  chosen  deacons,  and  the  church  consisted  of  forty- 
two  members.  Their  names  were  John  Minor,  Ebenezer  Down, 
James  Edmonds,  John  Pearce,  Ebenezer  Hinman,  Ebenezer  Squire, 
Silas  Ilubbell,  John  Parks,  Timothy  Allen,  Justice  Hicock,  John 
Garret,  Samuel  Pearce,  Nathan  Pearce,  David  Pearce,  Aaron  Down, 
Matthew  Hubbell,  Eleazer  Mitchell,  Joseph  Pearce,  Stephen  Brown- 
son,  John  Skeel,  William  Youngs,  Gideon  Booth,  Abraham  Pearce, 
Prudence  Johnson,  Dinah  Down,  Mary  Edmonds,  Hannah  Pearce, 
Elizabeth  Hinman,  Ann  Squire,  Ann  Hinman,  Rebecca  Wheeler, 
Sarah  Allen,  Lois  Hicock,  Mary  Edmonds,  Jr.,  Eunice  Pearce,  Pru- 
dence Johnson,  Jr.,  Olive  Mitchell,  Mary  Pearce,  Mary  Brownson, 
Mary  Youngs,  Sarah  Booth,  Elizabeth  Pearce.  The  church,  durin" 
Mr.  Minor's  ministrations,  was  prosperous.  Twenty-two  were  added 
to  his  church  in  1785,  and  109  during  the  twenty-one  years  he  resided 
with  his  people ;  and  five  were  added  during  the  five  years'  ministry 
of  his  successor.  One  hundred  and  thirty-eight  persons  were  baptiz- 
ed by  him.  He  was  dismissed  by  the  mutual  consent  of  himself 
and  his  church,  June,  1790.  He  was  a  native  of  Woodbury,  gradu- 
ated at  Yale  College,  and  was  settled  in  the  ministry  over  the  church 
in  South  Britain,  two  years  later.  He  was  a  good  man,  and  served 
his  people  acceptably  for  many  years.  Toward  the  close  of  his  min- 
istry he  became  much  engrossed  in  farming,  to  the  neglect  of  his  pa- 
rochial duties,  which  was  the  ultimate  cause  of  his  asking  a  dismission 
from  ministerial  labor.     His  succcssorin  the  pastoral  otfice  was  Mat- 


HISTORY     OF     ANCIENT     WOODBURY.  235 

thias  Cazier,  who  was  settled  in  1799,  and  dismissed  in  1804.  On 
his  dismission,  the  church  voted,  "  that  they  very  cordially  esteem 
their  pastor,  the  RevJ  Matthias  Cazier,  as  of  good  moral  character* 
and  as  an  able  and  conscientious  JVlinister  of  the  New  Testament,  and 
sound  in  the  faith."  He  was  of  French  extraction,  His  father  and 
mother  were  born  in  France,  but  he  was  born  in  New  Jersey,  and 
married  a  Miss  Crane,  of  Newark.  Previous  to  his  settlement  in 
this  place,  he  had  preached  in  Vermont,  and  Pelham,  Mass.  After 
his  dismission  here,  he  removed  to  the  State  of  New  York.  Previous 
to  his  settlement,  there  had  been  an  interregnum  of  nine  years, 
after  Mr.  Minor's  dismissal,  during  which  time,  the  pulpit  was  sup- 
plied by  various  ministers,  and  in  which  had  occurred  one  revival, 
and  eleven  admissions  to  the  church.  The  church  was  again  with- 
out a  settled  pastor  for  four  years,  when  Rev.  Bennett  Tyler,  D.  D: 
was  ordained,  June  1,  1808.  He  remained  in  this  pastoral  charge 
fourteen  years,  when  he  was  dismissed  at  his  own  request,  March 
26th,  1822,  having  been  elected  President  of  Dartmouth  College. 
Under  the  ministration  of  Dr.  Tyler,  the  church  enjoyed  great  peace 
and  prosperity.  A  hundred  and  eight  persons  were  added  to  the 
number  of  its  members. 

Dr.  Tyler  was  born  in  that  part  of  Woodbury  which  now  belongs 
to  Middlebury,  near  Quassapaug  Lake,  July  6th,  1783.  He  gradua- 
ted at  Yale  College  in  1804,  and  after  graduation  was  for  one  year 
preceptor  of  the  academy  in  Weston,  now  Easton,  in  Fairfield 
county.  He  studied  theology  with  the  Rev.  Asahel  ifooker,  of  Go- 
shen, and  was  licensed  to  preach  in  the  fall  of  1806.  He  was  or- 
dained pastor  of  this  chui-ch  two  years  later,  and  after  a  pleasant 
ministry  of  fourteen  years,  he  was,  in  1822,  appointed  President  of 
Dartmouth  College,  as  stated,  soon  after  which  the  degree  of  doctor 
in  divinity  was  conferred  upon  him  by  Middlebury  College.  He 
fiUed  this  office  six  years,  during  Avhich  time  he  had  the  satisfac- 
tion to  witness  the  constantly  increasing  prosperity  of  the  institution. 
In  June,  1828,  he  unexpectedly  received  a  call  to  take  the  pastoral 
charge  of  the  second  church  in  Portland,  Maine,  as  successor  of  the 
Rev.  Dr.  Payson,"  in  ''  the  great  congregation  where  he  had  long 
preached,  and  prayed  so  like  an  angel."  After  much  serious  de- 
liberation he  was  induced  to  accept  this  call.  Here  he  enjoyed  the 
confidence  and  affection  of  a  large  and  united  church  and  society,  tiU 
he  was  appointed  President  and  Professor  of  Christian  Theology  in 
the  Theological  Institute  of  Connecticut.  He  entered  on  the  dis- 
charge of  the  duties  of  these  offices  in  1834,  and  continues  to  dis- 


236  HISTORY     OF     ANCIENT     WOODBURY. 

charge  them  still.     Dr.  Tyler  "  still  lives,"  "  his  praise  is  in  all  the 
churches,"  and  comment  on  his  life  and  character  is  unnecessary. 

Immediately  after  the  dismission  of  Dr.  Tyler,  Rev.  Noah  Smith 
was  invited  to  settle  over  the  church  and  society,  which  call  he  ac- 
cepted, and  his  pastoral  labors  immediately  commenced.  His  ministry 
was  of  considerable  length,  useful  and  happy.  He  died  in  the  midst 
of  his  labors,  among  his  people,  October  10th,  1830,  at  an  early  age. 
During  his  ministry,eighteen  members  were  added  to  the  church.  In 
the  following  seven  years  the  church  was  without  a  settled  pastor,  but 
was  supplied  by  various  ministers.  During  this  vacancy  in  tlie  pas- 
toi'shij),  the  church  enjoyed  unusual  prosperity.  No  less  than  six 
revivals  took  place,  and  1G2  persons  were  added  to  the  church.  Mr. 
Smith  was  born  in  Hanover,  N.  II.,  March  8th,  1794,  made  a  profes- 
sion of  religion  at  Albany,  N.  Y.,  March  Gth,  1813,  began  to  prepare 
for  college,  March,  1813,  graduated  at  Dartmouth  College,  August, 
1818,  studied  theology  at  Andover  Seminary,  was  licensed  to  preach 
June  Gth,  1821,  ordained  "Evangelist,"  October,  1821,  and  installed 
pastor  over  this  church,  October  9th,  1822.  On  the  28th  of  June, 
1837,  Rev.  Oliver  B.  Butterfield  was  ordained,  and  continued  to  dis- 
charge the  duties  of  his  pastoral  relation  to  his  church,  with  pleasure 
to  himself,  and  profit  to  his  people,  till  his  death  in  1849.  Forty -five 
were  admitted  to  the  church  during  his  administration.  Mr,  Butter- 
field  was  born  in  Montrose,  Penn.,  June  18th,  1804.  He  entered 
Yale  College,  and  pursued  his  studies  there  for  three  years,  until  ill 
health  compelled  him  to  desist.  He  traveled  about  two  years  for  his 
health,  when  he  returned,  and  entered  the  Yale  College  Theological 
School,  where  he  graduated  in  1836.  He  received  the  honorary  de- 
gree of  Master  of  Arts  from  Yale  in  1845.  In  1851,  the  present  pas- 
tor, Rev.  Amos  E.  Lawrence,  was  settled. 

As  far  as  can  be  collected  from  records,  the  following  persons  have 
borne  the  office  of  deacon  in  the  church : 

John  Pearce,        1769;     Solomon  Seward,      Simeon  Piatt,      1827; 
Ebenezer  Down,     "  Joseph  Bassett,  Anson  Bradley,  1835; 

Eleazer  Mitchell,  Isaac  Curtiss,  1798;  Elliot  Beardsley,    " 

Stephen  Piatt,  Warren  Mitchell,  1801. 

In  April,  1786,  a  petition  was  served  on  the  town  of  Woodbury, 
preliminary  to  sending  it  to  the  General  Assembly,  praying  that  the 
''  societies  of  Southbury,   South  Britain,   and  that  part  of  Oxford," 

1  Seven  families  from  the  town  of  Woodbury  were  included  in  the  Society  of  Ox- 
ford at  its  incorporation  in  1741 ;  but  how  many  families  there  were  at  this  date,  the 
author  has  no  means  of  detenuinijig. 


HISTORY     OF     ANCIENT     WOODBURY.  237 

which  belongs  to  the  town  of  Woodbury,  may  be  incorporated  into 
one  town,  and  have  all  the  privileges,  which  by  Law  the  other  towns 
in  this  State  have."  It  stated  its  list  at  £14,000*or  £15,000,  and  the 
number  of  its  families  at  400.  Col.  Benjamin  Hinman  was  appointed 
an  agent  to  attend  the  Assembly,  to  urge  the  petition  at  the  May  ses- 
sion, but  the  project  failed.  In  October,  1786,  the  petitioners  ob- 
tained the  consent  of  Woodbury  to  their  application  for  a  new  town, 
as  will  appear  by  the  following  vote  : 

•     «  ©ct.  17th,  17S6. 

"  Voted  not  to  oppose  the  grant  of  a  petition  from  the  Inhabitants  of  South- 
bury,  South  Britain,  and  that  part  of  the  parish  of  Oxford  which  belongs  to  the 
town  of  Woodbury. 

"  Voted  to  request  the  Genl  Assembly  that  in  case  they  should  incorporate  the 
parish  of  South  Britain,  Southbury,  and  part  of  Oxford  parish  into  a  sepirate 
town,  or  the  parish  of  Bethlehem,  or  the  parish  of  Roxbury,  that  they  would 
order  and  decree  that  each  inhabitant,  that  has  land  lying  in  the  bounds  of 
Woodbury,  as  the  bounds  now  are,  shall  put  all  his  lands  into  the  list  in  that 
town  where  the  owner  shall  reside  after  such  Incorporation." 

This  petition  was  granted  at  the  May  session  of  the  General  As- 
sembly, 1787 ;  and  the  town  incorporated  by  the  name  of  South- 
bury.  It  is  believed,  though  the  proof  is  not  now  at  hand,  that  the 
stipulation  contained  in  the  foregoing  vote  of  the  town,  was  inserted 
into  this  charter.  The  town  now  had  all  the  rights  and  pi-ivileges, 
and  has  followed  on,  in  the  staid,  beaten  track  of  other  Connecticut 
towns.  The  history  of  any  town,  since  the  Revolution,  must  be  brief 
indeed.  The  actors  in  the  various  important  events,  are,  for  the  most 
part,  now  alive,  and  it  might  seem  the  part  of  flattery  to  attempt  to 
characterize  them  justly.  Besides,  in  tracing  the  leading  historical 
events,  the  towns  composing  the  "  ancient  town,"  have  been  treated 
as  a  unit.  Such,  it  was  deemed,  was  the  more  appropriate  and  satis- 
factory manner  in  which  to  ti-eat  the  subjects  coming  under  view. 

Southbury  now  constitutes  a  beautiful,  fertile  farming  town,  well 
watered  by  the  Pomperaug  River,  its  branches  and  other  streams. 
Its  average  length  from  east  to  west  is  about  eight  miles,  and  its 
breadth  about  four.  Like  the  parent  town,  it  formerly  bolonged  to 
Litchfield  county,  but  was  many  years  since  annexed  to  New  Haren 
county.  There  are  two  Congregational  societies  and  two  Methodist, 
each  of  which  is  furnished  with  a  commodious  house  for  public  wor- 
ship. There  are  in  the  town  three  taverns,  four  blacksmith  shops, 
several  shoe  shops,  one  saddler's  shop,  four  grist  mills,  ten  saw  mills, 
one  paper  mill,  one  manufactory  for  edge  tools,  &c.,  several  wool- 


238  HISTORY     OF    ANCIENT     WOODBURY. 

hat  manuractories,  one  sattinet  manufactory,  one  shear  do.,  one 
tin  ware  do.,  and  seven  stores.  Some  eighty  to  one  hundred  thou- 
sand dolla*  are  invested  in  these  various  mercantile  and  manufac- 
turing operations.  There  is  also  at  South  Britain  a  water-power 
company,  which  has  laid  out  a  large  amount  of  money  in  bringing  to 
a  single  point,  the  united  water-power  of  the  Pomperaug  River  and 
Transylvania  stream.  By  this  means  they  obtain  a  most  excellent 
power,  sufficient  for  an  indefinite  number  of  manufactories  of  the  va- 
rious kinds.  The  population  of  the  town,  by  the  census  of  1850,  is 
1484.  There  reside  in  the  town  one  lawyer,  three  ministers,  and 
thi-ce  physicians. 


CHAPTER    XII. 

HISTORY    OF    BETHLEHEM    SOCIETY,    AND    THE    TOWN    OF 
BETHLEJI. 

173S  TO  1S53  ;  First  Settlers  ;  "  Winter  Privileges"  granted  1738  ;  Society 
Incorporated  Oct.,  1739;  First  Meeting  House,  1744;  Dr.  Joseph  Bell.\- 
MV  Begins  to  Preach,  173S— Ordained  in  1740  ;  Church  Gathered,  1740  ; 
Mr.  Bellamy's  Church  History  ;  Great  Sickness  of  1750  ;  Half  way 
Coven.\nt  abolished  in  1750;  Mr.  Bellamy  Itinerates  ;  Seperates  ;  Old 
AND  New  Lights  ;  Church  and  Pastor  invite  all  Orthodox  Ministers  to 
the  Pulpit  in  Bethlehem,  1742;  Early  Times;  First  Currant  Bushes  ; 
Second  Church  Edifice,  1768;  Singers  allowed  to  sit  in  the  Gallery, 
1774;  People  of  South  Farms  apply  for  Admission  into  the  Society; 
Death  and  Character  of  Mr.  Bellamy  ;  First  Sabbath  School  ;  Dr.  Azel 
Backus  Settled  in  1791  ;  Revivals;  Life  and  Character  of  Dr.  Backus; 
Rev.  John  Langdon  Settled  in  1S16  ;  Rev.  Benjamin  F.  Stanton  in  1825  ; 
Rev.  Paul  Couch,  1829;  Rev.  Fosdick  Harrison,  1835;  Rev.  Aretus  G. 
LooMis,  1850;  List  of  Deacons;  Various  Applications  for  a  new  town  ; 
Bethlem  made  a  Town,  1787  ;  Third  Church  1S3G  ;  Present  State  of  the 
Town. 

For  more  tlian  sixty  years  after  the  settlement  of  Woodbury,  that 
part  of  the  town,  known  as  the  east  part  of  the  North  Purchase,  had 
remained  an  unbroken  forest,  visited  only  by  the  Indians,  yrild  beasts 
of  the  thick  woods,  and  now  and  then  a  pioneer  of  the  white  race. 
The  North  Purchase  had  been  granted  to  the  town  in  1703,  pur- 
chased of  the  Indians  in  1710,  and  surveyed  in  1723  ;  but  it  was  aiot 
divided  among  the  proprietors  of  the  town  till  1734.  As  soon  as  this 
was  done,  and  each  proprietor  had  "  drawn  his  lot,"  it  Vas  open  for 
sale,  and  accordingly  a  few  settlers  moved  there  that  year.  Previous 
to  this,  the  settled  part  of  Woodbury  had  extended  northward  but 
little  farther  than  the  north  end  of  "  East  Meadow."  The  name  of 
the  first  settler,  and  the  place  whence  he  came,  is  now  lost ;  but  the 
first  house  built  in  the  society,  was  located  in  a  lot  now  owned  by 
Joseph  Hannah,  where  traces  of  the  cellar  still  exist.     The  principal 


240  HISTORY     01'     ANCIENT     "\V  O  O  D  B  U  E  Y . 

location  of  the  first  few  families  was  on  the  road  running  east  and 
west,  about  half  a  mile  north  of  the  present  center  of  the  town. 
Among  the  first  settlers  were  Capt.  Ilezekiah  Hooker,  of  Kensing- 
ton, a  })arish  of  Farmington,  now  Berlin,  a  descendant  of  the  celebra- 
ted Rev,  Thomas  Hooker,  of  Hartford ;  and  Jonathan  Kelsey,  of 
"Waterbury,  who  afterward  became  deacons  in  the  church  in  this  so- 
ciety. With  Dea.  Hooker,  came  two  of  his  sons,  Hezekiah,  Jr.  and 
James.  From  the  first  society  came  Reuben  and  Josiah  Avered, 
Francis  and  Joshua  Guiteau,  Caleb  and  Ebenezer  Lewis,  Isaac  Hill, 
Jr.,  Isaac  Hotchkiss,  Nathaniel  Porter,  and  Samuel  Steele,  formerly 
of  Farmington.  From  Farmington  came  John  Steele  ;  from  Litch- 
field, Thomas  and  Ebenezer  Thompson,  and  Ephraim  Tyler  from 
New  Cheshire. 

Pour  years  after  the  first  settlement,  the  number  of  families 
amounted  to  only  fourteen  ;  yet  this  handful  of  people  felt  able 
to  support  a  minister  a  part  of  the  time,  and  accordingly  peti- 
tioned the  General  Assembly  at  its  October  session,  1738,  for  liberty 
to  have  "  winter  privileges,"  for  five  months,  "  in  the  most  difficult 
season  of  the  yeai",  viz.,  November,  December,  January,  February 
and  March,"  as  they  lived  so  far  from  church,  it  was  impossible  to 
attend.  They  also  asked  to  be  exempted  from  taxes  for  repairing  the 
old  meeting-house  in  the  first  society.  This  was  to  be  done  till  they 
could  hire  a  minister  all  the  time.  These  privileges  were  granted 
them  on  condition  that  they  hired  an  "  orthodox  minister,"  and  re- 
frained from  voting  in  the  first  society,  in  relation  to  the  meeting- 
house. In  jNIay,  1739,  they  petitioned  to  be  released  from  parish 
taxes  as  long  as  they  should  hire  a  minister,  and  from  school  taxes, 
on  establishing  a  school  of  their  own,  "  the  school  in  the  first  society 
being  so  far  off  it  was  of  no  use  to  them."  The  request  was  granted, 
and  they  were  permitted  to  hire  a  "  minister  and  set  up  a  school." 
At  the  October  session  of  the  same  year,  they  petitioned  that  the 
*•  east  half  of  the  North  Purchase"  might  be  set  off  as  a  distinct  ec- 
clesiastical society.  The  petitioners  alleged,  that  they  are  "  near  ten 
miles  distant  from  the  first  society,"  that  it  is  difficult  to  attend 
church  there,  and  that 

"  If  we  were  set  off  in  a  Distinct  Society  we  should  be  under  better  advan- 
tage to  obtain  the  Preaching  of  the  Gospel  among  us,  and  also  the  Ancient  So- 
ciety, as  we  apprehend,  are  rather  for  encouraging  than  hindering  of  us  in  our 
Proceeding." 

The  signers  to  these  several  petitions  were  Hezekiah  Hooker,  John 
Steel,  Nathaniel   Porter,    Francis    Guiteau,   Caleb   Lewis,  Joseph 


UISTOKY     OK     ANCIENT     AYOODBURT.  241 

Clark,  Josiah  Avered,  Ebenezer  Lewis,  C.  Gibbs,  Jonathan  Seley, 
Edmond  Tompkins,  Isaac  Hill,  John  Parkis,  Reuben  Avered,  Ephraim 
Tyler,  Caleb  "Wheeler,  Ebenezer  Thompson,  Beriah  Dudley,  Seth 
xivered.' 

The  prayer  of  the  petition  was  granted,  the  society  was  incorpo- 
rated and  named  Bethlehem. 

Having  now  become  a  society,  they  voted,  May  1st,  1740,  to  build 
a  meeting-house,  and  petitioned  the  Assembly  that  a  part  of  Litchfield, 
running  the  length  of  the  society,  and  one  mile  in  width,  might  be 
annexed  to  the  society.  On  the  14th  of  the  same  month,  an  agent 
was  appointed  to  advocate  the  measure,  and  ask  for  a  committee  to 
locate  the  house  on  a  spot  they  themselves  "  had  fixed,"  "  if  s'^  part  of 
Litchfield  is  annexed,  and  as  lands  will  be  benefitted,"  he  was  in- 
structed further  to  ask  a  land  tax.  Benjamin  Hall,  John  Southmayd 
and  Stephen  Hopkins,  were  appointed  a  committee  of  location,  who 
for  some  reason  did  not  report  till  the  May  session  of  1742,  when 
they  informed  the  Assembly,  that  they  had  "  marked  a  black  oak 
bush  on  y^  High  Land  of  y®  Run,  that  Runs  on  y^  East  side  of  y^  South 
End  of  y^  Bear  Hill  so  called."  This  location  is  the  spot,  a  few^  feet 
south  of  the  dwelling-house  erected  some  years  since  by  Dr.  North. 
A  petition  was  preferred  to  the  General  Assembly,  October,  1741, 
for  a  land  tax,  representing  that  "  they  are  few  in  number,  and  there 
are  83  rights  or  allotments  of  land,  which  6  years  ago  sold  for  £80 ; 
now  since  they  have  a  settled  minister,  these  ax-e  worth  £500."  They 
asked  for  a  tax  of  forty  shillings  on  each  right.  A  tax  of  thirty  shil- 
lings on  each  right  was  granted  them  at  the  next  session,  May,  1742, 
and  Joseph  Clai'k  was  appointed  collector.  This  tax  made  non-resi- 
dent proprietoi'S,  who  at  this  time  held  much  the  largest  part  of  the 
land  in  the  society,  bear  their  equal  proportion  of  its  burdens.  The 
clerk  of  the  society  in  1743,  reported  the  house  covered,  and  in  May, 
1744,  that  materials  were  provided  for  finishing  the  inside  of  the 
house.  Such,' in  brief,  is  the  history  of  the  establishment  of  the  so- 
ciety, and  the  preparation  of  a  house  of  worship,  which  was  a  small 
structure,  and  was  used  for  the  purpose  of  its  erection  about  twenty- 
five  years. 

On  the  2d  of  November,  1738,  immediately  after  "  winter  privile" 
ges"  were  obtained.  Rev.  Joseph  Bellamy,  then  about  tw^enty-two 
years  of  age,  was  called  by  the  people,  and  commenced  his  labors 
among  them.     He  preached,  as  is  believed,  the  first  sermon  ever 


1  State  Ai-cliives,  Ecclesiastical,  vol.  vi. 


242  HISTORY     OF     ANCIENT     WOODBURT. 

delivered  in  this  society.  He  held  his  first  meeting  in  a  barn,  which 
stood  near  the  north-east  corner  of  the  meadow  immediately  south 
of  the  present  school-house,  in  the  second  school  district.  After  la- 
boring with  the  people  for  fifteen  months,  he  received  a  regular  call 
to  preach  to  them,  who  were  now  formed  into  a  regular  church.  But 
there  exists  a  little  book  of  records  of  this  church,  in  which  is  found 
an  account  of  these  transactions  in  Dr.  Bellamy's  hand-writing,  which 
follows,  and  more  vividly  presents  the  transactions  to  the  mind,  than 
any  language  the  author  might  invent : 

"A.  D.  173S,  Nov.  2,  Came  Joseph  Bellamy  A.  M.,  upon  the  Desire  of  the 
people  of  the  Eastern  part  of  the  North  Purchase  of  Woodbury  (afterwards 
called  Rethlem,!)  to  preach  the  gospel  among  them  (they  having  obtained  a  tem- 
porary license  to  hold  a  meeting  among  themselves.)" 

"A.  D.  1739,  Oct.  They  obtain  society  privileges  from  the  Gen'  Assembly, 
and  are  called  Bethlem." 

"  A.  D.  1740  Feb.  20.  The  Society  of  Bethlem  being  thereto  advised  by  the 
Eastern  Association  of  Fairfield  County,  Do  unanimously  give  to  said  J.  Bella- 
my, who  had  been  preaching  the  gospel  among  ^hem  for  about  one  year  and 
three  months,  a  call  to  settle  among  them  in  the  work  of  the  Ministry. 

"March  12.  He  accepts  the  call.  Mar.  27.  A  day  of  fasting  and  iirayer 
previous  to  the  ordination  is  attended,  and  the  chh.  is  gathered. 

"  April  2.  The  said  J.  B.  was  ordained  to  the  work  of  the  ministry  and  had 
the  chli.  and  people  of  Bethlem  committed  to  his  care." 

The  church,  at  its  organization,  contained  forty-four  members, 
twenty  males  and  twenty-four  females,  and  in  the  list  is  probably 
found  nearly  or  quite  all  the  names  of  the  fourteen  families,  which 
Dr.  Bellamy  found  there  in  1738. 

There  is  also  a  brief  history  of  the  church  for  the  first  fifteen  years, 
by  Dr.  Bellamy,  in  the  ministerial  records  to  which  allusion  has  al- 
ready been  made,  which  for  the  great  interest  attached  to  it  is  deemed 
worthy  of  a  place  in  this  volume.     It  explains  itself. 

"A  brief  and  faitliful  account  of  the  success  of  the  Gospel  in  Bethlem  from 
the  year  1738,  and  on— 

"In  the  year  1738,  in  the  Beginning  of  November,  the  publick  Worship  of 
God  was  set  up  in  (yt  part  of  the  North  Purchase  afterwards  called)  Bethlem  ; 
&  the  first  fruits  of  the  gospel  very  soon  appeared ;  The  place  was  new  and 
small,  of  but  four  years  standing,  and  consisting  of  but  fourteen  families,  &  yet 
witliin  about  half  a  year,  there  were  nineteen  added  to  the  chh.  and  these 


1  Dr.  Bellamy  always  spelled  this  word,  Bethlem,  though  in  the  act  of  incorpora- 
tion it  is  Bethlehem. 


HISTORY     OF     AKCIENT     "VTOODBURY.  243 

chiefly  young  persons,  a  number  of  whom  to  this  day  continue  to  give  good 
evidence  that  they  were  savingly  converted.  Some  of  the  first  sermons  preach- 
ed in  this  place  had  a  visible  effect  upon  many  of  y^  people,  especially  upon 
youth — they  soon  became  serious,  left  off  spending  their  leisure  hours  in  vanity, 
&  gave  themselves  to  reading,  meditation  &  secret  prayer — and  not  long  after, 
some  appeared  to  be  under  deep  and  thorough  conviction  of  sin,  &■  the  concern 
was  so  great  &  general,  that  some  weeks,  altho'  the  people  were  so  few,  the 
place  so  small,  yet  almost  every  day,  there  were  some  going  to  their  spiritual 
guide  for  direction  &  some  time  after  were  enlightened  and  comforted.  But  the 
religious  impressions  began  to  wane  oif  in  the  Spring  and  Summer  following, 
A.  D.  1739,  and  some  fell  away  to  their  former  carelessness,  and  by  a  conten- 
tion that  fell  out  in  the  Winter  of  1639,  40,  serious  Godliness  was  almost  ban- 
ished and  hid  in  obscurity.  It  was  confined  to  the  closet  &  maintained  but  by 
a  very  few  there,  and  the  preacht  gospel  seemed  wholly  unsuccessfut-^the  gen- 
erality of  people  in  a  deep  sleep  of  security. 

"  In  the  fall  of  1740,  a  little  after  Mr.  Whitefield  preacht  through  the  country 
&  in  the  Winter  &  Spring  &  Summer  following,  religion  was  again  greatly  re- 
vived &  flourisht  wonderfully.  Every  man,  woman,  and  child,  about  5  or  6 
years  old  iV  upwards  were  under  religious  concern,  more  or  less.  Quarrels 
were  ended,  and  frolicks  flung  up.  Praying  meetings  began  &  matters  of  re- 
ligion were  all  the  talk.  The  universal  concern  about  religion  in  its  height, 
many  were  seemingly  converted,  but  there  were  false  comfort  &  experiences 
among  the  rest  which  laid  a  foundation, 

(1)  For  false  religion  to  rise  &  prevail  (2)  Many  that  were  beat  down,  some 
fell  into  a  melancholy,  sour  frame  of  spirit,  bordering  on  despair,  &  others  into 
carnal  security  ;  and  the  truly  Godly  seemed  to  be  but  a  very  few!  And  now 
very  trying  times  follow,  for  (l)a  number  of  the  more  elderly  people  being  am- 
bitious (fc  having  a  grudge  at  each  other  are  continually  fomenting  contention, 
strife  and  division  about  society  afl'airs,  (2)  A  number  of  the  middle  aged  stand 
up  for  false  religion  &:  plead  for  the  seperatists,  (3)  A  number  of  the  younger 
sort  set  themselves  so  set  up  frolicking  &  serving  the  flesh — true  joiety  &  serious 
Godlines,  are  almost  banished — this  is  a  summary  view  of  things  from  1740  to 
17.50,  &  much  so  has  it  been  in  other  places." 

"  1750.  In  the  spring  the  anger  of  the  Lord  began  to  burn  hot  against  this 
people  for  all  their  abominations  «fc  he  sent  a  destroying  Angel  among  them, 
who  slew  about  thirty  of  them  &  filled  the  jolace  with  great  distress — Th^  ner- 
vous fever,  very  malignant,  spread  &  prevailed,  4  or  5  months.  The  well  were 
not  sufficient  to  tend  the  sick.  Some  died  stupid,  some  in  dreadful  despair, 
some  comfortably,  &:  one  in  special  dyed  as  she  had  lived  like  a  shining  Chris- 
tian. But  for  all  this,  the  residue  turned  not  to  the  Lord.  1753.  However,  in 
some  things,  a  reformation  followed  ;  for  after  the  sickness,  the  contentious  dis- 
positions, the  seperate  spirit  &  the  rude  frolicking  temper  did  not  appear  as  be- 
fore, &  they  became  in  a  good  measure  a  peaceable,  orderly  people." 

In  October,  1750,  a  petition  from  the  committee  of  the  society  in- 
formed the  General  Assembly  that  a  "  mortal  distemper  has  carried  off 
30  persons,  generally  in  the  prime  of  life,  to  the  grave,  and  people 
have  been  called  off  from  their  common  business"  to  attend  the  sick. 


244:  HISTORY     OF     ANCIEXT     WOODBURY. 

They  therefore  asked  to  be  released  from  ])aying  "  County  rates," 
^  which  was  granted. 

In  a  former  chapter,  the  baptismal,  or  half-way  covenant  was  ex- 
plained. It  was  not  universally  received  in  Connecticut.  And  in 
those  places  where  it  had  prevailed,  soon  after  the  "  Great  Awaken- 
ing," it  began  to  fall  into  general  disuse.  Dr.  Bellamy  was  one  of 
the  first  to  set  his  face  against  it.  Accordingly,  we  find  upon  the 
records  of  his  church  the  following  : 

"  Upon  the  jniblishing  of  Mr.  Edward's  Book  on  the  Sacrament  (1750),  this 
Practice  was  laid  aside,  as  not  warranted  by  the  holy  scriptures — there  being 
no  other  scriptural  owning  of  the  covenant,  but  what  implies  a  profession  of 
Godliness." 

Thus  was  this  practice  removed  from  his  own  church,  and  he  con- 
tinued to  use  his  influence  against  it  elsewhere,  whenever  occasion 
offered.     He  also  published  a  pamphlet  against  it. 

The  "  Seperatists,"  referred  to  by  Dr.  Bellamy,  in  the  preceding 
sketch,  were  a  body  of  religionists  that  sprung  out  of  the  several 
established  societies,  in  consequence  of  what  is  called  by  some  the 
"  Great  Awakening,"  and  by  others  the  "  Old  and  New  Light"  time, 
between  the  years  1740  and  1750.  The  "  New  Lights"  Avere  active 
and  zealous  in  the  discharge  of  every  thing  which  they  conceived  to 
be  their  religious  duty,  and  were  in  favor  of  Mr.  Whitefield  and 
others,  who  were  itinerating  through  the  country,  preaching  and  stir- 
ring up  the  people  to  repentance  and  reform.  The  "  Old  Lights" 
considered  much  of  their  zeal  as  wild-fire,  and  endeavored  to  suppress 
it.  The  contention  between  these  two  parties  grew  so  bitter,  that 
those  who  were  of  the  "  New  Light"  party,  withdrew  and  formed 
separate  churches  from  those  of  the  standing  order.  Hence  they 
were  called  "  Separates,"  or  "  Separatists." 

In  1740  and  1741,  was  witnessed  the  greatest  revival  of  religion 
that  has  ever  been  known  in  this  country.  Its  influence  was  all- 
absorbing,  and  an  earnest  concern  about  the  things  of  religion  and  the 
eternal  world  was  prevalent  throughout  New  England.  All  conver- 
sation, in  aU  kinds  of  company,  and  on  all  occasions,  except  about 
religious  matters,  and  the  future  welfare  of  the  soul  in  another  world, 
was  thrown  by.  All  hearts  seemed  to  be  actuated  by  one  feeling,  and 
no  more  attention  was  paid  to  their  worldly  affairs  than  was  absolute- 
ly necessary.  They  crowded  the  houses  of  their  ministers.  They 
wished  to  have  meetings  held  a  large  portion  of  the  time.  Scarcely 
a  person  in  the  towns  affected  by  this  revival,  young  or  old,  was  left 
unconcerned  about  this  religious  interests,  and  those  who  had  been 


niSTORT     OF     ANCIENT     WOODBURY.  245 

previously  scoffers  at  religion,  were  the  first  to  become  "  believers." 
"In  many  places,  people  would  cry  out  in  time  of  public  worship  un- 
der a  sense  of  the  overbearing  guilt  and  misery,  and  the  all-consum- 
ing wrath  of  God,  due  to  them  for  their  iniquities ;  others  would 
faint  and  swoon  under  the  affecting  views  which  they  had  of  Christ ; 
some  would  weep  and  sob,  and  there  would  sometimes  be  so  much 
noise  among  the  people  in  particular  places,  that  it  was  with  difficulty 
that  the  preacher  could  be  heard."  In  some  few  instances,  it  seems, 
^hat  the  minister  was  not  allowed  to  finish  his  discourse,  there  was  so 
much  crying  out  and  disturbance. 

There  is  no  doubt  that  this  revival  was  of  great  importance  to  the 
cause  of  true  religion,  and  on  the  whole  greatly  advanced  its  interests. 
The  state  of  society  was  very  much  benefited  by  its  influence.  But 
there  were  very  great  excesses  and  improprieties  committed  by  heat-  ■ 
ed  and  over-zealous  persons  during  its  continuance,  which  were  pro- 
ductive of  very  unhappy  effects.  Bodily  agitations  and  outcries 
were  encouraged  by  Davenport  and  others,  and  pronounced  unmis- 
takeable  signs  of  conversion.  These  men  pretended  to  know  by 
some  divine  "perception  communicated  to  them  from  above,  who  were 
true  Christians  and  who  were  not ;  and  not  unfrequently  would,  pub- 
licly declare  other  ministers  of  the  gospel  unconverted,  who  to  all  ap- 
pearance, were  men  of  as  much  grace  and  piety,  at  least,  as  them-^ 
selves.  These  proceedings  gave  rise  to  many  errors,  which  sprang 
up  in  the  churches.  They  did  not  seem  to  follow  truth,  or  reason,  or 
indeed  any  fixed  rules  of  conduct,  but  were  wholly  governed  by  in- 
ward impulses,  pretending,  as  before  mentioned,  to  know  the  state  of 
men's  hearts  by  some  spiritual  instinct,  quicker  and  surer  than  the 
old  common  sense,  Bible  process  of  learning  the  state  of  the  heart 
from  a  man's  character  and  conduct  in  life.  "  Another  phenomenon 
of  the  times,"  says  Dr.  Bacon  in  his  "  Historical  Discourses,"  was  the 
class  of  itinerating  ministers,  who  either  having  no  charge  of  their 
own,  or  without  call,  forsaking  their  proper  fields  of  labor,  went  up  and 
down  in  the  land  making  their  own  arrangements  and  appointments, 
and  operating  in  ways  which  tended  more  to  disorganize  than  to  build 
up  the  churches.  I  do  not  mean  such  men  as  Wheelock,  Pomeroy, 
Bellamy  and  Edwards  himself,  who  went  where  they  were  invited,  and 
calculated  to  demean  themselves  everywhere  with  Christian  courtesy 
and  propriety,  and  whose  preaching  wherever  they  went — certainly 
the  two  latter — was  much  better  than  the  preaching  of  Whitefield,  for 
every  purpose  but  popular  excitement.  I  mean  those  men  of  far  infe- 
rior qualifications,  who,  moved  by  an  unbalanced  excitement,  or  by 


246  HISTORY     OF     ANCIENT     ^TOODBURT. 

tlie  aml)ition  of  makinjr  a  noise,  or  by  the  irksoraeness  of  regular  and 
steady  toil,  "  shot  madly"  from  their  appropriate  spheres,  if  they  had 
any,  and  went  wherever  they  could  find  or  force  a  way  among  the 
churches,  spreading  as  they  went,  denunciation,  calumny,  contention, 
spiritual  pride  and  confusion."  * 

]\Ir.  Bellamy,  and  INIr.  Graham,  of  Southbury  society,  favored  the 
work  then  going  on,  and  spent  much  time  in  preaching  in  all  parts  of 
the  colony.  They  were  very  popular,  and  their  labors  were  gener- 
ally acceptable  to  their  brethren,  and  useful  to  the  people.  They 
were  not  noisy  preachers,  but  grave,  sentimental,  searching  and  pun- 
gent.' 

In  1741,  a  council  of  ministers  from  all  parts  of  the  colony  met  at 
Guilford,  and  passed  various  resolutions  relating  to  the  existing  state 
ofaffixirs,  one  of  which  pronounced  it  disorderly  "for  a  minister  to 
enter  into  another  minister's  parish  and  preach,  or  administer  the 
seals  of  the  covenant,  without  the  consent  of,  or  in  opposition  to  the 
settled  minister  of  the  parish."  This  was  followed  by  an  act  on  the 
part  of  the  General  Assembly,  in  May,  1742,  prohibiting  any  ordained 
or  licensed  minister  to  preach  or  exhort,  in  any  society  not  under  his 
care,  Avithout  the  invitation  of  the  settled  minister,  and  a  major  part 
of  the  church  and  society,  on  pain  .of  being  excluded  from  the  benefit 
of  the  law  for  the  support  of  the  ministry  f  also  to  prohibit  any  one, 
not  a  settled  or  oi'dained  minister,  from  going  into  any  parish  to  teach 
and  exhort  the  people,  without  like  permission,  on  penalty  of  being 
bound  to  good  behavior ;  and  there  was  a  further  clause,  that  if  any 
foreigner,  whether  licensed  to  preach  or  not,  should  offend  in  this  par- 
ticular, he  should  be  sent  as  a  vagrant,  by  warrant,  from  constable  to 
constable,  out  of  the  colony.  This  was  entitled  "  an  act  for  regula- 
ting abuses  and  correcting  disorders  in  ecclesiastical  affairs." 

This  law  was  aimed  at  the  whole  movement,  in  order  to  discoun- 
tenance and  overthrow  it.  Notwithstanding  this,  two  associations 
bore  witness  to  the  "  Awakening"  as  a  glorious  woi'k  of  God.  These 
were  the  association  of  Windham  county,  and  the  association  of  the 
eastern  district  of  Fairfield  country.  In  the  latter  district,  were  the 
four  ministers  from  the  four  societies  of  "Woodbury,  viz  :  Anthony 
Stoddard,  of  the  first,  John  Graham,  of  the  second,  Joseph  Bellamy, 
of  the  third,  and  Reuben  Judd,  of  the  fourth,  who  were  present,  and 
bore  affirmative  testimony. 


1  Dr.  TrumbuU. 


HISTORY     OF     AKCIEXT     ATOODBrRT.  247 

Dr.  Bellamy's  church  also,  in  reference  to  this  law,  had  a  meeting, 
and  passed  the  following  vote  : 

"June  IS,  1742.  At  a  clmrch  meeting  unanimously  voted  and  agreed,  that 
whereas  an  act  prohibiting  the  ministers  of  Christ  preaching  in  another  minis- 
ters parish  without  the  consent  of  the  major  part  of  the  church  there,  as  well 
as  of  the  minister  has  been  passed  by  our  Genl  Assembly  : 

"  Voted  by  the  Ch  of  Christ  in  Bethlehem  A  general  and  liniversal  invitation 
to  all  approved,  orthodox  preachers  and  ministers  of  the  gospel,  that  manifestly 
appear  friends  to  the  present  religious  concern  in  the  land,  that  they  would,  as 
they  have  opportunity,  come  in  to  the  help  of  the  Lord  among  us.  The  same 
publicly  concurred  with  by  the  pastor." 

We  can  gain  a  slight  conception  of  the  diiEculties  which  surround- 
ed the  first  settlers  of  this  society,  by  the  prices  paid  for  provisions, 
and  other  articles  necessary  for  sustaining  life,  and  later  from  the  ex- 
treme difficulty  which  attended  the  building  of  a  second  meeting- 
house. In  1747,  Mr.  Bellamy's  salary  was  £190,  payable  in  wheat 
at  12s.  per  bushel,  rye  at  9s.  and  Indian  com  at  7s.  per  bushel.  In 
1754,  we  learn  by  a  vote  of  the  society  that  "  27  shillings  were  paid 
for  a  Lock  &  Kee  for  the  Meeting  House."  The  settlers  here,  as  in 
the  "  ancient  society"  were  hardy,  enterprising,  self-denying  men,  and 
nearly  all  of  them  were  of  large  stature,  and  athletic  frames.  Their 
traits  of  character  are  indicated  by  their  readiness  to  encounter  the 
labors,  perils  and  privations  to  which  they  were  subjected  in  the  set- 
tlement of  the  wilderness.  The  men  of  the  present  day  may  smile  at 
the  idea  of  our  fathers  thinking  so  much  of  a  journey  from  the  sea- 
coast,  or  even  from  "VToodbury  to  Bethlem,  as  we  are  told  they  did. 
But  they  forget  the  obstacles  and  dangers  they  had  to  encounter. 
They  forget  that  there  were  then  no  public  roads  ;  no  vehicles  which 
could  be  employed  for  the  transportation  of  their  goods.  There  were 
no  steamboats,  nor  railroads,  running  with  the  swiftness  of  the  wind 
in  all  directions.  The  first  females,  as  well  as  the  males,  went  on 
foot,  or  on  horseback,  through  a  trackless  wilderness,  guided  by  marks 
upon  the  trees,  or  feeling  their  way  wherever  they  could  find  room 
to  pass.  In  the  midst  of  the  first  drear  winter,  their  provisions  gave 
out,  and  the  inhabitants  had  to  take  their  way  through  the  pathless 
forests  to  the  older  settlements  for  food  to  sustain  themselves  during 
the  remaining  winter  months.  Samuel  and  John  Steele  went  to 
Farmiugton  with  a  hand-sled,  and  returned  loaded  with  ears  of  com 
for  their  pressing  necessities.  The  men  of  the  present  day  can  not 
imagine  the  dangers  and  difiiculties  that  surrounded  those  early 
pioneers,  exposed  to  all  the  perils  and  privations  of  the  interior  for- 
ests.    But  they  were  men  fearing  God,  and  putting  their  trust  in  His 


248  HISTORY     OF     A  N  C  I  E  X  T     WOODBURY. 

promises.  That  fourteen  families  in  the  wilderness,  before  they  had 
had  time  to  provide  for  their  own  pressing  wants,  should  undertake 
to  support  a  preacher  of  the  gospel,  shows  the  enduring  confidence, 
the  lofty  trust  of  those  men  of  iron  nerve. 

It  is  related  that  the  first  currant  bushes  ever  planted  in  this  society 
were  brought  from  Guilford,  by  a  Mrs.  Parks,  on  horseback.  So  in 
the  first  society,  \he  first  elm  tree  ever  set  out  was  used  as  a  whip  to 
drive  a  horse  from  Stratford  to  Woodbury.  It  was  employed  by  an 
ancestor  of  the  late  Reuben  Walker,  for  the  purpose  indicated,  and 
then  stuck  down  in  a  wet  place  north  of  John  Bacon's  house.  It  be- 
came in  time  the  enormous  tree  so  well  known  to  the  inhabitants  of 
the  town,  which  was  struck  by  lightning  about  two  years  ago,  and  so 
much  injured  that  it  has  since  fallen  down.  That  tree  had  watched 
over  the  town  as  a  sentinel  through  all  its  varying  interests — throuo-li 
prosperity  and. adversity — and  it  is  a  pity  it  could  not  have  been  pre- 
served as  a  matter  of  historical  interest. 

The  first  house  in  the  society  after  a  time  was  deemed  too  small 
for  its  accommodation.  Accordingly  on  the  4th  of  January,  1764, 
when  there  were  about  one  hundred  within  its  limits  that  paid  taxes, 
they  voted  to  build  a  second  church.  On  the  28th  of  the  next  month, 
they  voted  again  to  build  the  house,  "  and  to  begin  and  go  on  moder- 
ately and  Little  by  Little."  At  the  same  time  it  was  voted  that  no 
tax  higher  than  four  pence  on  the  pound  should  be  paid  at  one  time, 
till  the  house  was  completed.  But  this  was  soon  violated,  and  more 
than  once  they  laid  a  tax  of  more  than  Is.  on  the  pound.  They  then 
adjourned  for  the  purpose  of  viewing  a  place  of  location,  and  set  their 
stake  "  at  the  north-east  corner  of  Mr.  Daniel  Thompson's  lot,  next  to 
the  Rev.  Mr.  Joseph  Bellamy's  House."  This  location  was  on  the 
common  in  front  of  the  residence  of  the  late  Hon.  Joseph  H.  Bellamy, 
grandson  of  the  pastor.  On  the  24th  of  May  following,  Samuel  Jack- 
son, Archibald  Kasson  and  Lieut.  John  Steele,  were  chosen  building 
committee,  to  take  charge  of  building  the  house,  on  the  spot  thus 
selected,  and  approved  by  the  county  court ;  the  house  to  be  "  60  by 
43  feet,  and  just  as  high  as  ye  Meeting  House  in  ye  old  Society." 
Three  years  later,  the  society  voted  to  "  hire  the  Meeting  House 
raised,  and  to  give  each  man  4s.  per  day,  that  shall  raise  ye  Meeting 
House,  they  find  themselves  all  but  Rnu5r,  and  their  wages  shall  go 
towards  their  Meeting  house  Rates."  By  a  vote  of  the  society,  Octo- 
ber 20th,  17G8,  directing  the  society's  committee  to  "seat  the  new 
Meeting  House,"  "  and  dignify  the  Pues"  therein,  we  learn  when  it 
was  finished  and  ready  for  worship.     In  December,  1793,  a  tax  of 


HISTORY     OF    ANCIENT     WOODBURY.  249 

sixpence  on  the  pound  was  laid  to  build  a  steeple,  provided  money 
enough  to  purchase  a  "  good  decent  bell  and  a  Lightning  rod"  for  the 
same  should  be  raised  by  subscription.  Eighty  pounds  were  soon 
subscribed,  and  the  bell  was  obtained.  In  September,  1774,  the 
society 

"•Voted  that  the  singers  may  sit  up  Gallery  all  day,  if  they  please,  but  to  keep 
to  their  own  seat,  the  men  not  to  infringe  on  the  women  pues." 

From  this  it  appears,  that  at  this  date  the  old  method  of  performing 
this  part  of  divine  service  by  the  congregation  was  not  yet  dispensed 
with  in  this  society,  but  for  what  reason  it  was  necessary  to  pass  a 
solemn  vote  to  keep  the  males  from  infringing  on  the  ladies'  rights, 
does  not  appear. 

On  the  28th  of  February,  1764,  "  the  people  of  "Woodbury  Farms' 
by  their  representatives,  Barzillai  Hendee,  Oliver  Atwood  and  Chris- 
topher Prentiss,  petitioned  to  be  admitted  into  Bethlehem  society,  and 
were  admitted  on  condition  that  they  would  help  build  a  Meeting 
House  in  Bethlehem  center."  This  request  was  made  as  this  society 
was  the  most  convenient  place  at  which  to  attend  church.  Perhaps 
the  fame  of  the  pastor  had  not  a  little  to  do  in  inducing  them  to  make 
this  application  to  their  Bethlehem  neighbors. 

As  will  have  been  seen  by  what  has  preceded,  the  church  in  Beth- 
lehem, imder  the  ministrations  of  Mr.  Bellamy,  was  generally  pros- 
perous. There  were  several  occasions  of  revival  of  religion,  and  a 
considerable  number  of  members  were  added  to  his  church.  It  is 
not  possible  now  to  relate  the  particulars  concerning  them,  as  the 
records  of  the  church  throw  no  light  on  the  subject,  and  no  accounts 
of  them  have  ever  been  published. 

Rev.  Dr.  Bellamy,  who  became  so  celebrated  as  a  divine,  and  who 
was  in  very  many  respects  extraordinary,  not  only  as  a  minister  but 
as  a  man,  was  a  native  of  Cheshire,  in  this  state.  He  was  educated 
at  Yale  College,  and  graduated  at  that  institution  in  1735,  at  the  age 
of  sixteen  years.  Soon  after  this  he  became  a  religious  youth,  and 
at  the  age  of  eighteen,  a  minister  of  the  gospel.  It  Avas  a  spectacle 
not  often  to  be  met  with,  at  the  present  day,  to  see  a  youth  of  eight- 
een years,  traveling  from  place  to  place,  and  preaching  to  the  ac- 
ceptance of  his  hearers,  in  the  various  Congregational  pulpits  of  this 
state.  In  this  manner  he  itinerated  for  about  four  years,  as  he  was 
not  settled  in  Bethlehem  till  he  was  about  twenty-two  years  of  age. 


1  Litchfield  South  Farms  probably. 
17 


250  niSTOKY     OF     ANCIENT     WOOD  BURT. 

For  two  of  these  years,  however,  he  spent  the  larger  part  of  the  time 
in  this  society,  as  he  was  engaged  to  supply  the  pulpit  during  the 
season  of  the  "  winter  privilege."  In  1740,  he  was  regularly  settled 
over  the  church  ;  but  at  that  time,  the  "  Great  Awakening"  having 
attained  its  height,  and  Mr.  Bellamy's  heart  and  mental  powers  being 
enlisted  in  it,  having  procured  a  supply  for  his  own  pulpit,  he  went 
everywhere  he  was  invited,  preaching  especially  in  places  where 
there  was  a  "revival."  His  labors  were  much  blessed,  wherever  he 
went,  especially  to  the  people  of  the  new  and  small  parish  of  his 
usual  abode.  "  When  that  revival  began  to  be  marred  by  wildness 
and  disorder,  the  prudent  young  minister  retired  to  his  little  church, 
and  here,  with  few  books,  and  with  small  opportunity  for  improve- 
ment by  association  with  men,  he  bent  himself  to  a  course  of  study, 
which  resulted  in  attainments  in  the  science  of  theology,  which  gave 
him  rank  among  the  great  divines  of  every  country  and  every  iige. 
He  never  displayed,  nor  tried  to  display  himself,  as  a  general  scholar. 
In  theology,  he  read  deeply,  but  more  deeply  thought.  Vigilant  to 
defeat  error,  he  was  sagacious  and  powerful  to  refute  it.  His  two 
great  companions  in  this  country  were  Edwards  and  Burr.  His 
principal  foreign  correspondent  was  Rev.  John  Erskine,  D.  D.,  of 
Edinburgh.  Human  nature — men  in  their  varieties — he  knew  re- 
markably well.  But  the  action  of  his  mighty  intellect  in  retirement, 
contributed  mainly  to  his  greatness."  At  the  age  of  thirty,  he  pub- 
lished his  greatest  work,  "  True  Religion  Delineated."  At  forty- 
eight,  in  1768,  he  was  made  doctor  in  divinity  by  the  University  of 
Aberdeen.  In  May,  1762,  he  preached  the  "  Election  Sermon"  to  the 
Assembly.  AVhen  he  was  about  twenty  years  of  age,  the  Rev.  Jon- 
athan Edwards,  Jr.,  of  Northampton,  published  an  able  and  interest- 
ing work  on  the  qualifications  for  church  membership.  The  object 
of  the  book  was  to  overthrow  the  practice  of  the  half-way  covenant 
in  the  churches,  and  to  abolish  the  use  of  baptism  and  the  Lord's 
Sui)per,  as  converting  ordinances.  Before  the  book  appeared,  Mr. 
Bellamy,  though  living  in  a  region  where  the  practice  was  prevalent, 
dissented  from  it,  and  had  prepared  and  preached  to  his  people  a 
sermon  agreeing  in  sentiment  with  the  Northampton  publication. 
As  soon  as  the  book  came  to  hand,  he  was  so  much  interested  in  it, 
that  he  immediately  set  out  to  find  its  autlior.  Arriving  at  Mr.  Ed- 
wards' house  on  Saturday,  and  acquainting  him  with  the  fact  of  his 
being  a  licentiate,  he  was  invited  to  stay,  and  preach  a  part  of  the 
next  day.  In  the  forenoon  he  preached  that  sermon.  During  its 
delivery,  Mr.  Edwards  was  seen  to  be  much  interested  and  excited, 


HISTORY     OF     ANCIENT     "WOODBTJRr.  251 

and  constantly  bending  forward  to  get  a  full  view  of  the  young  man's 
face.  When  the  service  closed,  and  the  "great  congregation"  were 
retiring,  the  two  ministers  were  seen  in  the  midst  of  them,  engaged 
and  lost  in  earnest  conversation.  Indeed  they  had  gone  some  dis- 
tance from  the  door,  before  either  discovered  that  Mr.  Edwards  had 
forgotten  to  take  his  hat. 

Dr.  Bellamy  was  a  large  and  well  built  man,  of  a  commanding  ap- 
pearance, lie  had  a  voice  of  great  power  and  compass.  He  could 
fill  the  largest  house  with  the  utmost  ease,  and  without  any  forced 
elevation.  He  possessed  a  truly  great  mind,  generally  preached 
without  notes,  and  having  some  great  point  of  doctrine  or  practice  to 
establish,  would  keep  close  to  his  point,  till  he  had  clearly  and  fully 
illustrated  it,  in  the  most  clear,  ingenious  and  pungent  manner,  care- 
fully making  some  striking  application.  So  well  was  he  acquainted 
with  the  various  matters,  things,  and  business  of  common  life,  that 
he  bad  a  vast  storehouse  of  imagery  to  draw  from,  suitable  to  his 
hearers  of  every  class.  "  Preaching  once  to  farmers,  the  doctrine 
that,  in  man,  sin  is  indigenous,  but  holiness  is  the  product  of  grace, 
he  said,  '  Sin  is  bent-grass,  holiness,  herds-gr^s.' "  "  When  he  felt 
well,  and  was  animated  by  a  large  and  attentive  audience,  he  preached 
incomparably  ;  though  he  paid  little  attention  to  language,  yet  when 
he  became  warm  with  the  subject,  he  would,  from  the  native  vigor 
of  his  soul,  produce  the  most  commanding  strokes  of  eloquence,  mak- 
ing his  audience  alive.  There  is  nothing  to  be  found  in  his  writings, 
though  a  great  and  able  divine,  to  be  compared  with  what  was  seen 
and  heard  in.  his  preaching."  His  pulpit  talents  exceeded  all  his 
other  gifts.  It  is  difficult  for  us  of  the  present  day,  who  have  never 
heard  him,  or  perhaps  any  like  him,  by  the  description  we  have  from 
those  who  did  hear  him,  to  form  any  just  idea  of  the  power  and 
beauty  of  his  preaching. 

The  following  extract  from  Dr.  McEwen's  Centennial  Discourse 
at  the  Litchfield  County  Consociation  anniversary,  will  illustrate  a 
trait  in  Mr.  Bellamy's  character  : 

"  He  became  early  in  his  ministerial  life,  a  teacher  in  theology  ;  and  at  Beth- 
lem,  for  years,  he  kept  the  principal  school  in  the  United  States,  to  prepare 
young  men  for  the  ministry.  The  great  body  of  the  living  fathers  in  this  pro- 
fession, who  adorned  the  closing  part  of  the  eighteenth  century,  were  his  pu- 
pils. A  volume  of  anecdotes,  related  by  them  concerning  his  teaching,  and 
discipline,  and  his  domestic  habits,  might  be  collected.  He  reigned  as  a  sove- 
reign in  his  school :  still  the  members  of  it  venerated  and  loved  him.  His  crit- 
icisms were  characterized  by  sarcasm  and  severity.  Dr.  Levi  Hart — who  ul- 
timately married  his  daughter — said  that  he  observed  that  Dr.  Bellamy  allowed 


252  nisTOUY    of   ancient    woodburt. 

himself  great  latitude  in  expressing  the  faults  of  the  first  sermon  preached  by  a 
candidate.  When  Hart's  turn  came,  he  said,  that  he  determined  that  his  ser- 
mon should  be  faultless.  A  lecture  was  appointed  for  him,  at  a  small  house  in 
a  remote  part  of  the  parish,  and  the  procession  started  on  horseback  ;  the 
preacher  at  the  doctor's  right  hand,  and  the  sirs,  two  and  two,  in  due  order, 
following.  The  sermon,  on  delivery,  seemed  to  Hart  better  than  he  expected, 
and  raised  him  above  fear  from  remarks  of  his  teacher.  The  troop  remounted 
for  their  return.  The  whole  body  of  rear  riders  pressed  as  closely  as  possible 
to  the  two  leaders,  to  hear  what  might  be  said  by  the  chief  in  wisdom  and  au- 
thority. The  doctor  talked  on  different  subjects,  and  the  orator  of  the  day  said 
that  his  fears  of  criticism  diminished  at  every  step,  until  he  triumphed  in  the 
conviction  that  he  had  silenced  the  wily  remarker.  When  near  home,  they 
passed  a  field  of  buckwheat.  The  stem  was  large,  reaching  to  the  top  of  the 
fence,  but  there  was  no  seed.  '  Hart,'  the  doctor  exclaimed  loudly,  '  you  see 
that  buckwheat  ?'  There  is  your  sermon.'  One  student  in  the  school,  had  the 
tact  to  ask  crotchical  quef-tions.  In  the  midst  of  a  favorite  discussion  of  the 
teacher,  he  was  brought  up  by  one  of  these  annoying  interrogatories.  '  Nat 
Niles,'  said  the  speaker,  '  1  wish  you  was  dead.'  These  pupils,  long  after  they 
had  entered  the  pastoral  life,  said  that  some  of  Mr.  Bellamy's  playful  reproofs 
and  commendations  weie  true  {jrophecy.  In  the  presence  of  his  family  and 
school,  on  one  occasion,  he  said,  Some  years  hence  I  shall  take  a  Journey. 
Coming  into  a  parish,  where  I  shall  be  a  stranger,  I  shall  stoji  at  a  tavern. 
When  the  landlady  is  ijoyring  the  tea,  I  shall  inquire,  '  Who  is  your  minister .'' 
'Mr.  Benedict,' her  rr])]y  will  be.  'Mr  Benedict!  What  Benedict  ?'  'Mr. 
Joel  Benedict,'  she  will  answer.  '  What  sort  of  a  man  is  he.''  I  shall  ask.  'Oh, 
he  is  a  prudent,  gooti  minister;  he  gives  great  satisfaction  to  this  people.'  I 
shall,   the   doctor  rciuaiked,  be  glad  to  hear  this,  and  shall  journey  home. 

"  Some  time  after  iliis,  as  we  are  sitting  here  by  the  fire,  a  man  will  come 
in,  and  say,  'Does  Mi.  Bellamy  live  here?'  '  Yes,  sir,  I  am  the  man.'  The 
stranger  will  proceed,  >  I  live  av/ay  up  the  country — was  coming  down  to  Con- 
necticut, and  the  cnuimitteeof  our  parish  told  me,  that  I  must  get  a  candidate  ; 
if  I  did  not  hear  oi  om-,  I  must  call  on  Dr.  Bellamy,  for  information.'  1,  said 
the  doctor,  shall  inquire,  'Who,  sir,  was  your  last  minister?'  'Mr.  Niles.' 
«  What  Mr.  Niks?"  'Mr.  Nathaniel  Niles.'  I,  said  the  doctor  to  his  wife, 
shall  turn  to  you  and  say,  '  Nat  Niles  is  dead.'  '  Oh  no,'  the  man  will  reply, 
«  he  has  turueil  luiidel."'' 

He  was  married  twice.  The  name  of  his  first  wife  was  Frances 
Sherman,  of  New  Haven,  whom  he  married  about  the  year  1744, 
and  who  died  in  1785,  aged  sixty-two  years.  In  1786,  he  married 
Mrs.  Storrs,  widow  of  Rev.  Andrew  Storrs,  of  Watertown.  One 
year  after  this,  he  was  prostrated  by  paralysis,  and  after  languishing 
three  years,  he  died  March  6th,  1790,  in  the  seventy rsecond  year  of 


1  This  sketch  of  Dr.  Bellamy  is  taken  principally  from  Dr.  Trumbull's  History  of 
Connecticut,  and  Dr.  McEwen's  discourse  at  the  Centennial  Anniversary  of  the  North 
.and  South  Consociations,  at  Litchfield,  1852. 


HISTORY     OF     ANCIENT    WOODBURY.  253 

his  age,  and  the  fiftieth  of  his  ministry,  after  his  regular  settlement 
in  Bethlehem.'  Two  of  his  children  died  before  him — Jonathan,  a 
young  lawyer,  who  was  a  soldier  of  the  revolution,  and  Rebecca,  the 
wife  of  Rev.  Levi  Hart,  of  Preston.  David,  his  son,  lived  to  a  good 
old  age  in  his  native  place.  The  late  lamented  Hon.  Joseph  H.  Bel- 
lamy, was  the  son  of  the  latter,  and  named  after  his  distinguished 
grandfather.  After  Dr.  Bellamy's  death,  his  library  was  advertised 
for  sale,  and  there  was  a  large  attendance  of  the  clergy  in  the  neigh- 
borhood at  the  auction,  in  order  to  secure  some  of  his  valuable  books. 
But  their  disappointment  may  be  imagined,  Avhen  on  examination,  it 
was  found  to  be  made  up,  principally,  of  the  publications  of  infidels 
and  heretics.  The  good  man  sleeps  among  his  people,  and  the  cem- 
etery of  Bethlem  is  honored  with  his  sacred  dust. 

After  the  death  of  Mr.  Bellamy,  a  Rev.  Mr.  Collins  supplied  the 
pulpit  for  a  time,  and  received  a  call  from  the  church  and  society  to 
settle  among  them  ;  but  although  they  offered  him  a  settlement  of 
$900,  and  an  annual  salary  of  $900  more,  yet  he  did  not,  for  some 
reason,  think  proper  to  accept  it. 

In  1791,  Rev.  Azel  Backus  received  a  call  from  this  church,  which 
he  accepted,  and  was  installed  on  the  6th  of  April  in  that  year.  He 
was  dismissed  in  October,  1812,  that  he  might  accept  the  presidency 
of  Hamilton  College.  He  remained  in  this  situation  till  December 
9th,  1817,  when  he  was  removed  from  his  useful  labors,  by  the  hand 
of  death,  aged  fifty-three  years.  During  his  residence  in  Bethlem, 
in  addition  to  his  pastoral  labors,  he  established  and  instructed  a 
school,  and  acquired  a  distinguished  reputation  as  a  man  of  science, 
and  an  instructor  of  youth.  This  undoubtedly  procured  for  him  his 
appointment  as  president  of  the  college.  He  was  distinguished  for 
remarkable  vigor  of  mind.  He  was  both  respected  and  beloved  by 
his  pupils.  He  was  not  only  an  able  divine,  but  also  eminent  for  his 
social  virtues,  the  mildness  of  his  disposition  and  the  complacency  of 
his  temper. 

The  church  under  Dr.  Backus'  care  was  highly  prosperous.     In 


1  The  origin  of  Sabbath  Schools,  and  the  name  of  their  founder,  has  always  been  a 
matter  of  interesting  inquiry  to  the  friends  of  those  nurseries  of  morahty  and  religion. 
It  is  deemed  proper  to  state  a  fact  here,  which  there  is  no  reason  to  doubt,  that  Dr. 
Bellamy  had  a  Sabbath  school  in  his  church  from  the  beginning.  The  school  was 
composed  of  two  classes,  the  eldest  instructed  by  Dr.  Bellamy  himself  in  the  Bible, 
from  which  they  learned  portions,  and  were  questioned  upon  them,  and  the  second 
class  studied  the  "  Assembly's  Catechism,"  under  the  instruction  of  a  deacon,  or  some 
other  prominent  member  of  the  church. — Dr.  Hooker's  Discourse  at  Litchfield,  1852. 


254  nisTORY    OF    ancient    avoodbury. 

1792,  the  second  year  of  his  ministry,  eighteen  were  added  to  it ;  in 
1800,  eighteen  more,  and  in  1808,  twenty.  In  1815,  while  the 
church  was  without  a  pastor,  seventeen  were  added.  During  the  la- 
bors of  ]\Ir.  Langdon,  the  third  minister,  in  the  years  1821  and  1822, 
forty-two  members  were  received,  and  twenty-three  in  1824.  Dur- 
ing the  hist  year  of  Mr.  Couch's  ministry,  in  1834,  thirty-eight  mem- 
bers were  added  to  the  church,  and  numbers  more  in  other  years. 

Perhaps  the  sketch  of  Di\  Backus  could  be  closed  in  no  better 
way,  than  by  an  extract  from  Dr.  McEwen's  Discourse,  so  frequently 
quoted  in  these  pages.  After  having  given  a  sketch  of  Dr.  Bellamy, 
he  goes  on  to  say : 

"  Tliis  unique  pastor  of  the  church  in  Bethlem  was  succeeded  in  office  by  a 
man  quite  as  extraordinary,  and  of  little  less  celebrity.  The  Rev.  Azel  Backus 
was  ordained  pastor  in  the  year  1791.  Comparisons  are  said  to  be  odious  ;  but 
odious  or  not,  these  two  men,  occupying  in  succession  the  same  station,  chal- 
lenging attention  and  admiration — and  as  unlike  as  two  good  and  mighty  men 
could  be — have  inevitably  been  compared  with  each  other.  A  pious  and  aged 
negro  in  the  church,  was  asked  how  he  liked  Mr.  Backus,  the  pastor,  and 
whether  he  thought  him  equal  to  Mr.  Bellamy.  His  reply  immortalized  him- 
self, and  his  two  ministers.  'Like  Master  Backus  very  much — great  man, 
good  minister,  but  not  equal  to  Master  Bellamy.  Master  Backus  make  God 
big ;  but  Master  Bellamy  make  God  bigger.'  " 

"  Soon  after  his  settlement,  Mr.  Backus  preached  one  of  his  poignant, 
awful  sermons  in  a  neighboring  parish.  A  hearer,  alarmed  for  the 
young  preacher,  asked  him,  '  Mr.  Backus,  dare  you  preach  such 
sermons  as  this  at  home  in  Bethlem  ?'  '  Yes,'  he  replied,  '  I  am 
obliged  to  preach  there  in  this  style ;  the  people  have  been  so  long 
kicked  and  spurred  by  Dr.  Bellamy,  that  they  will  not  feel  gentle 
preaching  at  all ;  this  sermon  which  you  have  heard  is  a  mere  hazel 
switch  ;  when  I  am  at  home  I  use  a  sled-stake.'  Neither  his  wit,  nor 
even  his  drollery,  could  he  keep  out  of  the  pulpit.  His  preaching  was 
of  the  most  popular  kind.  The  effect,  however,  of  some  of  the  most 
touching  sermons  which  were  ever  delivered,  was  diminished  by  this 
contraband  article,  which  he  perhaps  unconsciously  smuggled  in.  He 
could  weep  whenever  he  pleased — in  the  pulpit  or  out  of  it — and 
make  others  weep  more  frequently  than  any  man  whom  I  ever 
saw.  lie  could  not  refrain  from  tears  ;  his  quickest  and  most  profuse 
sensibility  was  religious.  Almost  every  occurrence  reminded  him  of 
human  depravity,  and  the  peril  of  the  soul — of  divine  grace — its 
mercy  and  richness  ;  and  lo,  his  head  was  waters,  and  his  eyes  a 
fountain  of  tears.  He  could  laugh  himself — a  passion  and  power  he 
had  for  making  others  laugh.     He  could  take  a  joke,  but  woe  to  the 


HISTORY     OF     ANCIENT     -WOODBURT.  255 

man  who  gave  it.  If  in  any  particulars  he  excelled  Dr.  Bellamy,  he 
did  in  repartee,  and  in  the  delineation  of  character.  "When  he 
preached  his  unrivaled  election  sermon,  in  which  he  portrayed  the 
demagogue  from  the  words  of  Absalom,  '  Oh,  that  I  were  made  judge 
in  the  land,'  &c.,  his  classmate,  Gideon  Granger,  said  to  him,  as  he 
came  from  the  pulpit,  '  Backus,  had  I  known  what  was  coming,  I 
should  have  stood  up.'  Down  to  this  day,  the  parish  of  Bethlem 
continued  to  oe  of  moderate  size  ;  his  salary  was  not  large,  and  was 
quite  insufficient  to  meet  the  wants  of  a  man  of  his  generosity  and 
hospitality.  He  instructed  a  few  individual  candidates  for  the  minis- 
try in  theology ;  but  his  great  expedient  for  eking  out  a  livelihood, 
and  for  serving  efficiently  his  generation,  was  that  of  fitting  youth  for 
college.  In  teaching  Latin  and  Greek,  and  in  disciplining  boys  of 
every  grade  and  constitution,  he  had  unborrowed  tact,  and  unrivaled 
success.  In  this  employment,  of  so  little  pretension  for  a  great  man, 
he  became  renowned.  From  the  north  and  the  south,  young  candi- 
dates for  public  education  flocked  to  his  house ;  and  there  many  a  twig 
was  so  bent  that  it  is  now  a  tree,  stately  and  prolific.  With  whom 
the  instructor  was  the  most  popular,  it  were  difficult  to  say,  the  pu- 
pils, the  parents,  or  the  faculty  of  college.  Gen.  Wade  Hampton,  of 
South  Carolina,  placed  his  sons  there,  visited  them  and  saw  the  scanty 
resources,  and  the  devices  and  labors  of  the  great  man  for  a  living ; 
and  the  general  inquired  of  the  doctor  why  he  did  not  avail  himself 
of  owning  and  cultivating  land.  The  reply  was,  '  Land  can  not  be 
procured.'  '  Whose  lot  is  that  ?'  said  Hampton,  pointing  to  a  fine 
mowing-field  adjacent  to  the  clergyman's  garden.  '  Mr.  Bellamy's,' 
was  the  answer.  *  Is  Mr.  Bellamy  fond. of  land?'  the  inquirer 
added.  '  Not  very,'  said  Backus  ;  '  he  only  wants  that  which  joins 
him.'  After  the  visitor  had  left  and  gone  homeward,  a  letter  came 
back,  inclosing  a  deed  of  the  mowing-field.  Though  David  Bellamy 
was  reluctant  to  let  Backus  have  his  land,  even  for  money,  still  as 
neighbors,  and  as  minister  and  parishioner,  they  lived  on  excellent 
terms.  Bellamy  took  the  large  newspapers — did  not  read  them — but 
on  their  arrival,  sent  them  over  to  Backus.  His  duty,  delight  and 
glory  it  was,  to  keep  his  patron  well  posted  up  in  the  news." 

"  The  personal  appearance  of  Dr.  Backus  was  impressive  and  win- 
ning. Not  tall,  but  of  rotund  and  well-proportioned  figure,  a  massive 
head,  a  face  expressive  of  sensibility,  benignity  and  intelligence. 
After  Dr.  John  Mason  had  made  his  first  circuit  about  New  Eng- 
land, he  was  asked  what  he  thought  of  the  clergy  of  that  section  of 
country.     His  answer  was,  '  I  did  not  see  any  men  of  great  learning, 


256  HISTORY     OF     ANCIENT     WOODBURT. 

but  I  saw  one  man,  who  had  half  a  bushel  of  brains.'  That  was  Azel 
Backus.  lie  was  a  native  of  Franklin,  in  this  state ;  the  son  of  a 
widow,  who  married  a  man  distinguished  neither  for  industry,  pru- 
dence nor  probity.  After  Azel  had  become  a  man  of  note,  some  new 
acquaintances  inciuired  of  him,  '  You  are  the  son  of  Dr.  Backus,  of 
Somers  ?'     *  No,'  he  replied  ;  *  he  was  my  uncle.     I  was  the  son  of 

Bill ,'  mentioning  the  name  of  his  stepfather — *hc  married  my 

mother  and  lived  on  her  farm.'  '  How  did  he  tducate  you  ?' 
'  Took  me  with  him  to  steal  hoop-poles,'  was  the  remainder  of  the 
colloquy.  He  was  educated  at  Yale  College — graduated  1737 — re- 
ceived the  degree  of  D.  D.  from  Nassau  Hall — was  removed  from 
bis  charge  in  Bethlem  to  become  President  of  Hamilton  College,  in 
1813,  where,  three  years  afterward,  of  acute  disease  he  died,  not  an 
old  man.  The  warmth  and  humility  of  his  piety  appeared,  as  it  pre- 
viously did,  at  the  last  moment  of  life.  When  told  that  he  was  dying, 
he  could  not  be  prevented  from  throwing  himself  from  his  bed  upon 
his  knees,  that  with  his  last  breath  he  might  commit  to  God  his  de- 
parting spirit." 

After  the  dismission  of  Dr.  Backus  in  1812,  the  church  gave  invi- 
tations successively  to  Rev.  Messrs.  Zephaniah  Swift,  Cyrus  Yale 
and  Caleb  J.  Tenney,  who  did  not  accept  the  call  made.  In  Janua- 
ry, 1816,  a  call  was  tendered  to  Rev.  John  Langdon,  who  accepted 
it  and  was  ordained  June  IGth,  1816.  He  was  dismissed  in  June, 
1825,  at  his  own  request,  on  account  of  ill  health,  and  died  February 
28th,  1830,  aged  forty  years.  He  graduated  at  Yale  College,  in 
1809,  and  was  a  tutor  in  that  institution  from  1811  to  1815.  He 
was  characterized  by  a  sound,  well-disciplined  and  well-furnished 
mind — by  love  of  study,  great  decision,  and  pious  devotion  to  his 
work,  amid  many  infirmities.  A  residence  of  five  years  with  his 
former  church,  after  he  had  ceased  to  be  their  pastor,  was  marked 
with  many  substantial  tokens  of  their  love  and  confidence.  "  Few 
churches,  if  any,  ever  received  from  Zion's  King,  three  pastors  in 
succession,  so  distinguished  as  Drs.  Bellamy  and  Backus,  and  Mr. 
Langdon.'" 

Rev.  Benjamin  F.  Stanton,  the  fourth  pastor,  was  installed  De- 
cember, 1825,  and  dismissed,  at  his  own  request,  March  4th,  1829. 
Rev.  Paul  Couch,  a  graduate  of  Dartmouth  College,  in  1823,  the  fifth 
pastor,  was  installed  October,  1829,  and  dismissed,  at  his  own  request, 
November,  1834.     Rev.  Fosdick  Harrison  was  ordained  sixth  pas- 

1  Rev.  Mr.  Yale's  Discourse, 


HISTORY    OF    ANCIENT     WOODBURY.  257 

tor,  July  22d,  1835;  closed  his  labors  with  the  church  March  1st, 
1849,  and  was  dismissed,  June  4th,  1850.  He  is  now  preaching  at 
North  Guilford,  in  this  state.  In  1815,  Yale  College  conferred  on 
him  the  honorary  degree  of  master  of  arts. 

In  1850,  the  present  pastor,  Aretus  G.  Loomis,  was  installed  over 
the  church  and  people. 

The  following  is  as  correct  a  list  of  those  who  have  held  the  office 
of  deacon  in  this  church,  as  the  records  show : 

Jabez  Whittlesey,  1740.  Ebenezer  Perkins,  25th  April,  1799. 

Jonathan  Kelsey,      "  Myar  H.  Bronson,  1S15. 

Hezekiah  Hooker, Jonathan  Smith, 

Ens.  Samuel  Strong,  2oth  Dec,  17')3.  Nehemiah  Lambert,  iCth  July,  1S24. 

David  Hawley,  4th  November,  I75G.  Phineas  Crane,  20th  February,  1825. 

Archibald  Kasson,  31st  March,  1775.  Adam  C.  Kasson,  14th   February,  1S31. 

Oliver  Parmclee,  1st  March,  17S4.  Joshua  Bird,  2Gth  December,  1S39. 

Richard  Garnsey,  10th  January,  1792.  John  N.  Crane,  2Gth  December,  1839, 

Benjamin  Frisbie, 

As  early  as  September,  1781,  the  society  voted  their  desire  to  be 
set  off  as  a  separate  town,  and  appointed  Daniel  Everit,  Esq.,  to  pre- 
fer a  memorial  to  the  General  Assembly  for  that  purpose.  At  a 
town  meeting,  held  April  18th,  1782,  "Woodbury  voted  to  oppose 
this  application,  and  appointed  Col.  Increase  Moseley  and  Hezekiah 
Thompson,  Esq.,  agents  to  attend  the  session  of  the  Assembly,  for 
the  purpose  of  opposition.  The  application  failed,  and  no  further 
movement  was  made  till  the  May  session,  178G,  when  the  society 
appointed  Robert  Crane  and  David  Bird,  agents  for  the  purpose  of 
pressing  an  application  for  a  new  town  on  the  attention  ofthe  Assem- 
bly. The  appHcation,  which  stated  the  list  to  be  £11,000,  and  the 
number  of  families  250,  was  continued  to  the  October  session,  pre- 
vious to  which,  they  obtained  a  vote  in  town  meeting,  173  to  153, 
that  the  town  should  not  oppose  the  application,  on  condition  the 
petitioners  should  pay  their  proportion  of  the  debts  of  the  town. 
The  application  did  not,  however,  for  some  reason,  succeed  at  that 
session,  but  next  year.  May,  1787,  the  society  at  Bethlehem  was 
duly  incorporated  into  a  town  of  the  same  name,  but  by  an  error  in 
the  transcriber,  it  was  written  Bethlem,  and  has  been  so  written  ever 
since. 

In  1836,  the  present  Congregational  church,  the  third  since  the 
organization  of  the  society,  was  built,  and  the  church  met  for  the  last 
time  in  the  old  edifice,  April  10th,  1836,  which  had  now  reached  the 
advanced  age  of  sixty -eight  years. 


258  HISTORY     OF     A  X  C  I  E  N  T     AV  O  O  D  B  r  R  Y  . 

The  other  incidents  conneeted  with  the  new  town  having  heen  con- 
sidered in  connection  with  the  history  of  the  "  ancient  town"  as  a 
whole,  will  not  be  repeated  here. 

Bethlem  is  a  small  town,  its  average  length  being  four  and  a  half 
miles,  and  its  breadth  four  miles.  Its  population  by  the  census  of 
1850,  was  815.  It  is  almost  wholly  an  agricultural  town,  its  soil  be- 
in"  fertile,  with  little  waste  land.  It  has,  however,  one  woolen  man- 
ufactory, two  wagon  shops,  three  saw-mills,  one  grist-mill,  three  cider 
distilleries,  one  blacksmith's  shop,  one  shoemaker's  shop,  and  three 
mercantile  stores.  It  also  has  two  churches,  a  town  hall,  a  flourish- 
ing lyceum,  two  ministers  and  one  physician. 


CHAPTER   XIII. 

HISTORY    OF    JUDEA    AND    NEW    PRESTON     ECCLESIASTICAL    SOCIE- 
TIES,   AND    TOWN    OF    "WASHINGTON. 

1739  TO  1853;  Society  settled,  1734;  Winter  Privileges  granted,  1739; 
Society  incorporated,  1741  ;  Kev.  ReOben  Judd  settled,  and  the  church 
gathered,  174'2;  List  of  First  Church  Members;  Rev.  Damel  Brins- 
made  ordained,  1749;  Rev.  Noah  IMerwin  installed,  17S5;  Rev.  Dr. 
Ebenezer  Porter  ordained,  1796;  His  Character;  First  Church,  1742; 
Second  Church,  1751 — burned  in  ISOO;  Third  Church,  ISOl  ;  Admis- 
sions to  the  Church;  Putrid  Fever,  1753;  Murders  and  Casualties; 
Rev.  Cyrus  W.  Gray  settled,  1813;  Rev.  Stephen  Mason  installed, 
ISIS  ;  Rev.  Gordon  Hayes  settled,  1S29;  Rev.  Ephraim  Lyrian  installed, 
1S52;  Revivals;  List  of  Deacons;  Winter  Privileges  granted  to  New 
Preston,  174b;  Society  incorporated,  1753;  First  Church  built,  1756; 
Second  Church,  1769;  Third  Church,  1S25 ;  Raumaug  Church,  1S53; 
Church  gathered  and  Rev.  Noah  Wadhams  settled,  1757  ;  Rev.  Jeremiah 
Day  settled,  1770;  Rev.  Samuel  Whittlesey  settled,  1S07;  Rev.  Charles 
A.  Boardman  settled,  1S18 ;  Rev.  Robert  B.  Campfield,  1S21 ;  Rev.  Ben- 
jamin B.  Parsons  settled,  1339;  Rev.  Hollis  Read,  1845;  Revivals; 
Deacons;  Town  of  Washington  incorporated,  1779;  Casualties;  Pres- 
ent State  of  the  Town. 

The  present  town  of  Washington  is  made  up  of  territory  taken 
from  the  towns  of  Woodbury,  New  Milford,  Kent,  and  Litchfield,  and 
is  about  six  miles  square.  It  contains  two  ecclesiastical  societies, 
Judea  and  New  Preston,  though  not  the  whole  of  the  latter  is  in- 
cluded within  the  town.  Judea  society  embraces  all  the  territory 
taken  from  Woodbury  and  Litchfield,  and  constitutes  about  two-thirds 
of  the  extent  of  the  town.  But  a  small  portion  of  this  is  contributed 
by  Litchfield.  New  Preston  embraces  all  the  territory  taken  from 
Kent  and  New  Milford.  In  both  of  these  societies  are  Episcopal 
churches,  having  houses  for  religious  worship.  The  first  settlement 
in  the  town  was  made  in  Judea  society,  in  1734,  the  year  this  society 
and  Bethlehem  were  divided  among  the  proprietors  of  Woodbury. 
Joseph  Hurlbut  was  the  first  settler,  and  the  first  framed  house  was 
built  in  1736.     The  next  settlers  after  Hurlbut  were  Increase  Mose- 


2G0  HISTORY     OF     ANCIENT     -VV  O  O  D  B  U  R  Y . 

ley,  Nathaniel  Diirkce,  John  Baker,  Friend  Weeks,  Joseph  Gillett 
and  Samuel  Piteher.  Tlie  first  sermon  preached  in  the  society  was 
by  Isaac  Baldwin,  of  Litchfield,  who  afterward  relinciuished  his  pro- 
fession, and  became  the  first  clerk  of  the  coimty  court  for  Litchfield 
county. 

Five  years  later,  the  inhabitants  had  become  more  numerous,  and 
twenty  persons  preferred  a  memorial  to  the  General  Assembly,  at  its 
May  session,  1739,  representing  that  they  lived  "  full  eight  miles 
from  the  Meeting  House,"  and  that  their  wives  and  children  had  "  to 
tarry  at  home  from  the  worship  of  God  about  half  of  the  year,"  and 
therefore  they  pray  for  "  liberty  to  have  preaching  six  months  in  the 
winter,"  and  to  be  released  from  paying  taxes  for  a  new  school-house 
just  built  in  the  first  society,  and  also  from  parish  taxes,  that  they 
may  build  a  school-house  of  their  own.  The  privilege  asked  for  was 
granted,  to  continue  two  years,  and  they  were  released  from  one-half 
of  the  parish  taxes,  and  from  taxes  to  build  a  new  meeting-house, 
provided  they  were  "  in  no  ways  Active  in  the  Affair  of  Building  a 
new  Meeting  House  in  said  first  Society."^  At  the  October  session, 
1741,  twenty-six  individuals  petitioned  to  be  incorporated  into  an  ec- 
clesiastical society,  and  appointed  "  Our  Trusty  and  well-beloved 
friend.  Friend  Weeks,  agent  and  attorney  to  prosecute  our  Petition." 
The  i^etition  was  signed  by  Nathaniel  Durkee,  John  Baker,  Joseph 
Gillett,  Joseph  Chittenden,  Elisha  Stone,  Samuel  Pitcher,  Jr.,  James 
Pitcher,  Increase  Moseley,  Lemuel  Baker,  Daniel  Castle,  Samuel 
Branton,  Ezra  Terrill,  Jr.,  Ebenezer  Allen,  Zadock  Clark,  Elijah 
Hurd,  Joseph  Hurd,  Joseph  Ilurlbut,  Benjamin  Ingraham,  Jr.,  Rob- 
ert Durkee,  Samuel  Bell,  Jonah  Titus,  Benjamin  Ingraham,  John 
Royce,  John  Hurd,  Jr.,  Jedediah  Hurd,  Benjamin  Hinman. 

Col.  Benjamin  Hull,  John  Southmayd,  Esq.,  and  Mr.  Stephen 
Hopkins,  were  at  once  appointed  a  committee,  to  inquire  into  the 
reasonableness  of  the  request,  who  reported  at  the  same  session  in 
favor  of  a  new  society,  with  the  following  boundaries : 

"Beginning  att  Coin  Johnson's  line  at  New  Milford  bounds,  and  from  thence 
Running  Eastward  in  sd  line  until)  it  Comes  to  the  line  Dividing  Between  Beth- 
lehem, and  the  West  part  of  the  North  Purchase,  and  thence  to  Extend  North 
to  the  north  line  of  sd  purchase,  and  thence  Westward  to  New  Milford  line,  and 
thence  Southward  to  the  first  mentioned  place,  at  the  End  of  Coll.  Johnson's 
line  at  New  Milford  bounds." 

1  State  Archives,  Ecclesiastical,  vol.  6,  index,  et  seq. 


HISTORY     OP     ANCIENT     WOODBURY.  2Gl 

The  territory  thus  bounded  was  immediately,  October,  1741,  incor- 
porated into  an  ecclesiastical  society,  and  named  "  Judeah." '  At 
the  same  session,  twenty-four  persons  petitioned  for  a  land  tax  of  30s. 
per  lot,  on  the  ground  that  tlie  "  inhabitants  are  few  in  number,  most 
of  the  territory  is  uninhabited,  and  the  non-resident  owners  will  not 
sell  to  settlers."  Thirteen  non-resident  owners  also  sent  in  a  written 
assent  to  such  a  measure,  and  it  was  granted  for  the  space  of  four 
years. 

At  the  May  session,  1742,  twenty-six  petitioners  stated,  that  they 
had  "  Unanymously  and  Lovingly  Agreed  upon  A  Place  for  to  Set 
a  Meeting  House,"  near  the  center  of  the  parish,  and  wished  to  have 
it  confirmed.  It  was  accordingly  confirmed  without  opposition,  and 
the  house  built  that  year  by  eight  proprietors. 

At  the   first  meeting  held  in  this  society,  all  the  inhabitants  were 
present,  and  were  accommodated  in  a  small  room  of  Mr.  Hurlbut's 
dwelling-house.     After  the  organization  of  the  society.  Rev.  Eeuben 
Judd,  a  graduate  of  YtJe  College  in  1741,  was  the  first  minister  set- 
tled in  it,  and  was  ordained  September  1, 1742.     The  ordination  cer- 
emonies took  place  in  a  grove,  near  Mr.  Samuel  Pitcher's,  who  then 
resided  about  half  a  mile  south  of  the  dwelling-house  of  the  late  Hon. 
Daniel  N.  Brinsmade.     The  church  was  gathered  in  the  same  place 
on  the  same  day,  and  consisted  of  twelve  members  whose  names 
foUow : — Rev.  Reuben  Judd,  Joseph  Gillett,  Benjamin  Hurd,  Dea. 
Increase  Moseley,  Allen  Curtiss,  Timothy  Hurd,  Dea.  Joseph  Hurd, 
Joseph  Chittenden,  John  Royce,  John  Baker,  Elijah  Hurd,  Samuel 
Bell.     On  the  5th  of  November  succeeding,  the  following  females 
were  also  received  into  the  new  church :  Deborah  Moseley.  Ann 
Hurd,  Rachel  "Weeks,   Jerusha  Baker,  Abigail  Hurd,   Mary  Hurd, 
Tabitha  Hurd,   Dorcas  Royce,   Mary   Durkee  and  Esther  Durkee. 
From  this  time  to  May,  174G,  forty-seven  other  persons  were  added 
to  the  church,  making  in  the  whole  the  number  of  seventy  received 
during  Mr.  Judd's  ministry.     Eighty-one  baptisms  are  recorded  in 
the  same  period.     Mr.  Judd  did  not  remain  in  the  pastoral  otRce  over 
this  church  quite  five  years.     He  was  dismissed,  May  6,  1747,  and 
from  writings  that  remain,  his  character  and  the  occasion  of  his  dis- 
mission do  not  distinctly  appear.     The  tradition  is,  that  he  was  not  of 
that  good  report,  that  became  one  in  his  sacred  office. 

It  would  be  a  matter  of  intei'est  to  point  out  the  exact  location  of 
the  homesteads  of  the  first  settlers,  did  time  and  space  permit.     A 

1  This  is  the  spelling  in  the  original  charter,  though  it  is  now  always  written  Judea. 


262  niSTORT     OF     ancient     WOODBURY. 

few  must  .sullicc.  Joseph  Ilurlbut,  the  first  settler,  lived  a  little  east 
of  where  Samuel  Frisbie  now  lives.  Increase  Moseley,  E?.q.,  lived 
near  John  Smith's  dwelling-house  ;  Nathaniel  Durkee,  near  Samuel 

Clark's  ;  John  Baker,  near  the  new  house  of  Benjamin ;  Capt. 

Friend  Weeks,  near  Capt.  Smith's  ;  Joseph  Gillett,  near  Sherman 
Brinsmade's,  and  Samuel  Pitcher  about  half  a  mile  from  Judge  Brins- 
made's.  Before  the  ordination  of  Mr.  Judd,  besides  INIr.  Baldwin, 
Rev.  INIr.  Cowles,  of  Farmington,  Rev.  Ebenezer  Mills,  of  Wethers- 
field,  Rev.  INIr.  Meade,  of  Horse  Neck,  and  Rev.  Mr.  Case,  of  New- 
town, who  afterward  settled  at  New  Fairfield,  preached  in  this  so- 
ciety more  or  less,  as  they  had  opportunity. 

In  September,  1748,  Mr.  Daniel  Brinsmade  was  invited  to  preach 
in  this  society,  as  a  candidate,  and  was  ordained,  March  9,  1749. 
The  ministers  officiating  at  the  ordination,  were  Mr.  Beebee,  Mr. 
John  Graham,  Dr.  Bellamy  and  Mr.  Thomas  Canfield.  He  died 
here,  forty-four  years  and  nearly  two  months  after  his  ordination, 
of  pneumonia,  April  23,  1793,  aged  seventy-four  years.  He  gradua- 
ted at  Yale  College  in  1745.  He  had  a  clear  and  comprehensive 
mind,  and  was  a  pious  and  able  instructorj  but  was  not  distinguished 
for  pulpit  eloquence,  or  for  laborio'us  preparation  for  the  Sabbath.  He 
had  a  casuistical  turn,  and  was  rather  argumentative  in  his  sermons. 
The  want  of  firm  union,  so  common  to  new  societies,  and  Mr.  Brins- 
made's conscientious  and  inflexible  attachment  to  the  doctrines  of 
pure  Christianity,  occasioned  him  some  difiiculties,  early  in  his  min- 
istry, which  increased  and  abated,  by  turns,  according  to  circumstan- 
ces, till  the  troubles  arose  which  involved  the  country  in  the  war  of 
the  Revolution.  The  unhappy  divisions  in  this  society  then  arose  to 
a  high  pitcli.  Almost  the  entire  people  became  dissatisfied  with  their 
minister,  though  no  heresy  nor  scandal  was  alleged  against  him. 
This  contention  finally  ceased,  after  which  Mr.  Brinsmade  was  much 
respected  till  his  death,  and  is  still  spoken  of  as  a  faithful,  pious  min- 
ister. In  the  year  1784,  the  Rev.  Noah  Merwin,  who  had  been  dis- 
missed from  Torrington,  for  want  of  support,  was  invited  to  preach. 
With  a  remarkable  unanimity  he  was  installed  colleague  with  Mr. 
Brinsmade,  in  March,  1785.  He  died  of  scirrhous  disease  in  the 
stomach,  two  years  after  Mr.  Brinsmade,  April  12,  1795.  Though 
not  accustomed  to  diligent  study,  and  close  investigation  of  subjects, 
he  was  Calvinistic  in  sentiment,  had  an  easy  flow  of  thought,  an  en- 
gaging address,  and  treated  subjects  in  a  manner  so  familiar,  as  to 
please  and  instruct  his  hearers.  His  knowledge  of  mankind,  his  af- 
fable and  winning  manners,  gave    him  more  than  an  ordinary  share 


HISTOBY     OF     ANCIENT     WOODBURY.  263 

of  the  confidence  and  affection  of  his  people.     He  graduated  at  Yale 
College  in  1773. 

For  about  seven  months  after  the  death  of  Mr.  Merwin,  the  church 
were  supplied  by  the  neighboring  ministers,  and  by  Mr.  Piatt  Bas- 
sett  and  Amasa  Porter,  candidates  for  settlement.  In  December, 
1795,  Rev.  Ebenezer  Porter  came  here  and  preached  the  greater 
part  of  the  time  till  his  ordination  Sept.  7,  1796.  At  the  ceremony 
flf  his  installation,  Rev.  Benjamin  Wildman  offered  the  introductory 
prayer.  Rev.  John  Smalley,  D.  D.,  preached  the  ordination  sermon, 
Rev.  Noah  Benedict  made  the  consecrating  prayer,  Rev.  Judah  Cham- 
pion gave  the  charge.  Rev.  Simon  Waterman  gave  the  right  hand  of 
fellowship,  and  Rev.  Jeremiah  Day  offered  the  concluding  prayer.  In 
relation  to  this  interesting  occasion,  and  another  equally  interesting, 
we  find  on  the  ministerial  records  of  the  church  the  following  entry, 
in  Dr.  Porter's  handwriting  : 

"  The  assembly  was  large  and  serious,  the  day  was  pleasant,  and  was  to  me 
the  most  solemn  day  of  my  life.  O  that  the  light,  and  warmth  of  Divine  grace 
from  the  infinite  Fountain  may  shine  into  my  heart,  and  influence  all  my  con- 
duct, that  I  may  fulfil  this  ministry  faithfully,  find  this  great  work  a  pleasant 
work,  and  be  ready,  when  called  to  my  last  account. 

"On  the  14th  of  May,  1797,  I  was  married  to  Lucy  Pierce  Merwin,  eldest 
daughter  of  my  predecessor,  my  age  being  twenty-four  years  on  the  S^h  of  Oc- 
tober, and  hers  seventeen  years  the  Sis'  Dee.  1796.  The  marriage  covenant 
was  administered  by  Rev.  Nathaniel  Taylor  of  New  Milford,  at  the  close  of 
public  exercises  on  the  Sabbath." 

Dr.  Porter  was  dismissed  from  his  pastoral  charge,  Dec.  18, 1811, 
having  been  elected  Professor  of  Andover  Theological  Seminary. 
But  the  sketch  of  his  life  and  labors  can  in  no  way  be  better  closed, 
than  by  an  extract  from  the  Rev.  Cyrus  Yale's  Discourse  at  the  Con- 
sociation Anniversary  at  Litchfield  in  1852: 

"  My  instructor  at  Washington — a  choice  man  to  head  the  list  of  deceased 
pastors,  LOW  rapidly  to  pass  before  us — was  a  native  of  Cornwall,  a  graduate 
at  Dartiiioutli,  a  student  in  theology  with  Dr.  Smalley.  He  was  ordained  pastor 
of  the  chuiuh  in  Washington,  1790.  Here,  for  fifteen  years,  he  labored  with 
much  ardor,  ability  and  success,  '  in  the  glorious  Gospel  of  the  blessed  God,' 
until  invited  to  a  new  and  broader  field  of  usefulness.  At  this  time  of  intense 
interest  with  Dr.  Porter,  his  ill  health  seemed  to  give  him  more  prospect  of  early 
rest  in  heaven,  than  of  longer  toil  on  earth.  Pale  and  feeble,  from  recent  hem- 
orrhage of  lungs,  and  from  low  diet  by  order  of  anxious  physicians,  I  well  re- 
member liis  cadaverous  look,  his  tremulous,  tall  form,  his  slow  and  careful 
step,  his  hoarse  voice,  his  irritation  of  throat,  his  avoidance  of  excitement  and 
of  company.  Yet,  he  calmly  commits  his  way  to  the  Lord,  and  the  consocia- 
tion is  called  with  the  concurrence  of  his  people,  to  indicate  what  the  mind  of 


2G4  IIISTOUY     OF     ANCIENT     WOODBURY. 

the  Lord  is.  That  body  votes  unnnimously  in  favor  of  his  removal  to  Andover. 
And  now,  with  characteristic  courage  and  resolution,  and  in  firm  reliance  on 
his  past  great  Helper,  the  pale  invalid  ventures  to  assume  the  responsibilities 
of  a  professorship,  so  high  in  its  demands,  that  recently,  some  of  our  theological 
seminaries  have  dropped  its  imi)osing  name,  lest  it  should  raise  an  expectation 
beyond  the  ability  of  any  mortal  to  meet.  Nor  was  the  solicitude  of  the  new 
professor  lessened  at  all,  by  a  frank  and  friendly  visitor  about  this  time.  '  Broth- 
er Porter,'  said  this  honest  friend,  •  will  you  step  here  to  the  window .''  Point- 
ing to  the  top  of  the  church  steeple  on  the  adjacent  green,  •  Do  you  see  that 
painter  ?  He  can  go  up  no  higher,  and  is  in  some  danger  of  falling.  In  that 
man,  brother,  I  see  yourself.  You  are  at  the  top  of  the  ladder,  and  may  fall.' 
But  as  the  late  John  Q.  Adams,  after  reaching  the  dizziest  oflicial  elevation  in 
the  gift  of  his  country,  or  of  the  world  even,  actually  went  np  still  higher,  and 
higher,  in  true  fame  and  solid  worth,  so  this  jirofessor,  this  ultimate  president 
of  the  Andover  Seminary,  in  the  estimate  of  an  admiring  Christian  public, 
went  up  far  above  the  height  reached,  at  the  time  of  his  tremulous  consent  to 
succeed  the  splendid  Griffin  in  the  chair  of  Sacred  Rhetoric,  in  the  pioneer  in- 
stitution of  the  kind,  not  far  from  the  so-called  '  Athens  of  America.'  -And  this 
proud  name  of  New  England's  metropolis,  at  the  date  of  Dr.  Porter's  inaugura- 
tion, reminds  us  alike  of  the  learning  of  ancient  Athens,  and  the  inscription  on 
one  of  its  altars — '  To  the  Unknown  God.' 

*'  But  the  liiglily  useful  course  of  the  Bartlett  professor,  for  more  than  twenty 
years,  amid  crippling  infirmities  at  every  step,  shows  how  much  a  well-furnish- 
ed, active,  resolute  mind,  seconded  by  a  large  and  glowing  heart,  even  in  a  fee- 
ble body,  may  do  for  God  and  his  church,  with  Christ  to  strengthen  and  give 
success. 

"I  might  mention  Dr.    Porter's  love  of    intense  study^/"a/a//y  intense — his 
strong  common  sense,  his  great  graphic  power  :  also  the  entire  consecration  of 
himself — first  to  the  Christian  ministry  as  a  pastor — afterward,  to  the  more  dif- 
ficult labor,  under  God,  of  training  pious  young  men  for  the  pastoral  office  at 
home,  or  for  missionary  toil  and  usefulness  in  heathen  lands.     But  the  Chris- 
tian world  has  his  memoir  by  a  competent  hand — a  full  length  portrait — true 
to  the  original  :  there  is  now  time  to  give  only  the  epitome  of  that  memoir — the 
miniature  of  that  picture  on  the  last  page  of  the  book.     It  is  taken  from  the 
monument  to  his  memory  in  the  cemetery  of  his  beloved  institution. 
SACRED 
To  THE  Memory  of 
EBENEZER  PORTER,  D.  D., 
Who  died  1S34,  aged  sixty-two  yeaus. 
Was  graduated  at  Dartmouth  College,  1702, 
Ordained  as  Pastor  at  Washington,  Conn  ,  17'.)i), 
Inaugurated  as  Professor  of  Sacred  Rhetoric:  in  the 
Theological  Seminary  at  Andover,  1S12, 
Appointed  President  of  the  Same,  1S27. 
Of  Cultivated  Understanding,  Refined  Taste,  Solid 
Judgment,  Sound  Faith,  and  Ardent  Piety  ; 
Distinguished  for  Strict  Integrity  and  Uprightness,  Kind 
And  Gentle  Deportment,  Simplicity  and  Godly  Sinceritv. 


nrSTORY     OP     ANCIENT     WOODBURY.  265 

A  Father  to  the  Institution  with  which  He  was 

Connected, 

A  Highly  Useful  Instructor, 

A  Zealous  Patron  of  the  Benevolent  Societies  of 

,  The  Times  in  which  he  Lived, 

A  True  Friend  to  the  Temporal  and  Eternal 

Interests  of  His  Fellow-Beings. 

Living  He  was  Peculiarly  Loved  and  Revered; 

Dying,  He  was  Universally  Lamented." 

