A QUAKER'S VISIT TO HARTFORD IN THE YEAR 1676 Edited by FRANK D, ANDREWS Privately printed VINELAND, NEW JERSEY I 9 I 4 A QUAKER'S VISIT TO HARTFORD IN THE YEAR 1676 Edited by FRANK D. ANDREWS Privately printed VINELAND, NEW JERSEY I 9 I 4 BAY S laM PREFACE. The spirit which influenced the Quakers in the days of George Pox exists and influences men today; this indwelling spirit of God in man is coexistent with him though long in finding expression, it has, however, appeared in the deeply religious of all be- liefs and sects since the earth was peopled. Old as it is, it is a new revelation to many; the still small voice speaking to the soul is seldom heeded, though if followed, would lead to a higher and better life. The Quaker recognized this voice as of God, a sure guide to the truth. Having the truth he could do no less than share it with others, and the leaders entered upon the work of enlightment glad- ly, freely, going about sowing the seeds of right- eousness. The forms and ceremonies of the Church were to him unnecessar}'^ and of little value, a paid ministry and costly temples of worship were denounced. The Quaker found the kingdom of heaven within, and as God created all things, so every tiling was sacred, all days, holy days; life in short, must be spiritualized, so attuned to the Divine Life, that the voice of God in the soul would clearly reveal the way and the truth. 2 This spiritualized life, the union of man with his Creator, gave strength to endure the trials of the world and brought peace throug-h the certainty oi a conscious immortality. William Edmundson who visited Hartford so long agfo, was a tine example of the earl}'' Quakers who spent their lives in the service of the Lord. While his opinions and beliefs may not coincide with our own, we cannot fail to respect and honor his many sterling qualities, as shown by his life of devotion to the cause; his faithfulness, courage, love of truth and fidelity to duty. The influence of such a man does not cease with his death, and who can say his teachings on that Sabbath-day in Hartford, when he *'set all the Town a Talking of Religion" were without result; that the seed then sown, nurtured through the centuries, finding expression in the lives of men and women of the present day, has not in some degree changed the narrow belief held bj' their ancestors to a more rational view concerning God and man's relation to Him. The reader will find William Edmundson's Jour- nal, giving an account of his life and travels, pub- lished after his death, of great interest, particular- ly his experience in America, should they care to learn more regarding him. Frank D. Andrews. VlNELAND, N. J. February 4, 1914. THE QUAKER. William Edmundson, whose visit to Hariford is here recorded, was born in the north of Entjhiiid, in the year 1627. He was bound apprentice to the trade of carpenter and joiner in York, where he lived sev- eral years; afterwards he served in the army, par*, of the time under Oliver Cromwell. His conscience, always tender, was favorably influenced towards the doctrines of the Quakers and he soon became a con- vert. For awhile he eng-aged in trade, but becomiu.ir more and more convinced of the truths held by Qua- kers and meeting Georj?e Pox, he carried his mes- sage to the people, speaking in public places and making manj^ converts, though jjersecuted and imprisoned. In 1671, in company with George Fox and others, he went to the West Indies and later to America, visiting several of the Colonies. At New- port, in Rhode Island, he with others accepted a challenge to dispute with Roger Williams. Soon after Edmundson sailed from Boston on his return voyage. It was on his second visit to New England that he came to Hartford. His life was devoted to the ser- vice of truth, and in that service he helped humanity. He departed this life after about one months sick- ness, "in sweet Peace with the Lord, in Unity with his Brethren, and Good- Will to all Men," on June 31 ,1712, in the eighty-tifth year of his age. From his reference to the "Baptist Rogers," wlio stopped at the Inn where he lodged, the time of bis visit is known to be late in the month of October, the General Court in session October 21, 1676, grant- ing Elizabeth, daughter of Mathew Grisvvokl of Lyme, and wife of John Rogers, a divorce. A QUAKER'S VISIT TO HARTFORD 1676. An event ot more than passing interest in the early annals of Hartford occurred late in the year 1676, when a Quaker preacher, on his travels through New England, journeyed through the wilderness to the principal town in Connecticut Colony, where on the Sabbath, he delivered his message in both of the churches, and to the people assembled at the Inn where he tarried; suffered arrest, was released, and permitted to resume his journey, having followed the dictates of his conscience in the performance of what he considered his duty. Hartford at that time was about forty years old; many of the tirst settlers, who had crossed the sea, and those who with their pastor, Rev. Thomas Hooker, made their way through the trackless forests of Massachusetts Colony to the banks of the Connecticut, had been laid at rest, Thomas Hooker and his successor Samuel Stone, among them. Of those who by reason of strength survived, but few remained well advanced in years, who with the de- scendants of the early settlers and later additions formed a community of upward of a thousand souls. These men and women were in the manner of the time profoundly religious, yet could not dvvell to- gether in unity of spirit, having differences of opin- ion which led to controversy, resulting at last in the withdrawal of the minority and the organiza- tion of a second society. 