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ON THE OCCASION OF THE TWO HUNDREDTH ANNIVERSARY 
 OF THE INCORPORATION OF THE TOWN AND OF THE OR- 
 GANIZATION OF THE FIRST CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH 
 
 BICENTENNIAL POEM 
 
 BY 
 
 RUTH AMELIA HIGGINS 
 
 F 
 
 HISTORIC SKETCH 
 COVENTRY, CONNECTICUT 
 
 PREPARED BY 
 
 MAUDE GRIDLEY PETERSON 
 
 OFFICIAL PROGRAM 
 
 OLD HOME WEEK 
 
 BICENTENNIAL CELEBRATION 
 
 AUGUST 25-31, 1912 
 
^"H&f 
 
 JESSE ROOT. 
 
 Photograph from the painting of Jesse Root by Wheeler, now in the State 
 Library, Hartford. Jesse Root was born in Coventry December 28th, 
 1736, was a member of the Second Continental Congress 1778-83, and 
 Chief Justice of Connecticut 1796-1807. 
 
PREFACE 
 
 On the occasion of the celebration of two hundred years of the 
 existence of Coventry, Conn., it has seemed fitting to look back 
 along the years and trace some of the steps in its development. 
 
 An attempt has been made to sketch from the early colonial and 
 ..town records and other sources an account of the beginnings of the 
 town. The advance during that time of its institutions and its 
 industrial life is traced. Its share in the affairs of colony and 
 nation is briefly touched upon and abbreviated accounts of some 
 of Coventry's prominent men are added. Circumstances have 
 allowed the author but a week in which to classify and compile 
 material for the pamphlet. An especial attempt for accuracy has 
 been made, that the material may be of an authoritative nature. 
 The limited time, however, makes many omissions of important 
 matter probable. The accomplishment of the task allotted would 
 have been impossible but for the helpful co-operation of my hus- 
 band, Arthur Everett Peterson, and the valued assistance of many 
 others. Dr. Wm. L. Higgins, President of the Town Committee, 
 has been untiring in his aid. Mr. Curtis Dean, Secretary and His- 
 torian, has shared with me valuable material. Mr. Addison Kings- 
 bury contributed the list of present day manufacturers. Mr. and 
 Mrs. Albert Woodworth have, from their extended memories of the 
 older people and places, been most helpful. Among others who 
 have contributed from their store of knowledge are various mem- 
 bers of the Hilltop Home Club, Mr. and Mrs. John M. Wood, Mr. 
 Patrick O'Brien, and Mr. Henry F. Parker. 
 
 To the State Librarian in Hartford I would offer sincere thanks 
 for every possible courtesy and help in the use of the valuable 
 manuscripts and texts preserved there. During Old Home Week, 
 and even later, the Librarian will have on exhibition in Memorial 
 Hall at the State Library Building, manuscripts connected with the 
 early days in Coventry. Any interested may inspect them there at 
 will. Thanks are also due to the Connecticut Historical Librarian 
 and to Prank D. Andrews of the Historical Library in Vineland, 
 N". J., for further aid. The latter furnished the engraving for the 
 print of Lorenzo Dow and the sketch of his life which accom- 
 panies it. 
 
 3 
 
HISTORIC SKETCH 
 
 MAUDE GRIDLEY PETERSON 
 
 Incorporation of Town of Coventry 
 
 (Brand Mark) 
 
 CTOBEB 11, 1711, two hundred and one years 
 ago, the legislative body of the colony of Con- 
 necticut incorporated and named the town of 
 Coventry. In this act provision was also made 
 for procuring and settling a minister of the gospel 
 :=3 in the best way and as soon as possible. A brand 
 mark, as above, was fixed as the distinguishing mark for Coventry 
 horses. 
 
 The Name Coventry 
 
 Comparison of a map of England and one of New England 
 shows an interesting similarity of names of places. "Coventry" is 
 on both maps and we are surrounded by places bearing the names 
 of those across the sea. Among those in the immediate locality are 
 Andover, Bolton, Mansfield, Ashford, Canterbury, Hampton, Staf- 
 ford, Enfield, Colchester, Woodstock, Norwich, and New London. 
 
 The following act of the Connecticut Assembly, 1658, in con- 
 nection with the naming of New London so well illustrates the cus- 
 tom of early nomenclature that it is quoted here : 
 
 "Whereas it hath been the commendable practice of the inhabi- 
 tants of all the colonies of these parts, that as this country hath its 
 denomination from our dear native country of England, and thence 
 is called New England, so that planters, in their first settling of 
 most new plantations, have given names to those plantations of 
 some cities and towns in England, thereby intending to keep up, 
 and leave to posterity the memorial of several places of note there, 
 as Boston, Hartford, Windsor, York, Ipswich, Bralntree, Exeter: 
 this court considering, that there hath yet no place in any of the 
 colonies, been named in memory of the city of London, there being 
 a new plantation within this jurisdiction of Connecticut, settled 
 upon that fair river Mohegan, in the Pequot country, being an ex- 
 cellent harbor and a fit and convenient place for future trade, it 
 being also the only place which the English in these parts have 
 possessed by conquest, and that upon a very just war, upon that 
 great and warlike people, the Pequots, that therefore they might 
 
thereby leave to posterity the memory of that renowned city of 
 London, from whence we had our transportation, have thought fit, 
 in honor to that famous city, to call the said, plantation New 
 London." 
 
 The name of the river Mohegan was also changed to Thames. 
 
 Old Coventry, founded it is said, in the eleventh century, is 
 situated on an eminence in a valley, while to the south stretches a 
 ridge of hills. From our own hilltops the bounding ridges of hills 
 may be seen in all directions. It is thought that a similarity of 
 landscape may have suggested the name for our town. An invita- 
 tion from Coventry, New England, has gone over the Atlantic 
 to Coventry, Old England, to participate in some way in the cele- 
 bration which its namesake is enjoying at this time. 
 
 Aboriginal Inhabitants 
 
 The furrowing plow occasionally reveals traces of inhabitants 
 previous to the time when the Coventry of now became Coventry. 
 About Lake Wamgumbaug, along the banks of the Willimantic 
 Eiver, and sometimes in scattered places over the hills, the upturned 
 Indian arrow-heads are mute witnesses of the one time presence 
 of the red man. Tradition says that the Indians used the land 
 
 A view of Lake Wamgumbaug, taken from Nathan Hale Cemetery. 
 
 5 
 
hereabouts as a hunting ground, which they kept burned over to 
 furnish good pasturage for game. With water supply in lake and 
 river and good feeding ground, we can fancy the herds of deer 
 grazing about then as they do now. Indeed, years of protec- 
 tion may mean that they are even more plentiful now than then. 
 As many as fifteen have been seen together at a time and the gar- 
 dens and crops sometimes suffer from their depredations. It is 
 interesting to note that as early as 1718 attempt was made to pro- 
 tect by law deer during the breeding season. 
 
 The burned-over grounds must have simplified for the early 
 settlers the problem of clearing the land and made transportation 
 in the vicinity much easier. It is said that at this time an ox-cart 
 could be driven over most of the young timber growth which had 
 started since the lands came into the hands of the white men and 
 the yearly fires of the Indians had ceased. 
 
 The Mohegan Indians, a friendly tribe, held much land in this 
 section and the white men's title to it was received by will from 
 .Joshua, sachem, the third son of Uncas. Eecords of the will are 
 in the State Library at Hartford. It includes several legacies to 
 different groups of men. Parts of Coventry seemed to be disputed 
 territory between two of these groups, which was responsible for 
 early difficulties over land titles. 
 
 Joshua made careful provisions for his children as regards 
 property and their upbringing. "Further my Will is that my Chil- 
 dren be brought up the first four years with Trusty and their 
 mother to teach them English * * * and that the expiration of the 
 said four Years I desire that my Children may be kept at the Eng 
 lish Schoole." He wishes them kept apart from the "Connecticott" 
 Indians. He asks to be buried at "Seybrook in a Coffin after the 
 English manner" and disposes of personal treasures, giving his 
 Guns to his two Sons, four to each of them, his Pistoll to his eldest 
 son, and his seven Brass kettles and four iron pots to be equally 
 divided to his three children. 
 
 Surveys and Settlements 
 
 About 1706, Wm. Pitkin, Maj. Joseph Talcott, Wm. Whiting 
 and Eichard Lord were appointed a committee to manage the lands 
 of the legatees so as to promote their growth. Nathaniel Eust, who 
 
had settled on land here, was later added to the committee. In the 
 earliest volume of Town Eecords in Coventry is a map as shown on 
 folder facing page 1. The survey was made in March, 1708, with 
 the lands set off in allotments and highways planned. Three reser- 
 vation allotments were set off for use of church and school. On this 
 map is noted the house and lot of one Samuel Burchard, abutting 
 on the southwest shore of the "Big Pond." The value of the water 
 power from the outlet of the lake for the location of a grist-mill 
 was even then forecasted in the naming of the stream "Mill Brook." 
 The volume of town records previously mentioned has an inter- 
 esting list of the allotments drawn by Joshua's legatees : 
 
 To Mr. Samuel Willis 15-20-42-51-64 
 
 To Coll John Talcott's heirs 7-25-45-59-72 
 
 To Mr. James Richards & his heirs 6-18-41-47-66 
 
 To Coll. John Allin his heirs 12-16-38-56-74 
 
 To Mr. William Pitkin's heirs 10-27-43-60-61 
 
 To Mr. Richard Lord's heirs 8-17-34-54-65 
 
 To Nathaniel Willit's heirs 14-21-44-57-70 
 
 To Thos Burnham's heirs 4-22-31-46-63 
 
 To Cap* jos Pitch asigns 3-28-40-52-73 
 
 To Cap* Nicholas Olmstead 11-26-32-55-62 
 
 To Cap 1 Thomas Bull's heirs 5-23-33-49-67 
 
 To Barth Barnard's heirs 1-24-37-53-69 
 
 To Mr. John Hains his heirs 13-19-36-50-75 
 
 To Mr. Hinyry Howard— heirs 9-29-39-48-71 
 
 To Mr. Eleaz or Ways heirs 2-30-35-58-68 
 
 Settlers for some of these various allotments were later sought. 
 