The  first  settlers  of  the  society  usually  met  for  public  worship  in  a 
barn.  The  first  church,  built  in  1742,  was  a  small  edifice  ;  a  second 
was  raised  in  1751,  and  about  1786,  a  steeple  was  added  to  it,  and  a 
bell  procured.  In  July,  1800,  it  was  set  on  fire,  by  a  crazy  man, 
named  David  Titus,  but  by  an  early  discovery  of  the  fire,  and  the 
exertions  of  the  people  in  the  neighborhood,  the  night  being  calm, 
the  flames  were  extinguished  in  an  hour.  On  the  night  of  April  30, 
,  1801,  the  church  was  again  set  on  fire  by  this  man,  previous  to  which 
time  it  had  not  been  disf^overed  that  he  was  guilty  of  the  former  mis- 
chief. The  fire  was  put  in  the  steeple,  in  the  middle  of  the  night, 
and  the  flames  had  made  such  progress  before  it  was  discovered,  that 
no  human  aid  could  save  it.  The  witnesses  to  this  sad  scene  were 
scarcely  able  to  save  the  surrounding  buildings  from  the  devouring 
element.  As  no  alarm  could  be  given  by  the  bell,  that  being  the 
place  of  the  fire,  many  of  the  inhabitants,  and  some  within  the  dis- 
tance of  half  a  mile,  were  ignorant  of  the  calamity,  until  the  next 
morning.  The  following  week,  at  a  meeting  of  the  society,  it  was 
unanimously  voted  to  build  another  church,  and  with  like  unanimity 
they  soon  agreed  on  the  place  of  location.  With  heart  and  hand,  they 
vigorously  commenced  the  work  May,  1801,  and  within  six  months 
from  the  beginning,  the  building  was  so  far  advanced,  that  the  people 
assembled  in  it  on  Thanksgiving  day,  in  November  following ;  and 
within  about  a  year  and  a  half  from  the  first  stroke,  it  was  completely 
finished.  Although  the  expense  was  about  six  thousand  dollars,  and 
immediate  payment  was  necessary,  yet  no  person  was  called  on  by- 
legal  process  to  pay  his  rate. 

During  the  first  seventy  years  after  the  establishment  of  the  church, 
the  people  of  Judea  were  uniformly  prosperous  and  happy.  They 
were  never  divided — never  split  into  sects — but  deservedly  acquired 
the  reputation  of  being  industrious,  orderly  and  harmonious,  with  but 
one  exception.  The  exception  alluded  to,  was  during  the  last  ten 
years  of  Mr.  Brinsmade's  ministrations,  from  1774  to  1784.  This 
was  a  contention  concerning  the  half-way  covenant  system,  and  it  is 
18 


266  HISTORY     OF     ANCIENT     WOODBURY. 

worthy  of  notice,  that  during  tliis  whole  period  of  ten  years,  but  three 
members  were  added  to  the  church.  Thus  do  contentions,  even  for 
just  causes,  ever  diminish  the  prosperity  of  the  church. 

With  regard  to  the  numbers  admitted  into  the  church,  and  those 
who  received  baptism,  the  following  entries  are  given  : 

By  Mr.  Judd,  09  admissions    and       81     baptisms. 

By  Mr.  Brinsmade,  130  «  «      306  « 

By  Mr.  Merwin,  35  "  "        78  " 

By  Dr.  Porter,  135  "  «      225  " 

During  the  same  time,  Mr.  Brinsmade  celebrated  128  marria- 
ges ;  Mr.  Merwin,  37  ;  Dr.  Porter,  86,  and  the  magistrates  of  the 
society  and  town,  44 ;  making  a  total  of  295. 

In  1753,  a  putrid  fever  prevailed  in  this  society,  of  which  twenty 
or  thirty  died  in  six  months.  In  1776,  the  dysentery  prevailed  with 
great  mortality.  About  thirty  persons  were  swept  away  by  it  to  the 
grave.  During  the  preceding  year,  not  a  single  death  occurred,  and 
for  the  last  twenty  years  preceding  1812,  the  average  mortality  in 
the  society  was  but  about  one  per  cent,  of  the  population  per 
annum. 

Twenty-one  persons  have  died  in  this  society,  either  by  violent  or 
untimely  deaths :  of  which  number,  six  were  drowned  ;  three  were 
killed  with  fire-arms ;  four  were  found  abroad,  dying  or  dead  ;  one 
was  killed  with  a  penknife ;  two  children  were  burnt  to  death  in  a 
coal-pit ;  and  five  were  murdered. 

The  following  account  of  the  murders  is  taken  from  Morris'  Sta- 
tistical Account  of  Litchfield  County  : 

"  The  murder  was  committed  by  Barnett  Davenport;  and, taken  with  all  the 
attending  circumstances,  it  was  one  of  tlic  most  inhuman,  atrocious,  and  horri- 
ble deeds,  ever  perpetrated  in  New  England.  From  the  criminal's  own  confes- 
sion, it  appears,  that  his  parentage  and  early  education  were  exactly  fitted  to 
prodi^ce  his  wicked  life  and  tragical  end.  Untutored  and  unrestrained  by  pa- 
rental government,  he  was  left  to  grow  up  at  random.  In  the  morning  of  life, 
no  morality  was  inculcated  in  him,  and  no  sense  of  religion,  either  by  precept 
or  example.  On  the  contrary,  he  was,  from  early  years,  unprincipled,  profane, 
and  impious.  Before  he  was  nine  years  old,  he  was  expert  in  cursing  and 
swearing,  and  an  adept  in  mischief.  At  eleven  years,  he  began  to  pilfer.  At 
thirteen,  he  stole  money.  At  fifteen,  he  entertained  thoughts  of  murder,  and 
rapidly  waxed  harder  and  bolder  in  wickedness.  At  nineteen,  he  actually  mur- 
dered a  family  in  cold  blood.  As  a  friendless,  wandering  stranger,  he  was  taken 
into  the  house  of  Mr.  Caleb  Mallory,  and  treated  with  the  utmost  kindness,  in 
the  month  of  December,  1779.  Scarcely  had  two  months  elapsed,  before  the 
murder  was  determined  upon.  The  night  of  the  3d  of  February,  17S0,  was 
fixed  on,  to  execute  the  horrid  purpose.  With  a  heart  hard  as  adamant,  he 
lighted  a  candle,  went  into  the  lodging-room  of  his  benefactors,  and  beat  them 


HISTORY     OF     ANCIENT     \700DBURT.  267 

to  death  with  a  club.  A  little  grandchild,  being  with  its  grandparents,  shared 
the  same  fate  ;  and  two  others  were  left,  in  sound  sleep,  to  perish  in  the  flames. 
Having  kindled  a  fire  in  three  of  the  rooms,  he  fled  from  the  murderc-d  family 
and  burning  house,  after  robbing  the  house  of  its  most  valuable  articles.  But 
from  an  accusing  conscience,  and  the  hand  of  justice,  which  followed  hard  upon 
his  steps,  he  was  unable  to  flee.  He  was  taken  and  executed,  by  sentence  of 
court,  the  May  ensuing,  at  Litchfield.  What  a  lesson  is  this,  to  parents,  who 
neglect  the  religious  education  of  their  families!  When  children  are  trained 
up  without  the  worship  and  fear  of  God,  let  it  be  not  thought  strange,  if  their 
mouths  are  full  of  cursing,  and  their  feet  swift  to  shed  blood.' " 

A  fact  has  been  related,  which  occurred  after  Mr.  Judd's  dismis- 
sion, during  the  time  the  pulpit  was  supplied  by  Rev.  John  Searle, 
who  was  afterward  settled  in  the  ministry  at  Sharon.  A  number  of 
young  persons  met  one  evening  at  a  tavern,  about  a  quarter  of  a  mile 
south  of  the  present  meeting-house,  and  indulged  in  noisy  and  riotous 
mirth.  On  the  next  Sabbath,  Mr.  Searle,  like  a  faithful  pastor,  took 
occasion  to  reprove  their  conduct  in  a  sermon  against  vain  i-ecrea- 
tions.  "While  he  was  speaking,  one  of  the  young  men  rose  from  his 
seat  with  expressions  of  the  greatest  contempt,  and  went  out  of  the 
church.  After  a  moment's  pause,  and  while  the  young  man  was  yet 
in  the  house,  the  preacher  addressed  him  to  this  effect :  "  Perhaps 
you  may  never  have  another  opportunity  to  come  to  this  place  ;  but 
I  leave  it  with  the  great  God."  The  young  man  went  home,  was 
taken  sick,  languished  a  few  days,  and  died  without  any  bodily 
pain. 

After  the  dismissal  of  Dr.  Porter,  the  church  was  without  a  settled 
preacher  nearly  two  years,  when  Rev.  Cyrus  "W.  Gray  accepted  a 
call  to  settle  with  the  people  of  this  parish,  and  was  installed  over  the 
church,  on  the  third  Wednesday  of  April,  1813.  He  remained  here 
about  two  years,  when  he  was  dismissed,  August  18,  1815.  The 
church  was  again  without  a  pastor  fcr  nearly  three  years,  when  Rev. 
Stephen  Mason  was  settled,  on  the  third  Wednesday  of  February, 
1818.  He  remained,  with  pleasure  to  himself,  and  usefulness  to  his- 
charge,  for  the  space  of  about  ten  years,  and  was  dismissed,  Decem- 
ber 17,  1823.  Rev.  Gordon  Hayes  was  installed  over  the  church, 
Oct.  28,  1829,  and  dismissed  June  1,  1852.  He  is  a  graduate  of 
Yale — class  of  1828.  He  is  now  principal  of  a  flourishing  academy 
in  Vermont.  The  present  pastor,  Rev.  Ephraim  Lyman,  was  in- 
stalled June  30,  1852. 

There  have  been  several  revivals,  by  which  considerable  numbers 
were  added  to  the  church,  as  follows:  fifty-four  in  1804;  twenty  in 


268  HISTORY     OF     ANCIENT     WOODBURT. 

181G;  fifty-eight  in  1821;  twenty-nine  in  1825;  twenty-two  in 
1827  ;  and  one  hundred  and  thirty-one  in  1831. 

The  following  persons  have  borne  the  office  of  deacon  in  this 
church:  Increase  Moseley,  appointed  in  1742;  Joseph  Hurd,  in 
1742 ;  Ebenezer  Clark,  John  Powell,  William  Gibson,  Joseph  Fer- 
ry— dates  not  noted  ;  Preston  S.  HoUister  and  Sherman  P.  Hollister 
in  1805;  David  Punderson  in  1821,  and  Daniel  B.  Brinsmade  in 
1832. 

In  October,  1748,*eleven  persons  dwelling  in  the  south-eastern  part 
of  Kent,  and  nine  living  in  the  north-eastern  part  of  New  Milford, 
petitioned  the  General  Assembly  for  liberty  to  hire  a  minister  six 
months  in  the  year,  on  the  ground  of  their  living  "  from  seven  to  ten 
miles  from  their  places  of  worship  in  New  Milford  and  Kent."  This 
request  was  granted,  to  continue  four  years,  with  exemption  from 
parish  rates.  Before  the  end  of  the  four  years,  in  May,  1752,  forty- 
one  individuals  petitioned  for  a  new  ecclesiastical  society.  Their 
names  w^ere  Samuel  Averill,  Caleb  Rude,  Samuel  Lake,  Moses  Aver- 
ill,  Henry  Davis,  Jehiel  Murray,  Isaac  Averill,  Joseph  Carey,  John 
Guthrie,  Daniel  Averill,  Zebulon  Palmer,  Jacob  Kinne,  vSamuel  Cogs- 
well, Thomas  Hodgship,  Thos.  Morris,  Benj.  Darling,  Samuel  Wal- 
ler, Nathaniel  Deuine,  Enoch  Whittlesey,  Joseph  Jons,  Stephen  Bos- 
worth,  Thomas  Beeman,  John  Benedict,  Stephen  Noble,  Gilead 
Sperry,  Elnathan  Curtis,  John  Bostwick,  Benajah  Bostwick,  Mat- 
thew Beale,  John  Cogswell,  Zephaniah  Branch,  Edward  Cogswell, 
Emerson  Cogswell,  Josiah  Cogswell,  James  Terrill,  Joseph  Miles, 
Natlian  Hawley,  Samuel  Cogswell,  John  Cobb,  Benjamin  Capuen. 

At  the  same  session,  sixteen  persons  of  P2ast  Green wicli,  (now 
Warren,)  remonstrated  against  the  -incorporation  of  a  new  society, 
stating  that  their  society  had  lost  "  thirty-five  rateable  persons,  and 
£1467  on  their  list,"  and  that  they  therefore  protest  against  having 
any  part  of  their  society  cut  off,  as  no  families  can  be  spared.  Kent, 
at  the  same  time,  passed  a  vote,  that  this  statement  was  true.  New 
Milford  also  sent  a  committee  to  oppose  the  application,  and  it  failed. 
In  October,  1753,  thirty-nine  persons  "  in  the  Northern  part  of  New 
Milford,  and  the  South  and  South  East  part  of  Kent,  and  a  place 
Called  Merry-all,"  renewed  the  application  for  an  ecclesiastical  soci- 
ety, which  was  granted,  and  the  society  called  New  Preston,  with  the 
following  boundaries  : 

"  Beginning  at  the  South  east  corner  of  New  Milford  North  Purchase,  then 
running  Southwardly  joining  upon  Woodbury  line  one  mile,  from  thence  run- 
ning a  West  line  to  ye  part  of  the   Long  Mountain,  South  West  of  Capt.  Best- 


HISTORY     OF    ANCIENT     WOODBURY.  269 

wick's  farm,  then  a  North  line  to  the  place  called  the  Rockhorse  Cobble,  and  so 
that  course  to  Merryall  line,  and  then  across  Merryall  to  Kent  line,  and  then 
Running  East  to  the  South  West  corner  of  James  Lake's  farm  North  Easterly 
to  the  North  West  corner  of  John  Henderson's  farm,  that  he  now  lives  on,  then 
running  East  to  East  Greenwich  line,  then  running  South  to  ye  South  West 
corner  of  East  Greenwich  line  to  Sheppauge  river,  then  running  Southwardly 
upon  sd  river  to  Woodbury  line,  then  running  Westwardly  on  Woodbury  line 
to  ye  lirst  mentioned  bounds,"  &c. 

The  first  meeting  of  the  society  was  held  at  the  house  of  Jacob 
Kinne,  Nov.  23,  1753.  The  officers  chosen  were  Benajah  Bostwick^ 
Clerk,  and  Samuel  Waller,  Stephen  Noble  and  Joseph  Gary,  Socie- 
ty's Committee.  A  vote  was  then  passed  to  "  meet  at  Jacob  Kinne's 
house  for  3  months  for  public  Worship  in  the  winter  season,"  provi- 
ded they  could  obtain  a  minister.  John  Bostwick,  Samuel  Waller 
and  Samuel  Averill,  were  appointed  a  committee  to  hire  a  minister 
for  three  months.  On  the  first  Monday  in  December  following,  the 
society  laid  a  tax  of  12c?.  on  the  pound,  to  hire  a  minister  "  for  a  sea- 
son." They  also  voted  to  build  by  subscription,  "  two  school-houses 
for  the  use  of  the  society,  one  to  be  located  between  Nathaniel  Bost- 
wick's  house  and  Steep  Brook,  in  y®  Highway,  and  the  other  near 
Joseph  Cary's  in  the  Highway."     The  following  vote  also  passed  : 

"  Whereas  Jacob  Kinne  hath  Freely  Given  the  use  of  his  Little  old  house  to 
ye  Society  of  New  Preston  for  to  Keep  School  in  When  Neaded — Voted  yt  sd 
house  shall  be  a  Lawful  School  house  for  s<l  Society." 

On  the  14th  of  November,  1754,  the  society  voted  to  build  a  meet- 
ing-house. They  represented  to  the  Assembly,  that  they  had  voted 
to  build  a  meeting-house,  and  that  there  was  much  unimproved 
land  owned  by  non-residents,  and  they  therefore  prayed  for  a  land- 
tax  of  Id.  an  acre  for  four  years,  and  also  an  exemption  from  the 
land-tax  in  New  Milford.  The  tax  was  granted  for  two  years,  and 
the  exemption  was  allowed.  This  house  was  thirty-six  feet  long, 
twenty-six  wide,  ten  high,  and  stood  about  one  hundred  rods  westerly 
from  the  present  meeting-house.  January  30,  1755,  a  call  was  ex- 
tended to  Rev.  Benjamin  Chapman  to  preach  on  probation.  At  this 
meeting,  also,  a  vote  passed  to  have  "  3  months  preaching  in  the  sum- 
mer season,"  and  to  join  with  East  Greenwich  in  procuring  a  minis- 
ter for  "  6  months,  being  3  each."  March  4,  1756,  it  was  determin- 
ed that  the  church  should  be  thirty-six  feet  by  twenty-six,  with  posts 
ten  feet  high.  There  were  to  be  "  5  windows  with  12  panes  of  glass 
in  each."  At  a  meeting  of  the  society,  held  September  16,  1756,  a 
vote  passed  to  invite  Rev.  Noah  Wadhams  to  preach  on  probation, 


270  HISTORY     OF     ANCIENT     "WOODBURT. 

and  another  appointing  Matthew  Beal  as  "  Quorister  to  set  the  Psalm 
in  this  Society."'  On  the  29th  of  December,  1766,  it  wat,  voted  to 
build  "  another  Meeting  House,  50  by  40,  and  22  high."  This  house 
was  inclosed  three  years  later,  but  not  entirely  finished  till  1798. 
January  19,  1825,  tlie  third  meeting-house,  a  convenient  edifice  of 
stone,  was  dedicated.  This  bouse  is  fifty-four  feet  by  forty-four, 
twenty-four  feet  high,  and  stands  entirely  on  solid  rock.  Besides 
this,  the  society  is  now  building  a  new  church  at  the  "  Upper  City," 
or  Raumaug. 

The  church  was  fully  organized  in  1757,  and  Rev.  Noah  "Wad- 
hams,  as  we  have  seen,  was  its  first  minister.  At  its  organization,  it 
was  constituted  of  thirty-nine  members,  and  fifty-four  more  were  ad- 
ded during  the  ministry  of  Mr.  Wadliams.  He  was  a  graduate  of 
Nassau  Hall  College,  of  the  class  of  1754,  and  Yale  College  confer- 
red the  degree  of  Master  of  Arts  on  him  in  1764. 

The  second  minister  was  Rev.  Jeremiah  Day,  who  was  ordained 
over  the  church,  January  31,  1770,  and  died  September  12,  1806,  in 
the  seventieth  year  of  his  age.  During  the  long  period  of  his  minis- 
trations, one  hundred  and  twenty-three  persons  were  admitted  to  the 
church,  and  three  hundred  were  baptized.  The  church  enjoyed  dur- 
ing tliis  time,  much  peace  and  prosperity.  Mr.  Day  graduated  ai. 
Yale  College  in  1756.  He  was  the  father  of  Rev.  Jeremiah  Day, 
D.  D.,  LL.  D.,  ex-president  of  Yale  College,  and  of  Hon.  Thomas 
Day,  LL.  D.,  reporter  of  judicial  decisions  for  the  State  of  Con- 
necticut. 

Rev,  Samuel  TVhittlesey  was  the  third  minister,  and  was  installed 
Over  the  church  and  society  December  30,  1807,  and  dismissed  Api-il 
30,  1817.  A  hundred  and  forty-two  were  added  to  the  church  dur- 
ing the  time  of  his  ministry,  and  one  hundred  and  sixty-seven  were 
by  him  baptized.  After  a  successful  ministry  of  ten  years  in  this 
parish,  he  was  connected  with  the  Asylum  for  the  Deaf  and  Dumb 
in  Hartford,  and  subsequently,  for  several  years,  acted  as  editor  of  the 
Mother's  Magazine  in  New  York.  He  was  a  pleasant,  gentlemanly 
man,  of  a  versatility  of  talent  to  meet  the  variety  of  his  employ- 
ments. 

Rev.  Charles  A.  Boardman  was  installed  June  24,  1818,  and  dis- 
missed March  9,  1830.  During  his  ministry,  one  hundred  and  thirty- 
four  were  admitted  to  the  church,  and  two  hundred  baptized.  In 
1819,  lie  received  the  honorary  degree  of  Master  of  Arts  from  Yale 

1  State  Archives — Ecclesiastical,  II.,  vol.  1. 


niSTORT     OF     ANCIENT     WOODBURY.  271 

College.  The  whole  number  of  members  admitted  to  the  church  be- 
tween the  years  1757  and  1825,  was  three  hundred  and  nineteen. 

Rev.  Robert  B.  Campfield  was  ordained  over  the  church  Novem- 
ber 16,  1831.  Eighty-eight  persons  were  added  to  the  church  dur- 
ing his  continuance  over  it,  and  there  were  seventy-nine  baptisms. 

Rev.  Benjamin  B.  Parsons  was  ordained,  in  1839,  to  the  work  of 
the  ministry  in  this  society,  and  was  dismissed  on  his  resignation  of 
the  ministerial  office,  1842.  Rev.  Hollis  Read  was  settled  in  1845, 
and  dismissed  in  1851.     The  church  is  now  without  a  settled  pastor. 

There  have  been  several  revivals,  which  added  considerable  num- 
bers to  the  church  :  thirty  in  1780 ;  twenty-five  in  1804  ;  thirteen  in 
1812  ;  eighty  in  1816  ;  forty-one  in  1821  ;  thirteen  in  1826  ;  thirty- 
eight  in  1827  ;  and  thirteen  in  1829. 

The  following  persons  have  borne  the  office  of  deacon  in  this  church. 
Eliphalet  Whittlesey,  date  not  given ;  Moses  Averill  and  Isaac  Day- 
ton, in  1783;  Jonah  Camp,  1784;  Joseph  Bassett,  1803;  Daniel 
Whittlesey,  1807;  Samuel  B.  Buck,  1812;  Clark  Hatch,  1822; 
Charles  Whittlesey  and  Benjamin  B.  Knapp,  1826. 

Washington,  composed  of  the  two  societies  of  Judea  and  New 
Preston,  was  the  first  town  incorporated  in  the  state,  after  the  decla- 
ration of  independence.  It  was  incorporated  at  a  special  session  of 
the  General  Assembly,  January  7, 1779.  The  petitioners,  who  num- 
bered forty-seven  in  Kent,  one  hundred  and  seventy-six  in  Woodbury, 
twenty  in  Litchfield,  and  twenty  in  New  Milford,  desired  the  Assem- 
bly to  call  their  town  by  the  name  of  Hampden,  but  their  agents  were 
persuaded  to  consent  to  have  it  called  Washington,  in  honor  of  the 
commander-in-chief  of  the  American  armies.  Its  first  meeting  was 
held  February  11,  1779,  and  William  Cogswell  was  the  first  mod- 
erator. 

Its  boundaries  are  as  follows  : 

"  Beginning  at  the  south-west  corner  of  Judea  parish ;  thence  running  a 
straight  line  easterly,  to  the  south-west  corner  of  Bethlehem,  five  miles  and 
about  one  quarter  of  a  mile ;  thence  North  by  Bethlehem  to  Litchfield  line,  it 
being  the  north-west  corner  of  Bethlehem  ;  thence  continuing  north  in  a  straight 
line,  to  the  north-east  corner  of  the  tract  annexed  from  Litchfield ;  (the  east 
line  of  "Washington,  so  far  as  it  is  straight,  is  between  five  and  six  miles ;) 
thence  in  a  north-westerly  direction,  across  the  western  part  of  Mount  Tom,  to 
Mount  Tom  bridge,  crossing  the  western  branch  of  Sheppauge  river  :  thence  in 
a  line  westerly,  between  "Washington  and  "Warren,  to  the  "West  Pond  ;  thence 
across  said  pond  ninety  rods  to  Fairweather's  Grant.  The  diagonal  line  from 
the  northeast  corner  of  "Washington  to  Mount  Tom  bridge,  is  about  two  miles 
and  an  half:  the  north  line  is  about  five  miles  in  length.  From  the  northwest 
corner  of  Washington  the  line  runs  about  South,  between  Washington  and 


272  HISTORT     OF     ANCIENT     WOODBURT. 

Kent,  one  mile  and  a  half  to  New  Milford  line;  thence  still  South  to  the  South 
line  of  New  Milford,  north  purchase  ;  thence  Southerly  to  the  South-east  bounds 
of  the  jiarish  of  New  Preston,  about  one  mile  and  an  naif;  thence  by  New  Mil- 
ford, about  three  miles  and  an  half  to  the  first  mentioned  bounds." 

The  only  incident  in  the  possession  of  the  author,  not  before  no- 
ticed in  these  pages,  is  here  introduced.  Rhoda  Logan,  daughter  of 
John  Logan,  during  the  Revolution,  was  shot  by  her  brother  while 
standing  in  the  front  door  of  her  father's  house,  under  the  following 
circumstances.  A  few  persons  opposed  to  the  Revolution,  then  going 
on,  were  assembled  in  Davis'  Hollow,  a  mile  or  two  north  of  Lo- 
gan's. The  whigs  in  his  neighborhood  wished  to  dislodge  them,  and 
had  assembled  at  his  house  to  devise  the  best  method  of  doing  it. 
While  they  were  in  council,  young  Logan  went  to  a  neighbor's,  and 
returned  with  a  musket,  when  his  sister,  seeing  him  in  warlike  mood, 
asked  him  what  he  was  going  to  do  with  the  gun.  He  replied, 
"  Shoot  tories."  She  rejoined,  "  You  kill  tories  ;  you  have  not  cour- 
age enough  to  fire  the  gun."  He  said  he  had.  "  Then  shoot  me," 
she  said  playfully.  Upon  which  he  fired,  and  she  fell  dead  at  his 
feet. 

This  is  a  good  agricultural  town,  and  has  a  considerable  man- 
ufacturing interest.  There  are  within  its  limits,  six  mercantile  stores, 
employing  a  capital  of  from  $12,000  to  $15,000  ;  one  woolen  manu- 
factory, employing  a  capital  of  some  $10,000,  and  making  from 
70,000  to  80,000  yards  of  cloth  annually.  There  are  two  forges,  not 
now  in  operation,  and  one  cotton  manufactory.  There  are  two  pocket 
furnaces  with  machine  shops  attached,  employing  from  twelve  to 
twenty  men  each,  four  wagon  shops,  one  saddler's  shop,  one  tannery, 
one  chair  and  cabinet  shop,  one  manufactory  for  making  carpet  yarn 
and  seine  twine,  and  fourteen  saw-mills.  From  600  to  1,000  casks 
of  lime  are  annually  burned,  and  from  25,000  to  30,000  feet  of  mar- 
ble per  annum,  are  quarried  and  sawed.  There  are  three  Congrega- 
tional churches,  and  two  Episcopal ;  a  celebrated  female  seminary, 
under  the  care  of  Miss  Brinsmade,  and  a  select  school  for  boys,  un- 
der the  care  of  Frederick  W.  Gunn,  A.  B.  There  is  also  a  good 
circulating  library.  The  population  of  the  town,  by  the  census  of 
1850,  is  1,802. 


CHAPTER    XIV. 

HISTORY    OF    ROXBURY    ECCLESIASTICAL  SOCIETY,  AND    THE    TOWN 
OF   ROXBURY. 

1731  TO  1S53;  Shepauo  first  settled,  1713;  First  Settlers;  Four  Months' 
Winter  Preachimg  Granted,  1731 ;  Nine  years  spent  in  efforts  to  obtain 
A  New  Society;  Roxbury  Society  incorporated,  1713;  First  Church 
built  about  1732 ;  Second  Church  built,  1746;  Church  gathered,  and 
Rev.  Thomas  Canfield  settled,  1744;  Mr.  Canfield's  Church  History; 
Rev.  Zephaniah  Swift  Installed,  1795;  Rev.  Fosdick  Harrison  ordained, 
June,  JS13;  Rev.  Austin  Isham  Installed,  1839;  Third  Church  built, 
1795  ;  Revivals  ;  Deacons  ;  Ten  years  spent  in  efforts  to  obtain  a  Town 
Charter;  Roxbury  Incorporated  into  a  Town,  1796;  Casualties;  Pres- 
ent State  of  the  Town. 

The  first  settlement  in  Shepaug  was  made  about  the  year  1713, 
by  a  man  of  the  name  of  Hurlbut,  who  was  soon  joined  by  some  of 
his  relations.  He  located  on  the  spot  a  few  rods  north  of  the  house 
now  occupied  by  Mr.  Treat  Davidson,  a  little  south-east  of  the  house 
once  occupied  by  Peace  Minor.  This  section  was  afterward  called 
the  "  Upper  Farms."  Here  they  built  a  small  fort  for  security 
against  the  Indians,  to  which  they  resorted  at  night.  Sometimes 
when  war  existed  with  the  Indians,  in  any  direction,  Woodbury  sent 
a  small  number  of  soldiers  to  garrison  this  fort.  One  of  the  Hurl- 
buts  soon  married  a  Baker,  and  a  number  of  her  relations  were  in- 
duced to  join  the  new  settlement.  Hence  originated  the  Bakers, 
who  were  afterward  of  some  notoriety  in  the  society.  Some  repre- 
sentatives of  this  blood,  in  the  female  line,  afterward  became  famous 
throughout  the  country.  One  of  these  was  Col.  Ethan  Allen,  the 
hero  of  Ticonderoga,  and  Col.  Seth  Warner,  his  intimate  friend 
and  military  associate.  Capt.  Remember  Baker,  also,  a  cousin  of 
these,  of  the  Baker  name,  was  intimately  associated  with  them  in 
all  their  undertakings  of  moment,  before  and  during  the  early  part  of 
the  Revolutionary  War. 

It  is  said  by  some,  that  a  family  of  Hurds  built  the  first  house  in 


274  HISTORY     OF     ANCIENT     WOODBURY. 

the  present  town  of  Roxbuiy,  on  the  top  of  Good  Hill,  east  of  the 
house  now  occupied  by  ]\Ir.  Botsford.  There,  too,  they  built  a  small 
fort.  The  two  settlements  probably  commenced  about  the  same 
time.  In  about  two  years,  Henry  Castle  settled  on  the  spot  where 
"William  Pierce,  Esq.,  formerly  lived.  This  location,  to  distinguish 
it  from  the  other  settlement,  was  called  the  "  Lower  Farms."  Dr. 
Ebenezer  Warner  next  removed  here  from  the  old  society,  having 
bought  Promiseck,  heretofore  mentioned,  of  the  Indians.  Numbers 
of  his  descendants,  in  each  generation,  down  to  the  fifth,  were  phy- 
sicians, some  of  whom  gained  a  commendable  notoriety.  After  these 
came  a  number  of  Castle  families,  and  settled  on  what  is  called  the 
"  Lower  Road."  For  some  twenty  years,  the  inhabitants  attended 
divine  worship  in  the  "ancient  Society."  This  was  done  both  sum- 
mer and  winter,  by  male  and  female,  often  on  foot,  the  males  carry- 
ing their  fire-arms  to  protect  themselves  from  the  assaults  of  savage 
foes. 

This  state  of  affairs  continued  till  October,  1731,  when  "21  "West- 
ern inhabitants  at  Shippaug  in  "Woodbvry,"  constituted  Henry  Castle 
their  attorney,  to  petition  the  General  Assembly  for  liberty  to  hire  a 
preacher  in  the  "  difficult  parts  of  the  year,"  on  the  ground  of  their 
living  "  from  4  to  7  miles  from  the  Meeting  House,"  and  the  bad  state 
of  the  roads.  The  petition  was  granted,  and  they  were  allowed  to 
hire  a  minister  four  months  in  the  winter.  They  sent  a  petition  to 
the  October  session  of  the  Assembly  next  year,  to  have  the  time  in- 
creased to  six  months  each  year,  but  the  request  was  denied.  Things 
remained  in  this  state  till  the  May  session,  1736,  when  thirty-one 
persons  petitioned  the  Assembly  to  be  constituted  into  a  distinct  ec- 
clesiastical society.  They  urged  that  they  lived  six  miles  from  the 
place  of  worship,  and  the  roads  were  rough ;  that  they  had  a  list  of 
£2,200,  which  was  increasing.  They  asked  an  extension  of  privile- 
ges to  advance  both  their  "  temporal  and  spiritual  interests."  They 
prayed  to  be  made  a  society  with  a  portion  of  the  territory  of  the 
North  Purchase  and  New  Milford,  to  be  called  "Westbury.  They 
wished  the  east  line  of  the  society  drawn  two  and  a  half  miles  west 
from  "  Woodbury  Meeting  House,"  or  have  a  committee  appointed 
to  establish  it.  A  committee  was  appointed,  who  reported  at  the 
October  session  the  same  year,  that  it  was  difficult  for  them  to  attend 
"  worship  at  Woodbury,  but  at  present  they  are  unable  to  bear  the 
expenses  of  a  parish,  but  may  be  able  in  two  years."  Their  appli- 
cation was  accordingly  dismissed.  In  May,  1739,  they  renewed,  and 
then  withdrew  their  application  for  a  new  society.     At  the  October 


HISTORY     OP    ANCIENT     WOODBURY.  275 

session,  1740,  the  application  for  incorporation  was  again  renewed. 
Among  other  things  they  urged,  that  having  ''  experienced  y^  comfort 
and  benefit  of  preaching  amongst  ourselves  by  the  fatherly  indulgence 
of  this  assembly  and  thereby  learning  how  much  more  beneficial  it 
would  in  all  regards  be,  both  to  us  and  our  children,  to  have  the  Gos- 
pel ministry  fully  settled  among  us,",  they  the  more  ardently  desired 
to  be  set  off  into  a  distinct  society.  This  petition  was  signed  by 
Jonathan  Hurlbut,  Tilley  Blakslee,  Samuel  Castle,  David  Foot,  Mo- 
ses Hurlbut,  Daniel  Castle,  Consider  Hurlbut,  Gideon  Hurlbut,  John 
Baker,  Sen.,  Ebenezer  Warner,  Sen.,  William  Harris,  Wm.  Harris, 
Jr.,  Henry  Castle,  Solomon  Squire,  Samuel  Blakslee,  Jehamah  Castle, 
Aaron  Hurlbut,  Elijah  Baker,  John  Burritt,  John  Hunt. 

At  the  same  session,  David  and  Adam  Hurd,  John  and  Zebulon 
Leavenworth,  and  Jonathan  Sanford,  sent  a  remonstrance,  wishing 
to  remain  with  the  "  Prime  Society."  Elijah  Hurd,  Joseph  Hurd 
and  Salmon  Hurlbut,  sent  a  petition,  wishing  to  "  belong  to  the  North 
Purchase."  The  "  Prime  Society"  appointed  Ephraim  Minor  as 
agent,  to  oppose  the  application  for  a  new  society.  Later  in  the  ses- 
sion, the  following  sent*  on  a  petition  in  aid  of  the  application,  saying 
that  they  had  not  had  an  opportunity  to  sign  that  first  senl :  John 
Baker,  Nathan  Hurlbut,  Cornelius  Hurlbut,  Jesse  Baker,  Alexander 
Alehouse,  Abraham  Hurd,  AUin  Curtis,  Gamaliel  Hurlbut,  Benja- 
min Warner,  and  Jeremiah  Thomas. 

The  petition  again  failed,  and  was  again  renewed,  May,  1741,  stat- 
ing, among  other  things,  that  having  repeatedly  applied  to  the  Gen- 
eral Assembly,  and  the  "  Prime  Society,"  and  been  denied  their 
wish,  and  being  still  in  "  distressing  circumstances,  now  again  Be- 
seech and  intreat  this  Honorable  Assembly  in  the  bowels  of  our  Lord 
Jesus  Christ, and  in  tender  pitty  and  compassion  to  our  Souls  and  the 
Souls  of  our  Children,  that  they  would  in  their  Wonted  Goodness  es- 
tablish us  a  Distinct  Society,  with  Liberty  to  settle  an  Orthodox  Gos- 
pell  Ministry,  and  Imbody  in  Church  order."  They  further  urged, 
that  "  Many  were  crying  what  shall  we  do  to  be  saved,  and  were  una- 
ble to  attend  on  Rev.  Mr.  Stoddard,  their  pastor."  Notwithstanding 
all  this,  the  Assembly  was  still  deaf  to  their  "  cries,"  and  refused  to 
grant  their  request.  Nothing  further  was  done  in  the  premises  till 
October,  1742,  when  they  again  renewed  their  application,  for  which 
they  gave  the  following  reasons : 

*'  1.  The  distance  is  great,  and  the  roads  bad,  the  distance  from  "Woodbury 
Meeting  House  to  the  bounds  they  ask  being  three  miles,  and  Guiles  100  rods 
to  New  Milford  bounds. 


276 


HISTORY     OF     ANCIENT     WOODBURY. 


"  2.   i  of  the  people  (^:iri   ot  iitti'iul  at  Woodbury. 
"  3.   The  old  society  would  still  be  large." 

A  committee  was  appointed  to  "  view  the  circumstances,"  who  re- 
ported at  the  same  session,  that  two  more  societies  are  needed  in  the 
west  part  of  the  town,  when  able  to  support  the  gospel,  "  bounded  by 
aline  2},  miles  west  from  Woodbury  Ancient  Meeting  House,  1  north 
&  1  south  of  Col.  Johnson's  line."  This  report  was  accepted;  and 
the  north  part  having  been  set  off  and  calhid  Judea,  in  1731,  on  the 
application  of  the  Shepaug  agent,  the  south  part  was  incorporated, 
May,  1743,  and  called  lioxbury.' 

During  the  time  the  people  of  this  society  had  had  "  winter  preach- 
ing," they  had  built  for  their  accommodation,  a  small  church,  near 
the  "  ancient  burial-ground,  probably  about  1732  or  1733."  This 
became  too  small,  in  process  of  time,  to  accommodate  them,  and  May 
15,  1744,  the  society  voted  to  build  another.  They  applied  to  the 
Assembly  for  a  committee  to  locate  the  same,  who  reported  the  place 
where  the  "  old  Meeting  House  Stands,"  which  was  confirmed.  At 
the  May  session,  1745,  twenty-seven  memorialists  inform  the  Assem- 
bly that  the  location  is  too  far  east,  that  it  occasions  a  great  deal  of 
uneasinfess,  and  hinders  them  from  going  forward  with  the  building 
and  that  they  therefore  ask  another  committee  to  locate.  A  new 
committee  was  appointed,  who  reported  the  same  location,  October, 
1745,  and  it  was  again  confirmed.  The  agent  of  the  society,  at  the 
next  session,  represented  that  they  were  settling  a  minister,  and  build- 
ing their  church ;  that  the  value  of  th  ■  land  was  increased  by  the 
new  society,  and  he  therefore  asked  a  land  tax.  The  request  was 
complied  with,  and  a  land  tax  of  Gd.,  old  tenor,  was  granted,  to  con- 
tinue four  years. 

While  the  people  of  this  society  were  only  allowed  "  winter  privi- 
leges," a  Mr.  Chase  was  sometimes  employed  to  preach.  Others 
were  in  turn  employed,  till  after  the  incorporation  of  the  society. 
On  the  20th  of  November,  1743,  Rev.  Thomas  Canfield,  a  young  li- 
centiate, a  native  of  Durham,  in  this  state,  was  employed  to  preach 
in  the  parish,  and  continued  to  do  so,  till  August  22,  1744,  when  the 
church  was  gathered,  and  he  was  installed  over  it  as  its  first  pastor. 
The  persons  most  active  in  his  settlement  were  Henry  Castle,  Ben- 
jamin Warner,  Esq.,  Thomas  Castle  and  Daniel  Castle.  How  many 
communicants  the  church  contained,  for  many  years,  it  is  impossible 


IVState  Archives— Ecclesiastical,  vol.  7,  Index,  26,  26,  27. 


HISTORY     OF    ANCIENT     WOODBUKT.  277 

to  ascertain,  on  account  of  the  imperfection  of  its  early  records. 
Eighteen  males  and  nine  females  subscribed  the  covenant  at  its  for- 
mation. The  whole  number  of  communicants  found  on  Mr.  Canfield's 
record,  for  the  long  space  of  more  than  fifty  years,  is  fifty-five  males 
and  fifty-eight  females.  The  names  of  some  known  to  have  been 
members  of  the  church,  are  not  found  in  it.  Nor  do  we  find  any  ac- 
count of  admissions  after  1761,  although  it  is  certain  that  some,  and 
probably  many,  were  by  him  admitted  after  that  date.  Of  the  forma- 
tion of  the  church,  and  his  own  ordination,  Mr.  Canfield  has  left  a 
very  particular  account,  which  although  somewhat  minute  in  detail, 
is  deemed  of  sufficient  interest  to  merit  an  insertion.  By  it  we  may 
see  how  an  ordination,  in  the  glden  days,  compares  with  one  at  the 
present  time : 

"A  Record  of  my  proceedings  as  to  settling  in  ye  Work  of  ye  Ministry,  But 
more  especially  Respecting  ye  Parish  of  Roxbury  in  Woodbury.  Also  con- 
taining a  Record  of  Chh  Members,  Baptisms,  Births,  Deaths  5cc.  in  s^  Parish 
Anno  Domini,  1744. 

"  In  ye  first  Place  I  made  application  to  ye  ReVi  Association  of  New  Haven 
County,  and  obtained  the  following  License. 

"  At  a  Meeting  of  ye  Association  of  New  Haven  County,  Regularly  Convened 
Wallingford,  Septr2S,  1742. 

"This  may  Certify  whom  it  Concerns  That  Mr.  Thomas  Canfield,  having 
been  examined  as  a  Candidate  for  ye  Ministry,  was  approved,  And  is  by  this 
Association  Licensed  to  Preach  the  Gospel  when  and  where  he  shall  be  Regu- 
larly Called  thereunto,  And  as  a  Person  Qualified  therefor,  Do  Recommend 
him  to  ye  Improvement  of  ye  Churches  of  Christ. 

"  Test.     Thomas  Ruggles,  Scribe. 

"  The  firstof  my  Preaching  was  at  Branford,  Nov.  2S,  1742,  on  Luke  11,  23. 
I  having  aii  Invitation  to  go  &  Preach  at  ye  Mountain,  now  called  Cambridge 
in  Farmi"gton,  wch  I  accepting  acordingly  Preach"!  yre  ye  next  Sabbath,  it  be- 
ing ye  Gth  of  Deer  &  from  yttiine  till  ye  latter  end  of  Octobr  1743.  On  ye  4*  of 
Octobr  afores"!  Mr  3n°  Liimm  one  of  Oxford  Society  Came  &  gave  me  an  Invi- 
tation to  Preach  yre  on  Probation.  Accordingly  I  gave  Some  Encouragement 
of  Coming.  I  also  went  &  Preachd  3  Sabbaths;  viz  :  ye  last  in  sd  Oct'  &  ye  2 
first  in  Novr — On  ye  12th  of  b"!  Octr  came  Mr.  Ju"  Baker  one  of  ye  Society  Com- 
tee  of  Roxbury  &;c.  I  gave  him  some  Encouragement.  I  went  &  Preachd 
yre  on  je  Sd  Sabbath  :  Viz:  on  ye  20  Day  of  Novr  and  on  ye  first  Sabbath, 
i.  e.  4  day  of  Deer.  Whereupon  ye  people  of  sd  Parish  of  Roxbury,  being 
timely  warned,  Did  meet  on  ye  5th  of  jd  Dec' &  in  sJ  meeting  unanimously 
Voted  to  Give  me  a  Call  on  Probation  in  order  to  Settlement  in  ye  work 
of  ye  Ministry.  In  sd  Meeting  were  chosen  Capt.  Jn"  Baker,  Lieut.  Henry 
Castle,  Ebzer  Thomas,  Benjn  Warner,  Dan"  Castle  as  a  Comtee  to  act  in  be- 
half of  s"*  Society  for  ye  year  ensuing,  wch  Comtee  Conferring  with  me  Con- 
cerning ye  aforesil  Vote,  I  Consented  to  Preach  amongst  them  on  Probation  as 
aforesd.      But  I  having  given  Encouragement  of  Preaching  at  Oxford  3  Sab- 


278  HISTORY     OF     ANCIENT     WOODBURY. 

baths  more,  I  rcturiieil  thither  until  ye  time  was  Expired  &  then  Returned  to 
sJ  Roxbiiry  on  Dl-c""  29,  on  the  terms  pro[)osed  (k  Continued  Preaching  with 
them  on  s'>  terms  untill  April  16,  1744,  when  ye  people  of  b^l  Parish  Meeting 
voted  to  give  me  a  Call  for  Settlement,  in  ye  Work  of  ye  Gospel  Ministry  among 
them  ;  I  yielding  to  it  Accordingly  on  May  30,  ye  People  of  sd  Parish  meeting 
again,  made  Proposals  of  Settlement  &  Salary  wch  were  these  (viz)  to  give  me 
75jG  Lawfid  Money  Equal  to  silver  at  6s — bd  pr  ounce,  paying  in  3  years  i.  e. 
£25,  pr  annum.  During  w^h  time  giving  me  £27,  10s.  salary  pr  annum,  & 
afterwards  iny  Salary  to  rise  £2,  9s  pr  annum  till  it  amount  to  £40.  On  June 
13,  1744,  I  returned  answer  to  ye  aboves'l  Proposals  to  ye  acceptance  of  ye  So- 
ciety, it  being  in  a  Regular  Society  Meeting,  ye  People  then  Preceded  to  ap- 
point by  a  Gen"  vote  a  Day  for  my  ordination,  viz.  ye  3^  "Wednesday,  i.  e.  ye 
15th  Day  of  ye  next  August  ensuing,  and  also  a  Day  of  fasting  &  Prayer  Previ- 
ous thereunto,  on  ye  8  day  of  st^  August.  The  Ministers  Pitch^  upon  by  ye 
Comtee  for  ye  performance  of  ye  Publik  Duties  of  ye  said  fast,  were  ye  Rev'^ 
Messrs  Stoddard  &  Graham. 

Accordingly  on  s>l  8th  Day  of  August,  Rev'J  Mr  Graham  appearing  for  s^^  busi- 
ness, (Revd  Mr  Stoddard  failing  by  reason  of  bodily  indisposition,)  he  perlbrm- 
ed  ye  Publik  Service  of  ye  Day.  And  whereas  there  being  a  Publick  Fast  ap- 
pointed on  ye  Day  prefixed  for  Ordination;  Therefore  on  this  S'li  Dayof  August, 
(it  being  also  a  warned  Society  meeting,)  there  was  a  unanimous  vote  passed, 
yt  ye  Day  of  Ordination  should  be  ye  22(1  i.  e.  ye  fourth  Wednesday  of  s^  August. 
Acccordingly,  Circular  Letters  were  immediately  issued  out  to  all  ye  Ministers 
&  messengers  of  ye  Eastern  Consociation  of  Fairfield  County,  signed  by  ye 
Com^ee,  ye  form  of  w^h  is  hereafter  inserted. 

Accordingly  on  ye  Evening  before  Ordination,  viz  ;  2lst  of  August,  Came 
Revd  Messurs  Kent  with  his  messenger.  Case  with  his  messenger,  who  was 
afterward  dismissed,  Judson  with  his  messenger  &  Lewis,  Next  Morning 
Came  Mr.  Stoddard  with  his  Messenr,  and  then  tlicy  began  to  embody  to  Pro- 
ceed in  ye  form  of  an  Ordaining  Council.  Mr.  Judd  Corning  also  with  his 
messenr.  Revd  Mr.  Stoddard  was  chosen  Modetor — Mr.  Kent,  Scribe.  Then 
ye  Council  Proceeded  to  my  examination  by  asking  questions  Concerning  fund- 
amentals of  Religion — then  it  was  Concluded  it  might  be  Convenient,  yt  I 
should  Relate  my  experiences  in  Religion,  in  wch  Season  Came  in  Revd  Mr. 
Mills  &  his  Messenr,  Mr.  Graham  &  Mr.  Treat  of  Pennsylvania,  &:  when  ex- 
amination was  ended.  Came  in  Mr.  Bellamy  &  his  Mesenr,  who  professil  he 
was  free  to  act  from  former  acquaintance  with  me,  and  all  ye  Council  profess** 
Satisfaction  as  to  my  Relation,  Wliereupon  it  was  tho't  convenient  yt  I  should 
read  ye  profession  of  Faith  &  C^h  Covt  to  so  many  C^h  Members  as  were  then 
present  at  Lieut.  Henry  Castle's,  ye  place  where  ye  Venerable  Council  was 
Convened,  w^h  accordingly  I  did. 

"  Then  ye  Publick  Worship  &:  Solemnity  was  attended  after  this  form.  The 
Revd  Mr.  Bellamy  made  ye  first  Prayer,  Rev'l  Mr.  Mills  Preached  on  1  Pet.  1. 
15,16.  TheRevdMr. gathered  the  Church  in  this  wise.  First  Read- 
ing yc  Parish  Grant,  which  is  as  Ibllowcth  : 

"Atta  Generall  Assembly  Ilolden  at  Hartford  on  yc  2*1  Thursday  of  May, 
A.  D.,  1743. 

"  U[)ou  ye  Memorial  of  ye  Inhabitants  of  that  part  of  Woodbury  called 
Shippauge,  Praying  this  Assembly  to  be  made  a  District  Ecclesiastical  Society, 
&c. 


HISTORY     OF     ANCIENT     WOODBURY.  279 

««  Granted  by  this  Assembly,  that  ye  sd  Inhabitants  within  sd  limits  be  and 
they  are  hereby  made  one  Distinct  Ecclesiastical  Society,  with  the  Powers  and 
Privileges  of  other  Ecclesiastical  yocieties  in  this  Colony,  &  shall  be  called  & 
known  by  ye  Name  of  Roxbury.— A  True  Copy  &c. 

"  Test.     George  Wyllys,  Secret/- 

"  2dly  was  Read  ye  associations  advise,  viz  : 

"At  a  xMeeting  of  ye  Association  in  Soiuhbury,  Oct.  5,  1743,  the  Society  of 
Roxbury  [asked]  for  advise  for  a  suitable  person  to  preach  the  Gospel  among 
them  for  a  season,  &  were  advised  to  ye  worthy  Mr.  Canfield,  and  in  Case  he 
should  fail,  to  apply  themselves  to  the  ministers  of  Woodbury  for  further  di- 
rection. 

"  A  true  Copy—test  John  Graham,  Scribe. 

"3dly  was  Read  ye  Society's  call  and  my  answer  as  follows, 

"April  ye  16th  Day  A.  D.  1744.     At  a  meeting  of  ye  Society  of  Roxbury,  it 

was  voted  to  give  Mr.  Thomas  Canfield  a  Call  for  Settlement  in  ye  work  of  ye 

Ministry. 

"Agreeable  whereunto  on  ye  13  day  of  June,  at  a  Society  Meeting,  ye  sdMr. 

Canfield  Returned  answer  to  ye  acceptance  of  ye  Society. 

"A  true  Copy,  Test.     Tilley  Blakslee,  Society  Clark. 

"  Next  was  read  my  Recommendation  as  follows  : 
"  Branford,  July  29th,  1744. 

"This  may  certify  whom  it  may  Concern,  That  on  ye  28th  Day  of  Decemr 
A.  D.  1740,  Mr.  Thomas  Canfield  was  admitted  a  member  in  full  communion 
with  the  first  Church  m  Branford,  &  has  behaved  Regularly  during  his  abode 
with  us.  And  now  upon  his  desire  he  is  Dismissed  from  us,  &  Recommended 
as  a  person  of  a  regular  Conversation,  &  in  good  Standing  to  be  incorporated, 
or  have  communion  with  any  Cch  of  Christ  wherever  Providence  shall  place 
him. 

"  by  Philemon  Robins 
Pastor  of  sd  C^h  in  Branford,  with  Consent  of  ye  Bretliren. 

"  Then  was  Read  ye  Recommendations  of  Church  members,  wch  js  as  fol- 
loweth. 

"  Revd  &  Beloved — Whereas  the  Inhabitants  of  ye  Parish  of  Eoxburyin 
Woodbury  have  (thro  ye  orderance  of  Divine  Providence.)  a  Prospect  of  hav- 
ing one  set  over  them  (speedily)  in  ye  work  of  ye  Lord  &  taking  ye  Pastoral 
Care  of  them,  &o  many  of  sd  Inhabitants  Standing  in  Special  Relation  to  them 
ye  1st  Crhof  Christ  in  Woodbury.     As  &c. 

"These  may  certify,  yt  all  ye  abovenamed  persons  are  members  of  ye  1st 
Crh  of  Christ  in  Woodbury  in  full  Communion,  &:  in  good  Standing,  &  upon 
their  Desire,  as  matters  stand,  are  Discharged  from  their  Immediate  Relation 
to  sd  Church. 

"  Thus  Certifieth  Anthony  Stoddard,  Pastor  of  ye  1st  Cch  of  X  with  ye  Con- 
sent of  sd  Church. 

"  Whereas  they  having  before  assented,  &  subscribed  to  ye  Profession  of 
faith,  &  Church  Covt.  They  were  now  asked  whether  they  now  made  Choice 
of  me  to  take  ye  Pastoral  Care  of  them,  to  wch  yy  assented.  Then  I  being  also 
aisked  whether  I  complied  with   their   Desire  &   Invitation  to  take  ye  Pastoral 


280  HISTORY     OF     ANCIENT     WOODBURT. 

Care  of  tliem,  to  wch  J  gave  my  assent.  Then  they  being  Declared  a  true 
Cchof  Christ.  The  Rev'  Mr.  Stoddard  Proceeded  to  Pray  with  the  laying  on 
of  hands  of  yc  Elders.  And  then  also,  gave  me  my  Pastoral  Charge,  which  is 
as  followeth. 

"Wc>  ordain  thee,  Tlio*  a  minister  of  Jesus  X,  &  a  Pastor  of  ye  flock  of  X, 
who  will  Judge  yc  Quick  cV  yc  Dead  at  his  appearing  ik  Kingil'".  Take  heed 
to  thyself,  tc  to  all  ye  Hock  over  w"»  you  are  made  an  overseer  to  feed  it :  feed 
ye  Sheep,  feed  ye  Lambs ;  Give  attendance  to  reading,  to  exhorta"-  &  to  Doc- 
trine;  Neglect  not  ye  gift  yt  is  in  ye;  Meditate  on  these  things,  give  thyself 
wholly  unto  them,  ytthy  profiting  may  appear  unto  all ;  In  Doctrine,  shew  un- 
eorruptness,  gravity,  sincerity,  sound  speech,  yt  cannot  be  condc  ned,  yt  he 
W^h  is  oi'  ye  contrary  part  may  be  ashamed,  having  no  evil  to  say  of  you  :  In 
meekness  instructing  yose  yt  o[)pose  ym^eives:  feed  this  Hock  of  God,  taking 
ye  oversight  thereof,  not  of  constraint,  but  willingly,  not  for  filthy  Lucre,  but 
of  a  ready  mind;  not  as  being  Lord  over  God's  heritage,  but  being  an  ensample 
to  ye  flock ;  Give  thyself  to  prayer,  &  to  ye  Ministry  of  ye  word  ;  Study  to 
show  thyself  a  workman,  yt  needeth  not  to  be  ashamed,  Rightly  dividing  ye 
word  of  truth  ;  And  remember  you  stand  as  a  watchman,  and  art  to  observe 
approaching  danger  to  give  warning  from  God,  and  know  yt  if  you  warn  not 
ye  wicked,  when  called  thereto,  ye  wicked  will  die  in  his  iniquity,  but  their 
blood  will  be  required  at  your  own  hand  ;  but  if  you  warn  yc  M'icked  as  you 
ought,  &  he  will  not  hear,  tho  he  die  in  his  Iniquity,  thou  hast  delivered  thy 
soul. 

"  Administer  ye  Sacraments  to  such  as  are  y®  proper  subjects  of  y™,  giving 
each  one  his  portion  as  a  faithful  stewrrt  Dispense  censure,  as  sorrowful 
occasions  offer  ;  they  yt  sin,  rebuke  before  all,  yt  others  also  may  fear  ;  And  we 
bharge  you  before  God,&  ye  Elect  Angels,  yt  you  observe  ye  Divine  rule  with- 
out preferring  one  before  another,  doing  nothing  by  partiality.  And  as  to  your 
Conversation  ;  Remember  yc  instruction,  yt  a  Bishop  must  be  blameless,  vigi- 
lant, sober,  of  good  behaviour,  given  to  Hospitality,  not  given  to  \*'ine,  no 
striker,  not  given  to  filthy  Lucre,  but  patient,  not  a  brawler,  not  covetous :  tiee 
youthful  lusts;  but  follow  righteousness,  faith,  charity,  peace  with  all  them  y' 
call  upon  ye  Lord  out  of  a  pure  heart;  but  foolish  and  unlearned  questions 
avoid  ;  and  be  thou  an  example  of  ye  believer,  in  word,  conversation,  in  chari- 
ty, in  spirit,  in  faith,  in  j)urity.  Take  heed  to  thyself  as  to  thy  Doctrines;  Sc 
if  you  be  faithful  to  him,  yt  hath  called  you,  depend  on  it,  your  Labour  will 
not  be  in  vain  in  the  Lord  ;  but  when  ye  Chief  Shepherd  shall  appear,  you 
shall  receive  a  Crown  that  fadeth  not  away. 

"Then  Mr.  Kent  Prayed  with  Laying  on,  &c. 

"  Rev"!  Mr.  Case  gave  ye  right  baud  of  fellowship.  Concluded  with  singing 
in  ye  6Sth  Psalm." 

Mr.  Canfield  graduated  at  Yale  College  in  1739,  and  spent  a  long 
life  with  this  people,  useful  as  a  pastor,  kind  and  affable,  equal  to  all 
emergencies,  beloved  as  a  man  in  all  the  relations  of  life.  During 
the  long  period  of  more  than  half  a  century,  his  people  enjoyed  his 
acceptable  ministrations,  living  in  peace,  a  happy  and  united  church 
and  society.     Fifty  years,  five   months  and  twenty-four  days,  did  he 


HISTORY     OF     ANCIENT     WOODBURY.  281 

remain  doing  service  "  in  the  vineyard  of  the  Lord,"  and  died  Jan. 
16th,  1795,  aged  seventy-four  years. 

After  the  death  of  Mr.  Canfiekl,  the  church  remained  destitute  of 
a  pastor  about  two  years  and  a  half,  during  which  time  the  pulpit 
was  supplied  by  vai-ious  candidates  for  the  ministry.  On  the  5th  of 
July,  1795,  Rev.  Zephaniah  Swift  was  installed  second  pastor  of  this 
church,  and  was  dismissed  April  1,  1812. 

The  church  then  remained  destitute  of  a  pastor  till  June  2,  1813, 
when  Rev.  Fosdick  Harrison,  its  third  pastor,  was  installed.  After 
a  successful  ministry  of  twenty-two  years,  he  was  dismissed  June 
30,  1835. 

The  church  was  now  again  destitute  of  a  pastor  for  some  four  years, 
when  the  present  pastor.  Rev.  Austin  Isham,  was  ordained  over  it  in 
the  pastoral  relation,  in  1839.  Mr.  Isham  graduated  at  Yale  Col- 
lege in  1836,  and  has  remained  fourteen  years  with  the  people  of 
Roxbury — a  sufficient  proof  of  the  estimation  in  which  he  is  held 
by  his  people,  in  this  day  of  sudden  changes. 

In  February,  1794,  the  society  voted  to  build  their  third  meeting- 
house by  a  vote  of  twenty-nine  to  three.  On  the  9th  of  December,  the 
same  year,  they  voted  again,  thirty-six  to  three,  to  build  the  house, 
at  a  "heap  of  stones  in  the  Daniel  Hinman  meadow  about  11  rods 
northerly  from  David  Hammond's  shop." 

There  have  been  several  revivals  with  additions  to  the  church,  as 
follows:  thirty-five  in  1805;  nineteen  in  1813;  sixteen  in  1816; 
nineteen  in  1821 ;  and  fifty-seven  in  1828. 

The  following  have  been  deacons  in  this  church.  Tilley  Blakelee 
and  Capt.  John  Baker,  appointed  in  1747  ;  Charles  Thomas,  date  not 
noted;  Ezekiel  Frisbie,  1783;  David  Gillet,  no  date  ;  Abner  Wake- 
lee,  1798;  Ichabod  Ward,  1806;  Enos  Warner,  1808;  John  Tliom- 
as,  1809  ;  Ephraim  Beardslee  and  Elihu  Canfiekl,  1812;  Chauncey 
Whittlesey,  1817  ;  T.  More,  Eli  M.  Smith  and  Thomas  Hurd,  1829 ; 
Curtis  Blakelee,  1836;  and  Josiah  Bronson. 

The  struggle  of  Roxbury  society  to  be  incorporated  into  a  sepa- 
rate town  was  long  and  severe.  For  ten  years,  there  was  one  con- 
tinued round  of  eftbrts  on  the  part  of  its  citizens.  The  first  vote  by 
the  society  in  relation  to  the  subject,  was  Oct.  2,  1786,  when  they 
voted  to  make  application  to  the  Assembly  to  be  set  off  as  a  sepa- 
rate town,  and  at  a  meeting  held  Oct.  23,  1786,  they  voted  discre- 
tionary powers  to  Curtis  Hurd,  to  pursue  a  petition  before  that  body 
to  accomplish  this  end.  On  the  l7th  of  the  same  month,  Woodbury 
voted,  one  hundred  and  four  to  eighty-six,  to  oppose  the  prayer  of  said 
19 


282  HISTORY     OF     ANCIENT     WOODBURY. 

petition.  Oct.  9, 1787,  the  society  laid  a  tax  of  three  farthings  in  the 
pound  to  pay  the  expenses  of  tlie  effort  to  obtain  a  town  charter.  Wood- 
bury this  time  voted  not  to  oppose  the  incorporation.  Jan.  12, 1789,  they 
again  voted  to  renew  their  application,  and  appointed  John  Hunt 
their  agent  for  this  purpose.  On  the  11th  of  May  following,  a  tax 
of  half  a  penny  on  the  pound  was  laid  for  the  same  purpose  as  be- 
fore, and  Lt.  Lamberton  Painter  was  appointed  agent  to  "  pursue  the 
petition."  In  September,  the  same  year,  a  committee  was  appointed 
"  to  see  if  "Woodbury  would  relinquish  one  deputy  in  the  General 
Assembly  if  Roxbury  should  be  a  town."  At  a  town  meeting  in 
Woodbury,  held  April  13,  1789,  the  following  vote  passed  : 

'  Voted  not  to  oppose  the  grtuit  of  a  jjotition  from  tlie  Society  of  Koxbiiiy 
now  lying  before  the  Genl  Assembly  of  this  State  to  be  incurporateil  into  a 
separate  town — voted  ncmine  contradiccnte." 

Notwithstanding  this,  the  charter  was  not  granted.  In  May,  1790, 
as  the  contest  grew  warmer  and  warmer,  they  began  to  employ  legal 
gentlemen  to  assist  them  in  their  efforts,  and  Ilezekiah  Thompson 
and  Nathaniel  Smith,  Esqrs.,  were  employed  to  prosecute  their  ap- 
plication. At  the  October  session  this  year,  Mr.  Daniel  Sherman  was 
also  appointed  to  assist.  In  October,  1791,  Capt.  Roswell  Ransom  was 
appointed  agent  to  urge  the  incorporation,  and  Hon.  Nathaniel  Smith 
in  May,  1792.  In  September,  1795,  Samuel  Weller  was  appointed  for 
the  same  purpose,  and  the  petition  was  again  pressed  with  vigor  at  the 
October  session,  179G,  when  it  proved  successful,  and  the  society  of 
Roxbury  was  incorporated  into  a  town  of  the  same  name. 

One  or  two  casualties  have  occurred  in  this  town,  wox'thy  of  notice. 
The  first  illustrates  the  danger  of  a  cai-cless  use  of  fire-arms.  Sixty- 
six  years  ago,  a  tavern,  kept  by  Roswell  Ransom,  was  located  on  the 
spot  where  the  Episcopal  church  now  stands.  On  the  31st  of  Octo- 
ber, 1787,  a  "training"  of  the  militia  soldiers  was  held  at  this  place  . 
About  four  o'clock  in  the  afternoon  of  that  day,  David  Downs  left 
his  house,  now  occupied  by  Treat  Davidson,  and  went  to  the  tavei'n 
for  the  purpose  of  getting  his  son  excused  from  going  to  the  "  General 
Training,"  to  be  held  the  next  day  at  Southbury.  Thomas  Hurlbut 
was  present  with  a  gun,  in  the  house  of  Ransom,  and  one  Hitchcock 
asked  him  if  his  gun  Avas  a  good  one.  lie  replied  "  Try  it  and  see." 
On  being  asked  by  Hitchcock  if  it  was  loaded,  he  replied  in  the  neg- 
ative, on  which  he  pulled  the  trigger,  and  the  gun  being  loaded,  the 
ball  which  it  contained  passed  through  the  head  of  David  Downs, 
above  the  eyes,  and  dashed  his  brains  on  the  wall,  or  ceiling,  near 


HISTORY     OP     AXCIENT     AVOODBITKY.  283 

which  he  stood,  the  stain  from  which  remained  indelible  for  many- 
years  after. 

In  a  graveyard  north  of  the  Episcopal  church  is  a  monument  con- 
taining the  following  inscription : 

"  In  memory  of  Lieut.  Thomas  Weller,  an  officer  in  the  United  States  army, 
who  was  murdered  by  Archibald  W.  Knapp,  May  16th,  1814,  aged  25  years 
and  9  mo.,  son  of  Thomas  and  Polly  Weller  " 

The  circumstances  of  this  murder  are  thus  related  by  Barber : 

"  The  circumstances  respecting  the  death  of  Lieut.  Weller,  appear  to  be 
these.  In  the  last  war  with  Great  Britain,  Knapp  enlisted  as  a  soldier.  The 
time  having  arrived  for  him  to  march  on  to  the  lines,  he  refused  to  go  ;  Weller, 
with  three  or  four  soldiers,  went  to  Knapp's  residence  in  the  lower  part  of  New 
Milford,  in  order  to  take  him  by  force.  Knapp  meeting  him  at  the  door,  told 
him  that  he  had  no  ill-will  against  him,  but  if  he  advanced  any  farther  towards 
him  he  was  a  dead  man.  Weller  disregarding  his  threats,  advanced  to  take 
him.  Knapp  then  shot  him  in  the  groin,  which  caused  his  death  in  about 
fifteen  minutes.  Knapp  made  his  escape  into  the  State  of  New  York,  where  it 
is  believed  he  now  resides.  It  is  stated  that  Knapp  was  arrested  a  few  years 
since,  on  account  of  this  crime,  but  was  rescued  out  of  the  Ijands  of  the  ofiicer 
by  some  soldiers  of  an  independent  militia  comjoany,  of  which  he  was  a  mem- 
ber, who  were  out  on  a  military  review." 

Eoxbury  is  almost  wholly  a  fanning  town.  It  is  about  six  and  a 
half  miles  in  length,  and  nearly  four  in  breadth.  It  has  two  church- 
es, one  Congregational  and  one  Episcopal,  two  ministers  and  two 
doctors.  It  contains  four  mercantile  stores,  employing  a  capital  of 
about  ten  thousand  dollars,  five  hatting  establishments,  employing 
about  as  much  more  capital,  two  manufactories  for  forming  hat  bodies, 
one  grist-mill,  ten  saw-mills,  and  two  foundries.  By  the  census  of 
1850,  its  population  was  1,114. 


CHAPTER   XV. 


HISTORY  OF  THE  OTHER  CHURCHES  BESIDE  THE  CONGREGATIOXAL. 

1740  TO  1853;  History  of  St.  Paul's  Church,  Woodbury;  Progress  of 
Toleration;  Zechariah  Beers'  "  SiONiNO-Opf"  Certificate;  Parish  or- 
ganized, 1740;  Col.  Seth  Warner's  Grave;  Rev.  John  R.  Marshall, 
First  Rector,  1771;  Church  erected  by  seventy  persons  in  17S5;  con- 
secrated, 1822  ;  Mr.  Sayre  succeeds  Mr.  Marshall,  1791 ;  Constitution 
accepted  by  the  Church  in  1794;  Mr.  Elijah  Sherman's  Secession  and 
Character;  Glebe  House  erected,  1S37;  Church  ceased  to  be  a  Plu- 
rality, 1838;  List  of  Clergymen;  List  of  Native  Clergymen;  Christ 
Church,  Roxbury;  First  Church  Edifice,  17G4;  St.  John's  Church, 
Washington;  St.  Andrews'  Church,  New  Preston;  Christ  Church,  Beth- 
LEM ;  Baptist  Church,  Roxbury  ;  Methodist  Church,  Woodbury  ;  First 
Preaching  in  the  Street  near  "  Lodge  Rock  ;"  Next  in  Mr.  Elijah  Sher- 
man's House  ;  Methodist  Churches  at  South  Britain  and  Soutubury  ; 
Reflections. 

For  nearly  seventy  years  after  the  first  settling  of  the  town,  there 
were  no  other  churches  within  its  limits,  except  those  of  the  Congre- 
gational "  or  standing  oi'der."  Our  fathers  emigrated  to  this  country 
to  enjoy  their  religion,  not  only  free  from  persecution  but  without 
interruption  from  Christians  of  different  sentiments.  They  were  de- 
sirous of  maintaining  a  uniformity  of  doctrine  and  worship.  Correct 
principles  of  religious  liberty  were  not  then  known  in  any  Christian 
country,  and  toleration  was  not  the  virtue  of  that  age.  On  their  ar- 
i-ival  in  this  new  world,  they  formed  an  ecclesiastical  constitution,  and 
passed  a  statute  that  no  persons  should  "  embody  themselves  into 
church  estate"  without  the  consent  of  the  General  Court,  and  the  ap- 
probation of  the  neighboring  churches,  and  that  no  church  adminis- 
tration should  be  set  up  contrary  to  the  established  order.  Laws 
were  made  to  compel  every  person  to  pay  taxes  to  the  established 
religious  organization,  and  for  the  support  of  the  "approved  minis- 
ter." In  1708,  an  act  of  toleration  passed,  allowing  all  persons  who 
should  conform  to  it,  the  liberty  of  worshiping  God  in  a  way  scpa- 


HISTORY     OP     ANCIENT     WOODBURY.  285 

rate  from  that  established  by  hiw,  but  it  ilid  not  excuse  them  from 
paying  taxes  to  the  approved,  settled  ministers  of  the  churches.  In 
1727,  the  members  of  the  church  of  England  made  an  apphcation  to 
the  legislature  to  be  exempted  from  paying  taxes  for  the  support  of 
the  ministry  of  any  other  denomination,  and  for  liberty  to  tax  them- 
selves for  the  support  of  their  own  ministry.  Accordingly  an  act 
was  passed,  directing  that  all  persons  within  the  limits  of  a  parish, 
belonging  to  the  church  of  England,  and  to  the  churches  established 
by  law,  should  be  taxed  by  the  same  rule,  and  in  the  same  propor- 
tion, for  the  support  of  the  ministry  in  such  parish,  arid  where  there 
was  a  society  of  the  church  of  England,  so  near  to  any  person  who 
had  declared  himself  to  be  of  that  church,  that  he  could  conveniently 
and  did  ordinarily  attend  public  worship  there,  then  the  collector  of 
the  tax,  on  levying  the  same,  should  pay  it  to  that  minister  of  the 
church  of  England  on  which  such  person  attended,  who  should  have 
power  to  receive  and  recover  the  same  ;  and  when  the  amount  so 
obtained  should  be  insufficient  for  the  support  of  any  such  minister, 
the  members  of  the  society  were  vested  with  the  power  of  taxing 
themselves,  and  they  were  also  exempted  from  paying  taxes  for 
building  or  repairing  the  meeting-houses  of  the  established  churches. 
The  same  privileges  were  afterward  granted  to  other  dissenters  from 
the  established  faith.  In  the  revision  of  1784,  all  dissenters  were  ex- 
empted from  paying  taxes  to  the  established  societies,  where  they  had 
a  society  of  their  own  and  contributed  to  its  support,  on  lodging  a  cer- 
tificate from  such  church  or  society,  properly  authenticated,  of  the  fact 
of  such  membership.  Some  disputes  having  arisen  as  to  the  validity 
of  such  certificates,  and  suspicions  arising  that  an  undue  advantage  was 
taken  of  the  law,  an  act  was  passed,  May,  1791,  directing  that  certi- 
ficates to  be  valid,  must  be  approved  by  a  justice  of  the  peace.  This 
law  excited  general  disapprobation,  and  in  October,  the  same  year,  an 
act  was  passed,  authorizing  dissenters  to  make  certificates  in  their  own 
names,  and  lodge  them  with  the  clerk  of  the  society,  in  the  limits  of 
which  they  lived,  which  should  exempt  them  from  taxes  as  long  as 
they  ordinarily  attended  public  worship  in  the  society  which  they 
joined,  and  dissenting  societies  were  authorized  to  tax  themselves  for 
all  the  purposes  of  other  ecclesiastical  societies.  This  was  in  effect 
placing  all  religious  denominations  on  the  same  footing.  Yet  there 
was  a  nominal  distinction,  members  of  one  society  being  obliged  to 
lodge  certificates  with  another.  But  now  by  the  constitution,  all  dis- 
tinction among  societies  is  done  away,  and  all  denominations  are 
placed  on  equal  ground.     The  support  of  religion  and  religious  insti- 


28G  II  I  S  T  ()  K  V     OF     ANCIENT     AV  O  O  D  B  U  K  Y . 

tutions  ilcpcnds  entirely  upon  llieir  own  consent  and  voluntary  con- 
tribution. Tiie  ollice  of  the  present  law  is  only  to  give  them  tlie 
power  of  j)roviding  for  their  support  in  such  a  manner  as  they  may 
think  pro^jcr.  "  Thus  the  people  of  this  state,  in  less  than  two  cen- 
turies, have  passed  from  a  religious  establishment,  through  various 
changes,  to  perfect  freedom  ;  and  it  may  be  added,  that  these  changes 
have  not  broken  up  any  of  the  located  societies,  but  public  worship 
continues  to  be  duly  attended  in  them  alh'" 

Under  the  law  allowing  each  one  to  lodge  a  certificate  with  the 
clerks  of  the  several  established  societies,  or  as  it  was  usually  ex- 
pressed, "  to  sign  oif,"  considerable  scope  w-as  allow^ed  for  the  imagin- 
ation. Many  specimens  of  wit,  of  malice,  or  of  sarcasm  were,  in  con- 
set^cnce,  lodged  in  the  archives  of  the  several  societies.  Some  gave 
the  clerk  of  the  "  standing  order"  "  distinctly  to  understand,"  that 
they  should  attend  his  "  meeting"  no  more  forever.  Others  gave  the 
notice  in  a  quiet  business  way.  As  a  specimen  of  the  "mirthful  de- 
parture" from  the  established  order,  the  following  "signing-ofF"  cer- 
tificate of  Zachariah  Beers,  a  poetical  genius  of  whom  more  Avill  be 
said  hereafter,  is  inserted.  This  certificate  was  lodged  with  Matthew 
]\Iinor,  Jr.,  Esq.,  clei-k  of  the  first  Congregational  society  in  Wood- 
bury : 

'•  Matthew  Minor,  Jun'',  Esquire, 
Hear  ye  the  words  ofZechariah. 
Under  the  Law,  the  State  now  orders, 
In  serving  God  we  choose  our  quarters, 
And  as  I  never  yet  have  stated, 
Where  long  my  mind  has  been  located, 
This  information  I  send  (greeting,) 
Where  I  expect  to  go  to  meeting. 
I  joine  the  Church  Episcopalian, 
Tho  Sata^  terms  it  a  rebellion  ; 
And  to  avoid  all  further  evil. 
Renounce  the  world,  the  flesh  and  Devil. 
Woodbury,  Jan.  1st,  ISll.  Zechariah  Beers." 

A  short  time  previous  to  1740,  some  few  families  in  this  town 
adopted  the  sentiments  of  the  church  of  England,  and  at  this  date 
they  were  occasionally  supplied  by  the  missionaries  of  the  "  Society 
for  Propagating  the  Gospel  in  Foreign  Parts."  A  church  was  sub- 
sequently formed,  for  the  following  interesting  history  of  whicli,  the 
author  is  indebted  to  Hon.  Charles  B.  Phelps,  a  member  of  that 

1  Statutes  of  Connecticut,  revision  of  1821. 


HISTORY     OF     ANCIENT     WOODBURY.  287 

communion.  Rev.  Solomon  G.  Hitchcock,  a  former  pastor  of  the 
church,  had  very  kindly  furnished  the  author  with  copious  minutes  in 
relation  to  the  church,  of  which  use  is  made  in  the  biographical 
sketches  in  a  subsequent  part  of  this  volume,  but  it  was  deemed  best 
to  give  Judge  Phelps'  sketch  entire,  rather  than  rewrite  an  article 
from  all  the  sources  of  information  at  hand. 

Episcopal  Church,  Woodbury 
At  an  early  period  of  the  polemic  controversy  arising  from  Doctor 
Johnson's  conversion  to  Episcopacy,  divine  service,  according  to  the 
ritual  of  the  English  Episcopal  Church,  was  celebrated  within  the 
limits  of  the  ancient  town  of  Woodbury,  by  the  missionaries  of  "  The 
Society  for  the  Propagation  of  the  Gospel  in  Foreign  Parts."  In 
1732,  Doctor  Graham,  the  Congregational  minister  of  Southbury, 
then  a  part  of  Woodbury,  published  a  pamphlet  antagonistic  to  the 
publication  on  Episcopacy,  by  Doctor  Johnson  and  Rev.  John  Beach, 
of  Newtown.  After  this  controversy,  some  few  families  of  this  town- 
ship adopted  Episcopal  opinions  ;  they  were,  about  1740,  organized 
into  a  parish.  The  names  of  Masters,  Castle,  Squire,  Warner  and 
Ward,  occur  in  the  early  annals.  About  this  time,  a  church  edifice 
was  erected  within  the  township,  on  the  hill  between  the  present  cen- 
ter of  Roxbury  and  Transylvania,  near  the  old  graveyard,  now 
dilapidated  and  thrown  to  the  commons,  where  the  bones  of  Col.  Setk 
Warner  repose  in  disgi'aceful  negligence,  marked  by  a  broken  slab, 
reproaching  the  inheritors  of  that  liberty  his  valiant  arm  so  essen- 
tially contributed  to  establish. 

The  pi'incipal  portion  of  the  inhabitants  of  the  society,  lived  in 
the  south  section  of  Roxbury,  and  Grassy  Hill.  The  cellar  of  the 
masters  mansion  house  now  remains  visible  on  the  lot  next  north  of 
the  present  dwelling-house  of  Wm.  N.  Sbelton,  on  the  west  side  of 
the  way,  and  overlooks  the  Woodbury  valley. 

For  a  season,  the  Episcopal  families  in  the  vaUey,  were  an  ad- 
junct of  the  Roxbury  church,  and  for  many  years,  worshiped  there 
more  or  less.  Ashbel  Moody  lately  deceased,  was  baptized  at  that 
church,  Dec.  8, 1765,  by  the  Rev.  Thomas  Davies. 

The  old  town  house  on  the  ground  now  occupied  by  the  carriage 
house  of  N.  B.  Smith,  Esq.,  was,  after  the  erection  of  the  new  Con- 
gregational house  in  1747,  occupied  by  the  Episcopalians  for  seated 
worship  until  the  erection  of  the  present  Church  edifice  in  1785. 

Within  the  ancient  limits  of  the  township,  another  Episcopal  church 
was  erected  at  Judea,  now  Washington,  in  Davis  HoUow,  near  the 
present  dwelling-house  of  Capt.  Center. 


288  H  I  S  T  O  i:  Y     OF     a  N  C  I  K  N  T     WOODBURY. 

This  was  built  in-incipally  by  tlie  Davies  family,  to  whose  lineage 
the  Rov.  Tiiomas  Davies  belonged,  a  family  distinguished  during  a 
century  for  their  intellectual  superiority  and  indomitable  persever- 
ance. 

The  Rev.  .Tohn  R.  IMarshall  assumed  the  charge  of  the  present 
parisli  at  Woodbury,  in  1771.  He  was  a  citizen  of  New  York,  and 
cdu.atcil  in  the  Reformed  Dutch  faith.  During  the  discussion  of 
apostolical  authority,  and  the  imparity  of  the  priesthood,  Mr.  Mar- 
shall followed  the  opinions  of  Dr.  Johnson,  Doct.  Leming  and  Mr. 
Beach,  and  having  graduated  at  King's  (now  Columbia)  College,  and 
laid  the  foundation  of  a  theological  education,  he  sailed  to  England 
to  be  cpiscopally  ordained,  and  was  in  that  year  ordained  deacon  and 
priest  at  the  chapel  of  Fulham,by  Richard  Terrick,  D.  D.,  Bishop  of 
London,  and  returning  came  to  Woodbury  to  commence  his  professional 
life  in  the  same  year.  A  glebe  was  purchased  and  conveyed  to  the 
society,  the  place  now  improved  and  occupied  by  Gideon  B.  Bots- 
ford,  Esq.,  as  his  residence.  The  parish  was  a  plurality,  and  flour- 
ished under  his  ministration  until  the  breaking  out  of  the  Revolu- 
tionary War,  when  its  progress  was  retarded  by  the  invincible  hostil- 
ity of  the  public  mind  to  everything  English.  Without  adverting 
to  the  inhuman  violence  inflicted  by  passion  and  bigotry  on  Mr. 
Marshall,  all  is  to  be  regarded  as  the  eflPervescence  of  the  public 
mind  at  an  excited  period,  as  the  error  of  the  age  modified  by  the 
crisis.  ; 

The  church  was  erected  by  the  contributions  of  seventy  persons 
in  sums  ranging  from  three  shillings  to  forty-three  pounds.  Mr. 
Marshall  gave  the  glass  and  nails. 

John  Clark  paid,  .         .         .         _ 

]\Iitchell  Lamson, 

Elijah  Sherman,  .         .         .         . 

Doct.  Samuel  Orton,         _         _         .         _ 

Ilezekiah  Thompson, 

None  of  the  original  subscribers  are  now  living. 

Only  seven  persons,  children  of  the  original  subscribers,  reside  in 
Woodbury.  Nathan  Preston  and  John  P.  Marshall  are  the  only 
children  of  the  original  subscribers  who  worship  in  this  faith. 

The  proceeds  of  the  glebe,  sold  to  build  a  church,  added  to  the 
other  expenses,  were  only  adequate  to  the  inclosure  of  the  church 
edifice,  laying  the  floors,  plastei'ing  and  building  some  side  pews,  and 
a  coarse  pulpit  temporarily  constructed.  It  was  in  this  condition, 
at  the  death  of  INIr.  Marshall,  in  January,  1789,  and  so  continued  until 


£43, 

8s. 

8d. 

£34, 

195. 

Id. 

£22, 

Os. 

M. 

£21, 

14s. 

\d. 

£20, 

Os. 

Od. 

HISTORY     OF     ANCIENT     ^V  O  O  D  B  U  R  Y .  289 

1812.  About  this  time  a  ntnv  steeple  was  erected,  the  lioiise  finish- 
ed mucli  in  its  present  form,  and  painted  within  and  without. 

In  1809,  by  the  exertions  of  Coh  Moseley,  a  bell  was  obtained, 
which  being  broken  in  18-18,  another  was  supplied. 

The  society  made  grants  of  the  floor  to  individuals  to  be  holden  in 
perpetuity,  but  no  such  grants  were  made  after  the  death  of  the  first 
rector.  It  was  probably  a  project  of  his  derived  from  similar 
ownership  of  pews  in  New  York.  His  opinions  were  much  regard- 
ed by  his  follow^ers. 

In  finishing  the  inside  of  the  church,  Thomas  Prentice  fell  from 
the  upper  wall  to  the  floor,  and  was  killed. 

The  church  was  consecrated  by  Bishop  Brownell  in  October,  1822. 
The  name  of  this  church  is  "  St.  Paul's  Church,  TToodbury." 

At  the  death  of  Mr.  IMarshall,  the  parish  enumerated  several 
families  living  within  the  present  townships  of  Southbury,  Bethlem 
and  Middlebury.  The  Wheelers,  Benliam,  Osborne  of  Southbury, 
Doct.  Hull,  and  Prentices  of  Bethlem  belonged  to  this  parish. 

From  the  extension  of  the  parish  during  the  war,  and  immediately 
after  its  close,  embarrassed  by  the  many  obstacles  that  resisted  its 
progress,  and  the  know^n  capacity,  devotion,  perseverance  and  apti- 
tude of  Mr.  Marshall's  mind,  it  is  probable  it  would  have  been  a 
strong  parish,  had  his  life  been  spared.  In  the  measures  connected 
with  the  establishment  of  the  Protestant  Episcopal  Church  of  the 
United  States,  Mr.  Marshall  bore  a  conspicuous  and  efficient  part- 
In  1784,  with  a  view  to  the  union  of  this  communion  into  one  eccle- 
siastical body,  Mr.  Marshall  was  elected  a  delegate  from  Connecticut 
to  the  convocation  of  the  Episcopal  clergy  in  the  council  convened 
at  New  York.  Connecticut  before  this  time  had  held  a  convocation 
of  her  clergy,  and  sent  Rev.  Mr.  Seabury  to  England  for  ordination 
as  a  bishop. 

Before  the  convocation,  Mr.  Marshall  read  a  paper,  declaring  that 
Mr.  Seabury  was  on  his  way  to  Europe,  and  Connecticut  would  take 
no  action  in  the  convocation  until  the  result  of  Mr.  Seabury's  appli- 
cation for  consecration  was  known ;  and  should  that  prove  propitious, 
Connecticut  would  lend  her  whole  energies  to  aid  in  the  consolida- 
tion of  the  Episcopal  interests  of  the  Union.  This  measure  had  its 
effect ;  and  to  its  adoption,  the  union  and  harmony  of  the  subsequent 
action  may,  in  a  good  measure,  be  referred. 

This  communion  by  the  agency  of  its  articles  and  ritual  being  es- 
sentially conservative  in  its  tendencies  and  character,  this  parish  has 
been  little  agitated  by  controversy.     The  Eev.  James  Sayre,  who  in 


200  nisTOuv    OF    axciknt    woodijuky. 

1701,  followed  Mr.  Marshall  in  ministering  to  this  flock,  was  opposed 
to  the  adoption  of  the  State  Constitution,  and  gave  in  the  convoca- 
tion his  sole  negative  vote.  When  the  constitution  was  subsecjuently 
referred  to  the  families  for  adoption,  Mr.  Sayre  in  this  parish,  com- 
menced a  bitter  opposition  to  its  adoption  for  some  year  or  two. 
After  Mr.  Sayre  left  the  parish,  they  refused  to  act  upon  it.  The 
Episcojjal  convention  under  the  constitution  declined  exercising  any 
jurisdiction  over  its  interests.  This  engendered  on  Mr.  Sayre's  part 
violent  hostility  and  imputations  upon  the  bishop  and  clergy,  in 
which  some  of  the  parish,  who  had  become  attached  to  him,  more  or 
less,  participated.  A  committee  of  the  convention,  consisting  of  Rev. 
Messrs.  Phillip,  Perry,  Truman,  Marsh  and  Ives,  were  appointed ; 
who  conferred  with  Doct.  Orton,  John  Clark  and  R.  B.  Marshall,  a 
committee  from  the  parish.  The  whole  tei'minated  in  accepting  the 
constitution  Nov.  10,  1704.  During  this  controversy  Mr.  Sayre  left 
the  parish.  While  in  the  parish  he  was  eccentric,  rash  and  incon- 
sistent, probably  from  the  incipient  stages  of  insanity.  Not  much  was 
known  of  him  after  his  departure.  He  died  the  tenant  of  a  mad- 
house. In  this  agitation,  a  worthy  member  of  the  communion,  Eli- 
jah Sherman,  was  involved  and  ultimately  abandoned  the  society. 

The  principal  objection  to  the  constitution  as  well  as  can  now  be 
ascertained,  was  that  the  clergy  were  invested  with  too  much  power, 
and  the  parishioners  with  too  little,  not  having  discovered  that  the 
real  authority  resided  in  those  who  furnish  the  means.  The  king 
may  declare  war,  but  the  commons  may  refuse  supplies  to  sustain  it, 
thus  possessing  the  ultimate  power. 

The  temperament  of  Mr.  Sherman  was  humble,  earnest,  and  emi- 
nently conscientious ;  firm  in  his  adhesion  to  what  he  deemed  to  be 
the  line  of  duty.  He  could  not  adopt  Calvinistic  opinions,  then 
ardently  pressed  upon  the  public  mind,  in  all  the  Congregational  pul- 
pits. Swayed  by  an  enthusiastic  spiritualism,  his  sympathies  were 
with  those  humble  heralds  of  the  cross,  so  efficiently  blessed  in  the 
morn  of  Methodism.  For  twenty  years,  with  some  few  companions, 
himself  an  elder,  the  worshipers  in  this  faith,  assembled  in  his  own 
house.  His  religious  experiences  gave  him  new  developments  in 
Christian  duty.  Chastened  by  the  death  of  several  children,  his 
faith  and  zeal  and  knowledge  grew  deeper,  more  ardent  and  expan- 
ded. He  became  an  eminent  example  of  Christian  excellence.  Un- 
der that  humble  roof,  from  subdued  and  pure  hearts,  prayers  gushed 
forth,  not  surpassed  in  pathos  and  piety  by  a  Massillon  or  a  Bour- 
daloue.    Souls  now  looking  to  the  great  judgment  seat  with  confidence 


HISTORY     OF     ANCIENT     WOODBURY. 


291 


and  holy  hope,  recall  with  devout  gratitude  his  ardent  aspirations  in 
that  lowly  temple.  Had  he  received  the  advantages  of  early  edu- 
cation and  training,  with  the  compass  and  melody  of  his  voice,  he 
would  probably  have  made  an  eloquent  and  powei-ful  preacher.  He 
lived  to  see  the  erection  of  a  INIethodist  church  on  his  own  home- 
stead, and  a  numerous  and  devout  company  of  believers  worshiping 
there.  He  was  gathered  to  his  fathers  at  the  advanced  age  of  ninety, 
in  the  month  of  January,  iS-l-l. 

None  of  his  descendants  worship  at  the  church.  Rev.  Henry  B. 
Sherman,  rector  of  a  church  at  Bellville,  N.  J.,  is  his  grandson. 

The  glebe  house  was  erected  in  1837,  and  by  its  original  limita- 
tion can  not  be  alienated  to  any  other  use.  It  cost  about  two  thousand 
dollars,  and  has  been  hitherto  the  residence  of  the  clergymen  having 
families. 

Until  1838,  the  society  labored  under  the  enervating  influence  of 
the  phirality  system.  Under  the  auspices  of  the  truly  faithful  and 
talented  exertions  of  the  Rev.  S.  G.  Hitchcock,  a  change  was  effect- 
ed, and  has  without  interruption  been  continued  to  this  time.  The 
church  now  has  a  minister  during  the  whole  time. 

After  the  death  of  Mr.  Marshall,  the  feud  in  relation  to  the  consti- 
tution, the  defection  of  Mr.  Sherman,  and  the  death  of  some  promi- 
nent parishioners,  reduced  the  society  to  a  feeble  condition.  After 
the  Rev.  Dr.  Judd  left  the  parish,  in  August,  1801,  the  parish  was 
without  a  minister,  until  the  accession  of  Rev.  Mr.  Welton,  in  1809. 
The  surrounding  clergy  occasionally  ministered  to  them.  Rev.  Mr. 
Marsh,  Dr.  Burhans,  Rev.  Mr.  Prindle,  Rev.  Mr.  Wheeler,  preserved 
some  watchfulness  over  their  interests.  "Without  a  minister,  with  an 
unfinished  church  in  a  state  of  dilapidation,  and  a  scattered,  wander- 
ing flock,  extinction  seemed  to  be  its  only  fate ;  yet  Providence  or- 
dained it  otherwise.  From  1809,  it  has  gradually  risen  to  a  respect- 
able position  and  character. 

List  of  Clergymen  who  have  officiated  in  St.  Paul's  Church,  Woodbury. 


Commencement. 

Termii 

nation. 

November; 

,  1771, 

Rev.  John  Rutgers  Marshall, 

died  January- 

7th 

,  1789. 

1790, 

"      James  Sayre, 

1791. 

1791, 

"      Seth  Flint, 

1793. 

1793, 

"      Reuben  Ives, 

1797. 

1797, 

"      Tillotson  Bronson,  D.  D., 

1798. 

1799, 

«      Bethel  Judd,  D.  D... 

August, 

1801. 

Easter, 

1S09, 

"      Joseph  D.  Welton, 

June, 

1816. 

August, 

1S16, 

"      Sturges  Gilbert, 

August, 

1827. 

1S27, 

"     Bennett  Glover^ 

1827. 

292 

II  I  S  T  0  lO 

O  F     A  X  C  I  K  X  T     WOOD  li  U  U  Y  . 

November 

ivi-. 

llev 

Samuel  Fuller,  Jr  ,  D.  D  , 

April, 

1S2S . 

1S2S, 

William  II.  Jud.l, 

1S28. 

November 

1S2-*, 

William  Lucas, 

1829. 

l'--29. 

Ulysses  M.  Wheeler, 

1830. 

I'^.'il, 

Daniel  Huriians,  D.  D., 

Jnly,^ 

1831. 

July, 

Js:Jl, 

Joseph  Scott, 

Ai)ril, 

1^33. 

1^.•M, 

Joliii  Dowdney, 

1S35. 

Easter, 

Is.T,, 

Edmund  C.  Bull, 

Easter, 

1&3G. 

July, 

i<:w. 

P.  Teller  Babbitt, 

March, 

18.37. 

Mxxy, 

Js:i7, 

Solomon  G.  Hitchcock, 

August, 

1844 

October, 

IMJ, 

Richard  Coxe, 

November, 

1845. 

November 

ISl.j, 

David  r.  Sanlbid, 

February, 

1847. 

Easter, 

1S17, 

Charles  S.  Putnam, 

April, 

lS4y. 

June, 

1S49, 

P.  Teller  Babbitt, 

September, 

1850. 

October, 
May, 

1S50, 
1853, 

» 

Robert  C.  Ro-ers, 
F.  D.  Harriman. 

January, 

18.53. 

The  following  persons  born  in  this  parisli,  and  receiving  their  reli- 
gious impressions  and  culture  in  the  Episcopal  church,  have  been  or- 
dained priests  and  officiated  as  such  : 

Rev.  Phillips  Perrj,  Rev.  William  Preston, 

"      Philo  Perrj,  "     Martin  Moody, 

"      James  Thompson,  "     Thaddeus  Leavenworth, 

"      Rufus  Murray,  "     Henry  B.  Sherman. 

Episcopal  Church,  Roxbury. 
This  is  probably  the  oldest  Episcopal  parish  in  the  county  of  Litch- 
field, dating  its  organization  as  far  back  as  the  year  1740,  a  period 
earlier  than  that  of  any  other  parish  of  which  we  have  any  written 
records.  It  was  organized  by  Rev.  Mr.  Reach,  of  Newtown,  and  was 
for  a  considerable  time  the  only  Episcopal  parish  within  the  limits  of 
the  town  of  Woodbury,  of  which,  at  tliat  time,  Roxbury  formed  a 
part.  Some  account  is  given  by  Mr.  Davies,  of  its  house  of  worship, 
in  his  correspondence  with  the  society.  In  a  letter  dated  April  13th, 
1702,  he  speaks  of  his  having  received  invitations  to  preach  in 
Hartford  and  Woodbury,  and  says,  "  In  each  of  the  above-named 
places,  the  people  are  resolved  to  erect  Churches."  Writing  again, 
June  2oth,  1764,  he  says,  "  In  Roxbury,  a  parish  in  Woodbury,  there 
is  a  pretty  Church,  neatly  finished."  This  church  stood  on  the  hill 
between  Transylvania  and  the  center  of  Roxbury.  During  the  time 
that  Rev.  Mr.  Davies  preached  in  Litchfield  county,  he  occupied  this 
pulpit  one-fifth  of  the  time.  At  that  date,  the  parish  consisted  of 
thirty-four  families,  out  of  which  were  twenty-eight  communicants. 
Since  that  day  the  old  church  has  gone  to  decay,  and  a  new  one  has 


HISTORY     OP     ANCIENT     -WOODBURY.  293 

been  erected  in  the  center  of  the  present  town  of  Roxburj.  By  a 
letter  to  the  author  from  Rev.  George  L.  Foote,  then  pastor  of  the 
church,  dated  August  21st,  1848,  we  learn  that  the  early  records  of 
this  church  are  all  lost,  and  therefore  the  list  of  ministers,  and  other 
interesting*particulars  of  its  history  can  not  be  given.  It  has  been  a 
"  plurality,"  and  for  this  reason,  among  others,  information  in  regai-d 
to  it  is  obtained  with  ditficulty.  The  name  of  this  church  is  "  Christ 
Church,  Roxbury." 

Episcopal  Churches  in  Judea  and  New  Preston,  Washington. 

For  the  account  of  these  churches,  the  author  is  indebted  wholly 
to  Rev.  James  L.  Scott,  their  present  rector.  A  full  and  accurate 
history  of  them  is  impossible,  on  account  of  the  defective  state  of 
their  records,  and  the  scanty  means  of  information  still  left  us.  Like 
many  other  churches,  they  have  laboi-ed  amid  numerous  difficulties, 
and  discouragements  of  various  kinds. 

The  beginning  of  the  parish,  the  church  edifice  of  which  now 
stands  on  "Washington  "  green,"  seems  to  have  been  on  this  wise : 
About  the  year  A.  D.  17'62,  a  few  Episcopal  families  resided  in  what 
was  then  called  Judea,  now  Washington,  though  not  sufficiently  nu- 
merous or  wealthy  to  organize  a  paxish,  or  to  erect  for  themselves  a 
house  of  worship.  Therefore,  the  Rev.  Thomas  Davies,  A.  M.,  a 
missionary  of  the  society  in  England  "  For  Propagating  the  Gospel 
in  Foreign  Parts,"  held  occasional  services  and  baptisms  in  houses, 
or  wherever  he  could  obtain  admittance.  After  the  separation  of 
what  was  called  Bix-ch  Plains  or  Davies'  Hollow,  from  the  township 
of  Litchfield,  the  Davies  family,  one  of  considerable  note,  and  zeal- 
ously attached  to  the  church,  withdrew  from  the  Litchfield  parish, 
and  built  a  church  edifice  of  their  own  in  Davies'  Hollow,  where, 
with  assistance  from  some  few  families  who  resided  near,  they  sus- 
tained religious  services  according  to  the  liturgy  of  the  church  of 
England,  and  kept  up  a  distinct  parochial  organization  for  some  con- 
siderable period. 

The  following  is  a  copy  of  a  deed  given  by  John  Davies,  senior, 
the  father  of  Rev.  Thomas  Davies,  to  the  churchmen  in  Washington, 
making  to  them  a  conveyance  of  the  land  upon  which  this  house  of 
worship  was  erected : 

"  Know  ye  that  I  John  Davies,  of  that  part  of  Washington  formerly  belong- 
ing to  Litcliliold,  and  known  and  called  by  the  name  of  Birch  Plain,  in  the 
county  of  Litchfield,  for  the  consideration  of  an  agreement  and  promise  made 
with,  and  to,  my  honored  father,  John  Davies,  late  of  Birch  Plain,  in  said 
Litchfield,  deceased,    and  for  the  love  and  affection  I  have  and  bear  towards 


294  nisTonv    of    ancient    woodbuut. 

the  people  of  the  church  of  England,  now  in  said  town  of  Wawinj^fon,  and 
securing  and  settling  the  service  and  worship  of  God  among  us,  according  to 
the  usage  of  our  most  excellent  Episcopal  Church,  whenever  there  shall  be  one 
legally  organized  in  said  Washington,  and  all  times  forever  hereafter,  do  there- 
fore demise,"  fcc. 

Tlic  measurement  of  the  land,  as  described  in  the  deed,'mupt  have 
been  ecjual  to  ninety-six  square  rods,  and  it  was  restricted  to  being 
used  for  a  pubHc  burying-ground,  and  for  the  purpose  of  having  a 
suitable  phvce  of  worship  erected  upon  it.  The  same  condition  was 
annexed  to  it  as  that  which  was  expressed  in  the  deed  given  by  his 
father  to  the  church  in  Litchfiekl,  viz.,  the  requirement  of  one  'pep'per 
corn  to  be  paid  annually  on  the  feast  of  St.  Michael  the  Archangel, 
if  demanded.  The  above  deed  was  given  on  the  22d  of  January, 
1794.  Upon  the  ground,  principally  at  his  own  expense,  an  Episco- 
pal church  was  subsequently  erected.  Aged  and  infirm,  and  seated 
in  an  arm-chair,  at  the  door  of  his  house,  he  witnessed  the  raising  of 
the  edifice  with  a  feeling  similar  to  that  of  pious  Simeon,  when  he 
said,  "  Lord,  now  lettest  thou  thy  servant  depart  in  peace."  He 
survived  about  three  years,  and  at  the  age  of  eighty-six  years,  he 
died  on  the  19th  of  May,  1797,  and  was  buried  in  the  family  grave- 
yard in  Davies'  Hollow. 

The  first  entry  of  services  in  Judea,  made  in  the  Notitia  Parochi- 
alis  of  the  Rev.  Thomas  Davis,  is  this:  "  1764,  April  11,  Judeah, 
[preached  from]  1  John  ii :  1*2,  John  iii :  8,  the  Colony  Fast." 

The  following  are  the  first  records  of  baptisms  ;  "  17G4,  August 
28th,  Judeah,  1  Peter  iv  :  18,  baptized  a  daughter  of  Mrs.  Ingram. 
1765,  April  17th,  Colony  Fast,  Judeah,  Micah,  vi :  8,  christened  a 
daughter  of  Abel  Mix." 

As  the  number  of  inhabitants  had  decreased  in  Davies'  Hollow, 
and  most  of  the  parishioners  lived  in  other  parts  of  the  town,  it  was 
thought  best  to  move  the  church  edifice  to  its  present  site.  Finally 
by  consent  of  the  Davies  family,  now  very  few,  it  was  removed  in  the 
year  of  our  Lord,  1813.  It  received  the  name  "  St.  John's."  It  has 
gallantly  persevered  among  discouraging  circumstances,  and  because 
of  only  occasional  services,  at  one  time,  not  oftener  than  once  in  three 
months,  then  once  in  six  weeks,  it  has  not  enjoyed  any  large  increase. 
It  now  has  services  on  every  other  Sunday.  The  following  is  a  copy 
of  the  rector's  report  to  the  lit.  Rev.  Bishop,  in  1853,  for  the  year 
last  past : 

"  The  Rev.'  James  L.  Scott,  Rector. 
"  Families,  33.     Baptisms — infants,   5.     Confirmations,  6.     Communicants, 


HISTORY     OF     ANCIENT     WOODBURY.  295 

hdded  anew,  6.  Lost  by  removal,  1  ;  by  death,  2.  Present  number,  35.  Bu- 
rials, 6.  Sunday  School  Teachers,  3  ;  Scholars,  15.  Missionary  and  charita- 
ble contributions,  $24.50,"  exclusive  of  the  communion  offerings. 

