¦- ¦" y ^ YALE UNIVERSrrY LIBRARY SKETCHES AND CHRONICLES OF THB TOWN of LITCHFIELD, OON"]SJ^ECTIOTJT, HISTORICAL, BIOGRAPHICAL, AND STATISTICAL; TOaZTHXa WITH i COMPLETE OFFICIAL REGISTER .OF THE TO^WN, BY PATNE KENYON OLBOURNE, M. A., SEOBSIAET or THI UIOHTOLD COUNTY HISTOEIOAl AND ANIIUDARIAll SOOUiTI. -^ HARTFORD: PRESS OF CASE, LOCK-WOOD AKD COMPAUY. %, 1859. YALE PREFACE. The Town of Litchfield was first settled by emigrants from Hartford, Windsor, Wethersfield, Farmington and Lebanon, in 1720-'21. In 1751, the County of Litch field was incorporated and organized, and at the same time Litchfield was established as the county-seat, and such it still remains. The township is located near the centre of the county, which occupies the north-west corner of the State of Connecticut. It is agreeably diversified by hills, vallies, mountains, lakes, forests and cultivated fields ; and is inhabited, for the most part, by an industrious, thriving, intelligent and happy people. Thus much for the information of the stranger whose eye may casually glance at this Preface. It has been the design of the author of these pages, to trace the rise and progress of that little settlement in the wilderness, during the lapse of one hundred and forty years, to the present time. ' The history of many a town at the West,teUs of a sudden and gigantic growth at which our fathers would have marveled. I have no such stories to relate. The early history of Litchfield i^ one of peril and privation— of patient industry, and slow development. Our fathers, the pioneers of this region, were earnest, hardy and fearless men, who, in addition to the labors of backwoods-men, found abundant oppor- iv PREFACE. tunities for the display of their heroism in guarding their humble fire-sides from the prowling wolf and stealthy savage. The annals of such a people, and their succes sors, cannot be devoid of interest to any one ; and should especiaUy be cherished with the liveliest satisfaction by those who are able to claim descent from them. I have long been engaged in collecting the records and tradi tions possessing a local interest, with a -vdew of ultimate ly giving them to the public. My " labor of love " for the good old to-wn that gave me birth, is at length con cluded, for the present at least. I trust the reader will share, in some small degree, the pleasure which the au thor has felt in gathering up and sending forth these Memorials of the Past. Much more of perhaps equal interest, still remains unpublished ; but it will be seen that I have already exceeded my promised limits. The Family Genealogies in my possession, and for which I had hoped to find room, would alone fiU a volume of the size of this. In the latter part of the work, especially, the power of condensation has been thoroughly tested. I take this opportunity to express my acknowledg ments to those who have preceded me in my field of exploration, and whose footsteps I have sometimes found it convenient to follow. In 1818, a pamphlet by James Morris, Esq., was published, entitled — ^" A Statis tical Account of Several Towns in Litchfield County," which contains much valuable information relative to this town. In 1845, our feUow-to-wnsman, George C. Woodruff, .Esq., pubhshed a History of Litchfield in a pamphlet of sixty pages — an excellent work. LiTCHFiBLD, Conn., June 15, 1859. p. k. k. ~ yj ,' / -...*<-"^ VJ' 'X -5^ ' Hi.iM A I'l^'.NfM T. SKKTCH DY «'¦ O I.. 'L H IJ M B U U_ INDEX. CHAPTER I. Events in Connecticut preceding the settlement of Litchfield. Bantam, &c. — Reference to the Old Patent of Con necticut; the Constitution of 1639 ; Sir Edmund Andros ; the "West ern Lands conveyed away ;- trouble arising therefrom ; a compromise effected ; earliest record relating to " the New Plantation ;" Indian Deed ; List of Original Proprietors ; confirming Act of the Assembly; the word Bantam, ; Lichfield, in England ; derivation of the word. CHAPTER n. Incidents op the Fiest Settlement. — First Town Meeting ; first list of Town Officers ; conditions annexed to the Deeds ; forfeit ed Rights ; second list of Town Officers ; first meeting-house ; village streets ; choice of home-lots ; capture and escape of Captain Gris wold ; President D wight's account of the Restored Captive ; murder of Joseph Harris by the Indians. CHAPTER III. Alarms and Measures op Defense. — Litchfield in 1723 ; list of First Settlers ; Garrisons erected ; soldiers sent to the relief of Litchfield ; Governor Talcott's memoranda ; Memorials ofthe settlers ; Acts concerning non-resident proprietors ; Bounty for killing Indians ; Samuel Beebe'e testimony ; Petition of Rose and others ; more sol diers for the defense of Litchfield ; Petition for a Patent ; Copy of the Patent. CHAPTER IV. Miscellaneous Events. — Condition ofthe settlers ; Roger Wol cott ; guardianship of Hartford and "Windsor ; Bantam Swamp ; Ed ucation ; first School House ; lease of the School Right ; seating the meeting-house ; north and south Boundaries ; Davies Hollow set off to "Washington ; South Farms, Northfield and Milton incorporated ; town of Goshen organized in Litchfield ; -wild animals ; Litchfield in 1760-78 ; the Fisheries of Bantam; the Bantam Indians; the Mo- VI INDEX. £^^ hawks ; Indian Relics ; carved Stone Image ; Human Sacrifices ; Raumaug ; Parson Boardman's Long Prayer ; location of the Gar risons ; orthography ; the West Burying- Ground ; John Marsh and John Buel. CHAPTER V. Events Preceding the Revolution. — Litchfield County or ganized ; first County Officers ; opposition of Woodbury ; Sabbath- Day Houses ; the Acadians or French Neutrals ; French War ; Litchfield officers and soldiers ; Roll of Captain McNeile's compan3" ; Colonel Beebe ; the Stamp Act ; proceedings of a meeting in Litch field ; Revolutionary preparations ; indications of Progress ; high ways to Goshen and Cornwall laid out. CHAPTER VI. The Revolutionakt Era. — Proceedings of a town meeting ; Committees of Inspection appointed ; Aaron Burr ; Ethan AMen ; Captain Beebe's company ; memoranda relating to them ; capture of Fort Washington ; terrible fate of the prisoners ; Lieut. Catlin's statement ; the leaden statue of King George brought to Litchfield, and cast into bullets ; account current ; Litchfield officers and soldiers ; letters from Dr. Smith to General Wolcott; Paul Peck killed; pris oners of war in Litchfield Jail ; Governor Franklin ; Mayor Mat thews ; the Episcopalians and the Revolution. \ CHAPTER vn. The Revolutionary Era — continued. — Depots for military stores and provisions ; workshops for the army ; team sent here with powder, shot, and lead ; General Wolcott ; Sheriff Lord ; clothing and provisions for the army ; teams pass through Litchfield for the army : votes in town meetings ; committees appointed ; Father Ghampion's Prayer ; a Prussian General arrives in town ; Wash ington visits Litchfield ; anecdotes and incidents ; desertions from the enemy ; the Morrises ; Gatta, the Hessian. CHAPTER VIII. Men op the Revolution. — Biographical Sketches of Ethan Allen, Elisha Sheldon, Oliver Wolcott, Andrew Adams, Bezaleel Beebe, Jedediah Strong, Benjamin Tallmadge, Tapping Reeve, Mo ses Seymour, and Elisha Mason. ' - CHAPTER IX. Progress and Improvement. — Pastimes of our ancestors ; the Stolen Bride ; the Law Sehool, and the Litchfield Monitor ; anecdote of General Tracy ; opposition to Stoves iii the old meeting-house ; modes of traveling; the first Post Office in this town ; list of Letters ; Turnpikes and Stage-Coaches ; list of Postmasters. , ! m^ INDEX. vii CHAPTER X. Ecclesiastical Matters. — First Society. — Difficulties with 'Ittr £«dlws ; votes relating thereto ; sketch of his history; settlement iMof Mr Qhampion ; building of the second meeting-house ; first soci- ..ety organized ; votes at its meetings ; settlement of Messrs. Hunting- Mn, !l^echer and Carroll ; new house of worship erected ; settlement ' of Messrs. Hickok, Brace, Swan, and Bacon ; officers of the church ..^nd society. Efiscopacy. — John Davies the first Episcopalian in the niar«L;_Hrst Episcopal society organized ; lands given to the society ; f-'^ibli^^Kh named St. Michael's ; the Davies family ; sketches of the eSFljr Rectors ; application for a Justice of the Peace denied ; form ation of Jhe 2d Episcopal society ; the West Church erected; Epis- copaliaiffi in Milton and Northfield. Methodism. — "Visits of Garret son and Asbury to Litchfield ; Litchfield Circuit formed ; listofmin- 1stere-«H the circuit ; names of methodists in the town in 1805 ; church erected in this village in 1837 ; list of pastors. Baptists. •Biographical Notes, 188 APPENDIX. Colonial and State Offlcers ; Chief Justices and Judges of the Superior Court and Supreme Court of Errors ; Commissioners ofthe Superior Court ; Justices of the Peace for Litchfield ; Judges and Clerks of the Probate Court ; Judges of the County Court ; U. S. Senators, members of Congress 'and members of the Council, from Litchfield county; Senators from the 15th District; County Officers,' Borough Officers, Town Officers ; Prosecuting Attomies for the county ; Corporations, Societies and Institutions in Litchfield ; Roll of Representatives, List of Graduates, Physicians, &c. Miscellane ous Articles. Biographical Addenda. ,.. 