 The term settlers is such a substantial one and prophetic of 
 progress. For many hundreds of years the Indians had doubtless 
 roamed these hills and dales, but with no appreciable sign of ad- 
 vancement. The white man settled and the era of advancing civili- 
 zation in Coventry started and has gone on with the intervening 
 years, as the results of to-day show. 
 
 Copies of the following documents in possession of the State 
 Library in Hartford give hints of the condition of the country here 
 from 1700 to 1709 or 1710: 
 
COPY OF DOCUMENT IN CONNECTICUT STATE LIBRARY 
 
 (Towns and Lands, Vol. 5, P. 29) 
 
 Testimony. Benjamin Howard of full age Testify eth that about 
 14 years ago I lived at Wungumbaug now Coventry and I was 
 Setled there by the proprietors of said Land Given by Joshua In- 
 dian Sachem Viz. by Mr William Pitkin, Col. Whiting and the rest 
 of the Committee Improved by the proprieto 1 " and that Sam 1 Birch- 
 ard with his family lived there at the Same Time and I often heard 
 him Say upon the Same Bight, the wife of Benj a Howard Testify- 
 eth unto the above written. Sworn in Court, Auguft 17th, 1714. 
 A True Copy on file Test Hez Wyllys Clerk. 
 
 COPY OF DOCUMENT IN CONNECTICUT STATE LIBRARY 
 
 (Towns and Lands, V. 29) 
 
 The Testimony of John Meakins and Samuel Meakins both of 
 Lawfull age — Testify and say, that four or five Years ago at the 
 Least : Last Michaelmas, Wee being out in the Wilderness, Looking- 
 for horfes, Took up our Lodging at a houfe in the Wilderness on 
 the Southward Side of a Pond now called Coventry Pond, which 
 houfe went by the name of Birchard's houfe and went Bound s d 
 pond and Saw no houfe there at that time besides that which Wee 
 Lay in and having Occafion to go into the Wilderness that way the 
 Last winter was two years since & Comming to the above s d Pond 
 or place now Called Coventry and We Saw on both Sides of the 
 pond houfes built and Land fenced and improved which land was 
 reputed Joshua's right and claimed by M r Bichards and M r Pitkin 
 and Sundry other Gentlemen of Hartford. 
 
 Hartford Aprill 17th, 1714— Sworn in Court Aprill 17th, 1711. 
 Test. Hez Wyllys Clerk. 
 
 A True Copy on file — Test Hez. Wyllys Clerk. 
 
 A petition presented to the General Court in 1712 gives the 
 number of families at about sixteen. Trumbull says that the early 
 families came principally from Hartford and Northampton, Mass. 
 
 About 1712 we get trace of an attempt on the part of the pro- 
 prietors to increase the population of the town. The wife of Bichard 
 Lord, after the death of her husband, sends a petition in May, 1712, 
 to the Assembly that, whereas "the proprietors of Said Lands have 
 Agreed to Settle about Sixty Families in the town your memoralist 
 should settle 2 Allottments for the encouragement and Settlement 
 
of Said Town by Which the Other part of the lands My lait Hus- 
 band was Heir to will be more valuable for His children." She 
 therefore asked for permission to sell these allotments, which was 
 granted. 
 
 That the struggle for existence still continued, however, is indi- 
 cated in a petition which was sent to the Governor and General 
 Court in May, 1717. Here the "petitioners" pray that they may be 
 "releaved" from their present difficulties. "Our charges to main- 
 tain the worship of God are greate and heavy by the reason of the 
 smallness of our numbers and wee increas very sloly. * * * A part 
 of our Land is nott settled by any inhabitants so that the burden is 
 Like to bee very heavy upon us unless we can have some releas." It 
 is at this same time that the settlers ask that their "neighbors That 
 Live between Coventry south line and Hop Eiver may be joyned 
 to our Town." It was not until 1723 that the territory asked for 
 and known as the Mile and 
 Quarter was resolved annexed 
 to Coventry. 
 
 Three years after the petition 
 just mentioned, in the year 
 1720, Coventry is ordered to 
 send their list to the Assembly 
 as other towns do that they may 
 bear their share of the "Pub- 
 lick" charge. Let us hope they 
 have received some " releas " 
 from their previous "heavy bur- 
 den" ere this is added unto it. 
 
 Development of Churches 
 
 The date of the establishment 
 of the first church is uncertain. 
 With the incorporation of the 
 
 Gravestone standing in Nathan Hale 
 
 town, provision Was made for Cemetery in memory of Rev. Jo- 
 
 . . . seph Meacham, first pastor of the 
 
 the Securing of a minister as First Congregational Church. For 
 
 ., , the reader's convenience, the in- 
 
 SOOn as possible. scription is repeated in the text. 
 
Pastor Meacham was the one 
 obtained and had one of the 
 good old pastorates, remaining 
 with his people until he died, in 
 1752, nearly forty years. He is 
 buried in Nathan Hale Ceme- 
 tery and his virtues are recorded 
 as follows on the stone which 
 marks his grave : "The Eev. 
 Mr. Joseph Meacham was near 
 40 years ye learned, faithful and 
 painful pastor of ye church in 
 Coventry. He was a man of 
 God, fervent in prayer, zealous 
 and plain in preaching, sincere 
 in reproving, holy and prudent 
 in conversation; a kind hus- 
 band, tender father, sincere 
 friend; a lover of Christ and 
 souls. Tired with ye labors of 
 ye World, his ardent soul bent its flight to Jesus, and dropped 
 ye body to rest here till Jesus come. Sept. 15th, 1752, in ye 67th 
 year of his age." 
 
 His wife, Esther Williams, of Deerfield, daughter of Eev. John 
 Williams, had endured many hardships of pioneer life previous to 
 her marriage. When but 12 years of age, her mother and the baby 
 were murdered by Indians and the remainder of the family were 
 carried captives into Canada by the savages. For two years she 
 lived with the Indians. What tales she must have been table to tell 
 to the four sons and six daughters who blessed her married life: 
 They were the grandparents of Eev. Nathan Strong, of Hartford, 
 and Eev. Jos. Strong, of Norwich.* Several other descendants 
 were clergymen and one, Eev. G. M. S. Perry, a missionary. 
 
 The growth of the church during the first century was slow. In 
 
 Gravestone of Mrs. Joseph Meach- 
 am, also standing in Nathan 
 Hale Cemetery. 
 
 ♦Cole's History of Tolland County, Conn. 
 
 10 
 
1811 there were but twenty-nine members, the women being in the 
 majority — twenty-one to eight. Soon after that, a series of re- 
 vivals under the pastorate of Eev. Channeey Booth added nearly 
 three hundred members to the church. 
 
 In the State Library at Hartford is the manuscript petition 
 from which the following statements regarding a new church in 
 1766 are taken. 
 
 The Society wanted to build a new church and a committee was 
 appointed by the "Windham County Court to investigate and decide 
 
 The old Congregational Church in South Coventry that formerly stood on 
 High Street opposite the Green. At the left old Academy Build- 
 ing familiar to the childhood of the older residents. 
 
 on a location. The decision which it gave was not favorably re- 
 ceived by the Society. A petition was sent to the General Court, 
 asking that the location might be changed up near the school-house 
 where the meeting-house can stand more commodious and "eligant." 
 
 The petition was granted, but it does not seem to be known 
 whether or not a church was built at that time. 
 
 The old First Church shown in a remodeled form in the cut 
 was in South Coventry on High Street, opposite the Green. Within 
 the memory of present residents horse-sheds stood on either side of 
 
 11 
 
FIRST CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH, SOUTH COVENTRY. 
 Erected 1849. 
 
 12 
 
it and the old Academy was nearby. Within, were high box pews 
 in the main part of the church and in the galleries which extended 
 around three sides of it. These were later taken out and replaced 
 by more modern sittings. The old church is now gone, having been 
 destroyed by fire, but parts of the old pews are still in existence. 
 These were used in finishing off rooms in houses on Ripley Hill now 
 owned by Eev. Eobert H. Sherman and Mr. Frank B. Topliff. The 
 bell in the church at Mansfield Center is the old bell which 
 called to worship in the old South Coventry Congregational 
 Church. The posts to the bell tower became unsafe and the bell 
 
 
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 p 
 
 
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 ! 
 