There  is  another  Episcopal  church  within  the  Hmits  of  the  town  of 
Washington,  usually  known  as  "  St  Andrew's,  New  Preston."  The 
first  church  edifice  stood  in  the  village  called  "  "Waraumaug"  or 
"  Upper  City."  It  was  built  before  the  Eevolution,  and  during  that 
period  was  unused,  or  rarely  used,  and  finally  pulled  down.  In  179G, 
the  Episcopalians  of  the  neighborhood  purchased  the  building  former- 
ly occupied  by  Jemima  Wilkinson  and  her  followers,  situated  about 
two  miles  south,  and  just  within  the  limits  of  New  Milford. 

This  parish  is  also  under  obligation  to  the  missionary  labors  of  the 
Rev.  Thomas  Davies,  A.  M.  In  a  letter  written  June  25th,  1764, 
this  indefatigable  clergyman  writes :  "  In  New  Preston,  a  parish  in 
Kent,  they  have  most  of  the  materials  for  building  a  church,  which 
they  determine  to  erect  and  finish  next  summer,  45  by  35."  This  is 
probably  an  allusion  to  the  church  which  was  built  in  Waraumaug. 
New  Preston  is  not  a  parish  in  Kent,  but  as  a  school  society  includes 
a  part  of  Kent,  New  Milford  and  Washington. 

The  first  record  of  ministerial  acts  in  New  Preston,  found  in  the 
Notitia  Parochialis  of  Rev.  Thomas  Davies,  A.  M.,  is  the  following : 
"  1764,  January  4,  New  Preston,  a  lecture,  Matthew  xxii :  14,  bapti- 
zed Ephraim,  son  of  H.  Dean,  Margaret  Ann  of  Sharp."  Same  year, 
"  June  2,  East  Greenwich,  Heb.  ii :  3,  baptized  Freelove  Reney,  a 
daughter  of  Zadock  Bostwick,  a  daughter  of  Stephen  Lee,  and  a 
child  of  Morgan's  son-in-law." 

The  meeting-house  formerly  used  by  Jemima  Wilkinson,  was  oc- 
cupied by  the  churchmen  till  about  A.  D.  1822,  when  the  substantial 
brick  building,  now  standing  in  Marbledale,  was  finished  and  conse- 
crated by  the  Rt.  Rev.  T.  C.  Brownell,  D.  D.,  LL.  D.  The  history 
of  this  parish  is  like  that  of  most  other  Episcopal  parishes  in  the 
land,  one  of  severe  struggle  and  hardship.  But  now  it  is  gaining  a 
strong  footing,  and  will  soon,  to  all  appearance,  be  equal  to  most 
country  parishes,  in  numbers  and  prosperity.  A  parsonage  and 
grounds  have  of  late,  (Easter  Monday,  1853,)  been  presented  to  the 
parish  by  the  Rev.  N.  S.  Wheaton,  D.  D.,  who  is  a  native  of  this  town, 
and  owns  this  as  his  native  parish.  The  i^resent  church  edifice  will 
probably  be  soon  enlarged,  in  order  to  supply  the  increased  demand 
for  pews.  The  Rev.  David  Baldwin  preached  his  first  sermon  in 
this  parish,  probably  in  the  old  building  once  standing  in  the  "  Upper 
City."     We  find  on  the  records,  under  date  April  4th,  1785,  that 


296  niSTORY     OF    ancient     WOODBURY. 

"the  committee  reported  that  we  can  have  Mi*.  Baldwin,  if  he  can 
not  form  his  mission  nearer  his  home,  Sec,  and  that  he  will  preach  to 
to  us  for  25.  Gd.  per  day  as  a  candidate."  The  preaching  was  proba- 
bly a  reading  of  printed  sermons,  and  "  a  candidate"  was  probably  a 
candidate  for  holy  orders. 

The  following  is  a  transcript  from  the  records,  and  is  probably  a 
note  of  the  first  organization  of  the  parish.  The  "  East  Greenwich" 
spoken  of,  was  a  part  of  the  present  town  of  Warren,  near  which  the 
old  and  first  church  stood. 

"June  ye  2G  Ad.  17S4. 

"  the  Inhabitants  of  New-preston  and  Eastgrinwitch  of  the  Denomination  of 
the  church  of  England  so  eauled  parishes,  Having  formed  them  Selves  into  a 
Lawful!  Society  acording  to  A  late  act  of  the  gineral  Assembly  of  this  State  of 
Connecticut,  We  the  Subscribors  Whose  Names  are  undor  Written  being  Desir- 
ous for  the  promoting  of  Religon  and  good  Ordor  do  acknoledg  our  Selves  to  be 
and  bcloung  to  aboue  sd  Body  and  do  by  these  Tresents  Joine  and  incorporate 
into  sd  Society  us  witness  our  Hands." 

Below  is  another  extract  from  the  records  : 

"  These  are  to  warn  all  the  Professors  of  the  Cliurch  of  England,  so  called, 
in  the  Parishes  of  New  Preston  &  East  Greenwich  to  meet  at  the  churcli  in 
New  Preston  upon  Augt  ye  23:  17S4,  at  one  o'clock  in  the  afternoon  :  First  to 
choose  a  Moderator;  2il  to  hire  preaching,  or  some  candidate  to  read  prayers  ; 
3J  to  raise  money  for  the  aforesaid  purpose,  and  to  purchase  a  Prayer  Book  and 
Bible,  and  in  what  way;  4th  to  choose  Collectors  and  all  necessary  officers  for 
said  Parishes;  .')th  in  what  way  the  meetings  shall  be  warned  for  the  future; 
6^'^  and  to  act  any  other  business  as  shall  be  necessary  for  the  aforesaid  purpose. 
"  By  order  of  the  committee, 
"  July  the  211  A.  d   17S4.  Test  by  me, 

"  Stephen  Morehouse, 
Clerk." 

The  last  report  to  the  Rt.  Rev.  Bishop,  for  the  year  ending  Jime, 
1853,  is  as  follows  : 

"  The  llev.  James  L.  Scott,  Rector. 
"  Families,  75.     Baptisms — infants,  4.     Confirmations,   2.     Communicants, 
added   anew,   5 ;  present   number,   S9.     Marriage,    1.      Burials,    7.     Sunday 
School — Teachers,  S  ;  Scholars,  45.     Missionary  and  charitable  contributions, 
exclusive  of  the  communion  offerings,  $iO  2ij." 

Of  late  years,  these  two  parishes  have  united  in  engaging  the  same 
minister,  and  have  divided  the  time  accoijding  to  their  respective 
ability  to  contribute  toward  the  salary.  During  the  last  four  years, 
services  have  been  held  alternate  Sundays  in  each  parish,  but  St. 
Andrew's,  New  Preston,  will  probably  soon  have  the  entire  service 
of  a  clergyman. 


HISTORY     OF     ANCIENT     WOODBURY.  297 

The  names  of  some  of  the  clergymen  who  have  officiated  are  Clark, 
Baldwin,  Benham,  Marsh,  Jones,  Andrews,  Kellogg,  Lucas,  Atwater, 
Huntington,  Gordon,  Hitchcock,  Sherman,  Long  and  Scott. 

Episcopal  Church,  Bethlem. 

A  few  families  from  Newtown  moved  into  this  town  in  the  early 
part  of  the  present  century,  who  were  churchmen.  These,  joined  by 
some  of  the  former  inhabitants,  organized  a  parish,  March  30th,  1807. 
The  names  of  those  belonging  to  the  society,  at  its  first  organization, 
are  as  follows : 

Christopher  Prentice,  Benjamin  Hawley,  John  Sperry,  Michael 
Judd,  Abel  Hard,  Glover  Skidmore,  Ebenezer  L.  Thompson,  Robert 
Porter,  Samuel  Bloss,  Reuben  Tinker,  Samuel  Blackman,  Daniel 
Skidmore,  Henry  Jackson,  Amos  Lake,  David  Pulford,  and  Benja- 
min T.  Lake. 

No  church  edifice  was  erected  for  some  time,  but  the  society  voted 
January,  1829,  that  "  Robert  Porter  be  a  committee  to  circulate  a 
subscription  paper  for  the  purpose  of  raising  money  to  build  a 
church."  The  church  was  accordingly  erected,  and  occupied  some 
time  before  consecration.  On  the  23d  of  September,  1835,  it  was 
consecrated  by  the  bishop,  and  named  "  Christ  Church,  Bethlem." 
The  same  cause  prevents  an  extended  history  of  this  as  of  other  so- 
cieties, the  want  or  defectiveness  of  the  records.  It  has  been  a 
"  plurality,"  having  a  minister  to  officiate  all  the  time  but  a  few 
years  since  its  organization.  The  following  is  a  list  of  ministers  who 
have  preached  in  this  parish,  as  far  as  it  has  been  possible  to  cellect 
them,  together  with  the  date  of  the  commencement  of  their  labors. 


Rev. 

.  Russel  Wheeler, 

1807, 

Rev 

.  William  Watson, 

1835, 

« 

Willard  Welton, 

1814, 

" 

T.  W.  Snow, 

1837, 

ii 

Sturges  Gilbert, 

1816, 

« 

Isaac  H.  Tuttle, 

1839, 

« 

Isaac  Jones, 

1828, 

" 

Wm.  Henry  Frisbie, 

1847, 

« 

Joseph  Scott, 

1832, 

" 

Joseph  S.  Co  veil. 

1848, 

a 

John  Dowdney, 

1834, 

« 

J.  D.  Berry,  D.  D., 

1852. 

Baptist  Church,  Roxbury. 
This  churcli  was  constituted  in  South  Britain,  January  21st,  1790, 
at  the  house  of  Justus  Pierce,  by  a  meeting  of  delegates  from  several 
churches  of  the  "  Baptist  order."  Elder  Higbee,  of  Stratfield,  was 
moderator,  and  Elder  Hull,  of  Ridgefield,  clerk.  Elder  Finch,  of 
Danbury,  preached  on  the  occasion.  The  church  thus  organized, 
consisted  often  males,  and  twelve  females,  residing  at  South  Britain, 
20 


298  nisTOUY    of    ancient    woodburt. 

Roxhury  and  Zoar  Bridge,  in  Newtown.  In  April,  1794,  a  portion 
of  tliis  cliiircli,  with  others,  were  organized  into  a  new  church,  at 
Zoar  Bridge.     In  January,  1803,  the 

"  Society  aj^recd  younaniinous  to  have  IMr.  Fuller  ordained  as  an  Elder  in 
said  yoeifty." 

He  was  accordingly  ordained,  May  18th,  1803,  at  the  meeting- 
house in  Roxbury,  the  churches  represented  in  the  ordaining  council 
being  those  at  Colebrook,  Bristol,  Newtown,  Danbury,  Winchester 
and  Warren.  The  records  show  seventy  members  admitted  to  the 
church  before  Mr.  Fuller's  ordination,  and  forty-one  since.  Mr. 
Fuller  moved  to  Vermont,  in  1821. 

December  30th,  1800,  the  society  voted  to  build  a  meeting-house, 
"  a  little  this  side  of  Benjamin  Rumsey's,"  to  be  thirty  feet  long, 
twenty-five  wide,  with  ten  feet  posts.  This  building  was  finished  and 
ready  for  use  the  next  year.  It  was  turned  into  a  school-house  in 
1825,  reserving  the  right  to  hold  meetings  in  it. 

In  1809,  a  vote  was  passed  by  the  society,  "  that  the  names  of  such 
persons  as  have  certified  to  our  society,  but  have  never  attended  our 
meetings,  nor  given  any  thing  to  support  our  ministers,  be  handed 
over  to  the  presbuterian  Society's  Clerk,  as  the  names  of  persons  who 
do  not  belong  to  our  society."  From  1821  to  1833,  there  is  no  entry 
on  the  church  records.  At  the  latter  date,  there  were  twenty-one 
members  of  the  church  remaining.  Since  1833,  there  is  no  entry  on 
the  records.  The  present  number  of  members  probably  does  not  ex- 
ceed ten,  although  they  have  preaching  once  in  four  weeks,  by  Elder 
Biddle,  of  Brookfield. 

Methodist  Church,  Woodbury. 

In  1789,  Connecticut  was  visited  by  Jesse  Lee,  a  distinguished  and 
devoted  preacher  of  the  Methodist  denomination,  who  preached  all 
over  the  state,  laying  here  as  in  the  rest  of  New  England,  the  foun- 
dation of  Methodism.  This  denomination  rapidly  increased,  and  it 
has  continued  to  be  prosperous,  beyond  precedent,  till  the  present 
day.  The  church  had  gained  some  footing  in  New  York  as  early  as 
1766. 

About  the  year  1790,  before  the  general  conference  was  formed 
in  1792,  the  first  Methodist  sermon  in  Woodbury  was  preached 
in  the  open  air,  in  the  street  under  the  Rock,  on  which  the 
I^Iasonic  Hall  stands,  by  Rev.  Samuel  Wigdon,  who  was  sent  to 
preach  in  Litchfield  circuit.     This  town  was  added  to  that  circuit,  and 


HISTOKT     OF     ANCIENT     WOODBURY.  299 

there  was  occasional  preaching  here  after  that  to  ■  such  as  would 
"  hear  the  word."  The  first  class  was  formed  some  time  between  the 
date  of  the  first  sermon  and  the  year  1800.  The  church  continued 
in  a  feeble  condition  till  1812,  when  EHjah  Sherman,  senior,  better 
known  to  the  people  of  this  communion,  and  of  the  town,  by  the  name 
of  "  Father  Sherman,"  became  dissatisfied  with  the  Episcopal  church, 
on  account  of  some  difference  of  opinion,  as  is  understood,  in  relation 
to  the  adoption  of  the  Episcopal  church  constitution,  joined  the  Meth- 
odist denomination,  and  became  very  active  and  zealous  in  advancing 
its  interests.  The  exact  date  of  this  transaction  is  not  now  at  hand, 
but  he  was  appointed  the  first  regular  class  leader  in  1812.  Previ- 
ous to  this,  the  several  ministers  who  had  officiated  here,  had  fulfilled 
the  duties  of  that  office.  At  this  organization  of  the  class,  in  1812, 
the  number  of  communicants  was  forty.  From  this  time  till  1824, 
"  Father  Sherman"  threw  open  the  doors  of  his  house,  and  it  became 
the  place  of  pubhc  Avorship  for  this  church.  Having  increased  in 
numbers  and  means,  they  erected  the  first  meeting-house  on  the  site 
of  the  present  church  edifice,  in  1824.  But  the  class  and  social 
meetings  of  the  society  continued  to  be  held  at  the  house  of  Mr. 
Sherman,  till  the  erection  of  the  present  commodious  church,  in  1839. 
This  edifice  is  fui'nished  with  a  good  basement,  and  from  that  date 
the  social  meetings  of  the  church  have  been  held  in  it.  Tlie  society 
here  continued  to  constitute  a  part  of  some  other  circuit  till  1832, 
when  the  circuit  of  Woodbury  was  formed,  and  this  became  the  place 
of  residence  for  its  ministers.  Rev.  Raphael  Gilbert  was  the  first 
minister  Avho  statedly  resided  here.  This  has  continued  to  be  a  cir- 
cuit or  station,  and  the  residence  of  the  stated  minister,  ever  since. 
It  has  for  some  years  been  a  station,  and  enjoyed  the  undivided  labors 
of  a  minister.  From  the  first  meetings  in  the  dwelling  of  "  Father 
Sherman,"  the  church  has  enjoyed  a  continued  prosperity  till  the 
present  day,  and  now  numbers  within  its  folds  215  communicants. 
"The  Lord  of  the  harvest"  has  smiled  upon  it,  and  it  now  occupies  a 
useful  and  honorable  position  among  "  sister  churches." 

Methodist  Churches  in  Southbury. 

The  first  society  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church,  in  the  present 
town  of  Southbury,  was  organized  at  the  south  part  of  the  town,  on 
"George's  Hill,"  about  the  year  1803,  and  consisted  of  about  six 
members.  They  met  at  that  time  in  a  building  formerly  occupied  as 
a  school-house.  But,  in  a  few  years,  it  was  greatly  enlarged,  remod- 
eled, and  made  more  convenient  and  ample  in  its  accommodations. 


800  HISTORY     OF     ANCIENT     WOODBURY. 

The  society  continued  to  increase  in  numbers  until  the  church  was 
filled  to  its  utmost  capacity.  It  soon  became  quite  too  small  to  ac- 
commodate the  worshiping  congregation. 

In  the  year  1832,  the  society  erected  and  dedicated  a  larger  and 
more  convenient  house  in  Soutli  Britain.  There  they  worshiped 
until  the  year  1851,  when  the  edifice  was  enlarged  and  made  a  neat 
and  elegant  house  of  worship.  The  society  now  (1853)  numbers  about 
eixty-live  communicants,  and  the  church  is  well  filled  with  a  devout 
worshiping  congregation. 

The  second  society  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church  in  the  town 
was  organized  at  Southbury  several  years  ago,  and  consisted  of  one 
small  class.  About  the  same  time,  another  class,  or  small  church, 
was  organized  at  Southford.  They  worshiped  for  several  years  in  a 
small  church  which  is  now  completely  out  of  repair.  In  the  mean 
time  the  church  at  Southbury  met  in  the  brick  school-house,  and 
were  under  the  pastoral  care  of  the  Rev.  Sylvester  Smith.  In  the 
year  1847,  the  two  societies  united,  and  the  same  year  erected  a  neat 
and  commodious  church,  in  the  village  of  Southbury. 

The  church  at  Southbury  now  (1853)  numbers  sixty-five  communi- 
cants, and  their  house  of  worship  is  well  filled  with  a  respectable  and 
devoted  congregation. 

Thus  have  we  traced  the  various  forms  of  church  government  and 
religious  belief,  as  they  have  exhibited  themselves  in  our  town,  and 
are  full  of  the  conviction,  that  not  the  form,  not  the  particular  creed, 
is  of  so  much  importance  as  a  pure  heart  and  a  guileless  life  ;  and 
that  these  may  subsist,  in  full  perfection,  under  all  the  various  forms 
and  ceremonies  and  creeds  of  the  several  evangehcal  churches.  For 
this  reason  it  Avill  ever  be  a  matter  of  astonishment  to  the  lofty  intel- 
lect, the  mind  of  extended  and  liberal  views,  when  it  sees  bitter  con- 
tentions among  professing  Christians,  "  about  quips  and  quibbles  and 
non-essential  points." 


CHAPTER     XVI. 

ECCLESIASTICAL    HISTORY    CONTINUED    FROM    CHAPTER    VIII. 

17G0  TO  1853;  Rev.  Noah  Benedict  settled,  1760;  Half-way  Covenant 
System  abolished,  17G0 ;  State  of  the  Church  ;  Rev.  Worthinston 
Wright  settled  Colleague  v^^ith  Mr.  Benedict,  1811,  and  dismissed, 
1813;  Death  of  Mr.  Benedict,  1813;  His  Character;  Rev.  Henry  P. 
Strong  settled,  1814 — dismissed,  1816 ;  Rev.  Samuel  R,  Andrew  in- 
stalled Pastor,  1817 — dismissed  1846;  Third  Church  dedicated  1819; 
Sketch  of  Mr.  Andrew's  Life;  Rev.  Lucius  Curtis  settled,  1846; 
Church  Statistics  ;  Ministerial  Fund  ;  Hon.  Noah  B.  Benedict's  Devisk 
to  the  Society  ;  Remarks. 

In  a  former  chapter  we  traced  the  history  of  the  "  Second  Church 
in  Stratford,"  or  first  church  in  Woodbury,  from  its  commencement, 
its  stormy  origin,  for  ninety  years,  "  down  the  stream  of  time."  In 
the  early  part  of  17G0,  Mr.  Stoddard  having  become  very  aged,  the 
church  and  society  took  the  necessa'ry  measures  to  settle  a  colleague 
with  him.  The  matter  was  all  arranged.  Rev.  Noah  Benedict  had 
been  called,  and  the  day  for  his  ordination  had  been  appointed  before 
Mr.  Stoddard's  death.  He  was,  however,  suddenly  taken  ill,  and 
died  after  a  sickness  of  two  days,  not  long  before  the  day  of  ordina- 
tion. This  event  took  place  October  22d,  1760.  It  is  thus  recorded 
on  the  church  records  by  Mr.  Benedict : 

"  October  22,  1700.  This  Day  was  ordained  to  the  Work  of  the  Ministry,  in 
the  first  Society  in  Woodbury, 

on  the  call  of  the  Church  and  Congregation  :  the  Sermon  was  preachd  by  the 
Rev.  Mr:  Bellamy  from  1  Tim.  5,  21,  the  ordaining  Prayer  and  Charge  by  Rer. 
Mr:  Graham,  the  right  hand  of  fellowship  by  Rev.  Mr.  Brinsmade,  the  conclu- 
ding Prayer  by  Rev.  Mr:  Canfield." 

It  is  to  be  noted,  that  the  church  did  not  go  out  of  town  for  minis- 
ters to  assist  in  the  ordination  services.     The  four  ministers  men- 


302  II  I  S  T  O  K  Y     OF     ANCIENT     "WOODBURY. 

tionctl  veiv  all  then  sfttled  within  the  limits  of  the  ancient  town,  and 
reinainod  with  their  people  till  the  death  of  each  separated  them 
from  all  earthly  friends. 

At  the  death  of  Mr.  Stoddard,  the  half-way  covenant  system  was 
not  yet  done  away.  He,  as  w(;ll  as  his  father,  Rev.  Solomon  Stod- 
dard, were  advocates  of  the  system,  though  Rev.  Mr.  Edwards,  the 
grandson  of  the  latter,  taking  a  different  view  of  the  matter,  had 
done  so  much  to  overthrow  it,  wherever  it  existed.  As  we  have 
seen,  it  had  been  voted  out  of  Mr.  Bellamy's  church  nearly  twenty 
years  before.  It  existed  here  only  in  a  mild,  or  rather  a  strict  form. 
Many  of  the  church  had  for  some  years  been  against  the  practice, 
yet  from  respect  to  their  aged  and  beloved  pastor,  they  had  "  held 
their  peace."  But  Mr.  Stoddard  was  now  dead,  and  the  system  was 
not  in  accordance  with  Mr.  Benedict's  views.  Within  two  weeks, 
therefore,  after  his  settlement,  we  find  the  following  action  on  the  part 
of  the  church : 

"  Nov.  6,  17G0.  At  a  meeting  of  tlie  Members  of  the  Clih.  at  the  Meeting 
House,  the  following  things  were  voted,  (viz.) 

"  1st  that  Baptism  and  the  Lord's  Supper  are  seals  of  the  Covenant  of  Grace. 

"  21y,  that  the  Covenant  of  Grace  is  but  one  Covenant. 

"  31y,  that  whosoever  makes  a  credible  Profession,  that  he  believes  and  em- 
braces the  covenant  of  Grace,  and  appears  to  walk  accordingly,  has  a  right  to 
Sealing  ordinances. 

"  41y,  that  he,  that  has  a  right  to  Sealing  ordiiiiinces  for  himself,  has  also  a 
right  to  Baptism  for  his  children. 

"  51y,  that  the  Lord's  Supper  is  not  more  holy  than  Baptism. 

"  It  was  likewise  voated,  that  those  Persons,  that  had  own^  the  Covenant, 
and  yet  had  absented  themselves  from  the  Lord's  Supper,  had  own"^  a  Cove- 
nant of  Grace,  and  upon  their  manifesting  that  they  mean  to  be  understood  as 
having  own'l  a  Covenant  of  Grace,  shall  be  looked  upon  as  Members  in  com- 
pleat  Standing,  and  admitted  to  the  Seals  of  the  Covenant." 

This  was  a  mild  way  of  getting  rid  of  the  practice.  As  these 
half-way  members  had  professed  and  taken  upon  themselves  precisely 
the  same  covenant  as  the  members  in  full  communion,  they  were  now 
called  to  show  whether  they  had  made  that  profession  sincerely  or 
not.  If  so,  they  were  members  in  "complete  standing,"  like  the  rest 
of  the  church ;  if  not,  then  they  w^ere  entitled  to  no  privileges  from 
the  step  they  had  taken.  At  the  same  meeting  a  covenant  and  pro- 
fession of  faith  were  drawn  up  and  approved  by  the  church,  which 
with  slight  verbal  alterations  is  the  same  now  used  by  the  church  on 
the  admission  of  members.  It  is  a  fact  worthy  of  notice,  that  the 
first  church  covenant,  adopted  by  our  fathers  just  before  removing 
into  this   wilderness,  stood  unaltered  for  the  long  space  of  ninety 


HISTORY     OF     ANCIENT     AV  GOD  BURY.  303 

years,  and  that  the  second,  the  one  now  in  use,  is  the  same  adopted 
ninety -three  years  ago. 

Mr.  Benedict  spent  a  long  and  useful  life  among  his  people.  Few 
contests,  or  differences  in  feeling  and  action,  arose  among  the  people 
of  his  charge,  during  the  long  period  of  his  ministrations,  till  near 
its  close.  This  was  a  controversy  in  regard  to  the  location  and  build- 
ing of  the  third  meeting-house.  That  everlasting  source  of  bitter 
animosity  and  mischief,  the  location  of  public  buildings,  was  the  only 
thing  that  disturbed  the  serenity  and  happiness  of  a  period  of  pasto- 
ral labor  extending  through  more  than  half  a  century.  But  he 
lived  not  to  see  the  heat  of  the  battle,  having  departed  this  life  about 
three  years  before  the  final  disruption  of  his  church.  He  died  April 
20,  1813,  in  the  seventy-sixth  year  of  his  age,  and  the  fifty -third  of 
his  ministry.  The  church  was  prosperous  under  his  administration 
of  the  ordinances.  The  number  of  persons  admitted  to  the  com- 
munion of  the  church  under  his  pastoral  care,  was  272,  and  758 
persons  were  baptized.     The  following  were  chosen  deacons  : 

Capt.  Gideon  Stoddard,  August  19th,  1767  ;  Clement  Minor,  Feb- 
ruary 10th,  1773  ;  Jonah  Minor,  October  1st,  1782  ;  Matthew  Minor, 
November  25th,  1793;  Daniel  Huntingdon,  November  25th,  1793; 
Nathan  Atwood,  January  4th,  1803;  Ens.  Seth  Minor,  Jr.,  Septem- 
ber 26th,  1805  ;  Benjamin  Judson,  Jr.,  August  31st,  1806. 

There  were  several  revivals  of  religion  under  Mr.  Benedict's  min- 
istry, the  last  near  the  close  of  his  earthly  labors. 

As  early  as  1810,  the  society  gave  Rev.  Gordon  Hall  a  call  to 
settle  as  colleague  with  Mr.  Benedict,  with  a  salary  of  $G00,  but  he 
did  not  see  fit  to  accept  the  invitation.  During  the  same  year,  the 
same  offer  was  made  to  Rev.  "Worthington  Wright.  He  accepted 
the  call,  and  was  ordained  as  colleague  to  Mr.  Benedict,  on  the  last 
"Wednesday  of  January,  1811,  and  dismissed  early  in  1813,  at  his 
own  request,  before  Mr.  Benedict's  death,  on  account  of  an  affection 
of  the  eyes,  which  prevented  his  application  to  study.  After  his 
ordination,  the  ministers  present  on  that  occasion,  among  whom  were 
Dr.  Beecher,  President  Tyler,  Rev.  Mr.  Swift,  Rev.  Mr.  Clark,  Dr. 
Backus,  Rev.  Philo  Judson  and  the  newly  ordained  minister,  retired 
to  Bethel  Rock,  and  there  held  a  prayer-meeting,  in  imitation  of  the 
early  fathers,  who  amid  the  dangers  which  beset  the  early  settlers, 
retired  to  this  secluded  dell  for  the  same  purpose.' 

Shortly  after  Mr.   Wright's  dismission,  Mr.  Benedict  was  called 

1  Rev.  Philo  Judson  informed  the  author  of  this  incident. 


304  IIISTORV     Ol-     ANCIENT     WOODBURY. 

Worn  this  earthly  scene  of  toil  and  labor.  He  was  a  man  of  sound 
l)icly,  and  of  great  dignity  and  amiability  of  character.  He  held  an 
honored  place  in  the  aftections  of  his  people.  He  was  successful  as 
a  spiritual  teacher,  and  was  followed  to  the  tomb  by  his  parishioners, 
with  hearts  throbbing  with  grief.  This  church  has  been  noted  for 
the  lenjrth  of  time  it  has  enjoyed  the  services  of  its  ministers.  There 
is.  pcihaps,  no  other  instance  in  the  country,  where  a  church  has 
been  presided  over  by  three  pastors,  as  has  been  the  case  with  this, 
for  the  long  period  of  143  years. 

Mr.  Benedict  was  a  native  of  Danbury,  and  graduated  at  Nassau 
Hall,  in  1757.  He  received  the  degree  of  Master  of  Arts  ad  eun- 
di'in  from  Yale  College,  in  1760,  and  was  a  fellow  of  that  institution 
from  1801  to  1812. 

"  Mr.  Benedict  was  spoken  of,  during  his  life,  and  is  remembered,  as  one  of 
the  I'iiii-fst  specimens  of  the  good  clergymen  of  Gormecticut.  Constitutionally 
he  had  a  well-balanced  mind;  singularly  discreet  and  exemplary  in  his  every- 
day deportment,  and  in  all  the  relations  of  life  ;  as  a  preacher  and  counselor,  he 
held  a  high  rank.  His  temper  was  even,  and  his  condition  was  placid  and  easy. 
Tciui)tations  he  was  cautious,  and  even  zealous,  to  put,  if  possible,  out  of  his 
way.  He  once  had  a  favorite  horse,  young,  sound,  gentle,  active  and  graceful ; 
the  animal  was  admired  by  his  rider's  parishioners.  But  Mr.  Benedict,  to  the 
surprise  of  all,  sold  the  liorse.  A  neighbor  expressed  his  astonishment  at  the 
event,  ami  iiuiuin'd  the  reason  of  it.  '  He  was  growing  unruly,'  was  the  grave 
pastor's  re])ly.  '  But  I  thought,'  said  the  man,  '  that  he  was  a  very  orderly 
horse.'  '  No,'  was  the  rejoinder,  '  he  was  growing  quite  unruly;  he  once  got 
into  the  pulpit,  and  I  thought  it  was  time  to  part  with  him.'  This  minister 
was  blessed  in  his  family,  and  honored  in  the  alliances  of  his  children  by  mar- 
riage, and  by  their  eminent  usefulness,  and  the  distinctions  to  which  they  at- 
tained in  public  offices  and  employments.  His  people  never  desired  his  sepa- 
ration from  them;  death  effected  it  in  the  year,  1S13.  He  lives  in  the  sweet 
and  grateful  remembrance  of  the  aged  in  liis  parish,  and  out  of  it;  and  the 
present  generation  of  Woodbury  have  heard  from  the  reverential  and  affection- 
ate, the  story  of  his  goodness."! 

After  the  death  of  Mr.  Benedict,  Rev.  Dr.  Tyler  was  appointed 
moderator  of  the  church,  and  continued  in  that  office,  till  May  25th, 
1814,  when  Rev.  Henry  P.  Strong,  a  native  of  Sali.sbury,  was  in- 
stalled pastor  over  the  church.  He  was  dismissed,  January,  1816, 
less  than  two  years  after  his  ordination.  In  some  particulars,  he  was 
not  fitted  for  his  holy  calling.  It  did  not  engage  his  careful,  or  best 
attention.  He  appeared  to  be  much  more  interested  in  having  the 
best  animals  of  the  male  gender,  of  all  the  domestic  kinds,  than  in 


1  l!cv.  Dr.  SIcEwen's  Discourse  at  Litchfield,  1852,  p.  74. 


HISTORY     OF     ANCIENT     WOODBURY.  305 

advancing  the  interests  of  his  "  Master  in  the  vineyard  of  the  Lord." 
The  church  and  people  of  the  town  will  always  recollect  him,  for 
one  thing,  with  no  great  pleasure,  and  that  is  the  loss,  through  his 
heedless  recklessness,  of  a  valuable  volume  of  church  records,  con- 
taining, among  other  things,  a  complete  list  of  marriages  for  nearly 
150  yeai's.  That  loss  has  been  severely  felt  by  business  and  other 
men,  and  can  never  be  repaired.  Thirty-eight  persons  were  admit- 
ted to  the  church  in  the  interval  between  Mr.  Benedict's  death,  and 
the  settlement  of  Mr.  Andrew. 

After  the  dismissal  of  Mr.  Strong,  Rev.  Fosdick  Harrison  was 
appointed  moderator  of  the  church,  till  the  installation  of  Rev.  Sam- 
uel R.  Andrew,  after  a  unanimous  call  of  the  church  and  society,  as 
pastor  over  this  church  and  people,  October  8th,  1817.  He  preached 
his  farewell  discourse,  January  4th,  1846,  and  was  dismissed  during 
the  same  year,  on  account  of  failing  health.  The  division  in  the 
church,  caused  by  disagreement  about  the  location  of  the  new  meet- 
ing-house, had  ended  in  the  formation  of  another  church  before  his 
installation  into  the  pastoral  office,  and  the  church,  under  his  care, 
for  nearly  twenty-nine  years,  continued  to  enjoy  uninterrupted  peace 
and  prosperity.  Two  hundred  and  sixty-three  members  were  added 
to  the  communion  of  the  church,  and  two  hundred  and  forty-three 
persons  were  by  him  baptized.  The  present  church  edifice  was  dedi- 
cated to  the  purposes  of  public  worship,  January  13th,  1819,  seventy- 
two  years  after  the  dedication  of  the  second  church.  Three  revivals 
of  religion  took  place  during  his  ministry,  in  one  of  which  forty  per- 
sons became  converts,  and  twenty-six  joined  the  church  on  one  day, 
being  the  largest  number  by  one,  that  has  ever  joined  the  church  on 
one  occasion,  since  its  organization  in  1670.  During  his  ministry, 
three  deacons  were  appointed — Judson  Blackman,  July  2d,  1818, 
Eli  Summers,  1830,  and  Truman  Minor,  June  29th,  1838. 

Mr.  Andrew  is  the  only  son  of  Samuel  Andrew,  who  was  grand- 
son of  Rev.  Samuel  Andrew  of  Milford,  one  of  the  founders  of  Yale 
College,  a  fellow  and  pro  tempore  a  rector  of  that  institution,  and 
for  fifty  years  pastor  of  the  first  church  in  Milford.  Mr.  Andrew- 
was  boi'n  at  Milford,  May,  1787,  and  graduated  at  Yale  College,  in 
1807.  He  studied  law  for  a  year  or  two,  and  spent  a  few  years  at 
the  South  in  editing  a  newspaper,  and  in  teaching.  He  studied 
theology  with  Rev.  B.  Pinneo,  of  Milford,  and  was  ordained  pastor 
over  this  church  in  1817.  He  was  chosen  a  fellow  of  Yale  College, 
in  1837,  which  office  he  resigned  in  1847,  on  moving  out  of  the 
county  of  Litchfield,  and  was  at  the  same  time  appointed  secretaxy 


306  nisTOUY    OF    ancient    wood  hurt. 

of  the  college,  which  office  he  still  holds.  In  1848,  he  was  chosen 
a  member  of  the  Connecticut  Academy  of  Arts  and  Sciences.  Mr. 
Andrew  now  resides  at  New  Haven,  his  health  not  allowin;.'  liini  to 
assume  a  pastoral  charge. 

Immediately  after  the  resignation  of  Mr.  Andrew,  Rev.  Lucius 
Curtis  received  a  call  from  the  church  and  society,  was  installed  pas- 
tor over  the  church,  July  8th,  1846,  and  still  remains  in  his  pastoral 
relation  to  the  people.  He  is  a  native  of  Torrington,  a  graduate  of 
"Williams  College,  class  of  1835,  and  of  the  Andover  Theological 
Seminary,  class  of  1845.  During  his  administration,  the  church  has 
been  very  prosperous,  eighty  members  having  been  added  to  its  num- 
bers, and  thirty-six  persons  baptized.  Its  present  number  of  mem- 
bers is  222,  not  including  some  twenty-five  absent  members  whose 
location  is  not  known. 

The  whole  number  of  admissions  to  the  church  since  its  organiza- 
tion in  1670,  is  1,377,  and  the  whole  number  of  baptisms,  infant  and 
'adult,  2,953. 

In  June,  1816,  a  fund  of  more  than  $6,000  was  raised  by  subscrip- 
tion among  the  members  of  the  society, 

"  To  be  and  remain  a  perpetual  fund  ;  and  the  interest  arising  thereon  shall 
he  appropriated  exclusively  to  the  support  of  a  presbyterian  minister,  to  be  ap- 
proved by  the  Association  of  ministers  in  whose  limits  we  live,  and  who  shall 
preach  the  pure  doctrines  of  the  Gospel  generally  called  Calvinistic,  or  in  con- 
formity to  the  shorter  catechism  of  the  Westminister  Assembly  of  Divines.  It 
is  also  expressly  stipulated,  that  no  part  of  the  interest  of  this  Fund,  shall  be 
applied  for  preaching  the  Gospel  in  any  house  of  publick  worship.  North  of 
the  place  fixed  for  a  Meeting  House  by  a  Committee  of  the  General  Assembly, 
appointed  in  May,  A.  D.  1814,  &  whose  report  was  accepted  in  October,  A.  D. 
1S14,  which  committee  was  composed  of  Daniel  Porter,  Daniel  St.  John. & 
Diodate  SilUman,  Esqr,  nor  South  of  the  present  Meeting  House  in  said  society." 

The  church  then  occupied  was  the  second  one  built  in  town,  which 
was  located  near  Mr.  Marshall's  hotel,  and  the  other  location  men- 
tioned above,  was  that  now  occupied  by  the  present  church  of  this 
society.  This  fund  Avill  perhaps  have  some  influence  in  preventing 
quarrels  about  the  location  of  a  meeting-house  in  future.  It  now 
amounts  to  $6,347.  Besides  this,  the  society  has  by  a  devise  in  the 
will  of  the  late  Hon.  Noah  B.  Benedict  the  right  of  reversion  to 
his  homestead,  and  some  fifteen  acres  of  valuable  land,  as  will  be 
seen  by  the  following : 

"  I  give  and  devise  to  the  First  Congregational  or  Presbyterian  Society  in 
Woodbury,  whereof  the   Rev.  Samuel  K.  Andrew  is  now  Pastor,  the  land  and 


HISTORY     OF     ANCIENT     'WOODBURY.  307 

buildings"  above  alluded  to,  "  to  be  by  said  Soriety  used  and  forever  improved 
as  a  parsonage,  and  never,  under  any  pretence,  or  supposed  benefit  whatever, 
to  be  disposed  of,  or  alienated  ;  and  any  alienation  of  the  same  by  said  Society 
shall  work  a  forfeiture  thereof,  to  my  heirs  at  law.  But  it  is  further  to  be  un- 
derstood, that  it  is  my  will,  that  the  use  of  said  property  shall  be  appropriated 
to  the  Support  of  the  preaching  of  the  Gospel  in  no  house  of  public  worship, 
farther  North  than  the  present  house,  or  Church,  which  has  been  built  within 
a  few  years,  and  is  now  occupied  by  said  Society ;  nor  shall  said  Society  take 
benefit  of  this  bequest,  if  it  shall  hereafter  cease  to  maintain  the  pure  doctrines 
of  the  Gospel,  as  now  held,  preached  and  understood  by  our  Pastor,  and  his 
people.  If  the  said  society  shall  become  extinct,  or  shall  cease  to  maintain  the 
preaching  of  the  Gospel  for  such  unreasonable  length  of  time,  as  to  show  it  is  not 
intended  permanently  to  support  the  public  worship  of  God  therein,  this  devise 
shall  cease,  and  the  estate  revert  to  my  heirs."' 

Thus  have  we  traced  the  history  of  this  branch  of  the  "  Church 
universal"  for  183  years.  It  is  the  honored  mother  of  six  useful  and 
extended  churches — six  "  well-settled  children,"  which  were  nui-tured 
in  the  "  old  homestead,"  and  have  arrived  at  a  vigorous  maturity. 
At  times,  ever  since  its  own  unquiet  infancy,  the  storm  and  the  whirl- 
wind have  passed  over  it,  but  by  the  kindness  of  Providence,  it  still 
stands  secure  and  prosperous,  in  a  '■  ripe  old  age,"  among  its  children 
and  '•  sister  churches"  of  the  various  denominations. 


l' Woodbury  Probate  Records,  vol.  16,  p.  276. 


CHAPTER    XVII. 


HISTORY    OF    THE    STRICT    CONGREGATIONAL    SOCIETY    IN 
WOODBURY. 

1816  TO  1853 ;  Differences  of  opinion  in  regard  to  thk  Location  of  a  Meet- 

ING-PIOUSE  the  occasion  OF  THE  FOUNDATION  OF  THIS  SoCIETY  ;  TwENTY 
YEARS  SPENT  IN  EFFORTS  TO  SECURE  A  NORTHERN  LOCATION  ;  COMMITTEE  OF 
1795  RECOMJIEND  THE  LOCATION  OF  THE  PRESENT  NoRTH  ChURCH  ;  CoJIMITTEE 
OF  1S14  RECOMMEND  THE  LOCATION  OF  THE  PRESENT  SoUTH  ChURCH  ;    TlIlS  NOT 

PROVING  Satisfactory,  SEVENTY-ONE  "Sign  Off,"  1814;  They  prepare  to 
BUILD  A  Church — are  stopped  by  the  State's  Attorney  ;  They  there- 
fore   PRONOUNCE    themselves    BaPTISTS,    AND    FORM  A  CONSTITUTION ;    STRICT 

Congregational  Society  incorporated,  1816 ;  Church  gathered,  by  Rev. 
Dr.  Tyler,  1816;  Church  Edifice  commenced  in  1S15 — Finished  in  ISIS — 
Dedicated,  1819;  Rev.  Grove  L.  Brownell  ordained  First  Pastor,  1S17; 
Dismissed  in  1S40 — Success  of  his  Ministry  ;  Rev.  John  Churchill  in- 
stalled, 1S40  ;  Statistics  and  State  of  the  Church  ;  Ministerial  Fi:nd. 

For  more  than  a  hundred  and  forty-six  years  after  the  gathering 
of  the  first  church  of  Woodbury,  it  had  remained  a  unit,  firm  and  un- 
divided, while  one  part  of  the  territory  of  the  town  after  another  had 
been  incorporated  into  distinct  ecclesiastical  societies,  to  accommo- 
date the  extension  of  the  town,  and  the  wants  of  its  increasing  popu- 
lation. The  ancient  church,  under  the  successive  ministrations  of  its 
first  three  worthy  and  revered  pastors,  had  enjoyed  great  peace  and 
prosperity.  But  the  first  society  had,  about  the  year  1794,  become 
thickly  settled  in  its  northern  limits,  so  that  a  majority  of  its  mem- 
bers were  located  in  that  part  of  its  territory.  The  ancient  meeting- 
house was  within  about  two  miles  of  the  southern  boundary  of  the 
society,  while  a  part  of  the  inhabitants  lived  nearly  five  miles  north 
of  the  church.  In  March,  1791,  the  feeling  to  have  a  church  edi- 
fice nearer  the  center  of  the  parish  became  decided,  and  a  vote  was 
passed  in  a  meeting  of  the  society,  111  to  81, 


HISTORY     OP     ANCIENT    WOODBURT.  309 

"To  build  a  Meeting  House  in  the  1st  Society  for  the  greater  convenience 
of  said  Society,  on  or  near  the  Northwest  corner  of  the  land  of  John  Martin, 
on  the'great  plain,  so  called." 

In  December,  ihe  same  year,  the  society  appointed  Gen.  Ilermon 
Swift,  Aaron  Austin,  Esq.,  and  Gen.  David  Smith,  then  judges  of  the 
Litchfiekl  County  Court,  a  committee  to  give  advice  "  respecting  the 
moving  of  the  old,  or  buikling  a  new  Meeting  House."  Tliis  com- 
mittee reported  in  March,  17'J5,  that  they  would  recommend  the  so- 
ciety, at  some  convenient  future  time,  to  build  a  new  meeting-house 
about  one  mile  north  of  the  old  house,  near  the  dwelling-house  of  Mr. 
Elijah  Sherman,  Sen.,  beitig  the  place  where  the  present  north  church 
stands  ;  but  advised  them  "  neither  to  hurry,  as  the  old  house  was 
comfortable,  nor  to  lay  out  more  money  in  its  repair."  On  the  7th 
of  February,  1796,  the  society 

"  Voted,  that  Noah  Judson  be  aiipointed  agent  to  draw  a  petition  to  the  next 
County  Court  for  the  appointment  of  a  Committee  to  fix  a  place  for  a  meeting- 
house in  the  1st  Society." 

The  matter  seems  to  have  been  dropped  at  this  point,  as  no  further 
action  in  regard  to  it  was  taken  in  the  society,  till  April  23,  1810, 
when  it  was 

"Voted  either  to  build  a  new  Meeting  House,  or  move  the  old  one,  between 
April  1813  and  April,  1S16,  to  such  place  as  shall  be  established  by  a  Com.mit- 
tee  appointed  by  the  General  Assembly,  said  Committee  to  fix  the^place  in  the 
month  of  January  1813." 

"  Voted,  that  Nathaniel  Bacon  and  Noah  B.  Benedict,  Esq.,  be  agents  to  pre- 
fer a  memorial  to  the  General  Assembly  for  this  purpose." 

At  the  following  May  session  of  the  Assembly,  a  committee,  con- 
sisting of  Hon.  Asher  Miller,  Hon.  Jonathan  Brace,  Birdseye  Nor- 
ton, John  Kingsbury,  and  Samuel  W.  Johnson,  Esquires,  was  ap- 
pointed, from  which  the  society's  clerk  was  to  draw  three,  and  they 
were  to  proceed  to  determine  the  matter  in  issue  according  to  the 
foregoing  vote.  But  this  arrangement  affected  nothing,  and  the  rec- 
ords show  no  farther  action  on  the  part  of  the  society  till  the  third 
Monday  of  February,  1814,  when  a  vote  passed 

"  To  build  a  new,  or  remove  the  old  Meeting  House  between  1  June,  1S14  & 
1  June,  1817,  as  the  General  Assembly's  Comtee  appointed  in  May  Session 
next  shall  determine." 

At  the  May  session,  Diodate  Silliman,  Daniel  Potter  and  Daniel 
St.  John,  were  appointed  a  committee 


310  HISTORY     OF     ANCIENT     WOODBURY. 

"  To  decide  whetluT  a  new  IIou«e  lor  public  worship  should  bo  built,  or  the 
old  one  rppaired,  and  to  fix  the  place  for  said  Meeting  house,  within  1(0  days 
from  tlie  rising  of  the  Assembly." 

This  committee  reported  to  the  General  Assembly  at  the  October 
session,  1814,  that 

"  A  new  Meeting  House  should  be  built  on  the  West  side  of  the  Highway,  at 
the  junction  of  the  Middle  Road  Turnpike,  Washington  Turnpike,  and  the 
Litchfield  County  Road,"  and  that  they  had  "  fixed  a  Stake  2  rods  North  of  the 
North  West  corner  of  Hermon  Stoddard's  Dwelling  house." 

The  location  here  inilicated,  is  that  now  occupied  by  the  South 
Con"-refTational  Church,  whidi  the  first  society  voted  unanimously  to 
build,  March  27,  1817,  after  the  secession  of  the  northern  inhabitants, 
so  that  this  house  stands  at  the  place  appointed  by  the  Assembly. 
The  northern  inhabitants  were  still  dissatisfied,  and  procured  the 
passage  of  a  vote  in  the  society,  "  to  oppose  the  acceptance  of  the  re- 
port," which  they  knew  was  to  be  made  at  the  October  session,  and 
appointed  Benjamin  Judson,  Reuben  Martin  and  William  O.  Bron- 
son,  agents  for  this  purpose.  But  the  report  was  accepted  by  the 
Assembly,  and  on  the  29th  of  November  following,  Hon.  Charles  B. 
Phelps,  Avho,  at  this  time,  acted  with  the  northern  inhabitants,  to- 
gether with  seventy  others,  lodged  a  certificate  with  the  clerk  of  the 
first  society,  giving  him  "  distinctly  to  understand,"  that 

"We  do  not  belong  to  the  first,  or  Presbyterian  Society  in  this  Town,  but 
for  conscience  and  duty  sake  do  pronounce  and  hereby  certify  whomsoever  it 
may  concern,  that  we,  and  each  of  us,  are  of  and  do  belong  to  the  sect  or  persua- 
sion denominated  Independent  and  Strict  Congregationalists,  to  follow  their  doc- 
trines and  discipline,  strictly  and  without  deviation.  You  [the  society's  clerk] 
and  your  successors  are  therefore  directed,  according  to  a  statute  law  of  this 
State,  in  sucli  case  made  and  provided,  to  consider  each  and  every  one  of  us  ever 
hereafter  as  strict  and  independent  Congregationalists,  and  distinct  from  your 
society,  and  exempt  from  all  further  taxes,  or  rates,  or  from  any  benefits  and 
immunities  of,  in  or  belonging,  in  any  view,  to  said  first  society  in  Woodbury. 

"Witness  our  hands  this  seventh  day  of  November,  A.  D.  1814." 

In  order  to  understand  the  design  and  effect  of  these  proceedings, 
a  word  in  relation  to  the  law  existing  at  that  time  is  necessary.  Be- 
fore the  constitution  of  1818,  all  the  territory  of  the  state  was  carved 
out  into  ecclesiastical  societies.  As  various  causes  led  to  the  erec- 
tion of  new  societies,  they  were,  with  few  exceptions,  incorporated 
by  the  Assembly  with  local  limits.  A  few  irregular  parishes,  ac- 
knowledging the  general  faith  of  the  churches,  made  such  by  slight 


HISTORY     OF    ANCIENT     WOODBURY.  311 

differences  of  opinion,  were,  after  1784,  designated  by  enrollment. 
With  these  few  exceptions,  which  had  been  made  for  cause,  two  dis- 
tinct societies  of  the  "  standing  order,"  were  not  allowed  to  occupy 
the  same  territory.  It  therefore  became  necessary  for  the  northern 
inhabitants  to  call  themselves  by  some  other  name  in  order  to  be  re- 
leased from  the  regular  society. 

By  an  act,  passed  in  1748,  soon  after  the  feud  between  the  "  Old 
Lights"  and  "  New  Lights"  had  agitated  the  religious  community, 
entitled  "  An  Act  directing  how  to  proceed  when  it  shall  be  neces- 
sary to  build  a  Meeting-House  for  divine  "Worship,"  it  was  provided, 
that  when  by  a  two-thirds  vote  a  society  should  declare  it  to  be  nec- 
essary to  build  a  meeting-house,  the  county  court  in  the  county  where 
the  society  was  located,  should  "  appoint  and  affix  the  place  whereon" 
the  house  should  be  erected.  It  was  further  enacted,  that  it  should 
not  be  lawful  for  any  society,  or  part  of  a  society,  "•  to  build,  or  set 
up  any  meeting-house  for  religious  worship,"  without  first  procuring 
the  ap))ointment  of  a  place  by  the  county  court,  under  penalty  of 
$134,  "  to  the  treasury  of  the  county;  to  be  recovered  before  the 
county  court,  in  the  county  where  the  transgression  is  committed." 

After  repeated  efforts  on  the  part  of  the  northern  interest,  as  we 
hj^e  seen,  to  procure  a  location,  acceptable  to  themselves,  and  for 
which  they  several  times  obtained  a  major  vote  in  the  society,  but 
never  the  necessary  two-thirds,  a  voluntary  Subscription  was  started 
by  them,  in  1814,  to  build  a  house  on  the  site  occupied  by  the 
present  North  Congregational  Church.  This  subscription  embraced 
some  persons  not  members  of  the  society,  and  a  day  was  appointed 
to  transport  the  timber  to  the  place  appointed.  At  this  crisis.  Gen. 
Elisha  Sterling,  state's  attorney  for  Litchfield  county,  addressed  a  let- 
ter to  some  of  the  leaders  in  this  project,  declaring  their  conduct  to 
be  illegal,  that  each  person  engaged  in  the  enterprise  Mould  incur  the 
penalty  of  the  statute,  and  that  it  would  become  his  duty  to  prose- 
cute the  offenders,  which  he  should  not  omit  to  do.  Accompanying 
this  letter  was  an  opinion  of  Judge  Reeve,  then  on  the  last  year  of 
his  judicial  authority,  confirming  this  position  of  Gen.  Sterling.  Dr. 
Lyman  Beecher  also  addressed  a  letter  to  some  members  of  the 
church,  remonstrating  against  these  measures,  as  inconsistent  with 
their  religious  obligations  and  duties. 

To  avoid  these  penalties,  and  the  formidable  array  of  enemies  to 
"  their  movement,"  it  was  necessary  to  take  some  other  measures. 
They  believed  that  Dr.  Beecher,  and  the  other  surrounding  clergy- 
men, were  adverse  to  their  interests,  and,  asserting  the  same  right  of 


312  niSTOKY     OF     ANCIENT     WOODBURY. 

indepciuienov,  tliat  our  Puritan  fathers  asserted  in  their  conflict  with 
ecclesiastical  and  political  power  in  P'ngland,  they  determined  to  cs- 
tahlish  a  "  church,  free  and  independent."  A  committee,  on  which 
was  Hon.  Charles  B.  rhcli)S,  was  raised  to  frame  a  constitution  for 
the  government  of  the  church  and  society.  The  first  proposition  of 
this  constitution  was, 

"  This  Chinch  under  God  is  free  and  independent  of  nil  8ynnd.«,  Consisto- 
ries, Associations,  Conventions,  Classis,  and  all  other  Eccle.-^iai^tical  authority, 
save  that  of  the  Lord  Jesus." 

In  its  o-eneral  tenor,  it  gave  large  authority  to  the  church  and  so- 
ciety, in  all  matters  relating  to  their  interests  ;  but  this  power  was 
modified  by  the  appointment  of  a  ruling  elder,  who  was,  ex  officio, 
moderator  of  all  church  meetings,  and  possessed  an  unqualified  veto 
upon  all  votes  of  the  church,  which  did  not  meet  his  approbation. 
Benjamin  Judson  was  appointed  ruling  elder,  the  name  of  the  "  Bap- 
tist Church"  was  adopted,  and  a  minister  of  that  denomination  em- 
ployed, for  a  time,  to  preach  to  the  church,  i 

In  May,  1816,  an  application  was  made  to  -the  General  Assembly 
by  this  church,  for  incorporation  into  an  ecclesiastical  society,  with 
the  same  privileges  as  other  societies,  but  it  failed.  At  the  October 
session,  the  same  year,  a  petition  signed  by  102  individuals  renewed 
the  application  for  society  privileges,  which  were  granted,  and  the  ap- 
plicants were  incorporated  by  the  name  of  the  "  Strict  Congregational 
Society"  in  Woodbury,  with  the  same  limits  as  the  fii'st  society,  leav- 
ing all  persons  within  those  limits  to  signify  in  the  month  of  March 
annually,  to  what  society  they  chose  to  belong,  by  leaving  with  the 
clerk  of  such  society,  a  certificate  to  that  effect,  which  is  by  him  en- 
rolled on  the  records  of  the  society.- 


1  Tlie  chairman  of  the  coitimittee  that  drafted  this  constitution,  informed  the  au- 
thor, that  the  theological  posUilata  advanced  in  it  "  -were  gathered  up  and  down  the 
Scriptures,  Confessions,  Catechisms,  Platforms,  Articles,  Theses  and  Creeds — where- 
ever  a  word  of  seasonable  doctrhie  could  be  found.  The  precise  amount  of  author- 
ity for  it  could  not  now  be  stated."  He  further  remarked,  that,  in  his  opinion,  not- 
withstanding this  excellent  constitution,  the  church  had  very  soon  after  their  regular 
incorporation  into  an  ecclesiastical  society,  in  1816,  by  a  process  of  ^^  tinconscious  mttr- 
iation"  relapsed  into  a  close  aflinity  with  the  "  associated  churches." 

2  The  late  Reuben  Walker,  availing  himself  of  this  privilege,  lodged  with  the  clerk 
of  the  Strict  Congregational  Society,  the  following  certificate: 

"  To  Lemau  Sherman,  Clerk  of  the  North  Society. 

Hear  the  words  of  Reuben  with  the  strictest  propriety. 
This  may  certify  to  all  who  gather  tithes, 
Tliat  Reuben  has  done  with  the  South  Societv  till  he  dies. 


HISTORY     OF     ANCIENT     WOODBURY.  313 

After  the  incorporation  of  the  new  society,  the  bitterness  of  feeling 
began  to  wear  off.  Even  before  the  incorporation,  a  committee  had 
been  appointed  by  the  south  part  of  the  first  society,  consisting  of 
Stiles  Curtiss,  John  Strong,  Esq.,  Simeon  Pearce,  .Jesse  Minor,  and 
Moses  Clark, 

"  To  meet  and  confer  with  a  committee  from  the  northern  part  of  the  society, 
on  the  situation  and  affairs  of  the  society,  and  to  devise  some  method  for  the 
reconciliation  of  the  existing  differences  in  the  same,  and  make  report." 

The  "  differences,"  however,  were  not  healed,  as  has  appeared,  and 
considerable  feeling  existed  for  many  years — in  short,  some  of  it  has 
even  reached  the  present  day.  But  it  is  mentioned  with  profound 
gratitude,  that  the  present  generation  meet  each  other  on  a  more 
generous  footing,  laying  aside,  in  a  good  degree,  the  prejudices  of 
the  "  fathers  ;"  and  the  ministers  of  the  two  societies  meet  and  ex- 
change pulpits  with  each  other,  in  the  bonds  of  true  Christian  fellow- 
ship. It  is  gratifying  to  see  this,  for  there  is  no  need  of  contention, 
and  surely  there  is  no  pleasure  or  profit  in  it.  There  is  room  enough 
for  both  societies,  and  both  are  in  a  very  flourishing  condition. 
Doubtless  there  are  at  present  more  professing  Christians  in  the  two 
churches  than  there  would  have  been  in  one.  Two  laborers  have 
effected  more  than  could  have  been  done  by  one.  Let  them  continue 
on  in  this  course,  and  show  the  world  "  how  good  and  pleasant  it  is 
for  brethren  to  dwell  together  in  unity." 

The  north  church  was  organized  December  25th,  181G.  The  per- 
sons who  composed  it  were  all  of  them  members  of  the  first  church, 
and  had  been,  at  their  own  request,  formally  dismissed  from  that 
church,  and  recommended  as  in  good  and  regular  standing,  for  the 
purpose  of  being  constituted  into  a  separate  church.  The  church 
was  formed  by  Rev.  Dr.  Tyler,  then  pastor  of  the  church  in  South 
Britain.  By  special  request,  he  came  and  preached  a  sermon,  and 
after  its  delivery  he  read  the  articles,  or  confession  of  faith,  that  had 
been  prepared,  which  were  assented  to  by  thirty-one  persons,  eleven 
males  and  twenty  females,  upon  which  he  pronounced  them  a  church. 
The  sermon  preached  on  this  occasion  was  on  Ephesians  iv.  3. 
"  Endeavoring  to  keep  the  unity  of  the  Spirit  in  the  bonds  of  peace." 
The  church  was  constituted  such,  it  seems,  by  a  voluntary  act,  on 
their  part,  in  assenting  to  certain  articles  of  faith,  and  adopting  a  mu- 


Therefore  wish  to  be  considered  not  as  one  of  the  Theologicalists, 
But  as  belonging  to  the  Strict  CoDgregationalists. 
Woodburv,  March  13th,  1818.  Reuben  Walker.' 

21 


31-i  H  I  S  T,0  H  Y     O  V     A  X  C  I  E  N  T     AV  O  O  I)  B  U  K  T  . 

tual  covenant.  The  only  ministers  present,  it  is  believed,  were  Rev. 
Dr.  Tyler  and  Rev.  Mr.  Dwight,  The  latter  was  at  this  time  offi- 
ciating]^ as  minister  to  this  peojjle.  Since  this  organization,  though 
nominally  not  connected  with  the  Litchfield  South  Consociation,  it 
has  usually  been  represented  in  its  deliberations.  During  the  year 
previous,  tlie  present  north  meeting-house  had  been  erected,  and  was 
at  the  time  of  the  organization  of  the  church,  inclosed,  but  not  fin- 
ished at  all  in  the  inside.  A  congregation  had  been  for  some  time  in 
the  habit  of  meeting  here  for  the  purpose  of  religious  worship,  and 
the  duties  of  the  ministry  had  been  discharged  by  Rev.  Mr.  "Weeks, 
afterward  Rev.  Dr.  Weeks,  of  Newark,  N.  J. 

Thus  was  the  church  constituted  and  brought  into  a  formal  exist- 
ence. As  yet,  however,  it  was  without  pastor  or  deacon.  Five  days 
after  its  organization,  Benjamin  Judson  was  chosen  deacon,  Decem- 
ber 30th,  1816,  and  Deacon  Nathaniel  Minor,  who  still  holds  that 
office,  was  chosen  the  following  year,  1817.  He  has  consequently 
discharged  the  duties  of  that  office  about  thirty-six  years. 

It  has  already  been  stated  that  the  church  edifice,  at  the  time  of 
the  organization  of  the  church,  was  only  inclosed.  It  was  not  fin- 
ished till  two  years  after  this  time.  Plain  benches  formed  the  seats 
of  the  worshipers,  and  a  few  boards  only,  an  elevation  for  the  pulpit, 
during  that  time.  It  is  believed  that  the  first  sermon  ever  preached 
in  the  house,  was  delivered  on  the  last  Sabbath  in  July,  1816,  from 
these  words  :  "  Behold  ye  trust  in  lying  wonders,  that  can  not  profit." 
Jeremiah  vii.  8. 

In  February,  1817,  came  Rev.  Grove  L.  Brownell,  who  com- 
menced preaching  to  this  church,  and  continued  to  do  so  till  the  fol- 
lowing July,  when  he  was  ordained  first  pastor  over  the  church  and 
congregation.  The  sermon  was  preached  by  Rev.  Mr.  Catlin,  of 
New  Marlborough,  Mass.,  from  1  Thessalonians  ii.  4.  "  But  as  Ave 
were  allowed  of  God  to  be  put  in  trust  with  the  gospel,  even  so  we 
speak,  not  as  pleasing  men,  but  God,  which  trieth  our  hearts."  Shortly 
after  the  formation  of  the  church,  eight  members  were  received  into 
it,  and  in  the  following  April,  eleven  more  were  added,  so  that  at  the 
ordination  of  the  first  pastor,  the  church  consisted  of  fifty  members, 
eighteen  males  and  thirty-two  females,  eleven  of  whom  had  been 
added  after  he  commenced  his  labors  here.  The  church  was  dedi- 
cated January  7th,  1819.  The  sermon  on  the  occasion  was  preached 
by  Dr.  Lyman  Beecher.  In  1821,  there  was  a  revival  of  religion  in 
the  church,  and  about  thirty  members  were  added  to  it.  In  1827, 
there  was  another  revival,  which,  from  the  records  of  the  church, 


HISTORY     OF     AXCIENT     WOODBURY.  315 

would  seem  to  have  continued  some  years.  From  1827  to  1839,  a 
period  of  about  eleven  years,  167  persons  were  added  to  the  church. 
The  following  is  taken  from  a  manuscript  sermon  of  Rev.  John 
Churchill,  present  pastor  of  the  church,  to  which  we  are  indebted  for 
a  statement  of  many  of  the  facts  in  its  history  : 

"  There  were  no  additions  to  the  church  subsequent  to  1S3S,  during  the  min- 
istry of  the  former  pastor,  (Mr.  Brownell,)  which  continued  for  nearly  twenty- 
three  years.  During  that  period  of  time  there  were  received  into  the  church  by 
profession,  under  the  ministry  of  the  former  pastor,  two  hundred  and  thirty-six 
persons,  who  may  be  regarded  as  the  proper  fruits  of  his  ministry.  Tliere  can 
be  no  better  encomium  passed  ui)on  the  labors  of  your  former  pastor,  than  that 
during  his  ministry,  he  was  tlie  honored  instrument  of  leading  236  of  your 
number,  your  relations  and  friends,  and  many  of  yourselves,  to  the  Lord  Jesus 
Christ.  No  one  can  look  at  these  fruits,  without  the  conviction  that  his  labors 
were  not  in  vain  in  the  Lord.  I  take  pleasure  in  testifying  from  the  records  of 
the  church,  and  from  living  records,  which  are  known  and  read  of  many,  that 
his  ministry  was  a  highly  useful  ministry.  It  would  be  a  matter  of  devoitt  joy 
and  thanksgiving,  could  his  successor  ever  be  permitted  to  look  back  upon  such 
proof  of  the  usefulness  of  his  labors  for  the  cause  of  Christ." 

"  Besides  those  who  were  connected  with  this  church  by  profession,  there 
were  added  to  it  under  the  ministry  of  Mr.  Brownell,  by  letters  from  other 
churches,  fifty-six,  making  the  whole  number  acjded,  from  the  time  he  began 
his  ministry,  292.  If  we  add  to  this  number,  thirty-nine,  who  were  connected 
with  the  church  when  became,  it  will  make  the  whole  number  of  persons  con- 
nected with  the  church  durhig  his  ministry,  331.  Thenumber  of  children  bap- 
tized by  liim  was  1'<S." 

Two  deacons  were  chosen  during  the  ministrations  of  Mr.  Brownell, 
Moses  Clark,  in  1821,  and  Elijah  Sherman,  Jr.,  to.succeed  him  at  his 
death,  in  1831.  Mx-.  Brownell  graduated  at  the  University  of  Ver- 
mont, in  1813,  and  received  the  degree  of  master  of  arts  from  Yale 
College,  in  1816.  He  now  resides  in  Sharon,  Conn.,  and  is  the  prin- 
cipal of  a  flourishing  academy  at  that  place. 

On  the  dismission  of  the  first  pastor.  Rev.  John  Churchill  received 
a  unanimous  call  from  the  church  and  society,  to  settle  with  them,  and 
was  installed  into  the  sacred  office,  April  22d,  1840.  Mr.  Churchill 
graduated  at  the  theological  department  of  Yale  College,  in  1889,  the 
year  preceding  his  installation  here,  and  received  the  honorary  de- 
gree of  master  of  arts  from  the  same  college  in  1844. 

Under  the  care  of  the  present  pastor,  who  has  noAV  accomplished 
his  twelfth  year  in  the  duties  of  the  ministry,  the  church  has  greatly 
prospered,  steadily  advancing  in  strength  and  numbers.  At  the  ac- 
cession of  Mr.  Churchill,  twelve  years  ago,  there  were  living,  183 
members  of  the  church.     Of  these,  thirty  have  died,  and  thirty-one 


316      niSTORT  OP  ANCIENT  WOODBURY. 

have  bo(>n  dismispod  to  other  churches,  leaving  now  122  members, 
that  were  such  before  that  date.  During  his  ministry,  165  persona 
have  been  added  to  the  churdi,  thirteen  of  whom  have  died,  and 
twenty-two  have  been  dismissed  to  other  churches,  leaving  130  who 
still  remain  members  of  the  church,  of  those  who  have  joined  it  with- 
in twelve  years.  The  whole  number  of  members  of  the  church,  at 
the  present  moment,  leaving  out,  as  has  been  done  in  the  foregoing 
estimates,  absent  members  of  whom  little  or  nothing  is  known,  is  250. 
Of  absent  members  not  included  in  the  above  statistics,  there  are 
some  fifteen  or  twenty.  There  are  but  six  persons  of  the  thirty-one 
who  formed  this  cluirch,  thirty-six  years  ago,  now  remaining  among 
the  living.  Of  the  eight  that  next  joined  the  church,  not  one  re- 
mains, and  two  only  are  living  of  the  eleven  who  joined  next  year. 
There  are  only  thirty-three  out  of  the  whole  number  of  155  who 
united  with  the  church  up  to  1830,  now  living.  More  than  125 
members  have  been  removed  by  death  since  the  church  was  organ- 
ized, thirty-six  years  ago. 

From  a  sermon  delivered  by  the  present  pastor,  in  April,  1853,  the 
following  extracts  are  taken  to  show  the  present  state,  and  also  the 
prosperity  of  the  church,  past  and  present : 

"  It  is  due  to  tlie  kind  providence  of  God,  my  friends,  to  remember  with 
gratitude  the  fact,  that  for  twelve  years,  and  even  ever  since  yoHr  organization 
as  a  society,  you  have  been  uniformly  prospered — not  always  equally,  but  still, 
more  or  less,  prospered.  Very  little,  perhaps  I  may  say  nothing  has  occurred, 
since  you  became  a  society  for  Christian  purposes,  to  disturb,  essentially,  your 
unity,  or  the  harmony  of  your  counsels  and  your  operations.  But  from  the  first 
till  now,  during  a  period  of  thirty-six  years,  you  have  had  a  very  steady  and 
uniform  prosperity.  When  this  house  was  first  erected,  you  were  comparative- 
ly few,  yet  through  the  good  resolution,  firmness,  and  self-sacrilicing  sjiirit  of 
the  men  of  that  day,  most  of  whom  have  been  gathered  to  their  fathers,  it  was 
so  far  completed  as  to  be  a  comfortable  place  for  Christian  worship,  and  at  the 
expiration  of  two  years,  it  was  finished  in  a  style  to  compare  with  the  churches 
of  that  day.  Under  these  favorable  auspices,  your  numbers,  as  your  popula- 
tion, increased,  and  during  almost  the  entire  ministry  of  my  predecessor,  to 
whom  I  have  not  a  doubt,  we  are  all  of  us  indebted,  for,  at  least,  a  considera- 
ble portion  of  the  harmony  and  prosperity  that  we  have  enjoyed  here,  your 
course  was  onward.  You  were  not  broken  up  by  divisions  of  sentiment,  or  by 
changes  in  the  pastoral  office ;  and  in  consequence  of  frequent  revivals  of  reli- 
gion during  all  that  period,  you  were  decidedly  strengthened  as  a  society. 
*  *  •  «  *  *  * 

"  Our  peace  has  been  mostly  uniform — never  seriously  broken — and,  conse- 
quently, we  have  been  able  to  go  on  in  the  ordinary  use  of  the  means  of  grace, 
without  having  to  turn  aside  and  rectify  evils  among  ourselves.  Our  meetings 
as  a  church,  have  no*,  been,  except  in  a  very  few  instances,  meetings  for  the 
settlement  of  difficulties,  but  for  spiritual  edification.     This  has  been  true  of 


HISTORY     OF     ANCIENT     -VVOODBURY.  317 

US  for  the  past  twelve  years,  to  an  extent  that  is  by  no  means  common  among  the 
churches  throughout  the  country,  and  it  should  be  regarded  as  an  occasion  for 
gratitude  and  praise  to  God." 

"  Such  indeed  has  been  the  spiritual  prosperity  of  this  church  during  the 
past  twelve  years,  that  we  now  have  nearly  the  whole  adult  portion  of  the  con- 
gregation included  in  the  church,  or  among  those  who  entt-rtain  the  hope  of 
salvation.  It  is  confidently  believed,  that  there  is  not  another  congregation  in 
the  State,  where  so  large  a  proportion  of  them  are  regarded  as  Christians — 
where  there  are  so  few  irreligious  persons  in  proportion  to  the  whole  number." 

One  deacon  has  been  appointed  during  the  ministry  of  Mr.  Church- 
ill, Reuben  H.  Hotchkiss,  November  4th,  18-42,  in  place  of  of  Dea. 
Sherman,  who  had  resigned.  In  1846,  a  commodious  chapel  was 
built  for  the  use  of  the  society  near  the  church,  and  another  in 
Hotchkissville,  for  the  use  of  the  people  of  that  neighborhood. 

In  1821,  a  fund  of  $5,163  was  raised  by  subscription  among  the 
members  of  the  society,  to 

"  Be  and  remain  a  perpetual  fund,  and  the  interest  arising  thereon  shall  be 
appropriated  and  applied  exclusively  for  the  support  of  a  Minister  to  be  ap- 
proved by  the  association  of  Ministers  within  the  limits  of  which  we  live,  and 
who  shall  preach  the  pure  doctrines  of  the  Gospel,  generally  called  Calvinis- 
tick,  or  in  conformity  to  the  Shorter  Catechism  of  the  Westminster  Assembly 
of  Divines;  and  no  Minister  shall  be  entitled  to  receive  support  from  this  fund, 
unless  he  is  approved  by  three-fourths  of  the  male  members  of  the  church  in 
the  aforesaid  Society.  And  it  is  explicitly  stipulated,  that  the  ihterest  of  this 
fund  shall  be  applied  for  preaching  the  Gospel,  in  the  present  Meeting  House 
of  said  Society,  or  in  a  house  erected  for  public  worship  at  the  same  place 
where  their  said  Meeting  House  is  now  standing,  and  that  no  part  of  such  in- 
terest shall  be  applied  for  preaching  tlie  Gospel  in  a  house  of  publick  worship 
at  any  other  place." 

On  the  failure  of  the  Eagle  Bank  in  New  Haven,  some  years  ago, 
$1,000  of  this  fund,  which  had  been  invested  in  the  stock  of  that 
bank,  was  lost.  Another  loss  of  $95  has  occurred.  There  still  re- 
mains of  the  fund,  the  income  of  Avhich  is  appropriated  for  the  purposes 
for  which  it  was  originally  raised,  $4,068.  Of  this  sum,  $500  is  m- 
vested  m  the  stock  of  the  Woodbury  Bank.  It  will  be  seen,  that 
here,  as  in  the  first  society,  the  location  of  the  present  meeting-house 
is  made  perpetual,  so  far  as  the  fund  can  do  it. 


* 


CHAPTER    XVIII. 

CIVIL    HISTORY    CONTINUED    FROM    CHAPTER    IX. 

Miscellaneous  Events  from  1775  to  1S53 ;  Slavery  ;  "  Redemptioners" — Hex. 
Matthew  Lyon  ;  Pest-Houses  ;  Approval  of  the  Constitution  of  the 
United  States,  17S7  ;  Ravages  of  Canker  Worms  ;  Public  Library,  1772, 
1823  AND  IS ')0  ;  Robbery  at  Guernsey  Town;  Obsequies  of  Washington, 
1800;  New  MiLFORD  Fever;  War  of  1812;  Hartford  Convention,  1814; 
State  Constitution,  1818;  Daniel  Bacon's  Town  Hall,  1S23;  New  Town 
Hall,  1S45;  Sectional  Feeling  ;  Burial  Customs;  New  Burial  Ground, 
1820;  North  Academy,  1846;  South  Academy,  1851;  Masonic  Lodge 
founded,  17G5  ;  Masonic  Hall,  1^39;  Fidelity  Chapter,  1S09;  Pomperaug 
Division,  S.  of  T.,  1847;  Bethel  Rock  Lodge,  I.  O.  O.  F.,  1847  ;  Woodbury 
Bank,  1851  ;  Woodbury  Savings  Bank  and  Building  Association,  1S53 ; 
Trade  and  Manufactures  ;  Remarks. 

Again  we  address  ourselves  to  the  task  of  collecting  and  treasur- 
ing up  the  isolated  facts  and  incidents  in  the  history  of  the  town, 
and  this  time  the  last,  in  this  our  undertaking.  Although  the  labor 
has  been  arduous  in  the  extreme,  as  we  have  slowly  traced  our  way 
through  the  long  years  gone  by,  yet  we  can  scarcely  leave  these  com- 
munings Avith  the  past  without  regret.  We  part  from  the  actors  and 
their  deeds  as  from  old  friends,  and  join  again  the  thronging,  rusliing 
tide  of  busy  life. 

It  will  scarcely  be  believed  by  some,  who  have  imbibed  cer- 
tain notions  so  prevalent  in  the  north,  that  Connecticut  was 
ever  a  slave  state,  and  that  in  this  sequestered  spot,  in  these  re- 
ligious Vales,  in  this  Puritanic  ''  dwelling-place  in  the  wood,"  have 
been  heard  the  "  clanking  chains  of  slavery."  Yet  it  is  but  five 
years  since  that  "  institution"  was  unconditionally  abolished  in  this 
state.  Up  to  this  time,  slavery  had  existed  in  Woodbury,  although 
it  has  been  for  many  years  reduced  to  the  person  of  one  superannua- 
ted negro,  who  was  and  is  supported  on  the  estate  of  bis  former  owner.' 

1  An  act  parsed  Jlaj-,  1848,  abolishing  slavery.  There  had  been  for  a  long  period  of 
years  but  a  few  superannuated  slaves  in  this  state,  supported  by  their  former  masters, 
or  their  families,  as  was  their  duty  to  do  by  the  statute.  One  such  instance  still  ex- 
'  »ts  in  Woodbury. 


HISTORY     OF     ANCIENT     -WOODBURY.  319 

It  will  be  difficult  for  a  portion  of  our  community  to  believe,  that  the 
sainted  Walker,  Stoddard  and  Marshall,  those  men  of  God,  those 
lights  to  the  people  in  this  wilderness  for  so  many  years,  were  slave- 
holders ;  and  yet  such  is  the  fact.  All  the  leading  men  and  men  of 
property,  in  the  early  days,  owned  slaves.  The  fact  is  attested  by 
all  our  records,  town,  probate  and  ecclesiastical.  It  is  true  that 
they  were  treated  kindly,  educated,  presented  in  baptism,  their  reli- 
gious interests  cared  for,  standing  rather  in  the  light  of  children  of 
the  household,  than  that  of  slaves  ;  yet  were  they  such,  bought  and 
sold,  and  at  the  will  and  pleasure  of  their  masters.  During  the 
whole  of  the  eighteenth  century,  the  institution  flourished  here,  though 
in  a  mild  form.  The  vai'ious  records  show,  that  a  considerable  pro- 
portion of  the  personal  estate  of  the  more  opulent  of  the  inhabitants 
consisted  of  negro  servants.  They  became  attached,  in  many  instan- 
ces, to  the  place  where  they  had  been  brought  up,  and  lingered 
around  the  "  old  homesteads,"  long  after  some  of  them  were  entitled 
to  go  free  by  virtue  of  law. 

Although  slaveiy  was  never  directly  established  by  statute  in  this 
state,  yet  it  was  introduced  in  the  seventeenth  century,  has  been  in- 
directly sanctioned  by  several  statutes,  and  frequently  recognized  by 
the  courts,  so  that  it  may  be  said  to  have  been  established  by  law. 
Importation  of  slaves  into  the  state  was  never  large,  and  in  1771, 
their  importation  was  prohibited  altogether.  In  the  war  of  the 
Revolution,  freedom  was  granted  to  all  slaves,  who  would  enlist  and 
serve  during  the  war.  To  avail  themselves  of  this  provision,  some 
twenty-five  of  their  number  in  this  town  enlisted  at  various  periods 
of  the  war,  and  made  good  soldiers,  fighting  valiantly  for  the  liber- 
ties of  the  country.  Several  of  these,  having  survived  the  perils  of 
the  war,  returned  and  resided  in  "Woodbury,  and  received  pensions 
from  the  general  government,  in  common  with  others,  for  their  mili- 
tary services. 

After  the  close  of  the  war,  in  1784,  the  legislature  to  effect  the 
gradual  abolition  of  slavery,  assuming  that  "  Policy  requires  that  the 
Abolition  of  Slavery  should  be  effected  as  soon  as  may  be  consistent 
with  the  Eights  of  Individuals  and  the  public  Safety  and  Welfare," 
enacted  that  no  negro  or  mulatto  child  born  after  the  first  day  of 
March,  1784,  should  be  held  in  servitude  longer  than  till  they  arrived 
at  the  age  of  twenty-five  years  ;  and  also  provided  for  the  emancipa- 
tion of  slaves  by  masters  without  being  liable  for  their  support  on 
application  to  the  civil  authority  of  the  town,  if  they  were  in  good 
health,  were  desii-ous  of  emancipation,  and  were  between  the  a"-es  of 


320  HISTORY     OF     ANCIKNT     WOODBURT. 

twcnly-fivc  and  forty-five  years.  To  i)revent  those  entitled  to  free- 
dom at  the  age  of  twenty -five  years  from  being  held  longer  by  imseru- 
pulous  masters,  a  statute  was  passed  in  1788,  requiring  all  masters, 
within  six  months  after  the  birth  of  each  slave,  to  send  in  to  the 
town-clerk  their  own  names,  ajid  the  names  and  ages  of  such  children, 
under  a  penalty  of  seven  dollars  for  each  month's  neglect.  In  171)7, 
children  of  slave  mothers,  born  after  August  of  that  year,  were  to  be 
free  at  the  age  of  twenty-one  years.  All  slaves,  set  free  by  their 
masters,  in  any  other  ibrm,  than  is  above  expressed,  and  all  who 
served  for  a  time,  were  to  be  supported  by  their  masters,  if  they  ever 
came  to  want.  Another  regulation  was  made,  that  no  one  should 
carry  slaves  out  of  the  state  for  sale.  In  consequence  of  these  stat- 
utes, slavery  gradually  decreased,  and  had  virtually  disappeared, 
when  in  1848,  a  statute  was  passed  abolishing  it  pro  forma. 

By  an  act  under  the  title  of  "  Arrest"  in  the  code  of  law^s  com- 
piled in  IGoO,  and  not  repealed  till  more  than  one  hundred  and  sixty- 
five  years  afterward,  it  was  provided  that  if  no  other  means  could 
be  found  to  pay  a  debt  for  which  a  debtor  was  imprisoned,  if  the 
creditor  required  it,  and  the  court  judged  it  reasonable,  the  debtor 
might  be  disposed  of  in  service  to  satisfy  the  debt.  It  is  asserted  to 
have  been  a  common  practice,  for  poor  foreigners,  who  were  unable 
to  pay  their  passage  money,  to  engage  their  passage  by  stipulating 
with  the  captain  of  the  vessel  which  brought  them  to  this  country, 
that  he  might  assign  them  in  service  to  raise  the  money  which  was 
his  due,  on  arrival  at  the  port  of  destination.  Persons  assigned  in 
this  manner,  were  called  "  Redemptioners,"  and  more  than  one  was 
so  held  in  Ancient  Woodbury.  Among  the  number  was  Matthew 
Lyon,  a  native  of  Ireland,  who  was  assigned  on  his  arrival  in  New 
York,  to  Jabez  Bacon  of  Woodbury,  who  brought  him  home,  and 
after  enjoying  his  services  for  some  time,  he  assigned  him  for  the 
remainder  of  the  1:ime  of  service  to  Hugh  Hannah  of  Litchfield, 
for  a  pair  of  stags,  valued  at  £12.  By  dint  of  sterling  native  talent, 
under  these  most  disheartening  circumstances,  he  fought  his  way  to 
fame  and  eminence,  and  was  afterward  a  member  of  Congress  from 
Vermont,  and  also  from  Kentucky.  He  was  one  of  the  number  con- 
victed under  the  famous  "  Alien  and  Sedition"  law,  and  fined,  but  the 
fine  was  subsequently  remitted  by  Congress.  Lyon's  success  furnish- 
es a  striking  example  of  the  genius  of  the  institutions  of  our  favored 
country. 

About  the  time  of  the   Revolution,  the  small-pox  was  the  great 
courge  of  the  colonies,  and  during  that  period,  the  soldiers  were 


HISTOKY     OF     ANCIENT     WOODBU: 


321 


constantly  dying  of  this  disetise.  The  returning  soldiers  frequently 
came  home  with  it,  and  scattered  it  among  their  neig-hbors  in  this 
retired  valley.  So  great  was  the  affliction  and  alarm  growing  out  of 
the  prevalence  of  this  disease,  tliat  scarcely  any  one  dared  to  under- 
take a  journey  of  any  length  without  first  being  inoculated  with  the 
small-pox.  During  the  Revolution,  upon  the  representation  of  Gen. 
Putnam  that  soldiers  should  be  inoculated,  liberty  was  granted  to 
Dr.  Isaac  Foster  to  set  up  a  house,  or  hospital  for  the  inoculation  of 
this  disease  in  Woodbury.  It  was  located  east  of  the  Orenaug  Rocks. 
In  December,  1789,  it  was  voted  that 

"  Doct.  Joseph  Perry  have  hberty  to  set  up  the  business  of  Inoculation  in 
this  town  under  such  regulations  as  a  conitee  Judge  proper  which  the  town 
should  appoint." 

He  accordingly  took  charge  of  this  business  for  many  years.  At 
the  present  day,  the  matter  is  much  more  easily  managed  by  inocu- 
lation with  the  vaccine  or  kine  pox. 

As  the  town  had  been  true  to  the  cause  of  independence,  during 
the  dark  and  gloomy  night  of  the  Revolution,  and  expended  freely  its 
blood  and  treasure  in  the  acquisition  of  free  institutions ;  so  after 
that  event  it  was  among  the  first  to  take  advantage  of  the  rights  and 
privileges  that  had  been  gained',  by  a  right  direction  of  public  opin- 
ion. On  the  12th  of  November,  1787,  after  the  fopmation  of  the 
Constitution  of  the  United  States,  and  its  presentation  for  ratification, 
a  special  town  meeting  was  called,  at  which  Hon.  Daniel  Sherman 
presided  as  moderator,  and  it  was 

"  Voted,  that  this  meeting  approve  of  the  system  of  government  recommend- 
ed by  the  Convention  of  the  United  States." 

At  the  same  meeting  Doct.  Samuel  Orton  and  Hon.  Daniel  Sher- 
man were  chosen  delegates  to  the  state  convention  at  Hartford,  for 
the  ratification  of  that  instrument,  fraught  with  so  many  interests  of 
this  widely  extended  country.  By  their  active  exertions  they  did 
much  toward  the  consummation  of  this  auspicious  event.  Though 
impressed  with  the  right  views,  and  taking  the  right  course  of  action, 
little  did  they  dream  of  the  vast  importance  of  that  action,  and  the 
glory  that  should  dawn  on  their  country  by  the  adoption  of  that  char- 
ter of  our  liberties. 

The  convention  met  at  Hartford,  January  3rd,  1788.  Woodbury 
at  this  date  had  parted  with  territory  sufficient  for  three  towns, 
Washington,  Bethlem,  and  Southbury.  These  children  of  the  old 
town  were  also  represented  in  the  convention,  and  imitated  the  ex- 


322  n  I s T o n  Y   or   ancient   w o o d u u r  y . 

ample  of  the  motlier-town.  Bellilcni  was  represented  by  Mosc- 
Hawley,  P2sq. ;  Wjisliington  by  John  Wliittlesey  and  Dani«3l  N, 
Brinsinade,  Esqrs. ;  and  Southbury  by  Benjamin  Stiles,  Esq.  Tlie 
entire  delegation  of  the  aneient  territory  gave  an  alfirniative  vote  on 
the  question  of  ratification,  showing  themselves  true  to  the  best  in- 
terests of  the  countr}',  though  the  jtroposed  constitution  met  much 
opjiosition  in  some  quarters. 

In  1791,  the  canker-worms  devoured  the  orchards,  not  only  here, 
but  all  over  the  New  England  states  ;  and  their  ravages  were  re- 
peated the  two  following  years.  Orchards  standing  in  stift'  clay  soil, 
and  in  low  grounds,  which  are  wet  in  the  spring,  escaped  ;  but  on  all 
kinds  of  light  and  dry  soil,  the  trees  were  almost  as  dry  on  the  first 
of  June,  as  on  the  first  of  January.  The  same  insect  has  this  year 
(1853)  attacked  the  orchards  in  the  same  manner,  and  with  tlie 
same  result.  The  trees  on  the  fifteenth  of  June,  Avere  as  brown  as  in 
autumn,  and  almost  entirely  stripped  of  foliage.  The  fruit  lias  been 
entirely  ruined,  although  at  the  present  writing,  (August,)  the  trees 
have  again  put  on  a  fresh  garment  of  foliage.  The  eye  of  man  could 
not  well  behold  a  denser  shower  of  vermin  than  these  trees  presented. 

In  1772,  a  public  library  for  the  use  of  those  disposed  to  avail 
themselves  of  its  advantages  was  established  in  the  town.  The  best 
information  that  Ave  have  of  it  is  contained  in  an  extract  from  a  let- 
ter Avritten  by  Rev.  Noali  Benedict  to  Dr.  Stiles,  president  of  Yale 
College,  dated  December  17th,  1798; 

"  There  is  one  public  library  in  the  Town.  It  was  set  up  in  tlie  year  17""^. 
It  contains  about  ISO  volumes,  consisting  principally  of  Books  upon  Divinity 
and  Ecclesiastical  History.  However,  there  are  other  histories,  and  some  books 
of  amusement." 

It  is  highly  probable,  that  the  "  books  of  amusement"  constituted 
no  large  proportion  of  the  library,  when  we  reflect  what  were  the 
notions  of  that  day,  and  even  they  might  not  be  classed  under  the 
head  of  "  amusement,"  Avere  we  of  the  present  day  called  upon  to 
make  the  classification.  This  library  association  Avas  broken  up  some 
time  after  1800,  and  there  Avas  nothing  of  the  kind  in  toAvn  for  some 
years  after. 

In  1823,  another  circulating  library  Avas  established  by  about  forty 
of  the  principal  inhabitants  of  the  toAvn,  under  the  name  of  tlie 
"Woodbury  Union  Library  Comjiany.  This  company  also  "  ran  Avell 
for  a  season,"  and  acquired  a  rcspcctal)le  number  of  interesting  and 
useful  books.     Like  other  human  institutions  it  had  its  rise  and  fall. 


HISTOKT     OF     AXCIEXT     -WOODBURY.  C'lo 

It  held  its  last  meeting  in  1836.  Its  books  became  scattered  among 
those  of  its  members  who  were  probably  the  best  readers,  and  finally 
went  out  in  darkness. 

The  town  depended  on  the  "  light  of  nature,"  and  the  use  of  pri- 
vate libraries,  from  this  date  till  the  organization  of  the  present 
library  in  January,  1850.  This  library  was  organized  on  a  different 
principle  from  either  of  the  others,  and  thus  far  has  prospered  be- 
yond any  former  experiment.  By  its  rules  every  book  is  to  be  re- 
turned to  the  library  on  the  first  Thursday  of  each  month  under 
severe  penalty,  so  that  each  member  may  know,  that  at  each  succeed- 
ing monthly  meeting  all  the  books  will  be  in  the  library.  The  use  of 
the  books  each  succeeding  month,  is  then  put  up  at  auction,  and 
struck  off  to  the  highest  bidder.  A  fund  is  thus  raised  without  in- 
convenience to  the  members,  sufficient  without  taxation,  which  for 
some,  reason  is  always  odious,  to  make  a  fine  addition  of  books  to  the 
library  at  each  succeeding  annual  meeting.  It  has  been  incorporated 
as  a  body  politic  and  corporate  under  a  public  statute  of  this  state, 
enacted  fur  such  purpose,  and  is  thus  enabled  to  carry  its  regulations 
into  effect.  Its  corporate  name  is  the  Woodbuiy  Library  Associa- 
tion, and  it  has  about  300  volumes  of  well  selected  books  on 
various  subjects  of  interest,  civil,  ecclesiastical  and  miscellaneous. 
Its  officers  are  Rev.  Lucius  Curtiss,  president,  "William  Cothren, 
treasurer  and  librarian,  and  Lucius  Curtiss,  William  Cothren,  George 
Drakeley,  Garwood  H.  Atwood  and  John  E.  Strong,  executive  com- 
mittee. Its  infiuence  has  been  for  good,  and  has  induced  an  increas- 
ed desire  for  reading  useful  books.  There  is  no  reason  to  doubt,  that 
if  the  present  system  is  strictly  followed,  there  will  be,  in  a  few  years, 
a  library  of  which  the  town  may  well  be  proud. 

In  the  spring  of  1778  or  1779,  an  occurrence  took  place  at  Guern- 
sey Town,  which  is  thus  related  by  Barber  in  his  Historical  Collec- 
tions of  Connecticut : 

"  A  robbery,  which  at  the  time  caused  considerable  excitement  in  the  com- 
munity, took  place  in  the  east  jiart  of  the  parish  of  Bethlem,  called  Guernsey 
Town,  in  the  spring  of  the  year  1778  or  1779,  at  the  house  of  Ebenezer  Guern- 
sey, a  wealthy  farmer.  Mr.  Guernsey  had  sold  his  farm  some  time  before,  to 
Isaac  Baldwin  of  Woodbridge,  who  had  moved  in  with  Mr.  Guernsey,  and  had 
paid  him  a  large  sum  of  money.  Mr.  Guernsey  had  a  number  of  men  in  his 
employ  in  building  a  house  on  an  adjoining  farm.  All  in  the  house  had  retired 
to  rest,  it  being  late  at  night,  except  Mr.  Baldwin  and  wife,  and  two  young  men 
who  were  in  another  room.  Two  of  the  robbers  came  in,  their  faces  being 
blackened,  one  being  armed  with  a  gun,  the  other  with  a  pistol,  and  ordered 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Baldwin  into  the  room  where  the  young  men  were,  to  be  bound, 


324  II  I  S  T  O  K  Y     OF     ANCIENT     W  O  O  D  B  U  U  Y  . 

throiU(iiiii<,'  tlu-m  with  iiiimediate  dcjuli  if  tlu'v  luiulc  any  resistance.  One  of 
the  young  men  niado  his  escape;  tli.y  iioinid  tin-  uilirr,  and  while  altemptinj; 
to  bind  Mr.  Baldwin,  who  was  a  very  active  man,  he  wnnched  the  pistol  from 
one  of  the  robbers,  at  which  the  other  attemiUed  to  slu*t  hiui,  but  he  manageil 
to  keep  behind  the  other  rubber  till  another  from  without  came  in  and  knocked 
Mr.  Baldwin  down  with  the  breech  of  a  gun,  and  wounded  him  badly.  Mr. 
Guernsey,  although  somewhat  deaf,  was  awakened  by  the  uncommon  noise, 
and  coming  into  the  room  was  knocked  down  and  had  his  skull  fractured;  the 
rest  of  the  family  made  their  escape  or  hid  themselves.  The  robbers  rifled  the 
house  of  many  valuable  things,  but  in  retiring,  dropped  Mr.  Guernsey's  pocket 
book,  which  contained  a  large  amount  of  continental  money.  One  ol  theyonng 
men  who  escajied  ran  three  miles  to  Bethlem  meeting-house,  witliout  stopping 
10  give  any  alarm."' 

Under  the  date  of  the  14th  day  of  April,  1800,  there  appears  ou 
the  town  records  the  following  interesting  vote  : 

"Voted  that  the  town  ])ay  Major  Cunningham  2^/^^,  the  expense  of  Musick 
at  thi!  time  the  death  of  Gen'  Washington  was  kept."i 

Thus  it  is  seen,  that  "Woodbury,  in  common  with  the  rest  of  our 
favored  land,  mourned  with  public  rites  the  death  of  the  "  father  of 
his  country."  Amid  the  tolling  of  bells,  and  the  booming  of  minute 
guns,  the  participation  of  our  quiet  valley  in  the  general  grief  was 
betokened.  A  public  eulogy  was  pronounced  in  commemoration  of 
the  virtues  of  the  nation's  greatest  benefactor,  and  of  the  public  grief 
at  the  country's  greatest  loss.  That  was  a  sad  day  in  the  vale  of 
"Woodbury.  No  man  in  this  country,  if  in  the  Avorld,  was  ever 
mourned  so  widely  and  sincerely  as  Washington.  In  every  part  of 
the  United  States,  the  most  distinguished  men  pronounced  eulogies 
on  his  public  and  private  character  ;  the  pulpit  spoke  forth  his  praise  ; 
and  some  mark  of  respect  was  offered  in  every  little  hamlet  in  the 
country.  •  There  is  no  extravagance  in  the  assertion,  that  a  nation 
was  in  tears  at  his  death.  There  have  been  other  men,  great  and 
popular  in  their  day  and  generation,  and  lamented  with  deep  sorrow 
at  their  death,  but  their  fame  has  soon  passed  away.  Not  so  Avith 
that  of  Washington.  His  fame  has  continued  to  grow  brighter  with 
the  lapse  of  years,  and  thus  it  shall  go  on  as  time  glides  by,  till  the 
last  great  day. 

In  1813,  the  town,  which  was  then  reduced  to  its  present  limits, 
was  visited  with  another  fatal  scourge,  or  "  Great  Sickness."  It  was 
called  the  "  New  Milford  fever,"  from  the  fact  of  its  having  first  orig- 

1  Town  Book,  vol.  1. 


HISTORY     OF     ANCIENT     -WOODBURY.  325 

inatcd  there.  The  disease  was  very  destructive  of  human  life,  ter- 
minating in  death,  apparently,  without  remedy.  Medical  aid,  for  a 
time,  seemed  to  be  of  no  avail.  After  a  while,  Doct.  Josiah  R.  East- 
man, of  Roxbury  parish,  hit  upon  a  mode  of  practice,  which  though 
not  so  scientific,  perhaps,  as  that  of  his  brethren  in  the  profession, 
proved  efficacious  in  this  disease,  and  he  was  called  to  attend  patients 
in  all  directions,  and  always  with  great  success,  till  the  disease  finally 
disappeared  late  in  the  year.  Forty-four  deaths  occurred  in  the 
present  town  of  "Woodbury  during  the  year,  while  the  number  of 
deaths  for  many  years  preceding  and  succeeding  this  date,  had  only 
been  from  ten  to  twenty-five  each  year.  The  records  show  twenty- 
two  deaths  in  Roxbury,  twenty-seven  in  Washington,  and  in  the  same 
ratio  in  Southbury.  So  that  there  were,  undoubtedly,  as  many  as 
one  hundred  and  fifty  deaths,  in  the  "  ancient  territory,"  during  this 
year.  Surely  this  was  a  sad  and  trying  time  for  the  dwellers  among 
these  verdant  hills  and  smiling  valleys. 

On  the  28th  of  June,  1812,  war  was  declared  between  the  United 
States  and  Great  Britain.  From  the  war  message  of  President  Mad- 
ison, we  learn  as  causes  for  the  declaration,  that  British  cruisers  had 
been  in  the  continual  practice  of  violating  the  American  flag  on  the 
great  highway  of  nations,  and  seizing  and  carrying  off  persons  sailing 
under  it ;  not  in  the  exercise  of  a  belligei-ent  right,  founded  on  the 
law  of  nations,  against  an  enemy,  but  of  a  municipal  prerogative  over 
British  subjects.  That  so  far  from  British  subjects  alone  being  affect- 
ed by  this  practice,  under  the  pretext  of  searching  for  these,  thousands 
of  American  citizens,  under  the  safeguard  of  national  law  and  of  their 
national  flag,  had  been  torn  from  their  country  and  everything  dear 
to  them ;  had  been  dragged  on  board  the  ships  of  war  of  a  foreign 
nation,  and  exposed,  under  the  severities  of  their  discipline,  to  be  ex- 
iled to  the  most  distant  and  deadly  climes,  to  risk  their  lives  in  the 
battles  of  their  oppressors,  and  to  be  the  melancholy  instruments  of 
taking  away  those  of  their  own  brethren.  That  British  cruisers  had 
been  in  the  practice,  also,  of  violating  the  rights  and  peace  of  our 
coasts,  hovering  over  and  harassing  our  entering  and  departing  com- 
merce. To  the  most  insulting  pretensions,  they  had  added  the  most 
lawless  proceedings  in  our  very  harbors,  and  had  wantonly  spilt  Amer- 
ican blood  within  the  sanctuary  of  our  territorial  jurisdiction.  That 
although  for  a  series  of  years  our  government  had  made  every  effort 
to  induce  England  to  discontinue  these  untenable  pretensions,  yet 
such  was  the  spectacle  of  injuries  and  indignities,  which  had  been 
heaped  upon  our  country,  and  such  the  crisis  which  its  unexampled 


326  HISTORY     OF     ANCIENT     WOODBURY. 

forboarance  and  conciliatory  efforts  had  not  been  able  to  avert.  Our 
moderation  and  forbearance  had  had  no  other  effect  than  to  encourage 
perseverance,  and  to  enlarge  pretensions.  For  these  and  other  causes, 
was  it  deemed  just  by  the  administration  of  Madison,  that  war  should 
be  proclaimed,  although  there  was  a  large  and  respectable  party, 
which  thought  that  war  might  yet  be  avoided  by  conciliation. 

During  this  conflict,  in  our  naval  warfare  against  Great  Britain, 
our  nation  had  a  gloi'ious  beginning.  Astonishment  and  mortification 
seized  the  British  at  the  brilliant  success  of  our  little  navy,  which 
they  had  so  much  despised,  and  which  added  such  glory  to  the  Ameri- 
can name.  In  the  laconic  language  of  the  gallant  Perry,  it  "  met  the 
enemy  and  they  were  ours."  Nor  were  the  operations  on  land  less 
successful  than  on  the  sea,  after  a  little  discipline  and  experience. 

During  this  war,  the  situation  of  Connecticut,  and  indeed  of  all  the 
New  England  states,  was  in  the  highest  degree  critical  and  dangerous. 
The  services  of  the  militia,  during  its  whole  continuance,  -were  ex- 
tremely severe.  They  were  constantly  taken  from  their  farms  and 
from  their  ordinary  occupations,  to  defend  the  coasts ;  and  in  addition 
to  all  the  numerous  and  severe  losses  which  this  state  of  things  pro- 
duced, they  were  further  subjected  to  the  hardships  and  dangers  of 
the  camp,  and  the  life  of  a  soldier  in  the  regular  service.  Sometimes 
whole  companies  were  called  to  march,  without  delay,  to  New  London 
and  other  exposed  places.  On  one  of  these  occasions,  a  whole  com- 
pany, the  artillery  company  of  AYashington,  under  Capt.  Nathaniel 
Farrand,  marched  to  the  former  place.  Levies  on  the  militia  in  the 
ancient  territory  were  constantly  made,  which  were  as  constantly  an- 
swered by  the  required  number  of  men.  Although  from  the  short 
terms  of  service  and  other  causes,  it  is  not  now  possible  to  determine 
how  many  from  the  territory  served  their  country  in  this  war,  yet  the 
number  is  believed  to  have  been  more  than  two  hundred.  A  hun- 
dred and  twelve  names  are  still  preserved,  and  a  list  of  them  may 
be  found  at  the  close  of  this  volume.  As  on  all  former  occasions^ 
both  while  under  the  colony,  and  under  the  government  of  the  free 
and  independent  state,  the  sons  of  Woodbury  were  found  at  the  post 
of  duty. 

Notwithstanding  the  great  services  of  Massachusetts  and  Connect- 
icut, Congress  withheld  all  sui)plies  for  the  maintenance  of  the  militia 
for  the  year  1814,  in  both  those  states,  and  thus  forced  upon  them 
the  burden  of  supporting  the  troops  employed  in  defending  their  coasts 
from  invasion,  and  their  towns  from  being  destroyed.  Meanwhile 
the  taxes  laid  by  the  general  goveniment  for  the  prosecution  of  the 


HISTORY     OF     AXCIENT     WOODBURT.  327 

war,  were  exacted  from  these  states  with  the  most  rigorous  prompt- 
ness. It  became  apparent  that  if  tlie  New  England  states  were  res- 
cued at  all  from  these  calamities,  it  must  depend,  as  far  as  human 
means  were  concerned,  upon  their  own  exertions.  The  inhabitants 
on  the  sea-coast  of  Massachusetts  spread  the  alarm,  and  early  in 
1814,  petitions  and  memorials  from  a  large  number  of  towns  were 
sent  to  the  legislature,  praying  to  be  protected  in  their  constitutional 
rights  and  privileges,  and  suggesting  the  expediency  of  appointing 
delegates, 

"  To  meet  delegates  from  such  other  states  as  miglit  think  proper  to  appoint 
them,  for  the  purj)o.=e  of  devising  proper  measures  to  procure  the  united  efforts 
of  the  commercial  states  to  obtain  such  amendments  and  explanations  of  the 
constitution,  as  will  secure  them  from  further  evils." 