201 JJ^^HISTOEY OF LITCHFIELD. CHAPTER I. m dONNECnCTJT PBECEDING THE SETTLEMENT OP LITCH- iL.— FIELD. BANTAM, ETC. r. V I' In 1630, about ten years after the landuig of the pilgrims on Jrlymouth Rock, the whole, of the territory ofthe present State pi|-OQmrectiCtft"Mras conveyed by the Plymouth Company to 5b^,Sla,rl (if "i^arwick. On the 19th of March ofthe suc- [Jeft|uigyear,*t]i^ Earl executed under his hand and seal the it rince known as the Old Patent of Connecticut, wherein i4 transferred the same tract to Viscount Say and Seal, Lord rjTBrooke, John Hampden, John Pym, Sir Richard Saltonstall, £,aad others. In the summer of 1635, the towns of Hartford, Tethersfield ^ aha i "Windsor, on the Connecticut river, first I'gan po be/semMi by emigrants fromfthe vicinity of Boston iacniuetiisJ' ' StiU a year later, the Rev. Thomas Hooker' tli»«dBgfe^acti»in made their celebrated journey llu'ough 4e wilderness, from Cambridge, Massachusetts, to Hartford, , f-'here they took up their permanent residence. In 1687, the [xjequot War was begun and terminated — resulting in the d^c^tlMon and almost total annihilation of the most formida- ttah^ribe Tof 3fiidians in the colony. ?!' Iiii first Cipnstitution adopted by the people of Connecticut 1^ai«*^daie, January 15, 1638-'9. This continued to form the -Ifeisig of ^trt^BOlonial government until the arrival of "the Char- ofGhariee IL,-iaJ4^?2^tOT'?{ W2a XMmmally superceded. 'rtn)xi)l^$dmMi)^BxMt and Indians kepfthe'^ g^-^grai?lg;fg#^QPtnM^^ ^^HniSSfe, ^^.l^oQ&c I oonnoblwfiffin ihe oM -iriifid 't&^bthCTAiierican colohies', the peopte'^ icut had from the first felt that their civil rights were' ed to them beyond the reach of any contingency. The 3 18 HISTORY OP UTCHPIELD. Royal Charter was but a confirmation of privileges which they^, had long enjoyed. No king-appointed Governor or Council annoyed them by their presence or oppressed them by theiii acts ; but the voters were left to choose their own rulers and; enact theh own laws. Indeed, the influence of the crown was). for a long period scarcely felt in the colony. On the acces- ' sion of James H., however, in 1685, the whole aspect of affairs : was changed. It was soon rumored that His Majesty had de- . termined to revoke all the charters granted by his predecessors. The arrival of Sir Edmund Andros at Boston, in Decembe 1686, bearing a commission as " Governor of New EnfflandM was an event not calculated to allay the apprehensions of tl people of Connecticut. His reputation was that of a selfisl "grasping despot, bent upon enriching himself and immediat friends at the expense of the colonists. At this time, th| entire region now known as the County of Litchfield, (excej a sohtary settlement at Woodbury, on its southern frontier,] was an unexplored wilderness, denominated the Westeri Lands. To save these lands from the control and disposal o| Andros, the Legislature granted them to the towns of Ha ford and Windsor — at least so much of them as lay east of th^ Housatonic river. When the usurpations of Andros wer over J. and the charter had found its way back from the hoUOT of the oak tu the Secretary's office, the Colonial Assembly at-| tempted to resume its title to these lands ; but the towns re ferred to steadfastly resisted aU such claims. The quarre was long kept up, but no acts of hostility were committed ui^ til eSbrts were made to dispose of the tract. Collisions thegi I became frequent. Explorers, agents and surveyors, of one party, were summarily arrested and expelled from the dispnj- ted territory by the contestants. On one occasion, seyerij offenders belonging to the Hartford and Windsor party, were; imprisoned by the colonial authorities. A mob assegjhled^ broke open the jail, and set the prisoners at larg^{^i^jj|onpfr^ promise followed, confirming to the iuwtid tORf" liie ^Jugc^te^ under them, the lands of Litchfield and a part of those^of JJ^ Milford. The other portions of the territory were intm^O^ to be equally divided between the colony and the claiming EXPLORATION AND PURCHASE OP THE TOTArNSHIP. 19 towns. Thus Torrington, Barkhamsted, Colebrook, and a part of Harwinton, were appropriated to Windsor ; Hartland, Winchester, New Hartford, and the remaining portion of Har winton, were given to Hartford ; the other lands in dispute, now constituting the townships of Norfolk, Goshen, Canaan, Kent, Sharon and Salisbury, were retained by the colony. It should be added, that a small portion of the township of Litch field was claimed by certain citizens of Farmington, by virtue of a deed of purchase from the Indians, dated August 11, 1714. On the llth of June, 1718, the Farmington claimants relinquished their rights to Hartford and Windsor, and in lieu thereof received one-sixth of all the lands of the town in fee. All business relating to the "Western Lands was transacted by committees appointed by the claiming towns and by the General Court. In 1715, these towns (Hartford and Wind sor,) took the initiatory steps toward exploring that portion of the western wilderness now embraced within our corporation limits, and purchasing whatever rights the natives possessed, or claimed to possess, to the soil. It would be interesting to know who was the first individual of the Anglo-Saxon race that ever visited the localities so cherished by us ail.'-Tha^ earliest record-evidence on this point, is contained in an entry in the first Book of Records in our Town Clerk's office,* which is as follows : " The Town of Hartford, Br. To John Marsh, May 171.5, For 5 days, man and horse, with expenses, in viewing the Land at the New Plantation, £ 2 0 0 The Town of Hartford, Br. Jan. 22, 171o-'16, To 6 days journey to Woodbury, to treat with the Indians about the Western Lands, by Thomas Seymour, £ 1 4 0 J To expenses in the journey, 114 9 £ 2 18 9 * The following is written on the first page of the book referred to — "This booke be longing to the Towne of Hartford, into which we,. the Committee for Managing the a&airs of the Western Grants, have entered onr proceedings relating thereto, in con junction with the Committee for the Towne of Windsor — as also an account of our dis bursements therein." Dated June 17, 1718, £0 2 6 4 9 1 7 7 10 0 2 11 0 1 10 0 2 0 1 8 £ 1 10 0 18 0 1 0 0 1 ¦7 0 0 4 0 £49 10 0 10 0 7 0 2 0 0 11 0 5, 1 6 4 1 0 4 20 BISTORT OP LITCHPIELD. The Town of Hartford, Br. To Thomas Seymour, Committy, May 1716, By 2 quarts of Rum, Expenses at Farmington, Expenses at Waterbury, Paid Thomas Miner towards the Indian purchase, Expenses at Woodbury Expenses for a Pilot and protection. Fastening horse-shoes at Waterbury, Expenses at Waterbuiy, Expenses to Col. Whiting for writing 40 deeds, " to Capt. Cooke for acknowledging 18 deeds, " to Ensign Seymour, " at Arnold's, " by sending to Windsor, August 4, 1718.— Sold 11 lots for Expenses for writing 20 deeds, to Mr. Fitch, " to Capt. Cooke for acknowledging deeds, " for making out a way, " at Arnold's, " to Tho's Seymour for perambulating north line, " -7, at Arnold's, Feb. 10, 1$18. — At a meeting of the Committees, then sold 16 lots reserved by Marsh for Hartford's part, 37 17 9 At same meeting, paid by John Marsh for expenses, 12 0 -'Air same meeting, loss of money by mistake in acc't. 3 0 April 14, 1719. — A meeting of the Committees, expenses, 6 0 April 27. — At a meeting of the Committees, expenses, 7 ." By the earliest of these entries, -we learn that Mr. John Marsh was sent out from Hartford " to view the lands of the new plantation," in May, 1715. He may, therefore, be re garded as emphatically the pioneer-explorer of this to'miship. •It is not improbable that an occasional hunter or adventurer had previously visited these hills, and carried hence an ac coimt of our beautiful lake and the rich alluvial meadows on its banks ; but there is extant no written or traditionary evi dence pointing to such an event. Mr. Marsh became an ori ginal proprietor and early settler of the town, and was one of its most important and useful men. He was the progenitor of aU bearing his name in Litchfield — a numerous and respec table family. Mr. Thomas Seyinour, of Hartford^ appears in the record as the next e^lorer, and as the agent " to treat with the Indians" relative to the purchase of these lands. The sub sequent items, though unimportant in themselves, are