 ^^ 
 
 
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 : If 
 
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 'ph*ll Ih 
 
 
 
 
 LJ 
 
 
 
 
 The street in North Coventry, showing at the left the church, chapel and 
 Grange Hall, respectively. 
 
 and lumber were exchanged for shingling the church. Town 
 meeting was formerly held in the ground floor room of the old 
 church. 
 
 North Coventry Church 
 
 This is still the custom in the North Coventry Church. The 
 North Coventry Parish was incorporated in October, 1740, and the 
 Society held its first meeting in the following December. Previ- 
 
 13 
 
ously, in 1737, the town voted to raise one farthing on the pound 
 for the expense of a minister there, who was to preach in the dwell- 
 ing house of Noah Bust. In 1738, arrangements were made re- 
 garding a school and burial ground. 
 
 Five years of trouble within the Society, from 1743-1718, re- 
 sulted in the setting off at that time of still another parish, which 
 was called Andover. Mr. Nathan Strong preached as a candidate 
 in North Coventry in 1744 and was ordained October 9th, 1745. 
 This, according to Cole, was soon after the meeting-house was in 
 condition to use. This first meeting-house was the cause of much 
 
 The Second Congregational Church, North Coventry, erected 1847. 
 
 trouble. Two surveys were made to determine the center of the 
 parish and a legislative committee chosen to locate the site. It was 
 built a few rods west of the present church and was forty-five feet 
 long and forty broad. It was ten years in process of construction 
 and was never completed. 
 
 The church records show that bills for the erection of the church 
 now standing had been paid during the first part of the year 1848, 
 which would seem to make the year of erection 1847. Eev. Hollis 
 M. Bartlett is the present pastor. 
 
 14 
 
Village Church 
 
 In 1848 a split occurred in the old First Church in South Cov- 
 entry. About fifty of the members left and formed a new society. 
 Meetings were held for about a year in a private hall before the 
 present church, known at that time as the Village Church, was 
 ready. The older members of the First Church died until few were 
 left, and in 1866 the two societies again worshipped together. A 
 permanent union of the two under the name of the First Congrega- 
 tional Church of Coventry was effected January 6th, 1869, by a 
 council. This church was received into the fellowship of neighbor- 
 ing churches March 11th of the same year. Eev. Nestor Light has 
 been pastor of the church for thirteen years. 
 
 Methodist Church, erected 1867. 
 
 Methodist Church 
 
 Although Coventry is the birthplace of Lorenzo Dow, one of 
 the early ministers to spread the doctrines of Methodism, it was 
 not until 1822 that the Methodist Church had a definite start. Mr. 
 Gardner, of East Hartford, at this time conducted meetings in the 
 South Street schoolhouse. The early converts were immersed in the 
 
 15 
 
lake. The new movement met with opposition and the use of the 
 schoolhouse was denied them. A private house and an old store on 
 South Street then served as places of worship, but interest waned, 
 and in 1827 not even an organized class existed. Two years after, 
 meetings were again held, this time in the East Street school. In 
 1839, when it was again attempted to forbid them the use of the 
 building, effort was made to raise money for a church. One thousand 
 two hundred and six dollars and ninety-one cents was collected, and 
 with this a chapel was built. The present building on Main Street 
 in South Coventry was built during the pastorate of Eev. S. S. 
 Cummings. The old church was later used as a temporary church 
 by the Catholics, then as a Methodist parsonage ; later it was rented 
 to Father Quinn while the present parochial residence was being 
 built. It is now used as a dwelling. 
 
 Eev. Duncan Dodd is the present pastor of the Methodist 
 Church. 
 
 Catholic Church 
 
 The Catholics at first gathered in private houses for worship. 
 Father McCabe said the first mass in Jeremiah Crowley's house, 
 
 St. Mary's Catholic Church, erected 1877. 
 16 
 
near the railroad station. This house is now occupied by Mr. 
 Wright, who carries the mail between the postoffice and the trains. 
 As has been previously noted, the old Methodist Church was used 
 by the Catholics for service, beginning about 1863 and continuing 
 for about fourteen years. 
 
 On Good Friday, 1877, ground was broken for the foundations 
 of St. Mary's Church. The men of the congregation came in a 
 body to help. The cornerstone was laid on June 10th, 1877, and 
 the work of building was so expeditious that the church was dedi- 
 cated on Thanksgiving Day, Nov. 29th, 1877. The building was 
 accomplished under the guidance of Father Shahan. 
 
 After many years of mission relationship, South Coventry was 
 honored on January 2d, 1886, with Eev. J. J. Quinn as first resi- 
 dent pastor. At the establishment of the parish about eighty-five 
 families were included. During Father Quinn's years of service the 
 present parochial residence was built. 
 
 Land for a cemetery in the lower part of town was blessed Sun- 
 day, August 26th, 1894. Mrs. Carr's grave was the first one in the 
 new cemetery. She was buried September 19th. 
 
 The parish includes a considerable territory outside of Coventry. 
 There are two outside stations, one at Eagleville and one at Hop 
 Eiver. Eev. John F. Donahue is the present parish priest. 
 
 Schools 
 
 In the early allotments of land three were reserved for the sup- 
 port of church and school. 
 
 The first school records were made in 1726, as follows: 
 
 "That ye representatives next May shall lay before the General 
 Assembly ye sercomstances of ye schooll Lott & pray for Liberty to 
 dispos of it for ye use of ye school." 
 
 September, 1728, it was "Voted that they would build a school 
 House" and that "ye school house" should be set up within twenty 
 rds. of the meeting house and should be 18 ft. w. and 20 ft. 1. 
 Peter Buell, Capt. Samuel Parker and Thomas Porter were ap- 
 pointed a "Comety to carry on ye Building of ye school House." 
 
 17 
 
In November of the same year the salary of the schoolmaster was 
 fixed at not more than eleven pounds for the winter quarter. 
 
 The present school in South Coventry village was built in 1873. 
 It contains three departments. Schools are kept in eight other 
 outlying districts. 
 
 In the early days the minister of the town was accustomed to fit 
 for college the few youths who aspired for a higher education. 
 
 ''. V 
 
 
 
 
 » 
 
 
 
 - ~ f*waffi 
 
 
 at^y-iv 
 
 ^f if v 
 
 
 
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 SoPs? 
 
 
 
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 & 
 
 ^W 
 
 rr~l 1 
 
 
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 '••■■ ■■■'.'- ^-'r ' ! -"i 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Old Military Training- Ground, looking toward the Lake. 
 
 Coventry has no high school, but sends its pupils who wish high 
 school work to Willimantic, Eockville, or some other nearby sec- 
 ondary school. • 
 
 In the fall of 1911, the School Board .voted to ask the State to 
 grant us a superintendent of schools. In January, 1912, Mr. 
 George W. Emerson assumed charge in that capacity. He is also 
 in charge of the schools in Lebanon and Columbia. 
 
 Training Bands 
 
 Almost coincident with the building of the first school, in 1728, 
 was the establishment of two military companies. The first com- 
 
 18 
 
pany was in command of Samuel Parker; the second, in charge of 
 John Bissell. 
 
 The green on Monument Hill and High Street was used as a 
 training ground. . 
 
 Industrial Development 
 
 With provision made for the spiritual welfare of the settlement, 
 for the education of the children, and for its military affairs, the 
 development of the farming opportunities in the little settlement 
 went on. 
 
 Upon each farm, both outdoors and in, were carried on in mini- 
 ature many of the various industries which now involve immense 
 machine-equipped plants scattered broadcast throughout the land. 
 The contrast between the home two hundred years ago and the 
 modern home is almost as great as that between the stage coach 
 and the aeroplane. 
 
 What would Madam Burchard, Madam Eust, if such there were, 
 or any other of those pioneer dames who lived in their rough homes 
 in the wilderness, have thought if they could have stepped to the 
 telephone and ordered brought to their door bread, pastry, etc. ; 
 butter and cheese; hams, bacon, sausage and lard; dried beef, 
 corned beef or cuts of fresh meat; canned vegetables and fruits; 
 soap and candles; to say nothing of fresh fruits from many lands, 
 tea, coffee, spices and many another luxury for the table ? 
 
 Not so was it indeed in the days two hundred years ago. Bread 
 they had, to be sure, but only after the rye had been sown in pre- 
 pared ground; the grain harvested, threshed, winnowed and 
 ground; and the bread made, kneaded into loaves and baked. All 
 these processes, except, perhaps, the grinding, had to be performed 
 by some one of the family, or possibly a very occasional helping 
 neighbor. So with many of the other above articles of food, the 
 processes necessary to prepare or preserve must be carried on at 
 home. In those days the yearly or semi-yearly cheese making, 
 candle and soap making were important events. 
 
 19 
 
What was true of food was true also as regards articles of cloth- 
 ing. If my lady needed even a pair of stockings think of the labor 
 involved for different ones of the family : the care of the sheep, the 
 washing and shearing of the wool, the carding, spinning into yarn, 
 reeling into skeins, dyeing and finally knitting. For most other 
 woolen garments weaving took the place of knitting and then the 
 cloth must be fulled, cut and sewed by hand into the article re- 
 quired. 
 
 Now it is possible for the mother to step into an automobile, be 
 whirled away to an adjoining city, and secure almost any desired 
 garment all ready to wear. 
 
 The early specialists along domestic lines were the dressmaker 
 and tailoress and the cobbler and bootmaker, who went from home 
 to home to help make clothing and shoe the family, often number- 
 ing more than a dozen. 
 