The  legislature  referred  the  matter  to  a  committee,  who  reported 
in  favor  of  a  convention  of  those  states  favoring  the  enterprise,  by  a 
vote  of  220  to  67,  in  a  convention  of  both  houses. 

A  circular  was  addressed  to  the  several  states,  inviting  them  to 
meet  in  convention  with  them,  stating  the  object  of  the  convention  to 
be,  to  deliberate  upon  dangers  to  which  the  eastern  section  was  ex- 
posed by  the  course  of  the  war,  and  to  devise,  if  possible,  means  of 
security  and  defense,  which  might  be  consistent  with  the  preserva- 
tion of  their  resources  from  total  ruin,  and  not  repugnant  to  their  ob- 
ligations as  members  of  the  union  ;  and  also  to  deliberate  on  the  ques- 
tion of  amending  the  constitution  of  the  United  States.  Accordingly 
a  convention  was  agreed  upon,  to  meet  at  Hartford,  Dec.  15th,  1814, 
and  Massachusetts  sent  twelve  delegates,  Connecticut  seven,  Rhode 
Island  four,  all  appointed  by  the  several  legislatures,  and  New  Hamp- 
shire and  Vermont  three,  appointed  by  local  conventions.  These 
were  among  the  most  distinguished  men  in  the  union.  The  conven- 
tion assembled  at  the  time  appointed,  and  their  proceedings  took 
place  with  closed  doors,  though  their  journal  was  afterward  made 
public.  The  convention  immediately  published  a  report,  containing 
their  views,  which  was  extensively  circulated. 

News  of  peace  soon  after  arrived,  and  the  subjects  mooted  in  the 
convention  were  no  longer  agitated.  As  all  the  delegates  appointed 
to  the  convention  belonged  to  the  party  opposed  to  the  administra- 
tion, they  were  denounced  by  its  friends,  both  before  and  after  their 
meeting,  in  the  bitterest  terms,  as  treasonable  to  the  general  govern- 
ment, and  the  name  of  the  "  Hartford  Convention"  became,  with  the 
administration  party,  a  term  of  reproach.  "Woodbury  was  represent- 
ed in  that  convention,  in  the  person  of  the  late  distinguished  Judge 


328  HISTORY     OF     ancient     WOODBURY. 

Nathaniel  Smith,  to  whose  cool  judgment,  wise  reasoning,  and  bnrn- 
in''  eloquence,  much  may  be  attributed  in  bringing  the  determina- 
tions of  the  convention  to  a  rational  conclusion,  without  detracting 
from  the  merits  of  others.  To  the  hem  of  the  garments  of  that  pure 
patriot  and'  upright  statesman,  no  stain  attaches. 

Previous  to  September  15th,  1818,  the  state  had  continued  to  live 
under  the  charter  of  1(502,  granted  by  Charles  II.  For  some  time 
previous  to  this  date,  it  had  been  thought  by  many,  that  it  was  unbe- 
coming the  spirit  of  progress,  and  the  genius  of  our  institutions,  to  re- 
main under  a  charter  granted  by  a  king.  Others  thought  the  pro- 
visions of  the  charter  eminently  free,  and  having  for  a  long  period  of 
years  prospered  under  it,  wished  no  change,  or  at  least  none  at  the 
risk  of  what  an  attempt  at  change  might  introduce.  Parties  were 
formed  upon  the  question,  and  the  spirit  of  party  ran  high.  The  re- 
sult of  the  discussion  was  a  convention,  and  the  subsequent  adoption 
of  our  present  state  constitution. 

January  15,  1818,  the  town  of  Woodbury  acted  on  the  question, 
and,  in  a  town-meeting  held  on  that  date,  passed  the  following  vote  : 

"  That  the  representatives  of  this  town  in  the  next  General  Assembly  be  and  are 
hereby  requested  to  use  their  influence  and  exertions  that  suitable  measure!" 
be  taken  for  forming  a  written  constitution  of  civil  government  for  the  State  of 
Connecticut."! 

It  was  further  voted,  that  the  town-clerk  furnish  a  copy  of  this 
vote  to  each  of  the  representatives  to  the  May  session  of  the  General 
Assembly,  and  that  Mr.  Garry  Bacon  should  procure  and  forward  a 
like  copy  to  the  editor  of  the  Columbian  Register,  at  New  Haven,  for 
publication.  The  representatives  to  the  May  session  were  Nathan 
Preston  and  Philo  Murrey,  Esquires.  At  this  session  a  convention 
was  called  to  meet  in  August  following,  to  form  a  constitution.  Dan- 
iel Bacon,  Esq.,  and  Doct.  Nathaniel  Perry,  were  appointed  dele- 
f^ates  from  Woodbury  to  the  convention,  which  closed  its  labors  Sept 
15,  1818,  having  framed  the  constitution,  under  which  we  now  live. 

Previous  to  1823,  there  had  been  an  effort  to  locate  and  build  a 
new  town  hall  for  the  use  of  the  town,  but  as  is  usual  in  such  cases, 
a  "reat  deal  of  bickering  and  bad  feeling  had  arisen  on  the  occasion, 
and  no  conclusion  was  arrived  at.  Finally,  to  end  the  ditfu-ulty,  ]\Ir. 
Daniel  Bacon  built  a  new  two  story  building,  near  his  dwelling-house, 
now  owned  by  his  son.  Rev.  AVilliam  T.  Bacon,  and  offered  the  use 
of  the  second  story,  rent  free,  to  the  town  for  its  meetings.     At  a 


1  Town  Jonmal,  toI.  1. 


niSTORT     OF     AXCIENT     -WOODBURT.  329 

meeting  of  the   town,   Dec.   29,  1823,  Dea.   Elijah  Sherman  being 
moderator,  it  was 

"  Voted  to  adjourn  this  meeting  to  ilr.  Daniel  Bacon's  new  Building,  to  meet 
in  the  Chamber  of  s^  Building  immediately." 

This  continued  to  be  used  as  the  place  for  all  meetings  of  the 
town  till  1845,  when  the  present  commodious  town-hall  was  built. 

At  that  date,  it  was  thought  that  the  old  town-hall  did  not  answer 
the  necessities  of  the  town,  and  that  a  new  and  more  commodious 
building  should  be  erected.  In  the  conclusion  that  a  new  building 
should  be  erected,  all  agi^ed ;  but  the  location  was  quite  another 
matter.  In  this  the  "  ends"  of  the  town  were  widely  at  variance.  It 
was  an  occasion  which  could  not  pass  without  an  exhibition  of  the 
"  old  feeling,"  which  began  in  Stratford,  caused  the  settlement  of  the 
town,  showed  its  controlling  power  in  the  location  of  each  successive 
church  building  that  the  increasing  w^ants  of  the  community  demand- 
ed, and  had  finally  rent  the  church  of  God  in  twain.  A  meeting 
was  called  in  the  "  dead  of  winter,"  to  determine  the  question  of  loca- 
tion, and  after  a  spirited  debate,  a  respectable  majority  voted  to  locate 
the  building  in  the  spot  it  now  occupies.  But  there  being  a  suspi- 
cion of  unfairness  in  the  vote,  application  was  made  to  the  select- 
men to  appoint  another  meeting  to  try  the  question  anew.  The 
meeting  was  called,  and  though  Providence,  the  evening  before  the 
appointed  day,  shed  down  some  two  feet  of  snow,  enough  one  would 
think,  to  cool  the  feelings  of  the  belligerent  parties,  yet  the  high  piled 
drifts  were  penetrated  in  every  direction,  and  almost  every  legal 
voter  appeared  at  the  meeting  for  the  decision  of  the  momentous  ques- 
tion of  a  difference  in  distance  of  one  or  two  hundred  rods  !  The 
vote  was  taken  by  ballot,  and  the  former  location  ratified  by  an  in- 
creased majority. 

To  the  inhabitants  bred  and  born  in  this  goodly  valley,  this  ques- 
tion of  feet  and  inches  has  an  importance,  a  magnitude,  totally  un- 
appreciable  by  those  bom  in  a  different  latitude.  On  this  question, 
the  author,  who  is  not  to»the  "  manor  bom,"  speaks  with  a  freedom 
and  an  impartiality,  which,  in  the  eyes  of  some  of  his  readers,  may 
amount  to  recklessness ;  but  he  verily  believes,  that  he  speaks  the 
words  of  "  truth  and  soberness."  The  general  prosperity  and  advan- 
tage of  the  whole  town  are  greatly  to  be  desired,  and  it  is  most  can- 
didly conceived  that  this  infatuated  localism  is  the  bane  of  every 
scheme  for  the  town's  best  interest.  Men  of  mind  and  expanded 
views  ought  to  look  beyond  the  insignificant  toadstool  which  they 
22 


330  HISTORY    or    ancient    w  o  o  d  b  u  r  v  . 

themselves  occupy.  "Wiisliington  would  never  have  achieved  the  in- 
dependence of  the  United  States,  if  he  had  studied  the  interests,  alone, 
of  his  own  plantation,  and  the  health  and  condition  of  his  own  ne- 
groes. It  is  hy  expanded  views,  by  the  banishment  of  self,  that  great 
objects  are  accomplished.  "Woodbury  possesses  great  natural  advan- 
tages. Only  the  warring  of  localism  could  have  prevented  it  from 
availing  itself  of  the  advantages  which  God  and  nature  have  furnished 
it  with  a  lavish  hand.  No  locality  in  our  country  boasts  of  a  fairer 
heritage,  a  more  beautiful  succession  of  hills  and  dales.  Scarcely 
any  in  our  state  can  excel  us  in  agricultural  or  manufacturing  facil- 
ities. No  territory  is  richer  in  historical  associations.  None  pos- 
sess advantages  of  all  kinds,  calculated  to  awaken  a  whole  town  pride, 
more  numerous  than  ours  ;  and  yet  we  linger  behind  sister  towns,  to 
whom  nature  has  been  less  bountiful  of  her  favors.  In  all  natural 
advantages,  Woodbury  is  the  equal,  perhaps  the  superior,  of  "Water- 
bury.  In  wealth  of  intellect  and  wealth  of  purse,  Woodbury  was  the 
equal  of  Waterbury,  till  within  a  limited  number  of  years.  And  now 
Waterbury  is  a  flourishing  city,  while  Woodbury  is  traveling  in  the 
footsteps  of  its  illustrious  fathers.  What  has  caused  the  difterence  ? 
Why  has  the  one  advanced,  and  the  other  remained  almost  station- 
ary ?  It  is  because  the  one  has  had  no  localism,  that  did  not  em- 
brace the  whole  toAvn  ;  no  contention,  except  that  "  noble  contention 
of  who  best  can  labor,  best  agree."  The  inhabitants  of  the  one  have 
had  minds  expanded  enough  to  take  in  the  whole  town,  and  to  labor 
for  its  advancement ;  the  other  has  had  the  mind  fixed  on  minute  tri- 
fles, light  as  air.  The  one  has  seen  his  own  prosperity  in  that  of 
every  neighbor,  while  the  other  has  seen  the  prosperity  of  every 
other  antagonistic  to  his  own.  To  this  fell  spirit  of  localism,  in  good 
part,  may  we  attribute  the  financial  disasters  under  which  the  whole 
town  has  "  been  in  travail"  for  the  last  few  months.  A  nice  care  for 
sectional  interest  enabled  unscrupulous  financiers  to  w^ork  the  destruc- 
tion of  our  monetary  interests.  It  is  to  be  hoped  for  the  honor  of  the 
town,  and  of  the  human  race,  that  this  diseased  state  of  feeling  will 
speedily  pass  away.  It  is  believed,  and  ijientioned  with  devout  grat- 
itude to  heaven,  that  the  generation  now  coming  on  the  stage  of  ac- 
tion, as  has  been  before  asserted,  are  beginning  to  be  divested  of  these 
fatal  prejudices.  Happy  the  day,  when  not  the  ends  of  the  earth, 
but  the  ends  of  the  town,  shall  act  together  for  the  common  interests. 
We  do  not  say  that  the  millennium  will  then  have  come,  but  peace 
will  be  within  our  border*,  and  "  prosi)erity  within  our  palaces." 


I 


niSTOKY     OF     ANCIENT     WOODBURY.  331 

For  a  long  period  of  years  it  was  the  custom  of  the  people,  when 
a  death  occurred,  to  have  the  coevals  of  the  deceased  attend  the  fu- 
neral, bear  him  to  the  place  of  interment,  and  in  the  presence  of  the 
mourners,  take  turns  in  filling  the  grave.  In  small  rural  communi- 
ties, the  death  and  burial  of  an  individual  were  a  matter  of  general 
concern,  and  all  were  accustomed  to  assemble  to  take  a  last  look  at 
the  remains  of  an  associate,  and  to  pay  them  the  last  honors.  In 
earlier  years  it  was  expected  that  the  rites  of  hospitality  would  be 
dispensed  at  the  house  of  the  deceased,  and,  especially  in  the  days 
when  ardent  spirits  were  freely  used,  sometimes  scenes  of  convivial- 
ity usurped  the  place  of  real  grief  and  sober  lamentation.  But  the 
custom  of  friends  filling  the  grave,  after  a  time  became  burdensome, 
as  the  duty  was  left  to  be  performed  by  a  few,  in  all  cases,  who  felt 
called  upon  to  do  that  duty,  as  no  others  offered.  Finally,  at  the  an- 
nual town  meeting  in  October,  1826,  it  was  "voted  that  it  shall  be 
the  duty  of  the  sexton  to  fill  the  graves  at  all  burials  in  this  town." 
Accordingly,  since  that  date,  this  duty  has  been  performed  by  that 
officer. 

At  the  same  meeting  a  vote  was  passed  to  buy  a  new  burying- 
ground,  of  Capt.  Elijah  Sherman ;  and  John  Strong,  Jr.,  James 
Moody,  Noah  B.  Benedict,  Judson  Blackman,  Jeremiah  Peck,  Jesse 
Minor,  Leman  Sherman,  Nathan  Preston  and  Chauncey  Crafts  were 
appointed  a  committee  to  lay  it  out  into  lots.  A  majority  of  those 
who  have  died  since  that  date,  have  been  buried  in  that  place,  Thalia 
Judson  being  the  first  occupant,  November  28th,  1826. 

True  to  her  military  instincts,  Woodbury  furnished  three  soldiers 
for  the  war  with  Mexico,  in  1847.  As  the  nation  was  at  that  day 
careering  in  the  fullness  of  its  power,  it  needed  not  the  services  of 
many  of  our  citizens.  But  she  furnished  this  small  quota  for  the 
conquest  of  the  "  Halls  of  the  Montezumas,"  and  the  extension  of 
the  "  area  of  freedom." 

In  1846,  the  North  Congregational  Society  built  a  commodious 
building  for  a  lecture  room  and  academy,  and  a  flourishing  school  has 
since  been  there  sustained.  In  1851,  an  academic  association  was 
formed  by  the  inhabitants  in  the  south  part  of  the  town,  with  suffi- 
cient means,  and  made  a  body  corporate  and  politic,  under  the  statute 
for  that  purpose.  The  association  erected  a  structure  of  convenient 
size  and  beautiful  architecture,  in  the  lower  story  of  which  a  success- 
ful school  has  been  maintained,  the  second  story  being  used  for  the 
accommodation  of  the  Woodbury  Bank. 

Masonry  was  established  in  this  vicinity  in  1765,  and  consequently 


332  nisTonY    of    ancient    wood  bury. 

the  institution  licre  has  become  time-honored,  having  reached  the 
venerable  age  of  nearly  a  hundred  years,  through  all  varying  vicissi- 
tudes. The  lodge  which  now  exists  in  this  town,  seems  in  its  organ- 
ization to  have  been  constituted  of  brothers  residing  both  here  and 
in  Waterbury.  It  appears,  however,  to  have  been  located  in  "Wood- 
bury, though  the  means  of  information  in  regard  to  it  are  very  scanty, 
all  the  records  except  the  charter  from  its  first  organization  till  1782, 
being  no  longer  in  existence.  At  this  time  it  was  reorganized  under 
the  most  favorable  auspices.  The  charter  remains  nearly  entire,  the 
venerable  and  sole  relic  of  the  early  history  of  the  lodge. 

By  it  we  learn  that  application  was  made  to  the  Provincial  Grand 
Lodge  of  IMassachusetts,  sitting  at  Boston,  by  "  Joel  Clark,  James 
Reynolds,  and  sundry  other  Brethren  of  the  Ancient  and  Honorable 
Society  of  Free  and  Accei)ted  Masons,  now  residing  at  or  near  "Wa- 
terbury,"  for  a  charter,  which  was  granted  July  17th,  17G5,  and 
"  Mr.  John  Ilotchkiss  our  Eight  Worshipful  and  well  Beloved  Broth- 
er," was  appointed  the  first  master  of  the  lodge,  and  empowered  to 
"  Congregate  the  Brethren  together,  and  Form  them  into  a  Regular 
Lodge,  he  taking  Especial  Care  in  Choosing  Two  Wardens  and  Oth- 
er Officers  necessary  for  the  due  Regulations  thereof  for  One  Year, 
at  the  End  thereof  the  Lodge  shall  have  full  Power  to  Choose  and 
Appoint  their  Master  and  other  Officers,  and  so  Annually."  This 
charter  was  granted  and  delivered  by  the  "  Command  of  the  Provin- 
cial Grand  Master,  Jeremiah  Gridley,  Esq.,  and  signed  by  J.  Rowe, 
Dep.  Grand  Master,  and  Edmund  Quincy,  G.  Sec'y."  Of  the  pros- 
perity of  the  lodge  during  the  first  seventeen  years,  we  have  no  re- 
liable information,  from  the  fact  heretofore  mentioned.  The  tradition 
is  that  it  was  highly  prosperous,  during  a  part  of  the  time,  though 
toward  the  latter  part  of  that  period,  for  some  cause,  it  was  not  so 
successful.  It  must  have  been  prosperous  in  its  former  years,  for  at 
its  revival,  August  6th,  1782,  fifty-six  old  members  were  present. 
After  the  organization  of  the  Grand  Lodge  of  Connecticut  in  1791 
this  charter  was  registered  in  the  records  of  the  Grand  Lodge  pf  the 
State,  by  Elias  Shipman,  Esq.,  G.  Secretary.  It  received  a  new 
charter  from  the  Grand  Lodge  of  Connecticut,  and  became  King  Sol- 
omon's Lodge,  No.  7,  of  this  jurisdiction. 

At  the  reorganization  of  the  lodge  in  1782,  which  took  place  at 
the  house  of  Peter  Gilchrist,  now  occupied  by  George  B.  Lewis, 
there  were  present  P.  M.  Doctor  Anthony  Burritt,  Joseph  Perry, 
M.  D.,  P.  M.  Hezckiah  Thompson,  Esq.,  Hon.  Ephraim  Kirby,  Na- 
than Preston,  Esq.,  and  fifty-one  other  members.     The  records  from 


HISTORY     OF     AXCIENT     AVOODBrRY.  333 

this  date  are  in  a  good  state  of  preservation.  By  them  it  appears, 
that  at  this  meeting,-  John  Clark  was  installed  W.  M.,  Josiah  Beers, 
S.  W.,  and  Doctor  Anthony  Burritt,  J.  AV.  The  lodge  met  once  a 
month,  at  the  same  place  as  at  first.  The  same  officers  continued  to 
be  annually  re-elected  till  December,  1787,  with  the  exception  of  the 
latter,  whose  place  was  filled  by  the  election  of  Samuel  Woodman. 
During  this  period,  there  had  been  eleven  admissions,  among  them 
Bartimeus  Fabrique  and  Rev.  John  E.  Marshall. 

In  1787,  Nathan  Preston  was  elected  W.  M.,  Samuel  Woodman, 
S.  W.,  and  Adam  Lum,  J.  W.  The  same  officers  were  re-elected 
the  next  year.  This  year  two  members  were  added.  In  1789,  the 
first  two  were  again  elected  to  the  offices  previously  held  by  them, 
and  Doctor  Anthony  Burritt  chosen  J.  W. 

In  December,  1790,  Nathan  Preston  was  again  chosen  W.  M., 
Anthony  Burritt,  S.  W.,  and  Elijah  Sherman,  J.  W.  The  latter  and 
four  others  had  been  admitted  as  members  during  this  year.  The 
next  year  the  same  officers  were  re-elected,  and  Rutgers  B.  Marshall, 
Benjamin  Stiles,  Esq.,  and  three  others  were  added  to  the  Lodge. 

In  1792,  Nathan  Preston  was  W.  M.,  Elijah  Sherman  S.  W.,  and 
Garwood  H.  Cunningham  J.  W.  Masonry  this  year,  after  the  es- 
tablishing of  the  Grand  Lodge  of  this  state  the  preceding  year, 
seems  to  have  revived,  and  admissions  were  frequent.  Twelve  mem- 
bers were  received,  among  whom  was  Col.  Joel  Hinman.  About 
this  time,  the  exact  date  not  being  known,  the  lodge  established  a 
library  for  the  use  of  its  members,  and  by  additions,  in  a  few  years 
had  collected  between  two  and  three  hundred  volumes  of  useful  and 
valuable  books.  The  library  in  its  best  state,  was  worth  some  $500. 
After  a  time  its  books  became  somewhat  scattered,  and  the  remain- 
der, by  vote  of  the  lodge,  was  collected  and  sold. 

In  1793,  Garwood  H.  Cunningham  was  chosen  W.  M.,  Benjamin 
Stiles,  Jr.,  S.  W.,  and  N.  Sherman  Judson,  J.  W.  The  next  year 
they  were  again  elected.  In  the  former  year  ten  new  members  were 
added  to  the  lodge,  among  whom  was  Capt.  Timothy  Hinman  ;  and 
in  the  latter  year  four  were  admitted.  The  funds  of  the  lodge  in 
December  of  the  former  year,  were  £100,  9s.  3d.  At  the  festival  of 
St.  John  the  Baptist,  in  the  latter  year,  Rev.  Azel  Backus,  of  Beth- 
lem,  preached  a  sermon  to  the  lodge. 

In  1795,  nine  members  were  received,  and  Benjamin  Stiles,  Jr., 
made  W.  M.,  R.  B.  Marshall,  S.  W.  and  William  Moody,  J.  W. 

In  1796,  Nathan  Preston  was  chosen  W.  M.,  G.  H.  Cunningham, 
S.  W.  and  Benjamin  Stiles,  Jr.,  J.   W.     Two  members  were  re- 


o34  HISTORY     OF     AN  CI  EXT     AVOODBURY. 

ceived.  In  October  of  this  year,  David  Tallman  agreed  to  prepare  a 
room  in  "Widow  Gilchrist's  house,  and  furnish  the  same  for  the  lodge 
for  twentj-five  years,  from  the  first  of  March,  1707,  for  £114.  This 
was  the  house  now  occupied  by  Lucius  H.  Foote,  as  a  hotel.  Ac- 
cordingly the  lodge  convened  in  this  place  during  the  length  of  the 
time  agreed  on,  when  its  meetings  were  held  in  Alvah  Mcrriman's 
building,  about  fifteen  years,  from  which  place  it  removed  to  the  old 
lodge  room  for  some  two  years,  till  the  dedication  of  the  present  hall 
in  1830. 

In  1707,  the  officers  were  G.  H.  Cunningham,  "W.  M.,  Benjamin 
Stiles,  S.  W.,  and  "William  Moody,  J.  W.  This  was  a  year  of  unu- 
sual prosperity  in  the  lodge.  Twenty-five  of  the  principal  citizens 
of  the  town  were  added  to  its  numbers,  being  the  largest  number  ever 
received  by  the  lodge  in  one  year.  Among  these  were  Daniel  Ba- 
con, Esq.,  Doctor  Nathaniel  Perry,  and  Deacon  Scovill  Hinman,  of 
New  Haven.  The  latter  is  still  living,  and  is  the  oldest  initiated 
member  of  the  lodge. 

In  1708,  "William  Moscley  was  chosen  TV.  M.,  Doctor  Nathaniel 
Perry,  S.  W.,  and  Philo  Murray,  J.  W.  The  same  officers  were  re- 
elected the  next  year.  Eight  members  were  received  in  the  former 
year,  among  whom  was  Jesse  Minor,  the  second  oldest  living  member 
of  the  lodge,  and  two  were  added  in  the  latter  year. 

In  1800,  Doctor  Nathaniel  Perry  was  elected  "W.  M.,  "V^^illiam 
Hawley,  S.  V{.,  and  B.  Seward,  J.  W.  The  first  two  were  re-elected 
next  year,  and  Doctor  Samuel  Orton  elected  to  the  J.  "W's  station. 
Three  members  were  admitted  in  the  former  and  four  in  the  latter 
year. 

Two  members  were  added  in  1802,  and  Nathan  Preston  was  made 
"W.  M.,  G.  H.  Cunningham,  S.  "W.,  and  "\Yilliam  Hawley,  J.  "W. 

G.  H.  Cunningham  succeeded  in  1803  as  "W.  M.,  Noah  Martin  as 
S.  "W.,  and  King  "W'illiam  Sampson  as  J.  "W.  Twelve  brothers  were 
initiated  this  year. 

In  1804,  ten  members  were  added,  and  Doctor  Nathaniel  Perry 
was  chosen  "W.  M.,  Noah  Martin.  S.  W.,  and  Benjamin  Andrews, 
J.  W. 

Three  were  admitted  to  membership  in  1805,  and  Nathan  Preston 
was  elected  "W.  M.,  Nathan  S.  Judson,  S.."W.,  and  Benjamin  An- 
drews, J.  "W. 

In  180G,  Nathan  S.  Judson  was  selected  as  "W.  M.,  Richard  Smith, 
S.  "NY.,  and  Daniel  Hurlbut,  J.  W.  The  next  year  Doctor  Nathan- 
iel Perry  filled  the  master's  chair,  and  the  other  officers  remained  the 


I 


TI  I  S  T  O  K  T     OF     ANCIENT     AV  O  O  D  B  U  R  Y .  335 

same  as  before.  Seven  new  members  were  added  in  each  of  these 
years. 

In  1808,  William  Moseley  was  W.  i\I..  Daniel  Hiirlbut,  S.  W., 
and  Ebenezer  Weed,  J.  W.  The  next  year  Abraham  Somers,  now 
living,  took  the  place  of  the  latter,  and  the  other  two  were  re-elected. 
Three  joined  in  the  former  and  four  in  the  latter  year. 

In  1810,  Doctor  Nathaniel  Perry  was  again  elected  "W.  M.,  Abra- 
ham Somers,  S.  W.,  and  Samuel  Frazier,  J.  W.  Four  additional 
members  were  received. 

In  1811,  Richard  Smith  was  W.  M.,  Nathaniel  Tuttle,  S.  W.,  and 
Abijah  S.  Hatch,  J.  TV. 

Eight  new  members  were  added  in  181'2,  among  whom  were  Hon. 
Charles  B.  Phelps,  now  judge  of  the  county  court  for  Litchfield 
county,  and  Hon.  Curtiss  Hinman,  afterward  member  of  the  senate 
of  this  state,  when  that  body  was  elected  by  general  ticket.  The  offi- 
cers this  year  were  Nathaniel  Tuttle,  W.  M.,  William  A.  Bronson, 
S.  W.,  and  Nathaniel  Bacon  2d,  J.  W.  The  next  year  the  same  offi- 
cers were  re-elected,  except  that  Charles  B.  Phelps,  Esq.,  took  the 
junior  Avarden's  seat.     Six  new  members  were  admitted  this  year. 

In  1814,  five  members  were  added  to  the  lodge,  among  whom  was 
Gen.  Chauncey  Crafts.  Hon.  Charles  B.  Phelps  was  elected  W.  M., 
Hon.  Curtiss  Hinman,  S.  W.,  and  Erastus  Osborn,  J.  W. 

In  1815,  Nathaniel  Tuttle  was  selected  as  W.  M.,  William  A. 
Bronson,  S.  W.,  and  Reuben  Fairchild,  J.  W.  Three  members  were 
added. 

In  181 G,  William  A.  Bronson  was  chosen  W.  M.,  Reuben  Fair- 
child,  S.  W.,  and  Joel  Scovill,  J.  W.,  and  two  persons  joined  the 
lodge. 

In  1817,  two  persons  joined  the  lodge,  one  of  whom  was  Nehe- 
raiah  C.  Sanford,  Esq.,  and  Doctor  Nathaniel  Perry  was  elected  W. 
M.,  Reuben  Fairchild,  S.  W.,  and  Austin  Lum,  J.  W. 

In  1818,  Thomas  S.  Shelton  was  chosen  W.  M.,  Reuben  Fair- 
child,  S.  W.,  and  James  Manvill,  J.  W.  The  next  two  years  the 
same  officers  were  re-elected,  except  that  William  Hicock  took  the 
place  of  junior  warden.  In  the  first  of  these  years  eight  members 
were  added,  in  the  second,  five,  and  in  the  last,  one. 

In  1821,  Phineas  S.  Bradley  was  elected  W.  M.,  William  Hicock, 
S.  W.,  and  Garry  H.  Wheeler,  J.  W.  Under  this  administration 
twelve  members  were  admitted. 

In  1822,  William  Hicock  was  chosen  W.  M.,  Garry  H.  Wheeler, 
S.  W.,  and  Benjamin  Doolittle,  J.  W.     Next  year  Benjamin  Doo- 


336  niSTOKY     OF     ancient     WOODBURY. 

little  was  elected  S.  "W.,  and  Charles  Brouson  took  his  place.  Iii 
1822,  six  new  members  were  admitted,  among  whom  was  Rev.  Stur- 
ges  Gilbert,  and  tlie  next  year  five,  among  whom  was  Hon.  Edward 
Ilinman,  late  judge  of  New  Haven  county  court.  On  the  18th  of 
September,  the  lodge  moved  to  tlieir  room  at  Col.  French's  build- 
ing, now  Mr.  Merriam's. 

In  1824,  E.  B.  Foote  was  elected  W.  M.,  Benjamin  Doolittle,  S. 
W.,  and  Chai-les  Ransom,  J.  TV.  Next  year  the  latter  held  the  same 
station,  while  Nehemiah  C.  Sanford,  Esq.,  was  W.  M.,  and  Phineas 
.S.  Bradley,  S.  "\V.  In  1824,  four  persons  were  made  masons,  and 
three  next  year,  among  whom  was  Doctor  Samuel  Steele. 

In  182G,  Samuel  Steele  was  chosen  W.  M.,  Charles  Ransom,  S. 
"W.,  and  Roderick  C.  Steele,  J.  W.  Next  year  the  latter  was  made 
W.  M.,  and  Nathan  Preston,  J.  ^V.,  the  S.  W.  retaining  his  place. 
Nine  members  were  added  in  1826,  and  four  in  1827.  It  will  be 
seen  by  the  above,  that  notwithstanding  the  anti-masonic  storm  which 
had  swept  over  the  land  for  several  years,  and  lasted  for  ten  years, 
that  admissions  to  this  lodge  did  not  cease. 

In  the  years  1829  and  1835  one  member  each  was  admitted.  For 
the  six  years  intervening  between  these  two  dates  the  same  causes 
were  at  work  to  hinder  admission  here,  as  elsewhere,  and  had  their 
effect.  In  1836  and  1837,  two  members  each  year  were  admitted. 
Next  year  fifteen  were  added  to  the  numbers  of  the  lodge.  In  1839, 
six  were  admitted;  in  1840,  two;  in  1841,  three  ;  and  two  in  1842. 
In  1847,  one  was  initiated;  in  1849,  three;  in  1851,  seven;  and 
from  that  date  to  the  present,  eighteen. 

The  lodge  was  very  prosperous  for  several  years  previous  to 
1841.  From  that  time  for  several  years,  on  account  of  removals  and 
other  causes,  it  rapidly  declined  in  point  of  numbers  and  efficiency, 
so  much  so  that  its  annual  report  to  the  Grand  Lodge  was  not  sent 
in  for  three  years.  In  consequence  of  this,  in  May,  1846,  its  charter 
was  declared  forfeited,  and  in  October  of  that  year  a  committee  of 
the  Grand  Lodge  waited  upon  the  former  officers,  and  requested  the 
surrender  of  the  charter.  After  satisfactory  explanations,  the  charter 
was  given  up  on  a  promise  that  the  lodge  should  have  a  dispensa- 
tion till  the  next  session  of  the  Grand  Lodge,  and  a  return  of  the 
charter  at  that  time  upon  payment  of  their  dues.  The  last  meeting 
before  the  forfeiture  of  the  charter,  was  held  January  10th,  1844. 
The  dispensation  was  received  in  December,  1846,  and  a  meeting 
(Was  held  January  6th,  1847,  at  which  officers  were  elected,  and  the 
business  of  the  lodge  went  on.     The  charter  was  also  restored  ac- 


HISTORY     OF     ANCIENT     "NV  O  O  D  B  U  11  Y  .  337 

cording  to  stipulation.  The  present  beautiful  and  commodious  Lodge 
Ilall,  one  of  the  best  in  the  county,  whose  location  on  a  bluff  of  trap 
rock,  some  thirty  feet  above  the  main  street  of  the  village,  makes  it  a 
prominent  object  of  attention  as  the  stranger  enters  our  village, 
was  built  in  1839,  and  dedicated  to  the  use  of  the  lodge  on  the  twen- 
ty-fifth of  June,  in  that  year.  By  the  construction  of  this  building* 
the  lodge  was  burdened  with  a  debt  of  some  five  hundred  dollars, 
which  contribuOBd  not  a  little  to  the  misfortunes  that  subsequently  fell 
upon  it.  About  two  years  ago,  the  lodge  again  became  prosperous ; 
the  debt  which  proved  such  an  incubus  is  removed,  and  the  lodge 
goes  on  successfully.  Since  its  reorganization  in  1782,  three  hundred 
and  sixty-two  members  have  been  admitted,  ninety-eight  of  whom 
still  survive.  As  we  have  now  arrived  at  the  time  of  the  present 
actors  in  the  lodge,  it  will  hardly  be  expected  that  we  should  pro- 
nounce an  eulogy  on  the  living.  We  will  only  return  and  give  a  list 
of  the  officers  till  the  present  time,  and  close  our  sketch. 

In  1828,  Roderick  C.  Steele  was  re-elected  W.  M.,  Charles  Ran- 
som, S.  ^y.,  and  Xathan  Preston,  J.  TV. 

In  1829,  Martin  Moody  was  elected  W.  M.,  Garry  Riggs,  S.  W., 
and  Gad  Hitchcock,  J.  ^Y. 

In  1830,'IVIartin  Moody  was  re-elected  TY.  M.,  Nathan  Preston,  S. 
"W.,  and  James  Manville,  J.  W. 

In  1831,  Nathan  Preston  was  elected  W.  M.,  James  Manville,  S. 
W.,  W.  H.  Atwood,  J.  "NY.,  and  in  1832,  these  officers  were  re- 
elected. 

In  1833,  Samuel  Steele  was  elected  W.  M.,  James  Manville,  S. 
^X.,  and  ^Y.  H.  Atwood,  J.  W. 

In  1831,  W.  H.  Atwood  was  W.  M.,  James  Manville,  S.  TY.,  and 
Selick  Galpin,  J.  W. 

In  1835,  Garry  Riggs  was  chosen  W.  M.,  Benjamin  Doolittle,  S. 
^y.,  and  James  Manville,  J.  W. 

In  1836,  Benjamin  Doolittle  was  elected  W.  M.,  W.  H.  Atwood* 
S.  W.,  and  John  M.  SafFord,  J.  W.  In  1837,  the  W.  M.  and  S.  W. 
were  re-elected,  and  James  Manville  made  J.  W. 

In  1838,  Charles  H.  Webb  was  chosen  W.  M.,  Mitchell  S.  Mitch- 
ell, S.  W.,  and  Charles  S.  Peck,  J.  W. 

In  1839,  Mitchell  S.  Mitchell  was  elected  W.  M.,  Charles  S.  Peck, 
S.  W.,  and  Edwin  Hull,  J.  W. 

In  1840,  Bethel  S.  Castle  was  elected  "VY.  M.,  TT.  II.  Atwood,  S. 
"W.,  and  Lucius  Ives,  J.  \Y. 


338  HISTORY     OF     ANCIENT     WOODBURY. 

In  ISn,  Charles  B.  riiolps  was  cliosen  W.  M.,  Mitcliell  S.  Mitch- 
rll,  S.  Vr.,  and  Chark-s  II.  AVebb,  J.  W. 

In  1842,  Charles  II.  TVebb  was  chosen  "W.  M.,  Benjamin  Doolit- 
tle,  S.  W.,  and  Wyllys  Jiidd,  J.  W.  In  1843,  the  same  oiliccrs  were 
re-eleeled,  and  were  the  officers  when  the  charter  was  given  u[). 

In  1847,  on  the  reception  of  the  dispensation,  Benjamin  Doolittle 
was  elected  W.  M.,  "NVyllys  Judd,  S.  W.  and  Albert  Thompson,  J. 
W.,  who  served  till  December,  the  same  year.  In  December,  1847, 
the  same  officers  were  re-elected  for  the  succeeding  year. 

In  1848,  Wyllys  Judd  was  elected  W.  M.,  Albert  Thompson,  S. 
W.,  and  Eri  Riggs,  J.  W.  February  0th,  1849,  on  Mr.  Judd's  res- 
ignation, Benjamin  Doolittle  was  elected  to  fill  his  place. 

In  1849,  Benjamin  Doolittle  was  reelected  W.  M.,  Eleazer  Wel- 
ton,  S.  W.,  and  Eri  Riggs,  J.  W.  In  1850,  the  same  officers  were 
reelected. 

In  1851,  Benjamin  Doolittle  was  elected  "W.  M.,  William  Coth- 
ren,  S.  W.,  and  E.  ^Y.  Atwood,  J.  W. 

In  December,  1852,  being  the  month  of  the  annual  election,  Wil- 
liam Cothren  was  elected  W.  M.,  E.  W.  Atwood,  S.  W.,  and  W.  R. 
Galpin,  J.  W. 

Rising  Sun  Lodge,  No.  27,  of  Washington,  was  founded  by  a  col- 
ony from  this  lodge.  That  lodge  was  for  many  years  in  a  very  flour- 
ishing condition,  had  many  valuable  members,  but  has  not  been  work- 
ing for  some  years  ;  consequently  its  charter  has  been  revoked. 

Fidelity  Chapter  of  Royal  Arch  Masons,  was  organized  in  Wood- 
bury, January  25th,  1809.  It  went  alojig  prosperously  for  about  five 
years,  Hon.  Charles  B.  Phelps,  being  the  last  member  received, 
January  31st,  1814.  The  whole  number  of  admissions  was  thirty- 
two.  The  location  of  the  chapter  was  changed  to  Washington  about 
the  year  1815,  the  last  meeting  at  Woodbury  being  held  that  year. 
The  first  meeting  held  in  Washington,  of  which  the  records  speak, 
was  in  1823.  While  located  here,  forty-five  members  were  admit- 
ted. Its  location  was  changed  again  to  Woodbury  in  1842,  since 
which  time  no  meeting  has  been  held. 

List  of  High  Priests. 
Benjamin  Stiles,  Esq.,  Hon.  Daniel  N.  Brinsmado, 

Doct.  Nathaniel  Perry,  Hon.  Daniel  B.  Brinsmade, 

Richard  Smifh,  Esq.,  Doct.  Manly  Peters, 

William  A.  Bronson,  Esq. 


II  I  S  T  O  K  Y     OF     ANCIENT     AV  O  O  D  B  U  R  Y .  339 

A  (livi.-ion  of  the  Sons  of  Temperance  was  organized  in  this  town 
February  8th,  184:7,  and  called  Pomperaug  Division,  Ko.  27.  John 
W.  Kogers,  James  R.  Young,  John  J/Bcecher,  Sheldon  T.  Allen, 
John  S.  Bennet,  Ezra  Toucey,  James  R.  Thomas,  Edwin  Roberts, 
and  George  A.  Capewell,  were  appointed  the  first  officers,  and  the 
society  went  on  prosperously  for  several  years.  One  hundred  and 
five  were  received  as  members.  Dissensions  finally  arose  among  the 
members  of  the  society,  the  interest  in  it  subsided,  and  early  in  tlie 
spring  of  1853,  it  divided  its  funds  among  its  remaining  members, 
and  '•  parted  to  meet  no  more." 

List  of  Worthy  Patriarchs. 

John  Roberts,  Robert  Peck,  Edward  W.  Atwood, 

John  W.  Rogers,  George  De  Forest,  George  L.  Tpeple, 

Benjamin  Doolittle,  John  E.  Blackman,  Jerome  Ilubbell, 

James  R.  Thomas,  Stephen  B.  Fairchild,  Orley  M.  Parker, 

Monroe  C.  Sherman,  Jo.  T.  Capewell,  Philo  J.  Isbell, 

Leander  Hodge,  John  II.  Doolittle,  George  II.  Hitchcock. 

William  Way,  John  Way, 

On  the  application  of  Silas  Chapman,  Chai'les  G.  Judson,  William 
E.  Woodruff",  Enos  Benham  and  Clark  Linsley,  to  the  Grand  Mas- 
ter of  the  Grand  Lodge  of  the  Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows 
for  the  State  of  Connecticut,  the  grand  oificers  of  said  lodge  convened 
at  Woodbury,  April  16, 1847,  and  formed  the  applicants  into  a  lodge 
under  the  name  of  Bethel  Rock  Lodge,  No.  44.  The  same  day, 
William  Cothren,  John  P.  De  Forest,  John  A.  Candee,  Norman 
Pai-ker,  Noble  Parker,  Rollin  Wooster,  Aaron  MuUings,  Charles  H. 
Webb*,  and  Charles  A.  Somers,  were  received  into  the  society  by  in- 
itiation. From  that  day  to  the  present,  the  society  has  had  a  slow, 
but  sure  progress.  In  addition  to  those  above  named,  it  has  received 
fifty-seven  members,  making  seventy-one  in  the  whole,  and  now  has 
sixty-five  acting  members. 

Its  object,  like  that  of  the  two  preceding  societies,  is  the  relief  of 
the  necessities  and  sufferings  of  its  members,  and  of  the  human  race. 
It  possesses  a  fund  for  these  objects,  which  is  constantly  increasing, 
of  about  nine  hundred  dollars,  which  it  keeps  at  interest,  safely  in- 
vested. To  secure  itself  against  loss,  it  has  organized  itself  into  a 
body  corporate  and  politic,  under  a  public  statute  of  this  state,  enacted 
for  such  purposes. 


310  HISTOKY     OF     ANCIKXT     AV  O  O  D  IJ  U  U  Y  . 

Li^t  of  Noble    Grands. 
Silas  Cluipin,  William  Cothren,  Edwunl  E.  Bradley, 

Charles  G.  Jiulson,        Gilead  II.  Smith,  Norman  Parker, 

John  P.  Do  Forest,       Benjamin  S.  Curtiss,    Hiram  Manville, 
Charles  XL  "Webb,         Henry  Elinor,  Isaac  Smith. 

Luke  S.  Putnam,  Norman  Parker, 

List  of  Vice    Grands. 
Charles  G.  Judson,       William  Cothren,  Ed.  E.  Bradley, 

John  P.  De  Forest,       Gilead  H.  Smith,  AVm.  E.  Woodruff, 

Chai-les  II.  Webb,         Charles  A.  Somers,       Hiram  Manville, 
Clark  Linsley,  Benjamin  S.  Curtiss,     Isaac  Smith, 

Luke  S.  Putnam,  Henry  Minor,  Phineas  A.  Judson. 

At  the  session  of  the  General  Assembly  in  1851,  a  bank,  to  be  lo- 
cated in  Woodbury,  was  chartered,  under  the  name  of  the  "  Wood- 
bury Bank."  Its  capital  was  $100,000.  In  taking  up  the  stock  of 
the  bank,  a  small  majority  of  it  fell  into  the  hands  of  one  William  E. 
Chittenden,  a  broker  in  the  city  of  New  York,  who  was  heavily  enga- 
ged in  wild  and  daring  railroad  si^eculations  in  the  west.  Considera- 
ble opposition  on  the  part  of  some  of  the  home  stockholders  was  man- 
ifested to  this  state  of  affairs  at  the  beginning.  Mr.  Chittenden,  how- 
ever, moved  his  family  to  Woodbury,  made  himself  a  director  by 
means  of  his  majority  of  the  stock,  and  at  once  controlled  the  opera- 
tions of  the  bank.  It  commenced  business  in  November,  1851,  and 
continued  till  Mai'ch,  1853,  when  Chittenden  failed  in  business  for  a 
large  amount,  carrying  down  with  him  the  Woodbury  and  Eastern 
Banks,  and  injuring  the  credit  of  the  Bank  of  Litchfield  County, 
being  indebted  to  it  in  a  sum  greater  than  one-half  of  its  capital. 

At  the  time  of  his  failure,  he  owed  the  Woodbury  Bank  more  than 
•$175,000.  To  secure  this,  there  were  some  $7G,000,  in  collaterals 
of  various  kinds,  most  of  which  were  not  immediately  available,  leav- 
ing nearly  $100,000,  unprovided  for  and  unsecured.  The  assets  of 
the  bank  went  into  the  hands  of  receivers,  and  after  some  time  a  com- 
promise was  made  with  Chittenden,  by  which  he  assigned  his  stock 
and  collaterals  to  the  bank  at  their  par  value,  and  contracted  to  pay 
the  remainder  of  his  indebtedness  in  the  bills  of  the  bank.  This 
agreement  he  has  fulfilled  in  part,  $30,000  having  been  paid  by  him. 
Besides  this,  there  is  an  attachment  on  property  sufficient,  it  is  be- 
lieved, to  secure  his  indebtedness  to  the  bank  within  about  $10,000. 
The  friends  of  the  Killingly  bank  having  procured  a  requisition  on 


HISTORY     OF     ANCIENT     WOODBURY.  341 

the  governor  of  New  York  for  his  person,  on  a  criminal  complaint, 
he  found  it  not  advisable  to  remain  longer  in  that  state.  Though 
thus  disa2)pointed  in  the  promises  of  this  man,  the  citizens  of  Wood- 
bury liave  come  forward,  taken  said  stock  so  assigned,  and  paid  its 
par  value  into  the  bank.  The  result  of  this  noble  conduct  on  the 
part  of  the  inhabitants,  is,  that  the  bank  has  been  able  to  resume 
business  on  a  firm  footing,  and  its  oihcers  having  learned  "  wisdom 
by  experience,"  it  will  go  on  successfully. 

Its  officers  are  Daniel  Gurtiss,  president ;  James  M.  Dickinson, 
cashier,  and  George  B.  Lewis,  Lewis  Judd,  David  C.  Bacon,  John 
Abernethy,  Monroe  C.  Sherman,  Philo  H.  Skidmore,  George  Smith 
and  "William  Cothren,'  directors. 

While  these  pages  have  been  going  through  the  press,  a  savings 
institution  has  been  organized  in  the  village,  under  the  name  of  the 
Woodbury  Savings  Bank  and  Building  Association,  It  is  a  corpo- 
ration under  the  general  law  authorizing  such  institutions.  It  can 
hardly  be  said  to  be  fully  organized,  and  yet  it  has  already  a  capital 
of  about  fifty  thousand  dollars,  and  several  thousand  dollars  on  de- 
posit. It  bids  fair  to  be  a  very  successful  institution,  and  with  good 
management,  it  can  not  be  otherwise  than  safe.     Its  officers  are 

Nathaniel  B.  Smith,  President. 

William  Cothren,  Vice  President. 

Thomas  Bull,  Secretary  and  Treasurer. 

Benjamin  Fabriquc, 

Loren  Forbes, 

Robert  J.  Tolles, 

Charles  A.  Somers, 

George  Drakeley, 

Benjamin  S.  Curtiss, 

The  manufactures  and  mechanical  employments  of  the  town,  inde- 
pendent of  those  of  a  domestic  character,  consist  of  one  tinner's  fac- 
tory, three  grain  mills,  one  clover  mill,  seven  saw-mills,  two  tanneries, 
two  cider  distilleries,  four  tailor  shops,  five  blacksmith  shops,  one 
silver  spoon  shop,  one  spectacle  shop,  three  shoe  manufactories,  two 
carriage  shops,  one  button  factory,  one  powder  flask  manufactory. 
two  cigar  shops,  one  felt  cloth  manufactory,  two  cassimere  manu- 
factories, one  shear  manufactory,  one  thimble  manufactory,  one  shawl 
manufactory,  one  establishment  for  "  leathering  carpet  tacks,"  one 


1  The  latter  has  been  elected  since  the  financial  difficulties  of  the  bank;  all  the  oth- 
ers were  its  former  officers. 


Directors. 


342  HISTORY     OF     ancient     WOODBURY. 

suspender  huckle  shoj) ;  all  together  employing  more  than  $200,000 
capital.  Tliere  are  fifteen  mercantile  stores,  and  three  hotels,  enii»loy- 
ing  some  $50,000  capital.  There  are  also  fourteen  school  district 
and  primary  schools,  two  academies,  one  social  library,  two  attorneys, 
four  clergymen,  and  four  physicians. 

The  amount  of  the  last  grand  list  was  $39,053.83,  and  the  valua- 
tion of  the  lands  and  buildings  of  the  town,  in  1815,  for  the  levy  of 
the  direct  tax  of  the  United  States,  which  comprised  19,528  acres, 
amounted  to  $004,175,  being  an  average  value  of  nearly  $34  per 
acre.  In  1799,  the  real  estate  of  this  town,  together  with  Southbury, 
was  ai)praiscd  at  $847,9GG. 

Thus  have  we  gathered  up  the  fragments  of  information  scattered 
by  the  wayside,  however  trivial,  and  deposited  tliem  in  the  great  gar- 
ner-house of  history,  if  happily  they  may  engage  the  attention  of  the 
curious  reader  in  some  gliding  year  of  the  distant  future,  who  may 
possibly  take  the  same  kindly  interest  in  the  items  of  information  that 
concern  us  of  this  day,  "  simple  annals  of  the  poor,"  that  we  now  be- 
stow on  each  recorded  trace  of  the  doings  and  sayings  of  our  early 
fathers.  However  trivial  these  matters  may  appear  to  the  careless 
observer,  the  man  of  thought,  of  wise  forecast,  will  ever  find  instruc- 
tion and  food  for  deepest  contemplation  in  every  such  recital. 


CHAPTER   XIX. 

BIOGRAPHICAL  SKETCHES  OF  NATIVES  AND  RESIDENTS  OF  AN- 
CIENT WOODBURY,  WHO  HAVE  REMAINED  IN  THE  TERRITORY. 
THE    NAMES    WILL    BE    FOUND    IN    ALPHABETICAL    ORDER. 

Biography  is  that  part  of  history  which  relates  to  the  history  of 
the  life  and  character  of  men.  It  embraces  the  consideration  of  all 
that  appertains  to  our  moral,  intellectual,  social  and  professional  char- 
acter. It  is  said  that  "  history  is  philosophy  teaching  by  example," 
and  biography  is  ever  one  of  the  principal  elements  of  history.  Men 
and  their  acts  are  the  great  theme  of  the  historian's  pen.  It  is  this 
element  that  furnishes  most  of  the  pleasure  we  enjoy  in  all  historical 
accounts.  The  life  and  progress  of  men,  their  virtues  and  vices,  their 
successes  and  failures,  their  motives  and  their  actions,  not  only  affect 
their  own  position  and  happiness,  but  their  influence  extends  to  all 
within  their  reach,  and  descends  influencing  the  character  and  des- 
tiny of  unborn  millions.  The  good  deeds  that  men  do  live  after  them, 
and  so  do  the  bad.  The  influence  of  a  good  or  a  bad  action,  once 
committed,  can  never  be  recalled.  As  one  who,  standing  by  the  sea- 
side, casts  a  stone  into  the  waters,  as  they  lie  calmly  sleeping  in  the 
golden  sunlight,  will  immediately  see  a  small  circular  ripple  extend- 
ing itself  in  all  directions,  gradually  increasing  the  circle  of  its  cir- 
cumference, till  it  is  lost  to  his  view  in  the  ocean's  depths  ;  so  the 
influence  of  a  good  or  a  bad  action,  however  insignificant  we  may  es- 
teem it,  never  ceases,  but  goes  on,  extending  the  sphere  of  its  influ- 
ence, in  an  ever  increasing  ratio,  till  the  end  of  time.  Hence  it  is 
well,  that  the  lives  of  the  eminent  should  be  written,  that  their  good 
deeds  and  wise  teachings  may  be  extended,  so  that  they  may  ulti- 
mately take  in  the  human  race.  Example  and  competition  form  the 
character  of  nations.  "  To  commemorate  the  virtues,  wisdom  and 
patriotism  of  their  heroes  and  their  statesmen,  their  philosophers  and 
their  poets,  has  ever  been  the  noblest  office  of  the  noblest  nations. 


.Til  II  I  S  T  O  K  V     OF     ANCIENT     -WOODBUUT. 

The  voice  of  eulogy,  tlie  page  of  liisfory,  monuments,  mausoleums, 
tro])liies  and  triumi)lis,  were  the  proud  testimonials  to  the  splendor  of 
their  arhievements,  and  the  gratitude  of  their  countrymen.  Emula- 
tion blazed  high  in  every  bosom — worth  became  sympathetic  and  he- 
reditary— infancy  caught  the  sacred  flame  of  patriotism  from  the  hon- 
ored and  hallowed  ashes  of  its  ancestry,  and  in  beholding  the  bright 
escutcheons  of  war  and  victory,  the  tottering  and  enfeebled  limbs  of 
hoary  ar/e  itself  glowed  and  strengthened  into  the  ardor  and  energy 
of  second  vouth.  Thus  all  the  diversified  departments  of  their  admi- 
rable svstem?  of  government,  civil  as  well  as  military,  contributed  to 
inspirit,  to  sujiportand  dignify  each  other  ;  and  while  moving  in  their 
own  respective  orbits,  like  the  inexhaustible  luminaries  of  heaven, 
they  reciprocally  borrowed  and  reflected  light,  and  shed  their  com- 
bined luster  and  glory  upon  an  astonished  world." 

The  influence  of  great  example  diffuses  itself  over  the  world,  and  if 
we  should  strike  out  of  history  its  earlier  annals,  it  would  be  like 
striking  out  the  acquirements  and  experience  of  youth,  in  its  evil 
consequences  upon  the  hopes  and  happiness  of  mature  age.  It  would 
be  to  expect  the  harvest  without  the  seed-time,  the  genial  influences 
of  summer,  or  the  ripening  power  of  early  autumn.  But  biography 
is  important,  not  only  as  a  record  of  the  virtues  of  men,  but  also  of 
their  follies  and  vices.  Even  the  records  of  these  have  their  salutary 
uses.  They  serve  to  check  us  in  a  career  which  might  otherwise  be- 
come reckless  and  disastrous.  They  are  like  beacons  set  up  to  guard 
us  against  those  evils  into  which  others  have  fallen,  and  to  direct  our 
attention  to  the  acquisition  of  the  opposite  virtues,  and  the  securing 
of  those  "  temporal  and  eternal  blessings,  which  are  too  often  wantonly 
disregarded,  and  perhaps  irretrievably  lost." 

In  a  work  like  the  present,  there  is  not  space  sufficient  for  the  in- 
troduction of  biographies,  properly  so  called.  We  can  only  give 
such  brief  statistics  as  have  come  to  hand,  from  which  extended  me- 
moirs can  be  made,  when  the  requisite  time,  ability  and  encourage- 
ment shall  call  to  the  execution  of  that  pleasant  duty.  Much  diffi- 
culty  has  been  experienced  in  collecting  materials  for  the  personal 
history  of  individuals,  on  account  of  the  want  of  interest  and  slug- 
gishness of  those  who  alone  could  give  the  information,"  and  if  the 
following  brief  sketches  shall  be  exceptionable  to  any,  on  account  of 
their  meagerness,  it  is  hoped  that  it  will  be  attributed  by  the  intelli- 
gent reader,  to  the  appropriate  causes. 


HISTOKT     OF     ANCIEXT     WOODBURY.  345 

ROSWELL  ABERNETHY,  M.  D. 
Most  of  the  readers  of  this  vohime  will  recollect  the  aged,  yet 
noble  form — so  lately  in  our  midst — of  the  subject  of  this  sketch* 
For  more  than  twenty -five  years,  he  "  went  out  and  in"  among  us, 
approving  himself  in  all  the  relations  of  life.  To  see  him  about 
among  the  people,  dispensing  the  charities  of  his  humane  and  useful 
profession,  had  become  a  sort  of  "  second  nature" — a  thing  of  course. 
Unusually  attentive  to  the  calls  of  the  arduous  profession  of  which 
he  was  so  conspicuous  an  ornament,  he  was  ever  found  at  the  post  of 
duty,  "  in  the  forefront  of  the  battle,"  in  the  conflict  with  dire  dis- 
ease. The  high  moral  and  rehgious  traits  of  his  character  were 
"  known  and  read  of  all  men" — of  which  we  all  are  witnesses.  His 
gentlemanly  and  friendly  deportment  toward  all  whom  he  was  called 
to  meet,  in  the  various  relations  and  duties  of  life,  are  known  to  the 
entire  circle  of  his  acquaintance.  To  the  author  he  particularly 
endeared  himself  by  his  wise  counsels  in  the  various  emergencies  of 
the  early  days  in  his  professional  labors,  and  by  his  unwavering 
friendship,  when  the  "  love  of  many  had  waxed  cold,"  and  that  of 
most  was  lukewarm.  He  was  a  friend  in  need.  Many  were  the 
happy  hours  spent  with  him  in  interesting  and  useful  conversation  on 
all  the  various  topics  of  human  thought.  He  can  almost  imagine  at 
times  of  a  pleasant  afternoon,  he  sees  that  aged  and  revered  form 
coming  toward  his  office,  and  can  almost  hear  those  manly,  kindly 
tones  in  which  he  was  wont  to  hold  intercourse  with  intimate  friends. 
Anon  the  illusion  vanishes,  and  he  finds  himself  alone,  with  a  sense 
of  having  experienced  some  great  loss.  To  know  the  full  worth  of 
such  a  man  as  Dr.  Abernethy,  one  must  know  him  intimately — must 
hold  communion  with  his  very  soul.  We  see  few  such  men  in  our 
world.  His  death  has  created  a  void,  that  will  not  soon  again  be 
filled.  He  will  Uve,  while  life  remains,  in  the  affectionate  remem- 
brances of  his  numerous  acquaintances  and  friends. 

For  much  of  what  follows,  we  are  indebted  to  the  sermon  preach- 
ed at  his  funeral  by  Rev.  Lucius  Curtis,  pastor  of  the  church  at 
which  Dr.  Abernethy  attended.  His  character  was,  on  that  occa- 
sion, so  well  drawn,  that  it  seemed  to  the  writer  like  a  waste  of  time 
to  go  over  the  ground  again. 

Dr.  Roswell  Abernethy  was  born  in  Harwinton,  Conn.,  in  the  year 
1774.     He  applied  himself  very  early  in  hfe  to  the  study  of  medi- 
cine, under  the  instruction  of  his  father,  Dr.  William  Abernethy, 
who  was  at  that  time  the  principal  physician  in  his  native  town.     In 
23 


346  nisTOUY    of    ancient    -woodbury. 

1795,  while  in  his  twenty-first  year,  he  commenced  the  practice  of 
his  profession  in  New  Hartford,  an  adjoining  town,  where  he  remain- 
ed six  years.  During  this  period,  he  formed  the  acquaintance  of  Dr. 
Grithn,  the  celebrated  pulpit  orator  and  divine,  who  had  then  just 
commenced  his  ministerial  labors  in  that  town.  This  acquaintance 
soon  ripened  into  a  friendship,  which  continued  long  after  they  were 
separated  by  removal.  They  were  fitted  by  the  character  of  their 
minds  to  sympathize,  not  only  as  friends,  but  as  thinkers  on  impor- 
tant subjects.  From  New  Hartford  he  removed  to  his  native  town, 
and  continued  the  practice  of  his  profession  there  till  1825.  The 
reputation  he  had  acquired  as  a  physician  and  as  a  man,  made  him 
known  abroad  ;  and  a  vacancy  having  occurred  in  this  town,  many 
desired  to  secure  his  settlement  here.  Accordingly  the  citizens  of 
"Woodbury,  without  distinction  of  party  or  sect,  extended  to  him  a 
formal  "  call,"  or  invitation'  to  settle,  which  he  accepted.  He  came 
here  not  only  by  this  general  invitation,  but  with  the  warmest  testi- 
monials of  confidence  and  regard  from  the  citizens  of  his  native  town  ; 
and  for  twenty-five  years  he  continued  here,  enjoying  the  confidence 
and  esteem  of  the  community.  The  extent  of  his  practice  was  such 
as  to  gain  for  him  a  generous  competence,  and  during  the  last  few 
years  of  his  life,  he  often  expressed  a  desire  to  retire  from  the  active 
duties  of  his  profession,  which  he  followed  without  intermission  for 
fifty-six  years.  It  is  remarkable,  that  just  before  his  last  sickness, 
and  while  in  the  midst  of  his  professional  labors,  as  soon  as  he  had 
come,  voluntarily,  to  the  firm  conclusion  to  retire  from  them,  a  higher 
summons  came,  calling  him  to  close,  at  once,  his  professional  labors 
and  his  life.  As  if  by  some  presentiment  anticipating  the  time  of 
his  departure,  he  had  "  set  his  house  in  order;"  and  none  who  knew 
him  can  doubt,  that  in  all  respects  he  was  ready  for  the  final  sum- 
mons. After  a  sickness  of  little  more  than  two  weeks,  during  which 
he  had  but  little  acute  suffering,  he  went  at  the  age  of  seventy-seven, 
quietly  and  sweetly  to  his  rest. 

With  a  mind  completely  balanced  and  harmonized,  shaped  in  its 
very  structure  to  the  finest  proportions,  he  had  an  uncommonly 
marked  and  strong  character.  With  none  of  those  eccentricities 
which  give  brilliancy  and  notoriety  by  their  extravagance,  there  was 
a  depth,  and  tone,  and  fullness,  pervading  the  whole  man,  giving 
strength  without  contrast,  and  proportion  Avithout  weakness  ;  consti- 


1  This  invitation  was  signed  by  some  twenty-five  or  thii-ty  of  the  principal  inhab- 
itants of  the  to'.vn. 


1 


HISTORY     OF     ANCIENT    WOODBURY.  347 

tutiiig,  in  a  woi'd,  one  of  the  noblest  characters,  and  one  which  is  fit- 
ted to  strengthen  our  conviction,  that  man  was  formed  in  the  image  of 
liis  Maker.  A  stranger  would  at  once  mark  him  in  the  crowd  ;  not 
merely  from  the  upright  position,  the  manly  proportions,  and  the 
polite,  dignified  bearing  of  his  form,  but  from  the  intellectual  cast, 
and  the  earnest,  benignant  aspect  of  his  countenance,  and  the  elevated 
and  commanding  appearance  of  his  whole  person.  It  would  be  diffi- 
cult to  tell  which  trait  in  him  was  most  prominent ;  and  it  would  be 
quite  as  difficult  to  tell  in  which  he  was  defective,  according  to 
human  standard.  The  essential  qualities  which  belong  to  native 
strength  of  mind,  and  true  nobility  of  character,  were  found  in  him. 

His  intellect  fitted  him  especially  for  reasoning  and  reflection, 
though  he  was  not  wanting  in  the  power  of  observation.  By  the 
natural  gifts  of  his  mind,  together  with  his  habits  of  assiduous  appli- 
cation, he  placed  himself,  without  the  advantages  of  a  collegiate  edu- 
cation, or  even  of  a  professional  school,  in  a  position  far  above  that 
of  multitudes  who  have  enjoyed  both.  He  loved  and  faithfully 
studied  his  profession.  Well  read  in  its  theory,  keeping  up  with  the 
discoveries  and  improvements  of  progressive  science,  he  was  also 
skillful  and  patient  in  the  details  of  practice.  A  characteristic  pru- 
dence and  caution  ever  kept  him  from  trifling  with  the  life  of  a  pa- 
tient by  rash  experiment ;  and  a  sense  of  responsibility,  and  the  gen- 
eral seriousness  of  his  characten^  prompted  a  faithfulness  and  a  pa- 
tient self-denial  in  the  examination  and  treatment  of  his  cases,  which 
a  mere  love  of  pi'ofessional  reputation  would  have  failed  to  secure. 
"With  great  delicacy  and  refinement  of  feeling,  and  habitual  conscien- 
tiousness, he  studied  both  the  health  and  the  feelings  of  his  patient. 
His  dignified,  gentle  and  courteous  bearing,  was  a  part  of  the  man. 
It  was  never  put  on  for  an  object  or  an  occasion  ;  and  it  was  never 
put  off.  None,  who  intrusted  him  with  a  secret,  as  a  physician  or  as 
a  man,  ever  had  occasion  to  regret  a  confidence  misplaced. 

But  while  he  was  faithful  and  laborious  in  his  profession,  his 
thoughts  took  a  wider  range.  By  his  habit  of  general  and  well- 
selected  reading,  he  look  an  intelligent  survey  of  the  topics  discussed 
by  the  press,  and  of  the  general  movements  in  society.  Subjects 
especially  of  permanent  interest  to  the  citizen,  to  the  philanthropist, 
to  the  Christian,  he  investigated  with  rare  thoroughness  and  ability. 
Questions  of  a  theological  and  biblical  nature,  which  are  fundamental, 
engaged  his  most  earnest  attention  ;  and  the  results  of  his  inquiries 
upon  these  subjects  he  often  committed  to  paper.  Though  he  did  not 
hold  a  ready  or  a  prolific  pen,  his  literary  productions,  notwithstand- 


348  niSTORT     OF     ancient     WOODBURY. 

inf  his  want  of  early  discipline,  exhibit  a  coramand  of  the  best 
language,  the  power  of  full  and  accurate  expression,  method,  ele- 
gance, precision,  perspicuity,  and  force.  The  qualities  of  his  mind 
were  impressed  upon  his  style,  as  well  as  upon  his  general  demeanor 
and  action. 

His  judgment  was  sound  and  discriminating.  He  investigated 
with  candor,  and  when  he  arrived  at  a  satisfactory  conclusion,  he 
was  neither  fickle  in  abandoning  it,  nor  obstinate  in  retaining  it. 
But  his  mind  was  settled.  He  was  clear  and  firm  in  his  convictions. 
They  took  a  strong  hold  upon  his  nature.  He  was  decided.  Once 
planted,  you  always  knew  where  to  find  him  ;  because  you  knew  that 
his  opinions  were  above  the  reach  of  caprice,  or  favor,  or  interest. 
And  yet,  with  all  his  firmness  and  decision,  he  was  open  to  truth, 
liberal-minded,  generous  and  kind,  as  an  opponent.  He  accorded  to 
others  what  he  claimed  for  himself,  an  independent  judgment.  He 
loved  agreement,  but  he  loved  truth  more.  He  loved  peace ;  but 
he  held  fast  to  right  and  justice.  Hence  with  all  his  gentleness,  his 
amiable  and  courteous  bearing,  he  was  stable,  conservative,  iuilex- 
ible. 

The  delicacy  of  his  feelings,  and  his  wise  sense  of  propriety, 
would  have  made  him  sensitive  to  ridicule,  bad  not  those  qualities 
been  joined  to  a  kindness  of  feeling,  and  a  noble  bearing,  which 
never  exposed  him  to  its  power.  It  is  difficult  to  attack,  with  any 
weapons  whatever,  an  unobtrusive  modesty,  or  a  manly  dignity 
which  commands  respect.  He  possessed  both ;  and  was  thus  doubly 
guarded,  by  both  his  inofiensiveness  and  his  strength,  against  many 
social  evils  to  which  most  men  are  exposed. 

Hence,  in  social  life,  he  was  fitted  for  enjoyment  and  usefulness. 
His  habits  of  study  and  reflection  did  not  disqualify  him  from  ming- 
ling with  lively  and  cheerful  pleasure  in  the  intercourse  of  social 
life.  He  loved  the  circle  of  friends  ;  and  with  all  his  dignity,  every 
one  felt  at  home  in  his  presence.  Never  distant,  nor  overbearing ; 
easy  of  access,  familiar ;  interesting  himself  in  the  welfare  of  others, 
careful  of  their  feelings,  attentive  to  their  wants,  he  was  everywhere 
welcome.  Uniting  definite  and  varied  information  with  good  conver- 
sational powers ;  and  a  peculiar  blandness  and  urbanity  of  manner 
with  genuine  refinement  and  a  high-toned  moral  sentiment,  his  socie- 
ty was  always  instructive,  pleasing  and  elevating.  In  his  attach- 
ments there  were  strength  and  constancy,  and  into  all  pure,  social 
enjoyments  he  entered  with  a  warm  zest.  Though  not  incapable  of 
discerning  the  faults  of  othei's,  he  did  not  seem  to  think  of  them. 


HISTORY     OF     ANCIENT     WOODBURY.  349 

At  least,  he  was  unsuspicious — he  never  delighted  to  search  them 
out — and  if  they  came  in  his  way,  he  had  no  tongue  to  speak  of 
them,  and  no  heart  to  remember  them.  No  malicious  or  unguarded 
word  from  him  ever  tarnished  a  good  name,  or  wounded  the  peace  of 
a  family.  Though  frank  and  judicious  in  giving  counsel  where  it 
was  asked,  he  never  intruded.  Unambitious  of  notoriety,  or  of  pre- 
ferment, he  seemed  only  to  covet  esteem  and  usefulness ;  and  there 
was  such  evident  sincerity  and  truthfulness  in  his  bearing,  he  was 
so  conscientious,  open  and  manly  in  all  his  conduct,  so  far  above 
every  species  of  artifice  and  management,  that  you  knew  him  by  in- 
tuition to  be  as  incapable  of  a  mean  action,  as  he  was  of  injustice 
and  fraud.  To  the  poor  he  was  kind  and  generous.  In  his  profes- 
sional practice  he  often  gave  them,  not  only  an  unrewarded  service 
as  physician,  but  friendly  assistance  as  a  neighbor  and  a  man. 
Many  a  poor  family,  as  well  as  the  various  objects  of  Christian  be- 
nevolence at  home  aad  abroad,  could  bear  testimony  to  the  substan- 
tial tokens  of  his  sympathy,  and  of  his  unostentatious,  but  liberal 
charity.  In  the  family  circle,  as  husband  and  father,  with  the  ten- 
derness of  an  affectionate  nature,  the  gentleness  of  a  kind  spirit,  and 
the  unclouded  light  of  a  cheerful  disposition,  reflected  from  his  noble 
countenance  in  a  smile  so  beaming  and  benignant,  he  threw  a  pleas- 
ant sunshine  around  his  home,  and  made  it  ever  attractive  and  genial. 
In  his  general  intercourse  with  men,  he  was  the  Christian  gentleman, 
uniting  the  high  bearing  and  humble  spirit  of  the  school  of  Wash- 
ington and  the  school  of  Christ. 

But  his  religious  character  was  as  strongly  marked  as  his  intellect- 
ual and  social.  He  made  a  profession  of  his  faith  in  1805,  at  the 
age  of  thirty-one,  by  uniting  with  the  Congregational  church  in  his 
native  town ;  and  when  he  removed  to  "Woodbury,  he  transferred  his 
relations  to  this  church.  Here  for  a  quarter  of  a  century,  the  con- 
sistency of  his  daily  walk  and  the  growing  elevation  of  his  Christian 
character  were  witnessed  by  all.  The  duties  of  an  arduous  profes- 
sion seldom  furnished  him  an  excuse  for  absence  from  the  public 
worship  of  the  Sabbath,  or  from  the  weekly  meeting  for  prayer  and 
conference.  "  He  loved  the  house  of  God,  and  the  place  where  His 
honor  dwelleth."  Devout  and  reverential  in  his  piety,  he  loved  aU 
those  doctrines,  which  exalt  God  as  a  righteous  sovereign  "  upon  the 
throne  of  his  holiness."  He  had  an  enlarged  and  consistent  view  of 
the  divine  attributes,  and  he  loved  to  contemplate  the  divine  per- 
fections in  their  purity  and  majesty.  Religious  truth  opened  to  him 
a  field  in  which  his  mind  and  heart  loved  to  range.     His  text-book 


350  HISTORY     OF     ANCIENT     WOODBURT. 

was  his  Bible.  Next  to  this,  he  loved  those  books,  which  unfolded 
its  meaning  with  clearness,  and  enforced  its  truth  with  an  evangeli- 
cal and  devout  spirit.  The  pleasure  which  he  found  in  Bible  truth 
was  superior  to  every  other.  Very  few,  who  are  not  themselves 
religious  teachers,  become  so  thoroughly  indoctrinated  into  the  truths 
of  the  Scriptures  as  a  system,  or  so  deeply  imbued  with  their  spirit. 
He  rested  in  them  with  unshaken  convictions,  with  perfect  satisfac- 
tion, and  with  that  conscious  security  which  reposes  in  immutable 
truth. 

Dr.  Abernethy  died  September  24th,  1851,  aged  seventy-seven 
years.  He  left  a  widow  and  three  children.  John  J.,  a  surgeon  in 
the  U.  S.  Navy,  Charles,  a  merchant  in  New  York,  and  Anna,  wife 
of  Alvin  Bradley,  Esq.,  of  Whitestown,  N.  Y.  In  1825,  the  hono- 
rary degree  of  Doctor  of  Medicine  was  conferred  on  him  by  the  cor- 
poration of  Yale  College. 


DOCT.  JONATHAN  ATWOOD. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  came  early  to  "Woodbury.  His  name 
appears  in  the  list  of  settlers  as  early  as  1701.  He  is  the  father  of 
all  of  the  name  in  this  part  of  the  state,  and  many  other  places — a 
numerous  and  extended  posterity.  He  was  an  emigrant  from  En- 
gland. His  house  stood  not  far  from  the  old  "  Town  House,"  and 
he  owned  land  on  both  sides  of  the  highway,  so  that  the  present 
Doct.  Atwood,  his  descendant  in  the  fifth  generation,  has  his  home- 
stead on  land  that  belonged  to  the  first  doctor  of  the  name.  "We 
have  no  printed  accounts  of  his  standing  as  a  physician  or  as  a  man. 
By  the  book  of  town  acts  it  appears  that  he  was  frequently  interest- 
ed with  the  management  of  the  various  interests  of  his  fellow-towns- 
men. It  seems  also  that  they  were  satisfied  with  his  services  as  a 
physician,  as  he  remained  for  some  years  the  only  physician  beside 
Parson  Stoddard  in  that  part  of  the  ancient  town,  after  the  first  Doc- 
tor "Warner's  removal  to  Roxbury.  The  state  of  medical  science 
wa?,  however,  very  low  at  this  date,  and  men  owed  their  recovery 
from  disease  more  to  the  blessing  of  sound  constitutions,  than  to  any 
aid  from  the  physician.  "We  can  gain  some  idea  of  the  state  of 
medical  science  as  exemplified  in  "Woodbury,  from  the  inventory  of 
Doctor  Atwood's  case  of  medicine  and  medical  library,  which  fol- 
lows : 


HISTORY    OF    ANCIENT     WOODBURT.  351 

"  A  sett  of  lancetts  4s.  Gd. ,  Physical  Drugs  5s.  Sd. ,  25  glass  viols  4s.  Gd. ,  5  vials 
Os.  lOd.,  5  small  glass  bottles,  Is.  Sd.,  2  glass  bottles,  2s.  Od.,  5  gallypots.  Is.  Sd., 
quicksilver,  G  oz.,  lOd.,  aloes,  2oz.  2d.,  Salve,  diackylon,  Sd.,a.  Physick  book — 
Salmon  £1,  5s.     Do.-Hartman,  6s." 

To  us  of  the  present  day,  who  swallow  whole  drug  stores  as  a 
matter  of  coui'se,  five  shillings  eight  pence  worth  of  "  Physical 
Drugs,"  with  two  ounces  of  aloes,  and  eight  pence  worth  of  salve, 
would  seem  rather  a  limited  allowance,  for  nearly  a  whole  town,  es- 
pecially, when  we  consider,  that  on  account  of  bad  roads  and  defec- 
tive modes  of  conveyance,  the  practitioner  could  not  easily  replenish 
his  "  stock  in  trade,"  in  an  emergency.  Doct.  Atwood  died  January 
1st,  1732-3,  leaving  a  widow  and  four  children,  of  whom  informa- 
tion will  be  found  in  the  genealogies. 


GARWOOD  H.  ATWOOD,  M.  D., 

Son  of  Harvey  Atwood,  was  born  in  Woodbury,  December  4th, 
1818,  graduated  at  Yale  College  in  1840,  and  in  the  medical  depart- 
ment of  the  same  college  in  1844.  He  commenced  the  practice  of  his 
profession  in  his  native  town  in  1842,  where  he  has  continued  to  re- 
side in  full  practice  till  the  present.  On  the  1st  of  May,  1848,  he 
was  united  in  marriage  to  Henrietta  E.  Judson  of  Woodbury.  They 
have  two  chikben. 


JABEZ  BACON,  THE  RICH  MERCHANT. 

Persons  of  distinguished,  useful  characteristics  have  a  right  to  bb 
signally  named  for  the  benefit  of  posterity.  One  such  was  Jabez 
Bacon,  Esq.,  whhout  qualification  the  most  eminent  and  successful 
merchant  that  this  town  or  portion  of  the  state  had  ever  known,  or 
has  known,  down  to  this  day.  Some  of  the  facts,  indeed,  that  exhibit 
his  remarkable  business  characteristics,  are  almost  beyond  credence- 
He  was  born  at  Middlefield,  a  parish  of  Middletown,  July  16, 
1731.  He  was  a  direct  descendant  (a  great-grandson)  of  Nathaniel 
Bacon,  who  was  evidently  the  ancestor  of  all,  or  nearly  all,  of  the 
Bacons  of  this  state.  This  Nathaniel  was  the  son  of  AVilliam  Bacon, 
of  the  town  of  Stretton,  Rutland  county,  England,  and  the  nephew 
of  Andrew  Bacon,  who  was  one  of  the  leading  men  of  the  colony 


352  HISTORY     OF     ANCIENT     WOODBURT. 

that  settled  Hartford  under  Ilayncs  and  Hooker,  but  who  died  at 
Iladley  without  male  issue. 

The  subject  of  this  notice  was  the  son  of  Nathaniel,  who  was  the 
third  child  of  Andrew,  who  was  the  sixth  child  of  Nathaniel.  He 
seems  to  have  been  very  poor,  as  was  doubtless  his  father  before 
him ;  for  that  father  came  in  later  life  to  visit  his  son  in  his  after- 
wards great  prosjierity  at  Woodbury,  where  he  died  and  was  buried. 
A  plain  red  sand-stone  slab  marks  the  place  of  his  deposit. 

Jabcz  in  early  life  exhibited  the  qualities  that  afterwards  secured 
his  great  prosperity.  He  was  first  apprenticed  to  a  tanner  and  cur- 
rier,— there  is  no  evidence  however,  that  he  continued  at  this  voca- 
tion beyond  his  apprenticeship,  but  he  early  betook  himself  to  the 
business  of  selling  needles,  pins,  tapes,  &c.,  &c. — in  short,  all  the 
paraiihernalia  of  a  pedlar's  box ;  from  which,  by  his  indomitable  per- 
severance and  business  ability,  he  soon  stepped  into  a  lucrative  posi- 
tion, and  became  the  very  first  man  T«  business,  mercantile  credit 
and  wealth,  in  this  section  of  the  state.  Royal  R.  Hinman,  Esq., 
in  his  valuable  statistical  work  compiled  from  the  colonial  records  at 
Hartford,  says  he  died  worth  nme  hundred  thousand  dollars.  This 
is  a  mistake,  his  estate  having  been  inventoried  at  about  one-half  that 
sum. 

As  a  man  he  was  one  to  make  an  imjiression  on  every  one 
that  came  near  him.  The  energy  of  the  man  was  amazing,  and,  this 
directing  all  his  powers  to  the  single  business  of  accumulation,  wealth 
flowed  into  his  coffers  on  every  side.  He  was  for  years  the  sole 
merchant  of  this  town  and  all  the  neighboring  towns ;  and  so  large 
at  times  was  his  stock  in  trade,  that,  it  is  credibly  reported,  merchants 
from  New  Haven  sometimes  visited  AVoodbury,  and  purchased  from 
Jabez  Bacon  goods  to  retail  afterwards  in  that  city. 

His  way  of  doing  business  was  often  rash,  apparently,  and  seem- 
ingly no  safe  rule  for  others.  An  aged  "merchant  of  New  York  told 
the  writer  of  this  many  years  ago,  that  he  (Mr.  Bacon)  would  some- 
times visit  his  store,  make  him  a  bid  for  a  whole  tier  of  shelf  goods 
from  lloor  to  ceiling,  amounting  in  value  to  thousands  of  dollars,  and 
have  the  whole  boxed  and  shipped  in  an  hour  to  the  sloop  at  the  foot 
of  Peck  Slip  bound  for  Derby.  His  vast  wealth  also,  together  with 
his  business  skill,  sometimes  gave  him  the  command  of  the  New 
York  market  so  that,  to  a  degree  moderns  can  hardly  credit,  he  could, 
with  a  turn  of  his  hand,  "  put  the  screws"  on  an  article,  and  make 


HISTORY     OF    ANCIENT     WOODBURY.  353 

its  price  in  the  great  metropolis  rise  and  fall  like  a  barometer.  An 
anecdote,  an  unquestionable  fact,  illustrates  this.  He  was  a  large 
dealer  in  pork,  this  being  the  "  circulating  medium,"  it  would  seem, 
for  this  region,  judging  from  the  vast  quantities  of  it  that  found  their 
way  to  "  the  old  red  store  in  the  hollow,"  as  it  was  called,  thence 
down  to  "  Darby  Narrors"  where  it  was  shipped  to  New  York.  The 
old  gentleman  had  once  shipped  an  exceedingly  fine  lot  of  this  arti- 
cle for  the  city,  but  when  he  arrived  there  he  found  his  purchasers 
indisposed  to  his  price,  as  two  injmense  ship  loads  were  that  day  ex- 
pected from  Maine.  The  old  gentleman  merely  set  his  teeth  firm, 
an  ominous  trick  of  his  in  a  bargain,  and  left  the  store.  He  in- 
stantly took  a  horse,  rode  some  six  miles  up  the  East  River  shore, 
to  about  what  is  now  Blackwell's  Island,  boarded  the  sloops  as  they 
came  along,  and  pui'chased  every  pound  of  their  cargoes,  staking  his 
whole  fortune  for  it.  This  at  that  day  put  the  whole  New  York 
market  in  his  hands,  and  tradition  says  he  cleared  forty  thousand 
dollars  by  this  single  operation. 

He  was  kind-hearted,  open  and  generous,  though  in  a  bargain 
close  to  a  fault.  His  hospitality  was  unbounded.  A  long  table  was 
kept  set  forth  in  the  west  parlor  of  what  is  now  the  residence  of 
Daniel  Curtiss,  Esq.,  the  whole  year  round.  This  might  have 
been  policy,  but  it  was  also  a  part  of  a  large  heart,  that  took  pleas- 
ure in  giving  in  this  form.  As  a  citizen  he  was  public-spirited  and 
useful  for  his  day.  As  a  husband  and  father  his  affections  were  en- 
dearing and  indulgent,  and  he  was  the  centre  of  a  large  circle  of 
relatives  and  friends.  But  it  was  as  a  business  "man  where  he  de- 
serves to  be  noted  ;  where  he  deserves  signal  mention  for  posterity. 
He  was  the  centre  of  a  great  commotion ;  the  main-spring  of  a 
mighty  watch,  such  as  we  in  this  day  almost  consider  apocryphal ; 
and  with  him  has  passed  away  a  business  era,  such  as  shall  not 
soon  be  seen  in  this  valley  again. 

The  old  store,  in  which  his  vast  wealth  was  accumulated,  still 
stands.  And  if  a  man  has  nothing  else  to  do,  it  may  be  instructive 
to  pass  into  it,  look  up  at  its  old  beams,  its  huge,  old-fashioned  door, 
and  wind  through  its  passages  up  and  down,  thinking  of  the  great 
past  that  once  existed  there,  and  feel  it  impressed  on  his  whole  na- 
ture— "  what  shadows  we  all  be." 

He  died  September  10th,  1806. 


354  HISTORY     OF     ANCIENT     WOODBURY. 


HON.  DANIEL  N.  BRINSMADE 

"Was  the  son  of  Rev.  Daniel  Brinsmade,  second  pastor  of  the 
church  in  Judea  society,  and  graduated  at  Yale  College,  in  1772. 
He  read  law  witli  Samuel  Canfiekl,  Esq.,  of  Sharon,  and  settled  in 
the  practice  of  his  profession  in  his  native  place,  which  had  now 
become  the  town  of  "Washington,  where  he  continued  to  reside  till 
his  death  in  182G,  at  the  age  of  seventy-five.  He  was  justice 
of  the  quorum,  an  assistant  judge  of  the  county  court  for  sixteen 
years  from  1802,  ten  of  which  he  sat  on  the  bench.  He  Avas  longer 
in  public  life  than  any  other  man  in  that  part  of  the  ancient  territory 
of  Woodbury.     Gen.  Daniel  B.  Brinsmade  of  Washington  is  his  son. 


REV.  WILLIAM  THOMPSON  BACON.' 

Wm.  T.  Bacon  was  born  at  AYoodbury,  in  Litchfield  county, 
August  24th,  1814.  At  the  age  of  twelve  he  was  sent  to  the  "Epis- 
copal Academy,"  at  Cheshire,  to  be  fitted  for  college,  but,  after  two 
years,  he  determined  to  engage  in  a  mercantile  life,  and  became  a 
clerk  in  the  city  of  New  York.  After  three  years,  at  the  age  of 
seventeen,  he  established  himself  in  business  in  New  Haven,  Conn. 
In  a  short  time,  however,  he  withdrew  from  his  mercantile  connec- 
tion, and  devoted  himself  to  study.  He  entered  Yale  College,  in 
1833,  where  he  was  regularly  graduated  in  1837,  and  was  appointed 
by  his  class  to  deliver  the  valedictory  poem,  at  the  time  of  leaving 
the  institution.  During  the  following  autumn,  he  entered  the  divin- 
ity school  at  New  Haven,  and,  after  the  usual  term  of  study,  was 
licensed  as  a  minister  in  the  Congregational  denomination.  On  leav- 
ing that  institution,  he  was  married  to  a  daughter  of  Prof.  Jonathan 
Knight,  of  the  medical  department  of  Yale  College,  and,  in  1842, 
was  settled  over  the  Congregational  church  and  society  in  the  town 
of  Trumbull,  where  he  remained  till  1845,  when  ill  health  compelled 
him  to  ask  a  dismission.  He  subsequently  became  one  of  the  edit- 
ors of  the  "  New  ^glander,"  a  quarterly  magazine  of  great  ability. 
He  was  also  for  a  few  years  the  editor  and  proprietor  of  the  New 
Haven  daily  and  weekly  "  Journal  and  Courier,"  which  he  conducted 
with  marked  ability  and  success.     He  subsequently  supplied  the  pul- 

1  This  sketch  is  taken  principally  from  Kilbourue's  Litclifield  Biographies. 


HISTORY     OF     ANCIENT     WOODBURY.  355 

pit  in  South  Britain  for  a  time,  and  is  now  engaged  in  his  ministe- 
rial hibors  in  his  old  church  at  Trumbull.  But  he  is  not  settled 
there.  He  resides  in  the  old  "  Bacon  Homestead,"  in  his  native 
town,  having  repaired  and  greatly  improved  it. 

Soon  after  leaving  college,  Mr.  Bacon  published  a  volume  of 
poems  from  a  Boston  press,  which,  in  1840,  passed  into  a  third  edi- 
tion, revised  and  enlarged.  In  1848,  a  new  volume  of  poems  from 
his  pen,  was  published  by  Mr.  Putnam  of  New  York,  containing 
two  hundred  and  seventy-five  pages.  Plis  lighter  poems  possess 
much  simplicity  and  grace.  He  has  a  fine  perception  of  natural 
beauty,  and  his  graver  productions  are  pervaded  by  a  current  of 
deeply  reflective,  moral  and  religious  sentiment.  They  have  received 
the  examination,  and  elicited  the  general  commendation  of  severe 
critics.  It  would  be  pleasing  to  introduce  some  specimens  of  his 
poetry,  but  the  limits  of  this  work  forbid. 


HON.  JOSEPH  II.  BELLAMY. 

Joseph  Hart  Bellamy  was  the  only  child  of  David  Bellamy,  Esq., 
and  grandson  of  Dr.  Joseph  Bellamy,  the  first  pastor  of  the  Congre- 
gational church  in  Bethlehem. 

He  was  boi-n  in  Bethlehem,  graduated  at  Yale  College  in  1808, 
was  admitted  to  the  bar  of  Litchfield  County  about  1812,  after 
which,  in  connection  with  the  superintendence  of  a  farm,  he  prac- 
ticed law  in  his  native  town  till  the  time  of  his  decease. 

Mr.  Bellamy  possessed  qualities,  and  sustained  a  character,  which 
secured  the  confidence  and  respect  of  all  who  knew  him,  and  the 
warm  affection  of  his  chosen  friends.  Although  his  political  princi- 
ples were  often  opposed  to  those  of  the  majority  in  the  town,  yet  such, 
in  the  view  of  all,  was  the  integrity  and  uprightness  of  his  character, 
that  he  was  permitted  uniformly  to  retain  some  of  the  most  important 
and  responsible  offices  in  the  gift  of  the  town,  and  was  repeatedly 
called  to  represent  it  in  the  legislature  of  the  state.  He  was  also 
honored  with  a  seat  in  the  senate,  in  1841,  and  had  been  county  com- 
missioner for  Litchfield  county,  two  years  earlier. 

In  his  profession  he  was  esteemed  a  wise,  judicious  counselor,  and 
held  a  fair  standing  as  an  advocate.  A  distinguished  member  of  the 
bar  affirmed,  that  "  had  Bellamy  been  exclusively  devoted  to  the  law, 
he  might  have  gained  a  position  in  the  first  class  of  lawyers." 

He  possessed  a  fund  of  knowledge  of  men  and  things,  and  a  strik- 


356  niSTORT     OF    ancient     WOODBURY. 

ing  ori^iinality  in  his  illustrations  and  anecdotes,  which   rendered  his 
society  and  conversation  peculiarly  interesting  and  instructive. 

His  general  character  is  briefly  given  in  the  following,  extracted 
from  an  address  at  hia  funeral. 

"IMuch  as  I  loved  and  rfspeclc'd  ^Mr.  Bellamy,"  said  the  speaker,  "I  am  not 
about  to  claim  for  him  perfection  :  he  did  not  claim  it  for  himself.  No  man 
knew  his  imperfections  and  infirmities  better  than  himself.  He  made  no  pub- 
lic profession  of  pietj-,  and  I  suppose  doubted  whether  he  possessed  and  en- 
joyed it. 

'•  Notwithstanding  his  own  views  on  the  subject,  we  think  those  who  knew 
him  best,  might  find  some  evidence  of  its  existence.  Favored  from  early  life 
with  the  best  literary  and  religious  advantages,  among  other  things  he  studied 
the  Bible.  He  also  read  intelligently  the  works  of  the  best  theological  writers,  • 
and  was  an  habitual,  attentive  and  intelligent  hearer  of  the  gospel.  He  was  a 
firm  believer  in  what  are  distinctively  known  as  the  doctrines  of  grace.  The 
great  doctrine  of  the  reformation,  justification  by  faith  in  the  merits  of  the  Lord 
Jesus  Christ,  was  with  him  (as  we  well  know)  a  favorite,  a  cardinal  topic,  and 
one  of  the  last  topics  which  in  broken  accents  escaped  his  lips,  while  they  were 
yet  quivering  in  the  agonies  of  death.  That  he  was  a  man  of  strict  moral  hon- 
esty and  integrity,  has  never,  we  believe,  been  for  a  moment  doubted.  Nay, 
it  has  been  fully  demonstrated  in  the  unlimited  confidence  reposed  in  him  by 
individuals  and  public  bodies. 

"  He  was  a  firm  friend  of  good  morals;  '  a  terror  to  evil  doers,  and  a  praise 
to  such  as  do  well.' 

"  He  ever  maintained  a  firm  and  unyielding  adherence  to  that  which  he  was 
convinced  was  right ;  and  no  motives  of  personal  or  selfish  interest,  of  party  or 
political  favor,  could  divert  him  irom  his  course. 

"  He  was  preeminently  a  jsatriot,  a  lover  of  his  country,  and  ever  manifested 
a  deep,  absorbing  interest  in  her  peace,  purity  and  prosperity  And  we  fear 
not  to  ask,  were  not  the  blessings  of  the  peace-maker  his  ?  When  irritated  and 
contending  parties  sought  his  aid,  while  he  was  ready  to  administer  relief  to 
the  injured  and  oppressed,  he  was  not  willing  to  embark  even  as  a  professional 
man,  in  the  unrighteous  cause,  for  the  sake  of  personal,  party  or  pecuniary  in- 
terest. Rather  would  he  strive  to  allay  the  unruly  passions,  to  suggest  and  rec- 
ommend the  '  things  which  make  for  peace,'  which  tend  to  secure  harmony 
and  right. 

"  We  have  intimated,  that  like  a  true  son  of  New  England  he  was  the  firm 
friend  of  the  Bible,  the  Sabbath,  the  public  worship  of  God,  and  the  ordinances 
and  institutions  of  his  house  ;  this  he  manifested  by  his  cortinued  and  untiring 
efforts  to  sustain  these  institutions.  We  fear  no  contradiction  when  we  say, 
that  his  counsels,  influence  and  exertions,  were  ever  regarded  by  the  members 
of  the  ecclesiastical  society  to  which  he  belonged,  as  highly  conducive  to  its 
best  interests.  Said  a  plain,  unlettered  man,  lamenting  his  departure,  'when 
we  have  come  together  as  a  society,  with  different  views  and  divided  feelings, 
Bellamy  would  get  up  and  tell  us  what  was  right,  and  make  us  see  and  feel 
that  it  was  right,  and  straighten  us  out.' 

"  A  little  before  his  death  he  remarked,  '  This  society,  in  its  business  meet- 


HISTORY     OF     ANCIENT     WOODBURY.  357 

ings,  is  never  characterized  by  discord  or  unkind  remarks.'  We  may  add,  if  it 
ever  should  be  thus  characterized,  it  may  be  more  apparent  to  whose  inlluence 
its  former  harmony  should  be  in  part  attributed.  If  we  mistake  not,  its  records 
will  show,  that  a  single  vote,  which  with  much  care  and  skill  he  prepared,  vir- 
tually erected  and  completed  the  commodious  house  of  worship  which  the  so- 
ciety now  enjoys.  When  its  members  came  together  to  deliberate  and  decide 
upon  a  great  subject,  one  which  has  divided  and  distracted  many  ecclesiastical 
communities,  the  vote,  previously  prepared,  was  presented  and  explained,  and 
the  members  had  only  to  raise  their  hands,  which  they  did  with  entire  unanim- 
ity, and  the  deed  was  done,  or  committed  to  hands  in  which  all  had  confidence 
that  it  would  be  satisfactorily  done. 

"  Being  a  direct  descendant  of  one  of  the  most  able  and  useful  ministers  of 
the  gospel  with  which  this  land  was  ever  blessed,  Mr.  Bellamy  loved  and  re- 
spected all  accredited  ministers  of  Christ.  While  he  was  an  active  memlier  of 
"the  society,  it  had  five  different  individuals  as  its  ministers — men  difiering  as 
much  in  their  general  character,  disposition  and  temperament,  as  it  is  possible 
perhaps  for  five  good  men  to  ditfer.  Yet  he  manifestly  loved  and  respected 
them  aM.  They  all  recognized  him  as  a  valuable  and  faithful  friend.  Though 
there  are  many  who  have  Jieard  him  speak  freel}''  in  regard  to  them  all,  they 
do  not  recollect  ever  to  have  heard  him  utter  an  unkind,  disrespectful,  com- 
plaining word  or  insinuation  in  regard  to  any  one  of  them. 

"  He  well  understood  that  trials  and  embarrassments  tended  to  hinder  the 
minister  of  the  gospel  in  the  performance  of  his  arduous  work;  hence,  instead 
of  endeavoring,  like  some,  to  multiply  and  increase  his  burdens,  it  was  his 
pleasure  to  do  what  he  consistently  could  to  relieve  them. 

"  He  had  confidence  in  God  as  a  prayer-hearing  God.  Often  and  in  difler- 
ent  ways  did  he  manifest  his  confidence  in  the  efficacy  of  prayer.  ,Even  down 
to  the  last  hour  of  life  he  expressed  his  desire  to  be  interested  in  the  prayers  of 
God's  people.  His  standard  of  piety  was  higher  than  that  of  many  others. 
This  was  probably  the  ground  of  his  doubts  in  regard  to  his  own  personal  in- 
terest in  the  religion  of  the  gospel. 

"  It  is  an  interesting  fact  that  the  day,  and  probably  the  hour  on  which  Mr. 
Bellamy  died,  Nov.  2d,  1S4S,  completed  the  exact  term  of  one  hundred  and  ten 
years,  since  Dr.  Joseph  Bellamy,  his  grandfather,  commenced  his  labors  in  the 
parish  of  Bethlehem.  During  that  period  the  name  of  Bellamy  has  always 
been  somewhat  prominent  in  the  place  ;  by  the  removal  of  the  subject  of  this 
sketch,  in  the  male  line,  it  became  extinct. "i 


HON.  NOAH  B.  BENEDICT. 

.  Noah  B.  Benedict  was  the  son  of  Rev.  Noah  Benedict,  and  was 
born  at  Woodbury,  April  2,  1771.  He  graduated  at  Yale  College 
in  1788,  and  was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  Litchfield  county  in  1792. 
He  was  appointed  judge  of  probate  in  1805,  and  resigned  in  1816, 


1  This  sketch  is  extracted  from  the  minutes  of  Rev.  Fosdick  Han-ison. 


358  niSTOKY     OF    AXCIENT     WOODBURY. 

on  bcinpr  clecteil  an  assistant,  or  member  of  the  council,  which  office 
he  filled  two  years.  He  was  elected  a  member  of  the  House  of  Kep- 
resentalives  in  October,  179G,  anil  was  reelected  to  ten  sessions  sub- 
hiequently,  between  this  date  and  May,  1827.  He  was  clerk  of  the 
House  in  1809,  and  May,  1810. 

In  the  third  week  in  June,  1831,  Mr.  Benedict  came  to  Litchfield, 
to  argue,  among  other  cases,  that  of  Faii-man  v.  Bacon,  8  Conn.  Kep., 
418.  Just  before  that  case  came  on,  he  was  taken  ill  at  his  lodgings, 
and  could  only  send  in  the  brief  he  had  prepared.  He  was  carried 
home,  but  survived  only  a  few  days.  Judge  Daggett,  in  giving  the 
opinion  of  the  court,  in  the  case  referred  to,  says,  he  made  "  great 
use  of  the  brief  furnished  by  Mr.  B.,  because  he  found  it  presented 
the  argument  in  that  dense,  yet  luminous  view,  for  which  that  gen- 
tleman was  so  conspicuous,  and  by  which  the  court  were  so  often  in- 
structed and  enlightened ;  and  i-arely  more  so  than  in  this,  one  of  his 
last  efforts.'"  His  death  occurred  July  2,  1831,  at  the  age  of  sixty 
years.  He  was  twice  married,  but  died  without  issue.  His  last  con- 
sort still  survives,  and  resides  in  the  "  old  homestead."  "  He  was 
honorably  distinguished  in  his  profession,  courteous,  affisctionate  and 
kind  in  his  feelings,  and  endeared  to  the  circle  of  his  relatives  and 
friends  by  his  numerous  virtues."  Such  is  the  modest  record  on  his 
tombstone. 


DOCT.  ANTHONY  BURKITT. 

The  subject  of  this  notice  Avas  the  son  of  Benjamin  and  Mary  Bur- 
ritt,  and  born  in  Newtown,  Conn.,  Dec.  4,  1752.  He  studied  medi- 
cine with  Doct.  Joseph  Perry,  of  Woodbury,  and  commenced  the 
practice  of  the  profession  in  Southbury  society,  a  short  time  before 
the  Revolution.  During  a  part  of  that  period,  he  acted  as  surgeon's 
mate  in  the  service.  He  was  taken  prisoner,  and  carried  to  Long 
Island.  Jabez  Bacon,  of  Woodbury,  a  friend  of  his,  happening  to 
come  where  he  was,  and  finding  in  what  condition  he  was  there  held, 
interceded  with  the  British  authorities,  and  induced  them  to  release 
him.  He  was  of  respectable  attainments,  and  had  good  success  in 
his  practice.     He  died  April  12,  1839. 


1  In  this  sketch  of  Mr.  Benedict,  the  author  lias  restricted  liimself  to  a  mere  statist- 
ical account,  at  the  request  of  the  one  most  nearly  interested  in  him. 


HISTORY     OP     ANCIENT     WOODBURY.  359 


ANTHONY  B.  BURRITT,  M.  D., 

Son  of  the  px'eceding,  Avas  born  in  Southbmy,  January  12,  1810  ; 
studied  medicine  with  his  father,  and  Docts.  Abraham  L.  Smith  and 
Joseph  L.  Tomhnson,  and  graduated  at  the  medical  department  of 
Yale  College,  in  1832.  Commenced  practice  in  his  nati\e  town  im- 
mediately, and  is  now  in  practice  there. 


ZACHERIAII  BEERS. 


"Woodbury  has  not  been  prolific  in  poets.  About  the  time  of  the 
Revolution,  however,  the  subject  of  this  sketch  was  in  full  life,  and 
possessed  a  decided  talent  for  versifying.  He  would  with  the  great- 
est ease  and  fluency,  turn  an  account  of  any  or  all  the  ordinary  inci- 
dents of  everj-^-day  life  into  rhyme.  He  never  had  the  opportunity  of 
improving  his  mind  by  culture,  and  therefore  most  of  his  productions 
were  of  an  exceedingly  crude  nature,  wanting  all  the  finish  of  gi'am- 
matical  construction,  and  true  poetical  polish.  Accordingly,  his 
rhymes  wp.re  all  of  the  Hudibrastic  order,  but  there  were  frequent 
specimens  of  high  poetic  ability,  which,  if  it  had  been  preceded  by 
proper  culture,  would  have  enabled  him  to  rival  the  McFingal  of 
John  Trumbull.  He  was  a  soldier  of  the  Revolution,  and  entered 
heartily  into  the  spirit  of  the  times.  As  a  mediocre  specimen  of  his 
powers,  the  following  is  given,  entitled  by  its  author, 

"  THE  INDEPENDENT  BANK." 