never- INDIAN DEED. 21 theless deemed worthy of preservation, as they embrace all the information contained in our Town Books touching the action of the Committees relative to the lands in question, previous to the settlement. The negotiations resulted in purchasing from the Indians aU the lands in the original township of Bantam or Litchfield. The sum paid therefor in behalf of the Committees, though seemingly small, was doubtless satisfactory to the natives. Their estimate of land was founded mainly upon its value to them for hunting ; and as they made a " reservation " for that purpose, the " fifteen pounds in hand received" was, we have reason to believe, to their " fuU satisfaction and contentment," as is expressed in the Deed — which was executed at Wood bury, March 2d, 1715-'16 : " To all People to whom these Presents shall come, Greeting : KNCW YE that we, Chusquenoag, Corkscrew, Quiump, Mag- nash, Kehow, Sepunkum, Poni, Wonposet, Suckqunnokqueen, To-^ weecume, Mansumpansh, and Norkgnotonckquy, Indian Natives belonging to the Plantation of Potcduck within the Colony of Connec ticut, for and in consideration of the sum of fifteen pounds money in hand received to our full satisfaction and contentment, have given, granted, bargained and sold, and by these presents do fuUy, freely and absolutely give, grant, bargain and confirm, unto Col. "William Whiting, Mr. John Marsh and Mr. Thomas Seymour, a Committee for the town of Hartford ; and Mr. John Eliot, Mr. Daniel Griswold and Mr. Samuel Rockwell, a Committee for the town of Windsor, for themselves and in behalf of the rest of the Inhabitants of the towns of Hartford and Windsor, a certain tract of Land, situate and lying north of Waterbury bounds, abutting southerly, partly on Waterbury and partly on Woodbury ; from Waterbury River westward across a part of Waterbury bounds, and across at the north end of Waterbury bounds to Shepaug River, and so northerly in the middle of Shipaiig Rive:^ to the sprains of Shepaug River below Mount Tom, thence running up the east branch of Shepaug River to a place where the said River runs out of Shepaug Pond, from thence to the north' end of said Pond, then east to Waterbury River, then southerly as the River runs, to to the north end of Waterbury bounds upon the said River ; which said Tract of Land thus described, To Have and to Hold, to the said Col. William Whiting, Mr. John Marsh and Mr. Thomas Sey mour, Mr. John Eliot, Mr. Daniel Griswold aud Mr. Samuel Rock well, Committees of the Towns of Hartford and Windsor as aforesaid, in behalf of themselves and the rest of the Inhabitants of said Towns, to thein, their heirs and assigns, to use, occupy and improve, as their own proper right of Inheritance, for their comfort forever; together with all the privileges, appurtenances and conditions to the same be 22 HISTORY OP LITCHPIELD. longing, or in any wise appertaining. And Further, we, the said Chusquenoag, Corkscrew, Quiump, Magnash, Kehow, Sepunkum, Poni, Wonposet, Suckqunnokqueen, Toweecumo, Mansumpansh and Norkgnotonckquy, owners and proprietors of the above granted Land, do, for ourselves and our heirs, to and with the above said William Whiting, John Marsh, Thomas Seymour, John Eliot, Daniel Griswold and Samuel Rockwell, Committees as aforesaid, them, their heirs and assigns, covenant and engage, that we have good right and lawfiil authority to sell the above granted land ; And Futher, at the desire and request of the aforesaid Committees, and at their own proper cost and charge, will give a more ample deed. And for a more full confirmation hereof, we have set our hands and seals, this second day of March, in the second year of His Majesties Reign, A. D. 1715. Memorandum. — Before the executing of this instrument, it is to be understood, that the grantors above named have reserved to themselves a piece of ground sufficient for their hunting houses, near a mountain called Mount Tom." This document is subscribed by the Indians named in the beginning of the deed — the last one excepted. As the " un- ^^cDutb scrawls " used by them for signatures, are meaningless, and were undoubtedly drawn quite at random by the aboriginal signers, no attempt will here be made to imitate them. The names of the witnesses subscribed to the deed are, Weroa- maug, Wognacug, Tonhocks, John Mitchell, and Joseph Minor. It was " acknowledged " before Mr. Minor, the Indian Inter preter, as follows : " The Indians that subscribed and sealed the above said deed, ap peared personally in Woodbury, the day of the date thereof, and ack nowledged the said deed to be their free and voluntary act and deed Before me, JOHN MINOR." — — dbtl-718, a Company was organized for the settlement of Ban tam. The township, which contained about 44,800 acres, was divided into sixty rights or shares — three of which were reser ved for pious uses, viz., one share to the first minister and his heirs forever ; one, for the use of the first minister and his suc cessors in the pastoral office ; and one, for the support of Schools. Purchasers having been found for the remaining fifty-seven rights, deeds of conveyance were made by the Com mittees, confirming the entire plantation to the new propjae^- tors. These deeds are dated, April 29, 1719 — fifty-five' bf which are recorded on the Litchfield Land Records. The cgoi- ORIGINAL PROPRIETOES OP THE TO"WN. 23 sideration for forty-eight shares, was £229 10 0, in bills of credit ; for seven shares, the sum of £31 4 0 was paid. Mr. John Marsh purchased the two remaining shares, but the price paid therefor does not appear. The average cost of the land to the first purchasers, did not exceed one penny and three farthings per acre. The subjoined list contains the names of aU the " original proprietors" of the township : John Marsh,*. (2 Rights,) from Hartford., John Stoddard,* 'Wethersfield. Ezekiel Buck,* •jonn juarsn,*. (2 JKign Samnel Sedgwick,'^, Nathaniel Goodwin, " Timothy Seymour, " Paul Peck, Jr.,* -Joseph Mason,* " Nathaniel Messenger, " Benjamin "Webster,* " Joshua Garrett,^ " Samuel Forward, 'Windsor. JChomas Griswold, Jr., " ¦ Jacob- Gibbs,* " Joseph Birge,* " - Benjamin Hosford,* " • John Hart, Farmington, ' Timottiy Stanley, "' . JohhBird,* jMSfH Bird,* " Samuel Lewis, " Ebenezer 'Woodruff, " Samuel Boot, " Nathaniel 'Winchell, " Hezekiah 'Winchell, " Joseph Gillett,* Colchester. Jonathan Buck, New Milford. ' 'William Goodrich, Jr.* "Wethersfield. Those proprietors whose names are here designated by a star (*) became settlers in the town. The Rights of a few others were settled upon by the sons of the first purchasers ; others sold out their interest to persons who became permanent residents ; while a few forfeited their shares by neglecting to comply with the terms of the purchase. The title thus acquired was soon after confirmed by the fol- ^lowing Act of the Legislature : " At a General Assembly holden at Hartford, May, A. D. 1719 : UPON the Petition of Lieut. John Maesh, of Hartford, and rJliBiinn iJuiiM Ttiii I, of Lebanon, with many others, praying liberty, • jTBBder Ckminittees appointed by the Towns of Hartford and Windsor, "^t(^|wWejtf|&>l?n westward of Farmington, at a place called Bantam. ' 'i^Thia JkmBBitblj do grant liberty and full power, unto the said John Jacob Griswold,* " John Buel,* (2 Eights,) Lebanon. Edward Culver, . " Hezekiah Cnlver,* " Thomas Lee,* Eleazei Strong,* " Supply Strong,* " Caleb Chapel, (2 Eights,) " Thomas Treadway,* " John Caulkins, " Ezekiel Sanford, (2 Eights,) Stratford. Nathan Mitchell,* " Thomas Pier,* ¦ " John Mann, " Joseph Peet, " Samuel Somers, " Nath'l Smith,* (2 Eights,) Taunton, Ms. John Collins, "^'' Ephraim French, " Josiah Walker,* ' 'Woodbury. Samuel Ortou,* " Joseph 'Waller,* " Isaac Judson, " ' 24 HISTOET OP LITCHFTKT.D. Marsh and John Buel and partners settlers, being in the whole fifty- seven in number, to settle a town ,at said Bantam : the said town to be divided into sixty Rights, three whereof to be improved for pious uses in said town. And the other fifty-seven shall, as soon as may conveniently be, settled upon by the undertakers, or, upon their fail ure, by others that may be admitted. Said town to be in length, east and west,.eight miles, three-quarters and twenty-eight rods, and in breadth seven miles and an half — being bounded eastward by Matta- tnek River, westward the bigger part upon the'most western branch of the Shepaug River and partly upon the wilderness, north upon the wilderness, and south by Waterbury bounds and a west line from Waterbury corner unto Shepaug River ; said town to be known by the name of LITCHFIELD, and to have the following figure for a a brand for their horse hind, viz. 9. And the same powers and priv ileges that other towns in this Colony do enjoy, are hereby