 Scattered about, especially near Mansfield, one occasionally sees 
 a gnarled old mulberry tree. Some attention was given to raising 
 silkworms in Connecticut as early as 1760. The industry was inter- 
 fered with during the Eevolutionary War. Later it was revived, 
 and at the time of the War of 1812, when importation of raw silk 
 was hindered, Mansfield furnished raw silk for coach lace to a man- 
 ufacturer in Newark, N. J. This was said to be superior in strength 
 and luster to the best imported silk.* 
 
 An occupation outside the regular work of the home and farm 
 was thus opened. Women were often employed. They received 
 the munificent sum of 42 and 50 cents per week and board. Calico 
 dresses were at that time a luxury, to be worn only to church or on 
 some especial occasion. At that time calico cost 64 or 67 cents 
 a yard and girls often worked an entire season picking the mul- 
 berry leaves and feeding the worms to get a printed dress, seven 
 yards for $4.50, which was not homespun. 
 
 From now on the change in the industrial life was rapid. In 
 June, 1712, an entry in the town records says that a committee is 
 appointed to arrange for the establishment of a town mill for 
 grinding the settlers' corn. 
 
 *Hunt's Merchant's Magazine, Vol. II. 
 
 20 
 
Arrangement was made with Jonathan Hartshorn in 1716 for 
 building and maintaining one. Part of the agreement is as fol- 
 lows : 
 
 "That Jonathan Hartshorn for and in the consideration of 
 the said sixty acres of land secured by deed unto said Hartshorn 
 upon consideration of his full compliance for himself, his heirs, his 
 executors, administrators and assigns, for all times, forever, here- 
 after * * * shall at his and their own proper cost and charge build 
 and erect a good and sufficient grist mill, within the said town of 
 Coventry, on the brook that issueth or runneth from the Great 
 Pond, near the meeting house, and shall also keep and maintain 
 the said grist mill in the said place forever in good repair so that it 
 shall be sufficient to grind all the corn that the inhabitants of the 
 said town shall at all times hereafter have need to be ground, for 
 their use making as good meal as is or shall be generally made by 
 other mills within the aforesaid colony." 
 
 The old mill was standing during the memory of many residents 
 and the old millstone near the factory of T. H. Wood Co. now marks 
 the spot. 
 
 Thus early was the power of the stream issuing from the Great 
 Pond utilized. It was about a hundred years later before the water 
 power began to be applied to any extent to manufactures. 
 
 In 1816 John Boynton built a wool carding mill. Here the 
 farmer's wool could be carded into rolls ready for spinning into 
 yarn. The relief from hand carding left the families with so much 
 extra time that they employed it by doing extra knitting of socks 
 and mittens for sale in ISTew York City. It is said that farmers 
 brought their wool for fifteen miles around to avail themselves of 
 the help which machine work gave. 
 
 Mr. Boynton was the inventor of a card machine which was in 
 use in various woolen mills at that time and had a machine shop 
 in which they were made. Other carding machines were in use 
 in the town about this time. A Gazeteer of Connecticut, published 
 for the years 1810-18, gives the following statistics: The manu- 
 factures and mechanical employments exclusive of those of a 
 
 21 
 
domestic character consist of one cotton factory, two paper mills, 
 one glass factory, one manufactory of carding machines, three small 
 distilleries, five tanneries, three grain mills, six saw mills and five 
 carding machines. There are seven mercantile stores. 
 
 Many mills were burnt. Some of the business enterprises were 
 failures. The following articles are recorded as having been manu- 
 factured in Coventry : cheap wool hats for the slave trade, satinets, 
 goods with a cotton warp and good all wool filling, cloth dressing 
 and fulling mill, hooks and eyes, gun cartridges, cotton picker, 
 cotton yarn, cotton cloth, cotton batting and sewing silk. 
 
 In Cole's History of Tolland County, published in 1888, the 
 following manufacturers are mentioned as flourishing: A. Kings- 
 bury & Son's paper box factory, the Phoenix Metallic Cartridge 
 Co., A. D. Bottum's sewing silk, C. H. Kenyon & Co.'s woolen mill, 
 A. Washburn & Son's silk mill, T. H. Wood silk business, J. M. 
 Wood, woolen goods. 
 
 At present, in 1912, the list is as follows : The T. H. Wood Co., 
 silk throwsters and fish lines ; Eugene A. Tracy, Inc., wool extracts ; 
 John A. Dady Corp., silk throwsters; Kingsbury Box & Printing 
 Co.; Wm. F. Wood & Son, manufacturers of toric lenses; H. K. & 
 W. A. Washburn, silk throwsters ; Valley Mills Co., wool extracts ; 
 Wm. H. Armstrong, wagons, hubs, spokes, etc. ; South Coventry 
 Paper Co. 
 
 Roads 
 
 As the early map of the town shows, provision for highways 
 within the settlement was made in the early surveys. After the 
 coming of the settlers from Northampton, Windsor, Hartford, etc., 
 there must have been the broken paths of their making if similar 
 trails had not previously existed. 
 
 As the town grew and there was surplus farm produce, such as 
 beef and pork, butter and cheese, trade is said to have been carried 
 on with Norwich landing, ox teams carrying the merchandise to 
 and fro. 
 
 Shipping was carried on at that time between Norwich and the 
 West Indies. 
 
 22 
 
In 1769 a petition was sent to the General Assembly for permis- 
 sion to shorten the route between Coventry and Hartford. Later, 
 pikes were established. 
 
 In 1797 the Boston Turnpike Co. was incorporated for estab- 
 lishing and keeping in repair a road from Hartford through East 
 Hartford, Bolton, Coventry, Mansfield, Ashford, Pomfret and 
 Thompson to the Massachusetts line. Toll gates were established 
 along the road, but there was none on this pike in Coventry. 
 
 The list of tolls and regulations are, however, inserted here : 
 
 cts. mis. 
 
 Every travelling four wheel pleasure carriage & horses 25-0 
 
 " chaise, chair & sulky 12-5 
 
 " loaded wagon or cart 12-5 
 
 " empty do or cart 6-3 
 
 " single horse cart 6-3 
 
 " empty horse cart 4—0 
 
 Horses, cattle & mules each 2-0 
 
 Every pleasure sleigh 6-3 
 
 Every loaded sled or sleigh 4-0 
 
 " empty " " " .4-0 
 
 Man & horse 4-0 
 
 Sheep & swine each 1-0 
 
 "Provided always, that persons travelling -on the Lords day and 
 other days to attend public worship where they ordinarily attend : 
 persons travelling to attend funerals : farmers passing through said 
 gates to attend their ordinary farming business : all persons living 
 within one mile and a half of either of said gates, and not passing 
 said gate further than one mile and a half : persons going to mill 
 on horseback: persons travelling to attend society, town and free- 
 man's meetings, and persons obliged by law to perform military 
 duty, travelling to attend training, shall not be liable to the pay- 
 ment of said toll." 
 
 The present pike to Hartford was built in 1808 and the lilac- 
 overgrown cellar where the toll house stood may be seen not far 
 from the house now occupied by J. C. Ayer. An elderly friend, 
 who used to live near there, has told me how, as a child, she de- 
 lighted to run and open the gate for the passer-by. 
 
 23 
 
Travel 
 
 Travel was largely on horseback during the early history of 
 the town. Eichard Hale, writing to his sons, Nathan and Enoch, 
 at Yale, tells them he will either send them horses for their home- 
 coming or have them procure some in New Haven. 
 
 The stage coach in the early part of 1800 was the next step in 
 the transportation of passengers. Austin Dunham, who was born 
 in South Coventry in 1843 and was taken soon after that to Hart- 
 ford to live, used as a boy to visit his great-aunt, who lived in the 
 Jesse Eoot house on Eipley Hill. In some sketches of the olden 
 
 
 if m 1 StfC 
 
 jJBy; jfl 
 
 m I 
 
 
 
 „_____»~~ ffl "%j 
 
 
 ^SS»1| 
 
 
 
 %~' .- 
 
 
 - - !J5 
 
 
 
 - -.; 
 
 Main Street in South Coventry, Methodist Church and Postoffice on the 
 
 right, store of W. L. Wellwood and site of Booth- 
 
 Dimock Library on the left. 
 
 times he mentions the coach trips between there and his home in 
 Hartford. As I write I can see from my window the old house, 
 with the pike in front, and can almost fancy the lumbering old 
 coach with its four horses standing there with its occupants laugh- 
 ing when the farewells are made and great-aunt hopes Austin will 
 soon come again, although he always makes her twice glad — glad 
 when he comes and glad when he goes. We present-day residents 
 have had a taste of coaching. Previous to the time of the trolley, 
 
 24 
 
1909, a coach with two horses used to run between South Coventry 
 village and the depot, meeting the various trains. Now that, too, is 
 but a matter of history. 
 
 Trains on the present Central Vermont road commenced run- 
 ning about 1850. The road was then known as the New London, 
 Willimantic and Palmer. 
 
 Taverns 
 
 Soon after the settlement of the town, among the other officers 
 elected for the year 1715, Nathaniel Eust was named as tavern 
 keeper. Thus early was arrangement made for the traveling public. 
 
 Central Vermont Railroad station, showing Mr. 
 