"  Come,  freemen,  come,  ussist  to  sing 

The  blessings  that  surround  us  ; 
'Tis  true  we've  lost  a  sapient  king, 

But  liberty  lias  found  us. 

Chorus. 
Then  join  your  voices  from  the  heart, 

A  heavenly  chorus  lend  us ; 
We  never  but  with  life  will  part 

With  glorious  Independence. 
Let  idiots  talk  of  state  and  rank, 

And  bend  to  those  who  care  it ; 
Our  freedom  is  a  common  Bank, 

And  equally  we'll  share  it. 


oGO  nisTonr    of   ancient    "woodburt. 

In  sevonty-pix,  'twas  founded  here, 

And  lias  this  wondrous  tally  ; 
The  oftener  divide  our  sliare, 

The  greater  is  its  value. 

God  gave  the  charter  first  to  Man, 

But  Priests  and  Kings  concealed  it; 
Columbia's  sons  regained  the  plan, 

And  with  their  blood  they  sealed  it. 

Let  us,  who  share  her  stock  look  in, 

And  frequently  inspect  her  ; 
'Twill  jilease  the  Cashier,  Gallatin, 

And  Jefferson,  director." 

A  Doct.  Enos  TVeed,  of  Stamford,  some  fifty  years  ago,  published 
a  long  advertisement,  setting  forth  that  he,  as  an  itinerant  physician, 
would  travel  through  the  country,  and  cure  all  diseases  "  that  flesh  is 
heir  to,"  by  a  long  list  of  patent  medicines,  of  which  he  possessed  the 
right.  Ml-.  Beers  paraphrased  the  whole  of  his  long  and  bombastic 
notice,  with  inimitable  sarcasm,  too  long,  and  too  free  in  its  details, 
to  be  admitted  into  these  pages,  but  a  few  passages  are  given  as  a 
specimen  of  the  style.     It  was  printed  in  a  Danbury  paper. 

"  Pandora  long  a  pest  to  human  ease, 

Mother  of  ills,  and  mistress  of  disease, 

Slipped,  one  by  one,  from  her  envenomed  chest. 

Till  mortals  all  were  near  deprived  of  rest ; 

Until  the  namesake  of  old  Jacob's  son,  , 

Enters  the  list,  and  bids  distress  begone  ;  \ 

Lays  in.  of  antidotes  so  large  a  store. 

That  De'il  shall  rage  and  reign  no  more  ; 

And  by  a  long  detail  their  virtue  shows. 

With  patent  right,  just  brought  from  Lee  &:  Co's. 

Oh  !  happy  land  where  remedies  will  cure, 

And,  legal  made,  infallible  and  sure  ! 

The  exulting  muse  without  Poetic  fame 

Delights  to  call  each  Antidote  by  Name; 

And  as  she  sings  their  efficacy  o'er. 

Without  a  Patent — blesses  Baltimore, 

Whence  Hamilton's  Elixir  must  arrive 

To  keep  the  people  of  these  states  alive — 

From  thence  to  here,  consigned  to  Doct.  Dar — 

Who  dares  infection  to  begin  the  war ! " 

/ 
After  going  through  the  whole  advertisement,  characterizing  each 


fllSTOEY     OF     AXCIEXT     WOODBURY.  3G1 

fintidote  on  his  way,  and  giving  by  far  the  best  description  of  a  pill, 
extant,  he  closes  as  follows : 

"  At  last  the  Patent  right  is  made  so  sure, 
It  helps  his  purse — if  it  performs  no  cure. 
This  tee  believe — Oh  !  Faith,  what  is  thy  power 
To  help  poor  mortals  in  a  dangerous  hour  ! 
An  Antediluvian  race  will  soon  arrive, 
.  And  people  here  for  many  centuries  live  ; 

And  then,  by  patent  rights,  all  crimes  forgiven. 
Wear  out  at  last — and  gently  go  to  Heaven !" 


WILLIAM  COTHREN, 


Son  of  William  and  Hannah  Cothren,  was  born  at  Farmington, 
Maine,  November  28,  1819.  He  fitted  for  college  at  the  Farmington 
Academy  ;  graduated  at  Bowdoin  College,  Maine,  in  1 843  ;  received 
his  second  degree  in  course  at  the  same  institution  in  18-4G,  and  the 
degree  of  Master  of  Arts,  ad  eundem,  from  Yale  College,  in  1847. 
He  studied  law  under  the  direction  of  Hon.  Robert  Goodenough,  of 
Farmington,  Me.,  late  member  of  Congress  from  his  district,  and  with, 
the  Hon.  Charles  B.  Phelps,  of  Woodbury.  He  came  to  Woodbury  in 
1844,  taught  school  for  a  while,  and  was  admitted  to  the  Litchfield 
county  bar,  1845.  He  commenced  the  practice  of  his  profession  in 
Woodburj',  immediately  after,  and  has  there  continued  in  the  per- 
formance of  its  duties  till  the  present  time.  He  was  elected  corres- 
ponding member  of  the  New  England  Historic,  Genealogical  Society 
at  Boston,  Mass.,  May  5,  1847,  and  a  member  of  the  Connecticut 
Historical  Society,  November  23,  1852.  He  was  also  elected  a 
county  commissioner  for  Litchfield  county,  at  the  May  session  of  the 
General  Assembly,  1851. 


CONANT  CATLIN,  M.  D. 


Was  a  practicing  physician  and  surgeon  in  the  town  of  Bethlem 
nearly  twenty  years.  He  came  there  about  1818,  when  what  was 
called  the  "  New  Milford  fever,"  was  extensively  prevailing,  and  very 
fatal.  He  was  the  immediate  successor  of  Dr.  Fowler,  who  had  him- 
self fallen  a  victim  to  the  epidemic.  Seldom  has  a  physician,  a 
young  man,  an  entire  stranger,  risen  so  rapidly  in  the  esteem  and 
confidence  of  the  community,  and  obtained  so  permanent  and  exten- 


24 


362  II I  S  T  O  U  Y     O  I"     ANCIENT     WOODBURY. 

sive  a  practice  as  the  subject  of  this  notice.  The  immediate  cause 
of  this,  was,  doubtless,  his  success  in  the  treatment  of  the  prevaihng 
epidemic,  and  the  favorable  influence  of  Dr.  Perry,  of  Woodbury, 
but  the  continuance  and  increase  of  this  confidence  must  have  de- 
pended on  something  more.  This  may  be  found  not  only  in  his  gen- 
eral skill  and  industry  in  the  practice  of  his  profession,  but  in  his 
sterling  worth  as  a  man  and  a  citizen.  Few  men  ever  possessed  in 
a  hif^hcr  degree  those  rare  virtues  in  their  intercourse  with  others, 
which  command  respect,  confidence  and  esteem. 

Left  penniless  at  the  age  of  fourteen,  by  the  death  of  his  father, 
Daniel  Cathn,  of  Harwinton,  he  succeeded  by  untiring  zeal,  in  securing 
a  fiiir  academic  education,  and  then  paid  his  way  through  five  years' 
study  of  medicine,  commencing  practice  at  the  age  of  twenty-one. 
During  all  this  time,  he  was  one  of  three  sons,  who  supported  an  in- 
firm and  feeble  mother.  He  commenced  practice  fifty  dollars  in 
debt,  for  his  horse  and  saddle.  Notwithst;\nding  an  expensive  family, 
and  a  connection  in  mercantile  business  which  met  with  frequent  and 
heavy  losses,  his  heirs  received  nearly  $2,500  from  his  estate,  while 
about  the  same  amount  in  worthless  debts  was  found  upon  his  books. 
His  practice  was  universal  in  the  town  of  Bethlem,  and  extended 
largely  into  the  adjoining  towns.  If  he  w^as  successful  in  winning 
the  confidence  and  esteem  of  his  patrons  and  the  public,  he  was  emi- 
nently so  in  securing  that  of  his  medical  brethren  in  the  county  and 
state.  The  records  of  the  Litchfield  County  IMedical  Society  fully 
attest  this.  His  mind  seemed  wholly  absorbed  in  his  profession,  often 
to  the  neglect  of  his  pecuniary  aflfairs  ;  and  few  men,  it  is  believed, 
have  contributed  more  largely  than  he,  both  by  his  pen,  counsel  and 
practice,  to  elevate  the  dignity  of  his  profession  in  this  county.  Per- 
haps no  paper  has  contributed  more  to  this  end,  than  his  truthful 
yet  sarcastic  and  scathing  treatise  on  "  Quacks  and  Quackery,"  read 
before  the  county  society,  about  the  year  1820.  Its  peculiar  adapt- 
ation to  the  existing  state  of  things  at  the  time,  as  well  as  its  correc- 
tive influence,  is  within  the  memory  of  all  the  older  physicians  now 
livinfT  in  the  county.  The  honorary  degree  of  M.  D.  was  conferred 
on  him  by  Yale  College,  in  1828,  and  at  the  time  of  his  death  he  was 
corresponding  in  regard  to  a  professorship  in  that  institution,  which 
was  about  to  be  tendered  to  him. 

In  private  life,  in  the  social  circle,  he  was  beloved  by  all.  Unas- 
suming in  manners,  remarkable  for  the  paucity  of  his  words,  calm, 
clear  and  dispassionate,  yd  firm  in  the  expression  of  an  opinion,  his 
remarks  were  always  instructive,  and  commanded  a  powerful  though 


HISTOKY     OF     ANCIENT     -WOODBURl.  3G3 

often  a  quiet  influence.  Usually  sedate,  lie  was  nevertheless  apt  to 
arouse  the  mirth  of  the  company  by  an  unexpected  though  opportune 
joke.  Naturally  quick  in  temper,  he  had  succeeded  in  obtaining  an 
almost  perfect  control  over  it,  and  scarcely  an  instance  is  remembered 
where  his  anger  found  vent  in  words.  He  was  a  consistent  Chris- 
tian, warmly  attached  to  the  Congregational  church,  of  which  he  was 
a  member,  but  liberal  in  his  sentiments  toward  all  denominations. 
At  the  age  of  twenty-one  he  was  seriously  attacked,  several  times, 
with  hemorrhage  from  the  lungs,  and  during  the  remainder  of  his 
life  he  was  troubled  with  consequent  infirmities.  He  often  remarked 
in  his  last  years  that  "  horseback  riding  had  prolonged  his  life  many 
years."  He  died  in  June,  1830,  beloved  and  esteemed  by  all,  and  his 
memory  is  still  cherished  by  his  cotemporaries  in  Bethlem.  They 
feel  that  his  loss  has  never  been  supplied.  His  disease  was  called 
consumption,  though  not  well  defined.  He  wore  himself  out  by  years 
of  laborious  practice.     His  age  was  forty-one. 


DOCTOR  JOHN  CALHOUN, 

"U^as  for  many  years  a  practitioner  of  medicine  in  Washington. 
He  was  a  very  respectable  man,  and  an  approved  physician.  He 
was  much  engaged  in  the  public  business  of  the  town,  and  died  leav- 
ing a  somewhat  numerous  posterity,  many  of  whom  have  become 
noted  in  the  various  professions  of  life.  His  children  were,  Daniel, 
Calvin,  Jedediah,  Joseph  and  Philo. 


DOCTOR  AZARIAH  EASTMAN, 

TTas  the  son  of  Azariah  Eastman,  and  born  at  New  Fairfield,  now 
Sherman,  Conn.,  August  5th,  174G.  At  the  age  of  twenty,  he  com- 
menced the  study  of  medicine  with  Doctor  James  Potter,  of  his  na- 
tive place,  and  was  licensed  to  practice  the  profession,  October,  1768. 
He  removed  to  Roxbury,  a  parish  in  Woodbury,  and  entered  into 
practice,  in  which  he  continued  for  many  years  with  great  success, 
and  obtained  a  high  eminence  not  only  in  his  profession,  but  as  a  firm 
supporter  of  those  principles  which  elevate  and  ennoble  man.  He 
died  May  27th,  1818,  and  was  buried  in  the  old  burial  ground  near 
the  place  where  the  first  meeting-house  stood. 


3C1  mSTOKT    OF     ANCIENT     WOODBURY. 


DOCTOR  JOSIAII  R.  EASTMAN, 
Son  of  the  preceding,  was  born  in  Roxbury  society,  February  14th, 
1771,  and  in  the  nineteenth  year  of  his  age,he  commenced  the  study  of 
medicine  and  surgery,  with  Dr.  Nathaniel  Thayer,  a  physician  of  liis 
native  parish.  He  studied  two  years  with  him,  and  the  rest  of  tlie 
time  spent  in  preparatory  studies,  he  passed  under  tlie  tuition  of  Dr. 
James  Potter,  of  Sherman.  He  was  licensed  to  practice,  May  2d, 
1793,  by  the  Medical  Socielj^  of  Fairfield  connty,  at  a  meeting  held 
in  Danbury. 

Previous  to  his  license,  he  had  intended  to  settle  in  East  Haven, 
but  the  scarlet  fever  being  at  this  time  very  prevalent  in  his  native 
place,  he  returned  there,  and  immediately  entered  into  the  practice  of 
his  profession.  The  skill  and  judgment  Avhich  he  manifested  in  the 
management  of  the  prevailing  epidemic,  laid  the  foundation  for  his 
permanent  residence  and  future  usefulness  in  Roxbury.  He  was  the 
only  permanently  settled  physician  in  his  native  society  for  nearly 
thirty-four  years.  Dui-ing  all  this  period  he  was  called  to  practice 
extensively  in  the  adjoining  towns,  and  frequently  to  meet  his  pro- 
fessional brethren  in  council,  in  difficult  cases.  His  success  in  his 
profession  may  not  be  traced  directly  to  his  early  acquirements  in 
medical  science,  but  to  an  inherent,  native  genius.  In  1813,  when  an 
epidemic  fever  prevailed  in  the  southern  part  of  Litchfield  county, 
and  nearly  all  who  were  attacked  fell  before  it,  under  the  treatment 
of  the  most  eminent  physicians,  he  introduced  a  mode  of  treatment 
not  recognized  by  any  author,  with  such  marked  success,  that  he 
gained  for  himself  an  extended  reputation. 

He  became  religious  in  early  life,  and  connected  himself  with  the 
Congregational  church  in  Roxbury.  He  remained  during  his  whole 
life  one  of  its  most  efficient  and  useful  members.  He  was,  also  elected 
to  various  civil  offices  in  his  town,  and  in  all  his  ministerial  and  judi- 
cial acts  was  traceable  the  divine  precept,  "  Do  unto  others  as  you 
would  that  they  should  do  unto  you." 


DOCTOR  SYLVANUS  FANSHER. 
Dr.  Fansher  was  a  native  of  Plymouth,  Conn.,  but  resided  for 
many  years  in  Southbury.     He  devoted  more  than  fifty  years  of  his 
life  to  the  extension  of  the  vaccine  or  kine  pock  inoculation,  as  a  rem- 
edy against  that  scourge  of  the  human  race,  the  small-pox.     For  his 


HISTORY     OF     ANCIENT     WOODBURY.  365 

discoveries  in  expediting  the  kine  pock,  he  received  a  diploma  from 
the  "  Royal  Jennerian  Society  of  London."  About  the  year  1802, 
when  the  kine  pock  had  become  apparently  extinct  in  this  country,  it 
was  found  that  a  number  of  persons  in  Danbury  and  Goshen  had 
taken  the  infection,  or  virus,  from  milking  cows.  Dr.  Fansher  sta- 
ted that  he  took  the  virus  from  the  pustule  on  the  milkmaid's  arm, 
and  inoculated  an  infant  with  it,  which  proved  to  be  the  genuine  kine 
pock.  He  also  stated  that  he  had  known  several  instances  where 
the  infection  was  taken  without  any  connection  with  the  cow  ;  and  it 
was  his  belief  that  the  infection  is  taken  from  some  shrub  or  plant, 
from  which,  when  discovered,  we  shall  know  something  of  the  origin 
of  the  small  pox,  and  have  a  sovereign  remedy  against  it,  at  hand. 
Dr.  Fansher  died  two  or  three  years  ago,  after  a  long  life  devoted  to 
the  investigation  of  this  subject.^ 


PARLEMON  B.  FOWLER,  M.  D., 

"Was  the  immediate  successor,  in  the  parish  of  Bethlem,  of  Doctors 
Z.  Hull  and  John  Meigs.  He  was  a  very  skillful  physician,  and  a 
highly  respectable  man. 


WARREN  R.  FOWLER,  M.  D., 

Studied  the  profession  of  medicine  with  Dr.  Sheldon,  and  com- 
menced its  practice  in  Judea  society,  in  Washington,  about  the  year 
1810.  He  continued  in  the  practice  of  his  profession  till  his  death  in 
1826.  He  was  of  excellent  repute,  both  as  a  man  and  a  physician. 
In  1818,  he  received  from  Yale  College  the  honorary  degree  of  doc- 
tor in  medicine.  He  married  Polly  Hanford,  and  had  two  children, 
Henry,  a  respectable  physician  at  South  Bend,  Indiana,  and  George, 
who  died  young. 


REMUS  M.  FOWLER,  M.  D., 

Is  a  brother  of  the  preceding,  and  studied  medicine  with  him.  He 
also  settled  in  Washington,  and  still  continues  there  in  full  practice, 
respected  as  a  man  and  a  physician.  In  1834,  Yale  College  confer- 
red on  him  the  honorary  degi-ee  of  doctor  in  medicine.  He  has  been 
twice  married,  and  has  had  thi-ee  children,  Maria,  who  married  Doc- 

1  Barber's  Historical  Collections  of  Connecticut. 


366  iiisTonv    of   anciknt    woodburt. 

tor  Seth  Porter  Ford,  and  resides  at  the  Sandwich  Islands  ;  Jane, 
who  married  William  W.  Lcavitt,  and  Harriet,  who  also  resides  at 
the  Sandwich  Islands. 


DOCTOR  STEPHEN  B.  FAIRCHILD, 

Is  a  native  of  Newtown,  Conn.  lie  studied  medicine  the  usual 
length  of  time,  and  after  taking  a  course  of  medical  lectures,  was 
licensed  to  practice.  Immediately  after  this  he  removed  to  Wood- 
bury, and  is  now  engaged  in  the  active  duties  of  his  prol'ession. 


DOCTOR  ANDREW  GRAHAM, 

Was  the  son  of  Rev.  John  Graham,  the  first  minister  of  Sonthbury 
society,  and  born  at  Stafford,  Conn.,  in  1728.  Having  prepared  liim- 
self  for  the  practice  of  medicine,  he  settled  in  that  profession  in  South- 
bury  parish,  about  1750,  and  continued  in  its  practice  till  his  death, 
June  17th,  1785,  at  the  age  of  fifty-seven  years.  He  resided  in  the 
house  next  south  of  the  White  Oak  school-house.  He  obtained  a 
fair  reputation  as  a  physician,  and  an  unsullied  reputation  as  a  man. 
He  was  much  employed  in  the  public  business  of  the  town,  especially 
during  the  period  of  the  Revolutionary  War.  He  was  for  a  time 
surgeon's  mate  in  the  army.  He  was  a  jovial,  agreeable  and  com- 
panionable man,  much  endeared  to  his  neighbors  and  friends.  John 
A.  Graham,  LL.  D.,  a  lawyer  of  New  York,  was  his  son,  and  erected 
a  plain  monument  over  his  grave  some  years  ago,  on  which  is  the 
following  inscription  : 

«'  Andrew  Graham,  M.  D.,  a  dcfc-eiulaiit  of  the  Duke  of  Montrose,  departed 
this  for  another  and  better  world,  in  .Iiuie,  1785,  aged  57  years.  Out  of  respect 
to  the  memory  of  an  honest  man,  this  marble  is  placed  by  liis  son,  Jolin  A. 
Graham,  LL.  D. 

"New  Yorli,lS05.  Ne  oublie." 


DOCTOR  ZEPHANIAH  HULL, 

Was  born  in  Cheshire,  Conn.,  in  the  year  1728 ;  studied  the  pro- 
fession of  medicine  at  an  early  age  ;  married  Hannah  Cook,  ]\Iarch 
28th,  1749,  and  soon  removed  to  Bethlehem,  in  Woodbury,  probably 
on  account  of  the  influence  of  Dr.  Bellamy,  who  was  a  native  of  the 
same  town,  and  a  few  years  his  senior.  He  died  November  10th, 
17G0,  the  same  day  with  his  wife,  in  the  "  Great    Sickness."     They 


HISTORY     OF     A  NCI  EXT     "WOOD  BURT.  oG7 

were  buried  in  one  grave,  and  two  of  his  children,  and  a  young  man 
living  in  his  house,  died  a  few  days  later.  Soon  after  these  deaths, 
and  while  others  were  sick  in  the  house,  a  Deacon  Strong  going  by> 
raised  a  flock  of  eleven  quails,  Avhich  flew  over  the  house  and  dropped 
in  the  garden.  Immediately  after  three  of  them  rose  and  flew  into 
the  bushes,  but  the  other  eight  were  found  dead,  and  in  an  hour  after 
putrefied,  became  offensive  and  were  buried.'  As  a  physician,  and 
as  a  man,  he  ever  sustained  a  high  character  in  the  place  of  his 
adoption. 


DOCTOR  TITUS  HULL, 

Son  of  the  last,  was  born  in  Bethlehem  parish,  March  25th,  1751  ; 
was  the  eldest  of  his  surviving  children,  and  lived  with  an  uncle  at 
Cheshire,  some  six  years.  After  this  he  studied  medicine  with  Doc- 
tor Seth  Bird,  an  eminent  physician  of  Litchfield ;  settled  on  the 
farm  owned  by  his  father,  now  occupied  by  Benjamin  T.  Lake,  and 
resided  there  till  1805.  lie  then  removed  to  Danbury,  Conn.,  where 
he  resided  two  years,  when  he  removed  to  the  state  of  New  York. 
He  Avas  a  respectable  physician,  and  perhaps  more  celebrated  in 
treating  diseases  of  the  bowels,  particularly  every  variety  of  colic, 
than  any  other  man  in  the  state,  in  his  day. 


SAMUEL  EUGENE  HARTWELL,  ESQ., 

Is  a  native  of  Strong,  Maine.  He  prepared  for  college  at  Far- 
mington  Academy,  Maine  ;  entered  "Wesleyan  University,  at  Middle- 
town,  Conn.,  in  1837,  for  the  purpose  of  taking  the  "  scientific 
course"  in  that  institution,  and  graduated  as  bachelor  of  science,  in 
1841.  He  studied  law  with  Hon.  William  W.  Ellsworth,  at  Hart- 
ford, a  judge  of  the  superior  court ;  commenced  the  practice  of  his 
profession  at  Suffield,  Conn.,  in  1843,  whence  he  removed  to  Wood- 
bury, in  1845.  In  1846,  being  engaged  in  the  invention  of  a  ma- 
chine for  the  making  of  cigars,  he  removed  to  the  city  of  New  York, 
where  he  has  since  continued  to  reside.  He  realized  some  $15,000 
from  his  invention,  and  is  now  a  land  broker  in  New  York. 

1  This  fact  is  taken  from  a  letter  Tvritteu  at  the  tune,  dated  December  20th,  1760. 


3G8  HISTOUY     Ol-     ANCIENT     WOODBURY 


DOCTOR  DANIEL  HUNTINGTON, 

Studied  medicine  with  Doctor  Joseph  Perry,  and  commenced  the 
practice  of  his  profession  in  Woodbury  about  the  year  17G7.  He 
was  the  lirst  postmaster  of  the  town,  from  1797  to  1814,  when  he  re- 
signed his  oflice.  For  several  years  before  the  close  of  his  life,  he 
relinquished  the  active  duties  of  his  profession,  and  confined  his  at- 
tention to  his  drug  store.  He  was  a  very  celebrated  chemical  com- 
pounder.    He  died  February  19th,  1819,  aged  seventy-four. 


'  ASAHEL  M.  HUXLEY,  M.  D., 

Came  to  Woodbury  about  the  year  1834,  and  settled  in  the  prac- 
tice of  his  profession.  He  was  married  to  Mary  L.  Minor,  daughter 
of  the  late  Matthew  Minor,  Jr.,  Esq.,  July  14th,  1837.  After  some 
years  spent  in  practice  in  this  town,  there  being  a  vacancy  in  Go- 
shen, Conn.,  he  removed  there,  where  he  has  since  remained  in  an 
extensive  practice. 


DOCTOIl  BENJAMIN  HAWLEY, 

Commenced  the  practice  of  the  medical  profession  in  the  parish  of 
Bethlehem,  some  time  preceding  the  date  of  the  Revolution.  He  was 
distinguished  as  a  physician  in  his  time.  He  died  September  11th, 
1813,  during  the  time  of  the  "New  Milford  fever,"  at  the  age  of 
seventy  years. 


WILLIAM  HAWLEY,  ESQ., 

Was  born  at  Redding,  Conn.,  and  was  a  graduate  of  Yale  College, 
class  of  1789.  He  acquired  his  professional  education  under  Thad- 
deus  Benedict,  Esq. ;  was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  1791 ;  and  soon 
after  commenced  the  practice  of  law  at  Greenwich,  Conn.,  and  sub- 
sequently at  Redding,  whei-e  he  continued  until  1798,  when  he  re- 
moved to  Woodbury,  and  there  continued  in  practice  until  1803, 
which  he  then  relinquished  for  other  pursuits,  chiefly  of  a  mercantile 
character.  He  was  a  member  of  the  House  of  Rejiresentatives,  in 
1802  and  1805. 


HISTORY     OF     ANCIENT     WOODBURY.  369 

GIDEON  HIRAM  HOLLISTER,  ESQ., 

Was  born  in  Washington,  December  14tli,  1817,  and  graduated 
at  Yale  College  in  1840.  He  immediately  commenced  the  study  of 
law  under  the  direction  of  Hon.  David  Daggett,  afterward  pursued 
the  same  in  the  office  of  Hon.  Origen  S.  Seymour,  and  was  admitted 
to  the  bar  of  Litchfield  county  in  April,  1842.  He  then  opened  an 
ofiice  in  Woodbury,  and  continued  the  practice  of  his  profession  with 
good  success  for  about  two  years,  when  he  was  induced  to  remove  to 
Litchfield,  where  he  immediately  entered  into  a  highly  successful 
and  lucrative  practice,  in  which  he  is  at  present  engaged.  Few  men 
in  the  legal  profession  have  been  favored  with  a  more  steady  and 
unvarying  success.  Within  the  last  two  years  he  has  prepared  two 
works  for  the  press,  one  of  which  has  already  been  given  to  the 
world,  and  elicited  the  warm  commendation  of  critics  as  well  as  of 
friends.  This  is  a  historical  novel  entitled  "  Mount  Hope,"  and  the 
other  about  to  be  published  is  of  a  similar  character.  He  is  also 
engaged  in  writing  a  history  of  Connecticut,  a  work  very  much  needed, 
and  one  which  will  be  awaited  with  eager  interest  and  curiosity  by 
all.  He  is  a  writer  of  marked  ability,  and  in  the  opinion  of  his 
friends,  he  would  do  well  for  the  world,  and  for  his  own  fame,  to  de- 
vote himself  entirely  to  this  field  of  labor,  notwithstanding  his  suc- 
cessful efforts  at  the  bar. 


EDWARD  HINMAN,  ESQ., 

Was  the  son  of  Dea.  Noah  Hinman,  and  was  born  in  Woodbury, 
about  1740.  He  was  one  of  the  first  two  lawyers  in  the  town,  and 
resided  in  White  Oak.  It  is  believed  that  he  studied  his  profession 
with  Col.  Walker  of  Stratford,  though  it  is  not  now  certainly  known. 
Soon  after  his  establishment  in  practice  he  became  familiarly  known 
to  his  fellow-townsmen  by  the  appellation  of  "Lawyer  Ned,"  an 
appellation  which  he  retained  during  life,  though  he  lived  to  a  good 
old  age.  He  was  a  man  of  clear  and  strong  intellect.  Nathan  Pres- 
ton, Esq.,  once  said  of  him,  that  "  he  was  a  greater  man  than  Wash- 
ington." This  was,  of  course,  an  exceedingly  extravagant  statement, 
but  tends  to  show  the  estimation  in  which  he  was  held  by  members 
of  his  own  profession.  In  one  particular,  he  was  a  much  greater 
man  than  Washington,  and  that  is  in  corpulency.  He  was  one  of 
the  most  corpulent  men  of  his  day.     When  he  was  seated  his  abdo- 


370  niSTORY     OP     AXCIENT     WOODBURY. 

men  projected  entirely  over  his  knees.  lie  was  accustomed  to  use 
great  brevity  of  speech,  but  always  spoke  to  the  point.  His  voice 
was  not  good — he  spoke  witli  a  strong,  nasal  twang.  lie  was  much 
addicted  to  the  use  of  hyi)erbolical  expressions.  It  is  said,  that  when 
in  court  his  brevity  of  speech  was  as  great  as  elsewhere,  but  a  few- 
words  from  him  had  more  weight  with  the  court  and  jury,  than  a 
multitude  from  his  comj^etitors.' 


HON.  EDWARD  HINMAN, 


Is  the  son  of  Timothy  Ilinman,  and  the  grandson  of  "  Lawyer 
Ned"  on  the  side  of  his  mother,  who  was  his  daughter.  He  pre- 
pared himself  for  the  practice  of  law,  and  took  up  his  abode  in  his 
native  town,  where  he  has  continued  to  practice  his  profession.  He 
has  borne  various  public  offices  in  the  town,  and  has  been  for  two 
years  judge  of  the  county  court  for  New  Haven  county.  He  is 
wealthy,  and  has  passed  on  thus  far  to  a  respectable  age  in  a  "  state 
of  single  blessedness."  He  was  a  member  of  the  State  Senate  in 
1843. 


HON.  ROYAL  R.  HINMAN, 

Was  born  in  Southbury,  and  graduated  at  Yale  College  in  1804, 
in  the  class  with  Hon.  John  C.  Calhoun  and  other  distinguished  men. 
He  studied  law  with  Hon.  D.  S.  Boardman,  Hon.  Noah  B.  Benedict 
and  Judge  Reeve,  practiced  his  profession  in  Roxbury  about  twenty 
years,  and  about  two  years  at  Southington  in  Hartford  county.  He 
represented  the  town  of  Roxbury,  four  years  in  the  General  Assem- 
bly, between  1814  and  1831,  was  elected  Secretary  of  State,  as 
successor  of  Hon.  Thomas  Day,  in  1835,  and  was  annually  re-elected 
for  seven  years  after  that  date.  While  he  was  secretary  in  183G,  he 
published  a  volume  of  the  correspondence  of  the  kings  and  queens 
of  England,  which  had  remained  on  the  shelves  of  the  office  for  two 
hundred  years,  entitled  "Antiquities  of  Connecticut."  In  1842,  he 
published  a  volume  of  six  hundred  and  forty-three  pages,  large  octavo? 
entitled  "  A  Historical  Collection,  from  Official  Records,  Files,  &:c., 


1  For  the  facts  in  this  and  several  other  sketches,  the  author  is  indebted  to  George 
Ilinman,  Esq.,  of  Sullivan,  Maine,  a  native  of  the  ancient  territory. 


HISTORY     OF     AXCIENT     WOODBURY.  371 

of  tlie  part  sustained  by  Connecticut  during  the  War  of  the  Revo- 
lution," with  an  appendix  containing  very  important  matters,  verified 
from  the  records.  This  is  a  very  valuable  book,  and  does  both  the 
state  and  the  author  great  credit.  In  1846,  he  published  a  cata- 
logue of  the  names  of  the  first  Puritan  settlers  of  the  colony  of 
Connecticut,  extending  to  five  numbers,  and  containing  three  hundred 
and  thirty-six  pages.  lie  is  at  the  present  moment  publishing  under  a 
similar  title,  a  large  and  extended  work  of  a  similar  character.  In 
1835,  he  was  appointed  chairman  of  a  committee  consisting  of  him- 
self, Leman  Church,  Esq.,  and  Hon.  Elisha  Phelps,  to  revise  the 
public  statutes  of  Connecticut,  which  they  accomplished  in  a  book  of 
about  six  hundred  pages.  In  1835  and  '6,  the  same  committee  was 
appointed  to  compile  and  publish  the  private  or  special  acts  of  the 
state,  particularly  those  of  a  date  later  than  1789,  up  to  the  time  of 
publication.  This  duty  was  performed,  and  a  book  of  sixteen  hun- 
dred and  forty  pages  was  published  for  the  use  of  the  people  of  the 
state.  In  1838,  Mr.  Hinman  and  Thomas  C.  Perkins  of  Hartford 
were  appointed  to  make  a  revision  of  the  statutes  of  the  state,  which 
duty  was  accomplished,  and  the  "  Revision  of  1838,"  containing 
seven  hundred  and  seventeen  pages,  was  the  result.  It  is  said,  that 
no  man  in  the  state  has  prepared  and  published  so  large  a  number  of 
pages  for  the  state  as  Mr.  Hinman.  He  was  one  of  the  original  in- 
corporators of  the  revised  charter  of  the  "Connecticut  Historical 
Society"  in  1839,  and  is  also  an  honorary  member  of  the  New  Jer- 
sey Historical  Society,  and  of  the  Massachusetts  Historical  Society. 
In  his  various  antiquarian  works,  he  has  done  a  great  work  for  pos- 
terity by  rescuing  a  multitude  of  interesting  facts  from  oblivion. 
On  the  18th  day  of  September,  1844,  he  was  appointed  collector  of 
customs  for  the  district  of  New  Haven,  which  office  he  held  until  March 
4th,  1845,  and  was  also  supervisor  ofthe  light-houses  in  the  district  of 
New  Haven  during  the  same  period.  He  was  admitted  as  a  coun- 
selor in  the  supreme  court  of  the  state  of  New  York,  in  Albany,  at 
its  February  term,  in  1827.     He  now  resides  in  Harlem,  N.  Y. 


COL.  BENJAMIN  HINMAN, 


Was  bom  in  the  town  of  Woodbury,  in  this  state,  in  the  year 
1720.  His  ancestors  came  from  England,  in  the  early  settlement  of 
this  colony.  He  served  against  the  French  in  Canada,  as  early  as 
1751,  under  a  commission  as  quarter-master  of  the  troop  of  horse  in 


372  nisTOKr   of   ancient    woodbury. 

the  thirteenth  regiment,  in  this  colony,  under  the  hand  of  Roger 
Wolcott,  then  governor  of  the  colony.  On  the  19th  day  of  Ajn-il, 
1755,  he  was  commissioned  by  Gov.  Fitch,  at  Norwalk,  a  captain  of 
the  sixth  company  of  foot,  in  Col.  Elizur  Goodrich's  regiment, 
being  a  part  of  the  forces  raised  in  the  colony  for  the  defense  and 
protection  of  His  Majesty's  territories  from  any  further  encroach- 
ments by  the  French,  at  Crown-Point,  and  upon  Lake  Iroquois,  (call- 
ed at  that  time  by  the  French,  Lake  Champlain,)  and  to  remove  en- 
croachments then  made  there  ;  of  which  forces  William  Johnson  was 
commander-in-chief.  During  the  French  war  in  Canada,  on  the  1st 
of  October,  1755,  Col.  Hinman  being  stationed  near  a  lake,  walked 
out  alone  about  three-fourths  of  a  mile  from  his  men,  and  stopped 
near  the  lake  in  the  woods.  He  heard  a  noise  behind  him,  and  turning 
briskly  around,  with  his  gun  at  rest,  he  found  a  French  soldier  with- 
in six  yards  of  him.  The  soldier  was  as  much  surprised  at  his  com- 
pany as  was  Col.  Hinman.  The  soldier  at  once  cried  for  quarter, 
and  held  out  to  the  colonel  the  helve  of  his  hatchet  in  token  of  his 
submission,  which  Col.  Hinman  took  from  him,  and  marched  him 
into  camp,  as  a  prisoner. 

On  the  30th  day  of  May,  1751,  he  was  commissioned  major  of 
said  thirteenth  regiment  of  foot  and  horse,  by  John  Fitch,  Esq.,  then 
governor  of  the  colony.  In  the  year  1758,  he  was  commissioned 
lieutenant-colonel  of  the  third  regiment  of  foot,  in  the  forces  raised 
in  the  colony  for  invading  Canada,  to  proceed  under  the  supreme 
command  of  His  Majesty's  commander-in-chief  in  North  America  ; 
and  also  a  captain  in  the  second  company  in  said  regiment;  which 
commission  was  signed  by  Thomas  Fitch,  governor  of  this  colony. 
On  the  31st  day  of  October,  1767,  he  was  commissioned  by  William 
Pitkin,  governor  of  the  colony,  a  lieutenant-colonel  of  the  thirteenth 
regiment  of  horse  and  foot,  "  under  and  in  the  eighth  year  of  the 
reign  of  Lord  George  the  Third,  King  of  Great  Britain,  &c." 

On  the  1st  of  November,  1771,  he  was  commissioned  colonel  of 
the  thirteenth  regiment  of  foot  and  horse,  by  J.  Trumbull,  governor. 
Early  in  the  war  of  the  Revolution,  on  the  1st  day  of  May,  1775,  he 
was  appointed  colonel  of  the  fourth  regiment  of  enlisted  and  assem- 
bled troops  for  the  defense  of  the  colony ;  and  was  ordered,  by  Gov. 
Trumbull,  on  the  20th  day  of  May,  1775,  forthwith  to  march  with 
five  companies,  to  rendezvous  at  or  near  Greenwich,  in  this  state, 
and  to  send  three  companies,  to  take  post  at  Salisbury,  under  Major 
Elmore,  to  be  in  readiness  to  march  with  them  under  such  orders  as 
Maj.  Elmore  should  receive  from  the   General  Assembly,  or  the 


HISTORY     OP     ANCIENT     WOODBURT.  373 

governor.  During  the  same  year  he  ^vas  ordered  to  Ticonderoga, 
where  he  remained  in  command  of  a  regiment  for  some  time.  In 
the  year  1776,  he  was  ordered,  with  his  regiment,  to  New  York ; 
and  was  at  New  York  at  its  capture  by  the  Brhish ;  after  which  he 
was  stationed  at  Horse  Neck,  and  other  places  on  the  Sound,  but  re- 
turned home  in  ill  health,  in  January,  1777,  and  did  not  again  join 
the  army.  He  died  at  Southbury,  on  the  22d  day  of  March,  1810, 
at  the  ripe  old  age  of  ninety  years. ' 


SIMEON  HINMAN,  ESQ. 

This  gentleman  was  intimately  and  favorably  known  in  "  ancient 
"Woodbury,"  as  a  shrewd  and  talented  man.  He  was  the  son  of 
Edward  Hinman — "  Lawyer  Ned,"  as  he  was  famiharly  called. 

Simeon  commenced  his  legal  practice  about  1793,  and  continued 
it  until  about  1809,  when  he  abandoned  all  business,  and  rusted  out. 
Had  he  been  goaded  by  necessity  to  exertion  he  would  probably 
have  attained  a  high  character.  Native  talent  of  a  high  order  he 
certainly  possessed.  He  was  never  married,  and  died  in  1825.  He 
was  a  graduate  of  Yale,  and  lived  and  died  at  Southbury,  in  the 
mansion  house  occupied  by  his  father. 


HON.  EOBINSON  S.  HINMAN. 

Eobinson  S.  Hinman  was  born  in  South  Britain,  a  parish  of  South- 
bury, in  1801. 

His  father,  Jonathan  Hinman,  was  of  the  Southbury  family  of  that 
name.  His  mother  was  a  Jennings,  who  derived  her  descent  remotely 
from  an  Englishman  of  the  same  name  who  migrated  to  Stratford, 
about  the  middle  of  the  sixteenth  century.  Men  of  this  name  have 
within  the  last  twenty  years,  entertained  exalted  hopes  of  the  acqui- 
sition of  wealth  by  inheritance  of  an  estate  in  the  English  chancery 
standing  in  that  name,  but  as  has  been  uniformly  the  case  were  chill- 
ed by  disappointment. 

Simeon  Hinman,  the  elder  brother  of  Eobinson,  about  1847,  was 
sent  to  England  as  the  family  agent.  He  returned,  having  acquired 
neither  money,  knowledge  or  hope  by  the  voyage. 

No  particular  opportunities  were  afforded  Eobinson  for  attaining 

1  U.  E.  Hiiimau's  War  of  the  Revolution. 


374  II 1  S  T  O  U  T     OF     A  X  C  I  K  N  T     "NV  O  O  D  B  U  K  Y  . 

an  education  beyond  those  found  in  a  district  scliool  of  that  period, 
save  a  vilhige  library,  and  an  earnest  and  inquiring  spirit  that  rose 
with  the  opposing  circumstances. 

Gen.  Ephraini  Ilinman,  of  Koxbury,  discovered  mind  and  capacity 
in  his  kinsman  of  no  ordinary  grade.  In  1821,  at  liis  request,  he  be- 
came a  member  of  the  familj^  at  Roxbury.  "  Gen.  Epliraim"  was 
in  many  respects,  eminently  beneficial  to  young  men  advancing  to 
manhood ;  his  familiar  intercourse  with  the  aflfliirs  of  the  Revolution- 
ary "War,  his  gentlemanly  deportment,  elevation  above  low  objects, 
and  his  varied  experience  with  men  and  things,  gave  him  a  salutary 
influence  over  the  young.  In  this  year  Robinson  entered  the  office 
of  Hon.  Royal  R.  Hinman,  then  a  practicing  lawyer  at  Roxbury, 
and  studied,  not  read,  law.  In  1824,  he  changed  his  domicil,  and  en- 
tered the  otBce  of  Charles  B.  Phelps,  Esq.,  of  Woodbury,'and  was 
clerk  in  the  pi-obate  oifice,  then  a  lai-ge  district.  In  February,  1825, 
he  entered  the  oifice  of  Judge  Chapman,  Avho  had  established  a  law 
school  in  New  Haven. 

In  June  of  this  year  he  offered  himself  for  an  examination,  but  was 
refused  by  the  force  of  an  obsolete  rule  of  that  court  requiring  a  resi- 
dence in  that  county  of  six  months  next  previous  to  the  examination. 
This  rule  was  brought  to  notice  by  Judge  Bronson,  then  on  the  county 
court  bench  in  that  county.  He  returned  to  Woodbury  and  re-en- 
tered the  oifice  of  Mr.  Phelps.  Mr.  P.  being  thrown  from  a  buggy 
in  August  of  that  year  and  greatly  injured,  Mr.  Hinman  conducted 
his  business  until  September,  1825,  when  he  was  admitted  at  Litch- 
field. A  partnership  with  Mr.  P.  immediately  followed,  which  contin- 
ued nearly  two  years.  During  the  year  1827,  he  removed  to  Utica, 
New  York,  and  entered  the  oifice  of  John  Jay  Hinman,  then  high 
sheriff  of  Oneida.  Among  the  Hinmans,  there  has  always  existed 
a  clannish  spirit.  Robinson  was  the  proter/e  of  Col.  Hinman.  He 
subsequently  v.-as  admitted  to  practice  in  New  York,  removed  to 
the  city  of  New  York,  formed  a  partnership  with  a  professional 
oentleman  there,  and  held  a  tolerable  practice  in  the  marine  court. 
Robinson  felt  he  was  made  for  higher  objects  than  a  practice  in  that 
jurisdiction  then  afforded,  and  in  1828  removed  to  Naugatuck  in 
New  Haven  county.  Here  his  habits  of  order,  industry  and  punctual- 
ity soon  secured  to  him  an  extensive  practice,  and  he  had  the  consola- 
tion of  witnessing  the  advancement  of  his  reputation,  and  the  rapid 
growth  of  confidence  in  his  integrity  and  intellectual  pursuits.  In 
1830,  he  was  appointed  postmaster  at  that  village,  in  1831  he  re- 
moved  to    New    Haven,    was   appointed   clerk   of  the  county    and 


HISTORY     OF     ANCIENT     WOODBURY.  375 

superior  court,  and  continued  his  professional  habits.  In  1838,  a 
change  of  poHtical  power  occurred,  and  he  retired  to  private  life  with 
a  practice  diminished  by  the  interference  of  his  official  duties.  In 
1842,  he  was  appointed  judge  of  probate  for  New  Haven  district, 
the  most  lucrative  office  in  the  gift  of  the  state  authorities,  and  was 
reappointed  in  1848.  During  the  summer  of  that  year,  tliat  insidious 
enemy  of  human  life,  the  consumption,  asserted  its  dominion  over  his 
constitution.  Struggling  against  its  progress,  hope  gave  strength  while 
life  was  sapped  at  its  foundation.  He  died  November,  1843,  at  New 
Haven.  A  monument  to  his  memory  may  be  found  in  the  beautiful 
cemetery  in  that  city  erected  by  the  society  of  Odd  Fellows,  of  which 
association  he  Avas  a  prominent  member.  He  was  never  married.  In 
183G,  he  entered  military  life  a  brigade  major,  and  by  gradation 
rose  to  the  place  of  brigadier  general. 

The  prominent  traits  of  his  character  were  constitutional  honesty, 
veracity,  benevolence,  order,  industry  and  an  untiring  desire  to  do- 
good.  He  possessed  strong  attachments  to  his  friends  and  no  hostil- 
ity to  those  who  chose  to  make  themselves  his  enemies.  He  scru- 
pulously avoided  evil  speaking  and  never  imputed  a  bad  motive,  un- 
less compelled  to  do  so  by  irrefragable  evidence.  He  was  prompt  and 
accurate  in  all  his  dealings. 

With  quick  and  rapid  perceptions  and  a  retentive  memory,  he  inves- 
tigated eifectively,  and  followed  the  sequence  in  all  its  ramifications. 
When  at  Naugatuck  and  New  Haven,  he  evinced  strong  tendencies 
for  public  improvement.  At  the  former  place,  he  projected  the  estab- 
lishment of  the  public  square,  the  erection  of  the  houses  of  pub- 
lic worship  thereon,  and  the  survey  of  the  public  avenue  passing  by 
them.  The  Episcopal  church  of  that  parish  was  at  Gun  Town,  some 
two  miles  west  of  its  present  location,  but  was  taken  down  and  re- 
erected  in  its  present  location. 

At  New  Haven  he  essentially  aided  in  the  erection  of  the  Lan- 
easterian  school  there,  and  also  in  the  grading  of  the  streets. 

His  love  of  order  was  evinced  in  many  improvements  in  the  clerk's 
office,  which  have  remained  to  this  day,  and  are  gratefully  remem- 
bered by  the  court  and  bar.  He  enjoyed  the  reputation  of  an  experi- 
enced druaghtsman  of  legal  papers.  He  was  attaclied  to  tlie  democrat- 
ic party  in  politics,  and  his  effi^rts  were  sometimes  important.  He 
worshiped  in  the  Episcopal  church,  and  was  sincerely  devoted  to 
its  advancement.  Few  men  have  deceased  more  lamented  by  all 
classes  with  whom  he  had  intercourse. 

There  is  something  inexpressibly  melancholy  in  witnessing  the 


37G  IIISTOUY     OF     AX  CI  EXT     WOODBURY. 

death  of  one  gifteil  by  nature,  and  trained  to  the  capacity  of  accom- 
plishing ends  beneficial  to  himself  and  his  fellow-men. 


GEN.  EPIIRAIM  IIINMAN. 


Among  the  distinguished  characters  of  Ancient  Woodbury,  the 
name  of  Gen.  Ephraim  Ilinman  claims  a  prominent  place. 

The  individual  who  undertakes  to  write  the  history  of  one  so  un- 
like all  other  men,  must  enter  upon  the  work  under  the  conviction 
that  it  is  not  an  easy  task.  The  peculiarities  of  his  eccentric  charac- 
ter can  not  be  well  delineated.  Some  of  the  outlines  will  be  attempt- 
ed ;  but  to  know  him,  one  must  have  seen  and  heard  him. 

He  was  born  April  5th,  1753,  in  that  part  of  the  town  now  called 
Southbury.  His  ancestors  were  among  the  early  emigrants  from 
Stratford.  Edward  Hinman,  the  first  of  the  name  in  New  England, 
and  the  only  one,  settled  in  that  town  about  1650,  and  died  there  in 
1681.  Benjamin,  his  second  son,  was  born  in  1662,  and  married 
Elizabetli  Lumm,  of  Woodbury,  in  1684.  He  lived  in  the  district 
now  called  Bullet  Hill,  in  Southbury,  where  numbers  of  his  descend- 
ants still  remain.  He  had  six  sons  and  six  daughters,  one  of  Avhom, 
Benjamin,  l)orn  1692,  married  Sarah  Sherman  in  1718.  They  resi- 
ded in  Southbuiy  until  1727,  where  they  both  died  in  the  same 
month,  leaving  three  children. 

The  oldest  son.  Col.  Benjamin,  was  of  some  eminence  in  tlic  French 
war,  and  in  the  war  of  the  Revolution. 

David,  their  second  son,  born  1722,  married  Sarah  Ilinman,  a  lin- 
eal descendant  of  the  first  Edward.  These  being  the  parents  of  the 
subject  of  this  memoir,  he  was  truly  a  Hinman  of  the  Hinmans.  He 
married  Sylvania,  daughter  of  William  French,  of  Southbury,  Feb. 
3d,  1779,  by  whom  he  had  two  sons  and  two  daughters.  His  eldest 
son  died  in  infancy.  His  second  son,  R.  R.  Hinman,  graduated  at 
Yale  College,  and  afterward  pursued  the  practice  of  law  in  Roxbury, 
Ct.,  until  he  became  secretary  of  state,  which  office  he  retained  for 
several  years. 

Gen.  Hinman  removed  to  Roxbury  about  the  year  1784,  and  built 
a  house  in  the  center  of  the  village,  which  for  a  Country  residence  at 
that  period,  was  regarded  as  belonging  to  the  first  class.  For  about 
thirty  years  he  was  engaged  in  mercantile  pursuits.  During  this 
time  he  became  an  extensive  landholder,  having  in  his  possession  at 
one  time,  about  one  thousand  acres.     He  was  not  a  practical  ftirmer, 


IIISTOUY     OF     ANCIENT     WOODBURY.  377 

but  his  love  of  real  estate  induced  him  to  retain  it,  until  the  interest 
he  paid,  connected  with  losses  he  sustained,  greatly  embarrassed  him 
in  his  declining  years,  and  thus  operated  di^^astrously  on  theiiecun- 
iary  interests  of  his  son,  who  became  involved  in  attempting  to  re- 
lieve his  father. 

All  who  know  the  history  of  that  period,  "  when  Ephraim  was  a 
child,"  are  aware  that  the  means  for  the  attainment  of  even  a  common 
education  were  very  limited.  In  addition  to  this,  the  subject  of  this 
memoir,  by  the  death  of  his  fatlier,  at  the  early  age  of  four  years, 
was  deprived  of  those  restraints  and  instructions  which  a  mind  of  his 
temperament  peculiarly  needed.  Some  of  the  circumstances  in  which 
he  was  unfortunately  placed  in  his  youth,  were  most  skillfully  adapted 
to  darken  his  mind,  depress  his  energies,  and  corrupt  his  morals.  To 
a  miaid  of  a  different  cast,  they  might  have  proved  more  disastrous. 
If  he  was  not  through  life  a  sufferer  in  consequence  of  these  things, 
it  was  apparent  to  those  who  knew  him  best,  that  he  did  not  attain 
that  distinction  to  which  he  might  otherwise  have  arisen.  Not  hav- 
ing the  advantages  of  an  early  education,  he  of  course  possessed  but 
a  limited  knowledge  of  books  ;  but  he  was  endowed  with  a  vi"-orous. 
active  mind,  a  quick,  discriminating  perception  of  men  and  things. 
Few  men  could  read  the  character  of  a  stranger  so  readily  and  cor- 
rectly as  he.  A  young  lady,  an  intimate  friend,  called  on  him  on 
her  bridal  tour,  to  show  her  husband.  The  general  walked  with  him 
into  his  garden  and  fruit-yard,  which  were  among  the  best  in  the  vi- 
cinity. On  his  return  to  the  house,  the  bride  inquired  privately, 
what  he  thought  of  her  husband.  He  replied,  "  H.,  he  will  always 
cut  off  his  pigs'  tails,  because  it  will  require  one  ear  of  corn  extra  to 
fat  the  tail."  The  young  bride  ultimately  learned  that  his  judgment 
was  correct. 

He  was  also  blessed  with  a  retentive  memory.  Hence  by  obser- 
vation, conversation,  and  constant  intercourse  with  the  world,  (if  not 
by  intuition,)  he  acquired  a  fund  of  knowledge.  Had  he  in  addition 
to  these  endowments,  been  fjxvored  with  a  classical  education,  he 
would  doubtless  have  been  in  many  respects,  one  of  the  most  distin- 
guished characters  of -his  age.  As  it  was,  he  was  a  man  of  rare 
qualities. 

In  appearance,  he  was  peculiarly  dignified  and  imposing;  above 
the  medium  height,  of  portly  dimensions,  a  symmetrical  form,  fine 
countenance,  and  stately  movements.  Until  a  few  of  his  last  years, 
his  dress  was  that  of  gentlemen  of  an  earlier  period,  termed  small 
clothes ;  and  he  uniformly  followed  his  early  custom  of  wearing  his 
25 


378  HISTORY   OP   ancient    woodbury. 

hair  braided,  turned  up,  fastened  upon  the  top  of  his  head  and  pow- 
dered. 

One  liad  only  to  see  him,  to  be  impressed  with  the  Conviction  that 
he  was  one  of  nature's  noblemen,  born  to  command.  In  his  deport- 
ment he  was  a  gentleman.  lie  api)eared  fomiliar  with,  and  a  careful 
observer  of  all  the  rules  of  etitjuette  common  in  his  day  ;  nor  did  he 
regard  advancing  years  as  any  apology  for  their  neglect.  He  could 
readily  accommodate  himself  to  all  classes,  and  render  himself  inter- 
esting to  all,  by  an  unusual  amount  of  wit  and  humor,  and  by  the 
originality  of  his  anecdotes  and  illustrations. 

He  was  ardent  in  his  attachment  to  his  friends,  and  could  long  re- 
member an  act  of  kindness ;  but  was  somewhat  vindictive  toward 
his  enemies,  and  could  not  readily  forget  an  injury.  Concerning 
some  by  whom  he  felt  himself  sorely  abused,  he  was  heard  to  say, 
"  If  the  Lord  should  see  fit  to  take  them  away,  he  should  be  very 
much  resigned  to  his  will." 

He  had  a  peculiar  fondness  for  society,  and  was  apparently  restive 
when  alone.  The  night  to  him  was  sometimes  long.  Few  of  his 
neighbors  ever  rose  so  early,  but  they  might  see  him  walking  in  the 
open  air  with  uncovered  head. 

He  felt  a  strong  aversion  to  every  offense  against  neatness,  and  in 
regard  to  food  and  drink,  might  have  been  called  fastidious.  It  was 
annoying  to  him  to  see  persons  come  to  his  well  upon  the  Sabbath, 
and  drink  directly  from  the  bucket,  an  act  which  he  considered  vul- 
gar and  unkind.  He  therefore  sunk  a  well  on  the  opposite  side  of 
his  house,  for  the  use  of  those  ill-bred  people,  and  forbade  their  com- 
ing to  his  family  well. 

Not  only  his  conversation,  but  many  other  things,  exhibited  marks 
of  eccentricity  and  originality.  Even  the  staif  on  which  he  leaned 
in  his  advanced  years,  indicated  his  taste  and  character,  being  a  bam- 
boo, some  five  feet  in  length,  and  of  Herculean  size.  Similar  to  this 
in  strength  and  dimensions,  were  various  implements  about  his  prem- 
ises, as  also  the  stone  wall  which  inclosed  his  dwelling.  An  unwieldy 
plow  and  crow-bar  are  recollected,  and  in  connection  with  the  latter, 
an  anecdote  which  may  be  worth  inserting.  'He  apphed  to  a  careful 
neighbor  for  the  loan  of  a  flax-brake.  The  owner  declined  having  it 
removed  from  his  barn,  but  consented  that  the  general  should  carry 
his  flax  there,  and  use  the  instrument.  In  process  of  time,  this  neigh- 
bor had  occasion  to  move  some  heavy  rocks,  and  applied  to  the  gen- 
eral for  the  use  of  his  crow-bar,  as  well  adapted  to  the  object.  The 
general  replied,  that  "  he  did  not  like  to  have  the  bar  removed  from 


HISTORY     OF     ANCIENT     AVOOBBTJET.  379 

his  premises,  but  would  be  glad  to  have  his  neighbor  bring  to  it  all 
the  rocks  he  pleased,  and  pry  them  up." 

In  regard  to  his  political  character,  he  was  originally  a  stanch 
federalist  of  the  old  school.  Such  he  continued  until  Gen.  Jackson 
became  a  candidate  for  the  presidency.  He  had  a  character,  pos- 
sessed qualities,  and  had  performed  sei'vices,  which  secured  the  ad- 
miration and  hearty  support  of  Gen.  Hinman.  From  that  period,  it 
is  believed  his  politics  were  what  were  then  known  as  of  the  Jackson 
stamp.  He  held  some  offices  in  the  gift  of  the  town.  He  was  one 
of  the  principal  agents  appouited  by  the  parish  of  Roxbury,  to  secure 
its  incorporation  as  a  town.  In  1798,  and  in  subsequent  years,  he 
represented  it  in  the  state  legislature.  It  was,  however,  apparent  to 
all  who  knew  him,  that  military  office,  honors  and  services,  were 
more  congenial  to  his  feelings,  and  better  adapted  to  his  genius,  than 
those  of  a  civil  character.  Here  he  uniformly  shone  to  the  best  ad- 
vantage, and  found  full  scope  for  his  commanding  powers.  While 
he  was  yet  young,  and  the  post  of  corporal  in  the  militia  of"  the  state 
was  regarded  as  more  honorable  than  that  of  colonel  at  the  present 
day;  when  men  who  obtained  office  in  the  higher  ranks,  ordinarily 
rose  by  a  regular  and  protracted  gradation  ;  the  ascent  of  young  Hin- 
man was  more  rapid  and  irregular.  While  he  was  yet  a  private  in 
a  military  company  in  his  native  town,  the  captaincy  became  vacant. 
His  father-in-law,  by  whom  he  was  not  very  ardently  beloved,  was 
lieutenant.  But  instead  of  adhering  to  the  oxxiinary  routine  of  ele- 
vation, Hinman  was  taken  from  the  ranks,  and  placed  in  command  of 
those  who  were  his  seniors  in  age  and  office. 

Although  he  was  but  thirty  years  of  age  when  the  war  of  the  Rev- 
olution closed,  for  four  or  five  previous  years,  he  had  sustained  vari- 
ous important  and  responsible  offices,  principally  connected  with  the 
commissary  department.  That  he  faithfully  and  satisfactorily  dis- 
charged the  duties  assigned  him,  is  manifest  from  numerous  letters 
still  in  existence,  designating  the  service  required,  written  by  vari- 
ous officers  of  distinction  in  the  army.  That  he  enjoyed  the  confi- 
dence of  the  appointing  power,  is  also  manifest  from  the  fact,  that  he 
was  continued  in  office,  with  an  occasional  promotion,,  from  the  date 
of  his  appointment  in  1778,  until  the  close  of  the  war  rendered  fur- 
ther service  unnecessary.  After  the  war,  he  received  the  office  of 
major  in  the  thirteenth  regiment  of  Connecticut  militia,  and  was  soon 
advanced  to  the  rank  of  a  colonel  of  the  same  regiment.  In  May, 
1805,  he  received  the  appointment  of  brigadier-general  of  the  eighth 
brigade  of  Connecticut  infantry.     His  jurisdiction  at  that  time,  ex- 


380  II 1  s  T  o  11  y    OF    A  X  CI  i:  N  T    -sv  o  o  d  b  u  r  y  . 

tended  from  Southington,  in  Ilarlford  county,  on  the  cast,  to  the  line 
of  the  state  on  the  west ;  and  most  of  the  time  he  was  in  oirice,  inclu- 
ded the  cavalry  in  that  section  of  the  state. 

This  office  he  held  at  a  period  when  something  more  was  required 
than  merely  to  gain  a  military  title  and  retire.  He  performed  its 
duties  annually,  and  we  believe  faithfully,  for  thirteen  years.  It  may  • 
be  truly  said  of  him  that  he  "magnified  his  office."  The  prosperity 
of  the  military  cause  under  his  long  and  successful  administration, 
tells  all  that  need  be  said  in  commendation  of  its  presiding  genius. 

It  may  be  asked,  what  were  his  religious  principles  ?  And  some 
who  saw  and  heard  him  only  in  particular  circumstances,  as  with 
his  military  associates,  or  when  his  peculiarly  ardent  temperament 
was  under  strong  excitement,  might  conclude  that  he  had  little  re- 
gard for  religion,  and  but  little  fear  of  a  supreme  power.  And  al- 
though men  of  this  stamp,  men  adopting  liberal  principles,  might 
have  claimed  him  as  one  of  their  class,  such  was  not  the  fact.  He 
was  a  member  of  no  church,  nor  is  it  known  to  the  writer  that  he  laid 
any  claim  to  experimental  piety  ;  yet  he  was  a  believer  in  the  essen- 
tial doctrines  of  the  gospel,  as  they  were  believed  and  taught  by  the 
orthodox  clergy  of  that  period,  in  the  Congregational  church  of  New 
England.  He  believed  in  the  entire  native  depravity  of  the  human 
heart,  in  the  necessity  of  a  radical  change  in  the  aftections  and  life, 
in  order  to  enter  heaven.  He  had  great  confidence  in  the  efficacy  of 
prayer,  and  sought  the  prayers  of  God's  people  when  himself  or  fam- 
ily were  in  circumstances  of  danger.  At  one  period  when  there  was 
some  special  religious  interest  in  the  town,  a  morning  prayer-meeting 
was  held  in  a  little  factory  in  the  village.  This  at  first  drew  from  the 
general  some  remarks  of  disapproval.  Ere  long,  as  the  pastor  was 
on  his  way  to  the  meeting,  he  saw  the  general  approaching  him,  and 
was  fearful  that  something  un})leasant  might  ensue.  Judge  of  his 
surprise  when  he  saw  the  tears  coursing  down  the  cheeks  of  the  im- 
aofined  opposer,  and  learned  from  a  choked  utterance,  that  he  had 
come  out  to  ask  that  a  little  grandchild,  which  he  supposed  to  be  at 
the  point  of  death,  might  be  remembered  in  the  prayers  to  be  oflx'red 
that  morning. 

He  well  understood  the  distinctive  marks  of  Christian  character, 
and  abhorred  hypocrisy  in  every  form. 

At  one  time  when  alone  with  his  pastor,  he  was  speaking  of  some 
individuals  in  the  vicinity,  and  in  terms  of  high  commendation  as  to 
their  morality,  uprightness,  kindness,  &c.  But  said  he  in  a  subdued 
tone,  laymg  his  hand  upon  the  pastor,  ''  After  all  they  are  down- 


HISTORY     OF     ANCIENT     W  O  O  D  B  IT  R  Y .  381 

countrv  Christians  :  the  Holy  Spirit  never  touched  their  hearts,  any 
more  tlian  thunder  has  struck  the  birds  of  the  air.  What  you  can 
do  I  know  not.  It  will  not  do  to  tell  them  what  you  know  to  be 
true.     Oh  !  I  tell  you  it's  a  dreadful  thing  to  be  a  minister." 

One  who  knew  him  well  has  said,  "  He  made  more  practical,  com- 
mon-sense remarks,  than  almost  any  man  I  ever  knew."  The  follow- 
ing, illustrating  an  important  principle  in  human  conduct,  are  worthy 
of  being  preserved,  and  applied  where  they  are  needed. 

Being  at  one  time  in  a  neighboring  town,  where  the  people  were  in- 
volved in  a  bitter  contention  about  their  minister,  and  meeting  a 
number  of  individuals  who  were  talking  upon  the  subject,  after  hear- 
ing their  various  com2)laints  and  criminations,  he  said  to  them,  "  Gen- 
tlemen, your  conduct  is  unreasonable  and  ridiculous.  How  can  you 
expect  one  person  to  satisfy  so  many  discordant  minds  ?  In  our  town 
all  is  the  reverse  of  this  ;  we  are  all  united  and  harmonious.  True 
we  do  not  expect  that  everything  our  minister  says  and  does  will 
please  every  individual.  Sometimes  we  have  the  doctrine  of  elec- 
tion, hot  as  we  can  bear  it ;  but  Deacon  T.  wants  all  that  and  much 
more  ;  and  Deacon  T.  has  as  good  a  right  to  his  portion  as  I  have  to 
mine.  If  one  sermon  out  of  five  suits  my  case,  it  is  my  portion  ;  I 
am  bound  to  be  satisfied."  Who  does  not  see  that  this  principle,  car- 
ried out,  would  prevent  much  evil  speaking  and  unkind  feeling  ? 

Gen.  Hinman  considered  it  the  duty  of  all  men  to  attend  upon  the 
public  worship  of  God  in  his  house ;  and  was  himself  a  regular  at- 
tendant in  the  Congregational  church  until  age  and  infirmity  some- 
times prevented.  He  then  kept  an  account  with  his  pastor,  admit- 
ting that  among  other  motives,  respect  to  him  demanded  his  attend- 
ance. If  at  any  time,  any  preacher  failed  of  pleasing  him,  he  charged 
one  day,  or  half  a  day,  according  to  his  estimation,  claiming  for  him- 
self leave  of  al)sence  on  this  ground.  So  also,  if  the  preaching  rose 
above  his  standard,  he  was  careful  to  give  credit. 

He  was  quick-sighted  to  detect  error  in  those  who  ministered  at 
the  altar,  and  ever  abhorred  the  withholding,  or  letting  down  of  truth 
from  sinister  motives. 

A  Congregational  clergyman  in  a  neighboring  parish  had  become 
heretical,  and  had  inculcated  the  doctrine  of  universal  salvation  ;  but 
so  smoothly  and  guardedly  as  to  be  suspected  but  by  few  of  his  hear- 
ers. He  spent  a  Sabbath  in  Roxbury,  and  preached  his  favorite 
sentiments.  After  the  service,  the  general  invited  him  to  his  house. 
He  might  have  felt  bound  to  administer  some  reproof,  or  at  least, 
that  his  own  reputation  was  involved  in  letting  the  man  know  that 


382 


II  1  S  T  O  U  Y      OF     ANCIENT     W  0  O  D  H  U  K  Y . 


he  understood  wliat  he  had  heard.  In  liis  sarcastic,  ironical  style,  he 
said  to  him,  "  Mr.  G.,  this  is  tlie  kind  of  ]»reaching  that  meets  my 
case.  Mr.  A.  and  Dr.  B.  come  here,  and  make  tlie  gate  of  lieaven  so 
narrow  tlrat  a  humble-bee  could  not  enter,  but  you  have  opened  it 
wide  enough  for  one  as  large  as  I  am  to  walk  in  without  diliiculty." 
Tliis  cutting  reproof  was  felt  by  Mr.  G.,  who  was  soon  after  deposed 
from  the  ministry  for  heresy. 

That  Gen.  H.  was  no  fi-iend  to  the  doctrine  of  universal  salvation? 
is  forther  shown  by  the  following  fact.  When  the  "  Grand  Erie  Ca- 
nal" was  completed,  he  made  a  tour  to  the  then  far  west.  On  his  re- 
turn, a  Universalist  preacher  was  found  on  board  the  same  boat,  bois- 
terously advocating  his  doctrines.  His  boasting  in  regard  to  the 
prosperity  of  his  cause  in  various  places,  became  quite  annoying  to 
many  of  the  passengers,  and  especially  to  some  good  old  ladies,  as  the 
general  regarded  them.  He  therefore  felt  it  incumbent  on  some  one 
to  endeavor  to  silence  the  intruder.  Looking  about  he  saw  none 
much  older  than  himself,  and  concluded  that  the  duty  might  devolve 
upon  him.  Hence  he  entered  into  conversation  with  the  individual, 
and  soon  secured  his  confidence  as  he  had  the  power  to  do.  He  then 
remarked  to  him,  that  the  facts  he  had  stated  in  regard  to  the  pros- 
perity of  his  cause  were  very  cheering ;  but  added,  that  in  his  travels 
he  had  known  of  a  place  where  a  much  greater  number  of  its  friends 
had  been  gathered  in,  within  a  very  brief  period.  "  Where  ?  where  ?" 
said  the  man  in  apparent  ecstacy.  "  In  hell,"  responded  the  general. 
The  poor  wight  was  thus  unexpectedly  brought  to  a  dead  pause,  and 
the  company  relieved  from  further  annoyance. 

Gen.  H.  uniformly  adhered  to  the  denomination  which  he  had 
chosen,  while  he  was  willing  that  others  should  enjoy  their  appropri- 
ate rights.  Still  he  believed  that  the  multiplication  of  sects,  as  well 
as  the  propagation  of  error,  might  in  a  small  community  tend  to 
weaken  and  destroy  the  whole.  This  he  repeatedly  took  measures 
of  his  own  devising  to  prevent. 

At  one  time  a  small  number  of  unquiet  spirits  procured  a  Univer- 
salist minister  to  preach  in  the  public  house,  in  the  center  of  the  town. 
The  general,  for  a  specific  reason,  felt  himself  impelled  to  attend  the 
meeting.  According  to  his  own  account,  he  stopped  by  the  way  and 
said  to  himself,  "  Gen.  H.,  you  are  too  much  of  a  man  to  go  there." 
But  on  he  went  and  entered  the  meeting.  "  There,"  said  he,  naming 
certain  individuals,  "  were  seven  devils  to  begin  with,  to  make  up  the 
congregation.  And  there  was  the  preacher  ridiculing  the  doctrine  of 
eternal  punishment,  and  those  who  taught  it."     "  Tliat,  he  said,  "  he 


HISTORY     OF     ANCIEKT     WOODBURY.  383 

could  not  enclure,"and  soon  retired  from  the  audience  chamber  to  the 
bar-room,  where  in  little  time  he  was  followed  by  the  preacher,  and 
most  of  his  hearers.  "  Then,"  said  he, "  I  felt  that  my  turn  had  come." 
With  his  most  stern  and  imposing  countenance,  he  stood  before  the 
preacher  and  said  to  him,  "  Sir,  we  can  not  endure  such  doctrine  as 
you  have  been  advocating.  It  might  have  answered  forty  years  ago, 
when  we  were  better  men,  but  if  as  you  teach,  there  is  no  place  of 
future  punishment,  there  will  be  hell  upon  earth  ;  hell  everywhere. 
If  this  be  so,  old  F.  and  old  G.  will  come  back,  and  H.  will  never  go, 
and  where  can  a  good  man  live  ?"  Thus  by  pouring  upon  him  a 
shower  of  scathing  sarcasm,  sustained  by  unanswerable  argument, 
the  hearers  were  mortified,  truth  was  triumphant,  and  the  disconcerted 
preacher,  mounting  his  horse,  made  good  his  retreat  and  never  re- 
turned. 

On  another  occasion,  the  town  was  visited  by  two  preachers  be- 
longing to  a  denomination  which  had  no  existence  there,  at  the  time. 
Gen.  H.  soon  found  them,  invited  them  to  his  house,  and  treated 
them  with  marked  politeness  and  attention,  requesting  them  to  make 
his  house  their  home  while  they  remained  in  the  town.  After  a 
more  intimate  acquahitance,  and  the  gentlemen  began  to  feel  at  home, 
he  remarked  that  he  supposed  they  had  some  object  in  view  in  visit- 
ing the  place,  and  if  it  was  not  impertinent  he  would  beg  leave  to 
ask  what  this  object  was  ?  They  replied,  that  they  had  in  view  what 
they  regarded  as  a  very  important  object,  and  that  was,  the  salvation 
of  souls.  "True,"  said  the  general,  "a  very  important  object ;  but 
allow  me  to  say  I  think  you  have  entirely  mistaken  it  in  coming  here ; 
the  people  in  lloxbury  have  no  souls."  The  preachers  found  them- 
selves in  the  wrong  spot  to  prosecute  their  object,  and  soon  left  the 
town. 

A  year  or  two  before  his  death.  Gen.  H.  was  brought  low  by  pain- 
ful and  protracted  disease.  Himself  and  his  friends  believed  that  the 
hour  of  liis  departure  was  at  hand.  During  this  sickness,  his  mind  at 
times  was  strongly  exercised  in  view  of  the  prospect  before  him.  It 
seemed  for  a  time,  that  the  prayers  of  a  sainted  mother,  and  a  pious 
companion,  were  about  to  receive  an  answer  in  his  saving  conversion 
to  Christ.  He  sought  the  daily  counsels  and  prayers  of  his  pastor, 
and  sent  a  public  request  for  the  prayers  of  all  his  Christian  friends. 
His  pastor  said  to  him,  "  I  suppose  that  I  have  understood  your  views, 
although  for  certain  reasons,  I  have  said  but  little  on  this  great  sub- 
ject. I  have  supposed  that  your  conscience  was  on  the  side  of  truth, 
though  you  have  not  told  me  so."     "  Yes,"  said  he,  "  you  are  right, 


384  HISTORY     OF     ANCIENT     WOODBURY. 

perfectly  riglit.     I  have  known  my  ]\[.astei-'s  will,  but  liuve  been  such 
:i  hardened  wretch,  I  would  not  do  it." 

Some  of  the  liberal  and  skei)tical  in  the  vicinity,  were  much  troub- 
led that  such  a  man  as  Gen,  H.  should  manifest  any  solicitude  in 
view  of  death.  For  if  a  man  of  his  courage  and  fortitude  trembled, 
why  should  not  they  ?  At  one  time  his  pastor  was  absent  a  few 
days,  and  calling  on  his  return,  he  found  him  much  distressed  both  in 
body  and  mind.  "  Oh  !"  said  he,  "  I  have  had  a  man  here  to  com- 
fort me  since  you  left,  who  supposed  he  could  administer  the  consola- 
tion I  needed.  He  told  me  he  expected  I  must  die,  but  this  was  the 
common  lot  of  mortals,  and  it  was  of  little  consequence  when  the  event 
took  place.  There  was  nothing  to  fear  after  death,  nothing  in  all  the 
blue-skin  stuff  about  future  and  eternal  punishment."  "  Oh,"  said 
he,  "  my  veiy  blood  ran  cold  to  think  that  any  wretch  could  talk 
thus  to  a  dying  man."  "  But,"  added  he,  in  his  characteristic  style, 
"  I  determined  to  give  him  old  shillelah,  live  or  die.  So  when  he 
had  finished  his  discourse,  I  told  him  plainly,  I  had  no  expectation  of 
being  saved  without  a  new  hearts  I  had  no  hope  of  heaven,  without 
obedience  to  that  Great  Being  who  made  me ;  and  if  there  was  no 
hell,  there  ought  to  be  one  made  for  such  a  wretch  as  he  was." 

Here  was  testimony  given  in  circumstances  when  all  men  are  said 
to  be  honest. 

When  his  last  sickness  came,  his  vigorous  mind  failed  with  his 
body.  Near  the  close  of  his  life,  his  pastor  was  sitting  by,  preparing 
the  way  to  ask  some  plain  questions  in  regard  to  his  views  in  that 
trying  hour.  This  he  at  once  perceived,  and  to  relieve  him  of  all 
embarrassment,  began  a  dialogue  with  himself,  asking  such  questions 
as  he  might  suppose  a  faithful  friend  would  wish  to  ask,  commencing 
thus  :  Gen.  Hinmau,  are  you  willing  to  die  ?  Sir,  I  am  not.  When 
he  came  to  answer  the  question  which  related  to  his  prospects  after 
death,  though  he  expressed  some  hope  in  the  mercy  of  God,  his  voice 
faltered,  and  his  mind  seemed  to  wander.  Shortly  after  his  spirit 
departed  to  God  who  gave  it. 

He  died  December  11th,  1829,  aged  seventy-six  years  and  eight 
months.  His  remains,  according  to  his  own  request,  were  interred 
in  the  north  cemetery  of  his  native  parish,  Southbury. 

Though  he  has  long  been  buried,  the  remembrance  of  him  is  yet 
fresh  in  the  vicinity  where  he  lived.  Many  of  his  anecdotes  and  re- 
marks are  still  quoted,  and  will  not  be  forgotten  when  the  present 
generation  has  passed  away.     His  manner  of  uttering  them,  which 


HISTORY     OF     ANCIENT     WOODBURY.  385 

added  much  to  their  impression,  can  not  be  written.     Yet  only  by 
inserting  some  of  them,  could  we  begin  to  show  him  as  he  was.' 


e- 


DOCTOR  SETH  HASTINGS, 

Came  to  Judea  society  in  Woodbury,  from  Hatfield,  Mass. ; 
mained  there  many  years,  and  then  removed  to  Paris,  near  Roches- 
ter, N.  Y.  He  was  a  respectable  and  approved  physician.  His 
children  were  Seth,  M.  D.,  distinguished  in  his  profession,  and  father 
of  sixteen  children,  Betsey,  who  married  Dr.  Judd,  Thomas,  professor 
of  music  in  New  York,  Orlando,  a  distinguished  lawyer  in  Rochester, 
N.  Y.,  Eurotus,  president  of  a  bank  in  Detroit,  Michigan,  and  Charles. 


JAMES  D.  KEESE,  ESQ., 

Was  born  in  the  city  of  New  York  ;  entered  Yale  College,  but  did 
not  finish  his  course  of  studies  there  ;  studied  law  with  Hon.  Origen 
S.  Seymour  ;  was  admitted  to  the  bar  of  Litchfield  county,  in  April, 
1852  ;  immediately  set  up  for  practice  in  Woodbury,  but  the  location 
not  proving  favorable,  after  a  sojourn  of  a  little  less  than  a  year,  he 
removed  to  Birmingham,  Conn.     He  has  now  gone  to  Europe. 


DOCTOR  THOMAS  KNOWLES, 

Was  early  a  physician  in  the  territory,  certainly  as  early  as  1730, 
and  probably  several  years  earlier  than  that  date.  Neither  authen- 
tic records,  nor  tradition,  inform  us  in  regard  to  his  excellence  as  a 
physician,  nor  his  character  in  the  various  relations  in  life.  The 
entire  extent  of  his  history,  so  far  as  we  can  glean  it  is,  that  here  he 
lived  and  died,  and  was  returned  to  the  "  clods  of  the  valley."  Such 
is  the  brief  record  that  will  be  made  of  most  of  us,  if  indeed  our 
names  survive  at  all. 


HON.  INCREASE  MOSELEY, 

Was  born  in  Norwich,  Conn.,  May  18th,  1712,  removed  to  Wood- 
bury, society  of  Judea,   about  1740,  certainly  after  1738,  as  his  son 


1  For  the  foregoing  sketch  the  author  is  indebted  to  Rev.  Fosdick  Harrison,  of  North 
Gtuiford,  Cotm.,  who  was  for  many  years  pastor  of  the  church  Gen.  Hinman  attended. 


386 


niSTOKY     OF     ANCIENT     WOODBUKT. 


Abner  was  boru  at  Norwich,  in  May  of  that  year.  He  removed  .to 
Clarendon,  Vt.,  in  1781.  He  was  one  of  the  first  representatives  of 
the  town  of  Wasliington,  in  1779,  and  had  previously  been  repre- 
sentative of  "Woodbury,  thirty  sessions.  He  was  the  first  deacon, 
first  justice,  and  first  militia  captain  in  Washington.  He  was  justice 
of  the  quorum  from  1755  to  1780.  After  his  removal  to  Vermont, 
he  was  a  judge  of  the  court  in  Rutland  county.  He  died  May  2d, 
1795. 


COL.  INCREASE  MOSELEY,  JR., 

Was  son  of  the  preceding,  and  born  in  Judea  society,  October  13th, 
1740.  About  the  year  1768,  he  removed  to  Southbury,  and  resided 
there  till  his  death  in  1810,  at  the  age  of  seventy  years.  He  was 
appointed  colonel  of  the  thirteenth  regiment  of  militia,  in  the  latter 
part  of  1776,  on  Col.  Hinman's  joining  the  continental  army.  He 
remained  in  this  responsible  position,  being  often  called  into  actual 
service,  till  October,  1780,  when  he  resigned  his  office.  He  was 
obliged  to  resign  on  account  of  ill  health,  and  the  embarrassed  state 
of  his  financial  affairs.  He  was  a  useful,  brave  and  laborious  officer. 
In  his  letter  of  resignation  he  says  he  was  induced  to  accept  the 
office 

"  Out  of  Affection  to  my  Country,  and  an  Ardent  desire  to  render  my  best 
Services  for  promoting  the  Good  of  the  Same;  which  Office  I  have  Sustained 
for  about  three  years  &  a  half,  during  which  time,  I  have  devoted  the  greatest 
part  of  my  time  to  the  duties  of  said  Office  ;  and  have  been  often  ordered  out  on 
Tours  ofdvity,  which  I  have  Cheerfully  Obeyed,  being  ever  willing  to  Serve  my 
Country  to  the  utmost  of  my  Power;  but  being  of  an  infirm  Constitution  ;  not 
able  to  endure  the  Fatigues  commonly  incident  to  a  Military  Lifu  :  And  my 
Worldly  Circumstances  far  from  being  Opulent;  that  attention  to  the  duties  of 
my  said  Office,  and  to  those  of  my  private  affairs,  which  their  several  Exigen- 
cies require,  is  wholly  incomj^atible." 


DOCTOR  JOHN  MEIGS, 


Was  a  physician  in  Bethlehem  society,  contemporary  with  Dr. 
Bellamy.  He  was  a  man  of  good  reputation,  skillful  in  his  profes- 
sion, and  was  favored  with  an  extensive  practice.  He  died  in  1770, 
leaving  a  widow,  Rebecca,  and  children,  Abner,  Rebecca,  Phmeas, 
Jesse  and  Irene.  In  his  will  he  gave  his  "medical  and  surgical 
books"  to  his  son,  Abner. 


HISTORY     OF     ANCIENT     WOODBURY.  387 

DOCT.  PIIINEAS  MEIGS, 

Son  of  the  above,  was  born  in  Bethlehem  society,  July  11,  17  GO. 
He  commenced  the  study  of  medicine  with  his  father,  but  finished  it 
at  Norwalk.  He  settled  in  his  native  parish,  and  became  mucli  es- 
teemed as  a  physician  of  skill  and  judgment. 


REV.  JOHN  E.  MARSHALL, 

Was  born  in  the  city  of  New  York,  June  13,  1743,  prepared  for 
college  under  the  tuition  of  Rev.  Dr.  Bellamy,  of  Bethlem,  and  hav- 
ing engaged  for  a  time  in  business  at  Stratford,  Conn.,  entered  King's 
(now  Columbia)  College,  where  he  graduated  in  1770.  He  had  prob- 
ably intended  to  have  entered  the  ministry  of  the  Dutch  Reformed 
Churcli,  but  on  account  of  a  change  in  his  religious  sentiments,  he 
joined  the  Church  of  England,  and  began  to  prepare  for  her  ministry. 
He  embarked  for  England,  May  20,  1771 ;  was  ordained  deacon, 
July  2p,  1771,  and  priest,  by  the  Rt.  Rev.  Richard  Terriek,  D.  D., 
Bishop  of  London,  on  the  28th  of  the  same  month.  On  his  return 
from  England,  he  came  to  Woodbury,  as  a  missionary  of  the  "  Soci- 
ety for  Propagating  the  Gospel  in  Foreign  Parts,"  and  commenced 
the  organization  of  the  parish  of  St.  Paul's  Church.  He  went  on 
quietly  in  his  labors  till  the  period  of  the  Revolution,  when,  on  ac- 
count of  the  excited  state  of  feeling  among  the  people  toward  aU 
who  did  not  heartily  fall  in  with  all  the  movements  projected  for  ob- 
taining our  country's  indej^endence,  his  position  became  one  of  diffi- 
culty and  danger,  and  even  of  personal  violence,  Avhich  more  than 
once  was  offered  him.  He  however  remained  with  his  people,  while 
many  other  pastors  of  his  denomination  left  the  country  during  that 
struggle.  At  the  close  of  the  Revolution,  the  customary  allowance 
by  the  society  to  the  Episcopal  ministers  was  withheld,  and  Mr.  Mar- 
shall was  obliged  to  preach  in  more  places  than  one,  both  on  this  ac- 
count, and  also  on  account  of  the  scarcity  of  ministers.  Accordingly, 
we  find  him  officiating  a  part  of  the  time  at  the  churches  in  Redding, 
Newtown,  Milford  and  AYest  Haven.  In  this  manner  he  continued 
to  officiate  in  one  or  more  of  the  surrounding  parishes,  in  connection 
with  his  own,  until  the  date  of  his  death.  He  died  January  21, 1789, 
and  was  buried  near  the  Episcopal  church  in  Woodbury.  He  was 
cut  off  in  the  full  vigor  of  his  manhood,  and  in  the  midst  of  his  use- 
fulness, having  attained  only  the  forty-sixth  year  of  his  age,  and  the 


388  HISTORY     OF     ANCIENT     "VA'  O  O  D  B  U  R  T . 

eighteenth  of  his  ministry,  having  lived  during  the  whole  of  this  pe- 
riod with  his  people,  presenting  a  solitary  instance  in  the  history  of 
liis  church,  of  a  minister,  who  has  lived  and  died  with  the  people  of 
his  charge.     His  autograph  follows  : 


/ 


PHILO  MURRAY,  ESQ., 

Was  born  at  Woodbury,  iu  17G0,  Avhere  he  resided  fifty-nine  years. 
On  his  maternal  side  he  was  connected  with  the  Orton  family,  his 
mother  being  the  sister  of  Doct.  Samuel  Orton,  of  Woodbury.  He 
was  a  man  of  a  sound  and  sagacious  mind,  a  great  reader,  and  clear 
thinker.  He  was  an  active  politician,  being  what  was  termed  a  re- 
publican, and  identified  as  one  of  the  first  founders  and  promoters  of 
that  party  in  town.  He  is  celebrated  as  the  first  man,  who  under 
the  "  stand-up  law"  of  Connecticut,  rose  up  as  a  voter  on  that  side  of 
the  question,  and  in  process  of  time,  (1815,)  was  chosen  a  member 
of  the  General  Assembly  by  his  constituents,  as  the  successful  and 
dominant  party.  Thus  had  it  increased  from  one  to  a  majority.  In 
1819,  Mr.  Murray  removed  to  the  Western  Reserve,  Ohio,  where  he 
soon  died,  honored  and  respected  by  all.  His  three  sons,  Jamieson, 
Philo  and  Abner,  still  reside  there,  and  are  respectable,  thriving 
farmers. 


DOCT.  SAMUEL  S.  MASTERS, 
Was  educated  as  a  physician,  and  practiced  his  profession  in  sev- 
eral places  for  a  number  of  years,  with  good  success.  But  the  great 
blight  and  curse  of  society,  the  demon  of  intemperance,  laid  his  with- 
ering hand  upon  him,  and  he  fell  from  his  position  of  respectability 
and  usefulness.  He  has  for  several  years  been  the  tenant  of  the 
poor-house  in  this  town.  His  case  furnishes  a  warning  to  others  to 
take  heed,  that  they  do  not,  in  like  manner,  offend  against  the  laws 
of  decency  and  their  own  good.  It  is  a  sad  sight  to  behold  any  man, 
made  in  the  image  of  his  Maker,  descend  from  a  position  of  sobriety, 
respectability  and  usefulness,  to  a  level  beneath  the  brutes  that  per- 
ish ;  but  when  we  see  those  of  superior  education  and  abilities,  stand- 


HISTORY     OF    AXCIENT 


AVOODBURY.  380 


ing  m  professional  and  responsible  relations  to  their  felloAv-men  hav- 
ing then-  lives,  character,  or  happiness  in  their  keeping,  walkin-  in  the 
ways  of  drunkenness  and  folly,  and  perliaps  giving  themselve°s  up  to 
kindred  vices,  we  see  a  spectacle  that  angels  might  shudder  at.  A 
thinking  soul  must  ever  be  affected  with  sympathy,  not  unminglcd, 
l)erhaps,  with  reproachful  feelings,  toward  one  who  thus  debases°the' 
glorious  image  of  God  in  his  better  nature,  when  he  beholds  him  giv- 
ing himself  up  a  willing  captive  to  a  diseased  appetite  for  which  him- 
self alone  is  responsible.  God  help  such  infotuated  men— there  is 
no  aid  in  an  eartldy  hand. 


DOCT.  DANIEL  MUNN, 
"Was  born  in  Woodbury  in  1GS4.  His  name  does  not  appear  in 
the  tax  lists  as  doctor,  till  1738,  but  he  was  probably  in  practice  some 
years  earlier.  No  records  remain  to  tell  us  of  his  standing  as  a  phy- 
sician in  this  community,  and  none  are  living  to  give  us  even  legend- 
ary information  in  regard  to  him.  He  died  June  11,  1761,  leaving 
a  widow,  Elizabeth,  and  children,  Daniel,  John,  Anna  Allen,  Mary 
AValker  and  Sarah  Sherman. 


DOCT.  NATHAN  MUNN, 

Came  to  Woodbury  about  the  same  time  with  the  preceding,  and 
the  same  remarks  will  apply  to  him  as  to  the  former.  He  was  a 
nephew  of  Doct.  Daniel.  He  died,  February,  1765,  leaving  a  widow, 
Mary,  and  children — all  minors — Thomas,  Abigail,  Mary,  Hannah, 
and  Lois. 


HON.  MATTHEW  MINOR,  JR., 

Was  the  son  of  Dea.  Matthew  Minor,  and  born  at  Woodbury ;  was 
a  graduate  of  Yale  College  in  the  class  of  1801  ;  studied  law  under 
the  direction  of  Hon.  Noali  B.  Benedict,  and  was  admitted  to  the  bar 
in  180-1.  He  commenced  practice  in  his  native  town,  and  continued 
in  his  profession  until  his  death,  Dec.  11,  1839,  at  the  age  of  fifty- 
eight.  He  was  a  member  of  the  House  of  Representatives,  in  1830 
and  1832.  He  was  also  a  member  of  the  Senate,  in  1837.  He  was 
always  much  engaged  in  the  public  business  of  the  town,  having  a 


300  IIISTOKY     or     ANCIENT     WOODBURY. 

large  share  of  flic  confiilence  of  his  fellow-citizens.  lie  was  a  man 
of  great  uprightness  of  character,  and  discharged  all  the  duties  of  life 
with  scru})ulous  fidelity. 


SAMUEL  MINOK,  ESQ., 

Son  of  the  preceding,  was  born  at  ^Yoodl)^ry,  Mar.  27, 1823,  gradua- 
ted at  Yale  College  in  1844,  studied  law  in  the  offices  of  two  or  three 
different  practicing  lawyers,  and  at  the  law  school  connected  with  Yale 
College,  and  was  admitted  to  the  bar  of  New  Haven  county,  in  IMarch, 
1847.  He  immediately  commenced  the  practice  of  his  profession  in 
Woodbury,  occupying  the  office  formerly  occupied  by  his  father.  He 
remained  here  six  months,  Avhen  not  finding  practice  in  this  town  cor- 
responding with  his  qualifications,  he  removed  to  Sandusky  City, 
Ohio,  where  he  continues  to  reside,  engaged  in  an  extensive  and  lu- 
crative practice. 


LOOMIS  NORTH,  M.  D., 

Received  his  medical  education  at  Cherry  Valley,  N.  Y.,  and  re- 
moved to  Bethlemin  1836,  on  the  death  of  Lyman  Catlin,M.  D.,and 
continued  there  in  the  practice  of  his  profession  till  1848,  when  he 
removed  to  Bristol,  Conn.,  where  he  now  resides.  He  is  considered 
a  skillful  physician.  He  was  born  at  Cornwall,  Conn.,  where  his 
father  practiced  as  a  physician.  He  lias  also  two  brothers,  who  are 
physicians. 


SHADRACH  OSBORN,  ESQ., 

Son  of  Timothy  Osborn,  was  born  in  the  parish  of  Southbury. 
April  14,  1747.  Nothing  of  note  beyond  the  ordinary  occurrences 
in  the  life  of  other  men,  in  a  retired  country  place,  is  known  of  him 
till  the  period  of  the  Revolution.  His  services  during  that  eventful 
period  were  laborious  in  the  extreme.  He  was  engaged  during  most 
of  the  war  in  the  purchasing  and  issuing  commissary  departments, 
one  of  the  most  important  and  useful  posts  during  the  war.  In  the 
early  part  of  the  year  1775,  he  went  north  with  the  army  to  Ticondc- 
roga,  in  a  twofold  capacity,  as  commissary  and  sutler.  In  November, 
1T76,  he  was  in  the  service  as  a  quarter-master  of  a  regiment  of  mi- 


niSTOKT     OF     ANCIENT     WOODBURY.  391 

litia,  stationed  at  Rye,  in  the  state  of  New  York,  under  the  command 
of  Major-Gen.  Wooster.  While  there,  Joseph  Trumbull,  then  com- 
missary-general, and  Jeremiah  Wadsworth,  afterward  appointed  to 
the  same  office,  returning  from  the  head-quarters  of  the  army,  visited 
the  post  at  Rye,  and  employed  him  to  act  as  purchasing  commissary 
to  provide  provisions  for  the  army,  giving  him  orders  to  apply  to  Col. 
Peter  Colt,  of  New  Haven,  for  further  directions.  He  accordingly 
obtained  a  discharge  from  the  service,  and  continued  a  purchaser  un- 
der this  and  a  subsequent  appointment,  till  the  spring  of  1780,  when 
the  continental  currency  became  so  much  depreciated,  that  many 
people  would  not  take  it  for  their  provisions.  At  this  critical  junc- 
ture, the  General  Assembly  held  a  special  session,  and  resolved  to 
emit  a  paper  currency,  redeemable  in  specie,  and  to  take  the  purchas- 
ing of  provisions  for  the  army  within  the  state,  into  its  own  hands. 
Most  of  the  old  commissaries  w^ere  appointed  state  purchasers, 
among  whom  Mr.  Osborn  was  one,  and  so  continued  during  the  war. 
Though  he  had  thus  become  a  state  purchaser,  his  duties  as  an  as- 
sistant commissary,  under  the  authority  of  the  United  States,  did  not 
cease.  He  had  provisions  and  other  public  property  on  hand,  and 
large  unsettled  accounts  remaining,  some  of  which  were  not  closed 
till  the  final  termination  of  the  war.  He  also  served,  as  stated,  as  an 
issuing  commissary  within  his  district,  by  particular  directions,  from 
May,  1777,  till  February,  1781 ;  and  as  the  principal  route  from 
Boston  to  the  western  posts  of  the  army,  passed  through  his  district, 
he  was  engaged  in  issuing  provisions  to  many  marching  parties,  to 
conductors  of  teams,  to  parties  stationed  in  various  places  on  partic- 
ular duties,  and  to  other  bodies  of  troops  in  winter  quarters.  Fre- 
quently, parties  v/ere  stationed  for  the  protection  of  the  supplies  that 
had  been  purchased  for  the  army.  After  the  British  forces  burned 
Danbury,  military  stores  were  kept  further  inland  for  their  protec- 
tion. A  party  of  soldiers  were  thus  stationed  in  a  hollow,  south-east 
of  Southbury  meeting-house,  for  the  protection  of  a  large  quantity  of 
pork,  which  was  there  concealed.  The  locality  has  been  known  by 
the  name  of  "Pork  Hollow,"  ever  since.  Mr.  Osborn  died  August 
27,  1838,  in  the  ninety-first  year  of  his  age.  Besides  his  military 
offices,  he  had  borne  many  others  of  a  public  character,  and  possessed 
to  the  day  of  his  death,  the  unbounded  confidence  of  his  fellow- 
citizens. 


392  HISTORY     OF     ANCIENT     W  O  O  D  B  f  K  Y . 

DOCTOR  SAMUEL  OUTON, 

Son  of  John  Orton,  was  born  in  AV'oodbuiy,  December  8tli,  173H, 
He  commenced  the  study  of  medicine  with  Dr.  Joseph  Perry,  at  an 
early  age,  and  having  completed  his  education,  settled  in  his  native 
town,  in  the  practice  o."  his  profession.  He  became  a  useful  and  skill- 
ful physician,  and  was  also  much  employed  in  the  public  business  ol' 
the  town.  He  was  a  member  of  the  state  convention  for  the  ratifi- 
cation of  the  constitution  of  the  United  States.  A  large  number  of 
medical  students  received  their  instruction  from  him.  He  had  five 
sons  and  three  daughters.  All  the  sons  were  educated  by  him  as 
physicians.  John  settled  at  Sherman,  Conn. ;  Samuel,  at  Bridgewa- 
ter,  a  society  in  New  Milford;  Henry  T.,  in  Washington,  Duchess 
Co.,  N.  Y. ;  David  J.  resides  in  "Woodbury ;  and  James  settled  at 
Caldwell,  N.  J.  Doctor  Orton  departed  this  life  at  Woodbury,  in 
1819. 


DOCTOR  JOSEPH  PERRY, 

Was  born  about  the  year  1727,  and  died  April  29th,  1793,  in  the 
sixty-sixth  year  of  his  age.  He  prepared  himself  for  the  practice  of 
medicine,  and  settled  in  his  native  town  for  tliat  purpose,  about  1750. 
He  built  the  house  where  Hon.  N.  B.  Smith  resides,  which  was  his 
homestead  for  a  number  of  years.  His  name  first  appears  in  the  tax 
list  as  a  landholder  in  1755.  For  more  than  forty  years  he  was  the 
leading  physician  of  the  town  and  vicinity.  He  was  frequently  called 
into  the  neighboring  towns  in  critical  cases.  In  this  manner  he  was 
once  called  to  visit  Rev.  Thomas  Davies,  at  New  Milford.  He  fitted 
many,  during  his  long  practice,  for  the  practice  of  the  profession  he 
so  much  adorned.  He  also  had  much  interest  in  the  civil  afiairs  of 
the  town,  and  was  frequently  engaged  in  its  public  business.  He 
died  at  a  good  old  age,  leaving  a  numerous  and  respectable  posterity. 


NATHANIEL  PERRY,  M.  D., 

Was  the  son  of  the  preceding,  born  February  8th,  17ol ;  studied 
medicine  with  his  father,  and  commenced  the  practice  of  the  i)rofes- 
sion  shortly  after  the  Revolutionary  War.  Yale  College  conferred 
on  him  the  honorary  degree  of  doctor  of  medicine,  in  ISIG.  He  con- 
tinued practice  for  about  forty  years,  till  his  death,  June  13th,  1820. 
He  was  a  man  of  plain,  sound,  practical  common-sense.     He  had  no 


HISTORY     OF     ANCIENT     WOODBURY.  393 

concealments,  but  spoke  plainly  though  kindly  to  his  patients,  and 
indeed  to  all.  An  instance  of  this  is  thus  related.  A  Mr.  Hitchcock 
once  applied  to  him  for  advice,  and  after  an  examination  of  his  symp- 
toms, Dr.  Perry  said  to  him,  "  You  do  not  need  that  I  should  teU  you 
how  you  have  lived ;  you  know  that  yourself.  But  if  you  wish  to 
know  how  you  will  die,  I  will  tell  you.  "When  you  and  I  die,  it  will 
be  instantaneously."  Time  proved  the  correctness  of  the  prophecy 
in  both  cases.  He  was  very  much  respected  as  a  man  and  a  physi- 
cian, and  spent  a  useful  life  among  his  fellow-townsmen. 


HON.  NATHANIEL  PERRY, 

Was  a  son  of  Doctor  Nathaniel,  mentioned  above,  and  born  at 
Woodbury.  He  read  law  with  the  late  John  Strong,  Esq.,  of  his  na- 
tive place,  for  about  eighteen  months,  and  completed  his  studies  with 
Asa  Chapman,  Esq.,  then  a  practitioner  of  law  at  Newtown,  Conn., 
and  afterward  a  judge  of  the  superior  court.  He  was  admitted  to 
the  bar  in  Fairfield  county,  in  April,  181G.  Soon  after  his  admis- 
sion, he  commenced  the  practice  of  law  at  Woodbury,  and  continued 
thei-e  until  the  year  1823,  when  he  removed  to  New  Milford,  where 
he  remained  in  practice  till  his  death,  a  few  years  since.  He  was 
elected  a  member  of  the  General  Assembly  in  1832,  and  was  once 
clerk  of  the  House  of  Representatives.  He  was  appointed  judge  of 
probate  for  the  district  of  New  Milford,  in  1832,  '33,  '38  to  '41,  '44 
and  '45.' 


HON.  NATHAN  PRESTON, 

Was  born  at  Woodbury,  April  20th,  1756,  and  graduated  at  Yale 
College  in  177G.  Impelled  by  a  patriotic  desire  to  serve  his  country, 
he  entered  the  army  of  the  Revolution,  and  about  1780  was  trans- 
ferred to  the  commissary  department.  He  was  admitted  to  the  bar 
in  Litchfield  county,  in  1782  ;  opened  an  office  in  his  native  town,  and 
there  continued  to  practice  his  profession  till  about  the  year  1796. 
He  was  town-clerk  thirty-nine  years  ;  was  elected  a  member  of  the 
House  of  Representatives  in  October,  1791,  and  for  eleven  sessions,  at 
intervals,  afterward.  He  was  appointed  judge  of  probate  in  1795, 
and  continued  to  discharge  the  duties  of  that  office  until  1805.     In 


1 13  Connecticut  Keports,  Appendix,  p.  11. 
26 


304  IIISTOUV     OF     ANCIENT     WOODBTUY. 

1818,  he  was  again  appointed  to  that  oiriee,  and  performed  its  duties 
till  his  death,  September,  1822. 