granted to said town." As this chapter may be regarded simply as an introduction to the subject-matter of the volume, a brief reference to the origin and meaning of the names by which this locality was and is known, will not be out of place here. ¦-¦¦ The earliest designation applied to this particular portion of the Western Lands, was Bantam — and the name is stiU borne by our principal Lake and one of our largest Rivers. His- . -torians have generally concurred in calling this the Indian or Aboriginal name of the place. There appears to be good rea son, however, to doubt the coiTcctness of such a conclusion. Impressed with the belief that the word had a trans-Atlantic origin, I have occasionally asked the opinion of such fiiends as- I knew to be famUiar with the construction of languages, and likely to be much better informed on the subject than myself. In November, 1856, the Hon. Charles W. Bradley, LL. D., formerly Secretary of State, and now an American Consul in China, thus responded to my enquiry and suggestion : " As to the name " Bantam," I fuUy agree with you that it hath a very un-Indian look and sound, nor have I ever regarded it as belong ing to any of our native dialects. I have no idea how it got there. The only place of that name, within my ken, is near my late residence (Singapore,) where, in the Island of Java, is a town, once the capital of a District ofthe same designation, containing 3,428 square miles. Bantam is in lat. 6° S. long. 106° 13' E — forty-seven miles W. from Batavia." .i*,'.,-!", 'v" ' 4, " Prof W. G. Peck, of Columbia College, New York, in Oc tober last, wrote : ui-.-a.... -j-. BANTAM LITCHFIELD. 25 "You will remember our conversation about the word ^antom, and that I took the ground that it was not of Indian origin. In looking ' over an old History of Java, the other day, I came across the fact that an expedition was fitted out in 1601, consisting of four ships belonging to the then newly-formed " East India Company ;" and that the expe dition sailed under Captain Lancaster in 1 602, touching first at Acheen and then at Bantam in Java. Captain Lancaster, during the latter year, brought home a letter from the " King of Bantam " to Queen Elizabeth. From aU this, you will see that the Java Bantam was in existence and had a king, eighteen years before the landing of the Pilgrims — and I don't know how much earlier. Bantam was occupi ed by the Dutch in the sixteenth century, and was a place of much consequence. In the Portuguese writings of Jono de Barras, (Lisbon 1777,) the place is called " Bintam or Bantam." I am unable to as certain whether the word is Dutch or Javanese ; at any rate, it is quite clear that the name is not of Connecticut origin." The English and Danes had factories at Bantam previous to 1682, at which date they were taken by the Dutch. The har bor was long a favorite rendezvous for Britisli shipping in the East. Of course the name was a familiar one in the English colonies at the time of the exploration of these Western Lands. Why it was transferred to this locality, must remain a matter of conjecture ; perhaps it was because, like the Bantam of the old world, this was a wild and almost unknown region, inhab ited by a race of barbarians ; perhaps, as has been suggested by a distinguished antiquarian scholar, the name may have first been given by the settlers on the Connecticut to an Indian sachem residing in this vicinity, and, at a subsequent date, the country may have been named from him. At all events, it appears to have been the first designation by which this township was ever known to the Anglo-Saxon race; and as such, is worthy of being retained and cherished. The Town, as we have seen, was first called Litchfield iu the act of incorporation, passed during the May Session, 1719, and was so named from the ancient city of Lichfield, Staf fordshire, England — the t being added, probably by the legis lative clerk, and has ever since been retained. It was with a sort of hallowed, home-sick feeling, that, in July 1855, the author of this volume (then on his way from London to North Wales,) made a brief stop at this famous ecclesiastical empori um. Long before reachingthe Lichfield Station, the spires of the noble Cathedral attracted the attention and ehcited the 4 26 HISTORY OF LITCHFIELD. remarks of the numerous strangers on the train. It is hardly to be presumed that this place received the name it bears, on account of any supposed resemblance of its location to that of the city whence its name is derived. The English Lichfield, it is true, stands upon elevated ground, and is surrounded by rural beauties which are rarely surpassed even in the British Islands ; but the city cannot be said to stand on a hill, and the face of the surrounding country is materially difierent from the scenes upon which we are accustomed to look. With the same broad meadows, pastures and cultivated fields, inter spersed with patches of wood-land, they lack the lake, and forest, and mountain scenery, which forms a principal attrac tion of our landscapes. Lichfield is said to have been erected into a bishopric as early as A. D. 656 — the first bishop bearing the name of Diuma. The first cathedral was completed about the year 700, in the time of Bishop Hedda. The founder of the present edifice is stated to have been Roger de Clinton, who came to the see in 1138 ; though, from the style of archi- itecture, it is believed that much of the building was erected during the thirteenth and fourteenth centuries. At the com mencement of the civil wars, the Close of Lichfield was forti fied by the royalists, and the command entrusted to Lord Ches terfield. In March, 1643, the garrison was attacked by the parliamentary forces under Lord Brooke, one ofthe Patentees of Connecticut, who is said to have made a vow that if he should succeed he would level the cathedral with the groimd. A day or two after, however, his lordship was shot dead, as he walked along the street below, by a gentleman stationed on the great tower of the church. The garrison soon surrendered to the puritan army, who, if we are to believe Dugdale, de molished all the monuments, pulled down the curious carved work, battered in the costly windows, destroyed the records, stabled their horses in the aisles, and " every day hunted a cat throughout the church, delighting themselves in the echo from the goodly vaulted roof." These were strange pastimes, surely, for puritan soldiers; but doubtless the picture was somewhat overdrawn by the royal historian. The garrison was again captured by the royalists, and re-captured by the puri- ETYMOLOGY OP LITCHFIELD. 27 tans. The cathedral suff'ered greatly from these successive sieges. It was estimated that not less than two thousand can non-balls and fifteen hundred hand-grenades had been dischar ged against it. It was completely renovated by Bishop Hacket during the reign of Charles II. The city contains several churched, schools, and charitable institutions, and, in 1841, had a population of 14,754. Its streets are narrow, but well paved and well lighted ; many of the buildings are handsome, and its general appearance is much above the average of Eng lish towns of its size. Its municipal officers are, a mayor, re corder, five aldermen, and eighteen Councilors. It is entitled ,to two members of parliament. In this place were born Gar- rick, Johnson, Lady Mary Wortley Montague, and other emi nent characters. As to the etymology of the word Lichfield, or Litchfield, Gorton in his " Topographical Dictionary of Great Britain and Ireland," (London, 1833, vol. ii, p. 564,) says — " Various derivations have been proposed of the name of this place ; but it has generally been deduced from the term, Lich-field, signi fying the Field of the Dead — thus denominated, according to some ecclesiastical historians, on account of the great number of Cliristians having suff'ered martyrdom here during the Dio- clesian persecution in the beginning of the fourth century." In confirmation of this derivation, it may be added, that a field iu the neighborhood, bearing the name of Christian Field, is still pointed out as the place where a thousand Christians were slaughtered at one time. This definition also corresponds with that given by the great lexicographer, Dr. Johnson, who was a native of Lichfield. In Saxon times, this town formed a portion of the extensive and powerful kingdom of Mercia, /jwhich was christianized upon its conquest by Oswy, King of 'Northumberland. j Ou/r Litchfield (Connecticut) was the first place on this continent to bear the name. There are now seven other Litch- fields in the United States, (all spelt with the ^,) viz., one in each of the following States — Maine, New Hampshire, New Tork, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Michigan