 Robertson's coach that antedated 
 
 the trolley. 
 
 The old-time legal requirement for a tavern was a spare bed and 
 stable room for two horses. 
 
 Someone has said the "Taverns supplied in some degree the 
 place not only of our hotels and eating houses, but of clubs, news- 
 papers and postoffice. What general news ever reached the town 
 was circulated by the nightly gatherings at the tavern." 
 
 Some of the older taverns of Coventry are as follows, accord- 
 ing to statements made by old residents of the town for Cole's 
 book in 1888 : 
 
 The oldest one remembered was at the house or location of Wm. 
 Gardner on Ripley Hill, the place now occupied by Albert Baker. 
 The next was at the south end of South Street, with Novatus Cush- 
 
 25 
 
man as landlord. The main road from Hartford to Windham and 
 Brooklyn passed there at that time. 
 
 The old tavern on the Hartford and Boston mail stage road is 
 now known as the Pollard place, near the "Willimantic Biver. 
 
 The house west of the Jesse Eoot house, now occupied by George 
 Freeman, was an old tavern. The old sign was in the shape of a 
 shield. On it was the picture of a man with a bird in his hand 
 and a bush with a bird in it, accompanied by the old proverb, "A 
 bird in the hand is worth two in the bush." "Boderick Bose" was 
 the name upon the sign. 
 
 After the Hartford pike, running through the town, was opened, 
 a hotel was kept just below Mr. Kolli's harness shop by the follow- 
 ing landlords : Azel Edgerton, Charles Carpenter, Mason Dimock 
 and John Bard. John Bose had a hotel at the present Bose place 
 by the Green. Boyal Manning succeeded him. At his death, in 
 1844, the hotel was discontinued. One was kept in the present 
 Thomas Wood place, opposite the Nathan Hale Monument, by 
 Martin Lyman. 
 
 The present Bidwell House was opened in 1822 by Solomon 
 Bidwell, whose son and grandson succeeded him. 
 
 Mails 
 
 The early mails were carried on horseback. Cole says, Bezaleel 
 Hutchison was mail contractor for several years, with the compensa- 
 tion of $75 a year. The average mail in 1820 was only about two 
 letters a clay. Then it took from four to six days between here and 
 New York, and news a week old was hailed with a zest similar to 
 ours over news fresh from the wire. About 1826 the mail was car- 
 ried between Hartford and Providence by stage. At first, mails 
 were carried but three times a week, but soon daily mails were 
 inaugurated. Transportation of mails was made by steam train 
 about 1850. 
 
 Post Offices 
 
 The first postoffice is said to have been opened in 1810 at a house 
 in North Coventry at the top of the hill west of the church. Silas 
 
 26 
 
Hubbard was first postmaster. The first office in South Coventry 
 was ten years later, in the house opposite the Nathan Hale Monu- 
 ment, with Jeremiah Parrish as postmaster. The postoffice in 
 North Coventry has now been discontinued. The South Coventry 
 postoffice is in the drug store conducted by L. M. Phillips at the 
 corner of Main and Mason Streets. The territory outside the vil- 
 lage is fairly well covered by rural free delivery routes. One starts 
 from the South Coventry office and two from the office in Eock- 
 ville, while a wagon from South Willington covers a small portion 
 of the town, as does also one from Andover. 
 
 War Times 
 
 Progress in Coventry, as throughout the country, was affected 
 by the various wars. 
 
 French and Indian War 
 
 She escaped the earlier Indian wars before the time Coventry 
 was settled, but participated to some extent in the French and In- 
 dian War in 1755, as shown by town records, a few of which fol- 
 low: "Henry "Woodward of Cov. was killed by the Indians * * * 
 1756." "Simon Groves died at Port Edward of Small pox in Oct. 
 1657." "Ebenezer Eoot died of fever in old French war near Lake 
 George, 1758." "Noah Grant joined expedition against Crown 
 Point in 1755." "Lieut. Sol. Grant was ambushed and killed by 
 Indians in this war." 
 
 Revolutionary War 
 
 At the time of the Eevolutionary War Coventry ranked as a 
 considerable town in the colony, with a Grand List of £20,856 and 
 a population of 2,032 whites and 24 blacks. Eight nobly did she 
 do her part in the struggle for the independence of the nation. 
 
 In October of 1774 the Colonial Assembly of Connecticut re- 
 quired the selectmen of the towns to provide a double quantity of 
 powder, balls and flint. In January, 1775, the same Assembly 
 ordered the entire militia to muster and drill once a week during 
 the three months following. Stirring times there must have been 
 
 27 
 
on the old training green that winter. When the blow at Lexing- 
 ton fell on April 19th, 1775, "horse expresses" carried the news 
 throughout New England. This is Connecticut's response, written 
 April 21st, from Lebanon, the residence of Governor Trumbull, to 
 President Hancock of the Massachusetts Provincial Congress: 
 "Every preparation is making to support your province. * * * The 
 ardor of our people is such that they can't be kept back. The colonels 
 are to forward part of the best men and the most ready as fast as 
 possible, the remainder to be ready at a moment's warning." A hun- 
 dred and sixteen soldiers are recorded as going from Coventry, 
 
 The Hale homestead, residence of Deacon Richard Hale, father of Nathan, 
 now owned by Mr. P. H. Peterson. 
 
 ranking well in numbers with any town in the colony. Twenty- 
 seven days is the longest recorded period of service at that time. 
 
 In the long struggle which followed it is said that not a soldier 
 had to be drafted in Coventry to fill the quota for the town. Meas- 
 ures were adopted by the town to provide for the families of the 
 absent soldiers and bounties were generously offered. 
 
 Encouragement by the citizens of the town in the way of cloth- 
 ing for the soldiers and care of their families was freely given. It 
 is said that Eichard Hale, father of Capt. Nathan Hale, would 
 
 28 
 
often during war time forbid his family using the wool from the 
 farm for themselves, that blankets for the soldiers might be made 
 from it. The passing soldier was sure of food and shelter from 
 this patriotic house. 
 
 The assistant commissary for the State was Jeremiah Eipley, 
 who lived on Eipley Hill in Coventry. In May, 1777, Capt. Hunt- 
 ington, of Norwich, was 
 ordered to deliver 100 
 barrels of Continental 
 powder to Cap. J. Eip- 
 ley, of Coventry, to be 
 carefully kept until fur- 
 ther orders. 
 
 February 26, 1778, 
 the same Jeremiah Eip- 
 ley was directed by the 
 General Assembly to 
 send under a guard so 
 soon as might be, two 
 tons of fine powder in his hands to Ezekiel Chevers, Esq., 
 commissary of artillery at Springfield.* 
 
 The Ripley homestead, erected in 1792 by Jere- 
 miah Ripley, Assistant Commissary in the 
 Revolution, now the residence of Mr. A. E. 
 Peterson. 
 
 Nathan Hale 
 
 Over a hundred Coventry men are recorded in the lists of Eev- 
 olutionary soldiers. We honor all of these men who so bravely did 
 their part, but the name which stands out pre-eminently in Cov- 
 entry's part in the Eevolution is that of Captain Nathan Hale. 
 
 At the time when the war broke out, Nathan Hale was teaching 
 in New London. The news of the alarm at Lexington was brought 
 thither by hurrying steed, and upon its receipt a town meeting at 
 once gathered. Nathan Hale was present and spoke as follows : 
 "Let us march immediately and never lay down our arms until we 
 obtain our independence." He enrolled as a volunteer. The next 
 day he met his pupils, "gave them earnest counsel, prayed with 
 them and shaking each by the hand," left. 
 
 The stay at Lexington was probably not long, but was followed 
 by a permanent connection with the army, a letter to his father 
 
 ♦Colonial Records of Connecticut. 
 
 29 
 
saying that "a sense of duty urged him to sacrifice everything for 
 his country." 
 
 In a note of resignation to the school proprietors of his New 
 London school, he says: "Sohoolkeeping is a business of which I 
 was always fond. * * * I have thought much of never quitting it 
 but with life, but at present there seems an opportunity for more 
 extended public service." 
 
 Hale's company was stationed for a short time at New London, 
 and September 4th, 1775, was ordered to camp near Boston. Jan- 
 
 The Nathan Hale Monument and Nathan Hale Cemetery. 
 
 uary 1st, 1776, he was commissioned a captain by Congress. In 
 April he went by way of Norwich to New York. But little is re- 
 corded of Hale between this time and September. 
 
 At this juncture it was of utmost importance to General Wash- 
 ington to learn if possible the plans of the British troops under 
 Howe on Long Island. An appeal through Knowlton was made 
 to the officers for a volunteer for this service of spying. Hale had 
 been ill and was late in coming to the assembly of officers. Knowl- 
 ton's request had previously met with no response, but when Hale 
 learned of the need he met it with the words, "I will undertake it." 
 