HON.    CHARLES  B.  PHELPS, 


Was  born  at  Chatham,  now  Portland,  Conn.,  in  May,  1788;  pur- 
sued his  professional  studies  under  the  direction  of  Judge  Reeve  and 
Hon.  Noah  B.  Benedict,  and  was  admitted  to  the  bar  of  Litchfield 
county,  in  September,  1809.  He  entered  into  the  practice  of  his 
profession  soon  after  his  admission,  and  has  continued  to  reside  here 
in  an  extended  and  lucrative  practice  till  the  present  time,  a  period 
of  more  than  forty  years.  He  was  appointed  judge  of  probate,  in 
May,  1823,  and  was  annually  reappointed  until  May,  183-4.  He  was 
reappointed  in  1835,  '36,  '37,  '42,  '43,  '46,  and  has  held  the  office 
from  1849  to  the  present  time — a  period  of  twenty-one  years.  He  is 
celebrated  as  a  probate  judge,  and  is  much  consulted  in  that  capacity. 
He  was  a  member  of  the  House  of  Representatives,  in  1831,  '37  and 
'52.  In  the  latter  year  he  was  elected  speaker  of  the  house.  He 
was  also  elected  to  the  Senate  of  the  state  in  1843,  acted  as  president 
pro  tem.  of  that  body  most  of  the  session,  and  was  postmaster  from 
1831  to  1841.  In  1850,  he  was  appointed  judge  of  the  county  court 
for  Litchfield  county,  was  reappointed  in  1852,  and  still  continues  to 
perform  the  duties  of  that  office.  He  was  many  years  since  admit- 
ted to  the  bar  of  the  supreme  court  in  the  state  of  New  York.  He 
has  been  noted  during  his  long  and  somewhat  eventful  career,  as  a 
keen  and  sagacious  lawyer.  He  has  a  good  knowledge  of  human  na- 
ture, in  its  several  varieties,  and  a  quick  perception  of  the  character 
and  intent  of  men.  He  is  ardent  in  his  temperament,  strong  in  his 
attachments,  kind  as  a  neighbor,  and  ready  to  relieve  the  distressed, 
when  occasion  offers.  Possessing  strong  common-sense,  and  good 
mother-wit,  he  is  noted  for  an  unlimited  fund  of  mirth,  humor  and 
withering  sarcasm,  when  the  occasion  demands  it.  He  has  great 
command  over  his  temper,  and  "  keeps  good-natured  to  the  end  of 
the  chapter."  He  possesses  striking  and  original  traits  of  character, 
which  distinguish  him  in  a  marked  degree  from  every  other  man  ; 
but  as  most  readers  of  this  volume  are  well  acquainted  with  the 
original,  portraiture  would  be  useless. 


HISTORY     OF    ANCIENT     WOODBURY.  395 

JOSEPH  M.  PALMER,  ESQ., 

"Was  a  native  of  New  Milford,  commenced  the  study  of  law  in 
1808,  under  D.  S.  Boardman,  Esq.,  and  subsequently  under  Noah  B. 
Benedict,  Esq.,  and  Judge  Chapman.  He  was  admitted  to  the  bar  in 
Fairfield  county,  in  1809,  and  commenced  practice  at  Woodbury, 
where  he  continued  till  1816,  when  he  removed  to  Fredericktown, 
Md.,  and  now  sustains  a  high  character  in  his  pi'ofession.  He  has 
been  a  member  of  the  Maryland  legislature,  and  was  nominated  as 
candidate  for  governor,  in  1851,  which  he  declined,  choosing  to  ad- 
here to  his  professional  labors. 


BENJAMIN  STILES,  ESQ., 

Was  a  native  of  that  part  of  Woodbury  now  included  in  the  town 
of  Southbury,  and  was  born  February  llth,  1720.  He  graduated  at 
Yale  College,  in  1740,  studied  law  and  settled  in  the  practice  of  the 
profession  in  his  native  town  immediately,  where  he  continued  to  re- 
side and  to  enjoy  an  extended  practice,  for  the  times,  till  his  death. 
He  was  frequently  engaged  in  important  and  difficult  causes,  and 
attained  a  very  respectable  position  at  the  bar.  During  the  Revolu- 
tion, he  was  suspected  of  being  somewhat  conservative  in  his  views  in 
regard  to  the  mother  country,  and  some  inconvenience  to  him  arose 
from  it.  He  was  cited  before  the  General  Assembly  on  one  occa- 
sion for  "contempt  of  Government,"  the  complaint  charging  him 
with  having  said  that  the  "  three  Colony  representatives  in  the  Con- 
tinental Congress  were  three  good-for-nothing  dogs,  and  no  more  fit 
for  the  place  than  his  sick  negro  Jeff."^ 


BENJAMIN  STILES,  JR.,  ESQ., 

Son  of  the  preceding,  was  bom  in  Southbury  parish,  August  28th, 
1756,  graduated  at  Yale  College  in  1776,  studied  law  with  his  father^ 
and  commenced  practice  in  his  native  town,  where  he  continued  to 
reside  till  his  death,  February  12th,  1817.  He  was  much  relied  up- 
on in  the  preparation  of  cases,  and  did  a  large  amount  of  office  busi- 
ness. 

1  State  Archives,  Rev.  War,  vol.  1,  p.  428. 


396  HISTORY     OF     ancient     WOODBURY. 


DOCTOR  DANIEL  SHELDON, 

Son  of  Doctor  Daniel  Slieldon,  of  Litchfield,  was  a  most  excellent 
man  and  physician.  He  practiced  his  profession  in  Judea  for  many 
years,  after  which  he  was  appointed  secretary  of  legation,  at  France, 
where  he  died. 


DOCTOR  HENRY  SKILTON, 


Was  born  in  the  parish  of  St.  Michael's,  Coventry,  England,  No- 
vember 19th,  1718,  and  baptized  in  the  established  church,  Decem- 
ber 3d,  1718.  He  removed  with  his  parents  to  Rumsey,  Hampshire 
county,  when  eight  years  of  age,  with  a  younger  brother  and  sister. 
At  Rumsey  another  sister  was  born,  and  his  mother  died.  His  father 
having  obtained  a  place  in  the  British  navy  soon  after,  Henry  left 
home  March  31st,  1734,  and  England,  April  1st,  1735,  in  a  gunship. 
He  left  the  ship  the  same  year  at  Boston,  remained  awhile  in  Rox- 
bury,  and  is  next  heard  of  in  Preston,  Conn.,  where  he  married  Tab- 
itha  Avery,  July  9th,  1741.  He  removed  to  Southington  about  the 
year  1749,  or  1750,  where  he  bought  lands.  Having  procured  some 
medical  books,  he  commenced  the  study  of  medicine  as  early  as  1748, 
and  having  fitted  himself  for  the  duties  of  the  profession,  he  com- 
menced practice  as  the  first  physician  in  Southington.  He  sold 
lands  to  Samuel  Smith,  in  Southington,  but  did  not  sell  all  he  owned 
till  several  years  after  his  removal  to  Woodbury,  which  took  place 
about  1700,  as  his  name  first  appears  in  the  tax  list  of  this  town  the 
next  year.  In  Woodbury  he  practiced  medicine  many  years.  While 
here  he  took  the  place  of  his  son  Aveiy,  who  had  been  di'afted  into 
the  service  about  the  period  of  the  battle  of  Bunker  Hill.  The  de- 
tachment which  he  joined,  and  in  which  he  was  a  commissioned  oflfi- 
cer,  was  stationed  at  Roxbury  Neck,  Mass.  His  purchases  of  land 
in  Woodbury  extend  from  1761  to  1773.  In  old  age  he  made  his 
last  change  of  residence  by  removing  to  Watertown,  in  1788.  He 
died  at  the  latter  place,  June  7th,  1802,  aged  eighty-four.  His  resi- 
dence in  Woodbury  was  near  Rock  House  Hill,  which  is  a  round 
hill  a  little  west  of  Hermon  Judson's  dwelling-house. 

Dr.  Skilton's  preferences  in  religion  were  for  the  Congregational 
or  Calvinistic  doctrines,  but  he  did  not  approve  some  of  the  disci- 
plinary customs  of  his  brethren,  nor  did  he  accept  the  form  of  church 
government  in  use  among  them.     Hence  he  became  a  "  Separate," 


HISTORY     OF     ANCIENT     WOODBURY.  397 

and  held  meetings  at  various  places,  teaching  his  followers  in  the 
"  things  of  religion."  In  Prospect,  Conn.,  the  remnant  of  a  church 
of  his  organizing  existed  as  late  as  1831,  in  the  person  of  an  ao-ed 
lady  who  still  revered  her  former  pastor's  name. 


HON.  JOHN  STRONG, 


"Was  a  son  of  Lieut.  John  Strong,  of  Eevolutionary  memory,  and 
was  bom  at  Woodbury.  He  graduated  at  Yale  College,  in  1806> 
read  law  with  Hon.  Noah  B.  Benedict,  and  was  admitted  to  the  bar 
of  Litchfield  county,  in  December,  1808.  He  opened  an  ofl&ce  in 
Woodbury,  and  continued  in  the  active  discharge  of  his  professional 
duties  till  his  death  in  November,  1834.  He  was  a  member  of  the 
House  of  Representatives,  in  May,  1813,  in  1825  and  1826.  He  was 
judge  of  probate  in  1816,  1817  and  1834. 

His  death  was  an  irreparable  loss  to  his  family  and  friends,  to  the 
society  to  which  he  belonged,  to  the  profession  of  which  he  was  an 
ornament,  and  to  the  public  at  large.  Few  men  have  occupied  a 
higher  place  in  the  confidence  and  afiections  of  the  community.  He 
was  a  man  of  strict  integrity  and  unsullied  purity.  He  possessed  a 
mind  clear,  acute,  respectably  imbued  with  legal  science,  fitted  to 
grapple  with  any  subject  to  which  his  attention  might  be  called  in 
the  exigencies  of  his  profession.  His  arguments  were  in  many  in- 
stances very  successful,  and  received  commendations  from  the  bench 
of  which  any  man  might  be  justly  proud.  But  in  consequence  of  an 
innate  modesty,  and  unobtrusiveness  of  manners,  Mr.  Strong  was  one 
of  those  men  who  did  not  do  entire  justice  to  himself  in  the  eyes  of 
the  world,  by  seizing  with  a  species  of  violence,  upon  that  eminence 
which  more  daring  but  less  able  men  often  occupy.  No  man  ever 
gave  more  disinterested  advice  to  a  client.  The  confidence  that  was 
reposed  in  him  in  this  respect  was  unbounded.  His  head  was  cool, 
his  heart  pure,  his  hands  clean,  and  his  whole  life  regulated  upon  the 
principle  of  doing  good.* 


THOMAS  T.  SEEL  YE,  M.  D., 

Came  to  Woodbury  from  Danbury,  Conn.,  commenced  the  prac- 
tice of  medicme  about  the  year  1842,  and  closed  his  medical  la- 


1  Manuscript  letter. 


398  IIISTOKY     OF     ANCIENT     -WOODBUKY. 

bors  in  18  tS.  Having  changed  his  views  of  medical  science,  he 
removed  to  Cleveland,  Ohio,  and  took  charge  of  a  water-cure  estab- 
lishment, where  he  still  remains. 


HARMON  W.  SHOVE,  M.  D., 

"Was  born  in  "Warren,  Conn.  He  commenced  the  study  of  medi- 
cine under  the  instruction  of  J.  G.  Beckwith,  M.  D.,  of  Litchfield, 
continued  it  under  Charles  H.  "Webb,  M.  D.,  of  Woodbury,  and  John 
J.  Abernethy,  M.  D.,  "United  States  Navy  surgeon,  at  Brooklyn,  N. 
Y.,  heard  two  courses  of  medical  lectures  at  one  of  the  medical 
schools  in  New  York,  and  one  in  the  medical  department  of  Yale 
College,  where  he  received  the  degree  of  doctor  of  medicine,  Janu- 
ary, 1853,  and  is  now  practicing  his  profession  in  Woodbury. 


DOCTOR  ISRAEL  STODDARD, 

Grandson  of  Rev.  Anthony  Stoddard,  the  second  minister,  was  boru 
in  Woodbury,  prepared  himself  for  the  practice  of  medicine,  and  set- 
tled in  Judea.  He  was  a  jovial,  good-natured  man,  somewhat  ad- 
dicted to  free  living,  and  died  young. 


HON.  LEMAN  B.  SPRAGUE, 

Studied  law  under  the  direction  of  Hon.  Truman  Smith,  of  Litch- 
field, and  was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  the  year  1842.  He  immediate- 
ly opened  an  office  in  Litchfield,  for  the  practice  of  his  profession, 
where  he  remained  a  few  months,  when  he  removed  to  Woodbury. 
He  continued  to  practice  in  this  town  till  his  death  in  August,  1845. 
In  May,  1844,  he  was  appointed  judge  of  probate,  which  office  he 
held  till  a  short  tune  before  his  death. 


HON.  NATHANIEL  SMITH. 


We  come  now  to  the  consideration  of  the  life  and  character  of  by 
far  the  most  distinguished  native  of  the  territory  of  "  Ancient  Wood- 


HISTORY     OF     ANCIENT     "WOODBURY.  399 

bury ;"  an  ornament  and  a  glory  to  the  town  that  gave  him  birth,  to 
the  profession  which  he  adorned,  to  the  bench  on  which  he  sat  with 
unsulhed  purity,  rectitude  of  purpose,  and  unbending  devotion  to  the 
demands  of  justice,  and  to  his  friends  who  chistered  thickly  around 
him.  Perhaps  the  history  and  character  of  no  other  man  could  be 
more  profitably  studied  by  the  youth  of  ardent  aspirations,  feeling  the 
fire  of  genius  burning  within  him,  and  struggling  under  the  frowns  of 
adverse  circumstances  for  an  honoi-able  position  in  society,  than  that 
of  Mr.  Smith.  He  furnishes  a  brilliant  example  of  what  the  innate 
force  of  a  mighty  intellect  can  accomplish,  though  surrounded  by  diffi- 
culties and  obstacles. 

The  father  of  Mr.  Smith  was  poor,  and  like  other  men  of  small 
means,  he  was  frequently  removing,  and  lived  in  several  parts  of  the 
ancient  town  after  his  first  emigration  to  it.     Thus  a  part  of  his  fam- 
ily was  born  in  Judea,  and  a  part  in   Roxbury  society.     Nathaniel, 
the  subject  of  this  sketch,  was  the  son  of  Richard  Smith,  and  born  in 
Judea  society,  in  what  is  called  "  Calhoun  Street,"  January  G,  1762. 
For  the  reason  stated  above,  his  means  of  education  were  extremely 
limited,  and  he  was  left  to  seek  his  fortune  at  an  early  age.     He  and 
a  brother  of  his  engaged  in  peddling  and  trading  between  Philadel- 
phia and  the  northern  parts  of  New  England.     On  one  occasion  they 
went  from  Philadelphia  toward  the  north  by  different  routes,  agree- 
ing to  meet  at  the  court  house  in  Rutland,  Vermont,  on  a  day  named. 
Nathaniel  arrived  at  the  place  agreed  on  before  his  brother,  and  as 
court  was  in  session,  he  went  in  to  see  what  was  going  on.     A  cause 
was  on  trial,  and  it  struck  him  that  the  case  was  not  well  managed 
by  either  of  the  opposing  lawyers.     On  meeting  his  brother,  he  rela- 
ted the  circumstance,  and  remarked  to  him  that  this  "was  the  last 
time  he  should  go  to  Philadelphia  to  sell  new  rum,"— his  mind  was 
decided  and  he  should  be  a  lawyer  ;  that  if  it  took  no  more  sagacity 
to  practice  that  profession  than  had  been  displayed  in  the  court-house, 
he  had  no  doubt  he  should  succeed,  for  he  believed  that  uninformed 
as  he  then  was,  he  could  have  managed  the  case  better  than  either  of 
them.     This  simple  incident  changed  the   whole  plan  of  his  life. 
During  a  part  of  the  Revolution  he  had  been  engaged  in  the  service 
as  a  te°amster.     After  that  period  he  had  made  some  money,  and  he 
now  applied  to  Judge  Reeve,  of  Litchfield,  for  admission  to  his  office 
as  a  student  of  law.     Judge  Reeve  having  entered  into  an  examina- 
tion of  his  qualifications,  and  perceiving  the  defectiveness  of  his  edu- 
cation, endeavored  to  dissuade  hun  from  the  undertaking.     But  he 
persisted  with  such  decided  energy  in  urgmg  him  to  receive  hun  as  a 


400  II  I  S  T  O  li  V      or     A  N  C  I  K  N  T     AV  O  O  D  B  U  R  Y  . 

Student,  tluil  the  judge  gave  him  a  copy  of  some  historical  work, 
directing  him  to  read  that  with  care,  and  come  again  at  the  end  of  a 
week,  when  he  would  converse  with  liim  further  on  the  subject.  At 
the  time  appointed  he  returned,  tlie  judge  gave  hiin  a  careful  exam- 
ination on  what  he  liad  read,  and  discovering  the  native  strength  and 
vigor  of  his  intellectual  powers,  he  gave  up  his  objections,  and  re- 
ceived him  into  his  office.  Here  his  progress  was  so  rapid  that  with- 
in a  period  short  of  wliat  was  allowed  by  the  rules  of  the  bar,  in  con- 
sequence of  the  representations  of  his  instructor,  and  the  favorable 
opinion  entertained  of  him  by  the  members  of  the  bar  with  whom  he 
had  become  acquainted,  he  was  admitted  into  the  profession  in  1787. 
He  immediately  after  commenced  the  practice  of  his  profession  in 
Woodbury,  where  he  continued  to  reside  till  his  death,  March  9th, 
1822. 

He  married  Ruth,  only  daughter  of  Rev.  Noah  Benedict,  third 
pastor  of  the  lirst  church  in  Woodbury,  and  had  one  child,  Hon.  Na- 
thaniel B.  Smith,  now  residing  in  this  town. 

Almost  immediately  after  entering  upon  the  practice  of  his  profes- 
sion, he  rose  to  eminence  in  it.  Some  of  his  first  arguments  were 
masterly  forensic  efforts.  At  that  period  the  bar  of  Litchfield  was 
second  to  none  in  the  state.  It  was  furnished  with  a  large  number 
of  men  of  distinguished  ability.  Notwithstanding  this  competition? 
he  soon  found  liimself  favored  Avith  a  large  and  successful  practice, 
and  rose  more  rapidly  to  the  highest  grade  of  his  profession  than 
perhaps  any  other  man  before  him.  His  powers  of  thought  and  elo- 
cution gave  him  almost  unlimited  dominion  over  his  audience. 
Whenever  he  spoke,  there  was  a  breathless  silence.  All  eyes  were 
upon  him,  and  all  ears  heard.  In  October,  1789,  less  than  two  years 
after  his  removal  to  this  town,  lie  was  elected  a  member  of  the  Gen- 
eral Assembly,  and  was  re-elected  four  times  previous  to  1795.  By 
this  means  an  opportunity  was  afforded  him  of  becoming  more  gen- 
erally and  widely  known.  In  the  house  he  was  a  distinguished 
member,  and  took  a  leading  part  in  the  deliberations.  To  him  this 
state  is  indebted  in  no  inconsiderable  degree,  for  some  of  the  leading 
measures  of  those  times.  Among  these  may  be  mentioned  the  grad- 
ual extinction  of  slavery,  and  the  permanent  system  of  common 
school  education,  connected  with  the  disposal  of  the  public  lands  be- 
longing to  the  state.  In  the  year  1795,  Yale  College  bestowed  upon 
him  the  honorary  degree  of  master  of  arts.  In  the  same  year  he  was 
elected  a  member  of  the  congress  of  the  United  States,  in  which  office 
he  served  four  years,  when  he  declined  a  second  re-election.     That 


HISTORY     OF     ANCIENT     WOODBURY.  401 

body  then  embraced  the  first  talents'  in  this  country.  Amid  such  a 
constellation  of  able  and  distinguished  men,  though  his  course  was 
less  brilliant  than  that  of  a  few  others,  yet  such  were  his  strong  com 
mon  sense,  and  his  clear  and  comprehensive  views  on  every  subject 
which  he  discussed,  and  such  his  precise  and  original  mode  of  think- 
ing and  of  expression,  that  his  speeches  were  always  heard  with 
marked  attention,  and  his  opinions  highly  regarded.  He  particularly 
distinguished  himself  in  the  discussions  in  the  house,  relating  to  the 
ratification  of  the  British  treaty. 

On  his  making  known  his  intention  to  decline  a  third  election  to 
Congress,  in  the  fall  of  1798,  he  was  placed  in  nomination  for  a  seat 
in  the  council,  or  upper  house  of  the  legislature  of  this  state,  elected 
in  1799,  and  on  his  return  from  Philadelphia,  in  the  spring  of  1800, 
took  his  seat  as  a  member  of  that  body.  He  remained  a  member  of 
this  body  till  May,  1805.  In  October,  1806,  he  was  elected  a  judge 
of  the  supreme  court,  and  it  is  not  too  much  to  say,  that  though  this 
state  has  frequently  had  more  learned  judges  in  her  courts  of  justice, 
it  is  much  to  be  doubted  whether,  on  all  accounts,  she  ever  had  a  bet- 
ter one.  Of  the  distinguished  ability  and  impartiality  with  which  he 
discharged  his  duties  while  on  the  bench  of  this  court,  too  much  can 
scarcely  be  said. 

It  was  while  occupying  this  station  that  he  first  began  to  experi- 
ence the  latent  causes  of  that  disease,  which  finally  terminated  his 
life.  It  did  not,  however,  become  very  alarming  tiU  the  fall  of  1817. 
Then  he  began  to  feel  the  necessity  of  leaving  the  bench,  and  had 
come  to  the  resolution  to  do  so,  but  from  some  improvement  in  his 
health,  in  the  course  of  the  winter,  and  from  the  state  of  public  afiairs 
in  relation  to  the  court  and  other  matters,  he  was  induced  to  change 
his  purpose,  and  consented  to  stand  or  fall  with  his  brethren.  This 
was  the  period  called  "toleration  times,"  and  much  bitterness  of  party 
spirit  existed.  He  accordingly  remained  m  office  till  1819,  when  the 
new  organization  took  place  under  the  present  constitution  of  the 
state.  This  was  the  last  year  of  his  public  services,  and  for  him  it 
was  fortunate  that  it  was  so,  as  a  longer  continuance  in  them  might 
have  hastened  the  termination  of  his  life.  He  left  the  bench  with  a 
high  and  unsullied  reputation,  followed  by  the  regrets  of  his  fellow- 
citizens,  even  of  those  whose  political  opinions  did  not  accord  with  his 
own.  Of  the  views  of  his  sound,  practical  good  sense,  entertained  by 
his  contemporaries,  a  single  instance  only,  among  many,  will  be  no- 
ticed.    This  was  his  appointment,  in  conjunction  with  Chancellor 


402  HISTORY     OF     ANCIENT     WOODBURY. 

Kent,  of  New  York,  and  a  distinguislied  divine  of  New  Hampsliire, 
to  establish  a  new  site  for  Williams  College. 

Perhaps  it  is  proper  to  say  a  few  Avords  more  of  the  intellectual 
and  moral  powers  of  one  who  so  successfuJly  concentrated  the  admi- 
ration and  respect  of  his  fellow-citizens.  As  we  have  seen,  he  owed 
little  to  education  and  the  force  of  early  training.  He  held  his  powers 
by  a  higher  diploma  than  any  university  could  furnish.  Providence 
bestowed  upon  him  original,  native  powers,  rarely  equaled,  certainly 
not  surpassed  by  any  of  his  compeers,  save  perhaps  Oliver  Ellsworth. 
For  keenness  of  discernment,  accuracy  of  investigation,  adroitness  in 
argument,  and  energy  in  delivery,  it  was  difficult  to  find  his  equal 
anywhere.  His  powers  of  elocution  were  more  effective  than  those 
of  any  other  public  man  of  the  state  except  Pierpont  Edwards. 
His  mind  had  an  unusual  power  in  penetrating  every  subject  submit- 
ted to  its  analysis.  He  saw  them  at  a  glance  in  all  their  connections 
and  ramifications.  Such  conclusions  as  subordinate  minds  attain  by 
patient  labor  and  reflection,  he  knew  by  intuition.  He  possessed  the 
rare  power  of  being  equal  to  the  emergency,  whatever  it  might  be. 
Like  other  strong  minds,  his  powers  were  not  enfeebled  by  diversion 
to  a  multiplicity  of  objects.  He  could,  at  any  and  all  times,  concen- 
trate his  whole  mental  power  upon  the  subject  under  examination  ; 
and  while  seeing  a  thing  clearly  himself,  he  possessed  the  faculty  of 
so  vividly  presenting  the  subject  to  the  minds  of  others,  that  they 
could  see  it  in  the  same  clear  light.  He  read  human  nature  with 
great  accuracy,  and  was  rarely  deceived  in  the  estimates  he  made  of 
men.  To  the  exercise  of  judicial  functions  he  was  eminently  adapted. 
He  generally  reasoned  without  much  consulting  authorities,  and  by  a 
comparison  of  his  reasoning  with  that  in  books  he  had  never  read,  it 
often  appeared  that  he  had  arrived  at  the  same  results,  and  by  the 
same  processes  of  reasoning,  that  Mansfield  or  Ellenborough  had 
done  before  him.  In  fine,  as  a  "  man  of  mind — of  exalted  capabili- 
ties and  pure  aspirations,  few  of  his  generation  might  be  compared 
with  him."  After  his  death.  Judge  Reeve  remarked,  "  I  will  not  say 
that  Judge  Smith  has  not  left  his  equal,  but  I  will  say  he  has  left  no 
superior  living."  A  distinguished  ex-governor  of  the  state,  now  liv- 
ing, lately  said  of  him,  "  Connecticut  never  produced  a  greater  intel- 
lect than  Judge  Smith  possessed." 

It  still  remains  to  speak  of  a  most  interesting  part  of  the  history  of 
Judge  Smith.  Reference  is  made  to  that  part  in  which  he  appears  as 
a  Christian.  He  was  never  an  infidel.  He  possessed  too  much 
sense,  candor  and  fairness  of  mind  to  allow  of  that.     His  conduct  was 


HISTORY     OF     ANCIENT     WOODBURY.  403 

SO  for  from  this  that  he  always  entertained  a  high  respect  for  the 
Christian  rehgion.  Yet  he,  at  one  period  of  his  life,  had  doubts  re- 
specting that  important  change  which  is  wrought  by  the  spirit  of  God 
in  the  hearts  of  men,  as  a  necessary  preparation  for  a  better  world. 
For  many  years  he  felt  a  strong  desire  to  prove  the  reality  of  such  a 
change  in  his  own  experience,  if,  indeed,  such  a  change  were  a  real- 
ity. At  length,  at  the  age  of  forty-six,  in  the  full  vigor  of  his  under- 
standing, at  a  time  of  life  when  his  imagination,  never  the  controlling 
facuhy  of  his  muid,  could  not  be  supposed  to  have  deceived  him,  and 
in  the  hour  of  calm,  deliberate  reflection,  such  a  change  was  wrought 
upon  him.  Certainly  some  great  and  remarkable  change  took  place 
in  his  experience.  Of  it  he  was  conscious,  and  frequent!/  spoke  to 
his  Christian  friends.  Under  its  continued  and  prevailing  influence, 
througli  many  years,  he  afterward  lived,  and  under  the  same  influ- 
ence he  appeared,  at  last,  to  die,  full  of  those  calm,  steadfast,  cheer- 
ing hopes  beyond  this  life,  to  which  such  a  change,  and  nothing  else, 
is  wont  to  give  birth.  The  circumstances  of  this  change  were  such 
as  usually  mark  it  in  great  and  earnest  minds.  Of  its  reality,  as  the 
work  of  a  divine  agent,  he  appeared  to  entertain  no  doubt.  These 
views  and  feelings  were  for  some  time  kept  concealed  from  his  most 
intimate  friends,  from  a  perhaps  mistaken  regard  to  considerations  of 
prudence,  and  even  of  duty.  Placed  as  he  was,  in  an  office  of  high 
responsibility,  and  at  that  day,  of  some  delicacy  and  difficulty,  too, 
through  the  violence  of  party  strife  and  animosity,  and  fearing  that 
in  this  situation,  a  public  avowal  of  his  change  might  be  attributed 
to  unworthy  motives,  and  made  use  of  for  improper  purposes,  he,  for 
a  time,  retained  the  important  secret  within  his  own  heart.  His 
feelings  on  these  subjects  are  alluded  to  in  a  letter  to  his  son,  then  a 
student  in  Yale  College,  dated  April  18th,  1813,  as  will  be  seen  by 
the  following  extract : 

"  You  may  well  suppose,  that  I  have  not  formed  a  very  high  opinion  of  the 
outward  forms  of  religion,  and  in  that  respect,  perhaps,  I  may  have  erred.  I 
have,  indeed,  latterly  entertained  doubts  of  the  correctness  of  my  conduct  in 
that  particular.  But  whatever  imiDortance  may  be  attached  to  the  outward 
forms  of  religion,  I  entertain  no  doubt  of  the  high  importance,  and  the  absolute 
necessity  of  that  internal  principle,  implanted  by  regeneration.  The  doctrine 
of  spiritual  birth,  whatever  ridicule  and  contempt  the  world  may  cast  upon  it, 
is,  nevertheless,  the  life  and  soul  of  the  Christian  scheme,  and  whoever  denies 
it  altogether,  or  what  is  worse,  because  more  insidious,  denies  its  sjnrituality, 
and  places  the  change  in  something  in  which  it  does  not  exist,  may  as  well 
deny  the  whole  Christian  religion,  and  form  one  altogether  of  his  own,  better 
adapted  to  his  natural  disposition.     Since  I  have  begun,  I  should  delight  in 


404 


HISTORY     OF     ANCIKNT     M"  O  O  D  B  U  U  Y  . 


writing  miich  on  the  subject,  did  not  my  sliength  in  some  measure  fail  me,  and 
did  not  I  fear,  that  your  patience  would  fail  you.  Perhaps,  indeed,  I  have 
written  enough  unless  you  should  wish  to  have  more,  in  which  case  I  have  no 
objection  to  correspond  further.  Your  present  age  is  of  all  others  best  adapted 
to  these  inquiries  and  pursuits.  And  surely  the  solemn  truths  which  all  agree 
in— that  tire  continuance  of  life  is  short  and  uncertain— that  death  and  a  never- 
ending  eternity  of  happiness  or  woe,  are  awfully  certain,  are  suflicient  to  call  up 
the  attention  of  any  rational  being  to  the  subject,  and  at  least  lead  him  to  search 
the  Scriptures.  Though  I  am  willing  you  should  keep  this  letter,  I  would  not 
have  you  show  it,  or  mention  its  contents  to  any  one.  I  have  had  my  reasons, 
and  still  have,  for  not  wishing  to  become  the  object  of  remark  on  this  subject. 
Perhaps  they  are  not  sufficient— be  that  as  it  may,  you  must  allow  me  to  be  the 
judge. 


From  other  sources,  as  well  as  from  the  above,  we  learn  that  he 
was  not  altogether  satisfied  that  the  course  of  conduct  he  had  adopted 
on  this  subject  Avas  the  correct  one  ;  for  upon  the  taking  place  of  a 
settled  state  of  things  in  the  society  and  church,  and  when  his  situa- 
tion in  regard  to  public  affairs  became  such  as  to  preclude  any  mis- 
construction of  his  motives,  he  hesitated  no  longer  to  speak  fi-eely  of 
his  change,  and  to  make  a  public  profession  of  his  faith  in  the  Re- 
deemer, and  of  his  high  hopes  of  a  glorious  immortality  growing  out 
of  that  faith.  His  only  and  latest  regrets  seem  to  have  been,  that  he 
had  not  before  declared  his  attachment  to  his  Lord  and  Saviour,  and 
been  more  openly  and  actively  engaged  in  his  service.  In  his  last 
sickness,  from  the  nature  of  his  disease  he  had  many  distressing  hours, 
but  his  confidence  in  those  great  truths  never  forsook  him.  To  an 
uncommon  degree  they  alleviated  his  sufferings.  By  them  his  path 
through  the  valley  of  death  seemed  illumined.  The  day  before  his 
death,  as  his  brother  Nathan,  of  New  Haven,  stood  by  his  bedside, 
he  remarked,  "  I  have  had  a  hard  day's  work,  brother,  but  I  hope  it 
will  end  peacefully  before  morning."  "While  resting  on  these  bright 
hopes  of  immortality,  so  animating  and  comforting,  he  was  enabled 
to  commit  his  family  as  well  as  his  own  future  and  eternal  destiny,  to 
Him  whom  he  believed  to  be  the  Author  and  Finisher  of  his  faith, 


HISTORY     OF    ANCIENT     WOODBURY.  405 

and  his  spirit  took  its  peaceful  departure  for  the  land  of  rest,  on  the 
9th  of  March,  1822.' 


HON.  NATHANIEL  B.  SINHTH, 

Son  of  the  preceding,  was  born  at  "Woodbury,  Dec.  7,  1795,  and 
graduated  at  Yale  College  in  1815.  He  read  law  in  company  with 
Hon.  Truman  Smith  and  Hon.  John  M.  Clayton,  in  the  office  of  Hon. 
Noah  B.  Benedict,  and  with  them  and  others  at  the  law  school  of 
Judge  Reeve,  at  Litchfield.  They  were  together  admitted  to  the  bar 
of  Litchfield  county  in  1818.  He  immediately  engaged  and  fitted  up 
an  office  in  the  "  Glebe  Building,"  at  New  Haven ;  but  his  father,  be- 
ing at  this  time  in  infirm  health,  induced  him  to  change  his  pui'pose, 
and  open  an  office  in  "Woodbury.  He  continued  the  practice  of  his 
profession  for  two  or  three  years,  when  the  care  of  his  father's  estate, 
(he  having  a  large  landed  pi-operty.)  engrossed  his  time  and  atten- 
tion, and  he  has  since  remained  in  agricultural  pursuits.  He  repre- 
sented the  town  in  the  General  Assembly  in  1828,  and  again  in  1847. 
He  was  appointed  judge  of  probate.  May,  1838,  and  held  the  office 
by  successive  appointments  till  May,  1842. 


HEZEKIAH  THOMPSON,  ESQ., 

"Was  one  of  the  first  lawyers  in  "Woodbury,  having  commenced 
practice  about  the  year  1757.  For  a  sketch  of  his  life,  the  reader  is 
referred  to  the  genealogy  of  the  "Thompson  Family,"  near  the  close 
of  the  volume .  ' 


DOCT.  EBENEZER  THOMPSON, 
Was  a  physician  in  Bethlehem  society  for  a  number  of  years. 
Tradition  is  silent  in  .regard  to  his  standing  in  community,  and  his 
attainments  as  a  physician.  He  died  in  1750,  leaving  a  wife,  Mary 
(Judd,)  and  three  daughters,  Lois,  Esther  and  Mary.  His  widow 
died  in  1752. 


1  The  author  has  derived  valuable  aid  in  the  foregomg  sketch,  from  minutes  fur- 
nished him  by  Rev.  S.  R.  Andrew  and  Hon.  Charles  B.  Phelps. 


406  IIISTORT     OP    ANCIENT     WOODBURY. 


DOCT.  ABRAHAM  TOMLINSOJST, 

Resided  in  Judea  society,  and  was  there  as  early  as  1758,  his  name 
appearing  in  the  tax  list  as  early  as  that  year.  He  remained  there 
some  years,  but  finally  removed  to  Milford,  Conn. 


DOCT.  LEMUEL  WHEELER, 

Settled  early  in  Southbury  society,  in  the  practice  of  the  medical 
profession.  He  was  respectable  in  his  profession,  and  stood  well 
among  his  neighbors  as  a  man  and  a  citizen.  He  espoused  the  cause 
of  his  country,  in  the  Revolution,  and  served  for  a  time  as  surgeon's 
mate.  He  died  in  August,  1782,  leaving  a  widow,  Abiah,  and  one 
sou,  Obadiah,  the  same  who  has  been  mentioned  in  connection  with 
the  applicants  for  salt  at  the  "  Hollow  store,"  and  a  daughter  Pru- 
dence, who  married  a  Baldwin. 


CHARLES  H.  WEBB,  M.  D. 


Is  the  son  of  Charles  L.  Webb,  Esq.,  of  Litchfield,  and  was  born 
in  that  town.  He  studied  medicine  under  the  direction  of  Dr.  Abbe, 
of  Litchfield,  and  took  the  degree  of  Doctor  of  Medicine,  at  the  Uni- 
versity of  New  York.  He  settled  in  the  practice  of  his  profession  in 
Woodbury  soon  after  his  graduation,  remained  here  some  years,  when 
he  removed  to  the  state  of  New  York,  Avhere  he  remained  a  few  years, 
whence  he  returned  to  this  place,  and  still  resides  here  in  the  full  prac- 
tice of  his  profession.  He  married  Miss  Jennette  Moody,  daughter  of 
James  Moody,  of  Sharon,  and  has  three  daughters.  He  had  a  son,  a 
very  promising  lad  of  ten  years,  who  was  droAvned  while  bathing  in 
the  Pomperaug  River,  Aug.  5,  1844. 


DOCT.  EBENEZER  WARNER. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  has  been,  perhaps,  sufficiently  noticed  in 
a  former  chapter  of  this  volume,  but  he  is  introduced  here  again  to 
show  an  unbroken  chain  of  physicians  for  four  generations,  all  bear- 
ing the  Christian  name  of  Ebenezez",  and  all  practicmg  their  profes- 


HISTORY     OF     ANCIENT     WOODBURY.  407 

sion  and  ending  their  lives  in  the  place  of  their  birth,  except  the  first. 
The  latter  died  in  1755,  and  left  three  sons,  Ebenezer,  Benjamin  and 
Thomas,  and  six  daughters,  Martha,  Margaret,  Rebecca,  Lydia,  Fran- 
ces and  Rachel.  He  had  a  daughter  Tamah,  who  married  Remem- 
ber  Baker,  and  was  the  mother  of  Capt.  Remember  Baker,  of  Revo- 
lutionary memory.  Benjamin  was  the  father  of  Col.  Seth  Warner, 
of  the  Revolutionary  army.  Mary,  the  sister  of  Capt.  Baker's  father, 
married  Joseph  Allen,  and  became  the  mother  of  Col.  Ethan  Allen, 
the  hero  of  Ticonderoga.  Baker  was  therefore  cousin  to  both  Allen 
and  Warner,  but  they  were  not  related  to  each  other.  Ebenezer, 
mentioned  above,  became  the  second  Doct.  Warner,  and  father  of  the 
third  Doct.  Ebenezer,  who  was  the  father  of  Doct.  Ebenezer  War- 
ner the  fourth.  There  were  also  a  Doct.  Reuben  and  a  Doct.  Ben- 
jamin Warner  from  these  families.  They  were  men  of  that  stamp, 
who  are  said  to  "  take  up  their  profession  in  their  own  head,"  which 
means  that  they  were  not  regularly  bred  physicians.  They  used, 
principally,  combinations  of  roots,  herbs  and  other  domestic  medicines 
in  their  practice,  and  several  of  them  became  distinguished  for  their 
success  in  treating  disease.  They  are  also  said  to  have  used  freely 
the  "  gall  of  rattlesnakes."  The  descendants  of  these  men  are  nu- 
merous in  the  original  territory,  and  elsewhere,  at  the  present  day. 


COL.  SETH  WARNER. 


All  readers  of  our  country's  history  are  familiar  with  the  exploits 
of  the  Green  Mountain  Boys,  and  it  is  agreed  on  all  hands,  that  Ethan 
Allen,  Seth  Warner  and  Remember  Baker,  mentioned  in  the  pre- 
ceding sketch,  were,  to  say  the  least,  among  their  most  efficient  lead- 
ers, and  among  those  who  suffered  most  for  their  cause.  The  char- 
acter of  Col.  Warner  has  been  ably  drawn  by  Daniel  Chipman, 
LL.  D.,  of  Vermont,  in  a  little  book  published  by  him  in  1848,  and 
all  that  is  intended  in  this  sketch  is  to  give  a  brief  statistical  account, 
drawn  principally  from  that  memoir.  It  is  not  proposed  to  go  over 
the  same  ground  again,  and  give  a  full  memoir,  though  it  would  be  a 
pleasing  task,  did  the  limits  of  this  volume  alloAV  it,  to  give  a  full  his- 
tory of  this  so"  honorably  distinguished  son  of  ancient  Woodbury. 

He  was  born  in  Roxbury  parish,  in  the  year  1743.  Without  any 
advantages  for  an  education  beyond  those  which  were  to  be  found  in 
the  common  schools  of  those  times,  the  nearest  of  which,  at  the  date 


■0 
408  HISTORY     OF     ANCIENT     WOODBUKT. 

of  his  birth,  Avas  in  the  present  limits  of  Woodbury,  nearly  six  miles 
from  his  birthplace,  he  was  early  clistinguished  by  his  energy,  sound 
judgment,  and  manly,  noble  bearing.  In  17G3,  his  father,  Dr.  Ben- 
jamin AVarner,  son  of  the  first  Dr.  Ebenezer  Warner,  removed  to 
Bennington,  in  the  New  Hampshire  grants,  the  second  year  after  the 
first  settlement  of  the  town.  The  game  with  which  the  woods 
abounded  at  once  attracted  the  attention  of  young  Warner,  and  he 
was  soon  distinguished  as  an  indefatigable,  expert  and  successful 
hunter.  He  was  also  a  skillful  botanist,  and  often  alleviated  the 
sufferings  of  the  settlers,  by  the  skillful  applications  of  "  roots  and 
herbs."  About  this  time  a  scene  began  to  open,  which  gave  a  new 
direction  to  the  active  and  enterprising  spirit  of  Warner  ;  the  contro- 
versy between  New  York  and  the  settlers  upon  the  New  Hampshire 
grants  had  commenced.  New  York  claimed  jurisdiction  to  the  Con- 
necticut River,  and  New  Hampshire  also  claimed  jurisdiction  to  with- 
in twenty  miles  of  the  Hudson  River.  The  crown  decided  in  favor  of 
tlie  claim  of  New  York,  and  established  the  Avestern  bank  of  the  Con- 
necticut as  its  eastern  boundary.  All  this  would  have  been  well 
enough  if  it  had  been  a  simple  change  of  jurisdiction,  but  New  York 
claimed  that  the  decision  in  its  favor  invalidated  the  patents  of  the 
settlers'  lands,  granted  to  them  by  the  government  of  New  Hamp- 
shire, and  proceeded  to  grant  the  lands  to  others.  Hence  arose  the 
contest,  the  settlers  refusing  to  leave  the  lands  they  had  bought  and 
paid  for  in  good  faith.  They  thei-efore  determined  to  resist  the  ex- 
ercise of  the  authority  of  New  York  within  the  grants.  When  a 
sheriff  undertook  to  serve  any  process,  he  was  resisted  by  force. 
This  course  was  not  adopted  until  after  the  trial  of  several  suits  at 
Albany,  under  the  direction  of  Ethan  Allen,  it  was  found  that  no  jus- 
tice could  be  obtained  at  court.  During  the  whole  contest  with  New 
York,  Wai'ner  was  the  commander,  or  rather  the  leader,  for  all  put 
themselves  under  his  guidance,  and  in  all  their  conventions  and  con- 
sultations, he  was  looked  up  to  as  the  able,  prudent  and  safe  counsel- 
or. In  1771,  the  governor  of  New  York  issued  a  proclamation 
offering  a  reward  of  twenty  pounds  each,  for  the  arrest  of  Ethan 
Allen,  Seth  Warner,  Remember  Baker,  and  some  othei's.  Under 
this  pi-oclamation.  Baker  was  early  next  year  seized  in  the  night,  and 
hurried  with^he  greatest  speed  toward  Albany,  but  was  rescued  by 
Warner  and  his  party  before  reaching  that  place.  Still  later,  the 
governor  of  New  York  offered  a  reward  of  fifty  pounds  each,  for  the 
arrest  of  Warner,  Allen  and  Baker. 

Having  been  thus  engaged  as  a  prominent  leader  of  the  Green 


UISTOKY     OF     ANCIENT     WOODBURY.  409 

Mountain  Boys,  in  their  contests  with  the  authorities  of  New  York, 
the  subject  of  this  sketch  was  well  fitted  to  engage  in  the  arduous 
struggle  of  the  Revolution.  Accordingly  we  find  him  in  the  very 
commencement  of  that  contest,  engaged  in  the  enterprise  against  the 
enemy's  posts  on  Lake  Champlain.  Allen  commanded  the  party 
that  took  Ticonderoga,  and  Warner  commanded  that  which  took 
Crown  Point.  After  Col.  Ilinman's  regiment  reached  Ticonderoga, 
Allen  and  AYarner  set  off  on  a  journey  to  the  Continental  Congress. 
to  procure  pay  for  their  men  and  liberty  to  raise  a  regiment  on  tlie 
New  Hampshire  grants.  In  both  these  objects  they  were  successful. 
The  regiment  was  'raised,  and  Warner  was  appointed  its  lieutenant- 
colonel,  by  a  vote  of  forty-one  to  five.  In  September,  1775,  Warner 
was  found  at  the  head  of  his  regiment,  during  the- siege  of  St.  John's, 
by  Montgomery.  Gen.  Wooster  wrofee"  him  a  letter  in  January, 
1776,  asking  him  to  raise  a  body  of  men  in  the  middle  of  winter,  and 
march  them  into  Canada.  In  an  incredibly  short  time,  Warner,  in 
answer  to  the  summons,  appeared  in  Canada  with  the  required  num- 
ber of  men.  On  the  5th  of  July,  177G,  Congress  again  resolved  to 
raise  a  regiment  out  of  the  troops  that  had  served  with  so  much  lep- 
utation  in  Canada,  and  Warner  was  again  appointed  lieutenant- 
colonel.  He  raised  liis  regiment,  and  repaired  to  Ticonderoga,  where 
he  remained  till  the  close  of  the  campaign.  He  was  in  service  again 
in  1777,  and  wasj^resent  at  the  battles  of  Hubbardston  and  Benning- 
ton. 

Soon  after  the  battle  of  Bennington,  Warner  was  advanced  to  the 
rank  of  colonel,  but  was  unable  to  perform  much  active  service  after 
this.  His  constitution  naturally  strong  and  vigorous,  gave  way  under 
the  fatigues  and  hardships  which  he  endured  in  the  service,  particu- 
larly in  his  winter  campaign  in  Canada.  In  a  return  of  his  regiment, 
made  November  10th,  1777,  Col.  Warner  was  returned  "sick  at  IIoo- 
sick."  He  recovered  from  this  sickness,  but  was  never  afterward 
able  to  perform  any  active  service,  and,  of  course,  received  no  further 
promotion.  He  was,  however,  continued  in  the  command  of  his 
regiment,  residing  with  his  family  at  Bennington,  to  the  end  of  the 
year  1781.  In  1782,  Warner  removed  to  his  native  parish,  in  liopes 
of  obtaining  relief  from  the  painful  disorders  under  whicli  he  was 
suffering,  but  his  hopes  proved  fallacious,  and  he  gradually  wasted 
away  till  the  26th  of  December,  1784,  when  death  put  an  end  to  his 
sufferings. 

He  was  rising  six  feet  in  height,  erect  and  well-proportioned,  his 
countenance,  attitude  and  movements  indicative  of  great  strength  and 
27 


tlO  HISTORY     OF     ANCIENT     AV  O  O  D  IJ  U  U  Y  . 

vi"'or  of  body  and  mind,  of  resolution,  firmness  and  self-possession. 
His  commanding  appearance,  and  known  chai-acter,  undoubtedly 
saved  him  from  many  an  attack  by  the  "  Yorkers."  In  one  instance 
only  did  any  one  attempt  to  arrest  him  single-handed.  An  officer 
from  New  York  attempted  to  arrest  him  by  force,  and  "Warner  con- 
sidering it  an  act  of  lawless  violence,  attacked,  wounded  and  disarmed 
him,  but  with  the  spirit  of  a  soldier,  saved  his  life,  and  permitted  him 
to  return  to  New  York.  He  pursued  his  public  and  private  business 
among  the  settlers  in  the  different  towns,  with  apparent  unconcern, 
and  yet  he  was  always  prepared  for  defense.  He  seemed  to  be  en- 
tirely unconscious  of  fear.  He  was  distinguished  for  his  cool  cour- 
age, and  perfect  self-possession,  on  all  occasions.  He  was  so  much 
engaged  in  public  affairs  that  he  almost  entirely  neglected  his  own, 
and  the  moderate  property  which  he  inherited,  he  spent  in  the  ser- 
vice of  his  country,  and  left  his  family  destitute.  The  proprietors  of 
several  townships  gave  him  tracts  of  land,  of  considerable  value,  as  a 
reward  for  his  services  in  defense  of  the  New  Hampshire  grants,  but 
the  greater  part,  if  not  all  of  them,  were  sold  for  taxes,  and  his  heirs 
never  received  any  considerable  benefit  from  them.  In  October, 
1787,  the  legislature  of  Vermont  genei'ously  granted  to  his  heirs 
2,000  acres  of  land,  in  the  north-west  part  of  the  county  of  Essex. 
When  that  section  of  the  state  was  explored,  this  land  was  found  to 
be  of  httle  or  no  value,  and  it  yet  remains  unsettled. 

From  the  following  extract  from  an  obituary  notice  published  soon 
after  his  decease,  the  reader  may  learn  how  he  was  estimated  by  his 
contemporaries : 

''  This  gentleman,  from  an  early  period  of  his  life,  took  a  very  decided  part 
in  the  defence  of  the  rights  of  man,  and  rendered  essential  services  in  the  ex- 
alted command  which  he  held  over  the  Green  Mountain  boys,  in  the  defence 
of  the  New  Hampshire  grants.  He  also  distinguished  himself,  and  maintained 
the  character  of  a  brave  officer,  in  his  command  of  his  regiment,  during  the 
late  war.  His  ability  in  command,  fe^  exceeded.  His  dexterity  and  success 
were  uncommon.  His  natural  disposition  was  kind,  geiierous  and  humane. 
His  remains  were  interred  with  the  honors  of  war,  which  were  justly  due  to  his 
merits.  An  immense  concourse  of  people  attended  his  funeral,  and  the  whole 
was  performed  with  uncommon  decency  and  affection.  He  has  left  an  amia- 
ble consort,  and  three  children,  to  mourn  their  irreparable  loss." 

Col.  Warner  struggled  long  with  complicated  and  distressing  mal- 
adies, which  he  bore  with  uncommon  resignation,  until  deprived  of 
his  reason,  after  which  he  was  constantly  fighting  his  battles  over 
again,  not  in  imagination  only,  but  by  the  exertion  of  a  pi-eternatural 
physical  strength,  so  that  it  required  two  or  three  persons  to  take 


HISTORY     OP     ANCIENT     AVOODBURT.  411 

charge  of  him.  There  was  a  guard  of  about  thirty  men  kept  at  his 
house,  from  the  time  of  his  decease,  December  26th,  to  the  29th, 
when  his  funeral  was  attended,  and  a  sermon  preached  by  Rev. 
Thomas  Canfield,  from  Samuel  i.  27.  "  How  are  the  mighty  fallen, 
and  the  weapons  of  war  perished." 

The  following  inscription  is  on  the  tablet  placed  over  his  "rave : 

"In  memory  of 

COL.  SETH  WARNER,  ESQ., 

Who  departed  this  life  December  2Gth,  A.  D.  1784, 

In  the  forty-second  year  of  his  age. 

Triumphant  leader  at  our  armies'  head. 
Whose  martial  glory  struck  a  panic  dread, 
Thy  warlike  deeds  engraven  on  this  stone, 
Tell  future  ages  what  a  hero's  done. 
Full  sixteen  battles  he  did  fight, 
For  to  procure  his  country's  right. 
Oh !  this  brave  hero,  he  did  fall 
By  death,  wHio  ever  conquers  all. 

When  this  you  see,  remember  me." 

This  epitaph  is  with  some  diiRculty  deciphered  on  a  dilapidated 
stone,  which  lies  sadly  neglected  by  the  inhabitants  of  his  native 
parish.  It  is  a  crying  reproach  to  the  inhabitants  of  his  native  town, 
that  they  should  allow  the  remains  of  one  of  its  most  distinguished 
sons  to  lie  within  its  borders,  with  no  suitable  monument  to  mark  the 
place  of  his  sepulture.  It  is  greatly  to  be  hoped,  that  for  their  own 
honor,  the  citizens  will  allow  the  hero  to  sleep  no  longer  without  a 
monument  suited  to  his  fame. 


CHAPTER   XX. 

Shout  BioaK.vpnicAL  Sketches  of  Natives  of  WooniiUitY,  who  have  Immi- 
grated FROM  THE  Ancient  Town,  and  become  distinguished  in  the  places 
OF  their  adoption.     The  names  will  be  found  in  alphabetical  order. 

GEN.  ETHAN  ALLEN. 

In  placing  the  name  of  Ethan  Allen  in  the  list  of  natives  of  Wood- 
bury, the  author  is  well  aware,  that  the  honor  of  having  been  his 
birthj)lace  has  bedn  claimed  by  several  other  towns.  Litchfield, 
Cornwall  and  Salisbury,  have  been  competitors  in  this  contest.  And 
now  in  renewing  the  claim  of  ancient  Woodbury  to  this  honor,  no 
disrespect  is  intended  toward  other  claimants,  the  design  of  this  arti- 
cle being  simply  to  state  the  evidence  on  which  the  claimj,is  founded, 
the  author  having  given  much  attention  to  the  investigation  of  the 
question.  It  is  certainly  somewhat  singular  that  there  should  be  any 
question  at  all  about  the  matter,  Gen.  Allen,  and  one  or  more  of  his 
brothers,  having  been  the  authors  of  several  publications,  a  part  of 
them  of  a  historical  and  biographical  nature.  But  no  allusion  to  the 
subject  in  hand  is  made  in  either  of  these  works,  so  far  as  the  writer 
is  informed. 

The  first  fact  to  be  mentioned  in  support  of  the  claim  of  Wood- 
bury, is  the  testimony  of  the  aged  people  of  the  territory,  all  of 
whom  (and  the  author  has  conversed  with  many  on  the  subject) 
assert,  so  far  as  they  pretend  to  have  any  knowledge  or  information 
on  the  subject,  that  Allen  was  born  in  the  vicinity  of  Mine  Hill,  in 
the  parish  of  Roxbury,  then  a  joart  of  Woodbury.  The  writer  held  a 
conversation  with  the  late  Deacon  Amos  Squire,  at  the  age  of  ninety- 
seven,  a  very  intelligent  and  well-informed  old  gentleman,  and  with 
the  la^e  Abiather  Squire,  a  very  aged  man,  Avho  possessed  the  most 
remarkable  memory  of  any  man  he  has  ever  met,  in  reference  to  this 
question,  and  other  matters  of  interest.  The  information  from  them, 
as  from  others,  establishes  the  same  fact,  Gen.  Allen's  nativity  in 
Roxbury  parish. 


HISTORY     OF     ANCIENT     WOODBURY.  413 

As  nearly  as  can  be  gleaned  from  the  records,  Mercy  Allen,  a 
widow,  with  one  adult  son,  Nehemiah,  and  several  sons  and  daugh- 
ters, who  were  minors,  removed  from  Coventry  to  Litchfield,  Conn., 
about  the  year  1720.  The  names  of  some  of  the  other  children  Avere' 
Daniel,  Joseph,  Ebenezer,  Lydia,  who  married  Benjamin  Smalley,  of 
Lebanon,  Conn.,  and  Lucy.  Nehemiah  moved  a  few  years  after  to 
Guilford,  Conn.  Widow  Mercy  Allen,  mother  of  these,  died  at 
Litclifield,  February  5th,  1727-8,  and  her  son  Daniel  was  appointed 
executor  on  her  estate.  Joseph  Allen,  father  of  Gen.  Ethan,  received 
his  first  p%ce  of  land  from  Daniel,  as  executor  on  his  mother's  estate, 
March  1,  1728-9,  which  consisted  of  one-third  of  her  real  estate. 
His  age  at  this  time  is  not  known,  but  he  had  attained  his  majority 
in  1732,  as  he  was  grantor  in  a  deed  to  his  sister  Lydia,  in  Novem- 
ber of  that  yeai-,  and  to  Paul  Peck,  Jr.,  in  March  of  the  next  year. 
These  deeds  covered  100  acres  of  land  each.  By  these  two  deeds  he 
had  parted  with  all  his  cultivated  lands  in  Litchfield,  though  he  still 
retained  his  right  to  some  wild  lands  as  late  as  1742,  several  years 
after  he  had  removed  to  Cornwall,  which  he  sold  to  Thomas  Harri- 
son, describing  them  as  "  being  the  whole  of  my  rights  in  lands  in 
Litchfield."  The  Aliens  formed  a  migratory  family,  and  if  the  ac- 
counts we  have  are  to  be  believed,  Joseph  shortly  after  the  sale  of 
his  interest  in  the  "old  homestead,"  in  1733,  removed,  and  took  up 
his  abode  in  the  "  Baker  neighborhood,"  in  the  parish  of  Roxbury. 
Here  he  became  acquainted  with  Mary,  daughter  of  Remember  Ba- 
ker, to  whom  he  was  married  March  11th,  1786-7.  The  entry  on 
the  record  is : 

"  Joseph  Allen  and  JMary  Baker  were  joined  together  in  Marriage  by  y^  Rev- 
erend Mr.  Anthony  Stoddor,  JMarch  ye  lltli  17uiJ-7." 

Mr.  Stoddai'd  was  the  pastor  of  the  first  church  in  Woodljury, 
Roxbury  not  being  at  this  time  organized  into  a  separate  parish.  It 
is  to  be  noted  here,  that  in  the  foregoing  entry,  no  place  of  residence 
is  given  to  either  party.  This  was  the  customary  entry,  where  both 
parties  were  residents  of  the  town,  while  the  recorder  was  particular 
to  enter  the  fact,  if  either,  or  botli  parties  belonged  to  another  town. 
If  therefore,  Joseph  Allen  had  not  been  a  resident  of  Woodbury,  as 
well  as  the  other  party,  the  fact  would,  in  all  probability,  have  been 
noted.  Here  he  continued  till  about  the  year  1740,  when  he  remov- 
ed to  Cornwall,  Conn.,  and  purchased  lands  of  "  Samuel  Robbards," 
as  appears  by  his  deed  to  Allen,  dated  April  28th,  1740.  Mean- 
while, Ethan,  son  of  Joseph  and  Mary  Allen,  had  been  born  at 


414  U  I  S  T  O  K  Y     OF     ANCIENT     AV  O  O  D  B  U  K  Y  . 

"Woodbury,  January  lOtli,  1737-8.  Ileman  the  next  son,  was  born 
at  Cornwall,  October  loth,  1740,  Lydia,  April  Gth,  1742,  Heber, 
October  4th,  1743,  Levi,  July  IGth,  1745,  Lucy,  April  2d,  1747, 
Zimri,  December  10th,  1748;  but  the  date  of  the  birth  of  L-a,  the 
youngest  child,  is  not  found  on  record.  Joseph  Allen,  father  of 
these,  died  at  Cornwall,  April  14th,  1755. 

Joseph  Allen  was  not  a  rich  man,  and  having,  as  is  seen,  a  large 
family  to  support,  his  son  Ethan  from  an  early  age  resided  with  his 
mother's  relatives  in  Roxbury  parish,  till  after  the  early  years  of  his 
manhood,  when  he  i-eturned  again  to  Cornwall,  where  he  resided  till 
the  twenty-fourth  year  of  his  age,  when,  in  January,  1762,  he  re- 
moved to  Salisbury,  Conn.,  and,  in  company  with  three  others,  en- 
tered into  the  iron  business,  and  built  a  furnace.  In  June  of  this 
year,  he  returned  to  Eoxbury,  and  was  married  to  Mary,  daughter 
of  Cornelius  Brownson,  by  Rev.  Daniel  Brinsmade  of  Judea  parish, 
Woodbury,  for  which  service  he  paid  him  a  fee  of  four  shillings. 
The  entry  on  Mr.  Brinsmade's  record  reads 

"  Ethan  Allen  of  Cornwall  and  Mary  Brownson  of  Roxbury,  were  married 
June  23,  1762,  "■ 4s. " 

Mr.  Brinsmade  kept  a  record  of  the  fee  paid,  as  well  as  of  the 
date  of  the  marriage.  This  entry  also  throws  light  on  the  entry  in 
the  case  of  his  father's  marriage.  Here  the  place  of  residence  of 
the  parties  is  mentioned,  they  not  being  residents  of  the  parish  where 
the  ceremony  took  place.  So  we  may  well  infer,  in  the  former  entry, 
that  both  parties  resided  in  Woodbury,  from  the  silence  of  the  record 
in  that  particular,  especially  as  it  is  undisputed,  that  one  party  was 
a  i-esident.  Besides  Allen  had  long  before  his  marriage  sold  his 
place  of  residence  in  Litchfield. 

Confirmatory  of  the  opinion,  that  Ethan  Allen  was  a  native  of 
Woodbury,  and  resided  there  during  the  early  years  of  his  life,  there 
is  in  possession  of  the  author,  an  original  letter  from  Ethan  Allen  to 
the  first  Benjamin  Stiles,  Esq.,  of  Woodbury,  which  throws  much 
light  on  this  inquiry.  He  must  have  been  more  than  twenty  years 
the  senior  of  Gen.  Allen.     A  copy  of  this  letter  follows : 

"  Bennington,  IGth  Novemr  17S5. 
"  Sir,  I  received  your  favour  of  the  9th  instant,  and  thank  you  for  your  kind 
remembrance  of  me,  am  glad  to  hear  you  are  in  health,  and  with  an  opportu- 
nity of  conversing  with  me,  the  sociability  that  I  have  been  honored  with,  from 
you,  was  always  pleasing  to  me,  and  also  edifying,  whether  on  historical,  phil- 
osophical, or  political  subjects.     Am  apprehensive,  that.in  the  succession  cf  the 


HISTORY     OF     ANCIENT     WOODBURY.  415 

next  year,  I  shall  do  myself  the  honor  to  visit  you,  and  other  friends  at  Wood- 
bury, and  in  the  mean  time,  let  you  know,  I  retain  a  gratefnl  sense  of  your 
advice  and  friendship  to  nie  in  the  tender  and  early  years  of  my  manhood, 
and  shall  ever  be  hapjay,  to  continue  that  early  friendship,  and  intercourse  of 
good  otRces,  and  regret  it,  that  our  respective  local  situations  in  life,  must  in 
great  measure,  deprive  us  of  such  happiness. 

"  As  to  my  Philosophy,  that  you  mention,  forty  of  the  Books  are  boimd,  and 
will  be  sent  to  New  York  to-morrow,  1500  are  printed,  tind  contain  487  pages, 
in  large  octavo.  The  curiosity  of  the  J^ublic  is  much  excited,  and  there  is  a 
great  demand  for  the  books,  they  will  in  all  probability  reach  Woodbury,  in 
the  course  of  the  winter.  In  one  of  them  you  read  my  very  soul,  for  I  have 
not  concealed  my  opinion,  nor  disguised  my  sentiments  in  the  least,  and  how- 
ever you  may,  as  a  severe  critic,  censer  my  performance,  I  presume  you  will 
not  impeach  me  with  cowardise.  I  expect,  that  the  clergy,  and  their  devotees, 
will  proclaim  war  with  me,  in  the  name  of  the  Lord,  his  battles  they  effect  to 
fight,  having  i)ut  on  the  armour  of  Faith,  the  sword  of  the  Spirit  and  the  Ar- 
tillery of"  Hell  fire.  But  I  ajn  a  hardy  Mountaineer,  and  have  been  accustomed 
to  the  dangers  and  horrors  of  War,  and  captivity,  and  scorn  to  be  intimidated 
by  threats,  if  they  fight  me,  they  must  absolutely  produce  some  of  their  tre- 
mendous fire,  and  give  me  a  sensitive  scorching. 

"  Pray  be  so  good  as  to  write  to  me,  and  in  the  epistolary  way  maintain  a 
correspondence  with  your  Old  Friend  and  Humble  Servt, 


"  Benjamin  Stiles,  Esq." 

This  does  not  seem  to  be  such  a  letter  as  a  man  born  in  Litchfield, 
nurtured  in  Cornwall,  and  removed  to  Vermont,  unconnected  with 
Woodbury,  would  be  likely  to  write. 

In  17  G4,  while  residing  in  Salisbury,  he  purchased  two  and  a  half 
acres  of  land  on  Mine  Hill,  or  one-sixteenth  part  of  the  mining  title 
in  that  locality,  and  in  1771,  he  still  owned  land  in  Judea  society, 
near  Capt.  Gideon  HoUister's.  Before  his  removal  to  Vermont,  by 
an  execution  in  his  favor  against  Abram  Brownson  and  others, 
brothers  of  his  wife,  we  learn  that  he  was  residing  in  Northampton, 
Mass.  This  was  probably  a  mere  transition  stage  in  his  journey  to 
Vermont,  whither  he  removed  about  the  year,  1772,  having  been  for 
several  years  previous  engaged  in  surveying  lands  in  that  territory 
in  company  with  his  brother  Ira.  After  his  removal  to  Vermont  he 
resided  at  Bennington,  Sunderland,  Arlington,  Tinmouth,  Winooski, 
and  perhaps  other  places. 

We  come  now  to  inquire  what  there  is  to  raise  a  doubt  whether 


41 G  niSTOUY     OF     ANCIENT     WOODBITRY. 

Ethan  Allen  was  a  native  of  "Woodbury,  or  not,  It  consists  in  the 
simple,  unexplained  fact,  that  the  date  of  his  birth  appears  also  on 
the  records  of  Litchfield.  On  the  first  page  of  the  first  volume  of 
the  Litchfield  town  records,  appear  four  entries  in  the  handwriting 
of  John  Bird,  the  first  town-clerk  of  that  town,  viz.,  the  dates  of 
the  marriages  of  Daniel  Allen,  and  his  brother  Joseph,  and  the  date 
of  the  birth  of  Ethan,  Joseph's  first-born,  and  that  of  Mary,  Daniel's 
first-born.  The  face  of  the  record  bears  unmistakable  evidence,  that 
these  entries  were  made  with  the  same  pen,  the  same  ink,  and  at  the 
same  time.  They  occur  in  the  midst  of  other  entries  of  the  Allen 
name.  There  are  only  two  entries,  however,  in  the  name,  subse- 
quent to  this — the  dates  of  the  birth  of  two  other  children  of  Daniel 
Allen.  All  the  family  had  removed  from  Litchfield  except  the 
latter.  Daniel's  marriage  in  Litchfield,  performed  by  Rev.  Mr. 
Collins,  and  Joseph's  marriage  in  Woodbury,  by  Mr.  Stoddard,  oc- 
curred within  forty-eight  days  of  each  other,  and  the  births  of  their 
first  children  within  fourteen  days  of  each  other.  The  names  of 
both  wives  were  Mary,  and  the  children  were  of  opposite  sexes. 
The  author's  theory  of  these  entries  is,  that  they  were  all  made  at 
one  time  by  the  clerk,  after  the  birth  of  Daniel's  child,  (which  was 
latest  in  point  of  time,)  at  his  solicitation,  to  commemorate  these  coin- 
cidences. As  no  further  enti'ies  in  the  name  were  made  except  the 
date  of  birth  of  Daniel's  two  remaining  children  at  a  subsequent 
period,  the  opinion  is  strengthened.  On  the  theory  that  Ethan  Allen 
was  a  native  of  "Woodbury,  his  sympathies  with  the  people  of  that 
town,  his  friendly  acquaintance  with  Mr.  Stiles,  the  marrying  of  his 
wife  there,  his  continuing  to  hold  an  interest  in  lands  in  that  town, 
and  numerous  other  circumstances,  receive  a  satisfactory  explanation. 
For  all  these  reasons  we  have  come  to  the  firm  conclusion,  that 
"  Ancient  Woodbury"  justly  claims  the  honor  of  having  been  the 
birthplace  of  the  f  hero  of  Ticonderoga." 

As  there  are  several  good  memoirs  of  Gen.  Allen  extant,  it  is 
not  judged  necessary  to  introduce  an  extended  notice  of  his  life  and 
services  in  these  pages.  The  brief  account  which  follows,  is  extract- 
ed chiefly  from  a  memoir  of  his  life,  by  Jared  Sparks,  LL.  D.,  and 
another  by  De  Puy,  lately  issued  from  the  press. 

Ethan  and  three  or  four  of  his  brothers  emigrated  to  the  territory 
west  of  the  Green  Mountains,  among  the  first  settlers,  and  were 
prominent  members  of  the  social  and  political  compacts  into  which 
the  inhabitants  gradually  formed  themselves.  Bold,  active  and  en- 
terprising, they  espoused  with  zeal  and  defended  Avith  energy,  the 


I 


niSTORT     OF     ANCIENT     WOODBURY.  417 

cause  of  the  settlers  against  Avhat  were  deemed  the  encroaching 
schemes  of  their  neighbors,  and,  with  a  keen  interest,  sustained  their 
share  in  all  the  border  contests.  Four  of  them  were  engaged  in  the 
military  operations  of  the  Revolution,  and,  by  a  hazardous  and  suc- 
cessful adventure  at  the  breaking  out  of  the  war,  in  the  capture  of 
Ticonderoga,  the  name  of  Ethan  Allen  gained  a  renown,  which 
spread  widely  at  the  time,  and  has  been  perpetuated  in  history. 

A  brief  account  of  the  contest  in  relation  to  the  New  Hampshire 
grants,  was  introduced  into  the  preceding  sketch,  and  will  not  be 
repeated  here.  When  the  actions  of  ejectment  came  on  at  Albany 
to  try  the  title  of  the  settlers  to  their  land,  the  management  of  the 
business  was  intrusted  to  Ethan  Allen.  Daring,  ambitious,  and 
having  extreme  confidence  in  his  powers,  both  of  body  and  mind,  he 
entered  zealously  upon  the  task.  His  aid  was  rendered  the  more 
valuable,  by  reason  of  his  extensive  acquaintance  in  New  England 
and  New  York.  Although  laboring  under  the  disadvantages  of  a 
defective  early  education,  he  possessed  considerable  general  informa- 
tion, and  could  write  a  letter  or  an  argument  in  strong  and  intelligi- 
ble, if  not  accurate  and  polished  language.  He  could  also  address  a 
multitude,  and,  when  occasion  required,  a  court,  with  skill  and  effect. 
He  immediately  prepared  the  defense,  employed  Mr.  Ingersol  of 
Connecticut,  an  eminent  counselor,  to  try  the  cases,  but  the  result 
was  foreordained,  and  they  were  therefore  lost.  After  Allen  retired 
from  the  court,  several  gentlemen,  interested  in  the  New  York 
grants — one  of  whom  was  the  king's  attorney  for  the  colony — called 
upon  him,  and  urged  him  to  go  home  and  advise  his  friends  to  make 
the  best  terms  they  could  with  their  new  landlords  ;  intimating  that 
their  cause  was  now  desperate,  and  reminding  him  of  the  proverb, 
that  "  3Ilght  often  prevails  against  right."  Neither  admiring  the 
delicacy  of  this  sentiment,  nor  intimidated  by  the  threat  it  held  out, 
Allen  coolly  replied,  "  The  gods  of  the  valleys  are  not  the  gods  of  the 
kills."  This  laconic  figure  of  speech  he  left  to  be  interpreted  by  his 
visitors,  adding  only,  when  an  explanation  was  asked  by  Kemp,  the 
king's  attorney,  that  if  he  would  accompany  him  to  the  hill  of  Ben- 
nin"-ton  the  sense  should  "  be  made  clear."  Resistance  to  the  execu- 
tion of  process  next  followed.  A  military  association  was  formed, 
Allen  was  appointed  colonel,  and  Seth  Warner,  Remember  Baker 
and  others  were  made  captains.  Proclamations  were  issued  by  the 
governor  of  New  York  offering  at  first  £20,  and  soon  after  £50, 
each  for  the  ai-rest  of  these  persons.  Allen  and  his  friends  sent  out 
a  counter-proclamation,  offering  a  reward  for  the  arrest  of  the  attor- 


4l8  rilSTOIlY     OF     ANCIKNT     AV001>15UKY. 

ney-general  and  otliers.  Alien,  who  Avas  brave  even  to  rashness, 
was  in  no  degree  intimidated  by  the  rewards  ofl'crcd  for  his  appre- 
hension, and  this  he  designed  that  those  who  had  advised  that  meas- 
ure should  fully  understand.  He  even  Avent  so  far  as  to  go  to  Albany 
and  take  a  bowl  of  punch,  in  presence  of  his  enemies,  on  a  bet.  The 
attorney-general  happened  to  be  present,  and  Allen,  after  drinking 
his  punch,  and  giving  a  hearty  "  Huzza  for  the  Green  Mountains," 
departed  unharmed.  During  these  contests,  the  adherents  of  New 
York,  among  the  settlers  on  the  grants,  on  due  conviction  before  a 
proper  tribunal  of  Green  Mountain  Boys,  were  usually  punished  by 
whipping  and  banishment — the  whi})ping  was  quaintly  denominated, 
"  the  application  of  the  heech-seal"  or,  as  Allen  sometimes  expressed 
it,  "  a  castigation  with  the  twigs  of  the  wilderness." 

The  American  Eevolution  called  forth  the  latent  energies  of 
many  individuals,  who  would,  in  a  more  peaceable  state  of  political 
affairs,  have  slumbered  in  obscurity,  and  gone  down  to  the  grave  un- 
honored  and  unknown.  True-hearted  volunteers  rallied  at  the  calls 
of  the  brave  and  wise  men  of  our  country,  imbued  Avith  a  spirit  Avor- 
thy  of  the  little  band  which  defended  the  pass  of  Thermopylie. 
Perhaps  no  individual,  of  equal  advantages,  and  in  the  station  he 
occupied,  contributed  more  tow\ard  establishing  the  independence  of 
our  country,  than  Ethan  Allen.  The  mass  of  the  people  among 
whom  he  resided,  were  rude  and  uncultivated,  yet  bold  in  spii'it  and 
zealous  in  action.  It  consequently  followed  that  no  one  but  a  man 
of  strong  natural  endowments — of  much  decision,  energy  and  brave- 
ry— could  control  their  prejudice^  and  inclinations.  Upon  Allen, 
whose  courage  was  undoubted,  and  Avhose  zealous  devotion  to  their 
interests  Avas  universally  acknoAvledged,  they  implicitly  relied.  They 
had  known  him  in  adversity  and  prosperity.  They  had  Aveighed 
him,  and  found  nothing  lacking.  To  friend  or  foe,  he  was  ever  the 
same  unyielding  advocate  of  the  rights  of  man  and  universal  liberty. 
From  the  commencement,  therefore,  of  that  struggle  until  its  final 
close,  Ethan  Allen  proved  a  zealous  and  strenuous  supporter  of  the 
cause,  whether  in  the  field,  or  council — AA'hether  at  home,  a  freeman, 
or  loaded  Avith  the  chains  of  despotism  in  a  foreign  country.  His  spirit 
never  quailed  beneath  the  sneer  of  the  tory,  or  the  harsh  threats  of 
insolent  authority.  A  stranger  to  fear,  his  opinions  were  ever  given 
without  disguise  or  hesitation  ;  and,  an  enemy  to  oppression,  he  sought 
every  opportunity  to  redress  the  Avrongs  of  the  oppressed.  It  is  not 
to  be  supposed  that  he  was  faultless.  Like  other  men,  he  had  his 
errors  and  his  follies ;  yet  he  Avas  not  willfidly  stubborn  in  either. 


HISTORY     OF     ANCIENT     AVOODHURY.  419 

"When  convinced  of  ah  erroneous  position,  lie  was  ever  willing  to 
yield;  but  in  theory,  as  in  practice,  he  contested  every  inch  of 
ground,  and  only  yielded,  when  he  had  no  weapons  left  to  meet  his 
antagonist.  This  trait  in  his  character  serves^  at  least,  to  prove  t^at 
he  was  honest  in  his  conclusions,  however  erroneous  the  premises  from 
which  they  were  deduced. 

The  period  at  which  we  have  now  arrived  in  the  life  of  Gen.  Allen 
places  him  in  a  more  conspicuous  and  interesting  position  before  the 
reader.  Previous  to  this  he  has  been  seen  only  as  the  zealous  friend 
of  the  section  in  which  he  resided — as  the  champion  of  the  humble 
citizen,  contending  for  the  rights  of  individual  property,  and  private 
justice.  In  these  offices  of  friendship  and  duty,  however,  he  had  ever 
the  confidence  and  esteem  of  his  neighbors.  lie  had  evinced  a  love 
of  freedom,  and  a  spirit  of  patriotism,  which  warmly  recommended 
him  to  the  notice  and  the  admiration  of  the  most  determined  and  able 
advocates  of  American  liberty.  That  he  should  have  been  selected, 
therefore,  as  the  leader  in  an  enterprise  of  the  highest  moment  to  the 
cause  of  liberty,  was  alike  due  to  his  principles,  his  services,  and  his 
position. 

The  battle  of  Lexington  aroused  the  whole  country,  and  patriots 
flocked  from  all  quarters  to  Boston.  The  General  Assembly  of  Con- 
necticut was  then  in  session,  and  a  plan  was  there  concocted  for  sur- 
prising Ticonderoga,  and  seizing  the  cannon  in  that  fortress  for  the 
use  of  the  army  then  gathering  in  the  vicinity  of  Boston.  The  whole 
plan  and  pToceedings  were  of  a  private  character,  supported  by  a  loan 
from  the  public  treasury  on  the  bond  of  private  individuals,  without 
the  public  sanction  of  the  Assembly,  but  with  its  full  knowledge  and 
tacit  approbation.  A  few  men  went  from  Connecticut  to  Benning- 
ton, and  were  joined  by  Allen  Avith  about  two  hundred  and  thirty 
Green  Mountain  Boys.  Allen  was  chosen  commander  of  the  expe- 
dition ;  Col.  Easton  was  appointed  second  in  command,  and  Setli 
"Warner,  the  third.  The  enterprise  was  conducted  with  the  most 
profound  secrecy,  and  sentinels  were  posted  ujwn  all  the  roads, 
to  prevent  any  rumor  of  their  approach  from  reaching  the  menaced 
point.  A  lad  of  the  i^ame  of  Nathan  Beman  was  engaged  as  a  guide 
to  lead  the  advancing  party  to  the  fort.  At  dawn  of  day,  only  the 
officers  and  eighty-three  men  had  crossed  the  lake.  Delay  was  haz- 
ardous, and  Allen  resolved  not  to  wait  for  the  remainder  of  the  troops 
to  cross,  but  immediately  led  his  men  quickly  and  stealthily  up  the 
height  to  the  sally-port,  and  before  the  sun  rose  he  had  entered  the 
gate,  and  formed  his  men  on  the  parade  between  the  barracks.    Here 


■420  HISTORY     OF     AXCIKNT     WOODBUllT. 

thcj  gjive  llirce  liuzzas,  wliicli  aroused  the  sleeping  inmates.  When 
Col.  Allen  passed  the  gate,  a  sentinel  snai)ped  his  fusee  at  him,  and 
then  retreated  under  a  covered  way.  Another  sentinel  made  a  thrust 
at  an  officer  with  a  bayonet,  which  slightly  wounded  him.  Col.  Al- 
len returned  the  compliment  with  a  cut  on  the  soldier's  head,  at  which 
he  threw  down  his  muske%  and  asked  for  quarter.  No  more  resist- 
ance was  made.  Allen  demanded  to  be  shown  to  the  apartment  of 
Capt.  Delaplace,  the  commandant  of  the  garrison.  It  Avas  pointed 
out,  and  Col.  Allen,  with  Nathan  Beman  at  his  elbow,  who  knew  the 
way,  hastily  ascended  the 'stairs,  which  were  attached  to  the  outside 
of  the  barracks,  and  called  out  with  a  voice  of  thunder  at  tlie  door, 
ordering  the  astonished  captain  instantly  to  appear,  or  the  whole  gar- 
rison should  be  sacrificed.  Started  at  so  strange  and  unexpected  a 
summons,  he  sprang  from  his  bed,  and  opened  the  door,  when  the  first 
salutation  of  his  boisterous  and  unseasonable  visitor,  was  an  order 
immediately  to  surrender  the  fort.  Rubbing  his  eyes  and  trying  to 
collect  his  scattered  senses,  the  captain  asked  by  what  authority  he 
presumed  to  make  such  a  demand.  "  In  the  name  of  the  Great  Jeho- 
vah and  the  Continental  Congress"  replied  Allen.  Not  accustomed 
to  hear  much  of  the  Continental  Congress  in  this  remote  coi^ner,  nor 
to  respect  its  authority  when  he  did,  the  commandant  began  to  speak  ; 
but  Allen  cut  short  the  thread  of  his  discourse  by  lifting  his  sword 
over  his  head,  and  reiterating  the  demand  for  an  immediate  surren- 
der. Having  neither  permission  to  argue,  nor  power  to  resist.  Cap- 
tain Delai^lace  submitted,  ordering  his  men  to  parade  without  arms, 
and  the  garrison  was  giyen  up  to  the  victors.  This  surprise  was  ef- 
fected about  four  o'clock  on  the  morning  of  the  10th  of  May,  1775. 
As  soon  as  the  prisoners  were  secured,  and  the  bustle  of  the  occasion 
bad  a  little  subsided.  Col.  Allen  sent  Col.  Warner  with  a  detachment 
of  men  to  take  Crown  Point,  wjiich  object  he  effected,  and  took  pos- 
session of  that  post. 

Col.  Allen  was  engaged  in  various  public  services  till  the  21th  of 
September,  1775,  when  he  and  thirty-eight  of  his  men  wei-e  taken 
prisoners  in  a  I'ash  and  hazardous  attempt  to  take  Montreal.  He 
was  carried  to  England,  and  afterwai'd  brought  back  again  to  New 
York,  when  after  enduring  a  cheerless  captivity  of  two  years  and 
seven  months,  he  was  finally  exchanged  for  Lt.  Col.  Campbell,  May 
3,  1778.  During  much  of  the  time  he  was  retained  as  a  prisoner, 
he,  together  with  those  with  him,  were  treated  with  the  greatest  bai'- 
barity.     He  was  for  eight  months  shut  up  in  the  provost  jail,  a  con- 


niSTORT     OP     ANCIENT     WOODBURY.  421 

fincment  of  which  the  prisoners  were  ever  accustomed  to  speak  with 
disgust  and  horror. 

While  a  prisoner  in  England,  being  somewhat  anxious  as  to  the 
disposition  that  might  be  made  of  him,  especially  as  Gen.  Prescott 
had  threatened  him  "  with  a  halter  at  Tyburn,"  he  bethought  himself 
of  trying  the  effect  of  a  stratagem.  He  asked  permission  to  write  a 
letter  to  the  Continental  Congress,  which  was  granted.  He  depicted 
in  vivid  colors  the  treatment  he  had  received  from  the  beginning  of 
his  captivity,  but  advised  Congress  not  to  retaliate,  till  the  fate  that 
awaited  him  in  England  should  be  known,  and  then  to  execute  the 
law  of  retaliation,  not  in  proportion  to  the  small  influence  of  his  char- 
acter in  America,  but  to  the  extent  demanded  by  the  importance  of 
the  cause  for  which  he  had  suffered.  The  dispatch  was  finished,  and 
handed  over  for  inspection  to  the  officer  who  had  permitted  him  to 
write.  This  officer  went  to  him  the  next  day,  and  reprimanded  him 
for  what  he  called  the  impudence  of  inditing  such  an  epistle.  "  Do 
you  think  we  are  fools  in  England,"  said  he,  "  and  Avould  send  your 
letter  to  Congress  with  instructions  to  retaliate  on  our  own  people? 
I  have  sent  your  letter  to  Lord  North."  This  was  precisely  the  des- 
tination for  which  the  writer  intended  it,  and  he  felt  a  secret  satisfac- 
tion that  his  artifice  had  succeeded.  He  Avished  the  ministry  to  know 
his  situation  and  his  past  sufferings,  find  to  reflect  that  his  country- 
men had  it  in  their  power  to  retaliate,  in  full  measure,  any  acts  of 
violence  meditated  against  his  person.  A  letter  on  these  subjects, 
written  directly  to  a  minister  by  a  prisoner  in  irons,  would  not  have 
been  forwaixled. 

While  Allen  was  on  his  parole  in  New  York,  a  British  officer  of 
rank  and  importance  sent  for  him  to  come  to  his  lodgings,  and  told 
him  that  his  fidelity,  though  in  a  wrong  cause,  had  made  an  impres- 
sion upon  Gen.  Howe,  who  was  disposed  to  show  him  a  favor,  and  to 
advance  him  to  the  command  of  a  regiment  of  loyalists,  if  he  would 
join  the  service,  holding  out  to  him,  at  the  same  time,  brilliant  pros- 
pects of  promotion  and  money  during  the  war,  and  large  tracts  of  land 
in  Connecticut,  or  Vermont,  at  its  close.  Allen  replied,  "  that  if  by 
faithfulness  he  had  recommended  himself  to  Gen.  Howe,  he  should 
be  loth  by  unfaithfulness  to  lose  the  general's  good  opinion  ;"  and  as 
to  the  lands,  he  regarded  his  offer  of  them  as  similar  to  Satan's  offer 
of  large  landed  possessions  to  the  Saviour,  when  he  did  not  own  a 
single  rood,  as  he  was  by  no  means  satisfied  that  the  king  would 
possess  a  sufficient  quantity  of  land  in  the  United  States,  at  the  end  of 
the  war,  to  redeem  any  pledges  on  that  score.  The  officer  sent  him 
away  as  an  incorrigible  and  hopeless  subject. 


422  HISTORY     OF     ANCIENT     WOODBURY. 

Upon  liis  release  from  captivity,  notwithstanding  the  strong  asso- 
ciations and  tender  ties,  which  drew  him  toward  his  home  and  friends, 
the  impulse  of  gratitude  was  the  first  to  be  obeyed.  The  lively  inter- 
est taken  in  his  condition  by  the  commander-in-chief,  and  his  efforts 
to  procure  his  release,  Avere  known  to  him,  and  he  resolved  to  repair, 
without  delay,  to  head-quarters,  and  express  in  person  his  sense  of  the 
obligation.  The  army  was  at  Valley  Foi*ge,  and  as  he  advanced 
into  the  countiy,  on  his  way  to  that  place,  he  was  everywhere  greet- 
ed by  the  jieople  with  demonstrations  of  strong  interest,  not  unmin- 
gled  with  curiosity  at  seeing  a  man,  the  incidents  of  whose  life  had 
given  him  renown,  and  whose  fate,  while  in  the  hands  of  the  enemy, 
had  been  a  subject  of  public  concern.  Gen.  "Washington  received 
him  cordially,  and  introduced  him  to  the  principal  officers  in  camp, 
who  showed  him  many  civilities. 

This  duty  discharged,  he  turned  his  face  toward  his  long-lost  and 
much-loved  home  in  the  Green  Mountains.  In  the  evening  of  the 
last  day  of  May,  he  arrived  at  Bennington,  unexpected  at  that  time 
by  his  friends,  and  a  general  sensation  immediately  spread  through- 
out the  neighborhood.  The  people  gathered  around  him,  and  with  a 
delight,  which  could  be  realized  only  under  circumstances  so  pecul- 
iar, he  witnessed  the  joy  that  beamed  from  every  countenance,  and 
heard  the  accents  of  a  hearty  welcome  uttered  by  every  voice.  It 
was  a  season  of  festivity  with  the  Green  Mountain  Boys,  and  the 
same  evening  three  cannon  were  fired,  as  an  audible  expression  of 
their  gladness.  Next  day.  Col.  Herrick  ordered  fourteen  discharges 
of  cannon,  "  thirteen  for  the  United  States,  and  one  for  young  Ver- 
mont," as  a  renewed  and  more  ample  compliment  to  the  early  cham- 
pion and  faithful  associate  of  the  Green  Mountain  Boys. 

Congress  was  equally  mindful  of  the  services  and  of  the  just  claims 
of  Col.  Allen.  As  soon  as  he  was  released  from  captivity,  a  brevet 
commission  of  colonel  in  the  Continental  amiy  was  granted  him,  "  in 
reward  of  his  fortitude,  firmness  and  zeal  in  the  cause  of  his  country, 
manifested  during  the  course  of  his  long  and  cruel  captivity,  as  well 
as  on  former  occasions."  The  pay  and  other  emoluments  of  a  lieu- 
tenant-colonel were  awarded  him  during  the  time  he  was  a  prisoner 
He  was  also  to  be  allowed  seventy-five  dollars  a  month  from  the  date 
of  his  present  commission,  till  he  should  be  called  into  actual  service. 
How  long  this  allowance  was  continued  is  not  now  known.  It  does 
not  appear  that  he  ever  joined  the  Continental  army. 

Ethan  Allen  arrived  at  home  just  in  time  to  buckle  on  his  armor, 
and  enter  with  renewed  vigor  into  a  contest  with  the  authorities  of 


HISTORY    OF    ANCIENT     WOODBURT.  423 

New  York,  in  which  he  had  been  so  conspicuous  and  successful  a 
combatant  from  its  very  beginning,  and  with  all  the  tactics  of  which 
he  was  so  perfectly  familiar.  He  was  very  efficient  in  numerous 
ways  in  the  contest  with  that  state,  and  was  greatly  relied  on  to  pros- 
ecute the  affiiir  to  a  successful  issue. 

Shortly  after  his  return,  he  was  appointed  a  general  and  command- 
er of  the  militia  of  the  state.  He  was  not  however  entirely  occupied 
with  the  duties  of  his  military  station.  At  the  next  election  after  his 
return,  he  was  chosen  a  representative  to  the  Assembly  of  his  state. 
When  peace  was  restored,  he  seems  to  have  resumed  his  agricultural 
habits,  and  devoted  himself  to  his  private  affiiirs.  'He  was  a  practi- 
cal farmer,  accustomed  to  labor  with  his  own  hands,  and  submit  to 
the  privations  and  hardships  which  necessarily  attend  the  condition 
of  the  pioneers  in  a  new  country.  In  his  retirement  he  published  a 
work  on  a  series  of  topics  very  different  from  those  which  had  hereto- 
fore employed  his  pen.  The  work  was  entitled,  "  Reason  the  only 
Oracle  of  Man,  or  a  Compendious  System  of  Natural  Religion."  In 
■its  literary  execution,  it  was  much  superior  to  any  of  his  other  writ- 
ings, and  was  evidently  elaborated  with  great  patience  of  thought, 
and  care  in  the  composition.  It  is  nevertheless  a  crude  and  worth-, 
less  performance,  in  which  truth  and  error,  reason  and  sophistry, 
knowledge  and  ignorance,  ingenuity  and  presumption,  are  mingled 
together  in  a  chaos,  which  the  author  denominates  a  system.  Some 
of  the  chapters  on  natural  religion,  the  being  and  attributes  of  a  God, 
and  the  principles  and  obligations  of  morality,  should  perhaps  be  ex- 
cepted from  this  sweeping  remark  ;  for  although  they  contain  little 
that  is  new,  yet  they  are  written  in  a  tone,  and  express  sentiments, 
which  may  screen  them  from  so  heavy  a  censure.  From  this  publi- 
cation and  other  circumstances,  principles  of  infidelity  have  been  very 
generally  attributed  to  him.  That  he  mistook  some  of  the  errors  of 
the  Christian  sects  lor  the  true  doctrines  of  revealed  rehgion,  and 
that  his  views,  as  to  the  reality  and  nature  of  the  system  itself,  were 
perverted  by  this  misapprehension,  is  undoubtedly  true.  But  no  per- 
son could  declare  more  explicitly  his  belief  in  a  future  state  of  re- 
wards and  punishments,  and  a  just  retribution,  than  he  has  done  in 
the  following  passages : 

"  We  should  so  far  divest  ourselves  of  the  incumbrances  of  this  world,  which 
are  too  apt  to  engross  our  attention,  as  to  acquire  a  consistent  system  of  the 
knowledge  of  our  duty,  and  make  it  our  constant  endeavor  in  life  to  act  con- 
formably to  it.  The  knowledge  of  the  being,  perfections,  creation  and  provi- 
dence of  God,  and  the  immortality  of  our  souls,  is  the  foundation  of  our  religion.'' 


424  II  IS  TO  11  Y     OF     AXCIKNT     -WOODBURY. 

"As  true  as  mnnkind  now  exist,  and  arc  endowed  with  reason  and  under- 
standing, and  have  the  power  of  agency  and  proficiency  in  moral  good  and 
evil,  so  true  it  is,  that  they  must  be  ultimately  rewarded  or  punished  according 
to  their  respective  merits  or  demerits;  and  it  is  as  true  as  this  world  exists,  and 
rational  and  accountable  beings  ijihabit  it,  that  the  distribution  of  justice  there- 
in is  partial,  unccjual  and  luiciTtain  ;  and  it  is  consequently  as  true  as  that 
there  is  a  God,  that  there  must  be  a  I'litiire  state  of  existence,  in  which  the  dis- 
order, injustice,  oppression  and  viciousness,  which  are  acted  and  tr;iii-;icti  d  by 
mankind  in  this  life,  shall  be  righteously  adjusted,  and  tlu-  (leliuqiieiit.-~  -uitnbly 
punished." 

Only  one  edition  of  this  work  was  ever  publislied,  and  the  greater 
part  of  tliat  was  destroyed  by  the  burning  of  tlie  office  in  wliicli  it 
was  printed.  It  is  now  rarely  to  be  met  with,  and  the  existence  of 
the  work  upon  which  Ethan  Allen  confidently  relied  for  enduring 
fame,  is  scai'cely  known  to  one  in  a  thousand  of  those  who  remember 
with  patriotic  pride,  the  sturdy  hero  of  Ticonderoga. 

Gen.  Allen,  who  had  at  various  times  resided  at  Bennington,  Ar- 
lington and  Tinmoutli,  at  last  took  up  his  residence  at  Winooski. 
His  first  wife  died  during  the  war.  His  courtship  of  his  second  Avife 
was  characteristic.  During  a  session  of  the  court  of  Westminster, 
Allen  appeared  with  a  magnificent  pair  of  hyrses,  and  a  black  driver. 
Chief  Justice  Robinson  and  Stephen  R.  Bradley,  nn  eminent  lawyer, 
were  there,  and  as  their  breakfast  was  on  the  table,  they  asked  Allen 
to'join  them.  He  replied  that  he  had  breakfasted,  and  while  they 
were  at  table,  he  would  go  in  and  see  ]\Irs.  Buchanan,  a  handsome 
widow,  who  was  at  the  house.  He  entered  the  sitting-room,  and  at 
once  said  to  Mrs.  Buchanan,  "  Well,  Fanny,  if  we  are  to  be  married, 
let  us  be  about  it."  "  Very  well,"  she  promptly  replied,  "  give  me 
time  to  fix  up."  In  a  few  moments  she  was  ready,  and  Judge  Rob- 
inson was  at  once  called  upon  by  them  to  perform  the  customary 
ceremony. 

We  have  thus  sketched  the  principal  events  in  the  life  of  a  man 
who  holds  a  place  of  much  notoriety  in  the  history  of  his  time.  His 
character  Avas  strongly  marked,  both  by  its  excellencies  and  its  de- 
fects ;  but  it  may  safely  be  said,  that  the  latter  were  attributable  more 
to  circumstances  beyond  his  control,  than  to  any  original  obliquity  of 
his  mind  or  heart.  The  want  of  early  education,  and  the  habits  ac- 
quired by  his  pursuits,  in  a  rude  and  uncultivated  state  of  society, 
were  obstacles  to  his  attainment  of  some  of  the  higher  qualities,  -which 
were  not  to  be  overcome.  A  roughness  of  manners  and  coarseness 
of  language,  a  presumptuous  way  of  reasoning  ujion  all  subjects,  and 
his  religious  skepticism,  may  be  traced  to  these  sources.  Faults  of 
this  stamp,  and  others  akin  to  them,  admit  of  no  defense,  though  when 


HISTORY     OF     ANCIENT     WOODBURY.  425 

received  in  connection  with  their  causes,  they  have  claims  to  a  chari- 
table judgment.  Had  his  understanding  been  weak,  his  temperament 
less  ardent,  his  disposition  less  inquisitive,  and  his  desire  of  honora- 
ble distinction  less  eager,  the  world  probably  never  would  have  heard 
of  his  faults  ;  the  shield  of  insignificance  would  have  covered  them  ; 
but  it  was  his  destiny  to  be  conspicuous,  without  the  art  to  conceal 
or  culture  to  soften  his  foibles. 

Yet  there  is  much  to  admire  in  the  character  of  Ethan  Allen.  He 
was  brave,  generous  and  frank,  true  to  his  friends,  true  to  his  country, 
consistent  and  unyielding  in  his  purposes,  seeking  at  all  times  to  pro- 
mote the  best  interests  of  mankind,  a  lover  of  social  harmony,  and  a 
determined  foe  to  the  artifices  of  injustice  and  the  encroachments  of 
power.  Few  have  suffered  more  in  the  cause  of  freedom — few  have 
borne  their  sufferings  with  a  firmer  constancy,  or  a  loftier  spirit. 
His  courage,  even  Avhen  apparently  approaching  to  rashness,  was 
calm  and  deliberate.  No  man  probably  ever  possessed  this  attribute 
in  a  more  remarkable  degree.  He  was  eccentric  and  ambitious,  but 
these  weaknesses,  if  such  they  were,  never  betrayed  him  into  acts  dis- 
honorable, unworthy  or  selfish.  His  enemies  never  had  cause  to 
question  his  magnanimity,  nor  his  friends  to  regret  confidence  mis- 
placed, or  expectations  disappointed.  He  was  kind  and  benevolent, 
humane  and  placable.  In  short,  whatever  may  have  been  his  pecu- 
liarities, or  however  these  may  have  diminished  the  weight  of  his  in- 
fluence and  the  value  of  his  public  services,  it  must  be  allowed,  that 
he  was  a  man  of  very  considerable  importance  in  the  sphere  of  his 
activity,  and  that  to  no  individual  among  her  patriot  founders  is  the 
state  of  Vermont  more  indebted  for  the  basis  of  her  free  institutions, 
and  the  achievement  of  her  independence,  than  to  Ethan  Allen. 

He  died  at  Burlington,  Vermont,  February  12th,  1789,  of  apoplexy, 
while  yet  in  the  full  vigor  and  maturity  of  manhood,  and  his  remains 
rest  in  a  beautiful  valley  near  the  Winooski,  where  his  grave  is  sur- 
rounded by  many  of  his  kindred.  A  plain  marble  tablet  marks  the 
spot,  upon  which  is  the  following  inscription  : 

THE 

CORPOKEAL    PART 

OF 

GEN.  ETHAN  ALLEN, 

RESTS     BENEATH    THIS     STONE. 

HE    DIED 

THE  1'2tH  day  of  FEBRUARY,  17S9, 

AGED  50  YEARS. 

HIS    SPIRIT    TRIED    THE    MERCIES    OF    HIS    GoD, 

IN    WHOM    HE    BELIEVED    AND    STRONGLY    TRUSTED. 

28 


426  HISTORY    OF     ancient     WOODBURY. 


HON.  SETII  p.  BEERS, 

Was  born  fit  Woodbury,  July  1st,  1781  ;  commenced  his  profes- 
sional studies  under  the  direction  of  N.  B.  Benedict,  Esq.,  of  Wood- 
bury, August  13th,  1800,  where  he  remained  till  November,  1801, 
when  he  entered  the  office  of  Hon.  Ephraira  Kirby,  of  Litchfield, 
supervisor  of  the  internal  revenues  of  the  United  States  for  this 
state ;  continued  there  as  a  clerk  till  February,  1803.  He  then  at- 
tended the  law  lectures  of  Judges  Reeve  and  Gould,  till  March  20th, 
1805,  when  he  was  admitted  to  the  bar  of  this  county,  and  settled  in 
the  practice  of  his  profession  in  Litchfield,  where  he  has  since  resided. 
September,  1807,  he  was  married  to  Belinda,  daughter  of  Reuben 
Webster.  In  November,  1803,  he  was  appointed  by  President  Mad- 
ison, collector  of  the  direct  taxes  and  internal  revenues  of  the  United 
States,  for  this  county,  which  office  he  held  until  it  was  abolished  in 
April,  1820.  In  September  following,  he  was  appointed  state's  at- 
torney for  the  county  of  Litchfield,  and  held  that  office  five  years. 
He  was  a  representative  in  the  General  Assembly  from  the  town  of 
Litchfield,  in  1820,  1821,  1822  and  1823.  At  the  session  of  1821, 
he  was  clerk  of  the  House,  and  in^Iay,  1822  and  1823,  was  chosen 
speaker.  In  1824,  he  was  elected  a  member  of  the  Senate  of  the 
state,  and  while  a  member  of  that  body,  was  appointed  assistant  com- 
missioner of  the  school  fund,  and  upon  the  resignation  of  the  Hon. 
James  Hillhouse,  he  was  appointed  sole  commissioner,  June  1st, 
1825,  which  office  he  resigned  to  take  effect  December  1st,  1849. 
On  receiving  his  resignation,  the  legislature,  at  its  session  of  1849, 
passed  the  following  resolves,  viz. 

"Resolved,  unanimously,  that  the  thanks  of  the  people  of  this  state  be,  and 
they  are  hereby  tendered  to  the  Hon.  Seth  P.  Beers,  for  his  long,  laborious  and 
faithful  labors  as  Commissioner  of  the  School  Fund." 

"  Resolved,  unanimously,  that  the  resignation  of  Mr.  Beers  be  accepted  with 
the  sincere  desire  on  the  part  of  this  General  Assembly,  that  the  residue  of  his 
life  may  be  as  happy  as  the  past  has  been  useful  to  the  people  of  this  state." 

Mr.  Beers  was  an  ex-officio  superintendent  of  common  schools 
from  May,  1845,  to  September,  1849,  and  was  one  of  the  presiden- 
tial electors  in  November,  1836. 


HISTORY     OF     ANCIENT     WOODBURY.  427 

CAPT.  REMEMBER  BAKER, 

Was  son  of  Remember  Baker,  and  born  in  Woodbury,  June,  1737. 
The  life  of  Capt.  Baker  was  one  of  peculiar  usefulness.  At  the  age 
of  eighteen  he  served  in  an  expedition  against  Canada.  He  became 
a  resident  of  the  New  Hampshire  grants  in  1764,  where  he  at  once 
became  one  of  the  most  influential  and  useful  of  the  leaders  of  the 
Green  Mountain  Boys.  On  one  occasion  he  was  seized  by  the  offi- 
cers of  New  York,  and  hastened  toward  Albany,  but  his  comrades 
pursued  them,  and  rescued  him  without  opposition.  In  the  com- 
mencement of  the  Revolution,  he  was  found  at  the  post  of  duty,  but 
he  was  destined  to  fall  in  the  very  opening  of  the  contest,  at  the 
early  age  of  thirty-five.  In  Montgomery's  operations  against  St. 
John's,  Canada,  he  had  been  sent  forward  to  reconnoiter  the  enemy's 
position.  When  within  a  few  miles  of  St.  John's,  he  secreted  his 
boat,  with  the  intention  of  marching  through  the  woods.  He  had 
scarcely  left  the  boat  when  a  party  of  Indians  took  possession  .,of  it. 
He  called  to  them  to  return  it,  and  on  their  refusal  to  do  so,  attempt- 
ed to  fire  at  them,  but  as  he  drew  up  his  gun,  he  received  a  shot 
through  the  head.  His  companions  then  fled,  and  made  their  way 
back  to  the  army  with  the  sad  intelligence.  As  an  ofticer  and  soldier, 
he  was  cool  and  temperate  in  council,  but  resolute  and  determined  in 
the  execution  of  his  plans.  As  a  neighbor  he  was  distinguished  for 
his  kindness,  and  his  memory  was  held  dear  by  many  families  whose 
distresses  he  had  generously  relieved. 