and Kentucky. These towns, with perhaps a single^exception, were settled by Connec ticut people. In Ohio, there is a post office named Bantam. CHAPTER II. ' INCIDENTS OF THB FIEST SETTLEMENT. The settlement of Litchfield was commenced by Capt. Ja cob Griswold, from Windsor, Ezekiel Buck, from Wethersfield, and John Peck, from Hartford, all of whom removed their families into the township during the suinmer of 1720. In the course ofthisandthe following year, several other families — chiefly from Hartford, Lebanon, Wethersfield and Windsor — erected log houses on their home-lots, and moved into them. The record of what appears to have been the first Town Meeting, is without date. Dea. John Buel and Nathaniel Smith were appointed a Committee to hire a minister, and " to make and gather a rate, to pay him for his services amongst us." This Committee employed Mr. Timothy Collins, of Guilford, a young licentiate who had graduated at Yale Col lege in 1718. At the next Meeting, held November 6, 1721, it was voted, " that Mr. Collins be forthwith called to a settle ment in this place in the work ofthe ministry ;" and it was stip ulated that he should receive fifty-seven pounds per year for four years — and thereafter, as follows, viz., " the fifth year, sixty pounds ; the sixth year, seventy pounds ; the seventh year, eighty pounds — and so to continue at eighty pounds per year" so long as he should remain in the pastoral office in this town. It was also agreed to pay him one hundred pounds pre vious to the 1st day of July, 1722, and to furnish him with fire-wood. Mr. Collins accepted the terms proposed, in a let ter bearing date, "Litchfield, Dec. 12, 1721," and immediate ly entered upon his labors — though he was not ordained until the 19th of June, 1723.* In addition to his salary, as above ^Messrs. Nathaniel Smith, Eleazer Strong and Samuel Culver, were appointed a com mittee " to provide accommodations, at the town's cost, for the Elders and Messengers that shall be in attendance." FIEST TOWN OFFICERS. 29 '. ¦> - ; stated, Mr. Collins received in fee one-sixtieth part of all the elands of the township, together with the use for life of another 3 sixtieth part. T The first meeting of the Inhabitants for the choiceof Town Officers, was held DecJ.2, 1721, and resulted as follows : ; John Mabsh, Town Clerk. [ John Buel, 1 ! Nathaniel Hosfoed, [ Selectmen. I John Maesh, ) , William Goodrich, Constable and Collector. Benjamin Gibbs and Thomas Lee, Bu/rveyors. \ Eleazer Strong and Samdel Root, Fence Viewers. \ Daniel Culvee, Hayward. i Joseph Bird, Collector of Minister's Rate. < The only person " admitted an inhabitant " at this meeting, was Mr. Joseph Kilbourn, from Wethersfield, who had recent ly purchased one-thirtieth part of the township — ^being the original Rights of Messrs. Mann and Peet. On the 6th of February, 1721-'2, Messrs. Buel and Marsh were voted " the use of the stream of Bantam River and thirty acres of land," on condition that they would erect a Grist Mill and keep the same in order ; and Messrs. Jacob Griswold, WiUiam Goodrich and Benjamin Gibbs were designated to lay out the land for their use. -.^ On the Sth of the ensuing May, Messrs. Buel, Marsh, Smith and Hosford, were appointed a Committee, and fully empow ered by the town, to negotiate a settlement ofthe boundary line between Litchfield and Waterbury, with a Committee appoint ed by the proprietors of the latter town. At the same time, Messrs. Buel and Marsh were directed to petition the Oeneral Assembly, on the town's behalf, " for Hberty to set up a church and society in Litchfield." It had been one of the conditions ofthe several deeds of con veyance to the original proprietors, that the grantees or their sons should build a tenantable house on each home-lot, or division, not less than sixteen feet square, and personaUy in habit the same by the last day of May, 1721, and for three years ensuing ; and no one was permitted " to leave or dispose 30 HISTOBY OP LITCHFIELD. of his share for five years thereafter, without the consent ofthe , first planters." This was a wise provision, growing out of the dependent and exposed condition of a settlement in the wilder ness. Not only was each individual purchaser expected to ' encourage the settlement by his personal presence and labors, but his assistance in planning and executing the various pro jects-designed for the promotion of the public welfare, was deemed indispensable. His proprietorship in these " western lands " was no sinecure, resorted to for purposes of specula tion'. He must bear his full share of the burthens and per- Us incident to the life of a pioneer. For divers reasons, sever al of the first purchasers, as has been intimated, faUed to comply with these terms. On the Sth of June, 1722, in gen eral Town Meeting, it was voted that the following persons had " forfeited their Rights to Lands in Litchfield by not per forming what they were obliged to in the articles of the settle ment mentioned in the Grand Deed," viz., Timothy ^eymour, Timothy Stanley, Isaac Judson, Jacob Gibbs, John Stoddard, Nathaniel Smith, Paul Peck, JohnJSart, Philip Bump, Na thaniel Woodruff, Thomas Griswold, John Baldwin and one of Ezekiel Sandford's Rights. Messrs. John Buel, Nathaniel Smith and John Marsh, were appointed a Committee to nego tiate with the above-named individuals, with power to " prose cute the forfeiture to eff'ect" in case the claimants should neg lect or refuse to agree to the terms which might be off'ered them. Probably a compromise was eff'ected with most of the delin quents. Some of them became active and useful men in the town. " In October of this year, the freemen, by a formal vote, ex pressed their desire to be annexed to Hartford County. They also voted that the tax for the support of the minister and for buUding the meeting-house, should be laid " one half on the Rights, and the other on heads and stock." ' The second annual Town Meeting was held, December 17, 1722. The foUowing Town Officers for the year ensuing were chosen : [Nathaniel Hosfoed, Moderator.} John Marsh, Town Clerk. I . the fibst meeting-house. 31 '"^Nathaniel Hosfoed, ^ ^John Stoddard, \ Selectmen. ^ Joseph Kilbourn, ) ^ Jacob Griswold, Constable. ;i Eleazer Strong, Grand Juror. I JoHiT Baldwin and Joseph Biege, Fence Viewers. '. Nehemiah Allen and Thomas Lee, Listers. . Joseph Harris, Collector. ,, Nathan Mitchell, Leather Sealer. \ At an adjourned meeting held on the 26th of December, it Iwas ordered that the ' ' town stock of powder and lead should be procured by a rate raised upon the Rights." A tax of one hundred and sixty poundfe-^ras laid towards building the meet ing-house : and a subseqUeiM?JKite provided for the raising of forty-three pounds more to be allied to the same object, and for the maintenance of the ministry. Messrs. KUbourn, Stod dard, Hosford and Marsh, were appointed a Committee " to manage the aff'air of building the meeting-honse." The erec tion of a place of public worship appears to have been regarded by the town as the one great work to be accomplished. The votes in reference to it are frequent. One of them, passed AprU 19, 1723, describes the dimensions and style of the edi fice as follows : It shall be " 45 feet in length, 25 feet in breadth and 20 feet betwee'n joints; to be shingled and clapboarded, the lower floor laid, the seats and pulpit made, the waUs sealed up the girts, all the windows made and glazed ; the house weU underpined, with all needful doors ; all said work to be well and sufficiently done, according to the discretion of the com mittee appointed for the work ; all of which work is to be fin ished within the space oi three years ensuing the date hereof."* The location of the buUding is described as " northward of WiUiam Goodrich's, towards Mr. CoUins's house"— or^beut midway betweeu the present Mansion House corner and the Luke Lewis house. In the earliest records, our present North street was caUed * It is not improbable that the edifice was so far completed within the time specified as to be used for public worship ; but as late as Dec. 24, 1731, we find an appropria tion of ^25 " towaxia Jiniehing the meeting-house," and a committee was at the same time appointed to attend to the work. Dec. 27. it was voted " to get a cushion or pillow for the pulpit, to be made with plash, andstufit." 