 30 
 
His attitude toward the work which he undertook is perhaps 
 best shown in the words with which he is said to have answered 
 the entreaties of friends not to undertake so hazardous and, in a 
 way, degrading task: "I think I owe to my country the accom- 
 plishment of an object so important, and so much desired by the 
 Commander of her armies — and 
 I know no other mode of obtain- 
 ing the information, than by as- 
 suming a disguise, and passing 
 into the enemy's camp. I am 
 fully sensible of the conse- 
 quences of discovery and capture 
 in such a situation. But for a 
 year I have been attached to the 
 army, and have not rendered 
 any material service, while 
 receiving a compensation for 
 which I make no return. Yet I 
 am not influenced by the expec- 
 tation of promotion or pecuniary 
 reward. I wish to be useful, 
 and every kind of service neces- 
 sary for the public good becomes 
 honorable by being necessary. If 
 the exigencies of my country de- 
 mand a peculiar service, its 
 claims to the performance of 
 that service are imperious." 
 
 The expedition was under- 
 taken by him with the fatal re- 
 sult which we all know. Sep- 
 tember 22d, 1776, Nathan Hale 
 was hanged as a spy. His last 
 words are said to have been: 
 "My only regret is that I have 
 but one life to lose for my coun- 
 try." 
 
 The depth of his patriotism, 
 his unswerving devotion to duty 
 
 The Hale gravestone in Nathan 
 Hale Cemetery; the inscription 
 reads: "Durable stone preserve 
 the monumental record. Nathan 
 Hale Esq. a Capt. in the army 
 of the United States who was 
 born June 6th 1755 and received 
 the first honors of Yale College 
 Sept 1773 resigned his life a 
 sacrifice to his country's liberty 
 at New York Sept. 22d 1776 
 Etatis 22d. Mr. Richard Hale 
 Junr born Feb. 20th 1757 died 
 of a consumption in the Island 
 of St. Eustalia Feb 12th 17 93. 
 aged 37 years they were sons of 
 Deac Richard & Mrs. Elizabeth 
 Hale of Coventry. Two daugh- 
 ters of Mr. Richard Hale Junr 
 and Mrs. Mary Hale one nam'd 
 Mary born July 6th 1787 and 
 died Dec. 10th 1791, the other 
 Polly born Jan 25th 1792 and 
 died Oct 2d 1793. Their bodies 
 sleep beneath this monument." 
 
 31 
 
as he saw it, his ardent desire to serve the public in fullest measure, 
 his amiable, vivacious, upright Christian life, and the solemn 
 grandeur of his death are all so full of inspiration to us in these 
 later days and to our children after us that we should all be grateful 
 for the memorials which have been erected to his memory and which 
 serve to bring his life again and again to the minds of men. One 
 stands at the entrance to the cemetery which bears his name. The 
 old family stone in the same yard also records his life and death. 
 The one pictured on the cover is in New York City. Two are in 
 Hartford, one at the capitol and one in the Ateneum grounds. 
 Still another is at Huntington, L. I., where he was supposed to 
 have been captured. 
 
 War of 1812 
 
 That Coventry shared in this war is evidenced by the stones 
 in the cemeteries of the town. In the different cemeteries of the 
 North Parish seventeen soldiers in this war are buried. 
 
 Civil War 
 
 During this war, the town again voted premiums and bounties 
 to volunteers. In September, 1862, the war committee reported 
 "That forty-four men have enlisted, making three more than 
 enough to fill the quota." It was also voted : "That a meeting of 
 the citizens of this town be held at this house next Saturday even- 
 ing at 7 o'clock * * * to speak a kind word to our volunteers, who 
 are especially invited to attend." A committee was appointed to 
 arrange for the Saturday evening meeting. 
 
 In January, 1864, record is made of the successful efforts of 
 the war committee in procuring men to enlist to fill the quota of the 
 town under the Proclamation of the President calling for 300,000 
 men, so that a draft will not be necessary. 
 
 Prominent Coventry Men of the Eighteenth Century 
 
 The list of Coventry men who have served the country either 
 at home or abroad is one of which to be proud. 
 
 Confining our attention to the eighteenth century, one of the 
 most interesting characters was Lorenzo Dow, the Methodist ex- 
 
 32 
 
hort'er. He was born in Coventry, Conn., October 16th, 1777. His 
 parents, Humphrey B. and Tabitha (Parker) Dow, were natives 
 of the same place. A sudden illness at the age of 12 caused him 
 to give attention to religious matters and led to his becoming a 
 preacher of the Methodist denomination. He visited Ireland and 
 England, preaching to immense 
 crowds.. In the United States 
 he traveled extensively, holding 
 camp meetings in the woods, 
 preaching in halls and houses 
 when churches were not open to 
 him. He was accompanied by 
 his wife, Peggy, after his mar- 
 riage, who shared his vicissi- 
 tudes. She died January 6th, 
 1820, and is buried in Hebron, 
 Conn. Lorenzo died in George- 
 town, D. C, February 2d, 1834. 
 "Love to God and Man" is the 
 sum of true religion. 
 
 A view of Harlan Page's 
 birthplace is here shown. He 
 was born in 1791. He organ- 
 ized the first Sunday school 
 class in the church at North 
 Coventry. He became a convert 
 to the Baptist faith and became 
 a missionary in connection with 
 the American Tract Society. 
 
 Jesse Boot, whose picture forms the frontispiece, was a native 
 of Coventry, born December 28th, 1736. He graduated from 
 Princeton in 1756. After three years as a minister, he studied law 
 and was admitted to the bar in Hartford County, 1763. He served 
 as a lieutenant-colonel in the Bevolution and was a member of the 
 Continental Congress between 1778-83. He was judge of the Su- 
 perior Court for many years and chief justice of Connecticut, 1796- 
 1807. At the age of 82 he opened the Constitutional Convention 
 in 1818. 
 
 Lorenzo Dow, a Methodist preacher 
 in many lands. (From engrav- 
 ing in " Life, Experience and 
 Travels of Lorenzo Dow," by 
 Rev. John Dowling, D. D. New 
 York, 1854.) 
 
 33 
 
John Strong, who was born in Coventry August 16th, 1738, 
 appears to have been prompted by the pioneer instinct of the time. 
 He moved to the north and settled on the east side of Lake Cham- 
 plain, where he became eminent as a legislator and local judge. In 
 1791 he sat in the convention that ratified the United States Con- 
 stitution. 
 
 Nathan Strong, Jr., and Joseph Strong were born in Coventry, 
 
 the former, October 16th, 
 1748; the latter, September 
 21st, 1753, sons of Nathan 
 Strong, pastor in North Cov- 
 entry. The former was or- 
 dained pastor of the First 
 Church in Hartford January 
 5th, 1774, was a chaplain in 
 the Eevolutionary army, and 
 one of the chief founders of 
 the Connecticut Missionary So- 
 ciety in 1798. 
 
 Joseph was for fifty-six years 
 pastor of the First Church in 
 Norwich. Both brothers were 
 Yale graduates and authors of 
 many ecclesiastical works. 
 
 Samuel Huntington, the 
 third governor of the state of 
 Ohio, was another native of 
 Coventry, born October 4th, 
 1765. He was a nephew of Samuel Huntington, signer of the 
 Declaration of Independence, by whom he was adopted and edu- 
 cated as a lawyer. Previous to his gubernatorial term, 1809-10, 
 he was a delegate to the Ohio State Constitutional Convention of 
 1802, judge of the Court of Common Pleas and also of the Supreme 
 Court, and state senator in the first General Assembly of 1803. 
 In the second war with Great Britain, 1812-13, he was district 
 paymaster, with the rank of colonel. 
 
 Joseph Huntington is better known to Coventry's history, 
 although not a native. He was born in the neighboring town of 
 
 Home of Harlan Page, the missionary, 
 
 now remodeled and occupied 
 
 by William Sparne. 
 
 34 
 
Windham, May 5th, 1735, and was a brother of the signer, Samuel, 
 mentioned above. He was graduated from Yale in 1762, and one 
 year later, June 29th, 1763, was ordained pastor of the First 
 Church in Coventry and remained here until his death in 1794. It 
 is interesting to note that under his tutelage Nathan Hale was pre- 
 pared for college. 
 
 Joel Jones was another native of Coventry — born October 25th, 
 1795 — who migrated at an early age. He became a lawyer in 
 Easton, Pa., and was one of the founders of Lafayette College. In 
 
 Jesse Root Homestead on Ripley Hill, elaborately described in Austin C. 
 
 Dunham's "Reminiscences" in Hartford Daily Courant of April 
 
 6th, now owned by Ferdinand Zechiel's estate. 
 
 1847-9 he was the first president of Girard College in Philadelphia 
 and was mayor of that city in 1849. 
 
 Libraries in Coventry 
 
 As the present year is seeing the construction of a beautiful 
 library building in our town, it is fitting to bring this historic 
 sketch to a close in tracing the development of our libraries. 
 
 Certain old books give evidence of the existence of a library 
 previous to 1800 known as the Social Library. 
 
 35 
 
The next library in Coventry was made possible by the legacy 
 which was left by Mrs. Sarah Hale of $3,333.33 in 1803. Mrs. 
 Hale was the wife of John Hale, a brother of Nathan Hale, and 
 her will carried out the wishes of her husband, who died before 
 she did. By the terms of the will the library was especially for 
 the use of ministers or those who wished to study for the ministry 
 or for missionary work. A certain percent of the money was to 
 form a cumulative fund and has now amounted to over $10,000. 
 Another part each year is for the purchase of books, and still an- 
 other is for the aid of students who wish to be ministers or mis- 
 sionaries. The library at present is at the Congregational parson- 
 age. It is known as the Hale Donation Library. A portrait of 
 John Hale is to be found there. 
 