DANIEL  BACON,  ESQ.^ 

North  Woodbury  has  been  eminently  prospered  both  as  a  religious 
and  civil  community,  and  it  is  well  for  those  who  now  sit  down  in  the 
"  goodly  land,"  to  remember  those  who  fought  their  battles  and  won 
their  victories.  Of  these  men  Daniel  Bacon  was  the  acknowledged 
leader.  It  is  not,  however,  as  the  leader,  or  man,  of  a  section,  that  he 
is  to  be  spoken  of,  if  justice  is  done  him,  but  as  one  who  was  widely 
and  well  known  throughout  this  section  of  the  state. 

He  was  the  son  of  Jabez  Bacon,  elsewhere  mentioned  in  this  his- 
tory, and  inherited  a  large  share  of  his  father's  commanding  energy. 


1  The  appropriate  place  for  this  sketch  is  in  the  preceding  chapter,  but  having  been 

inadvertently  omitted  there,  it  is  inserted  in  this  place. 


428  niSTOKY     OF     ancient     "WOODBURY. 

He  was  a  plain,  strong  man — strong  in  every  sense.  Little  polished 
in  manner,  educated  at  a  common  school,  yet  familiar  with  the  world, 
he  well  filled  the  place  by  providence  assigned  him. 

In  early  life  he  was  a  mercliant,  as  was  his  fother  before  him,  and 
in  business  added  largely  to  his  patrimony,  already  large ;  but  he 
subsequently  relinquished  this  for  a  semi-public  life  of  ease  and  inde- 
pendence, employing  his  leisure  in  the  care  of  a  large  landed  estate, 
on  which  he  resided  until  his  death.  It  was  here  providence  assigned 
his  place,  and  this  place  he  filled.  In  the  struggle  whence  originated 
the  north  church,  he  had  a  large  share  of  responsibility  and  labor, 
which  he  cheerfully  bore.  In  the  community  also,  as  an  eminently 
useful  citizen,  he  had  his  place,  which  he  filled  with  credit  to  himself. 
Toward  all  ecclesiastical  expenses  he  contributed  a  tenth  of  the  sum 
to  be  raised,  and  said  to  others,  "  Come,  fill  the  rest,"  and  it  was  done. 
Such  a  man,  one  to  take  the  lead,  and  mark  out  the  way,  occupies  a 
position  in  community  seldom  appreciated  till  he  is  removed  from  it. 
He  was  the  friend  of  every  young  man  in  the  town.  Did  a  boy, 
"just  out  of  his  time,"  in  a  trade,  want  a  hundred  dollars,  Daniel 
Bacon  gave  it  to  him.  Many  of  these,  now  first  in  society  in  point  of 
wealth  and  character,  leaned  on  Daniel  Bacon's  purse  and  counsel  in 
their  "  trial  day."  Many  in  political  life,  had  to  assemble  first,  in 
Daniel  Bacon's  "  old  counting-room,"  in  the  old  store  now  demolished, 
and  take  counsel  of  his  foresight,  and  catch  a  little  of  his  vigor,  be- 
fore they  felt  they  were  well  prepared  for  the  fray ;  and  many,  in 
different  parts  of  the  state,  still  remember  him,  pushed  into  the  van 
and  bearing  the  brunt  of  the  fight  in  the  legislature,  at  Hartford,  in 
those  somewhat  Iludibrastic  contests,  for  which  our  legislatures  are 
making  themselves  every  year  more  and  more  remarkable.  When 
he  died,  it  was  found  that  men  of  moderate  means,  all  over  the  town, 
were  indebted  to  him,  in  small  suras  from  fifty  to  two  hundred  dollars, 
for  which  he  had  their  paper.  Some  of  it,  though  regularly  renewed, 
had  been  outstanding  nearly  a  quarter  of  a  century.  This  was  be- 
cause such  persons  found  it  inconvenient  to  pay,  and  he  let  the  paper 
lie  to  accommodate  them.  Acts  like  this,  in  a  man  of  large  wealth* 
constantly  dealing  in  public  stocks  elsewhere,  where  his  money  was 
worth  double  the  legal  interest,  show  the  usefulness  of  the  individual, 
and  the  sort  of  character  he  chose  to  make.  It  should  be  added,  that 
he  was  a  sincere  Christian,  and  his  monument  has  no  epitaph  but  that 
consoling  one  of "  Blessed  are  the  dead  that  die  in  the  Lord." 

In  private  life  he  was  beloved  by  alarge  circle  of  relatives  and  friends. 
His  doors  were  always  open,  his  house  always  full,  his  tables  ever 


HISTORY     OF     ANCIENT     WOODBURY.  429 

groaning  under  the  "  old-fashioned  profusion."  Ilis  descendant,  now 
occupying  the  "  old  homestead,"  said  to  the  author  the  other  day,  "  he 
could  not  but  hear,  almost  every  hour,  as  he  walked  about  the  grounds, 
the  bustle,  and  almost  roar  of  active  life,  that  once  swelled  throuo-h 
the  old  mansion."  Alas,  these  old-fashioned  men  of  strength  and 
girth,  this  ancient  hospitality  of  country  life,  are  they  not  passing 
from  among  us  ?  and  do  we  not  forget,  in  the  hum  and  progress  of 
the  present,  the  old-fashioned,  solid,  country  worth,  that  gave  to  such 
hospitality  its  greatest  charm?  "We  live,  indeed,  in  a  progressive 
age.  Society  is  hurrying  on  with  great  velocity  to  a  state  of  the 
highest  intelligence,  and  the  most  extended  power.  The  author  is  not 
of  those  who  fear  this  state  of  affairs.  He  Avould,  however,  look  back 
occasionally,  receive  the  light  of  the  past,  and  never  forget  the  foun- 
ders of  that  edifice  that  is  so  rapidly  rearing  itstop  in  the  sky. 

Daniel  Bacon  was  born  December  8th,  1772  ;  he  was  married  to 
Rebecca  Thompson,  daughter  of  Hezekiah  Thompson,  Esq.,  else- 
where mentioned  in  this  history,  June  22d,  1793  ;  he  died  July 
1828. 


JEREMIAH  DAY,  D.  D.,  LL.  D.' 

Jeremiah  Day,  late  President  of  Yale  College,  was  born  in  New 
Preston,  a  parish  of  Washington,  Conn.,  in  1773.  His  father.  Rev. 
Jeremiah  Day,  who  graduated  at  Yale  College  in  1756,  was  pastor 
of  the  Congregational  church  in  New  Preston,  and  lived  to  an  ad- 
vanced age,  much  respected.  President  Day  entered  Yale  College 
as  a  freshman,  in  1789,  but  on  account  of  infirm  health,  did  not  com- 
plete his  collegiate  course  with  the  class  to  which  he  at  first  belong- 
ed. After  an  absence  of  several  years,  he  rejoined  college,  and 
graduated  in  1795. 

This  was  the  year  of  Dr.  Dwight's  accession  to  the  presidency  of 
Yale.  By  the  removal  of  Dr.  Dwight  from  Greenfield,  the  school 
which  he  had  established  in  that  village,  and  which  had  flourished 
very  greatly  under  his  instruction,  was  destitute  of  a  preceptor.  Mr. 
Day  was  invited  to  take  charge  of  this  school,  and  continued  in  it  a 
year,  when  he  was  elected  a  tutor  in  Williams  College,  Mass. 
Here  he  remained  two  years.     In  Yale  College,  he  commenced  bis 


1  This  sketch  of  President  Day  is  taken  from  Kilbonrne's  Litchfield  Biogi-aphy. 


430  II  T  S  T  O  li  Y     OF     ANCIENT     WOODBURY. 

tutorship  ill  1798.  He  had  chosen  theology  as  a  profession,  and 
wljile  olliciating  as  tutor,  began  to  preacli  as  a  candidate  for  the  min- 
istry. On  the  resignation  of  Professor  Meigs,  who  had  been  called 
to  the  presidency  of  the  University  of  Georgia,  Mr.  Day  was  elect- 
ed in  1801,  to  succeed  him  as  professor  of  mathematics  and  natural 
philosophy.  At  this  time  Mr.  Day  was  in  feeble  health,  and  was 
obliged  to  suspend  the  business  of  instruction.  By  the  advice  of  his 
physician,  he  passed  one  winter  in  the  island  of  Bermuda.  In  1803, 
his  health  was  so  far  restored,  that  he  entered  upon  his  professorship ; 
the  duties  of  which  he  continued  to  discharge,  till  the  death  of  Dr. 
Dwight,  in  1817,  when  he  was  elected  to  the  office  of  president. 
He  was  inaugurated  in  July  of  the  same  year.  On  the  same  day  in 
which  he  was  introduced  into  the  presidency,  he  was  ordained,  by  the 
clerical  part  of  the  fellows,  a  minister  of  the  gospel. 

While  President  Day  was  professor,  he  published  several  mathe- 
matical treatises  for  the  use  of  students  in  that  department,  which 
are  used  in  Yale  College,  and  some,  or  all  of  them,  are  extensively 
used  in  other  institutions.  While  he  was  president  of  the  college, 
he  published  several  occasional  sermons,  and  "An  Inquiry  respect- 
ing the  Self-determining  Power  of  the  Will,  or  Contingent  Volition." 

In  1817,  the  college  in  Middlebury,  Vermont,  conferred  on  Presi- 
dent Day  the  degree  of  doctor  of  laws,  and  in  1818,  Union  College, 
in  Schenectady,  the  degree  of  doctor  of  divinity.  The  degree  of 
doctor  of  divinity  was  likewise  conferred  on  him,  in  1831,  by  Har- 
vard University. 

President  Day  occupied  his  station  as  president  until  1846 — longer 
than  any  other  head  of  the  college.  Yale  College  has  been  pecu- 
liarly fortunate  in  its  presidents ;  and  it  may  be  said  with  truth,  that 
it  at  no  time  flourished  more,  than  under  the  administration  of  Presi- 
dent Day.  His  learning  and  talent  united  to  great  kindness  of  heart, 
and  urbanity  of  manner,  have  secured  alike  the  respect  and  love  of 
the  thousands  of  pupils  committed  to  his  charge. 


HON.  THOMAS  DAY,  LL.  D.,' 

Was  the  third  son  of  Rev.  Jeremiah  Day,  and  brother  of  the  sub- 
ject of  the  foregoing  sketch.  He  was  a  descendant,  in  the  sixth 
generation,  of  Robert  Day,  of  Hartford,  who  was  born  in  England, 


1  Kilboum's  Litclifield  Biography. 


HISTORY     OF     ANCIENT     WOODBURT.  431 

came  to  America  among  the  first  settlers  in  Massachusetts,  and 
joined  the  company  of  one  hundred  persons,  who  in  1638,  removed 
from  Newtown,  Mass.,  to  Hartford,  Conn.,  with  the  Rev.  Thomas 
Hooker,  the  first  minister  of  Hartford.  Thomas  Day  was  born  in 
the  parish  of  New  Preston,  July  Gth,  1777.  He  passed  his  child- 
hood and  youth  under  the  parental  roof,  attending  the  common  dis- 
trict school  in  winter,  and  laboring  with  his  brothers  on  a  farm  in 
summer.  His  father  and  elder  brother  first  instructed  him  in  Latin 
and  Greek  ;  and  he  afterward  spent  some  months  under  the  tuition 
of  Barzillai  Slosson,  Esq.,  in  the  neighboring  town  of  Kent.  The 
winter  of  1793-4,  he  passed  at  an  academy  in  New  Milford.  Thus 
fitted  for  college,  he  entered  the  freshman  class  in  Yale  College  in 
the  spring  of  1794,  and  graduated  in  1797,  at  the  age  of  twenty. 

During  his  first  year  after  graduation,  he  attended  the  law  lectures 
of  Judge  Reeve,  at  Litchfield.  From  September,  1798,  to  September, 
1799,  he  was  tutor  in  "Williams  College,  and  at  the  same  time,  read 
law  under  the  direction  of  Daniel  Dewey,  Esq.,  of  Williamstown, 
afterward  a  judge  of  the  supreme  court  of  Massachusetts.  In  Sep- 
tember, 1799,  Mr.  Day  went  to  Hartford,  read  law  with  T.  D wight, 
Esq.,  about  three  months,  was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  December, 
1799,  and  immediately  entered  on  the  practice  of  law  in  Hartford, 
where  he  has  resided  ever  since.  In  October,  1809,  he  was  appoint- 
ed by  the  General  Assembly,  assistant  secretary  of  state ;  and  in 
1810,  he  was  elected  secretary  of  state  by  the  people,  and  re-elected 
for  twenty-five  successive  years,  or  until  May,  1835. 

In  May,  1815,  he  was  appointed  associate  judge  of  the  county 
court,  for  the  county  of  Hartford,  and  annually  afterward,  except 
one  year,  until  May,  1825,  in  which  year  he  was  made  chief  judge 
of  that  court,  and  was  continued  in  that  office,  by  successive  annual 
•appointments,  until  June,  1833.  In  March,  1818,  as  one  of  two 
senior  aldermen  of  the  city  of  Hartford,  he  became  one  of  the  judges 
of  the  city  court,  and  continued  such,  by  successive  annual  elections, 
until  March,  1831. 

Mr.  Day  was  one  of  the  committee  who  prepared  the  edition  of 
the  statutes  of  Connecticut,  published  in  1808;  and  by  him  the 
notes  were  compiled,  the  index  made,  and  the  introduction  written. 
He  was  also  one  of  the  committee,  who  revised  the  statutes  in  1821, 
and  likewise  one  of  a  committee  to  prepare  and  superintend  a  new 
edition  in  1824. 

In  June,  1805,  he  began  to  attend  the  supreme  court  of  errors,  for 
the  purpose  of  taking  notes,  and  reporting  the  decisions  of  that  court; 


032  HISTORY     OF     ANCIENT     -WOODBURY. 

and  he  has  attended  it  every  year  since  for  the  same  jjurpose,  till  the 
present  year.  Provision  being  made  by  law  for  the  appointment  of 
a  reporter,  Mr.  Day  Avas  appointed  to  that  office,  June,  1814,  and 
was  continued  in  it  till  his  resignation  in  1853.  As  a  volunteer,  he 
prepared  and  published  reports  of  cases  decided  by  the  supreme 
court  of  errors,  from  1802  to  1813,  in  five  volumes,  Bvo. ;  and  as 
official  i-eporter,  reports  of  cases  decided  by  the  same  court,  from 
1814  to  1853,  inclusive,  in  twenty-one  volumes,  royal  Bvo.  He 
has  also  edited  several  English  law  works,  in  all  about  forty  volumes, 
in  which  he  introduced  notices  of  American  decisions,  and  sometimes 
of  the  later  English  cases,  either  by  incorporating  them  in  the  text, 
or  by  appending  them  as  notes  in  the  margin,  together  with  other 
improvements. 

Mr.  Day's  name  likewise  stands  connected  with  many  literary  and 
benevolent  institutions.  He  is,  or  has  been,  one  of  the  trustees  of 
the  Hartford  Grammar  School,  and  clerk  of  the  board ;  one  of  the 
trustees  of  the  Hartford  Female  Seminary,  and  president  of  the 
board ;  one  of  the  vice-presidents  of  the  American  Asylum  for  the 
education  of  the  deaf  and  dumb ;  one  of  the  trustees  of  the  Retreat 
for  the  Insane ;  one  of  the  directors  of  the  Connecticut  Bible  Socie- 
ty ;  president  of  the  Hartford  County  Missionary  Society,  auxiliary 
to  the  Am.  B.  C.  F.  M. ;  president  of  the  Conn,  branch  of  the 
American  Education  Society;  president  of  the  Goodrich  Associa- 
tion, &c.,  &c.  He  was  an  oi-iginal  member  of  the  Connecticut  His- 
torical Society,  and  aided  in  its  organization,  in  1825,  being  at  that 
time  its  recording  secretary.  On  the  revival  of  the  institution  in 
1839,  he  became  its  president,  a  position  which  he  still  retains. 

Mr.  Day  was  married,  March  18th,  1813,  to  Sarah  Coit,  daughter 
of  Wheeler  Coit  of  Preston,  (now  Griswold,)  who  was  a  grandson 
of  the  Rev.  Joseph  Coit,  of  Plainfield,  one  of  the  first  class  of 
Yalensian  graduates.  They  have  had  eight  children,  two  sons  and 
six  daughters.  One  of  the  sons  died  in  infancy.  The  other  son  and 
all  the  daughters  but  one  are  living.  They  are  Sarah  Coit,  born  in 
1814,  residing  with  her  father;  Elizabeth,  born  in  1816,  is  wife  of 
Prof.  N.  P.  Seymour,  of  Western  Reserve  College,  and  resides  at 
Hudson,  Ohio;  Thomas  Mills,  born  in  1817,  graduated  at  Yale,  in 
1837,  was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  Hartford,  1840,  and  is  resident  in 
Boston;  Catherine  Augusta,  born  in  1819,  married  two  or  three 
years  since  ;  Harriet,  born  in  1821,  is  the  wife  of  John  P.  Putnam, 
LL.  B.,  who  graduated  at  Yale  in  1837,  and  now  resides  in  Boston 


n  I  S  T  O  K  T     OF     ANCIENT     WOODBURY.  433 

Robert,  born  in  1824,  and  died  the  same  year;  Mary  Frances,  born 
in  182G,  and  Ellen,  born  in  1829,  and  died  in  1850. 

At  the  commencement  of  Yale  College,  in  1847,  the  corporation 
of  that  institution  conferred  on  Mr.  Day  the  honorary  degree  of 
doctor  of  laws. 


REV.  THOMAS  DAYIES, 


Was  the  son  of  John  Davies,  Jr.,  and  was  born  in  Herefordshire, 
England,  December  21st,  1736,  0.  S.,  and  removed  to  this  country 
with  his  father  in  the  year  1745.  He  graduated  at  Yale  College  in 
1758.  He  was  ordained  deacon  by  the  Archbishop  of  Canterbury, 
Dr.  Thomas  Seeker,  in  the  Episcopal  chapel  at  Lambeth,  August 
23d,  1761,  and  ordained  priest  by  the  same  prelate  the  following  day. 
Soon  after  this  he  returned  to  America,  and  entered  upon  his  duties 
as  a  missionary  of  the  Society  for  propagating  the  Gospel  in  Foreign 
Parts,  at  the  age  of  twenty-five,  in  several  of  the  towns  of  Litchfield 
county.  The  Davies  family  located  in  that  part  of  Washington, 
known  as  "  Davies  Hollow,"  but  the  subject  of  this  sketch  soon  made 
New  Milford  his  principal  place  of  residence.  He  continued  in  the 
discharge  of  the  laborious  duties  of  his  station,  for  about  four  years, 
when  he  died  suddenly  from  a  disease  of  the  lungs,  May  12th,  1766. 

His  pulpit  performances  were  of  decidedly  superior  merit.  His 
personal  appearance  was  prepossessing,  his  delivery  forcible,  and  the 
composition  of  his  sermons  exhibited  marks  of  scholarship  in  advance 
of  the  genei-ality  of  preachers  of  the  time  in  which  he  lived.  He 
also  possessed  considerable  poetic  talent. 

He  was  buried  in  New  Milford,  and  the  epitaph  on  the  tablet 
which  covers  his  remains  is  an  epitome  of  the  history  of  his  short  but 
useful  career : 

'•  111  memory  of  Rev.  Thomas  Davie?,  a  faithful  servant  of  Jesus  Christ,  an 
active,  \rorthy  missionary  from  the  venerable  Society  in  England,  who  depart- 
ed this  life,  May  12,  1766,  in  the  thirtieth  year  of  his  age.  He  met  death  willi 
the  greatest  Christian  fortitude,  being  supported  by  the  rational  hope  of  a  bless- 
ed immortality. 

"  The  sweet  remembrance  of  the  just, 
''  Does  flourish,  now  he  sleeps  in  dust. 
"  Vita  bene  acta,  jucundissima  est  recordalio." 


431  niSTOUY     OF     ANCIENT     WOODBURY. 


HON.  DANIEL  EVERIT, 

Was  a  native  of  the  parish  of  Bethlehem,  Woodbiny.  He  read 
law  with  Andrew  Adams,  Esq.,  of  Litchfield,  afterward  chief  jus- 
tice of  the  superior  court.  He  was  the  second  member  of  the  bar 
in  New  Milford,  Avhither  he  removed  in  1772,  and  the  first  who  was 
regularly  educated  to  the  legal  profession.  He  was  chosen  a  mem- 
ber of  the  General  Assembly  four  times,  viz.,  in  October,  1780, 
May,  1781,  and  in  May  and  October,  1783.  He  was  a  delegate  to 
the  convention  which  ratified  the  Federal  Constitution.  In  May, 
1790,  he  was  appointed  judge  of  probate  for  the  district  of  New 
Milford,  which  otfice  he  held  until  his  death,  in  January,  1805,  in 
the  fifty-seventh  year  of  his  age. 


HON.  WILLIAM  EDMOND.' 

William  Edmond  was  born  on  the  28th  of  September,  1755,  in 
Woodbury,  in  what  is  now  called  South  Britain,  adjoining  the  Hou- 
satonic  River.  His  father,  Robert  Edmond,  of  Dublin,  in  Ireland, 
and  his  mother,  Mary  Marks,  of  Cork,  removed  to  this  country 
about  the  year  1750,  and  settled  first  in  Pennsylvania.  In  conse- 
quence of  difficulties  with  the  Indians,  he  removed  to  Woodbury 
about  the  year  1753,  and  bought  a  tract  of  land  of  the  Pootatuck 
tribe  of  Indians.  Robert  Edmond  had  ten  children.  AVilliam  was 
one  of  the  oldest  of  the  family.  The  youngest  son,  David,  graduated 
at  Yale  College  in  1796,  and  became  a  distinguished  lawyer  at  Ver- 
gennes,  in  the  state  of  Vermont.  One  of  the  sons  settled  at  Whites- 
town,  N.  Y. 

Very  little  is  known  of  William  until  he  entered  Yale  College  in 
1773.  It  is  a  tradition  in  the  family,  that  he  assisted  his  father  in 
the  cultivation  of  his  farm,  and  at  the  same  time,  by  the  instruction 
and  assistance  of  the  minister  of  the  pai-ish,  fitted  himself  to  enter  the 
freshman  class,  and  that  he  actually  was  admitted  before  his  father 
knew  anything  about  it — that  he  then  informed  his  father  of  what  he 
had  done,  and  he  being  highly  gratified,  consented  to  his  continuing 
with  the  class.     He  graduated  in  1777.     While  he  was  a  member 


1  The  author  is  indebted  to  the  Hon.  Henry  Dutton,  of  New  Haven,  for  this  sketch ; 
William  E.  Curtis,  Esq.,  of  the  city  of  New  York,  a  grandson  of  Judge  Edmond,  also 
sent  to  the  author  an  excellent  sketch  of  his  life. 


HISTORY     OF     ANCIENT     "WOODBURY.  435 

of  college,  in  the  spring  of  the  year  that  he  graduated,  he  went  as  a 
volunteer  against  the  British,  who,  under  Gen.  Tryon,  had  made  an 
incursion  to  Danbury.  The  British,  having  set  fire  to  that  town,  at- 
tempted to  return  by  the  way  of  Ridgefield.  The  Americans,  under 
Gen.  Arnold,  overtook  them  at  the  north  end  of  the  village  in  Ridgefield, 
and  a  smart  skirmish  ensued.  In  this  attack,  Mr.  Edmond  took  a 
part,  and  was  severely  wounded  in  the  leg  above  the  knee.  Of  the 
severity  of  this  wound,  some  just  conception  may  be  formed,  from  the 
following  memorandum  in  his  own  handwriting :  "  Wounded  at  Ridge- 
field, 27th  April,  1777.  Boarded  with  ])oct.  Joseph  Perry,  of  Wood- 
bury, from  November  9,  1780,  to  January  17,  1781.  During  this 
time  or  about  the  latter  part  of  it,  my  wound,  which  had  continued 
painful  by  turns  in  the  extreme,  discharging  daily  large  quantities  of 
pus,  and  occasionally  small  fragments  of  bone,  was  laid  open.  The 
thigh-bone  near  the  knee-joint,  was  found  broken  entirely  off  in  two 
places,  about  three  inches  apart ;  the  intermediate  bone  divided  or 
split  lengthwise  into  three  pieces.  Three  pieces  were  extracted,  to- 
gether with  about  one-third  of  an  ounce  ball  which  was  wedged  in 
between  them.  These  pieces  the  doctor  retained  as  a  tropliy  of  his 
surgical  skill.  Scales  of  the  bone  followed,  when  the  ulcer  ceased." 
Tradition  says,  that  soon  after  the  engagement,  a  French  surgeon 
undertook  to  examine  the  wound,  and  injured  a  tendon,  which  result- 
ed in  a  lameness  from  which  Mr.  Edmond  never  recovered — that 
afterward,  at  the  time  mentioned  in  the  memorandum,  a  council  of 
surgeons  met  and  decided  that  the  leg  must  be  amputated — that  they 
left  the  house  to  attend  church,  expecting  to  perform  the  operation 
the  next  morning — that  during  their  absence,  Mr.  Edmond  resolved, 
as  he  afterward  said,  not  to  have  it  done,  as  he  thought  life,  after  such 
a  loss,  would  be  a  burden  ;  obtained  possession  of  their  surgical  in- 
struments, scraped  a  large  quantity  of  lint,  and  with  a  patience  and 
determination  which  few  men  possess  to  an  equal  degree,  cut  with 
his  own  hand  into  the  wound  until  he  discovered  the  piece  of  ball 
lodged  between  the  bones.  Becoming  faint,  he  applied  the  lint, 
bound  up  the  wound,  and  awaited  the  return  of  the  surgeons,  when 
the  lead  and  the  pieces  of  bone  were  extracted.  The  wound  healed 
up,  but  he  was  always  afterward  lame  to  a  considerable  extent. 

When  he  was  wounded  he  was  in  a  field,  probably  near  the  north 
end  of  the  village  of  Ridgefield,  and  was  left  upon  the  field.  He  in- 
formed me  that  he  found  himself  unable  to  leave  the  ground  or  ob- 
tain any  assistance.  Night  came  on  with  a  bleak,  cold  wind.  To 
shelter  himself  from  it,  he  crawled  to  a  small  ravine,  which  had  been 


436 


HISTORY  OF  ANCIENT  "WOODBUUY. 


formed  by  a  current  of  water,  but  Avhich  was  then  dry,  and  lay  down 
in  its  bed.  Notwithstanding  the  pain  of  his  wound,  it  was  with  the 
utmost  ditRculty,  on  account  of  the  drowsiness  produced  by  the  cold, 
and  the  faintness  caused  by  the  loss  of  blood,  that  he  could  keep 
awake.  He  exerted  himself  to  the  utmost,  knowing  that  sleep,  un- 
der such  circumstances,  would  be  the  certahi  precursor  of  death. 
As  soon  as  the  light  dawned  in  the  morning,  he  discovered  some  per- 
son looking  round  for  plunder.  Mr.  Edmond  raised  himeslf,  and 
called  to  the  man  to  come  and  help  him.  The  man,  alarmed  by  tliis 
unexpected  apparition,  started  to  run  from  the  field.  Mr.  Edmond 
drew  up  his  musket,  and  aiming  it  at  him,  ordered  him  to  stop  or  he 
would  shoot  him  dead.  This  produced  the  desired  effect,  and  the 
man,  who  lived  in  the  vicinity,  assisted  him  to  a  neighboring  house. 
After  Mr.  Edmond  had  remained  in  the  house  a  short  time,  a  ser- 
geant, with  a  file  of  soldiers,  came  into  the  room  where  he  and  sev- 
eral other  wounded  soldiers  were,  and  informed  them  that  he  had  di- 
rections to  take  them  in  a  wagon  to  a  different  place,  and,  according 
to  my  impression,  to  Danbury.  Judge  Edmond,  in  relating  this  inci- 
dent, said  that  he  was  satisfied  he  never  could  survive  such  a  journey, 
in  such  a  vehicle,  over  a  rough  road,  and  he  was  determined  not  to 
go,  and  so  informed  the  officer.  The  officer  took  the  other  wounded 
soldiers,  and  proceeded  towaixl  the  bed  on  which  he  was  lying,  say- 
ing that  he  must  obey  his  orders.  He  once  more  had  recourse  to  his 
trusty  musket,  and  ordered  him  to  keep  his  distance,  or  he  would  be 
a  dead  man.  No  man  that  ever  encountered  the  eye  of  Judge  Ed- 
mond, even  in  old  age,  would,  under  such  circumstances,  be  inclined 
to  advance.  The  officer,  muttering  with  an  oath  that  he  might  stay 
and  die,  left  the  room. 

After  he  had  somewhat  recovered,  but  was  still  unable  to  go 
abroad,  he  said  he  was  in  a  room  with  two  men,  who  were  making 
ball  cartridges.  Whether  this  was  at  Ridgefield  or  not,  I  can  not  rec- 
ollect. As  he  was  lying  on  his  bed,  he  discovered  that  they  were 
filling  the  cartridges  from  an  open  keg  of  powder,  and  that  one  of 
them  was  unconsciously  smoking  a  pipe,  on  the  tobacco  of  which  was 
a  live  coal,  which  seemed  every  instant  liable  to  drop  into  the  pow- 
der. Mr,  Edmond  slipped  silently  from  the  bed,  crawled  behind  the 
man,  and  without  uttering  a  word,  seized  the  bowl  of  the  pipe  in  his 
hand,  and  thus  secured  the  coal.  The  man  started  and  wished  to 
know  Avhat  he  meant ;  Avhen  he  informed  them  of  the  danger  to  which 
they  had  been  exposed.     The  men  turned  pale  as  death,  and  darted 


HISTORY     OF     ANCIENT     WOODBURY.  437 

from  the  room,  and  it  was  a  long  time  before  he  could  persuade  them 
to  return  to  their  occupation. 

After  he  had  recovered  sufficiently  to  be  removed,  he  spent  some 
time  in  reading  chiefly  theological  and  medical  works,  and  resided  for 
a  while  in  Fairfield.     Some   of  the  members  of  the  bar,  regarding 
him  with  kindness  and  sympathy,  suggested  that  he  should  offer  him- 
self for  admission  to  the  bar,  although  he  had  read  very  little  on  the 
subject  of  law.     He  adopted  this  suggestion,  and  after  a  slight  exam- 
ination, was  admitted.     He  established  himself  in  Newtown  in  May, 
1782,  and  took  an  office  in  the  dwelling-house  of  Gen.  John  Chand- 
ler, on  the  west  side  of  the  street,  and  a  little  north  of  the  place  where 
he  afterward  erected  a  dwelling-house  and  resided  until  his  death. 
An  incident  occurred  soon  after,  which  illustrates  clearly  the  charac- 
ter of  the  man.     A  company  of  soldiers  had,  for  some  purpose,  been 
stationed  in  Newtown.     They  became  insolent,  and  trampled  on  the 
rights  of  the  citizens,  but  no  one  dared  to  bring  them  to  justice.    One 
of  the  inhabitants  finally  applied  to  Mr.  Edmond,  and  obtained  a  writ 
against  one  of  the  soldiers,  which  was  served  upon  him.     In  a  short 
time,  the  captain,  dressed  in  his  regimentals,  with  his  sword  in  his 
hand,  walked   into  Mr.  Edmond's  office,  which  was  a  chamber,  and 
demanded  haughtily  what  he  meant  by  such  conduct.     He  informed 
the  captain  that  he  had  sued  one  of  the  soldiers,  and  should  treat  the 
others  in  the  same  way  if  they  trespassed  on  the  citizens.     The  cap- 
tain raised  his  sword,  and  swore  that  his  soldiers  should  not  be  sued 
by  a  damned  limping  lawyer.     Judge  Edmond  was  over  six  feet  in 
height,  with  large  shoulders  and  limbs,  and  a  Herculean  frame.     In 
relating  to  me  what  followed,  he  raised  himself  from  his  chair  and 
took  it  in  his  hands,  and  the  impression  which  his  lofty  figure  and  de- 
termined look  made  upon  me,  will  never  be  eflfaced.     He  said  he  w^as 
sitting  in  an  old-fashioned  kitchen  chair,  with  high  round  posts,  which 
had  become  somewhat  rickety  by  use.     He  took  one  of  the  posts  in 
his  hand,  and  with  his  foot,  cleared  it  in  an  instant  from  the  rest  of 
the  chair.     Seizing  the  post  in  his  right  hand,  he  raised  it  over  the 
captain's  head  and  ordered  him  to  quit  his  office  without  delay.     The 
captain  hesitated  a  moment,  but  concluded  that  the  better  part  of 
valor  was  discretion,  and  commenced  a  retreat.     Mr.  Edmond  fol- 
lowed him  down  stairs,  and  until  he  had  passed  through  the  gate  into 
the  street.     Here  the  soldiers,  who  had  witnessed  the  conclusion  of 
the  enterprise,  greeted  the  mortified  captain  with  a  loud  shout.     The 
people  of  the  town  had  no  difficulty  afterward  with  the  troops,  but 


438  niSTOKY     OF     ancient     -WOODBURY. 

the  captain  found  it  expedient  to  make  his  peace  with  Mr.  Edmond, 
to  prevent  being  dismissed  from  the  service. 

At  a  town  meeting  held  soon  after  he  opened  an  office,  some  one, 
to  put  a  joke  or  a  slur  upon  him,  nominated  him  as  "  hog-hayward." 
One  of  the  old  inhabitants  objected,  upon  the  ground  that  it  would 
give  him  a  settlement  in  the  town.  "Whether  the  mover  fared  as  bad 
as  one  who  years  afterward  objected  to  a  similar  appointment  of  the 
late  Hon.  Roger  M.  Sherman,  in  Norwalk,  has  not  been  ascertained. 
On  that  occasion,  Mr.  Sherman  hoped  the  objection  would  be  with- 
drawn, and  the  question  tried,  that  he  might  know  who  would  be 
under  his  charge  as  hayward. 

The  course  which  Judge  Edmond  informed  me  he  took,  soon  after 
he  commenced  practice,  was  always  mentioned  to  his  credit.  An  in- 
habitant of  the  town  applied  to  him  for  a  writ  against  a  neighbor,  who 
as  he  said,  had  carried  away  his  hog-trough.  Mr.  Edmond  suggested 
to  him,  that  he  had  better  wait  a  while,  and  see  if  his  neighbor  would 
not  bring  it  back ;  but  the  man  insisted  on  a  writ.  Mr.  Edmond  then 
asked  him  what  the  trough  was  worth.  He  said,  half  a  dollar.  He 
handed  the  client  half  a  dollar,  and  told  him  the  neighbor  would  now 
keep  the  trough. 

He  married  a  daughter  of  Gen.  Chandler,  November  30th,  1784, 
and  by  her  had  a  daughter,  who  married  Col.  Elias  Starr,  of  Dan- 
bury.  His  Avife  soon  afterward  died.  He  married  again  February 
14th,  1796,  a  daughter  of  Benjamin  Payne,  Esq.,  of  Hartford.  By 
her  he  had  two  sons,  one  of  whom  died  when  about  twenty-one  years 
of  age,  and  the  other  is  a  practicing  physician  on  Long  Island,  and 
three  daughters,  the  eldest  of  whom  is  the  wife  of  Hon.  Ilolbrook 
Curtis,  of  "Watertown,  and  the  second  of  Dr.  C.  H.  Booth,  of  New- 
town. 

Mr.  Edmond,  soon  after  he  commenced,  was  engaged  in  an  exten- 
sive and  lucrative  practice.  "Wild  speculations  in  lands,  fraudulently 
represented  as  being  finely  located  in  "Virginia,  but  afterward  discov- 
ered to  be  situated  on  the  Blue  Ridge,  or  over  some  superior  title, 
had  just  exploded,  and  numerous  lawsuits  were  the  consequence. 
Many  of  the  inhabitants  of  Newtown  had  been  engaged  in  the  specu- 
lations, and  Mr.  Edmond  was  uniformly  employed  on  one  side  or  the 
other.  In  1797,  he  was  elected  a  member  of  Congress,  and  contin- 
ued in  that  office  four  years.  He  belonged  to  the  old  federal  party, 
and  never  wavered  for  a  moment  in  his  allegiance  to  it,  till  it  was  dis- 
solved. He  never  forgave  John  Q.  Adams  for  his  alleged  defection 
from  it. 


HISTORY     OF     ANCIENT     "SVOODBURT.  439 

He  was  in  Congress  at  the  great  struggle  between  Jefferson  and 
Burr.  Report  says  that  after  the  balloting  had  been  continued  dur- 
ing nearly  the  whole  night,  one  of  the  friends  of  Jefferson  came  up  to 
iNIr.  Edmond,  and  inquired  how  long  they  were  to  te  kept  balloting. 
"Till  the  day  of  judgment,"  was  the  immediate  reply.  There  is  no 
doubt  he  would  have  been  one  of  the  last  to  yield  in  the  struggle. 

After  his  retux-n  he  was  repeatedly  a  member  of  the  council,  which 
then  acted  as  a  court  of  errors,  until  1805,  when  he  was  appointed  a 
judge  of  the  superior  court.  He  retained  this  office  until  the  change 
in  politics  in  1819,  when  he  was  left  out  with  other  distinguished  men. 
From  this  time,  he  never  would  accept  of  an  office,  nor  receive  a  fee 
for  services  or  advice.  He  devoted  his  time  to  agriculture  and  gen- 
eral reading.  No  man  in  the  town  could  swing  a  scythe  or  handle  a 
pitchfork  with  greater  skill  and  effect. 

"When  he  was  seventy  years  old,  he  fell  down  the  chamber  stairs 
of  his  house,  and  broke  the  neck  of  his  thigh  bone.  He  lay  for  weeks 
in  great  suffering,  unable  to  turn  himself  in  bed.  His  patience  and 
fortitude  during  his  trials  were  such  as  I  never  before  witnessed. 
Sometimes  he  was  quite  playful  in  his  remarks.  On  one  occasion  he 
told  me  his  window  gave  him,  while  in  bed,  a  good  view  of  a  shop 
where  liquors  were  sold.  He  remarked  that  he  could  discover  to 
what  grade  of  drunkards  the  visitors  belonged.  The  hardest  set 
would  be  seen,  groping  their  way  to  slake,  or  rather  to  stimulate  their 
burning  thirst,  at  the  earliest  dawn.  At  broad  daylight  the  next  in 
order  would  come,  while  the  moderate  drinkers  would  wait  till  sun- 
rise. After  being  confined  to  his  bed  for  eight  months,  he  was  able 
to  move  about  on  crutches,  and  this  he  continued  to  do  till  his  death. 
His  sufferings,  writes  his  attending  physician,  for  several  months  be- 
fore his  death,  were  excruciating,  but  he  died  in  the  full  possession 
of  his  reason,  August  1st,  1838,  aged  eighty-two  years  and  ten  months. 
His  habits  of  industry  were  such  that  I  have  found  him  in  his  wood- 
yard,  supporting  himself  with  one  crutch,  while  with  the  other  he 
would  draw  small  sticks  within  his  reach,  and  then  whh  an  ax,  cut 
them  up.  It  is  humiliating,  in  view  of  his  services  and  sufferings,  to 
add,  that  he  was  allowed  as  a  pension  only  the  miserable  pittance  of 
twenty  shillings  a  month,  that  being  the  sum  which,  in  the  opinion  of 
the  judge  of  the  county  court,  he  was  entitled  to,  as  corresponding 
with  the  degree  of  his  disability  compared  with  that  of  one  wholly 
disabled.  Being,  although  not  poor,  in  somewhat  straitened  circum- 
stances, in  consequence  of  his  inability  to  earn  anything  by  labor, 
when  he  was  seventy-eight  years  old,  he  applied  to  the  secretary  of 


440  HISTORY     OF     ANCIENT     W  O  O  D  U  U  R  Y . 

war,  to  ascertain  whether  the  pension  hiw  would  admit  of  such  a  con- 
struction as  woukl  allow  his  pension  to  be  increased  ;  but  he  added, 
"  that  if  the  only  possible  mode  of  obtaining  relief  would  be  by  an  ap- 
plication to  Congress,  perhaps  he  should  never  trouble  them,  as  the 
time  occupied  in  the  discussion  might  cost  the  United  States  more 
money  than  would  suffice  to  render  an  invalid,  old  and  infirm  as  he 
was,  comfortable  the  remainder  of  his  days."  Judge  Edmond  was  a 
remarkable  man.  It  is  rare  that  so  many  excellencies  have  been 
united  in  one  individual.  He  was  plain  and  unassuming  in  his  man- 
ners, mild  and  amiable  in  his  deportment,  just  and  honest  in  his  deal- 
ings, and  honorable  and  magnanimous  in  his  feelings.  He  Avas  con- 
stant in  his  attendance  on  divine  service,  in  the  Congregational 
meeting-house,  and  always  manifested  the  highest  respect  for  reli- 
gious institutions.  His  family  regarded  him  Avith  an  affection  and 
respect,  amounting  almost  to  veneration. 

His  talents  were  far  above  mediocrity.  I  have  heard  the  older 
members  of  the  bar  speak  of  his  eloquence  when  his  feelings  were 
excited,  as  greater  than  that  of  almost  any  other  lawyer  in  the  state. 
His  reputation  was  high  as  an  impartial  and  sound  judge.  Tlie  few 
written  opinions  of  his  which  are  to  be  found  in  the  reports,  make  no 
display  of  learning,  but  are  characterized  by  good  sense  and  sound 
judgment. 

But  it  was  as  a  patriot  and  a  man  that  he  was  chiefly  worthy  of 
commemoration.  It  has  never  been  my  fortune  to  meet  with  any 
one  for  whom  I  entertained  such  profound  and  unmingled  respect. 
He  came  nearer  to  the  perfection  of  character  which  raised  Gen. 
Washington  so  much  above  other  men,  than  any  other  person  within 
my  observation.  He  was  the  very  embodiment  of  the  spirit  of  '76. 
Nothino-  base  or  dishonorable  would  stand  a  moment  in  his  presence. 
No  man  ever  so  forcibly  called  to  my  mind  those  words  of  Horace, 

"  Justum  ct  tenaccin  propositi  vinim, 
Noil  civium  ardor  j^rava  jubentium, 
Noil  vultus  instantis  tyranni, 
Mente  quatit  solida." 
"  The  man  of  just  and  steadfast  soul, 
Will  scorn  alike  the  mob's  control, 
And  tyrant's  frowns." 

His  independent  spirit  would  never  suffer  him  to  stoop  to  beg  a 
favor  to  save  his  life.  He  would  rather  have  raked  a  support  from 
the  ground,  with  his  fingers,  than  have  owed  it  to  charity  or  injustice. 
No  wonder  that  when  such  men  were  to  be  found,  liberty  was  secured. 


niSTOKY     OF     ANCIENT     WOODBURY.  44] 

He  wa^  indeed  a  great  and  good  man,"  and  in  all  respects  a  model 
worthy  of  imitation. 

The  following  is  a  fac-siraile  of  liis  autograph: 


ISAAC  GILBERT  GRAHAM,  M.  D., 

"Was  the  son  of  Dr.  Andrew  Graham,  and  born  in  Southbury  par- 
ish, TToodbury,  September  lOth,  17G0.  He  studied  medicine  under 
the  direction  of  his  father,  and  entered  upon  the  active  duties  of  his 
jirofession.  He  was  an  assistant  surgeon  in  the  army,  under  Gen. 
Washington,  at  West  Point.  He  was  present  at  several  engage- 
ments, and  when  he  retired  from  the  army,  he  received  from  Gen. 
"Washington  and  other  officers,  the  highest  proof  of  their  respect  and 
esteem.  At  the  close  of  the  war,  he  commenced  practice  at  Union- 
ville,  N.  y.,  where  he  lived  for  more  than  sixty  years.  His  was  a 
career  of  constant  usefulness  and  benevolence.  With  the  numerous 
excellences  he  exhibited  as  a  patriot  of  the  Revolution,  a  benevolent 
physician,  a  kind  friend  and  adviser,  in  every  domestic  relation,  he 
united  the  more  important  characteristics  of  a  sincere  and  humble  be- 
liever in  the  Christian  faith.  He  realized  that  the  highest  of  human 
enjoyments  is  a  faithful  and  persevering  devotion,  and  that  no 
rapture  on  earth  can  equal  the  rapture  of  piety.  He  died  at  Union- 
ville,  Westchester  county,  N.  Y.,  September  1st,  1848,  aged  eighty- 
eight  years. 


HON.  JOHN  A.  GRAHAM,  LL.  D., 
Was  son  of  Dr.  Andrew  Graham,  and  brother  of  the  above.  He 
devoted  himself  to  the  practice  of  the  law,  and  resided  in  the  city  of 
New  York,  engaged  in  the  active  duties  of  that  profession  for  many 
years.  He  was  an  energetic  and  successful  lawyer.  The  degree  of 
doctor  of  laws  was  conferred  on  him  by  a  foreign  university.  He 
was  a  kind  and  hospitable  man — a  "  gentleman  of  the  old  school,"  in 
29 


442  HISTORY     OF     ANCIENT     -VVOODnURT. 

every  sense  of  the  word.  For  a  further  account  of  Dr.  Graham,  the 
reader  is  referred  to  tlie  genealogy  of  the  "  Gi-aham  family,"  in  the 
next  chapter. 


HON.  JOEL  niNMAN, 


Is  the  son  of  Col.  Joel  Ilinnian,  and  was  born  January  27th,  1802. 
The  colonel  was  a  patriot  of  the  Revolution,  and  received  a  musket 
ball  in  his  thigh,  which  he  carried  for  nearly  thirty-three  years.  It 
finally  became  troublesome,  and  Dr.  Anthony  Burritt  performed  a 
surgical  operation  upon  him  and  extracted  it.  It  is  now  in  the  pos- 
session of  his  relict,  "Widow  Sarah  Hinraan,  of  Southbury.  He  left 
with  it,  at  his  decease,  a  scrap  of  paper,  on  which  is  written  the  fol- 
lowing : 

"This  ball  I  rec'd  in  my  left  thigh,  near  the  groin,  on  the  17th  day  of  April, 
1777,  at  the  time  the  British  burnt  Panbury,  which  struclv  on  a  l«iyouet,  which 
hung  on  my  thigh,  and  was  taken  out  on  the  30th  day  of  March,  ISIO,  by  Doct. 
A.  Burritt. 

Joel  Hinman, 
a  native  of  Southbury — A.  D.  ISIO." 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  devoted  himself  to  the  study  of  the  pro- 
fession of  law,  and  practiced  it  for  a  number  of  years,  at  Waterbury, 
Conn.  He  married  a  Miss  Scovill,  of  that  town.  He  was  appointed 
a  judge  of  the  superior  court,  in  1842,  which  office  he  now  holds. 
He  is  at  pi-esent  a  resident  of  New  Haven. 


CAPT.  ELISHA  HINMAN, 

Of  New  London,  Conn.,  was  born  in  "  ancient  "Woodbury,"  parish 
of  Southbury.  The  date  of  his  removal  from  his  native  town,  with 
two  of  his  brothers,  was  about  the  year  1760.  He  commanded  the 
Cabot,  a  continental  brig,  in  the  first  naval  expedition  under  the  au- 
thority of  Congress,  fitted  out  at  New  London,  January,  1776,  and 
commanded  by  Commodore  Hopkins.  He  was  a  veteran  of  the  sea 
before  the  commencement  of  the  Revolution.  He  succeeded  Paul 
Jones  in  the  command  of  the  ship  Alfred,  which  he  was  unfortunately 
obliged  to  sui-render  to  the  Ariadne  and  Ceres,  on  a  return  voyage 
from  France,  March  9th,  1778.  Being  carried  a  prisoner  to  Eng- 
land, after  a  short  confinement,  he  found  friends  who  aided  his  escape 


HISTORY     OF     ANCIENT     WOODBURY.  448 

to  France,  whence  he  roturned  home,  and  engaged  for  a  time  in  pri- 
vate adventures.  In  1779,  he  went  out  in  the  privateer  sloop,  Han- 
cocl;  owned  by  Thomas  Mumford,  and  had  a  run  of  brilliant,  dashing 
suc^cess.  In  1780,  he  took  command  of  the  armed  ship  Beane.  In 
1770,  Captains  Ilinman  and  Havens  took  the  Lady  ErsUne,  a  brig 
of  ten  guns,  having  cut  her  off  with  their  sloops  Hancock  and  Beaver, 
in  sight  of  the  harbor  of  New  London,  from  a  fleet  of  twenty-one  sail, 
which  was  passing  toward  Rhode  Island,  under  convoy  of  the  Thames 
frigate  of  thirty-six  guns.  After  the  war,  Capt.  Hinman  and  other 
commanders,  casting  aside  tlie  apparel  of  war,  entered  into  the  mer- 
cantile line.  Hinman  was  afterward  in  the  revenue  service.  He 
died  in  1807,  aged  seventy-three.* 


LAURENS  HULL,  M.  D., 

"Was  the  son  of  Dr.  Titus  Hull,  and  born  in  Bethlem,  June  Gtli, 
1779.  He  studied  medicine  with  Doctor  David  Hull,  of  Fairfield, 
was  licensed  to  practice  physic  and  surgery  by  the  Connecticut  State 
Medical  Societj^,  May,  1802,  removed  and  settled  in  Oneida  county, 
New  York,  in  November  of  that  year,  where  he  practiced  his  profes- 
sion until  1836,  when  he  removed  to  Angelica,  Allegany  county,  the 
place  of  his  present  residence.  In  the  year  1813,  he  was  elected  a 
member  of  the  Assembly  from  the  county  of  Oneida.  In  1817,  he 
was  elected  delegate  to  the  State  Medical  Society,  and  was  twice  re- 
elected to  the  same  office,  each  term  being  four  years  in  length.     In 

1824,  he  was  elected  a  permanent  member  of  the  same  society.     In 

1825,  he  was  again  elected  to  the  Assembly.  In  1826,  he  was  elected 
Fellow  of  the  College  of  Physicians  and  Surgeons  of  the  University  of 
the  state  of  New  York.  In  1827,  he  received  the  honorary  degree  of 
doctor  of  medicine,  from  the  regents  of  the  same  university.  In  1828, 
he  was  elected  a  commissioner  to  the  general  assembly  of  the  Presbyte- 
rian church,  which  met  at  Philadelphia.  Ho  was  twice  elected  vice 
president  of  the  New  York  State  Medical  Society,  and  twice  presi- 
dent of  the  same.  He  was  in  1837,  elected  a  senator  of  the  state  of 
New  York,  for  four  years,  from  the  Gth  senate  district,  composed  of 
the  counties  of  Allegany,  Broome,  Cattaraugus,  Chemung,  Chenango, 
Livingston,  Steuben,  Tompkins  and  Tioga.  In  1852,  he  was  a  mem- 
ber of  the  general  assembly  of  the  Presbyterian  church,  which  met  at 


1  Miss  Caulkins'  History  of  New  I^ndon,  Conn. 


444  HISTORY     OF     ANCIENT     WOODBURY. 

AVashington  city,  in  May.  He  married  in  1803,  Dorcas,  daughter 
of  David  Ambler,  Esq.,  Bethlem,  Conn.  Iler  mother  was  sister  of 
the  Rev.  Benjamin  Wildman,  of  Southburv. 


REV.  LEVERETT  HULL, 

The  fifth  son  of  Dr.  Titus  Hull,  was  born  at  Bethlem,  December 
3d,  179G,  graduated  at  Hamilton  College,  studied  theology  at  Auburn 
Theological  Seminary,  Avas  licensed  to  preach,  and  became  an  able  and 
successful  minister  of  the  gospel.  He  died  at  Sandusky  City,  Ohio, 
of  cholera,  after  an  illness  of  only  eleven  hours,  September  3d,  1852. 


HON.  ANDREW  C.  HULL, 


Fourth  son  of  Dr.  Titus  Hull,  held  the  office  of  first  judge  of  the 
court  for  Allegany  county.  New  York,  for  five  years.  He  has  held 
other  offices  of  honor  and  responsibility  in  the  community  where  he 
has  resided.  He  has  held  the  office  of  postmaster  under  four  differ- 
ent administrations.     He  is  a  man  of  intelligence  and  much  ability. 


GEN.  ELIAS  HULL, 

Third  son  of  Dr.  Titus  Hull,  was  born  in  Bethlehem  society,  April 
3d,  1786  ;  was  a  captain  in  the  war  of  1812,  having  volunteered  with 
an  independent  company,  which  he  raised  for  one  year.  He  served 
with  reputation  as  an  officer,  and  afterward  received  a  commission  as 
a  brigadier-general  in  the  militia  of  New  York.  He  now  resides  in 
Alabama,  where  he  is  a  practicing  attorney.  He  is  a  man  of  more 
than  ordinary  mental  and  acquired  abilities. 


SAMUEL  J.  HITCHCOCK,  LL.  D., 

Was  a  native  of  Bethlem,  a  graduate  and  a  tutor  in  Yale  College. 
He  was  for  many  years  an  instructor  of  law  in  that  institution  before 
his  death  in  1845.  He  was  mayor  of  the  city  of  New  Haven,  judge 
of  the  county  court,  and  a  commissioner  of  bankruptcy  under  the  na- 
tional bankrupt  law. 


HISTORT     OF     AXCIEXT     WOODBURY.  445 

REV.  PHILO  JUDSON, 

Is  the  son  of  Philo  Judson,  and  was  born  in  Woodbury  at  a  house 
which  formerly  occupied  the  site  of  Horace  Kurd's  new  house.  He 
graduated  at  Yale  College  in  1809,  and  settled  in  the  ministry  at 
Ashford,  Conn.,  in  1811.  Here  he  continued  to  labor  in  his  high 
calling  for  twenty-one  years,  during  which  time  the  church  was  vis- 
ited with  numerous  revivals  of  religion.  He  was  dismissed  from  this 
church  on  account  of  ill-health.  He  was  again  settled  at  Willimantic, 
having  been  previously  settled  for  a  short  time,  at  another  place. 
At  the  close  of  Dr.  Chapin's  ministry  he  was  called  to  Rocky  flill, 
Conn.  During  a  revival,  which  followed,  he  was  again  prostrated  by 
a  severe  attack  of  bleeding  from  the  lungs.  Since  that  time  he  has 
preached  very  little,  but  has  traveled  about  the  country  for  his  health, 
introducing  standard  books  into  the  common  and  other  schools. 

Mr.  Judson  was  a  classmate  of  Dr.  Xettleton,  and  has  labored 
much  with  him  during  seasons  of  revival  of  religion  in  various 
places.  There  are  few  ministers,  whose  labors  have  been  so  success- 
ful in  adding  members  to  the  Christian  church.  More  than  IGOO 
individuals  have  been  gathered  by  him  within  its  portals.  Sui-ely 
the  laborer  has  had  his  I'eward. 


REV.  SAMUEL  JUDSON. 


Rev.  Samuel  Judson,  son  of  Benjamin  Judson,  was  born  in  "Wood- 
bury, in  the  year  1767.  He  received  the  honors  of  Yale  College,  in 
1790,  and  was  ordained  and  installed  minister  at  Uxbridge,  Mass.,  in 
1792.  He  labored  in  this  field  of  the  gospel,  faithfully  and  success- 
fully, forty  years.  Mr.  Judson  held  a  respectable  standing  among 
the  ministers  of  his  age.  He  was  very  familiar  with  the  Scriptures, 
was  sound  in  the  faith,  and  plain  in  his  exiiibitions  of  gospel  doc- 
trines in  the  pulpit.  He  was  truly  a  godly  man.  He  loved  the 
work  to  which  his  divine  Master  had  called  him.  The  character  of 
Christ,  as  displayed  in  the  work  of  redemption,  was  the  loved  theme 
of  his  preaching  and  conversation.  Mr.  Judson  possessed  many 
amiable  traits  of  character.  His  kind  disposition  and  his  benevolent 
heart  endeared  him,  not  only  to  his  own  family  and  people,  but  also 
to  all  with  whom  he  held  intercourse.  He  was  beloved  in  life  ;  and, 
at  his  death,  he  was  universally  lamented. 


440  HISTOKV     OF     ANCIENT     AVOODBURT. 

REV.  albp:rt  JUDSOX. 

Rev.  Albert  Judt^on,  late  of  Pliiluclelpliia,  was  a  native  of  Wootl- 
Lury.  lie  was  boru  in  September,  171)8.  His  father,  Dea.  Benja- 
min Jiulson,  an  eminently  pious  officer  in  the  north  church,  made  an 
early  and  formal  consecration  of  this  son  to  the  work  of  the  gospel 
ministry.  While  yet  a  child,  he  evinred  an  uncommon  fondness  for 
study ;  and,  at  a  suitable  age,  he  was  sent  to  Lilchtield  to  be  pre- 
pared for  college.  It  was  while  here  that  his  attention  was  arrested, 
and  that  he  was  led  to  give  up  his  heart  to  God.  Soon  after,  he 
made  a  public  profession  of  his  faith  in  Christ.  He  received  the 
honors  of  Yale  College  at  the  age  of  twenty-three.  He  prosecuted 
his  theological  studies  in  the  city  of  New  York.  There  he  com- 
menced his  public  labors  as  an  agent  for  the  Sunday  School  Union, 
and  continued  in  its  employ  several  years.  When  he  entered  this 
interesting  field  of  labor,  the  whole  business  of  Sabbath  school  in- 
struction was  in  its  infancy.  No  suitable  text-books  for  the  assist- 
ance of  teachers  were  then  published.  To  this  beloved  brother,  the 
Christian  church  is  indebted  for  the  first  systematic  course  of  Scrip- 
ture questions,  adapted  to  this  purpose.  He  felt  the  necessity  of 
such  a  work ;  he  meditated  upon  it ;  he  asked  counsel  of  God  in 
secret ;  and  the  result  was,  the  volumes  entitled  "  Judson's  Ques- 
tions," were  thrown  from  the  press  into  the  hands  of  superintendents 
and  their  associates.  The  work  was  highly  commended,  and  exten- 
sively used,  in  our  country.  It  was  republished  in  England,  and 
was  the  means  of  giving  an  impulse  to  the  cause  of  Sabbath  schogls 
in  that  country,  beyond  any  Avork  which  had  then  been  published. 
The  author  has  often  been  heard  to  express  the  opinion,  that  the 
season  of  his  labors  in  the  cause  of  Sabbath  schools,  was  the  most 
important  and  useful  portion  of  his  ministry.  In  November,  1832, 
he  took  the  pastoral  charge  of  a  church  in  Philadelphia.  Here  his 
labors  were  attended  with  a  signal  blessing.  Year  after  year,  the 
reviving  influences  of  God's  spirit,  in  a  greater  or  less  degree,  were 
shed  down  upon  his  people. 

There  was  a  rare  combination  of  excellencies,  in  this  beloved 
man.  He  possessed,  naturally,  a  good  mind — he  had  a  wann  heart. 
His  disposition  was  amiable  and  cheerful,  to  a  high  degree.  As  a 
scholar,  and  as  a  theologian,  he  stood  in  the  higher  class  of  ministers. 
As  a  Christian,  few  indeed,  if  any,  have  been  more  pious  and  devo- 
ted. As  a  preacher,  he  was  plain,  solemn,  direct,  impressive.  The 
earnest  manner,  in  which  he  presented  and  pressed  home  the  truths 


HISTORY     OF     ANCIENT     WOODBURT.  447 

of  the  gospel,  was  eminently  adapted  to  carry  the  conviction  to  the 
minds  of  his  hearers,  that  his  whole  soul  was  intent  on  the  glory  of 
God  in  their  salvation. 

As  might  naturally  be  expected  of  such  a  man,  he  loved  revivals 
of  rehgion,  and  warmly  engaged  in  all  the  benevolent  enterprises  of 
the  day. 

His  last  sickness  was  protracted  and  painful ;  and  while  others 
had  no  hope  of  his  recovery,  he  could  not  believe  that  his  divine 
master  had  no  more  work  for  him  to  do  in  his  vineyard.  But  when 
told  that  his  physicians  had  pronounced  his  case  hopeless,  he  cheer- 
fully  said,  "  Then  I  must  set  my  house  m  order."  To  his  oldest  son 
he  said,  "  Remember  as  you  look  down  into  your  father's  grave,  the 
solemn  charge  which  I  now  give  you,  to  read  the  Bible  daily  on  your 
knees."  The  last  utterance  of  his  dying  lips  to  his  distressed  wife 
was,  "  Cast  yourself  at  the  door  of  God's  providence — he  will  sus- 
tain you — Christ  is  precious — in  his  atonement,  is  all  my  hope." 


REV.  EVERTON  JUDSON. 

The  subject  of  this  notice,  was  the  son  of  Asa  and  Sarah  Judson, 
and  was  born  in  "Woodbury,  December  8th,  1799.  He  was  descended 
on  both  sides  from  pious  ancestors.  His  paternal  grandfather,  Ben- 
jamin Judson,  is  represented  to  have  been  an  eminently  devoted 
Christian.  His  maternal  grandfather,  Matthew  Minor,  held  the 
office  of  deacon  in  the  Congregational  church  of  Woodbury,  for  the 
space  of  forty-three  years,  and  died  at  the  advanced  age  of  eighty- 
three  years.  Mr.  Judson  was  the  eldest  of  six  children,  and  in  his 
youth  was  prompt,  decided,  unyielding  in  his  opinion,  jocose  and 
sarcastic.  His  moral  chai-acter  and  conduct  were  always  unexcep- 
tionable. 

He  commenced  his  preparation  for  college  in  the  spring  of  1822, 
entered  the  sophomore  class  at  Yale  College,  in  the  fall  of  1823,  and 
graduated  at  that  institution  in  1826.  Durmg  his  course  of  study 
at  college  and  at  the  Theological  Seminary,  he  was  exceedingly  diffi- 
dent, rarely,  if  ever,  taking  any  part  in  public  literary  exercises. 
At  the  close  of  his  second  year  at  the  seminary,  he  became  an  agent 
of  the  American  Sunday  School  Union,  to  travel  in  the  west.  In 
the  summer  of  1829,  having  previously  returned  to  Connecticut,  he 
was  ordained  as  a  missionary  to  the  Home  Missionary  Society  in 


448  HISTORY     OF     ANCIENT     -SVOODBUKT. 

Woodbury,  by  the  Litchfield  south  consociation,  lie  again  -went  to 
Ohio,  and  commenced  preaching  at  Milan  toward  the  close  of  that 
year,  and  was  connected  in  ministerial  labor  with  the  church  in  that 
place,  till  the  close  of  his  life.  He  was  an  active  laborer  in  the  field 
allotted  to  him,  and  spent  his  life  in  projecting  and  carrying  into 
execution  plans  of  usefulness.  He  died  August  20th,  1848.  lie 
was  a  good  preacher,  holding  a  ready  pen,  and  having  an  ability  at 
the  same  time,  to  interest  and  instruct  in  extemporaneous  efforts. 
His  temperament  was  ardent,  and  his  conception  of  things  strong 
and  lively.  His  power  of  description  was  great,  nor  was  his  sarcas- 
tic power  less  remarkable.  When  he  chose,  he  could  assail  vice 
with  a  merciless  torrent  of  satire.  He  excelled  in  the  discharge  of 
pastoral  duties.  His  whole  soul  was  in  his  work,  and  he  guarded 
with  watchful  care  the  people  committed  to  his  charge.  He  had 
great  tact  in  approaching  men  of  all  classes  and  conditions,  He  was 
impetuous  in  his  feelings,  and  tenacious  of  his  purpose.  In  fine,  he 
was  an  excellent  specimen  of  an  energetic,  practical  man.  It  is  not 
deemed  necessary  to  extend  this  sketch,  as  an  excellent  memoir  of 
Mr.  Judson,  by  Rev.  E.  P.  Barrows,  Jr.,  has  been  published,  to  which 
the  reader  is  referred. 


REV.  ADONIRAM  JUDSON, 


Was  born  in  Woodbury,  and  baptized  July  15th,  1750.  He  grad- 
uated at  Yale  College  in  1775,  received  the  honorary  degree  of 
Master  of  Arts  from  Harvard,  in  1782,  and  was  pastor  of  the  Con- 
gregational churches  in  Maiden,  Wenham  and  Plymouth,  Mass.,  un- 
til 1817,  when  he  became  a  Baptist,  resigned  his  charge,  and  died 
soon  after.  His  son.  Rev.  Dr.  Adoniram,  graduated  at  Brown  Uni- 
versity, in  1807,  and  recently  died,  after  having  been  a  faithful  and 
successful  foreign  missionary,  in  the  Burman  empire,  for  forty  years.' 


REV.  EPHRAIM  JUDSON, 

The  eldest  cliild  of  Elnathan  and  Rebecca  Judson,  was  born  De- 


1  Rev.  Dr.  "Waj-land,  President  of  Brown  University,  is  preparing  the  memoir  of 
this  eminent  man.    It  will  be  looked  for  with  interest  by  the  religious  community. 


HISTORY     OF    ANCIENT     WOODBURY.  449 

cember  5th,  1737,  and  according  to  primitive  New  England  usage, 
was  baptized  the  next  Sabbath.  He  was  brother  of  the  preceding, 
and  graduated  at  Yale  College  in  17G3.  His  first  settlement  ia  the 
ministry  was  over  the  second  church  in  Norwich,  Conn.,  as  the  suc- 
cessor of  Doctor  Whittaker.  He  commenced  his  labors  in  Taunton, 
Mass.,  some  time  during  the  year  1780.  These  labors  for  the  space 
of  ten  years,  the  period  of  his  settlement,  were  of  a  very  decided 
and  positive  character.  In  the  pulpit,  and  out  of  it,  Mr.  Judson  left 
the  mark  of  a  strong  mind  upon  everything  he  touched.  His  peo- 
ple were  never  at  a  loss  to  know  what  he  believed.  He  was  the 
very  man  to  make  warm  friends,  and  was  just  as  sure  to  have  impla- 
cable enemies.  His  eccentricities  are  remembered  by  those  who 
have  forgotten  his  excellencies. 

He  was  stern  and  apparently  severe,  but  not  without  a  good  degree 
of  moderation  and  mildness.  He  was  very  precise  in  all  his  pi'o- 
ceedings. 

Notwithstanding  his  marked  peculiarities,  and  undesirable  oddities, 
Mr.  Judson  had  many  redeeming  qualities,  which  made  him  not  only 
as  a  preacher,  but  as  a  citizen  and  a  neighbor,  a  very  desirable  and 
useful  man.  One  who  knew  him  well,  says  of  him,  "  His  temper 
was  kind  and  hospitable,  and  his  deportment  courteous.  Occasion- 
ally, he  was  exceedingly  interesting  in  the  pulpit,  discovering  great 
learning  and  logical  acuteness.  His  manner,  when  he  commenced, 
was  slow  and  indolent,  but  always  solemn ;  as  he  proceeded,  he  be- 
came animated,  and  seldom  failed  before  the  close,  to  produce  a  deep 
interest  in  his  hearers." 

Mr.  Judson  was  dismissed  from  his  pastoral  charge  in  Taunton, 
December  28th,  1790.  He  was  subsequently  settled  in  Sheffield, 
Mass.,  where  he  continued  in  the  ministry,  until  his  death,  February 
23d,  1813,  in  the  seventy-sixth  year  of  his  age,  after  a  long  service 
in  the  ministry  of  nearly  fifty  years.  He  was  considered  a  learned 
divine,  an  acute  logician,  and  an  evangelical  preacher.  He  was 
mild,  courteous  and  hospitable.  By  his  numerous  friends  he  was 
deemed  a  wise  counselor,  an  active  peacemaker,  and  a  sincere 
Christian.* 


1  This  sketch  is  extracted  from  a  late  able  and  interesting  work  by  Rev.  Samuel 
Hopkins  Emery,  entitled  "  The  Ministry  of  Taunton,"  Mass. 


450  II  I  S  T  O  Jl  1'     OF     ANCIENT     AV  O  O  I)  B  V  U  Y . 


HON.  EPIIllAIM  KIRBY, 

"Was  born  in  Judea  society,  "Woodbury,  on  a  farm  now  owned  by 
Andrew  Ilinc,  Esq.  The  cellar  over  which  the  house  stood  still  ex- 
ists. It  is  situated  about  eighty  rods  from  Gen.  Daniel  B.  Brins- 
made's  dwelling-house,  and  to  this  day  goes  by  the  name  of  the 
"  Kirby  Farm.'"  His  father  was  a  farmer  in  moderate  circumstan- 
ces, and  E])hraim  was  employed  on  the  farm  during  his  boyhood. 
At  the  age  of  nineteen,  fired  with  the  patriotism  which  burst  into  a 
flame  througliout  the  country,  on  the  news  of  the  battle  of  Lexing- 
ton, he  shouldered  his  musket,  and  marched  with  the  volunteers  from 
Litchfield  to  the  scene  of  conflict,  in  time  to  be  present  at  the  battle 
of  Bunker  Hill.  He  remained  in  the  field  until  independence  was 
achieved,  with  only  a  few  intervals,  when  he  was  driven  from  it  by 
severe  wounds.  He  was  in  nineteen  battles  and  skirmishes — among 
them,  Brandywine,  Monmouth,  Germantown,  &c.,  and  received 
thirteen  wounds,  seven  of  which  were  saber-cuts  on  tlie  head,  in- 
flicted by  a  British  soldier  at  Germantown,  where  Kirby  was  left  for 
dead  upon  the  field.  These  "  honorable  scars,"  he  carried  with  him 
through  life. 

At  the  close  of  the  Revolution,  he  rejected  with  indignation  the 
offer  of  pecuniary  assistance  to  speculate  in  soldiers'  certificates,  by 
which  he  might  have  amassed  wealth  without  labor.  He  would  not 
tarnish  the  glory  of  the  cause  of  freedom,  by  thus  taking  advantage 
of  the  necessities  of  his  comrades  in  arms — preferring,  penniless  as 
he  was,  but  conscious  of  the  fire  within,  to  take  a  more  congenial 
road  to  eminence.  By  the  labor  of  his  own  hands,  he  earned  the 
price  of  his  education.  He  was  for  some  time  a  member  of  Yale 
College,  and  in  1787,  received  the  honorary  degree  of  Master  of 
Arts,  from  that  institution.  Mr.  Kirby  studied  law  in  the  office  of 
Reynold  Marvin,  Esq.,  who  had  been  king's  attorney  before  the  war, 
and  who  relinquished  the  office  for  the  purpose  of  engaging  with  all 
his  might  in  the  great  struggle  for  independence.  After  he  was  ad- 
mitted to  the  bar,  Mr.  Kirby  was  married  to  Ruth  Marvin,  the  excel- 
lent and  accomplished  daughter  of  his  distinguished  patron  and  pre- 
ceptor. 


1  Mr.  Kilbourni',  in  liis  "  Litchfield  Biography,"  from  which  most  of  this  sketch  is 
taken,  says  ]\Ir.  Kirby  uas  a  native  of  Litchfield,  but  the  birthplace  here  given,  is 
well  attested  by  the  best  authority. 


HISTORY     OF     ANCIENT     WOODBURY.  451 

In  1791,  Col.  Kirby  was  for  the  first  time  elected  a  representative 
to  the  legislature— a  post  of  honor  and  responsibility  to  which  he 
was  subsequently  re-chosen  at  thirteen  semi-annual  elections.  As  a 
legislator,  he  was  always  distinguished  for  the  dignity  of  his  de- 
])ortment,  for  his  comprehensive  and  enlightened  views,  for  the  liber- 
ality of  his  sentiments,  and  for  his  ability,  firmness  and  decision. 

On  the  election  of  Jefferson  to  the  presidency,  in  1801,  Col.  Kirby 
was  appointed  supervisor  of  the  national  revenue  for  the  state  of 
Connecticut.  About  this  period,  he  was  for  several  years  a  candi- 
date for  the  office  of  governor.  Upon  the  acquisition  of  Louisiana, 
the  president  appointed  him  a  judge  of  the  then  newly  organized 
territory  of  Orleans.  Having  accepted  the  station,  he  set°out  for 
New  Orleans  ;  but  he  was  not  destined  to  reach  that  place.  Having 
proceeded  as  far  as  Fort  Stoddard,  in  the  Mississippi  territory,  lie 
was  taken  sick,  and  died  October  2d,  1804,  aged  forty-seven— at  a 
period  when  a  wide  career  of  public  usefulness  seemed  opening  upon 
him.  His  remains  were  interred  with  the  honors  of  war,  and  other 
demonstrations  of  respect. 

While  ux  the  practice  of  law  in  Litchfield,  in  1789,  he  published 
a  volume  of  reports  of  the  decisions  of  the  superior  court  and  su- 
preme court  of  errors  in  this  state.  This  was  a  novel  undertaking, 
being  the  first  volume  of  reports  ever  published  in  this  country.  It 
was  executed  with  faithfulness,  judgment  and  ability,  and  is  still  re- 
garded as  authority  in  all  our  courts.  Col.  Kirby  was  a  man  of  the 
highest  moral  as  well  as  physical  courage — devoted  in  his  feelings 
and  aspirations — warm,  generous  and  constant  in  his  attachments — 
and  of  indomitable  energy.  He  was,  withal,  gentle  and  winning  in 
his  manners,  kindly  in  his  disposition,  and  naturally  of  an  ardent 
and  cheei'ful  temperament,  though  the  last  £ew  years  of  his  life  were 
saddened  by  heavy  pecuniary  misfortunes.  As  a  lawyer,  he  was 
remarkable  for  frankness  and  downright  lioncsty  to  his  clients, 
striving  always  to  prevent  litigation,  uniformly  allaying  irritation  and 
effecting  compromises,  and  only  prosecuting  with  energy  the  just  and 
good  cause,  against  the  bad.  He  enjoyed  the  friendship  of  many 
sages  of  the  Revolution,  his  correspondence  with  whom,  would  fonn 
interesting  materials  for  the  history  of  his  time  ;  but,  unfortunately, 
almost  all  of  it  was  lost  at  sea,  between  New  York  and  St.  Augus- 
tine, some  twenty-five  years  ago.  A  few  letters  to  and  from  Presi- 
dent Jefferson  are,  however,  still  preserved  by  Col.  Edmund  Kirby, 
of  Brownville.  N.  Y..  which  are  interesting  as  showing  the  relations 


452  HISTORY     OF    ANCIENT     WOODBURT. 

of  confidence  existing  between  (he  subject  of  this  notice,  and  that 
great  statesman. 

Mrs.  Kirbj  died  at  Litchfield,  in  October,  1817,  aged  fifty-three. 


NICHOLAS  S.  MASTERS,  ESQ., 

Was  born  in  the  parish  of  Judea,  Woodbury ;  was  educated  at 
Yale  College,  where  he  graduated  in  1779 ;  read  law  with  Daniel 
Everitt,  Esq.,  and  settled  in  New  Milford  in  the  practice  of  his  pro- 
fession, immediately  after  his  admission  to  the  bar,  about  the  year 
1785.  He  continued  to  practice  there  until  his  death,  Sept.  12, 1795, 
in  the  thirty-eighth  year  of  his  age.  He  was  a  member  of  the  Gen- 
eral Assembly  in  May,  1792,  and  again  in  May,  1794. 


REV.  ELISHA  MITCHELL,  D.  D., 

Is  a  native  of  Judea  society,  Washington  ;  graduated  at  Yale  Col- 
lege in  1813,  and  is  now  Professor  of  Natural  Philosophy  in  the  Uni- 
versity of  North  Carolina,  residing  at  Chapel  Hill.  The  materials 
for  a  sketch  of  Prof.  Mitchell  have  not  reached  the  author. 


REV.  JUSTUS  MITCHELL,  V.  D.  M., 

Was  a  native  of  Woodbury,  graduated  at  Yale  College  in  1776, 
married  a  sister  of  Roger  Sherman,  signer  of  the  Declaration  of  In- 
dependence, and  was  settled  over  the  Congregational  church  of  New 
Canaan  in  1783,  where  he  continued  to  reside  till  his  death  in  180G. 
He  was  a  talented  and  useful  man  in  the  sphere  of  his  labors. 

The  following  inscription,  copied  from  his  monument  in  the  old 
graveyard  in  New  Canaan,  contains  an  epitome  of  the  history  of  his 
life  and  character. 

"In  memory  of  the  Rev.  Justus  Mitchell,  A.  M.,  V.  D.  M.,  pastor  of  the 
Church  of  Christ  in  New  Canaan,  who  died  suddenly  in  the  hour  of  sleep,  24th 
September,  A.  D.  1S06,  in  the  iifty-second  year  of  his  age,  and  twenty-fifth  of 
his  ministry.  In  death  was  lost  to  his  consort,  an  affectionate  and  beloved  hus- 
band; to  his  children  a  kind,  revered  parent,  counsellor  and  guide;  to  his  flock 
a  faithful,  learned  and  venerated  pastor  ;  to  the  Church  of  Christ  a  bright  or- 


HISTORY     OF    AXCIENT     WOODBURY.  453 

rmmcnt   and   example;  to   the  poor  a  liberal  benefactor ;  to  the  disconsolate  a 
comforter  and  friend. 

"  In  doctrine  uncorrupt,  in  language  plain. 
And  plain  in  manner,  decent,  solemn,  chaste. 
Affectionate  in  look,  and  much  impress'd. 
By  him  the  violated  law  spoke  out 
Its  thunders ;  and  by  him  in  strains  as  sweet 
As  angels  use,  the  gospel  whisper'd  peace." 


REV.  FREDERICK  MUNSON, 

Was  born  in  Bethlem,  graduated  at  Yale  College  in  1843,  studied 
theology  at  J^ast  Windsor  and  New  Haven,  was  licensed  to  preach 
in  1845  by  the  Hampshire  Association  in  Massachusetts,  and  was  or- 
dained over  the  Congregational  church  in  North  Greenwich,  Sept. 
22,  1847. 


REV.  RUFUS  MURRAY, 

Is  the  youngest  son  of  Philo  Murray,  Esq.,  and  was  born  at  Wood- 
bury in  1796.  His  education  was  completed  under  the  instruction 
of  Rev.  Dr.  Brunson,  who  was  at  the  head  of  the  institution  at  Chesh- 
ire, where  most  of  the  clergy  of  the  Episcopal  denomination  at  that 
day  were  educated,  it  being  at  that  time  the  only  institution  in  Con- 
necticut under  the  patronage  of  that  church.  He  followed  his  fam- 
ily to  Ohio,  and  was  ordained  deacon  by  Bishop  chase,  in  1822. 
He  was  soon  after  called  to  the  rectorship  at  St.  Paul's  Church, 
Mayville,  Chatauque  Co.,  New  York,  where  he  received  priest's  or- 
ders from  the  Rt.  Rev.  Bishop  Hobart.  He  remained  in  western 
New  York,  discharging  his  ministerial  duties  with  pleasure  to  him- 
self and  profit  to  his  church,  many  years.  He  is  now  settled  at 
Adrian  City,  Michigan,  in  a  flourishing  parish,  much  esteemed  as  a 
faithful  and  popular  preacher,  and  much  beloved  by  his  parishioners. 


COL.  AMASA  PARKER, 


Was  born  in  1784,  in  that  part  of  Ancient  Woodbury  known  as 
Judea  society,  in  the  neighborhood  of  the  Hollisters,  Hazens,  Hinea 


454  IIISTOKY     OF     ANCIENT     WOODBURY. 

and  Royces.  He  was  named  Amasa,  after  li's  fatlier,  and  had  a 
brother  Daniel,  a  clergyman  and  teacher  in  Sharon,  many  years 
since.  The  latter  left  one  son,  Amasa  J.  Parker,  who  is  one  of  the  justi- 
ces of  the  supreme  court,  and  resides  at  Albany,  N.  Y.  He  studied  his 
profession  with  the  subject  of  tliis  sketch,  and  has  distinguished  him- 
self as  a  jurist.  Thomas,  grandfather  of  Col.  Parker,  removed  from 
Wallingford  in  175G,  and  lived  in  Judea  till  his  death  in  1788.  He 
left  six  sons,  Peter,  Thomas,  Amasa,  Abner,  Joseph  and  Daniel,  all 
of  whom  were  whigs  of  the  Revolulion.  After  the  war,  Peter  moved 
to  the  state  of  New  York. 

Col.  Parker  graduated  at  Yale  College  in  1808,  read  law  princi- 
pally in  the  law  school  of  Judges  Gould  and  Reeve,  at  Litchfield,  and 
was  there  admitted  to  tlie  bar.  He  shortly  afterward  removed  to 
Delhi,  Delaware  County,  N.  Y.,  and  has  ever  since  resided  there, 
being  a  period  of  forty  years.  He  has  devoted  himself  wholly  to  the 
practice  of  his  profession,  in  which  he  has  become  eminent,  and  en- 
joyed an  extensive  practice.  He  has  never  sought  office,  but  has 
nevertheless  held  several  offices,  civil  and  military.  He  was  for 
eight  years,  surrogate  for  Delaware  county.  In  1847,  after  the  adop- 
tion of  the  present  constitution  of  New  York,  he  was  offi^red  the  nom- 
ination for  justice  of  the  supreme  court,  on  a  ticket  Avhich  was  sure 
of  an  election ;  but  he  declined  the  nomination,  choosing  rather  the 
honors  of  a  successful  legal  practice,  and  the  quiet  enjoyment  of  pri- 
vate life. 


COL.  HENRY  PERRY, 


A  youthful  and  gallant  hero,  who  was  killed  on  the  confines  of 
Mexico  in  1817,  whilst  bravely  contending  for  the  cause  of  civil  lib- 
erty in  that  interesting  section  of  America,  was  from  his  earliest 
youth  a  resident  of  Woodbury.  Col.  Perry  was  one  of  those  heroic 
and  chivalrous  youth,  whose  courage  springs  from  the  noblest  impulse 
of  nature,  an  enthusiastic  love  of  liberty,  and  a  generous  sympathy 
for  all  who  are  the  unfortunate  subjects  of  despotic  power.  He  was 
engaged  as  a  volunteer  in  the  glorious  defense  of  New  Orleans,  and 
after  the  peace,  joined  the  patriot  army  of  Mexico.  He  had  the 
command  of  a  detachment  of  men  under  Mina,  and  was  distinguished 
for  his  zeal,  his  courage,  and  his  enterprise,  during  the  short  career 
of  that  unfortunate  general,  whose  fate,  and  tliat  of  the  gallant  Perry's, 


HISTORY     OF     ANCIENT     WOODBURY.  455 

were  associated  by  that  providence  which  governs  the  destinies  of 


man. 


REV.  GEORGE  E.  PIERCE,  D.  D., 

Is  a  native  of  that  part  of  Ancient  Woodbury  now  included  in  the 
town  of  Southbury.  He  graduated  at  Yale  College  in  1816,  studied 
theology,  and  settled  in  Harwinton  ;  preached  there  some  years,  when 
he  was  elected  President  of  Western  Reserve  College,  Ohio,  which 
office  he  still  continues  to  hold.  The  degree  of  Doctor  of  Divinity 
was  conferred  upon  him  a  few  years  ago  by  Middlebury  College. 


REV.  CHARLES  PRENTICE.-' 

Was  born  in  Bethlehem  society,  Woodbury,  in  1778,  and  graduated 
at  Yale  College  in  1802.  Small  and  rather  feeble,  but  symmetrical 
in  form,  he  had  a  pleasant  and  honest  countenance,  suggestive  of  Na- 
thaniel, whom  our  Saviour  saw  under  the  fig-tree.  A  man  of  uncom- 
mon gift  in  prayer,  he  had  his  "  conversation  in  the  world"  by  the 
grace  of  God,  in  simplicity  and  godly  sincerity.  With  a  sound  mind, 
a  warm  heart,  and  devoted  piety,  it  seemed  to  be  his  meat  and  drink 
to  do  the  will  of  his  Heavenly  Father.  In  the  pulpit  and  in  the  so- 
cial meeting,  he  spoke  with  great  ease  and  earnestness.  As  his  man- 
ner everywhere  among  his  people  was  very  affectionate,  he  could 
'•  reprove,  rebuke  and  exhort,"  with  little  risk  of  giving  offense.  The 
poet  has  well  described  his  pastoral  course,  in  saying  of  "  the  good 
minister :" 

"  Prompt  at  every  call, 
He  weeps  and  watches,  prays  and  feels  for  all ; 
And  as  a  bird  each  fond  endearment  tries 
To  tempt  its  unfledged  offspring  to  the  skies, 
He  tries  each  art,  reproves  each  dull  delay. 
Allures  to  brighter  worlds,  and  leads  the  way." 

The  last  sickness  of  Mr.  Prentice,  long  and  painful,  he  bore  with 
much  Christian  patience,  and  with  assured  hope  and  faith.     Ilis  cov- 


1  Niles  and  Pease's  Gazetteer  of  Connecticut  and  Rhode  Island,  p.  267. 

2  Bev.  Mr.  Yale's  Discourse  at  Litchfield,  July,  1852. 


456  HISTORY     OF     ANCIENT     WOODBURY. 

enant  God  was  with  him  in  the  furnace  to  purify  and  not  consume  ; 
to  brighten  his  graces,  and  complete  his  preparation  for  the  faithful 
minister's  home.  After  thirty-four  years  of  arduous  labor,  the  much- 
loved  and  highly  useful  minister  of  South  Canaan,  passed  to  his  rest, 
May  29,  1838,  aged  sixty  years. 


MAJOR  AMOS  STODDARD. 


The  subject  of  this  sketch,  while  on  a  visit  to  England,  gave  con- 
siderable attention  to  the  investigation  of  the  history  of  his  ancestry. 
He  found  that  his  English  ancestors  were  Puritans,  and  traces  them 
back  to  1490,  at  which  time  one  of  them  lived  in  the  hamlet  of  Mot- 
tingham,  in  Kent,  about  seven  miles  from  London  Bridge,  where  he 
owned  some  three  hundred  or  four  hundred  acres  of  land.  One  of 
the  descendants  of  the  latter,  Anthony  Stoddard,  emigrated  to  Bos- 
ton, Mass.,  where  he  died,  about  the  year  167G.  From  that  period 
to  the  present,  a  very  full  genealogy  of  the  family  was  prepared  by 
Elijah  W.  Stoddard,  in  1849,  in  which  year  he  graduated  at  Amherst 
College.  The  principal  part  of  that  publication  will  appear  in  the 
genealogies,  which  will  be  found  in  the  next  chapter  of  this  volume. 

Major  Stoddard  was  born  at  "Woodbury,  Oct.  26,  1762.  His 
father  was  Anthony,  third  son  of  Eliakim,  who  was  the  second  son 
of  Rev.  Anthony,  the  first  of  the  name  that  settled  in  Woodbury. 
His  mother's  name  was  Read,  a  half-sister  of  Richard  Smith,  of  Rox- 
bury  parish,  father  of  Judge  Nathaniel  Smith.  When  he  was  a  few 
months  old,  his  father  removed  to  Lanesborough,  Mass.  In  an  auto- 
biography of  himself,  he  says,  "  that  if  in  childhood  he  possessed  any 
valuable  qualities,  they  were  a  strong  memory  and  an  aptness  at  ac- 
quiring whatever  he  aimed  at.  That  at  eight  years  of  age  he  was 
able  to  read  the  Scriptures  with  fluency,  and  with  a  passable  pronun- 
ciation. His  memory  secured  and  retained  whatever  he  read."  As 
an  illustration  of  the  latter  faculty  he  says,  "  The  battles  of  the  Jews 
made  strong  impressions  on  my  mind,  and  I  used  to  recite  from  mem- 
ory the  whole  of  the  books  of  Samuel,  Kings  and  Chronicles.  The 
prayers  I  heard  at  school  in  the  daytime,  I  frequently  repeated  to 
my  mother  in  the  evening.  I  was  more  than  once  called  on  to  recite 
the  sermon  I  had  just  heard,  and  always  succeeded — once  indeed  in 
the  presence  of  the  parson,  who  had  his  notes  before  him."  But,  he 
Bays,  "  If  my  mind  was  tenacious,  I  wanted  ideas.     If  my  ear  was 


UISTORT     OF     ANCIENT     AVOODBURY.  457 

pleascil  with  lieuring,  or  reading  an  eloquent  sermon,  or  any  other 
composition,  my  mind  was  too  weak  to  profit  by  it ;  and  I  remember 
to  have  read  many  poetic  effiisions,  wliioh  filled  me  with  warmth  and 
animation,  though  I  did  not  comprehend  their  meaning.  Perhaps 
this  is  the  case  with  all  children  ;  but  I  mention  these  trifles  to  show 
that  the  lapse  of  forty  years  has  not  erased  them  from  my  mind." 

Xotwaihstanding  Major  Stoddard's  low  estimate  of  his  intellectual 
powers,  as  indicated  in  these  extracts,  yet  it  is  unquestionably  true, 
that  he  possessed  no  ordinary  mind,  as  his  after  life,  and  the  estima- 
tion in  which  his  literary  and  scientific  attainments  were  held  by  oth- 
ers, abundantly  show.  lie  entered  the  army  early  in  1779,  as  a  pri- 
vate poldiei*,  before  he  was  seventeen  years  of  age,  and  was  mustered 
into  service  at  "West  Point  by  Baron  Steuben.  Illustrative  of  the 
spirit  by  which  he  and  thousands  of  others  were  actuated  at  that 
eventful  period,  he  states,  that  he  was  at  the  time  small  of  his  age 
and  fearing  that  his  small  stature  would  induce  the  baron  to  reject 
him,  he  "  gathered  the  dirt  under  his  heels,"  to  increase  his  height. 
He  remained  in  service  until  the  army  was  disbanded,  when  he  re- 
turned home  a  non-commissioned  officer,  less  than  twenty  years  of 
age.  During  his  service  in  the  army,  he  contracted  no  habits  of  dis- 
sipation ;  and  notwithstanding  the  vicissitudes  of  several  arduous 
campaigns,  the  vigor  of  his  constitution  was  much  increased,  so  much 
so  that  he  was  six  feet  in  height,  and  possessed  of  so  much  vigor  of 
body,  that  a  march  of  forty  miles  a  day  created  little  or  no  fatigue. 
In  the  spring  of  1781,  he  removed  to  Boston,  and  obtained  a  clerk- 
ship in  the  office  of  the  su{)reme  court,  under  Charles  Gushing,  a 
brother  of  the  chief  justice,  and  was  a  member  of  his  family  for  two 
years,  during  which  time  he  studied  diligently,  and  laid  the  foundation 
of  an  education  which  rendered  him  an  able  writer.  During  the 
same  period,  he  wrote  much  for  the  newspapers,  and  so  ardent  was 
he  in  the  acquisition  of  knowledge,  that  in  one  year  he  read  one  hun- 
dred and  fifty  volumes. 

In  1786,  the  Shays  rebellion  began  to  rear  its  head,  and  Congress 
authorized  the  raising  of  two  regiments  of  infantry,  to  be  commanded 
by  Cols.  Jackson  and  Iluraphrey.  In  one  of  these.  Major  Stoddard 
was  commissioned  as  an  ensign,  and  was  actively  engaged  under  Gen, 
Lincoln  in  suppressing  it.  After  the  suppression  of  that  once  cele- 
brated, but  now  almost  forgotten  outbreak  of  popular  feeling,  Mr. 
Stoddard  returned  to  Boston,  and  went  thence  to  England  in  17!)1  and 
1792.  After  his  return  from  Europe,  he  resumed  his  studies,  and 
in  April,  1793,  he  was  admitted  to  the  bar,  and  afterward  in  1798, 
30 


458  HISTORY     OF     ANCIENT     WOODBUUY. 

he  was  commissioned,  by  the  president,  a  captain  in  the  second  regi- 
ment of  artillerists  and  engineers,  and  was  promoted  in  1800  or  1807, 
in  the  same  regiment,  to  the  rank  which  he  held  at  the  time  of  his 
death. 

On  the  21th  of  January,  1801,  jMajor  (then  Capt.)  Stoddard,  re- 
ceived a  commission  as  first  civil  commandant  of  Upper  Louisiana, 
from  Gov.  Clairborne,  who,  as  "  Governor  of  the  Mississippi  terri- 
toiy,"  exercised  the  powers  of  "  Governor-General  and  Intendant  of 
the  province  of  Louisiana,"  and  under  that  authority,  he  repaired  to 
St.  Louis  to  receive  the  surrender  from  the  French  authorities  of 
that  portion  of  the  newly  ceded  territory,  together  with  the  public  ar- 
chives. Here,  for  a  considerable  time,  he  exercised  all  the  powers 
of  government,  to  the  general  acceptance  of  the  inhabitants.  He  re- 
mained at  St.  Louis,  and  on  the  other  side  of  the  Mississippi,  in  com- 
mand, and  as  "  intendant,"  two  or  three  years,  and  then  returned  to 
the  seat  of  government.  He  was  soon  stationed  at  New  York,  and  in 
the  garrisons  in  the  neighborhood,  until  the  commencement  of  the 
war  of  1812. 

While  he  resided  in  the  west,  he  gathered  materials,  and  afterward 
published  a  volume  entitled  "  Sketches,  historical  and  descriptive,  of 
Louisiana,  by  Major  Amos  Stoddard,  U.  S.,  M.  P.  S.,  and  New  York 
Historical  Society."  This  work  was  published  at  Philadelphia,  and 
the  preface  bears  date,  "  Fort  Columbus,  1812."  At  the  time  of  its 
publication,  and  for  several  years  afterward,  it  was  a  standard  au- 
thority on  the  subjects  of  which  it  treats,  and  is  still  regarded  as  a 
valuable  addition  to  the  history  of  the  country,  exhibiting  its  author 
in  a  favorable  light  as  a  writer. 

At  the  commencement  of  the  war  of  1812,  Major  Stoddard  had  be- 
come wholly  unfit  for  active  field  service,  and  he  was,  at  the  time  of 
his  death,  an  exceedingly  corpulent  man. 

When  the  government  had  determined  upon  a  prosecution  of  the 
war  on  the  western  frontier,  and  appointed  Gen.  Hull  to  the  com- 
mand on  that  line  of  operations.  Major  Stoddard  was  selected  from 
the  engineer  corps,  and  ordered  to  Pittsburg,  to  superintend  and  for- 
ward from  that  military  station,  the  ordnance,  materials,  &c.,  which 
should  be  judged  necessary  for  the  prosecution  of  the  campaign,  with 
the  understanding,  that  he  should  not  be  required  to  go  any  farther 
west.  But  upon  the  surrender  of  Hull,  the  emergency  was  so  press- 
ing, and  Fort  Meigs  was  so  important  as  a  military  post  for  the  pro- 
tection of  all  the  settlements  south  of  the  lakes,  in  Ohio,  that  he  was 
ordered  to  repair  to  that  post,  and  prepare  it  for  a  defense  against 


HISTORY     OF     ANCIENT     WOODBURY.  459 

the  attack  which  it  Avas  anticipated  would  be  made  upon  it,  by  the 
combined  British  and  Indian  forces.  It  was  doubtless  owing  greatly 
to  IMajor  Stoddard's  judicious  and  scientific  preparation  of  the  fort 
for  attack,  that  Gen.  Harrison  was  enabled  to  make  his  successful  de- 
fense. During  this  siege,  in  1813,  Major  Stoddard  received  a  wound, 
of  which  he  died. 

The  foregoing  sketch  has  been  compiled  from  copious  minutes 
kindly  furnished  the  author  by  Col.  Henry  Stoddard,  of  Dayton,  Ohio. 
He  obtained  them  from  the  papers  of  Major  Stoddard,  Avhich  came 
into  his  possession  after  much  inquiry  for  them  for  many  years.  His 
military  chest,  containing  these  papers,  shamefully  mutilated,  and 
many  of  them  partially  destroyed,  was  found  at  the  house  of  a 
nephew  of  his  in  Mahoning  county,  Ohio.  Others  have  been  found 
among  the  papers  of  the  late  Judge  Lawless,  of  St.  Louis, Mo.  Many 
of  them  are  of  much  historic  value,  and  are  to  be  sent  to  an  appro- 
priate place  for  pi-eservation,  by  Col.  Stoddard. 


COL.  HENRY  STODDARD. 


This  gentleman,  now  residing  in  Dayton,  Ohio,  is  a  descendant  of  the 
Rev.  Anthony  Stoddard,  and  was  born  at  Woodbury,  in  1786.  In 
common  with  others  he  attended  the  district  school.  Necessity  lent 
her  aid  in  forming  his  character,  his  father,  Capt.  Asa  Stoddard,  be 
ing  unable  to  afford  any  greater  facilities  of  education  than  those  at 
that  period  found  in  the  district  school-house.  At  about  fifteen  years 
of  age,  he  was  put  into  a  store  at  Roxbury,  under  the  control  of 
Isaac  E.  Judson,  then  extensively  engaged  in  commercial  pursuits, 
lie  remained  in  this  employment  until  about  the  year  1813,  when 
Mr.  Judson's  failure  in  business  changed  his  destiny.  He  had  im- 
proved essentially  in  this  occupation,  and  with  commendable  perse- 
verance attained  considerable  progress  under  the  teaching  of  the 
Rev.  Mr.  Swift,  the  Congregational  minister  at  Roxbury.  About 
1813,  he  commenced  the  study  of  the  law  in  the  office  of  Royal  R. 
Hinman,  Esq.,  then  a  practitioner  at  Roxbury.  He  was  admitted  to 
the  bar  at  Litchfield,  about  the  year  1815,  and  soon  after  opened  an 
office  at  Kent,  in  Litchfield  county,  where,  following  his  profession 
with  tact  and  perseverance,  he  attained  a  fair  practice  ;  but  he  felt  he 
was  formed  for  a  larger  theater  than  his  native  county  afforded,  and 
in  1818,  he  left  Kent,  to  seek  his  fortune  in  the  "  far  west."  On 
\ 


460  HISTORY     OF     ANCIENT     WOODBUUY. 

horseback,  in  company  with  Hon.  George  B.  Holt,  he  left  Connecti- 
cut, pursuing  his  journey  to  what  was  then  deemed  the  "  ultima 
thule."  He  reached  Dayton,  Ohio,  then  a  village  of  some  GOO  in- 
habitants, and  opened  an  office,  as  did  Judge  Holt.  The  usual  re- 
Avards  awaiting  industry,  perseverance,  tact,  sagacity  and  prudence, 
followed,  and  he  won  confidence,  employment  and  respect.  Perhaps 
no  man  so  well  understood  the  potency  of  a  single  word,  ''smig"  in  its 
best  sense.  He  finished  all  he  undertook,  and  finished  it  as  early  as 
it  could  be  accomplished.  Possessing  shrewdness,  a  discriminating 
and  reflecting  mind,  he  attained  wealth  by  his  professional  labors 
alone.  He  was  distinguished  for  professional  excellence  in  the  large 
judicial  circuit  in  which  he  practiced. 

About  the  year  1825,  he  was  advised  that  Major  Amos  Stoddard 
had  probably  left  a  large  landed  estate  at  St.  Louis,  and  was  solicited 
by  those  entitled  to  inherit  from  Major  Stoddard,  to  undertake  the 
agency  of  examining  the  title,  and  vindicating  it.  He  repaired  to 
St.  Louis,  and  found  that  the  estate  of  Major  Stoddard  would  ulti- 
mately be  of  immense  value.  Before  he  buckled  on  his  armor  for 
the  conflict,  he  laid  aside  from  his  own  fortune  fifty  thousand  dollars, 
that  should  remain  a  fund  for  his  family,  not  jeopardized  by  the  fate 
of  this  operation.  After  a  stern  collision  of  master  minds  in  this  ju- 
dicial combat,  he  was  successful,  and  the  Major  Stoddard  title  was 
estabhshed  by  the  supreme  court  of  the  United  States.  In  1851,  the 
whole  estate  was  sold  under  a  deci-ee  in  chancery  for  nearly  nine 
hundred  thousand  dollars.  This  large  fund,  of  course,  afforded  legiti- 
mate means  of  acquisition,  and  Mr.  Stoddard  found  himself  from  a 
poor  forlorn  boy  in  1810,  able  in  1850  to  set  himself  down  as  a  mil- 
lionaire. His  fortune  is  estimated  at  eight  hundred  thousand  dollars. 
His  industry  and  perseverance  have  become  habitual,  and  he  enjoys 
this  great  possession  with  the  consciousness  that  fortune  has  not 
accidentally  bestowed  it.  An  early  friend  who  introduced  him  at 
Dayton,  recently  remarked  to  him,  that  he  possessed  all  the  elements 
of  human  happiness,  the  largest  fortune,  the  handsomest  wife,  and  the 
most  intelligent  family  of  any  man  in  Ohio. 

Mr.  Stoddard  is  preeminently  a  business  man.  He  was  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Ohio  legislature  for  a  few  sessions,  but  always  looked  to 
better  things  than  political  influence,  and  its  "beggarly  account  of 
empty  boxes." 


HISTORY     OF     ANCIENT     TVOODBURV.  461 


HON.  PERRY  SMITH, 

Was  a  native  of  Judea,  Woodburj^,  and  settled  in  tlie  practice  of 
the  profession  of  the  law,  in  New  Milford,  Conn.,  soon  after  his  ad- 
mission to  the  bar  of  Litchfield  county,  about  the  year  1807.  He 
was  elected  a  member  of  the  General  Assembly,  in  the  years  1822 
and  1823,  and  again  in  the  years  1835  and  1836.  During  the  latter 
session,  he  was  appointed  a  Senator  of  the  United  States,  for  six 
years  from  the  4th  of  March  following.  He  was  also  appointed 
judge  of  probate  for  the  year  1833,  and  again  for  the  year  1835. 
On  being  elected  Senator,  he  gave  up  the  practice  of  the  law,  which 
he  had  pursued  until  that  time. 


HON.  NATHAN  SMITH,' 

Of  New  Haven,  was  born  in  Roxbury  parish,  Woodbury,  in  an  old 
house,  which  formerly  stood  nearly  opposite  the  dwelling-house  of 
Mr.  Ezekiel  Beardsley,  in  the  year  1770.  He  was  a  son  of  Richard 
Smith,  and  brother  of  the  late  Hon.  Nathaniel  Smith,  whose  biogra- 
phy appears  in  this  volume.  His  mother  Avas  a  daughter  of  Benja- 
min Hurd,  and  grand-daughter  of  Benjamin  Hinman,  of  tliis  town. 
The  parents  of  the  subject  of  this  sketch  were  poor,  plain,  unaspiring 
people,  yet  among  their  descendants  have  been  some  of  the  most  em- 
inent lawyers  and  statesmen  of  the  commonwealth. 