32 HISTORY OP LITCHFIELD. Town street, and was laid out twelve rods wide ; thatnow- caUed South street, was laid out eight rods wide, and was named Town HUl street ; Gallows Lane was twenty-eight rods wide, and was caUed Middle street.; the present East and West streets were twenty rods wide, and caUed Meeting House street the first meeting-house standing in the center ; the street running south from the present residence of Colonel OdeU's, was then called South Griswold street, and was four rods wide ; that running north from Dr. Eliada Osborn's, was caUed North Griswold street, and was eight rods wide ; Prospect street was caUed North street, and was originaUy twenty rods wide, but soon reduced to seventeen. The subject of Highways was also one of special importance, and engrossed much ofthe attention ofthe inhabitants in their Town Meetings. On the 26th of December, 1722, it was voted to lay out a highway from Bantam River to the Chestnut Hill home-lots, " in the range where the foot-path now is," as the record expresses it. On the following day, it was voted " to lay out a highway from John Marsh's home-lot [on Chestnut HUl,] to the south bounds ; and the highway by Mr. CoUins's house, to be continued to the north bounds ; and the highway running east, to be extended to the east bounds ; and west, or south-west, from Thomas Pier's, according tp the best skUl of the Committee ; and the highway running north from Pier's, to be continued to the north bounds." The proprietor of each Right was entitled, as a part of his division of lands, to a Home Lot of fifteen acres in the " town plat" or viUage. The choice of the Home Lots was decided by chance. The first choice feU to Nathaniel WincheU, who selected the lot on the south corner of South-street and Gal lows Lane. John Marsh drew the second choice, and, singu larly enough to us, selected the lot at the southern extremity of the viUage, bordering on Bantam Riyer — on which the dweUing-house of Mrs. Frederick Prescott now stands. Tim othy Seymour drew the third choice, and fixed the location of his lot on the north side of West-street, where Mr. Lyman J. Smith now lives. Numbers four, five and six, (drawn by Messrs. John Bird, Samuel Orton and Samuel Forward,) selec- tTHB HOME-LOTS. 33 , ed lots on the east side of South-street, adjoining each other, yind lying immediately north of the lot of John Marsh on Ban- piam River. The Mansion House corner was selected by Wil- piam Goodrich, who drew number twenty ; Nathaniel Smith '"jdrew the twenty-fifth choice, and selected the OUver Goodwin ?1 Corner ; the thirty-third choice fell to Samuel Lewis, who se- ^ lected. the County House corner, which he soon after transfer- I !red to Joseph Kilbourn, the purchaser of his Right. For his I /irst " twenty acre division," Mr. Kilbourn selected the lot on ihe north corner of North and Prospect streets, now occupied " in part by Dr. Richards' " Elm Park Collegiate Institute." ' ^he north-east corner of North and East streets, together with [^ the lot adjoining on the north, was laid out to the Rev. Mr. 5 Rollins ; the next lot north was for the benefit of Mr. Collins and his successors in the ministry ; adjoining which, stiU fur ther north, was the home-lot laid out on the School Right. The fifty-seventh (or last) choice was drawn by Ezekiel San ford, who chose the lot in South-street now owned and occupied by A. C. Smith, Esq. — one of the most eligible sites in the village. It is probabl>that the work of laying out these Home Lots was commenced in 1720, and that the first settlers, in compli ance with the stipulation contained in their several deeds, erected tenements thereon. In May, 1722, Messrs. Hezekiah Culver and Thomas Lee were appointed to complete the work ; but it would seem that they failed to attend to the business, for, in the foUowing December, Messrs. John Stoddard, John Bird and Jacob Griswold, were appointed on a Committee for the same purpose. More than two-thirds of the Home Lots were located within our present borough limits ; the remainder, far ther west on West street and South Griswold street, and south east on Chestnut Hill. Two or three incidents connected with pioneering in the era of which we are speaking, will form a fitting close to this chapter. " In May, 1722," says Mr. Morris^ " Capt. Jacob Griswold being at work alone in the field about one mUe west of the present Court House, two Indians suddenly rushed upon him 5 34 ' HISTORY OF LITCHFIELD. from the woods, took him, pinioned his arms, and carried him off! They traveled in a northerly direction, and- the same day , , arrived in some part of the township now called Canaan, then '¦ a wilderness. The Indians kindled a fire, and, after binding their prisoner hand and foot, lay down to sleep. Griswold fortunately disengaged his hands and feet, and though his arms were tied, he seized their guns, and made his escape into the woods. After travehng a short distance, he sat down and waited untU the dawn of day. Although his arms were stUl pinioned, he carried both the guns. The savages awoke in the morning, and, finding their prisoner gone, immediately , pursued him. They soon overtook him, and kept in sight of him the greater part of the day, while he was making his way „ homeward. When they came near, he turned and pointed one - of the pieces at them ; they then fell back. In this manner he traveled tUl near sunset, when he reached an eminence in an open field about one mile north-west of the center. He then discharged one of his guns, which immediately summon ed the people to his assistance. The Indians fled, and Gris wold safely returned to his family." —The following interesting narrative from " Travels in New England and New York," by Timothy Dwight, S. T. D., LL. D., President of Yale College, (vol. i. pp. 113—118,) has been often re-published in this country and in Europe. With characteristic caution, he remarks — " This story may be cir cumstantially erroneous ; in substance I believe it to be true." " Not many years after the County of Litchfield began to be settled by the English, a strange Indian came one day into an Inn in the Town of Litchfield, in the dusk ofthe evening, and requested the host ess to fumish him with some drink and supper. At the same time, he observed, that he could pay for neither, as he had had no success in hunting ; but promised payment as soon as he should meet with better fortune. The hostess refused him both the drink and the sup- ' per ; called him a lazy, drunken, good for nothing fellow ; and told him that she did not work so hard, herself, to throw away her earnings upon such creatures as he was. A man who sat by, and observed that the Indian, then turning about to leave so inhospitable a place, showed by his countenance that he was suffering very severely from want and weariness, directed the hostess to supply him what he wish ed, and engaged to pay the bill himself. She did so. 'When the In dian had finished his supper, he turned to his benefactor, thanked him, THE CAPTIYE RESTORED. 35 and assured him that he should remember his kindness, and whenever .) he was able, would faithfully recompense it. For the present, he ob served, he could only reward him with a story ; which, if the hostess ' would give him leave, he wished to tell. The hostess, whose com placency had been recalled by the prospect of payment, consented. The Indian, addressing himself to his benefactor, said — " I suppose you read the Bible." The man assented. " Well," said the"Indian, " the. Bible say, God made the world ; and then he took him and look ed on him, and say, ' It's all very good.' Then he made light ; and took him and looked on him, and say, ' It's all very good.' Then he ' mode dry land and water, and sun and moon, and grass and trees ; and took him and looked on him, and say, ' It's all very good.' Then he made beasts, and birds, and fishes ; and took him and looked on him, and say, ' It's all very good.' Then he made man ; and took him and looked on him, and say, ' It's all very good.' Then he made woman; and took him and looked on him, and he no dare say one such word." The Indian, having told his story, withdrew. Some years after, the man who had befriended him had occasion to go some distance into the wilderness, between Litchfield, then a fron tier settlement, and Albany, where he was taken prisoner by an In dian scout, and carried to Canada. When he arrived at the principal settlement of the tribe, on the southern border of the St. Lawrence, it was proposed by some ofthe captors that he should be put to death. During the consultation, an old Indian woman demanded that he should be given up to her ; that she might adopt hitn in the place^of, a son whom she had lost in the war. He was accordingly given to her, and lived through the succeeding winter in her family, experien cing the customary efi'ects of savage hospitality. The following sum mer, as he was at work in the forest alone, an unknown Indian came up to him, and asked him to meet him at a place wliich he pointed out, on a given day. The prisoner agreed to the proposal, but not with out some apprehensions that mischief was intended him. During the