 Library occupied by the South Coventry Library 
 Association since 1894. 
 
 The beginnings of the present small library in South Coventry 
 would certainly seem to illustrate the fulfillment of the promise 
 to those who cast their bread upon the waters. A friendless boy 
 was cared for and clothed by some kindly women here. Years 
 passed and the poor boy became a wealthy man. Dr. Cogswell, the 
 man just mentioned, wrote from California in 1879, offering to 
 give $500 toward the establishment of a library if the people here 
 would raise a similar sum. 
 
 Due to this stimulus, the South Coventry Library Association 
 was organized in 1880 and books were loaned on a small payment 
 per year until very recently, when it was made free, the town giving 
 $100 annually and the state furnishing each year the same amount 
 
 36 
 
37 
 
in books. The present building, pictured here, was once used as a 
 postoffice, but was purchased by the Association in 1894 for use as 
 a library. The library contains about 4000 volumes. 
 
 The Porter Library in North Coventry was started in 1886 by 
 Thomas E. Porter and the widow of Dr. John Porter, each of whom 
 gave $200. This library, as well as that in South Coventry, were 
 beneficiaries in the will of Wm. B. Kingsbury to the extent of about 
 $1,200 apiece. 
 
 In 1911 the late Henry F. Dimock left $40,000 in perpetuation 
 of the memory of his grandfather, Eev. Chauncey Booth, and his 
 father, Timothy Dimock, M. D., to build and endow a library to be 
 known as the Booth and Dimock Memorial Library. This explains 
 the building now in process of erection, and the accompanying 
 illustration will show how the building will look at completion. 
 Thus generously has Coventry been aided by her sons and friends. 
 
 As this manuscript is going to press the citizens of Coventry in 
 town meeting assembled, August 3d, 1912, have anticipated the 
 bicentennial exercises in a very practical manner by purchasing the 
 A. O. TJ. W. Hall on Wall Street, to be used as a Town Hall. 
 
 Thus in briefest outline has the attempt been made to trace 
 developments from the beginnings to present accomplishments. 
 Many changes have there been, and, we trust, great advance. "Old- 
 fashioned manners are disappearing; let not old-fashioned virtues 
 also disappear. Let not the material prosperity produce nor accom- 
 pany a decrease of intellectual or moral worth." 
 
 Coventry's oldest married couple, Mr. and Mrs. William O. Gardiner, aged 
 88 and 85 respectively. They have been married 61 years. 
 
 38 
 
A POEM IN COMMEMOBATION OF THE TWO HUN- 
 
 DEEDTH ANNIVEESABY OF THE TOWN 
 
 OF COVENTEY 
 
 Euth Amelia Higgins 
 
 Long ago when the Indian bold 
 
 Stalked about over meadow and hill, 
 Or skulked in thicket, on ledge, 
 
 Near the course of river or rill; 
 When the rivers were not yet harnessed, 
 
 Nor the forest monarchs laid low 
 And the wind which came from the northward 
 
 But rumors vague did blow 
 Of the white man, the pale-face conqueror, 
 
 Who, armed with his weapons of fire, 
 Was taking away from the redman 
 
 The land he had fought to acquire; 
 When as yet in this peaceful valley 
 
 No sign was seen of the foe 
 Who should take the peace of the Indian 
 
 And work for his overthrow. 
 
 To this land where lived the Mohegan 
 
 The dreaded white man came 
 At last, but quiet and peaceful 
 
 Eedeemed somewhat the name. 
 And ventured at length to demand, 
 
 As mildly as might be, 
 The sale of a large stretch of country 
 
 Where all might live peacefully. 
 
 Then were the young braves angry 
 
 And swore by all that was free 
 That the white man should die like a traitor 
 
 Before such ruin should be. 
 But Joshua, the brave and the thoughtful, 
 
 Sage chief of the council of war, 
 Eestrained their impetuous madness 
 
 Before they were carried too far ; 
 Eebuked their unfriendly spirit 
 
 With words of wisdom and calm; 
 Eecommended they sell to the white man, 
 
 Be courteous and do him no harm. 
 
 39 
 
So a broad stretch of hill and of valley, 
 
 With rocks, with bad soil and good, 
 Was gained by the will of the great chief ; 
 
 And where wigwams had stood 
 Eose the simple log-cabin or frame house, 
 
 The home of the pioneer, 
 With its work, its pleasures, its frolics, 
 
 The center of health, of good cheer. 
 
 Just two hundred years have passed by it 
 
 Since that town was founded there — 
 The town with the lake of crystal, 
 
 With the cool, refreshing air, 
 With hills of green for a setting, 
 
 With land to work and till; 
 With the cheerful hum of the workshop 
 
 And the busy whir of the mill. 
 
 Oak tree on the property of Mr. Carl 
 G. Johnson, grown from an acorn 
 from Connecticut's famous Char- 
 ter Oak. 
 
 Two centuries ! and in the 
 meantime 
 A nation's life was bought; 
 And then with brothers' blood- 
 In unity was wrought. 
 The little town was courageous, 
 Always doing more than her 
 share ; — ■ 
 Nathan Hale and lesser heroes 
 Firmly stood forth to do and 
 to dare. 
 
 Heroes of peace are not want- 
 ing— 
 Justice Eoot and Lorenzo 
 Dow, 
 Many men of uprightness and 
 honor, 
 The pride of the town, then 
 and now. 
 
 And to-day, as we look o'er 
 that village, 
 Named for the one 'cross the 
 sea, 
 It seems to extend hearty wel- 
 come 
 To you, from old Coventry. 
 
 40 
 
TOWN OFFICERS, 1912. 
 
 (1) John H. Reynolds, First Selectman; (2) Arthur B. Porter, Select- 
 man; (3) George Rosebrooks, Selectman; (4) Perkins L. Lathrop, Repre- 
 sentative; (5) J. Montgomery White, Representative; (6) John S. Champlin, 
 Town Clerk and Treasurer; (7) George H. Robertson, Judge of Probate. 
 
 41 
 
 iteOOM 
 
OFFICIALS FOR THE TOWN FOR OLD HOME WEEK. 
 
 (1) Dr. William L. Higgins, President; (2) Addison Kingsbury, Treas- 
 urer; (3) Charles W. Lee, Vice-president; (4) Curtis Dean, Secretary and 
 Historian; (5) Miss Ruth A. Higgins, Poetess. 
 
 42 
 
CHAIRMEN OF COMMITTEES FOR COVENTRY'S BICENTENNIAL. 
 
 (1) Henry F. Parker, Hospitality Committee; (2) John M. Wood, Decor- 
 ating Committee; (3) De Witt Kingsbury, Finance Committee; (4) Mrs. 
 Thomas H. Wood, Relics Committee; (5) Ernest H. Woodworth, Parade 
 Committee. 
 
 43 
 
OFFICIAL PROGRAM 
 
 FOR OLD HOME WEEK 
 Sunday, August 25th 
 
 Order of Exercises, Fiest Congregational Church, South 
 Coventry, Conn. 
 
 10.45 a. m. : Organ Voluntary. 
 Doxology. 
 
 Invocation, Eev. D. F. Dodd. 
 Hymn 248, "0 God Our Help in Ages Past." 
 Eesponsive Beading. 
 Solo, E. A. Stores. 
 Scripture Lesson, Luke XII, 22-40, Eev. H. M. 
 
 Bartlett. 
 Prayer. 
 Offering. 
 Anthem. 
 Sermon, Psalms LXXVII 10-12, "Life in the Old 
 
 Church," Eev. Xestor Light. 
 Prayer, Eev. H. M. Bartlett. 
 Hymn 1019, "O Where Are Kings and Empires 
 
 Now?" 
 Benediction. 
 
 7.30 p. m. : Service of Worship and Song. 
 Soloist, W. A. Tucker. 
 Scripture Lesson, Isaiah LI, 1-6. 
 
 8.00 p. M. : "Congregationalism in Connecticut," illustrated by 
 numerous stereopticon pictures of persons, places, 
 churches and historic landmarks, Eev. Sherrod 
 Soule, Superintendent of Missions for Connecti- 
 cut. 
 
 Monday, August 26th 
 
 North Coventry Congregational Church. 
 
 8.00p.m.: A Cantata, "The Haymakers," by local talent; 
 Charles W. Lee, Director. 
 
 44 
 
Tuesday, August 27th 
 
 Bi-Centennial Celebration of Fiest Congregational Church, 
 South Coventry, Conn. 
 
 9.00 a. m. : Devotional Services, led by Rev. George W. 
 Christie. 
 
 9.30 a. m. : Roll Call of the Church. 
 
 Letters from absent members. 
 Letters from former pastors. 
 
 11.00 a. m. : "The First Hundred Years," Rev. Nestor Light. 
 
 12.00 m. : Luncheon by the Ladies of the Church. 
 
 2.00 p. m. : Devotional Services, led by Rev. D. F. Dodd. 
 
 2.15 p. m. : Historical Papers : 
 
 The Meeting Houses, William J. Wilson, Jr. 
 
 The Y. P. S. C. E., Miss Hannah B. Potter. 
 
 The Sunday School, Miss Gertrude MaoFar- 
 land. 
 
 The Work of the Women of the Church, Miss 
 Ruth A. Higgins. 
 
 3.15 p. m. : Bi-Centennial Poem, Forrest Morgan. 
 