6 The Meetiiig"-House of the First Society was on thie east side of "Meeting-House Square" near the road to the river and ferry. It was a square build- ing^ with a roof rising from its sides in the form of a pyramid. The Church was under the pastorial charg"e of Rev. Josepli Haynes. In the Square were also the whipping^-post, stocks, pillory and the jail for the more hardened offenders. The burial place of the first settlers, north of the Square had been superseded, and burials were now made in a larg-er plot on the main street, where lay the bodies of Hooker, Stone and others. The second house of worship, probably resembled the first, it had recently been erected on the east side of the highway or main street, a few rods south of Little River. Not to be dependent upon their brethren from whom they had seperated, they also it is believed, were provided with a bell to call their members together. Rev. John Whiting was the minister. By the stream some sixty rods distant, and in full view of the Meeting-House was a ship yard, to the south stood the Wyllys mansion; while close by was the old oak in which a few j^-ears later the Charter of the Colony was concealed. On the north bank of Little River the dwelling house of the lamemted Hooker could be Seen. With forty years of growth Hartford had replaced its first rude habitations with more substantial structures, and framed houses of one and two stories were making their appearance along its highways. Between the meetlng-Ijouses, and on the same side of the street, was the Ordinary or Inn, kc})t at that time by Jeremy Adams. For some time the Colony and all New England 7 had been devestated by the ravages of the Indians; expeditions had been fitted out and sent aj^ainst them with more or less success in subduinjif and dispersing them, until at last their acknowledi,^ed leader, King Philip, and many of his warriors were surrounded and destroyed. Scattered bands of Indians remained to prey upon the settlers and tlie precaution of keeping' armed men on guard duriiij^ divine service, to prevent surprise, stiJl prevailed. The disciple of George Pox who spent the Sabbath in this town on the Connecticut River, and who in his journal, left au account of the reception he re- ceived there, was William Edmundson, an English- man, then about forty-nine years of age. After visiting Boston and several of the eastern towns he returned to Newport, in Rhode Island, where, after ministering to the sick who fell victims to the pestilence which followed the victory over the Indians, he too. was overcome by the disease. On his recovery he decided to go to New York, and with a fellow worker in the cause took passage for that place, he had however heard of the settle- ment of his countrymen on the Connecticut River and felt impelled to carry his message to them He relates in quaint phraseology his experience in the town settled by Hooker and his followers. He says: — "Now whilst' we were on Board the Sloop, came much upon me to go to New Hertford, a Chief Town in Connecticut Colon}', which lay ai)out Fifty Miles in the Country, through a great Wilder- ness, and very dang^erous to travel, the Indians being in Arms, haunting- those Parts, and killing many Christians: so it look'd frightful, that I, who was a Stranger in the Country, should undertake such a Journey in those perilous Times: but the ser- vice came close upon me, and I was under great Exercise of Mind about it, yet said nothing of it to 8 any Man for some Days, We were sore toss'd at Sea, foreward and back ward, by contrary Winds and bad weather, yet got once on shore in Shelter-Island, and went to Nathan- iel Sylvester's, a Friend, who dwelt there, where we had a Meeting-; after which the Wind and Weather seeming to favor us, we went on board again, and set on our Voyage, but in the Night it was exceeding stormy, and we were in great Danger of being cast away; yet by the Lord's Providence escaped, but w^ere diiven back to New London: and the Wind continuing against us we stayed there three Days, and endeavoured to get a Meeting, but the people being rigid Presbyterians, would not suffer us to have one." Hearing of some Baptists, five miles from New London, " who kept the Seventh Day of the week as a Sabbath," they visited and discoursed wiih them. On the following day, the first of the week, they attempted to hold a meeting in New London, "but the Constable and other Officers came with arm'd Men, and forcibly broke up our Meeting, hal- ing and abusing us very much; but the sober People were offended at them." "That Evening we weigh'd Anchor, and set Sciil, the Wind seemed something fair for us; but it still remain'd with me to go to New Hertford, yet it seem- ed hard to give up, to be expos 'd to such Perils as seem'd to attend that Journey; but I kept it secret, thinking that the Lord might take it off me. We had sailed but about three Leagues when the Wind came strong ahead of us; that Night we had a Storm, and were glad to get a Harbour, where we lay some Days, the Wind blowing stiff" against us. And the Hand of the Lord came heavy upon me, pressing me to go to New Hertford; so I gave up to the Will of God, whether to live or die. Then I told the Ct)ni- pany, That I was the Cause, why they were so cross'd and detained in their Voyage. And I shevv'd them, How the Lord had required me to go to New Hertford, and the Journey seeminj^ perilous, I had delayed; but now must jj^o, in Submission to the Will of God, whether I lived or died. The Owner of the Sloop wept, and the rest were amaz'd and tender. Then James Fletcher would g-o with me: so we went on Shore, and boug^ht each of us a Horse, and the next Morniufif took leave of our Sloop-Com])any; then went on our Journey without any Guide, except the Lord, and travel'd thro' a jy:reat Wilderness, which held us most of that Day's Journey. We travel'd hard, and by the Lord's j^racious Assistance got that Night within four Miles of New-Hertford, where we lodg'd at an Ordinary, and the People were civil. I g"ot up next Mornin