interval, these apprehensions increased to such a degree as to dis suade him efi'ectually from fulfilling his engagement. Soon after, the same Indian found him at his work again, and very gravely reproved him for not performing his promise. The man apologized, awkward ly enough, but in the best manner in his power. The Indian told him that he should be satisfied, if he would meet him at the same place on a future day, which he named. The man promised.to meet him, and fulfilled his promise. When he arrived at the spot, he found the Indian provided with two muskets, ammunition for them, and knapsacks. The Indian ordered him to take one of each, and follow him. The direction of their march was to the south. The man fol lowed, without the least knowledge of what he was to do or whither he was going; but concluded that if the Indian intended him harm, he would have dispatched him at the beginning, and that at the worst he was as safe where he was, as he could be in any other place. Within a short time, therefore, iis fears subsided, although the Indian observ ed a profound and mysterious silence concerning the object of the ex- 36 THE HISTORY OP LITCHFIELD. pedition. In the day time, they shot such game as came in their way, and at night kindled a fire, by which they slept. After a tedious joumey of many days, they came one moraing to the top of an emi nence, presenting a prospect of a cultivated country, in which was a number of houses. The Indian asked his companion whether he knew the place. He replied eagerly that it was Litchfield. His guide then, after reminding him that he had so many years before relieved the wants of a famishing Indian, at an Inn in that town, sub joined, «I that Indian ; now I pay you ; go home." Having said this, he bade him adieu ; and the man joyfully returned to his own house. The Rev. James Hamilton, D. D., F. L. S.', of London, England, author of " The Royal Preacher," and other works, in a Lecture from the text, " Cast thy bread upon the waters," &c., gives the substance of this story, which he commences as foUows: "Dr. Dwight, an American, tells how, when the country near Albany was newly settled, an Indian came to au inn in Litchfield," &c. (See Royal Preacher, pp, 275-7.) Ignorance of our local geography, is of course excusable in a foreigner. The incidents of the narrative certainly afford an apt illustration of the truth of the text. ...In August, 1723, (as near as can now be ascertained,) Mr. Joseph Harris, one of the most respectable citizens of the town, while at work alone in the woods about a mile and a half west of the village, wds attacked by a party of Indians, shot, and scalped. As he did not return home when expected, the alarm was given, and search was immediately made for him, which was continued until the darkness of the night checked. aU further exertions. In the morning, his body was found leaning against the trunk of a tree. Harris was kiUed near the north end of the West Plain, a few rods south or south east of the present residence of Mr. Myron Osborn. He was interred in the West Burying-Ground, where, in 1830, a mon ument was erected to his memory by voluntary contribution.* . These events eff'ectually alarmed the settlers, and led to those measures of self-defense wliich are detaUed with some degree of minuteness in the next chapter. * The date of Harrises death giyen on his monument is 1721. Gibbs and Morris both place tbe event in " August 1722." These dates are of course impossible— as he was choaen CoUector in December of the latter year. CHAPTER in. ALARMS AND MEASURES OF .DEFENSE. Could we go back one hundred and thirty-six years, and, from some elevated stand-point, look down upon Litchfield as it was in tlie beginning of the year 1723, what a contrast to its present appearance would the scene present ! Here and there, like dots on the surface of the landscape, little openings had been made in the primeval forests by the axes of the settlers. Forty or fifty log-cabins were scattered over the site now occu pied by this village and its immediate vicinity. A temporary palisade stood where our Court House now stands, and four others were erected in more remote parts of the town, for the protection of the laborers at the clearings : all soon to give place to stronger and more permanent structures. The howl of the wild beast and the yell of the savage, daily and nightly reminded the people of the dangers by which they were sur rounded. Tbe little hamlet was quite beyond the bounds of CivUization — the nearest white settlements being those at New MUford on the south-west and at Woodbury on the south, both some fifteen miles distant. An almost unbroken wilderness stretched westward to the Dutch settlements on the Hudson, and northward two hundred and fifty mUes to the French viUa- ges in Canada. The Indians, still at war with the Enghsh, prowled on the frontiers like ravenous wolves eager for their prey. Then* yells at the war-dance, an ominous sound, were heard on the distant Mils, and at midnight their signal-fires on Mount Tom lit up the surrounding country with their bale ful gleam. Without mails or newspapers, and with no regular means of communication with their friends in the older towns, they seemed indeed shut out from the world, and dependent 3S HISTORY OF LITCHFIELD. upon their own littie circle for intellectual and social enjoy ment. Is it to be wondered at, that some of the first proprie tors should have fled from scenes so uninviting and hazardous, even at the risk of forfeiting the lands which they had pur chased ? In the autumn of 1722, a war had broken out between the Pro'dnce of Massachusetts and the Eastern Indians, and in a short time its direful influences were felt in Connecticut — some of which have already been adverted to. The savages on our borders, many of whom had previously manifested a peaceable and concUiatory spirit, gave evidence that their pro fessions of friendship were not to be reUed upon. In the spring of 1723, the Committee of War, in Hartford, sent a miUtary corps to keep garrison at Litchfield. At this time, there were about sixty male adults in the town, a large pro portion of whom had families. The following are the names of those who are regarded as "first settlers" — or persons who became residents of the town during the first three years of the settlement : Nehemiah Allen, from Coventry. Joseph Birze, Joseph Bird, Windsor. Farmington. John Bird, " Samuel Beebe, Danbury. John Baldwin, Stratford. Ezekiel Buck, Wethersfield. John Buel, Daniel Calver, Lebanon. K Samuel Culver, U Hezekiah Culver, U Timothy Gollms, Guilford. John Catlin, Hartford. James Church, tt Joseph Gillett, Colchester. Abraham Goodwin. Hartford. Joshua Garritt, it William Goodrich, Wethersfield. Jacob Griswold, . u John Gay, Dedham, Ms. Benjamin Gibbs, Windsor. Jacob Gibbs, a Benjamin Hosford, •( Joseph Harris, Middletown. Joseph Kilbourn, Thomas Lee, John Marsh, Joseph Mason, Nathan Mitchell, Samuel Orton, Edward Phelps, Thomas Pier, Paul Peck, Jr. John Peck, John Stoddard, Eleazer Strong, Supply Strong, Joseph Sanford, Lemuel Sanford, Nathaitlel Smith, John Smith, Samnel Smedley, Thomas Treadway,'* Benjamin Webster, . Josiah Walker, Joseph Waller. Nathaniel Woodruff, Wethersfield- Lebanon. Hartford. (( Stratford.Woodbnry. Windsor. Stratford. Hartford. it Wethersfield. Lebanon. it Stratford, •'-Taunton, Ms. (I Woodbury. >'Lebahon. Hartford. Woodbury. Farmington. Such was the apprehension of danger from the Indians, dur ing this period, that whUe one portion of the men were feUing the forests, plowing, planting or reapmg, others, with, their muskets in hand, were stationed in their .vicinity to " keep guard." In August of this year, (1723,) a meetmg ofthe ERECTING GARRISONS. 