 3.45 p. m. : "The Second Hundred Years," Rev. Nestor Light. 
 
 7.00 p. m. : Devotional Services, led by Rev. H. M. Bartlett. 
 
 7.15 p. m. : Addresses: Rev. D. F. Dodd representing the M. E. 
 Church, South Coventry; Rev. H. M. Bartlett 
 representing the Second Congregational Church, 
 North Coventry; Rev. John J. Lockett repre- 
 senting the Congregational Church, Andover. 
 
 8.00 p. m. : Address, Rev. Asher Anderson, D. D., Secretary 
 National Council of Congregational Churches. 
 45 
 
Tuesday, August 27th — Continued 
 
 Committees in Charge of Church Celebration. 
 
 Committee of Arrangements. 
 
 Eev. Nestor Light Wm. L. Higgins, M. D. 
 
 Hon. Addison Kingsbury Curtis Dean, Esq. 
 
 Finance Committee. 
 
 Mr. Louis A. Kingsbury Mr. John M. Wood 
 
 Mr. Eoyal H. Eose 
 
 Relics Committee. 
 
 Mr. De Witt Kingsbury Miss Hattie Albro 
 
 Mrs. Van E. Bennett 
 
 Decoration Committee 
 The Young People's Society of Christian Endeavor 
 
 Entertainment Committee of the Ladies' Association. 
 
 Mrs. Wm. E. Wood Mrs. Marvin P. Coleman 
 
 Mrs. Albert E. Harmon Mrs. Wm. L. Higgins 
 
 Mrs. Wm. C. Latimer Mrs. Theron E. Dunham 
 
 Wednesday, August 28th 
 
 Exercises at North Coventry. 
 
 10.00 a. m. : Music, Hebron Eife and Drum Corps. 
 
 10.30 a. m. : Invocation, Eev. H. E. Hoisington. 
 Music. 
 
 Address of Welcome, Eev. H. M. Bartlett. 
 Music. 
 
 Historical Address, Eev. Leon H. Austin. 
 Music. 
 
 12-2 p.m.: Lunch and Social Hour, with music by Fife and 
 Drum Corps. 
 
 2.00 p. m. : Short speeches and toasts by residents of the town and 
 visiting friends. Charles W. Lee, Toastmaster. 
 
 46 
 
Thursday, August 29th 
 
 Town Historical Exercises at South Coventry. 
 
 9.00 a. m. : Music, Hebron Fife and Drum Corps. 
 
 10.00 a. m. : Invocation, Eev. Leon H. Austin. 
 Music. 
 Address of Welcome by the Chairman, Dr. William 
 
 L. Higgins. 
 Music. 
 Eeading of letter from His Excellency, Governor 
 
 Simeon E. Baldwin. 
 Greetings from the State, by His Honor, Lieut.- 
 
 Governor D. L. Blakeslee. 
 Greetings from Coventr}', England, letter from 
 
 Mayor W. F. Wyley. 
 Greetings from Yale University. 
 Address by Prof. Edward Everett Hale, Jr., of 
 
 Union College, Schenectady, N. Y., and Judge 
 
 Carl Poster, of Bridgeport. 
 
 12-2 p. m. : Social hour, with music by Fife and Drum Corps. 
 
 2.00 p. m. : Historical Address, Curtis Dean. 
 
 Original Poem, Miss Ruth A. Higgins. 
 
 Weber Quartette. 
 
 History of the Manufacturing Interests of Coventry, 
 
 Hon. Addison Kingsbury. 
 Short sketches of some of .the old residents of the 
 
 town, Henry F. Parker. 
 Addresses from citizens of the town and from 
 
 visitors. 
 Singing, "America," led by the Town Choir. 
 
 8.00 p. m. : Cantata, "The Haymakers," by local talent in the 
 First Congregational Church; Charles W. Lee, 
 Director. 
 
 Friday, August 30th 
 
 9.00 a. m. : Music by the Baltic Brass Band, the Hebron Fife 
 and Drum Corps, and the Nathan Hale Fife and 
 Drum Corps. 
 
 11.00 a. m. : Parade. 
 
 2.00 p. m. : Ball game and sports of various kinds. 
 
 8.00 p. m. : Fireworks. 
 
 47 
 
Saturday, August 31st 
 
 Family Keunions, Picnics, and Visits to Histoeic Places. 
 
 For the convenience of the visitor some of the places of historic 
 interest are listed below: 
 
 Nathan Hale Cemetery: Nathan 
 Hale Monument. 
 
 Site of old grist mill, and old mill- 
 stone. 
 
 Site of First Congregational Church. 
 
 Site of the old Academy. 
 
 Old training ground. 
 
 Old Methodist Church, later Cath- 
 olic Church. 
 
 Royal Manning Tavern. 
 
 Manning Store. 
 
 Perkins Rose's Store. 
 
 Old Brick Schoolhouse. 
 
 Site of Samuel Burchard's house, 
 probably the first house. 
 
 Former home of Rev. Chauncey 
 Booth. 
 
 Lorenzo Dow's birthplace. 
 
 Pomeroy Tavern. 
 
 Mason's Cotton Mill. 
 
 John Boynton's Machine Shop. 
 
 Old Foundry. 
 
 Old Cotton Mill. 
 
 Site of the Strong homestead, prob- 
 able birthplace of Nathan Hale's 
 mother. 
 
 Jesse Root's house. 
 
 Jeremiah Ripley's house. 
 
 Old Toll G-ate. 
 
 Hale Homestead. 
 
 Offspring of Charter Oak. 
 
 Harlan Page house. 
 
 Crowley house, where first Catholic 
 services were held. 
 
 Old tavern near Mansfield Depot, 
 Where Washington once stopped. 
 
 Collections of material of historic interest will be on exhibition 
 in the basement of the Methodist Church in South Coventry and 
 in the Chapel at North Coventry. 
 
 The oldest male inhabitant, Mr. 
 Henry Case, born March 20, 
 1823, and so 89 years old. 
 
 The oldest female inhabitant, Mrs. 
 Fanny Brewster, born March 
 20, 1819, and so 93 years old. 
 
OFFICEES AND COMMITTEES TO AEEANGE PLANS 
 
 FOE "OLD HOME WEEK" IN COVENTEY, 
 
 AUGUST 25th TO 31st, 1912 
 
 Officers and Executive Committee 
 
 President, William L. Higgins 
 Vice-president, Charles W. Lee 
 Secretary, Curtis Dean 
 Treasurer, Addison Kingsbury 
 
 Program Committee 
 
 John H. Beynolds, Chairman Charles E. Hall 
 
 Louis A. Kingsbury Mrs. John M. Wood 
 
 Mrs. S. Noble Loomis 
 
 Music Committee 
 
 Charles W. Lee, Chairman Mrs. Wm. H. Armstrong 
 
 Mbs. Lucy Haven John M. Wood 
 
 Duncan F. Dodd 
 
 Parade Committee 
 
 Ernest H. Wood worth, Chairman Gilbert Storrs 
 Henry C. Walker Louis M. Phillips 
 
 William A. Wolfe 
 
 Placarding Committee 
 
 Henry F. Parker, Chairman John S. Champlin 
 
 Arthur B. Porter Patrick O'Brien 
 
 John E. Kingsbury 
 
 Hospitality Committee 
 
 Henry F. Parker, Chairman Mrs. Frank J. Tracy 
 
 Mrs. Louis A. Kingsbury Mrs. Edwin S. LeDoyt 
 
 Mrs. Wm. B. Hawkins Mrs. August Hillman 
 
 Alexander H. Pomeroy Mrs. Wm. F. Wood 
 
 Mrs. Wm. A. Tracy Miss Edna Newell 
 
 Mrs. Charles E. Hall Mrs. Benj. Taylor 
 
 Decorating Committee 
 
 John M. Wood, Chairman Brigham 0. Spaulding 
 
 Isaac P. Fiske William L. Wellwood 
 
 William H. Armstrong 
 
 49 
 
Relics Committee 
 
 Mrs. Thomas H. Wood, Chairman Miss Hattie Albro 
 Mes. Van E. Bennett Mrs. E. S. Slater 
 
 Mrs. Oliver C. Hall 
 
 Amusement Committee 
 
 George H. Eobertson, Chairman John P. Curlet 
 
 Walter S. Haven Martin H. Clark 
 
 Everett Lathrop 
 
 Historian 
 Curtis Dean 
 
 Poetess 
 Miss Kuth A. Higgins 
 
 Finance Committee 
 
 DeWitt Kingsbury, Chairman 
 Miss Grace Bradbury 
 George L. Eosebrooks 
 Mrs. George D. Swift 
 Jeremiah Young 
 Mrs. Wm. A. Wright 
 Frederick J. Snyder 
 Miss Julia White 
 Mrs. George H. Eobertson 
 Miss Helen Potter 
 
 Oliver C. Hall 
 Miss Mary Chase 
 Wallace McKnight 
 Miss Waity Brown 
 Frank 1ST. Turner 
 Mrs. John N. Wallbridge 
 Perkins L. Lathrop 
 H. Bertram Pomeroy 
 William F. Pitkin 
 Mrs. Eobert Pitkin 
 
 276 1 008 
 
 50 
 
University of 
 Connecticut 
 
 +JW&M Lit> rar ies