On  arriving  at  a  suitable  age,  Nathan  was  transferred  from  otlier 
pursuits  to  the  office  of  his  brother,  and  afterward  to  that  of  Judge 
Reeve,  to  learn  the  "  art  and  mystery"  of  the  law ;  and  in  due  time 
he  was  admitted  to  the  bar  of  his  native  county.  He  commenced 
the  practice  of  his  profession  at  New  Haven,  where  he  continued  to 
reside  till  his  death.  Slowly  but  surely  he  won  his  way  to  the  high- 
est professional  eminence.  Indeed,  he  was  an  enthusiast  in  the  pro- 
fession he  had  chosen,  ever  regarding  success  therein,  as  the  goal  of 
his  ambition.  Consequently  he  studied  the  standard  legal  authors  of 
England  and  America,  thoroughly  and  systematically.  No  practi- 
tioner in  the  Connecticut  courts  better  understood  the  law  in  all  its 
intricacies,  and  no  one  could  more  effectually  impress  the  minds  of  a 
jury  with  his  own  views  and  feelings  on  any  case  than  he.     The  thc- 

1  This  sketch  of  Mr.  Smith  is  taken  from  Kilbourne's  Litchfield  Biography, 


462  nisTOUY   of   ancient   woodbuuy. 

oretical  and  practical,  the  profound  and  witty,  were  so  happily  blended 
in  his  argumonts,  that  while  they  attracted  the  admiration  of  tiie  lis- 
tener, they  were  almost  certain  of  securing  the  wished  for  verdict. 
His  wonderful  success  at  the  bar,  however,  must  n6t  be  jxttributed 
solely  to  his  talents  and  ingenuity.  His  strict  regard  for  justice  and 
right,  would  not  permit  him  to  plead  a  case  which  he  knew  to  be 
grossly  unrighteous.  Before  enlisting  his  services  in  any  cause,  he 
was  wont  to  examine  minutely  the  main  facts  and  circumstances  con- 
nected with  it,  and  if  convinced  of  its  justice,  he  entered  upon  the 
discharge  of  his  duties  to  his  client  with  his  whole  soul,  and  rarely 
failed'of  coming  off  victorious.  It  was  his  own  manifest  confidence 
in  the  goodness  of  the  cause  he  advocated,  united  to  a  knowledge  of 
his  uniform  integrity  of  purpose,  which  so  surely  won  from  every 
jury  a  favorable  verdict. 

Mr.  Smith  was  not  a  2)olitician,  and  had  thp.  utmost  contempt  of 
the  office-seeking  propensity  of  many  of  his  legal  brethren.  And 
even  if  his  own  ambition  had  been  turned  into  that  channel,  it  is  by 
no  means  certain  he  would  have  been  successful.  The  political  party 
with  which  he  acted,  was  for  a  long  series  of  years  in  the  minority  in 
the  region  in  which  he  lived  ;  and  where  party  lines  are  closely 
drawn,  a  zeal  for  place  and  power  not  unfrequently  triumphs  over 
merit.  His  name  was  sometimes,  without  his  consent,  used  by  his 
fellow-citizens,  in  the  political  struggles  of  the  times.  In  1825,  he 
was  a  principal  opponent  of  Oliver  "Wolcott,  for  the  office  of  governor 
of  Connecticut.  There  were,  however,  some  offices  more  directly  in 
the  line  of  his  profession,  Avhich  he  did  not  dislike,  though  he  was  far 
from  seeking  them.  He^was  for  many  years  state's  attorney  for  the 
county  of  New  Haven,  and  subsequently  United  States  attorney  for 
the  district  of  Connecticut.  In  these  stations,  his  peculiar  genius  and 
learning  were  often  rendered  conspicuous. 

In  May,  1832,  Mr,  Smith  was  elected  a  Senator  in  the  Congress 
of  the  United  States,  to  succeed  the  Hon.  Samuel  A.  Foote,  whose 
term  of  office  would  expire  on  the  3d  of  March  following.  He  took 
his  seat  in  that  distinguished  body,  March  4th,  1833,  and  continued 
to  discharge  the  duties  of  that  station  until  December  6th,  1835, 
when  he  died  suddenly  in  the  city  of  Washington,  in  the  sixty-sixth 
year  of  his  age. 

In  1808,  Mr.  Smith  received  the  honorary  degree  of  master  of 
arts  from  Yale  College. 


HISTORY     OF     ANCIEKT     WOODBURY.  1G3 

HON.  TRUMAN  SMITH, 

Is  son  of  Phineas  Smith,  and  was  born  in  Roxbury.  He  gradua- 
ted at  Yale  College,  in  1815,  read  law  in  the  office  of  Hon.  N.  B. 
Benedict,  and  at  the  law  school  of  Judge  Reeve,  and  was  admitted 
to  the  bar  of  Litchfield  county.  He  immediately  settled  in  practice 
at  Litchfield,  where  he  became  eminent  in  his  profession,  which  he 
pursued  with  great  success  at  that  place,  till  his  public  duties  caused 
him  to  relinquish  it  a  few  years  ago.  In  1 839,  he  was  elected  a 
member  of  Congress,  which  office  he  held  four  years.  He  was  again 
elected  a  member  of  Congress  in  1845,  and  served  by  re-election  till 
1849,  when  he  was  elected  a  Senator  of  the  United  States  for  the 
term  of  six  years,  which  office  he  now  holds. 


HON.  WILLIAM  A.  THOMPSON, 

"Was  the  son  of  Hezekiah  Thompson,  Esq.,  and  born  in  Woodbury. 
After  graduation  at  Yale  College  he  removed  to  the  state  of  New 
York,  and  became  honorably  distinguished  in  the  place  of  his  adop- 
tion. A  further  account  of  him  will  be  found  in  the  genealogy  of 
the  Thompson  femily,  in  the  next  chapter. 


HON.  JAMES  WATSON, 


Was  born  in  Judea  society,  AVoodbury,  fitted  for  college  with  Rev. 
A.  R.  Robbins,  of  Norfolk,  and  graduated  at  Yale  College,  in  1776, 
He  was  an  officer  of  the  Revolution,  at  the  close  of  which  he  settled 
in  New  York  city,  and  there  became  a  wealthy  merchant.  He  was 
appointed  naval  officer,  and  a  director  of  the  bank  of  the  United 
States.  In  1798,  he  was  elected  a  Senator  in  Congress,  and  died  in 
1806.  His  parents  are  both  buried  in  a  little  retired  graveyard, 
about  half  a  mile  south-west  of  Bantam  Lake,  in  Litchfield,  under  a 
red-stone  tablet  erected  by  their  distinguished  son. 


1  Extracted  from  Kilbourne's  Litchfield  Biography. 


464  HISTORY     Ol'     ANCIKNT     "NV  O  O  D  11  U  li  Y  . 

HON.  FIIEDEIIICK  WIIlTTLESEy,' 

Was  born  in  New  Preston  sot,-lety,  Washington,  June  12lh,  1799. 
When  about  ten  years  of  age,  Frederick  eomineneed  his  preparation 
for  college,  and  studied  at  tirst  under  the  tuition  of  Kev.  Dr.  Backus, 
of  Bethlera,  and  subsequently  under  the  direction  of  Rev.  Samuel 
Whittlesey,  of  his  native  parish,  and  Rev.  Daniel  Parker,  of  Ells- 
worth society,  Sharon.  He  graduated  at  Yale  College,  in  1818,  and 
soon  after  entered  his  name  as  a  student  of  law  in  the  office  of  Bleek- 
er  &  Sedgwick,  in  Albany,  New  York,  and  after  remaining  there 
about  nine  months,  he  became  a  member  of  the  Litchfield  Law 
School.  At  the  end  of  one  year  he  took  up  his  abode  with  his  kins- 
man, Robert  Campbell,  Esq.,  of  Cooperstown,  New  York,  •with  whom 
he  finished  his  legal  education,  and  was  admitted  to  the  bar  at  Utica, 
October,  1821.  During  the  whole  course  of  his  professional  studies, 
he  was  distinguished  for  his  application,  and  profited  by  the  advan- 
tages allowed  him.  He  was  not  only  well  qualified  for  the  bar,  but 
in  the  mean  time  he  had  reviewed  the  classics,  devoted  much  time  to 
general  literature,  and  had  to  a  considerable  extent  practiced  in  the 
art  of  composition. 

After  his  admission  to  the  bar,  Tilr.  Whittlesey  spent  about  three 
months  in  his  father's  house  in  Connecticut,  revolving  in  his  mind 
where  he  should  commence  business.  He  finally  opened  an  office  in 
Cooperstown,  and  remained  there  about  nine  months.  Not  meeting 
with  the  desired  success,  he  removed  to  Rochester,  where  he  has  ever 
since  resided. 

Mr.  Whittlesey  was  elected  a  representative  to  Congress  in  1830, 
from  the  district  composed  of  the  counties  of  Monroe  and  Livingston  ; 
and  was  re-elected  in  1832.  Having  served  his  constituents  in  this 
capacity  for  four  years,  with  distinguished  ability  and  general  accept- 
ance, his  congressional  career  terminated  March  4,  1835. 

In  1839,  the  legislature  of  the  state  of  New  York  passed  a  law  cre- 
ating the  office  of  Vice  Chancellor  of  the  eighth  judicial  circuit,  and 
Mr.  Whittlesey  was  appointed  to  that  office  by  the  governor  and  sen- 
ate. He  continued  to  discharge  the  duties  of  this  appointment  eight 
vears,  when  the  office  ceased  under  the  provisions  of  the  new  consti- 
tution. Immediately  upon  ceasing  to  be  vice  chancellor,  he  was  ap- 
pointed by  the  governor  and  senate  a  judge  of  the  old  supreme  court, 


1  This  sketch  is  taken  from  Kilbourne's  Litcbfield  Biography. 


HISTORY     01'     ANCIENT     WOODBURY.  4Cr» 

vliich  continued   in   existence  till  July,  1848,     In  January,  1850, 
JiKlgc  Whittlesey  was  appointed  professor  of  huv  in  Geneva  college. 


HON.  ELISHA  WHITTLESEY, 

Is  a  native  of  Nev/  Preston  society,  Washington.  While  he  was 
a  child,  his  parents  removed  to  Salisbury,  Conn.,  where  his  boyhood 
was  chiefly  spent.  He  early  qualified  himself  for  admission  to  the 
bar,  and  commenced  the  practice  of  his  profession  on  the  Western 
Keserve  in  Ohio.  He  rose  rapidly  in  public  estimation,  and  was 
soon  universally  esteemed,  not  only  for  his  soundness  and  ability  as  a 
Lawyer,  but  as  a  gentleman  of  singular  uprightness  and  disinterest- 
edness of  purpose. 

In  1823,  Mr.  Whittlesey  was  elected  to  Congress  from  the  Ee- 
serve,  and  was  continued  a  member  of  that  body  by  successive  re-elec- 
tions, for  eighteen  years.  As  a  useful  and  indefatigable  legislator, 
Mr.  Whittlesey  had  no  superior  in  Congress — perhaps  not  his  equal. 
His  whole  time  and  study  were  directed  to  the  furtherance  of  the 
public  good.  Ever  anxious  to  promote  the  best  interests  of  the  peo- 
ple, and  expedite  the  true  course  of  legislation,  lie  never  annoyed  the 
house  for  mere  purposes  of  declamation.  Stern  integrity,  benevo- 
lence and  morality  are  to  be  read  in  his  features,  and  his  whole  life 
has  been  a  commentary  and  an  illustration  of  his  physiognomy. 

Upon  the  election  of  Gen.  Harrison  to  the  presidency,  Mr.  Whit- 
tlesey was  appointed  auditor  of  the  United  States  trea^^ury  for  the 
])ost  office  department.  He  consequently  declined  a  re-election  to 
Congress,  and  March  19,1841,  he  entered  upon  the  duties  of  his  new 
office,  and  remained  in  their  faithful  and  efficient  discharge  until  near 
the  close  of  President  Tyler's  administration,  when  he  resigned. 

In  1845,  he  was  appointed  general  agent  and  director  of  the  Wash- 
ington National  Monument  Society.  His  energetic  and  systematic 
efforts  in  behalf  of  this  grand  national  enterprise,  contributed  in  an 
eminent  degree  to  its  success.  In  1849,  Mr.  Whittlesey  was  ap- 
pointed iirst  comptroller  of  the  treasury  of  the  United  States,  and  ho 
still  continues  to  discharge  the  complicated  and  responsible  duties  of 
that  important  office.' 


Tliis  sketch  is  extracted  principally  from  Kilboume's  LitchfieM  Ridgrapliy. 


466  ni  STORY     OF     ancient     WOODBURY. 

The  f'ullowing  list  of  natives  and  residents  of  ''  Ancient  Wood- 
bury," have  borne  the  several  oiTices,  and  been  engaged  in  the  vari- 
ous professions,  at  home  or  abroad,  set  against  their  names.  The 
places  to  vphich  those  went  who  have  emigrated  from  the  town,  or 
their  present  places  of  residence,  are  annexed  when  known.  In  the 
list,  the  following  contractions  are  used. 

N.  Native  of  Woodbury. 

N.  S.  "  "  Southbury  since  its  incorporation. 

N.  B.  '«  "  Bethlem 

N.  J.  "  "  Judea  Society  since  town  was  incorporated. 

N.  N.  P.        "  "  New  Preston  Society,       "  " 

N.  R.  "  "  Roxbury,  "  " 

R.         Resident  of  Woodbury,  present  limits. 

R.   S.  "  "  Southbury  since  its  incorporation. 

R.  B.  '«  "  Bethlem, 

R.   J.  "  "  Judea  Society  " 

R.  N.  P.       "  "  New  Preston  Society      " 

R.  R.  "  "  Roxbury  " 

N.  Allen,  Gen.  Ethan,  Col.  in  the  Revolutionary  army. 

N.  Atwood,  Anson  S.,  Clergyman,  Mansfield,  Conn. 

R.  "         Jonathan,  Physician. 

N.  "         Garwood  H.,  M.  D. 

N.  "         Henry  C,  Surveyor  of  the  port  of  New  York,  and  Inspector 

of  Customs. 

R.  Abernethy,  Roswell,  M.  D. 

R.  "  John  J.,  M.  D.,  Surgeon  in  United  States  Navy. 

R.  Andrew,  Samuel  R.,  Clergyman,  New  Haven,  Conn. 
N.  "  Samuel  W.,  Lawyer,         "  "         " 

R.  Andrews,  Samuel  A.,  Physician — went  to  North  Carolina. 

N.  Bacon,  William  T.,  Clergyman. 

R.  Backus,  Azel,  D.  D.,  Clergyman. 

R.  S.  Butterfield,  Oliver  B.,  Clergyman. 

Bull,  Thomas,  Major  in  the  Revolutionary  Army. 

R.  Benedict,  Noah,  Clergyman. 

N.  "         Noah  B.,  a  distinguished  Lawyer  and  Senator. 

N.  "         Thomas,  Col.  United  States  Army. 

N.  Beers,  Seth  P.,  Lawyer  :  School  Fund  Commissioner  25  year?. 
N.  "      Zachariah,  Poet. 

N.  Botsford,  Charles,  M.  D. 

N.  R.  Blakesley,  Sammis,  Lawyer. 

R.  Bishop,  Reuben,  Physician. 
R.  N.  P.  Boardman,  Charles  A.,  Clergyman. 

R.  Bedient,  Butler,  Physician. 


niSTOUY     OF     ANCIENT     WOODBURY.  467 

R.  J.  Brinsinade,  Daniel,  Clergyman. 

^-  J-  "              Daniel  N.,  Lawyer  and  Judge. 

R.  Bellamy,  Joseph,  D.  D.,  Clergyman. 

^-  "         Jonathan,  Lawyer,  died  Revolutionary  war. 

N.   B.  "         Joseph  H.,  Lawyer. 

N.  B.  "         David,  Clergyman,  New  York  City. 

R.  S.  Baldwin,  Nathan  C,  M.  D. 

N.  J.  "         William,  Clergyman. 

R.  Burritt,  Anthony,  Physician. 

N.  S.  "       Anthony  B.,  M.  D. 

N.  B.  Brown,  Garret  G.,  Clergyman. 

R.  B.  Bissell,  George  G.,  M.  D. 

N.  R.  Booth,  Henry,  Lawyer,  Towanda,  Penn. 

R.  Brownell,  Grove  L..  Clergyman. 

R.  Brownson,  ,  Physician,  Small  Pox  Inoculator. 

R.  J.  "         Ira  v.,  Physician. 

R.  N.  P.  Bushnell,  Horace,  D.  D.,  Clergyman,  Hartford,  Conn. 

N.  N.  P.         "  George,  Clergyman,  Worcester,  Mass. 

N.  Bostwick,  Isaac  W.,  Judge,  Lowville,  Lewis  Co.,  N.  Y. 

N.  R.  Blakeman,  William  N.,  M.  D.,  distinguished  Physician,  N.  Y.  City. 

R.  Bronson,  Tillotson,  D.  D.,  Clergyman. 

R.  Burhans,  Daniel,  D.  D.,             " 

R.  Bull,  Edmund  C, 

N.  "     Thomas,  Judge  oi"  Probate  and  a  Magistrate  for  25  years. 

R.  Babbitt,  P.  Teller,  Clergyman. 

R.  B.  Berry,  J.  D., 

R.  S.  Clark,  Daniel  A.,  Clergyman. 

N.  "      John,                 "             Waterbury. 

>j_  ««      Jehu,                 "             Newtown  and  New  Milford. 

N.  "       Hcman,  Physician. 

N.  J.  Calhoun,  George  A.,  Clergyman,  Coventry,  Conn. 

N.  J.  '«          Henry,                 "              Ohio. 

N.  Jj  "          John,  Physician,  Judea. 

R.  B.  Catlin,  Conant,  M.  D. 

R.  B.  "         Lyman,  M.  D. 

N.  B.  "         William  C,  M.  D.,  and  Teacher  in  the  West. 

N;  Castle,  Silas,  Physician. 

R.  B.  Couch,  Paul,  Clergyman. 

N.  B.  Crane,  Robert,  M.  D.,  Naugatuck,  Conn. 

R.  Canfield,  Thomas,  Clergyman. 

R.  Churchill,  John,                 " 

R.  Curtiss,  Lucius,                 " 

R.  S.  Cazier,  Matthias,               " 

xV.  Camp,  Joseph,                  "         Norlhfield,  Conn. 

R.  B.  Cheesbrough,  R.  M.,  M.  D. 

N.  N.  P.  Cogswell,  William,  Lawyer. 

N  **           Frederick  W.,  Lawyer,  Ohio. 

R.  N.  P.  Chittenden,  Frederick,          " 


4G8  iiisTOur    of    anciknt    wooduuuy, 

R.  Cotliren,  William,  Lawyer. 

II.  B.       Crane,  Joel,  rhysician. 

K.  N.  P.  Campfield,  Robert  B.,  Clergyman. 

It.  Coxe,  Richard,  " 

R.  B.       Covell,  Joseph  S., 

R.  X.  P.  Day,  Jeremiah,  Clergyman. 

N.  N.  P.     "     Jeremiah,  D.  D.,  LL.  D.,  Ex-President  of  Yale  College. 
N.  N.  P.     "     Thomas,  LL.  D.,  Sec.  of  State  25  years,  and  Rep.  of  Decisions. 
.     '^     Mills,  Tutor  of  Yale  College. 

.     "     Henry  N.,  Tutor  and  Professor  Western  Reserve  College. 
Downs,  Myron,  M.  D.  ' 

Davies,  Thomas,  Clergyman,  New  Milford. 

"         Thomas  J.,  went  to  Ogdensburgh,  Sherilf. 

"         Charles  J.,  Prof.  Mathematics  at  West  Point,  and  author  of 

fifteen  or  twenty  scientific  works. 
"         John,  Graduate  of  West  Point. 
Thomas,  M.  D.,  Redding,  Conn. 
Deforest,  Marcus,  Jr.,  Physician,  Blaekwell's  Island. 
Davidson,  David  B.,  Clergyman,  Streetsborough,  Ohio. 
Dowdney,  John,  " 

Easton,  Rufus,  Delegate  in  Congress  for  Missouri. 
Eastman,  Azariah,  Physician. 

"        Josiah  R.  " 

"         John  R  ,  "         Pawling,  N.  Y. 

"         Richard  H.,     "         went  to  Pennsylvania. 
Edinond,  William,  Lawyer  and  Judge  of  Superior  Court. 

"         David,  "         Vergennes,  Vt. 

Everitt,  Daniel,  "         New  Milford. 

Fuller,  Samuel,  D.  D.,  Clergyman,  Andover. 
Fenn,  Frederick  J.,  Lawyer,  Harrisburgh,  Pa. 
Faircliild,  Stei)hen  B.,  Physician. 
Foot,  George  L.,  Clergyman. 

"     ■ ,  Physician. 

Fansher,  Sylvanus,         " 
Fowler,  Parlemon  B.,  M.  D.  ' 
Warren  R.,  M.  D. 
"         Remus  M.,  M.  D. 
'•         Henry,  M.  D.,  South  Bend,  Indiana. 
Ford,  Seth  P.,  Physician,  Sandwich  Islands. 
N.  N.  P.  Farrand,  William  P.,  A.  M.,  extensive  Bookseller,  Philadelphia. 
R,  R.       Fenn,  Aaron  W.,  Physician. 
N.  Eraser,  William,  Lawyer,  Illinois. 

R.  Flint,  Seth,  Clergyman. 

R.  B.       Frisbie,  William  Henry,  Clergyman. 

R.  Graham,  John,  Clergyman. 

li-  "  Andrew,  Physician. 


N 

N.P. 

N 

N.  P 

N 

R. 

R 

J. 

N 

J. 

N 

J. 

N 

J. 

N 

J. 

N. 

N. 
R. 

R. 

N. 

J. 

R. 

N. 

N. 

R. 

N. 

R. 

N. 

N. 

N. 

R. 

N. 

J. 

R. 

R. 

R. 

R. 

R. 

N. 

N. 

N. 

N. 

N. 

J. 

R. 

R. 

R 

N. 

R. 

R. 

R.  . 

J. 

N.  . 

J. 

N 

J. 

N. 

R. 

N. 

N. 

N. 

S. 

N. 

N. 

N. 

N. 

N. 

N. 

N. 

N. 

N. 

S. 

N. 

s. 

N. 

s. 

N. 

N. 

N. 

R. 

B. 

N. 

B. 

N. 

B. 

N. 

B. 

N. 

R. 

N. 

R. 

N. 

R. 

N. 

R. 

N. 

R. 

N. 

B. 

N. 

B. 

R. 

R. 

J. 

R. 

N, 

,  J. 

HISTORY     OF     ANCIENT     "VVOODBURT.  469 

Graham,  John  A.,  LL.  D.,  Lawj-er. 

"  Chaiincey,  Clergyman. 

Gilbert,  Sturges,  " 

Raphael, 
Galpin,  Samuel,  " 

Gridley,  Horatio,  M.  D.,  Berlin,  Conn. 
Garrow,  John  L.,  Physician. 
Gray,  Cyrus  W.,  Clergyman,  died  at  Stafford. 
Goodsell,  Thomas,  M.  D.,  Professor  in  Hamilton  College. 

"  Isaac,  M.  D.,  Woodbridge,  Conn. 

Galpin,  Leman,  M.  D.,  Milan,  Ohio. 
Glover,  Bennett,  Clergyman. 

Hinman,  Noah,  Justice  of  the  quorum  five  years. 
"         Edward,  Lawyer. 

"         Edward,  Lawyer  and  Judge  of  N.  Haven  Coimty  Court. 
"         Timothy,  Judge  twenty  years  in  Vermont. 
"         Gen.  Ephraim,  Capt.  in  Revolution. 
"         Royal  R,  Secretary  of  State,  Author,  and  distinguished 

Antiquarian. 
"  Joel,  Superior  Court  Judge. 

"         Elisha,  Capt.  in  Navy  ;  New  London. 
"         Curtis,  Lawyer  and  State  Senator. 
"         William,  Associate  Judge  N.  H.  County  Court,  from  1S31 

to  IS35. 
"         Benjamin,  Colonel  in  Revolutionary  War. 
"         Robinson  S.,  Lawyer. 
"         .Simeon,  " 

"         Sherman,  "  died  in  Mississippi  in  1S3'2. 

Hull,  Andrew  C,   Judge  of  the  County  Court,  Allegany   County, 
N.  Y.,  for  five  years. 
"       Leverett,  Clergyman. 
"       Gen.  Elias,  Captain  in  the  war  of  1812,  now  a   Lawyer  in 

Alabama. 
"       Zephaniah,  Physician.  ■ 
"       Titus, 

Laurens,  M.  D.,  Angelica,  N.  Y. 
"       Charles,  at  first  M.  D.,  and  then  Baptist  Clergyman. 
Kurd,  Curtis,  Physician. 
"      Nelson  L.,  M.  D. 
"       Theodore  C,  M.  D. 

"      Frederick  W.,  Physician,  Brooklyn,  N.  Y. 
"      Munroe,  Lawyer. 
Hard,  David  B.  W.,  M.  D. 
Hitchcock,  Samuel  J.,  Lawyer  and  Judge  N.  Haven  County  Court. 

«'  Solomon  G.,  Clergyman. 

Hayes,  Gordon,  Clergyman,  now  of  Vermont. 
Hastings,  Seth,  M.  D. 

'«         Thomas,  Professor  Sacred  Music,  New  York. 


470  HISTORY     OF     ANCIENT     WOOD  HURT. 

Hastings,  Seth.M.  D.,  Taris,  N.  Y. 

"         Oilundo,  distinguished  Lawyer,  Rochester,  N.  Y. 

"         Eurotus,  President  Bank,  Detroit,  Michigan. 
Huntington,  Daniel,  Physician. 
Huxley,  Asahel  M.,  M.  D.,  went  to  Goshen. 
Hollister,  Gideon  H.,  Lawyer  and  Author,  Litchfield. 
David  F.,  Lawyer,  Salisbury. 

Hotchkiss, ,  Physician. 

Hawley,  Benjamin,  Surgeon. 

"         Williams  Lawyer. 
Harrison,  Fosdick,  Clergyman, 

Hartwell,  Samuel  E.,  Lawyer  and  Broker,  New  York  City. 
Hill,  Charles  J.,  Mayor  of  Rochester,  N.  Y. 
Harriman,  Frederick  D.,  Clergyman. 

Isham,  Austin,  Clergyman. 
Ingersol,  David  B.,  Lawyer. 

Judd,  Bethel,  D.  D.,  Clergyman. 
"       Reuben,  Clergyman. 
"       William  H., 
Judson,  Gen.  David,  Grad.  Yale  Coll.,  Capt.  in  Revolution. 
•'         Adoniram,  Clergyman,  Mass. 

Philo,  "  Rocky  Hill,  Conn. 

•«         Ephraim,  "  Sheffield,  Mass. 

"         Samuel,  "  Uxbridge,  Mass. 

Albert,  "  Philadelphia. 

"         Everton,  "  Milan,  Ohio. 

"         Benjamin  B.    •' 
«         Gould  C,         "  Berlin,  Ohio. 

"         Frederick,  M.  D.,  Vermont. 
"         Charles  A.,  Sheriff  of  Litchfield  County. 
''         David,  Jr.;    went  to  St.  Lawrence  Co.,  N.  Y.,  President  of 

Bank,  and  Sheriff  of  the  County. 
"         George  H.,  Lawyer,  Texas. 
Johnson,  Amos  M.         '' 
Jones,  Isaac,  Clergyman. 

Kirby,  Ephraim,  Lawyer;  U.  S.  Judge,  Louisiana. 
Knowles,  Thomas,  Physician. 
Keese,  James  D.,  Lawyer. 

Langdon,  John,  Clergyman. 

"  Timothy,  M.  D.,  Naugatuck,  Conn. 

Lyman,  Ephraim,  Clergyman. 
Lemmon,  Sheldon,  M.  D. 
Leavenworth,  Isaac,  Lawyer,  New  Haven. 

"  Alston,  Physician,  State  of  New  York, 

•«  Thomas,         " 


N 

J. 

N 

J. 

N 

J. 

R 

R 

N 

J. 

N 

J. 

R. 

B 

R 

B. 

R 

R. 

B. 

R. 

N. 

R. 

R. 

R 

R. 

B. 

R 

R. 

J. 

R. 

N. 

N. 

N. 

N. 

N. 

N. 

N. 

N. 

N. 

N. 

N. 

N. 

N. 

N. 

S. 

R. 

B. 

N. 

N. 

R. 

R. 

B. 

N. 

B. 

R. 

J. 

N. 

J. 

N. 

R. 

N. 

R. 

N. 

HISTORY     OF     ANCIENT     AVOOUBUUY.  471 


R. 


Leavenworth,  Thnddeus,  Clergyman. 
R.  Lyon,  Matthew,  Rep.  in  Congress  from  Vt.  and  Ky. 

R.  B.       Loom  is,  Aretus  G.,  Clergyman. 
R.  Lucas,  William,  " 


N.  J 


R.  Marshall,  John  R.,  Clergyman. 

Mitchell,  Elisha,  D.  D.,  Professor  University  of  North  Carolina. 
"  John,  Lawyer. 

^'-  "           Justus,  Clergyman,  New  Canaan. 

N.  S.  "           John  G.,  Lawyer,  Salisbury. 

N-  "           Henry,  M.  D.,  Memb.  Congress,  Chenango  Co.,  N.  Y. 

N.  J.  "           Enos  G.,  Grad.  West  Point,   Capt.  U.  S.  Army;  died  in 
Florida. 

R.  Moseley,  Increase,  Rep.  Conn.  Leg.  thirty-six  sessions;    moved  to 
Vermont  ;  was  Judge  there  many  years. 

N.  "           John,  Physician,  Vermont. 

N.  "           Increase,  Jr.,  Col.  in  Revolution. 

R.  Meigs,  John,  Physician. 

N.  "       Phineas, 

N.  "       Abner,            " 

N.  B,  "       Benjamin,  Missionary  at  Ceylon. 

R.  J.  Mason,  Stephen,  Clergyman. 

N.  J.  "         Ebenczer  Porter  ;  distinguished  Student,  Author  of  a  Prac- 
tical Treatise  on  Astronomy. 

N.  Masters,  Nicholas  S.,  Lawyer,  New  Milford,  Conn. 

R.  J.  Merwin,  Noah,  Clergyman. 

N.  Minor,  Jehu,             " 

N.  "       Matthew,  Jr.,  Lawyer. 

N.  "       Garry  H.,  M.  D.,  Litchfield  South  Farms,  Conn. 

N._  "       Samuel,  Lawyer,  Sandusky  City,  Ohio. 

N.  R.  "       Charles  S.,  Lawyer,  Honesdale,  Pcnn. 

N.  "       Israel,  extensive  Druggist,  New  York  City. 

N.  B.  Munson,  Frederick  E.,  Clergyman,  Greenwich,  Conn. 

R.  S.  "           Harris  B.,  Lawyer  and  Judge,  N.  H.  County  Court. 

N.  Mallory,  Garrick,  Lawyer  and  Member  of  Congress,  i^hiladclphin.. 

N.  Masters,  Samuel  S.,  Physician. 

N.  Murray,  Rufus,  Clergyman,  Adrian,  Michigan. 

N.  Munn,  Daniel,  Physician. 

N.  "        Nathan,       do. 

N.  Monell,  Mary  E,  Poetess,  Newburg.N.  Y. 

R.  Moody,  Martin,  Clergyman. 

R.  B.  North,  Loomis,  M.  D.,  Bristol,  Conn. 

N.  Orton,  Samuel,  A.  M.,  Physician. 

N.  "      John,                            "          Sherman,  Conn. 

N.  "      Samuel,                      "         Brldgewater,  Conn. 


472  nisTOUY    of    ancient    woodbuut. 

N.  Oitou,  Menry  T.,  riiysici;iii,  Duchoss  county,  Now  York. 

N.  "      IV.ividJ., 

X.  "      Jniucs,                  "           Caldwell,  Xew  Jersoy. 

N.  O.4i0!ii,  Pliiulracli,  I'liichasinj;  jnul  I^.-^iiin-  Comini.-^sary  in  tlu-  Rev- 
uliuion. 

N.  Pj-eston,  William,  First  .hnl'^c  (if  Litclifiuld  Cnuiity  Court. 

N.  "         Nathan,  Lawyer  and  .liulj,';'  of  Probate. 

N.  "        William,  Clergyman,  Columbus,  Ohio.     . 

N.  Perry,  Jos(>))h,  Pliysician. 

N.  "       Nathaniel,      " 

N.  "       Henry,  Colonel  in  the  army,  died  in  Mexico. 

N.  "       Nathaniel,  Lawyer,  New  Milford. 

N.  "       Piiilo,  Clergyman,  Newtown,  Conn. 

N.  "       Phillips,      " 

N.  "       Bennet,  Physician  at  Newtown,  aftorward  Clergyman. 

11.  Phelps,  Charles  B.,  Lawyer  and  .Tudge  of  Liteh/ield  County  Court. 

N.  Parker,  Joseph,  Physician,  Litchfield,  South  Farms,  Conn. 

N.  Parker,  Daniel,  Clergyman  and  Teacher  at  Ellsworth,  Conn. 

N.  "        Col.  Amasa,  Lawyer  and  Surrogate  Judge,  Delhi,  N.  Y. 

N.  Prime,  Benjamin,  Clergyman. 

N.  S.  Pierce,  George  E.,  D    D.,  President  Western  Reserve  College. 

N.  B.  Prentice,  Charles,  Clergyman,  Soutli  Canaan. 

N.  B.  "          Thomas,  H.      "         Western  New  York. 

N.  B.  "          David,  Professor  (leneva  College,  New  York. 

N.  B.  "          Cnrtiss,  Physician. 

N.  B.  "          Peet,  Harvey  P.,  LL.  D.,  Deaf  and  Dumb  Asylum,  N.  Y. 

R .  J.  Porter,  P^benezer,  S.  T.  D. ,  President  Andover  Theological  Seminary. 

N.  J.  Pond,  Samuel  W.,  Missionary  to  the  Sioux  Lidians. 

N.  J.  "       Gideon, 

N.  Pitcher,  Nathaniel,  Lt.  Gov.  and  acting  Governor  of  N.  Y.  after  the 
death  of  Dewitt  Clinton,  also  member  of  Congre? s. 

R.  Palmer,  Joseph  M.,  Lawyer,  Maryland. 

R.  S.  Prudden,  George  P.,  Clergyman. 

R.  B.  Pannely,  .lonatlian  E.,  Lawyer. 
R.  N.  P.  Parsons,  Benjamin  B.,  Clergyman. 
N.  N.  P.  Powell,  Williuni,  M.  D. 

R,.  Peck,  John,  M.  D.,  Burlington,  Vermont. 

R.  Powers,  Peter,  Physician. 

R.  Putnam,  Charles  S.,  Clergyman. 

R.  J.  Richmond,  Edmiand,  Lawyer,  died  at  the  South. 

N.  B.  Raymond,  Moses,  Clergyman,  .'"pringlicld,  Mrginia. 

R.  R.       Read, ,  Physician. 

R.N.  P.      "      llollis.  Clergyman. 

N.  Root,  Judson  A.,  Clergyman,  and  Teacher,  New  Haven. 

R.  Rogers,  Robert  C,  Clergyman. 

R.  Stoddard,  Anthony,  Clergyman. 

N.  •'          Amos,  Major  U.  S,  Army.     His  estate  sold  at  auction  for 
^730,000. 


HISTORY     OF     ANCIENT     WOODBURY.  473 

N.  Stoddard,  Col.  Henry,  Lawyer,  Dayton,  Ohio. 

N.  "  Israel,  M.  D. 

N.  Strong,  Nathan,  Clergyman,  Coventry,  Corjn. 

^>-  "        John,  Jr.,  Lawyer  and  .Judge  of  Probate. 

R.  Henry  P.,  Clergyman. 

N.  Smith,  Nathaniel,  Lawyer,  Judge  Sup.  Court  and  Me:nb.  of  Congress. 

N.  "        Nathaniel  B.,    "       and  Judge  of  Probate. 

^'-  "       Nathan,  "       and  U.  S.  Senator. 

I^'-  "        Truman,  "       Member  and  Senator  of  Congress. 

^"-  "        Perry,  "       and  U.  S.  Senator. 

N.  •'        Pliineas,  "       went  to  Vermont. 

N.  S.  "       Ralph  D  ,  "       and  Judge  of  Probate. 

N.  S.  "       Abraham  L.,  M.  D. 

Ii.    "  "        Deliverance,  Clergyman. 

R.  S.  "        Noah,  do. 

R.  S.        Shipman,  Thomas  L.,  do.     Jewett  City,  Conn. 

N.  Stiles,  Benjamin,  Lawyer. 

N.  "       Benjamin,  Jr.,  do. 

N.  Sherman,  Taylor,         do.     Norwalk,  Conn. 

N.  "  Charles,  Clergyman  and  Presiding  Elder  in  the  Methodist 

Church. 
N.  "  Daniel,  Speaker  of  Conn.  House  of  Representatives. 

N.  "  Henry  B.,  Clergyman,  Belleville,  N.  J. 

Scott,  Joseph,  do. 

P.       "       James  L.,  do 

Swift,  Zephaniah,  do. 

Stanton,  Benjamin  F.,    do. 

Sanlbrd,  John,  Member  of  Congress,  Amsterdam,  N    Y. 

"         Henry  Shelton,  LL.  D.  conferred  at  Heidelberg,  Germany, 

now  Secretary  of  Legation,  FranC'.'. 
"         David  P.,  Clergyman. 

Steel,  Julius,  Clergyman. 
"      Nathaniel,    do. 

Skilton,  Henry,  M.  D. 

Avery  J.,  M.  D.,  Troy,  N.  Y. 

Shelton,  Gen.  George  P.,  Lawyer,  Seymour,  Conn. 

Sheldon,  Daniel,  M.  D.,  Secretary  of  Legation  to  France. 

Stephens,  Mrs.  Ann  S  ,  Distinguished  Authoress. 

Sayre,  James,  Clergyman. 

Scoville,  Joseph  A.,  Editor  of"  The  Pick,"  N.  Y. 

Sackett,  ,  Physician. 

Stewart,  Philander,  M.  D.,  PeekskiU,  N.  Y. 

Shove,  Harmon  W.,M.  D. 

Snow,  T.  W.,  Clergyman. 

Sprague,  Loman  B  ,  Lawyer  and  Judge  of  Probate. 

Thompson,  Hezekiah,  Lawyer. 

William  A.,     do.     and  Judge. 
«'  Charles,  do.     Westchester  Co.,  N.  Y. 

31 


R. 

K. 

N. 

R. 

R. 

B. 

N. 

R. 

N. 

R. 

N. 

N. 

R. 

X. 

N. 

5_ 

N. 

N. 

S. 

R. 

N. 

R. 

B. 

R. 

R. 

R. 

R. 

B. 

R. 

R. 

N. 

N. 

474  HISTORY     OF     ANCIENT     WOODBURY. 

N.  Thompson,  James,  Physician  till  35  yeafs  of  age,  then  Clergfymau. 

N.  '«            Samuel,  M.  D.,  died  at  the  Jsland  of  St.  Thomas. 

R.  B.  "            Ebenezer,  Physician. 

N.  Tyler,  Bennett,  D.  D.,  Professor  Theolo-ry,  East  Windsor. 

N.  Toinlinson,  Abraham,  M.  D.,  Milford,  Conn. 

F.  S.  "            Joseph,  M.  D.,  Huntington,  Conn. 

N.  N.  P.         "            George,  Clergyman,  Long  Island. 

Pi.  S.  Trowbridge,  Joseph,  Physician. 

R.  B.  Tiittle,  Isaac  H.,  Clergyman. 

R.  R.  Thayer,  Nathaniel,  Physician. 

R.  "Walker,  Zecliariah,  first  Clergyman  ofWoodbury. 

R.  Wildman,  Benjamin,  Clergyman. 

-    N.  Ward,  Hon.  Levi,  Member  of  Congress,  Montrose,  Penn. 

R.  N.  P.  Whittlesey,  Samuel,  Clergyman. 

•'  Elisha,  Member  Congress,  Comp.  L'.  S.  Treasury. 

"  Elisha,  Lawyer. 

''  Frederick,  Member  Congress,  Prof.  Law  and  Vice  Chai 

cellor,  N.  Y. 
Charles  C,  Lawyer,  F.anklin  Co.,  N.  Y 
"  Henry  X.,  M.  D.,  New  York  city. 

"  Joseph,  Clergyman- 

Warner,  Ebenezer  1st,  Pliysician. 
"        Ebenezer  Qd, 
"         Ebenezer  3d, 
"         Ebenezer  4th, 
"        Benjamin, 
"         Reuben, 
"         John, 
"        Abner, 

"•       Col.  Seth,  Col.  Revolutionary  War. 
"         Ephraim,  Physician. 
"         George  W.,  Lawyer,  Bridgeport. 
"         Lyman,  "         went  West. 

Wood,  Elijah,  Clergyman. 

Williams,  William  C,  M.  D.,  Manchester,  Conn. 
Whittemore,  Williams  H.,  Clergyman,  New  Haven. 
N.  N.  P.  Wheaton,  Nathaniel  S.,  D.  D.,  Ex-President  of  Trinity  College. 
N.N.  P.         "  Salmon,  Clergyman. 

R.  Welton,  Joseph  D.         do. 

R.  B.  <'        Willard,  do. 

R.  Wright,  Worthington,  do. 

N.  S.        Wheeler,  Benjamin,  Lawyer,  Salisbury,  Conn. 
R.  "         Ulysses  M.,  Clergyman.  \ 

N.  S.  "         Samuel,  Physician. 

R.  E.  "         Russel,  Clergyman. 

R.  Webb,  Charles  H.,M.D. 

R.  Woodward,  Frederick  B.,  M.  D.,  now  a  Clergyman  at  Middle  Had- 

dam,  Conn. 


N 

N. 

P. 

N 

N. 

P. 

N 

N. 

P. 

N 

R 

N 

R 

N. 

N. 

P. 

R. 

N. 

N. 

N. 

N. 

N 

N. 

J. 

N. 

J. 

N. 

N. 

N. 
N. 

R. 
R. 

R. 

S. 

R. 

R. 

R. 

S. 

do. 

do. 

do. 

do 

New  'Milfovd. 

do. 

do 

do. 

died  in  the  West 

do. 

do.                  do. 

HISTORY     OP     ANCIENT     WOODBURr  475 

R.  N.  P.  Wadhams,  Noah,  Clergyman. 

R.  B.      Watson,  William,      do. 

^'-  "         James,  Senator  in  Congress,  New  York  city. 

R-  Wigdon,  Samuel,  Clergyman. 


GRANDCHILDREN  OF  WOODBURY. 
The  following  is  a  list  of  a  few  distinguished  persons  who  are  the  children  o( 
natives  of  Woodbury,  though  not  themselves  sons  of  the  soil. 
Allen,  Col.  Ira,  Vermont. 

Benedict,  Bennet,  Physician,  New  Orleans,  La. 

Church,  Hon.  Samuel,  LL.  D.,  Chief  Justice  of  the  Sujierior  Court  of  Conn. 
"        Hon.  John  R.,  brother  of  the  above,  and  Judge  of  the  Court  of  Com- 

niou  Pleas,  Trumbull  Co.,  Ohio. 
"        Lenian,  Lawyer,  Canaan,  Conn. 
Graham,  Hon.  John  Lorimer,  New  York  city. 
Judson,  Adoniram,  Missionary  to  India  and  died  there. 

"       Philo  M.,  Esq.,  Lawyer,  Georgia. 
Martin,  Henry  H.,  Lawyer  and  Cashier,  Albany,  N.  Y. 
Elinor,  H.  J.,  President  of  H.  J.  Minor's  Bank,  Fredonia,  N.  Y. 
William  T.,  Lawyer,  Stamford,  Conn. 
"        Thomas,  M.  D.,  Middletown,  Conn. 
Parker,  Amasa  J.,  Lawyer  and  Judge  of  the  Supreme  Court,  Albany,  N.  Y. 
Prentice,  llev.  Charles  T.,  Clergyman,  Easton,  Conn. 
Perry,  Rev.  Joseph,  New  Haven,  Conn. 

"      Nathaniel  P.,  Lawyer,  Kent,  Conn. 
Slade,  William,  Ex-Governor  of  Vermont. 
Strong,  Nathan,  D.  D.,  Hartford,  Conn. 
"         Joseph,  D.  D.,  Norwich,  Conn. 
"         Henry,  LL.  D.,       "         son  of  the  above. 
Sherman,  Charles,  Judge  of  Supreme  Court,   Ohio,  and  died  before  he  wat 

thirty  years  of  age. 
Smith,  Walter,  Lawyer,  Ohio. 

TerriU,  Hazard  Bailey,  Member  of  Canadian  Parliament. 
Terrill,  T.  Lee,  do.  do.  do. 

LIST  OF  NATIVES   OF  ANCIENT   WOODBURY,   WHO   HAVE   BEEN 
GRADUATES  OF  COLLEGE. 
The  persons  against  whose  names  no  letter  appears,  are  natives  of  the  town. 
B.  denotes  Bethlem,  R.  Uoxbury,  S.   Southbury,  and  Wa.  Washington.     The 
year  enclosed  by  a  parenthesis  is  the  date  of  the  death  of  the  individual.     The 
last  date  is  that  of  graduation.     Mr.  denotes  Master  of  Arts. 
Benjamin  Stiles,  Mr.  (1797,)  17-iO. 
Rev.  Nathan  Strong,  (1795..)  1742. 

Daniel  Sheldon,  Mr.  (1772,)  1717. 
Rev.  Chauncey  Graham,  Mr.  (HS-l,)  1747. 
Rev.  Deliverance  Smith,  (1785,)  1749. 
Doctor  Israel  Stoddard,  (1762,)  175S. 
Rev.  Thomas  Davies,  (176G,)  175S. 


476      HISTORY  OF  ANCIENT  WOODBURY. 

Kev.  Bcnj:iinin  Prime,  Mr.  17G0. 

Siim-on  Ilinman,  Mr.  (1767,)  1762, 
Rev.  Ephrairn  Judson,  Mr.  (1813.)  1763. 
Doctor  Samuel  Orton,  1765. 
Rev.  Jehu  Minor,  1767. 
Rev.  Tliomas  Minor,  Mr.  (1826,)  1769. 
Hon.  Daniel  N.  Brinsmado,  Mr.  (1S26,)  1772. 

Jonathan  Bellamy,  (1777,)  1772. 
Rev.  Thomas  Canfield,  1772. 
Rev.  Adoniram  Judson,  Mr.  Yale  ct  Harvard,  (1829,)  1775. 

John  Mitchell,  1775. 
Rev.  Justus  Mitchell,  Mr.  (1806,)  1776. 
Hon.  James  Watson,  Senator  in  Congress,  (1S06,)  1776. 

Sherman  Hinman,  Mr.  (179S,)  1776. 
Hon.  Nathan  Preston,  Mr.  (1822.)  1776. 

Benjamin  Stiles,  Mr.  (1817,)  1776. 
Hon.  William  Edmonds,  M.  C,  Judge  Superior  Court,  (1S3S,)  1777. 

Israel  Judson,  1777. 

John  Pierce,  Mr.  (1816,)  1777. 
Gen.  David  Judson,  (1S41,)  1778. 

Elisha  Whittlesey,  (1802,)  1779. 
Hon.  William  Adiel  Thompson,  (1848.)  1782. 

Amos  Pearce,  (179S,)  1783. 

Simeon  Hinman,  (1825,)  1784. 

Timothy  Hinman,  (1812,)  1784. 

Abraham  Tomlinson,  1785. 
Rev.  Joseph  E.  Camp,  Mr.  (1S38,)  1787. 

William  Hawley,  17s7. 

Nathan  Stiles,  (1804,)  1787. 
Hon.  Noah  B.  Benedict,  Mr.  (1831,)  17SS. 

Nathaniel  Steel,  Mr.  1788. 

Cyrus  Hinman,  (1800,)  17S9. 

Asahel  Hooker,  1789. 
Rev.  James  Thompson,  1789. 

Samuel  Thompson,  M.  D.,  1790. 
Rev.  Jeremiah  Day,  S.  T.  D.,  LL.  D.,  Pres.  Yale  College,  (N.  N.  P.)  1795. 

David  Edmoud,  1796. 
Hon.  Thomas  Day,  LL.  D.,  Secretary  of  State,  Conn.,  (N.  N.  P.)  1797. 

William  Powell  Farrand,  Mr.  (Wa.)  (1839.)  1798. 
Hon.  Matthew  Minor,  Mr.  (1839,)  1801. 

Simeon  Hicock,  Mr.  (S.)  1802. 

Sheldon  C.  Leavitt,  (B.)  1802. 

Cyrus  Pearce,  (S.)  (1802,)  1802. 
Rev.  Charles  Prentice,  (B.)  (1S3S,)  1S02. 

Mills  Day,  Mr.  Tutor,  C.  A.  S.  (Wa.)  (1812,)  1803. 

Isaac  E.  Jud.son,  Mr.  1S03. 
Hon.  Royal  11.  Hinman,  Mr    Secretary  of  State,  Conn.  (S.)  1804. 

Curtis  Judson,  (lb04,)  1804. 
Rev.  Bennett  Tyler,  S.  T.  D.,  Pres.  Dartmouth  College,  Prof.  Theology,  1804. 


HISTORY     OF     ANCIENT     WOODBURY.  47T 

Rev.  Salmon  Wheaton,  (Wa.) -(1844,)  1806. 

Lyman  Hicock,  (S.)  (1S16,)  1S06. 

Curtis  Atwood,  M.  D.,  ISOG. 
Hon.  John  Strong,  Mr.  (1S34,)  ISOG. 

Curtis  Warner,  (S.)  1S07. 
Hon.  Joseph  H.  Bellamy,  (B.)  (IS4S,)  1808. 
Hon.  Garrick  Mallory,  Member  of  Congress,  180S. 

Josiah  H.  Minor,  (1S20,)  ISOS. 
Hon.  Amasa  Parker,  (Wa.)  1S08. 

Garret  G.  Brown,  (B.)  1S09. 
Hon.  Samuel  J.  Hitchcock,  Mr.,  Tutor  C.  A.  S.,  LL.  D.  (B.)  (1843,)  1809. 
Rev.  Philo  Judson,  1809. 

Rev.  Benjamin  C.  Meigs,  Mr.  (B.)  (1830,)  1809. 
Rev.  Julius  Steele,  (B.)  1811. 

David  Prentice,  Mr.  Professor  Geneva  College,  LL.D.,  1S12." 

Frederick  F.  Backus,  M.  D.,  (B.)  1813. 
Rev.  Elisha  Mitchell,  S.  T.  D.,  Professor  University  N.  C.  (Wa  )  1813. 

Elisha  Averill,  Mr.  (1824,)  1814. 
Rev.  Anson  S.  Atwood,  1S14. 

Nathaniel  S.  Wheaton,  LL.  D.,  (Wa.)  1814. 
Hon.  Nathaniel  B.  Smith,  1815. 
Hon.  Truman  Smith,  M.  C.  and  U.  S.  Senator,  1815. 

Sheldon  Lemon,  (Wa.)  1816. 
Rev.  George  E.  Pierce,  Mr.,  S.  T.  D.,  Pres.  West.  Reserve  College,  (S.)  1816. 

Phineas  Smith,  (R.)  1816. 

Luman  Whittlesey,  (Wa.)  ISIG. 

Orlando  Canfield,  (S.)  1818. 
Hon.  Frederick  Whittlesey,   U.  S.  House  Rep.,  Vice  Chancellor  of  N.  Y., 

(1>51,)  (Wa.)  1818. 
Rev.  Albert  Judson,  (1-^39,)  ls21. 

Harvey  P.  Peet,  Mr.,  LL.  D.,  (B.)  1822. 
Rev.  Judson  A.  Root,  1823. 

Frederick  J.  Judson,  M.  D.,  (Wa.)  1824. 
Rev.  Moses  Raymond,  (B.)  1825. 
Rev.  Joseph  Whittlesey,  (Wa.)  1825. 

John  J.  Abernethy,  M.  D.,  U.  S.  N.,  1S25. 
Rev.  Everton  Judson,  Mr.,  (1S4S,)  1S26. 
ilev.  William  Preston,  1826. 

Rev.  Henry  Noble  Day,  Tutor  and  Prof.  Western  Reserve  Coll.  (Wa.)  1828. 
Rev.  George  Tomlinson,  (Wa.)  1834. 

Ebenezer  C.  Smith,  (Wa.)  1836. 
Rev.  William  T.  Bacon,  1837. 

Frederick  W.  Gunn,  (Wa.)  1837. 

Ebenezer  Porter  Mason,  (Wa.)  (1840,)  1839. 

Garwood  H.  Atwood,  M.  D.,  1840. 

William  B.  Brinsmade,  (Wa.)  1840. 

Charles  Day,  Mr.,  (Wa.)  1840. 

Henry  Booth,  (R.)  1840. 

Gideon  H.  Hollister,  (Wa.)  1840. 


478  HISTORY     OF     ANCIENT     AV  0  O  D  B  U  R  Y  . 

Egbert  A.  Thompson,  (B  )  ISIO. 
Charles  S.  Minor,  (R.)  1S41. 
Rev.  William  B^khvin,  (Wa.)  l^Jl. 
David  B.  Davidson,  (R.)  IS II. 
Samuel  W.  Andrew,  1SJ;J. 
Harvey  M    Booth,  (R.)  1S43. 
George  W.  Warner,  (11.)  1S13. 
Samuel  Minor,  1S41. 
Thomas  M.  Tliompson,  LSI  t. 
Frederiek  W.  Cogswell,  1S17. 
David  F.  Hollister,(Wa.)  1S51. 
Charles  G.  Hayes,  (Wa.)  1S51. 

LIST  OF  RESIDENTS  OF  THE  ANCIENT  TERRITORY,  WHO  HAVE 
BEEN  GRADUATES. 

Rev.  Anthony  Stoddard,  (17G0,)  1097. 

"  Joseph  Bellamy,  D,  D.,  (1790,)  1735. 

"  John  Graham,  (1771,)  1737. 

"  Thomas  Canfield,  (1795,)  1739. 

"  Reuben  Judd,  (1753,)  1741. 

"  Daniel  Brinsmade,  Mr.,  (1793,)  1745. 
Doct.  Joseph  Perry,  Harvard,  175'2. 

Rev.  Jeremiah  Day,  1756. 

"  Noah  Benedict,  Mr.,  (1813,)  1757. 

"  Benjamin  Wildman,  Mr.,  (1812,)  175S. 

"  John  R.  Marshall,  (17S9,)   1770. 

•'  Josiali  Cotton,  1771. 

"  NoahMerwin,  (Wa.)  (1795,)   1773. 

"  Chauncey  Prindle,  (1S33,)  1776. 

"  Seth  Hart,  17S4. 

"  TiUotson  Bronson,  LL.  D.,  (1S26,)   17SG. 

"  Reuben  Ives,  (1S36,)   17SG. 

•'  Azel  Backus,  S.  T.  D.,  President  Hamilton  College,  (1S16,)   1787. 

"  Isaac  Jones,  (1850,)  1792. 

"  Ebenczer  Porter,  S.  T.  D.,  1795. 

"  Bethel  Judd,  D.  D.,  1797. 

"  Daniel  Parker,  (1834,)   170S. 

"  Samuel  R.  Andrew,  Fellow  and  Secretary  of  Yale,  1S07. 

"  Henry  P.  Strong,  (1835,)  1807. 

"  John  Langdon,  Mr.,  Tutor,  (B.,)  1809. 

"  Grove  L.  Brownell,  1813. 

"  Fosdick  Harrison,  (B.,)   1815. 

"  Levi  Smith,  (S.,)  ISIS. 

"  Thomas  L.  Shipman,  (S.,)  1S18. 

«'  Paul  Couch,  (B.,)   1823. 

"  Gordon  Hayes,  (Wa.,)  1825. 

"  Joseph  Scott,  1827. 

"  Horace  Bushnell,  D.  D.,  (Wa.)  1827. 

"  Peter  Teller  Babbitt,  1831. 

"  Solomon  G.  Hitchcock,  1834. 


HISTORY     OF     ANCIENT     WOODBUKY.  470 

Rev    WilUnms  H.  Whittemorc,  (?'.,)  1S.'!5. 
"     (ioorge  P.  Priuklen,  (S.,)   1S35. 
"      Lucius  Curtiss,   1835. 

William  Cothi-en,  Mr.  et  Yale  College,  1S43. 

LIST  OF  PERSONS  NOT  GRADUATES,  ON  WHOM  HONORARY  DE- 
CREES HAVE  BEEN  CONFERRED.  THE  DEGREE  FOLLOWS  THE 
NAME. 

I'ev.   John  Grahnm,  A.  M.,  (1771,)   1737. 

Hon.  Eplnaira  Kiiby,  Mr.,  U.  S.  Judge,  Louisiana,  (1804,)  1787. 

Hon.  Nathaniel  Smith,  Mr.,  Member  Congress,  and  Judge  Superior  Court, 

Conn.,  (1S22,)  1795. 
Hon.  Nathan  Smith,  Mr.,  U.  S.  Senator,  (183-3,)  1&08. 

Nathaniel  Perry,  M.  D.,  (1820,)  1810. 

AVarren  Pv,.  Fowler,  M.  D.,  (Wa.,)  (1S2G,)  181S. 

Thomas  Goodsell,  M.  D.,  Med.  Prof.,  Hamilton  College,  (Wa.,)  1822. 

Garry  H.  Minor,  M.  D.,  1S24. 

R.05\vell  Abernethy,  M.  D.,  1S2.3. 

Isaac  Goodsell,  M.  D.,  1S2G. 

Conmt  Catlin,  M.  D.,  (13.,)  (1530,)  182S. 

Charles  H.  Webb,  M.  D. 

Remus  M.  Fowler,  M.  D.,  (Wa.,)  1S34. 

David  B.  W.  Hard,  M.  D  ,  (B.,)   1834. 

Lyman  Catlin,  M.  D.,  (B.)  1S35. 

John  E.  Morris,  M.  D.,  1836. 

William  C.  Callin,  M.  D  ,  (B.,)  1840. 

R-obert  Crane,  M.  D.,  (B.)  1813. 
Rev.  John  Churchill,  A.  M.,  1844. 

Gaylord  G.  BisscU,  M.  D.,  (B.,)  1S49. 

Henry  Shelton  Sanford,  LL,  D.,  Sec.  of  Legation,  France,  1S52. 

Harmon  W.  Shove,  M.  D.,  1853. 

Tims  have  we  endeavored,  in  the  simplest  garb  of  truth,  faithfully 
to  trace  the  deeds  of  our  departed  fathers — their  successes  and  re- 
verses, their  joys  and  their  sorrows,  their  virtues  and  their  defects. 
The  history  of  nearly  two  hundred  years  has  passed  before  our 
view.  We  have  been  able,  with  some  slight  help  from  the  imagina- 
tion, to  behold  the  lineaments  of  each  prominent  actor  on  the  stage, 
and  have  traced  the  perfection  of  the  scenes.  There  is  a  pure  and 
unalloyed  pleasure  in  wandering  amid  the  scenes  and  incidents  of  the 
long  buried  past.  There  is  a  sad  and  melancholy,  though  ennobling 
interest,  in  tracing  the  faintest  recorded  trace  of  the  early  fathers, 
who,  having  "wrought  a  good  work,"  in  their  day  and  generation, 
after  "  life's  fitful  fever,"  sleep  well,  and  have  doubtless  entered  into 
the  "  joy  of  their  Lord."  To  the  descendcnts  of  these  long  departed 
worthies,  such  inquiries  should  be  intensely  interesting.     No  rela- 


480  HISTORY     OF     ANCIENT     WOODBURY. 

tionsliip  by  blood,  or  by  ailinity,  may  be  traced  between  the  writer 
and  the  dead  of  former  generations  in  these  happy  vales.  A  stern 
and  wise,  though  kind  and  judicious  mother,  an  eastern  sister  state, 
contains  his  birthplace,  his  kin.  his  early  friends  and  associations, 
and  the  ashes  of  the  sainted  dead — the  loved  and  lost.  Yet  has  his 
eye  kindled,  and  his  heart  warmed  with  emotion  and  admiration,  as 
he  has  traced,  at  the  weary  midnight  hour,  when  the  world  around 
him  was  locked  in  the  arms  of  sleep,  the  many  valuable  and  interest- 
ing items  in  the  history  and  character  of  the  Christian  fathers  of  the 
early  days  in  his  adopted  town.  With  them  has  he  communed  in 
the  "  silent  night-watches,"  when  there  was  no  human  eye  to  see,  no 
ear  to  hear,  nor  sound  to  interrupt  the  placid  flow  of  tender  and  en- 
nobling heart  sympathies.  It  has  nerved  him  anew  for  the  battle  of 
life,  and  been  a  balm  for  many  a  desponding  hour.  It  is  well  said, 
that  "  God's  hand  is  in  history,"  and,  we  may  also  add,  in  the  inci- 
dents and  elements  that  serve  to  form  it.  The  descendants  of  Wood- 
bury have  a  proud  historical  heritage.  Well  may  they  contemplate 
with  feelings  of  satisfaction,  the  wealth  of  the  past.  It  should  also 
serve  to  give  them  high  and  ennobling  views  of  the  charities,  virtues 
and  duties  of  life,  and  of  the  honor  and  gratitude  they  owe  to  the  kind 
Giver  of  all  things.  If  the  exhausting  labors  required  in  dragging 
the  contents  of  musty  records  to  light,  and  saving  them  from  oblivion, 
shall  induce  the  sons  of  Woodbury  to  heed  the  noble  principles  of 
their  fathers,  and  lead  them  to  become  more  and  more  influenced  and 
actuated  by  these  views  in  their  lives  and  conduct,  then  the  humble 
writer  of  this  volume  will  have  "  received  his  reward." 


INDEX   OF  NAMES 


Abernethv,  Doct.  Roswell, 

3'45,  466,  479. 
Abernethy,  J.  J.,  466,  477. 
Allen,  Gen.  Ethan,  183,273, 

412,  506. 
Allen,  Ool.  Ira,  475. 
Amblek  Family,  501. 
Andrew,  Rev.  Samuel  E., 

305,  466,  478. 
Andrew,  Samuel  W.,  Esq., 

466,  478. 
Andrews,  Dr.  Sam.  A.,  466. 
Andross,  Sir  Edmond,  76. 
Atwood  Family,  490. 
"      Dr.  Jonathan,  66, 

35,  466,  4.90. 
Atwood,   Rev.    Anson    S., 

466,  477,  495. 
Atwood,  Dr.  Garwood  H., 

323,  351,  466,   477,   499, 
597. 
Atwood,  D.  S.,  Esq.,  495. 
"        Curtiss,  477. 
"        Henry  C,  466. 
AvERiLL  Family,  484. 
"    Augustm,Esq.,487. 

B. 
Bacon  Family,  516. 
"      Jabez,  351. 
"      Daniel,   Esq.,   328, 
427. 
Bacon,  Rev.  Win.  T.,  354, 

466,477,518. 
Backus,   Rev.    Azel,    253, 

478,  466. 
Backus,  Fred.  P.,  477. 
Babbitt,  Rev.  P.  T.,  292, 

467,  478. 
Bakek  Fabiily,  502. 

"      Remember,  156. 
"      Capt.     Remember, 
183,  273,  427. 
Battell  Family,  508. 
Baldwin,  Dr.  N.  C,  467. 

"       Rev.  Wm.,  467,  478. 
Bellamy  Family,  507. 
"        Rev.  Joseph,  241, 
245,  249,  467,  478. 
Bellamy,  Jonathan,    Esq., 

467,474. 
Bellamy,  Hon.  Joseph  H., 
355,  467,  477. 


Bellamy,  Rev.  David,  467. 
Benedict,  Rev.  Noah,  301, 

303,  466. 
Benedict,   Hon.   Noah    B., 

306,  357,  466,478,476. 
Benedict,  Col.  Thos.,  466. 

"      Bemiet,  M.  D.,  475. 
Beaumont,  Petre,  165. 
Beers  Family,  513. 

"      Hon.  S.  P.,  426,  466. 
Beers,  Zechariah,  286.  359, 

466. 
Bedient,  Dr.  Butler,  74, 466. 
Beecher,  Rev.  J.  W  ,  598. 
Berry,  Rev.  J.  D.,  297,  467. 
Bishop,  Dr.  Reuben,  466. 
Bissel],  Dr.  G.  G.,  467,  479. 
Blakeley  Family,  504. 
Blakesley,    Sammis,  Esq., 

466. 

Blakeman,  Dr.  W.  N.,  467. 

Botsford,  Ohas.,  M.  D.,  466. 

Boardman,  Rev.  Dan.,  105. 

"        Rev.  Charles  A., 

270,  466. 
Booth  Family,  508. 

"    llenrv,  Esq.,  467, 477. 
"    Harvey  M.,  468. 
Bostwick,  Hon.  Isaac  W., 

467. 
Bkimsmade  Family,  511. 
"        Rev.  Daniel,  262, 

467,  478. 
Brinsmade,  Zechariah,  166. 
"        Hon.  Daniel  N., 

322,  354,  467,  476. 
Brinsmade,  Wm.  B.,  477. 
Bronson  Family,  504. 
"     Dr.  Abraham,  137. 
"    Rev.  Tillotson.  291, 

467,  478,  732. 
Brownson,  Dr.  Ira  V.,  407. 

Dr. ,  467. 

Brown,  -Rev.    Garret    G., 

467,  477. 
Brownell,  Rev.   Grove  L., 

314,  467,  478. 
Bull  Family,  511. 

"     Dea.  Samuel,  78. 

"     Maj.    Thomas,     187, 

204,  207,  466. 
Bull,  Hon.  Thomas,  467. 

"    Rev.  Edmond  C,  292, 

467. 

X 


Burhans,  Rev.  Daniel,  292, 

467. 
BuRRiTT  Family,  510. 
"      Dr.  Anthony,  358, 

467. 
Burritt,    Dr.  Anthony   B., 

359,  467. 
Bulkley,  Rev.  Peter,  120. 
Butterfield,  Rev.  0.  B.,  236, 

466. 
Bushnell,  Rev.  Horace,  467, 

478. 
Bushnell,  Rev.  George,  467  . 

C. 
Calhoun,  Rev.  Geo.  A.,  467. 
"      Rev.  Henrv,  467. 
"      Dr.  John,  "187,  303, 

467. 
Campfield,  Rev.  Robt.  B., 

271,  468.. 
Camp,   Rev.  Joseph,  467, 

476. 
Cajjfield  Family,  ,529. 
"      Rev.  Thomas,  276, 

280,  467,  470,  478. 
Canfield,  Orlando,  477. 
Castle  Family,  528. 
"       Dr.  Silas,  467. 
Catlin,   Dr.    Conant,    361, 

467,  479. 
Catlin,  Dr.  Lvman,  467,479. 

"  Dr.  Wm.  C.,467,  429. 
Cazier,  Rev.  Matthias,  467. 
Chittenden,  Fred.,  Esq.,467 
Churchill,  Rev.  John,  315, 

467,  479. 
Church  Family,  526. 
"      Hon.  Samuel,  475, 

527. 
Church,  Hon.  John  R.,  475. 
"       Leman,  Esq.,  475. 
Nathaniel,  627. 
Clark,  Rev.  Daniel  A.,  230, 

467.- 
Clark,  Rev.  John,  467. 

"      Rev.  Jehu,  467. 

"      Amo«,  187. 

"      Dr.  Heman,  467. 
Chauncev,  Rev.  Israel,  32, 

33,  129",  124,  133. 
Cheravov,  Piiilomon,  165. 
Cheesbrough,   Dr.  R.  M., 

467. 


INDEX     OF     NAMES. 


CocnKANE  Family,  519. 
"    William,  Sen.,  621. 
"    William,  Jr.,  521. 
"     Samuel,  525. 
Cothren,  David,  523. 

"  Capt.  William,  523. 
"  William,  Esq.,  323, 
338,  339,  340,  341,  361, 
478,  479,  524. 
Cothren,  Hon.  M.  M.,  525. 
Coiicli,  Kev.  Paul,  256, 467, 

478. 
Cogswell,  Wra.,  Esq.,  467. 
"  Fred.  W.,  467,  478. 
Covell,  Rev.  J.  S.,  297,  468. 
Cotton,  Rev.  Josiah,  478. 
Coxe,  Kev.  Ricb'd,  292, 468. 
Crane,  Dr.  Rob't,  467,  479. 

"       Dr.  Joel,  468. 
Ckafts  Family,  526. 

"     Gen.  Chauncey,  527. 
CuRTiss  Family,  531. 
"     Capt.  Wm.,  35,  60. 
"     Agur,  187. 
"    Lt.  Israel,  61, 77, 119. 
"     Rev.     Lucius,    306, 
323,  467,  479. 
Curtiss,    Hon.    Holbrook, 

634,  543. 
Curtis,  Wm.  E.,  Esq.,  534. 
Chapman,  Hon.  Asa,  515, 

667. 
Chapman,    Hon.    Charles, 

615,  667. 
Cramer,  Moll,  159. 

D. 
Davies,  Rev.  Thomas,  293 

295,  433,  468,  475. 
Davies,  Thomas  J.,  468. 
"       Prof.  Chas.  J.,  468 
"      John,  468. 
"      Dr.  Thomas,  468. 
Day,  Rev.  Jeremiah,  270 

468   478. 
Day,  Rev.  Jeremiah,  D.  D. 

270,  429,  466,  468. 
Day,  Thomas,  LL.  D.,  270 

430,  468,  476. 
D.ay,  Tut.  Mills,  468  476. 

"    Prof.  Heiuy  N.,  468, 

477. 
Day,  Charles,  477. 
Downs,  Dr.  Myron,  468. 
"       David,  282. 
"      Captain  Ebenezer, 

174,  187. 
Dowdney,  Rev.  John,  292, 

297,  468. 
Davidson,  Rev.  David  B., 

468,  478. 
DeForest,  Dr.  Marcus,  Jr.. 

468. 
Dundonald,  Earl  of,  520. 
Dunning,  Capt.  Elias,  176. 
Dkakeley  Family,  639. 
putchcrs,  Ruloof,  158. 

E. 
Eastman  Family,  541. 


Eastman,  Dr.  Azariah,  363, 

364,  468. 
Eastman,    Dr.  Josiah  R., 

325,  365,  468  542. 
Eastman,  Dr.  .John  R.,  468. 
Richard  H.,  468. 
Easton,  Hon.  Rnfus,  468. 
Edmonds  Family,  542. 
"        Robert,  187. 
"        Hon.    Wm.,  201, 

434,  468,476. 
Edmonds,  David,  Esq.,  468, 

476. 
Everitt,  Hon.  Daniel,  174, 

176, 187,  434,  468. 

F. 
Fakrand  Family^,  544. 
"        Capt.  Nathaniel, 
326. 
Farrand,  Jonath'n,  176,187. 

"       Wm.  P.,  46,  476. 
Fairchild,  Dr.  S.  B.,  366, 

468. 
Fanshcr,     Dr.     Sylvanus, 

364,  468. 

Fenn,  Dr.  Aaron  W.,  468. 

"  Fred.  J.,  Esq.,  468. 
Fhnt,  Rev.  Seth,  291,  468. 
Foote,  Rev.  George  L.,  293, 

468. 
Foote,  Dr. ,  468. 

"      Dr.  E.  T.,  614. 
Foster,  Dr.  Isaac,  321. 
Ford,  Dr.  Seth  P.,  468. 
Fowler,  Dr.  Parlemon  B., 

365,  468. 

Fowler,     Dr.   Warren    R., 

365,  468,  479. 
Fowler,  Dr.  Remus  M.,  365, 

468,  479. 
Fowler,  Dr.  Henry,  468. 
Eraser,  William  A.,  P^sq., 

468,  733. 
Eraser,  Hugh,  732. 

"       Simon,  732. 
Frisbie,  Rev.  Wm.  Henry, 

297,  468. 
Fuller,  Rev.  Samuel,  292, 

468. 
Fulford,  Abraham,  73. 


Galpin  Family,  544. 
"      Rev.  Samuel,  469. 
"      Dr.  Leman,  469. 
Gilbert,  Rev.  Sturges,  291, 

297,  469. 
GUbert,  Rev.  Raphael,  299. 

469. 
Glover,  Rev.  Bennet,  291 

469. 
Goodsell,  Dr.  Thomas,  469 

479. 
Goodsell,  Dr.    Isaac,  469, 

479. 
Graham  Family,  545. 

Kev.  John,  222, 

223,  468,  479,  546. 
Graham,  Rev.  J.,  Jr.,  478 


Graham,  Dr.  Andrew,  176, 

187,  226   366,  468,  647. 
Graliam,  lion.  John  A.,i226, 

441,  469   549. 
Graham,  Rev.   Chauncey, 

469,  475. 

Graham,  Dr.  Isaac  Gilbert, 

441,  548. 
Graham,  Col.  John  L.,226, 

553,  475. 
Graham,  Capt.  Jolm  Hodg- 
es, 562. 
Graham,  John  Lorimer,  Jr., 

564. 
Graham,  Nathan  B.,  Esq., 

564. 
Graham,  James    Lorimer, 

Esq.,  555. 
Gray,  Rev.  Cyrus  W.,  267, 

469. 
Gunn,  Fred.  W.,  272,  477. 
Garrow,  Dr.  John  L.,  469. 
Gridley,  Dr.  Horatio,  469. 

H. 

Hannah,  James,  176,  187. 
Hall,  Dr.  Charles  A.,  732. 
Harriman,  Rev.   Fred.   D., 

292,  470. 
Harrison,    Rev.     Fosdick, 

256,  281,  470,  478. 
Hastings,  Dr.  Seth,  385 ,  469. 

"     Prof.  Thomas,  469. 

"     Dr.  Seth,  Jr.,  470. 

"     Orlando,  Esq.,  470. 

"     Eurotus,  Esq.,  470. 
Hartwell,   Sam.  E.,   Esq., 

367,  470. 
Hart,  Rev.  Seth,  478. 
Hawley,    Dr.     Benjamin, 

188,  368,  470. 
Hawley,  William, Esq., ,368, 

470,  476. 

Hawley,  Moses,  Esq.,  322. 
Hard,   Dr.   David  B.    W., 

469,  479. 
Hayes,  Rev.  Gordon,  267, 

469,  478. 
Hayes,  Charles  G.,  478. 
HicocK  Family-,  564. 
"      Lyman,  477. 
"      Capt.  Nathan,  176, 
187. 
Hicock,  Simeon,  476. 
Hinman  Family,  656. 
"      Noah,  Esq.,  469. 
"      Sergt.  Edw'd,  556. 
"      Edward,  Esq.,  176, 
187,  369,  469. 
Hinman,  Hon.  Edward,'370, 

469. 
Himuan,    Hon.     Timothy, 

476,  469. 
Hinman,     Gen.    Ephraim, 

367,  469. 
Hinman,    Hon.  Royal   R., 

370,  469,  476. 
Hinman,  Col.  Joel,  442. 
•'      Hon.  Joel,  442,  469. 
"      Capt.  E.,  442,  469. 


I  N  D  K  X     OF     NAMES. 


Hinmaii,  Hon.  Curtis,  469. 
"  Hon.  William,  469. 
'•  Col.  Benjamin,  166, 
169,  174,  183,  237,  371, 
469. 
Hinman,  Gen.  Robinson  S., 

373,  469. 
Hinman,  Simeon,  Esq.,  373, 

476,  479. 
Himnan,  Simeon,  476. 
"      Sherman,  Esq.,  476, 
479. 
Hinman,  Capt.  Wait,  150. 
"       Capt.  Adam,  166. 
"       Elijah,  187. 
"      Titus,  561. 
"       Cyrus,  476. 
Hitchcock,  Hon.   Sam.  J., 

444,  469,  477. 
Hitchcock,   Rev.   Solomon 
G.,  287, 291,  292,  469,  478. 
Hooker  Family,  569. 

"      Asahel,  476. 
Hill  Family,  567. 

"     Hon.  Charles  J.,  470. 
Hollister  Family,  583. 
"         Lt.  John,  583. 
"        Gideon  H.,  Esq., 
369,  470,  477. 
Hollister,   David  F.,    470, 

478. 
HoTCHKiss  Family,  579. 

"         Dr. ,  470. 

"        John,  332. 
Hnbbell,  Peter,  150,  167. 

"        Comfort,  187. 
Hull  Family,  577. 
"     Ebenezer,  187. 
'•    Hon.  Andrew  C,  444, 
469. 
HuU,  Rev.  Leverett,  444, 

469. 
Hull,  Gen.  Elias,  444,  469. 
"     Dr.  Zeph.,  366,469. 
"     Dr.  Titus,  367,  469. 
"    Dr.  Laurens,  443, 469. 
"    Rev.  Charles,  469. 
HuRD  Family,  570. 
"    John,  66. 
"     Capt.  Da\nd,  176. 
"     Samuel,  187. 
"    David,  187. 
"     Dr.  Ciurtis,  469. 
"    Dr.  Nelson  L.,  469. 
"    Dr.  Theodore  C,  469. 
"    Dr.  Fred  W.,  469. 
"    Monroe,  Esq.,  469. 
HURLBUT  Fashly,  580. 
"        Joseph,  259. 

HUTHWITT  FA5IILY-,  568. 

Hnntmgton,    Dr.    Daniel, 

868,  470. 
Huxley,   Dr.    Asahel    M., 

368,  470. 

I. 

Isham,  Rev.  Austiu,  281, 

470. 
Ingersol,  David  B.,  Esq.,  47. 
Ives,  Rev.  Reuben,  291, 478, 


J.-  I 

Jenner  Family,  602.  I 

Johnson  Family,  600. 

"    John  J.,  80. 

"     Amos  M.,  Esq.,  470. 

Jones,  Rev.  Isaac,  297,  470, 

478. 
Judd,  Rev.   Reuben,  261, 

470,  478. 
Judd,   Bethel,  D.   D.,  291, 

470,  478. 
Judd,  Rev.  Wm.  H.,  392, 

470. 
JuDsoN  Family,  587. 
"      Lt.  Joseph,  135,  54, 
61,74,  116,  128,  588. 
Judson,  John,  61. 
"      WiUiam,  587. 
"      Gen.    David,    470, 
476,  595. 
.Judsou.    Rev.    Adoniram, 

448,  470,  476,  596. 
Judsou,    Rev.    Adoniram 

D.  D.,  575,  596. 
Judson,  Rev.  Epbraim,  448, 

470,  476,  595. 
Judsou,   Rev.    Philo,    445, 

470,478,  597. 
Judson,  Rev.  Albert,  446, 

470,  477,  598. 
Judson,    Rev.    Gould    C, 

470,  598. 
Judson,  Rev.  Everton,  447, 

470,  477,  599. 
Judson,  Rev.  Samuel,  445, 

470. 
Judson,  Rev.  Ben.  B.,  470, 

599. 
Judson,  Philo  M.,  Esq.,  475. 
"       Dr.  Elnathan,  596. 
"      Isaac  P'.,  476. 
"      Gen.  Herbert,  598. 
"       Dr.  Oliver  A-,  600. 
"      Wilham  F.,  600. 
"      Dr.    Frederick  J., 
470,  477. 
Judson,  Charles  A.,  470. 
"      David,  Jr.,  470. 
"       Curtiss,  476. 
"       George  H.,  470. 
"      Israel,  476. 

K. 
Kasson  Family,  603. 
Keese,  James  D.,  Esq.,  385, 

470. 
Kirby,  Hon.  Ephraim,  332, 

450,  470,  479. 
Knowles  Family,  604. 
"        Dr.  Thomas,  385, 
470. 


Lacey,    Capt.    Thaddeus, 

176. 
LaFayette,  Gen.,  213. 
Lambert  Family,  607. 
Langdon,  Rev.  John,  256, 

470,  478. 
Langdon,  Dr.  Timothy,  470. 


Ill 

Lawrence,  Rev.  Amos  E.. 

236. 
LEAVE^•^voRTH     Family-, 

612. 
Leavenworth,  Capt.  David , 

196. 
Leavenworth,  Isaac,  Esq., 

470. 
Leavenworth,   Dr.  Alston, 

470. 
Leavenworth,  Dr.  Thom.is, 

470. 
Leavenworth,  Rev.  Thad- 
deus, 292,  471. 
Leavitt  Family,  614. 
"    Rev.  Freegrace,  614. 

"    Rev.  Jonathan,  614. 

"    Sheldon,  615. 

"    Harvey  F.,  615. 
"     Sheldon  C,  476,015. 
Lemmon,  Dr.  Sheldon,  470, 

477. 
LiN.sLEY'  Family,  605. 
Logan,  Rhoda,  272. 
Loomis,   Rev.    Aretus   G., 

257,  471. 
Lvman,  Rev.  Ephraun,  267, 

"470. 
Lyon,  Hon.  Matthew,  320, 

471. 
Lucivs,  Rev.  William,  292, 

471. 

M. 
Marshall  Family,  631. 
"       Rev.  John  R.,  184, 
288,  289,  291,  387,   471, 
478. 
Martin  Family,  620. 
"      Wm.  Seaborn,  C21, 
622. 
Martin,  Samuel,  623. 
"      E.  T.  Throop,  630. 
"      Henry,  j:sq.,  630. 
"      Henry    Hull,    475, 
630. 
Martin,  Capt.  Andrew,  198. 

"      Caleb,  99. 
Mallory  F.^mily,  615. 
"     Hon.  Garrick,  471, 
477. 
Mason,  Rev.  Stephen,  267, 

471. 
Mason,  Ebenezer  P.,  471, 

477. 
Ma.stei-s,  Nicholas  S.,  Esq., 

452,  471. 
Masters,    Dr.   Samuel  S., 

Meigs,  Dr.  John,  386,  471. 

"    Dr.  Phineas,  387,  471. 

"    Dr.  Abner,  471. 

"    Rev.    Benjamin    C, 

471,  477. 
Merwin,  Rev.  Noah,  262, 

471,  478. 
Minor  Family,  642. 

"      Capt.  John,  35<i86, 

37,  50,  51,  54,  58,  71,  77, 

79,  643. 


IV 


INDEX     OF     NAMES. 


Minor,  Col.  Joseph,  98, 139,  i 

6-14.  1 

Minor,  Dea.   Samuel,  153,  ' 

154. 
Minor,  Capt.  Matthew,  174. 

"     Dea.  Clement,  187. 

"     Kev.  Jehu,  233,  234, 

471,  476,  651. 
Minor,   Hon.  ilatthew,  Jr., 

389,  471,  47G,  655. 
Minor,  Dr.  Garry  H.,  471, 

479,  652. 
Minor,  Samuel,  Esq.,  390, 

471,  478. 
Minor,    Charles    S.,   Esq., 

471,  478,  652. 
Minor,    Israel,    Esq.,    471, 

657. 
Minor,  H.  J.,  Esq.,  475,  655. 

"     Eev.  Sherman,  645. 

"     Hon.  Joel,  648. 

"    Rev.  Lamson,  648. 

"    Josiah  H.,  Esq.,  477, 

649. 
Minor,  Rev.  Timothy,  650. 

"     William,  Esq.,  653. 

"     Wm.  T.,  Esq.,  475. 

"     Rev.     Thomas,    476, 

653. 
Minor,    Dr.   Thomas,   475, 

653. 
Mitchell  Family,  633. 
"  Rev.  Jonathan, 

Mitch'eU,  Abijah,  187. 

"        Eleazur,  94,  176. 
"        Rev.  Elisha,  452, 
471,  477,  641. 
Mitchell,   John,  Esq.,    471, 

476. 
Mitchell,  Rev.  Justus,  452, 

471,  476,  641. 
Mitchell,  John  G.,  Esq.,  471. 
"     Hon.  Henry,  471. 
"    Enos  G.,  471. 
"    Dr.  Henry,  635. 
"     Capt.  Garwood,  637. 
"    MitcheU  S.,  639. 
"     Mordaunt  S.,  639. 
"     Minot,  Esq.,  641. 
"     Chauncey  R.,  Esq., 
641. 
MosELEY  Family,  619. 
"         Hon.    Increase, 
174, 176,  187. 
Moseley,  Col.  Increase,  Jr. , 

174,  176,  187,  209. 
Moseley,  Di-.  John,  471. 
Montrose,  Duke  of,  545. 
MoneU,  John  J.,  Esq.,  677. 

"       Mary  E.,  471. 
Moody,  Rev.  Martin,  292, 

471. 
Morris,  Dr.  John  E.,  479. 
MuNN  Family,  618. 
"     Dr.  Samuel,  72. 
"     Dr.  Daniel,  389,  471. 
"     Dr.  Nathan,  389,  471. 
Murray,  Rev.  Rufus,  292, 
453,  471. 


Murray,  Philo,  Esq.,  388. 
Muiison,    Rev.    Fred.   E., 

453,  471. 
Munson,   Hon.   Harris   B., 

471. 
McEwen,  Rev.  Abel,  677. 

X. 

Nichols  Family,  657. 
North,  Dr.  Loomis,  390, 471. 

I  ^• 

1  Okton  Fajiily,  658. 

"       Dr.    Samuel,    321, 
I       392,  471,  476,  660. 
'  Orton,  Hon.  Philo,  660. 
"     Dr.  John,  392,  471, 
661. 
Orton,  Dr.  Samuel,  Jr.,  392, 
'       471,  661. 
'  Orton,  Dr.  Henrv  T.,  392, 

472,  661. 
i  Orton,   Dr.   David  J.,  392, 
I       472,  661. 

I  Orton,  Dr.  James,  392,  472, 
I       661. 
Orton,  Rev.  Sam.  G.,  661. 
"     Samuel  D.,  Esq.,  661. 
I  OsBOKN  Family,  658. 
i        "       Shadrach,  36,  193, 
!      390, 472. 
Osborn,  Timothv,  187. 


I  Palmer,  Jo.  M.,  Esq.,  395, 
j       472. 

Parker,  Rev.  Daniel,  472, 
j      478. 

Parker,  Dr.  Joseph,  472. 
"       Col.    Amasa,   453, 
i      472,  477. 

I  Parker,    Hon.    Amaisa   J., 
;       475. 

Parsons,    Rev.  Benjamin, 
I      271,  472. 

I  Parmely,  J.  E.,  Esq.,  472. 
i  Preston  Family,  662. 
!  "         Hon.  John,  662. 

1  "        Rev.  Wm.,D.  D., 

j       662. 
'  Preston,  Hon.  William,  62, 

292,  472   662. 
I  Preston,  Hackaliah,  62. 
I    ^  "        Hon.  Nathan,  155, 
I       332,  393,  472,  476,  664. 
!  Preston,  Jehiel,  78. 
I        "      Eev.  William,   472, 
•       477,  665. 

Percy  Family,  674. 

Perry  Family,  666. 
"     Rev.  Joseph,  475,  667. 
"     Dr.  .Joseph,  321,332, 
i       392,  472,  478,  666. 
I  Perry,  Dr.  Nathaniel,  392, 
■       472,  479,  668. 
i  Perry,  Nathauiel  P.,  475. 
:      "     Col.  Henry,  454,  472, 
I       667. 

Perry,  Hon.  Nathaniel,  393, 
472,  668. 


Perrv,  Rev.  Philo,  292, 472, 

666. 
Perrv,   Rev.  Phillips,  292, 

472. 
Perry,   Rev.    Bennet,   472, 

667. 
Pettif(i-ee,  Alexandre,  165, 
Phelps,   Hon.    Charles   B., 

286,  312,  394,  472,  632. 
Pcet,  Harvey  P.,  LL.  D., 

472,  477. 
Peck,  Dr.  John,  472. 
Pierce  Family,  699. 
"      Joseph,  176. 
"      Justus,  176. 
'' .    Amos,  476. 
"      Dea.  John,  174. 
"      .John,  476. 
"      Rev.  George  E.,  455, 
477,  472,  670. 
Pierce,  Cyrus,  476. 
Pitcher,   'Hon.    Nathaniel, 

472. 
Porter  Family,  668. 
"      Rev.Ebenezer,263, 
478. 
Prindle,    Rev.   Chauncev, 

472,  478. 
Pond,  Rev.  Sam.  W.,  472. 

'•      Rev.  Gideon,  472. 
Powell,  Dr.  William,  472. 
Powers,  Dr.  Peter,  472. 
Prime  Family,  674. 

*'      Rev.  Benjamin,  472, 

476,  674. 
Prestige  Family,  672. 

"        Dr.  Curtiss,  472, 

673. 
Prentice,  Rev.  Thomas  H., 

472,  673. 
Prentice,  Rev.  Charles,  455, 

472,  476,  673. 
Prentice,  Eev.  Charles  T., 

475. 
Prentice,  Prof.  David,  472, 

477,  673. 

Prudden,  Rev.  Geo.  P.,  231, 

472,  479. 

Putnam,  Rev.  Charles  S., 
292,  472. 

E. 
Raymond,  Eev.  Moses,  472, 

477. 
Eead,  Dr. ,  472. 

"     Eev.  Hollis,  271,  472, 
Eichmond,  Edmund,  Esq., 

472. 
Rogers,  Eev.  Robt.  C,  292, 

472. 
Root  Family,  674. 

"    Rev.  Judson  A.,  472, 

477. 

S. 
Sanford,  Hon.  John,  473. 
"       Henry      Shelton, 

473,  479. 

Sanford,   Rev.   David  P., 
292. 


INDEX     OK     X  A  M  E  S  . 


Sayre,   Rev.    James,  289, 

291,  473. 

Sackett,  Dr. ,  473. 

Scott,   Rev.    Joseph,   292, 

297,  473,  478. 
Scott,  Rev.  James  L.,  293, 

473. 
Scoville,  Joseph    A.,   473, 

665. 
Scisceaii.  Hem-ie,  165. 
Seelye,  Dr.  Thomas  T.,  397. 
Shove,   Dr.    Harmon    W., 

398,  473,  479. 
Shelton,  Gen.  Geo.  Pt,  473. 
Sheldon,   Dr.  Daniel,  396, 

472,  475. 
Sherjiax  Family,  679. 

"     •   Hon.  Samuel,  35, 
60,  679,  682. 
Sherman,   Hon.   John,  61, 

79,  155,  683. 
Sherman,  Matthew,  61. 
"        Hon.  Daniel,  151, 
176,  187,   190,  213,  321, 

473,  685. 
Sherman," Father"  Elijah, 

290,  299. 

Sherman,  Rev.  Henrv  B., 

291,  292,  473,  687. 
Sherman,  Taylor,  Esq.,  473. 

"  Rev.      Charles, 

473,  686. 
Sherman,    Hon.     Charles, 

475,  685. 
Sherman,  Rev.  Josiah,  680, 

681. 
Sherman,  Hon.  Roger,  680, 

682. 
Sherman,  Hon.  Roger  M.. 

681. 
Sherman,  Rev.  John,  679. 
"        Capt.  John,  680, 

681. 
Shipman,  Rev.  Thomas  L., 

231,  473,  478. 
Skeel  Family,  709. 

''      Sergt.  Thomas,  SO. 
Skiltox  Family,  711. 
"        Dr.  Henry,   396, 

473,  711. 
Skilton,  Dr.  Avery  J.,  473, 

712. 
Smith  Family,  677. 

"      Hon.  Nathaniel,  155, 

327,  398,  473,  477,    479, 

677. 
Smith,  Hon.  Nathaniel  B., 

405,  473,  677. 
Smith,  Hon.  Nathan,  461, 

473,  479,  677. 
Smith,  Hon.  Truman,  463, 

473,  477,  592. 
Smith,   Hon.    Perry,   461, 

473. 
Smith,  Phineas,  Esq.,  473, 

477,  677. 
Smith,  Hon.  Ralph  D.,  473. 

•'     Dr.  Abraham  L.,  473. 

"    Rev.       Deliverance, 

473,  475. 


Smith,  Rev.  Noah,  236,  473, 

Smith,      Rev.      Sylvester, 

300. 
Smith,  Rev.  Levi,  478. 

"    Rev.    Zephaniah    H., 

567. 
Smith,  Ebenezer  C,  477. 

"     Elihu,  187. 

••     Walter,  Esq.,  475. 
Snow,  Rev.  T.  W.,  297.  473. 
Sprague,  Hon.  Leman  |B., 

398,  473. 
Squire  Family,  709. 
Stanton,  Rev.  Ben.  F.,  256, 

473. 
Stanton,  Rev.  Thomas,  69. 
Steele  Family,  688. 
"       Hon.  John,  688. 
"      Doct.  Samuel,  692. 
"      Rev.    Julius,    473, 

477. 
Steele,  Rev.  Nathaniel,  473, 

476. 
Stephens,  Ann  S.,  473. 
Stewart,    Rev.    Philander, 

473. 
Stiles  Family,  693. 
"      Rev.   Ezra.   D.  D., 

693,  695,  698. 
Stiles,  Benjamin,  Esq.,  322, 

395,  473,  475,  699. 
Stiles,  Benjamin,  Jr.,  Esq., 

395,  473,  476,  699. 
Stiles.  David  J.,  18,  37. 

"    !Xathan,  476. 
Stoddard  Family,*713. 
"  Rev.    Anthony, 

66,  79,  103,  135,  137, 140, 

157,  472,  478,  714. 
Stoddard,  Maj.  Amos,  456, 

472,  714. 

Stoddard,  Col.  Henry,  459, 

473,  714. 

Stoddard,  Dr.  Israel,  459, 

473,  475. 
Stoddard,  Jonathan,  Esq., 

719. 
Stoddard,    Capt.    Gideon, 

176,  187. 
Stoddard,  Rev.  Judson  B., 

719. 
Stoddard,    Capt.    Nathan, 

205. 
Stoddard,  Thomas,  720. 
"        William,  720. 

Rev.  Elijah  W., 

717. 

Stoddard,  Dr.  Abiram,  717. 

"        Dr.  William,  717. 

"        Rev.      Goodwin, 

Stoddard,    Rev.    Eliakim, 

716. 
Stoddard,    Rev.   Solomon, 

713. 
Strong  Family,  701. 
"      Elder  John,  701. 
"      Rev.   Nathan,  473, 
475,  703. 


j  Strong,'  Rev.  Joseph,  475, 
I       703. 

I  Strong,  Hon.  John,  Jr.,  397, 
473,  477,  707. 
Strong,  Rev.  Nathan,  Jr., 

475,  703. 
Strong,  Rev.  Henry  P.,  304, 

473,  478. 
Strong,  Timothy,  167, 
"    Hon.  Henry,  475. 
Swift,  Rev.  Zephaniah,  281, 

473. 
Slade,  Hon.  WilUam,  475. 


Taylor,  Jonathan,  78. 
Terrill  Family,  721. 
"    Hon.  Hazard  Bailey, 
I      475,  722. 

'  Terrill,  Hon.  T.  Lee,  475, 
722. 
Thompson  Family,  727. 
"         Hezekiah,   Esq., 
155,  174,  176,  232,  405, 
473,  730. 
Thompson,   Hon.   William 

A.,  463,  473,  476,  733. 
Thompson,   Charles,  Esq., 

473,  7.35. 

I  Thompson,    Rev.    James, 

I      292,  474,  476,  734. 

I  Thompson,    Dr.     Samuel, 

474,  476,  735. 

I  Thompson,  Dr.  Ebenezer, 

j       405,  474,  737. 

I  Thompson,  Charles  C,  518, 


I  Thompson,  Egbert  A.,  478. 
I  "        Thomas  M.,  478. 

!  ••        Hon.  Smith,  730. 

Anthony,  728. 
1  "        Rev.  Caleb,  740. 

j  Thayer,  Dr.  Nathaniel,  474. 
I  Thomas  Family,  722. 
I  Throop,  Enos  T.,  730. 
j  Toucey,  Thomas,  178. 
I  Tomliuson,  Dr.  Abraham, 
i       406,  474,  476. 
I  Tonilinson,  Dr.  Jos.,  474. 

'•        Rev.  George,  474, 
1       477. 
TKO^yBRIDUE       Family, 

j  Trowbridge,    Dr.    Joseph, 

:      474,  744. 

i  Trowbridge,  Dr.  Thomas, 

739. 
i  Trowbridge,    Dr.    Josiah, 
740.  . 
Trowbridge,  Otis,  Esq.,  740. 
"       TDr.  Israel  L.,  741. 
1         ••        Samuel,       Esq., 
741. 
Tuttle  Family,  723. 
"      Nathan,  724. 
"      Rev.  Isaac  H.,  297, 
474. 
Tyler,  Rev.   Bonnet,    235, 
I      474,476. 


INDEX     OF     NAME; 


w. 

Walker  Family,  744. 
"        Eev.    Zechariah, 
33,  48,  51,  6C,  121,  124 
130,   131,  133.   134,    474 

744. 
Wiiikcr,  Sarab,  90. 

"      Gideon,  Esq.,  174. 
176,  187. 
Walker,  Keuben,  312. 
AVakei^y  Family,  754. 

"        Abel,  209. 
Wadhams,  Rev.  Noah,  269, 

270,  475. 
Watson,   Rev.    Wm.,   297, 

475. 
Watson,  Hon.  James,  463, 

475,  476. 
Washington,     Gen.     Geo., 

150,  324. 
Waener  Family,  752. 
"       Dr.  Ebenezer,  1st, 
74,  294,  406,  474,  753. 
Warner,  Dr.  Ebenezer,  2nd, 

474. 
Warner,  Dr.  Ebenezer,  3d, 

474. 
Warner,  Dr.  Ebenezer,  4th, 

474. 
Warner,  Dr.  Benjamin,  474, 

753. 
Warner,  Dr.  Benjamin,  Jr., 

753. 
Warner,  Lt.  Ebenezer,  99. 
"     Dr.  Reuben,  474, 753. 
"     Dr.  Abner,  474. 
"     Dr.  John,  474. 
"     Col.   Seth,  183,  201, 
273,  287,  407,  474,  753. 
Warner,  Dr.  Ei^hraim,  474. 
"       Curtiss,  476. 


Warner,  George  W.,  Esq., 

474,  478. 
Warner,  Lyman,  Esq.,  474. 
"       Thomas,  Esq.,  174. 

176,  187. 
AVahd  Family,  755. 

"      lion.  Levi,  474. 
Waller  Family,  754. 
Weeks,  Rev.  Dr.,  314. 
Webb,  Dr.   Chas.   H.,  406, 

474,  479. 
Wcller,  Lt.  Thos.,  283. 
Welton,  Eev.  Jo.  D.,  291, 

474. 
Welton,  Rev.  Willard,  297, 

474. 
Wheeler  Family,  747. 
"  Benjamin,  Esq., 

474. 
Wheeler,  Eev.  Ulysses  j\l., 

292,  474. 
Wheeler,  Dr.  Lemuel,  406, 

474. 
Wlieeler,  Rev.  Russel,  297, 

474. 
Wheeler,  Lt.  Thomas,  22. 

"        Dr.  Obadiah,  186. 

Whittlesey  Family,  756. 

"  Eev.  Samuel, 

270,  474. 
Whittlesey,    Hon.   Elislia, 

465,  474,  476. 
Whittlesey,    Elisha,   Esq., 

474,  758. 
Whittlesey,   Hon.   Freder- 
ick, 474,  477,  759. 
Whittlesey,      Charles     C, 

Esq.,  474,477. 
Whittlesey,  Dr.  Henry  N., 

474. 


Whittlescv,  Rev.  Wilham 

762. 
Whittlesey,  Rev.  John,  762. 
"  Frederick    A., 

Esq.,  763. 
Whittlesey,  Stephen,  Esq., 

756. 
Whittlesey,   Rev.   Samuel, 

756. 
Whittlesey,  Ambrose,  Esq., 

756. 
Wliittlesey,    Rev.    Chaun- 

cey,  757. 
Whittlesey,  Rev.   Samuel, 

757. 
Whittlesey,    Rev.   Joseph, 

474,  477. 
Wliittlesey,  Luman,  477. 
"        "John,  P^sq.,  322. 
"        Luman,  760. 
Whittemore,  Rev.  Williams 

H.,  231,  474,  479, 
Wildman,  Rev.  Benjamin, 

199,227,228,  474,  478. 
Williams,  Dr.  William  C, 

474. 
Wigdon,  Eev.  Samuel,  298, 

475. 
Wyatt  Family,  764. 
Woodward,  Rev.  Fred.  B., 

474. 
Wood,    Rev.    Elijah,    230, 

474. 
Wright,  Rev.  Worthington, 

303,  474. 
Woodbury,  definition  of,45. 
Wheaton,   Rev.   Nathaniel 

S.,  474,  477. 
Wlieaton,    Rev,     Salmon, 
474,  477. 


ADDITIONS     AND     OORREOTION 


ADDITIONS  AND  COREECTIONS. 

A  ftw  errors  wliich  escaped  attention  while  the  work  was  passing  through  the 
press,  are  here  corrected,  and  a  few  additional  facts  presented,  which  have  just  been 
brought  to  the  notice  of  the  author.  Some  errors  in  orthography,  &,c.,  the  reader  will 
easily  correct  for  liimself. 

Page  31,  fourth  Ime  from  top,  for  Manquash  read  3fauquash. 

"    38,  twelfth  line  from  top,  omit  the  first  particle  to. 

"  62.  The  account  of  Hackaliah  Preston  is  erroneous  in  the  statement  concern- 
ing the  place  of  his  nativity.  A  correct  account  will  be  found  in  Cliap- 
ter  XXI.,  in  tlie  liistory  of  the  "  Preston  Family,"  page  663. 

"    101,  seventeenth  line  from  top,  for  farefathers  read  forefathers. 

"  185,  fourteenth  line  from  top,  after  the  word  dosed,  occurs  a  period,  which 
should  be  omitted,  so  as  to  make  a  single  sentence  with  the  first  of  the 
quotation. 

"    195,  ninth  line  of  the  first  note,  for  Trullcr  read  Fuller. 

"    225,  eighth  line  from  top,  for  twenty-one  read  twelve. 

"  226,  first  line  from  top,  for  forty-five  read  ffty-two.  This  includes  the  whole 
time  from  his  ordination  at  Stafford,  till  his  death,  though  he  was  unable 
to  preach  much  during  the  last  eight  or  nine  years  previous  to  his 


239,  eleventh  line  from  top,  for  Bachus  read  Backus. 

306,  fourth  line  from  bottom,  iorffteen  acres  valuable  of  Unid  read  f fie  en  acres 

of  valuable  land. 
339,  nineteenth  line  from  top,  for  Chapman  read  Chapin. 
341,  thirteenth  line  from  bottom,  for  Robert  J.  Tolles  read  Robert  I.  Tolles. 
345,  twentieth  line  from  top,  omit  the  word  almost. 
430,  second  line  from  bottom,  for  teas  read  is. 
452,  thirteenth  line  from  bottom,  for  sister  read  niece. 
461,  fifteenth  line  from  top,  for  Benjamin  Hurd  read  Nathan  Hurd. ' 
474,  fourth  line  from  bottom,  for  Samuelread  Lemuel. 
478,  seventeenth  line  from  top,  for  1737  read  1740.    He  was  the  son  of  Rev. 

John  Graham,  of  Southbury  parish. 

The  reader  is  requested  to  take  a  pencil  and  make  the  foregoing  corrections  on  the 
appropriate  pages. 


117