39 Householders of Litchfield was held " to consider of and agree upon some certain places to fortify or make Garrisons for the safety, and pseservation of the inhabitants of said town." At this meeting it was resolved that four Forts or Garrisons should be erected in diff'erent sections of the town. The names of the persons designated to build these Forts, are here inserted, as the list is supposed to embrace all the proprietors of the township at that date. " For building the West Fort — Thomas Pier, Jacob Gris wold, Ezekiel Buck, Nathan Mitchell Joseph Birge, Daniel Judson, John Stoddard, Daniel Culver, Timothy Seymour, Hezekiah Culver, Thomas Treadway, Lemuel Sanford, John Baldwin, Samuel Beebe and Joshua Boardman. " For the North Garrison — Thomas Lee, Lieut. John Buel, John Buel, Joseph KUbourn, Joseph Kilbourn, (Jr.,) Nathan iel Smith, William Goodrich, Eleazer Strong, Samuel Root, Samuel Somers, Josiah Walker, Nehemiah Allen and Supply Strong. "For the East Garrison — Nathaniel Hosford, Benjamin Hosford, Paul Peck, Edward Phelps, Samuel Culver, Joshua Garrett, John Caulkins, Joseph Gillett, Joseph Mason, Ben jamin Webster, John Gay and Thomas Griswold. " For the South Garrison — John Marsh, John Peck, Benja min Gibbs, Jacob Gibbs, Samuel Orton, John Bird, Joseph Harris, Abraham Goodwin, Widow Allen, Joseph Bird, Joseph Waller, Nathaniel Woodruff" and Samuel Smedley." On the 1st of April, 172 4, Mr. John Marsh was chosen Agent of the town " to represent their state to the General Assembly concerning the settlement and continuing of their inhabitants in times of war and danger." In May, the subject of the Indian disturbances in this quar ter occupied much of the time and attention of the CouncU of War and of the Legislature. The Indians on the western lands were ordered to repair immediately to their respective • places of residence, and not to go into the woods without Eng- lishmtfi in company with them, " nor to be seen, contrary to this order, anywhere north of the road leading from Hartford to Farmmgton, Waterbury, and so on to New MUford." They 40 HISTORY OP LITCHPIELD. were warned to submit to this order on pain of being looked upon as enemies, and treated accordingly. Two hundred men from Hartford, Wethersfield and Windsor, were directed to hold themselves in readiness to march at the shortest notice ; and sixty more from each of the counties of New Haven, Fair field and New London, with their proper officers, were called for to supply the garrisons at Litchfield and New MUford, when the soldiers then at those posts should be withdrawn. Friend ly Indians were to be employed in scouting with the English, and <£20 each were to be paid for the scalps of the " enemy Indians." An effective scout was to be kept marching in the woods north of Litchfield, between Simsbury, Westfield and Sackett's Farm, [or Sharon.] The thirty-two men, sent on a scout from Litchfield, were directed to be drawn off" in ten days. It was also " Resolved, That orders be forthwith sent to Major Eells, that he impress thirty.two able-bodied men, with a Lieuten ant, and send them to Litchfield to be improved in garrison ing and scouting, as may be thought most advantageous by the said Lieutenant and the commissioned officers in Litch field — and to continue in said service until they shall be releas ed by further orders; and that Major Burr send orders to detail nine effective men, with a Sergeant, to march to New MUford, to be employed in scouting for the protection of the frontier ; and a scout of six men are to be employed at Sims- bury, for the discovery of the enemy in that quarter ; — and all the aforesaid scouts are directed to take dogs with them into the service of scouting ; and that the scout now out from Wind sor, be drawn off" on Tuesday next; and the scout now at Litchfield to draw off" upon the present apppinted scouts arriv ing there." " The summer of 1724," says Mr, Woodruff", " was a period of excitement and alarm. The war between the English and the French was then prevailing, and the latter used great efforts to incite the northern Indians to attack the frontier settiements of the whites." The Hon. Noah A. Phelps, in his Histery of Simsbury, remarks — " The conduct ofthe Indians at the north and west, during this year, and especially their hostile move- MINUTES OF THE COUNCIL OF WAR. • 41 ments in the vicinity of Litchfield, induced the government to take such precautionary measures as the occasion demanded, in order to furnish protection to the weak and exposed settle ments. A line of scouts was established, extending from Litch field to Turkey Hills, curving around the most northerly and westerly settlements in Simsbury. On the 14th of June, 1724, Capt. Richard Case, of Simsbury, was directed to employ ten men on this scouting party, to rendezvous at Litchfield. The men employed in this service were Serg't. Jonathan Holcomb, John Hill, Nathaniel Holcomb, Joseph Mills, William Buell, Samuel Pettibone, Joseph Wilcoxon, Benjamin Humphrey, Nathaniel Westover and Charles Humphrey — all belonging to Simsbury. They continued in the service till October." Among the papers on file in the office of the Secretary of State, is the following memorandum made by Gov. Talcott : " A brief account of the minutes of the Council of War Book, of men sent into the service this summer, from May 24, to October 6, 1724:" After the Assembly rose, ten men were sent to Litchfield, till June 24. June 25 — Four men sent to Litchfield from Hartford. June 30 — Major Burr sent ten men, and Major Eles ten men, tw New Milford and Litchfield. "July 27 — Six men sent from Woodbury to keep garrison at She paug twenty days. July 30 — ^Major Burr sent fifteen men, and Major Eles fifteen men, to New Milford, Shepaug and Litchfield. 'August 18 — Fifteen men were improved in scouts under the com mand of Sergt Joseph Churchill,* at Litchfield and New Milford ; have orders sent to the 5th instant of October to draw ofi" and disband. October, 1724 JOSEPH TALCOTT." The Assembly, at the October Session, voted " that the gar risons of soldiers at New Milford, Shepaug and Litchfield, be forthwith drawn off" and disbanded ; and that Captain Joseph Minor, of Woodbury, give notice thereof to the officers under whose command said soldiers are, that they be drawn off ac cordingly, by sending a copy of this to said officers." *.Sergf. Joseph Churchill, of Wethersfield, presented a Memorial to the General" Assembly, in May, 1726, stating that during the preceding summer he had been em ployed in His Majesty's service . for fifteen weeks at Litchfield, but had received ho pay for Sundays. He therefore asks pay for fifteen Sundays. [Granted by the Low er House ; lost in the Upper House.] ^ 6 42 - HISTORY OF LITCHHELD. By our Town Records it appears that on the 15th of October, 1724, a Memorial to the General Assembly was agreed upon, and ordered to be signed by John Marsh, in the name of the ^ town, and sent to New Haven by the hand of Mr. Timothy Collins, to be delivered to the Court. This Memorial is not on record, but is fortunately preseved among the files m the Secretary's Office in Hartford. It is an impressive and inter esting document, and eloquently detaUs the trials and perUs encoimtered by our fathers, amid these now peaceful scenes. It here appears in print for the first time : " At a Meeting of the Inhabitants of the Town of Litchfield, Oc tober the 15th, 1?24 — "A Memorial ofthe distressed state ofthe Inhabitants ofthe Town ' of Litchfield, which we humbly lay before the Honorable General Assembly now sitting in New Haven : Mat it please your Honors to hear us in a few things. Inasmuch as there was a prospect of the war's moving into these parts the last year, the Governor and^ Council — moved with paternal regards for our safety — ordered Garrisons forthwith to be erected in this town. In obedience thereto, laying aside all other business, we engaged in that work, and built our fortifications without any assistance from abroad, whereby our seed-time in some measure was lost, and conse quently our harvest this year small. The seat of the war in this col ony (in the whole course of the concluding summer,) being in this town, notwithstanding the special care taken of us by the Honorable Committee of War, and the great expense the colony has been at for our security, yet the circumstances of our town remain very difficult in several respects. The danger and charge of laboring abroad is so great, that a considerable part of our improvable lands remote from the town lie unimproved, whereby we are greatly impoverished, so that many of our inhabitants are rendered incapable of paying their taxes which have been granted for the settling and maintaining of our ministry and building a meeting-house, (which we are yet destitute of,) whereby that great work seems to be under a fatal necessity of being neglected. Many of our Inhabitants are drawn off", which renders us very weak and unable to defend ourselves from the common enemy, and the du ties of Watching and Warding are become very heavy. By reason of the late war, our lands are become of little value, so that they who are desirous of seUing, to subsist their families and de fray public charges which necessarUy arise in a new place, are una ble to do it. Your humble petitioners therefore pray this Honorable Court would be pleased to take thought of onr difficult circumstances, and spread the garment of pity over our present distress, which moves us to beg relief in several respects : 1. That our deserting proprietors, who do not personally inhabit, MEMORIALS. 43 may be ordered to settle themselves or others upon their Rights, which will not only be an encouragement to those that tarry, and ren der our burden more tolerable, but prevent much charge to the colony. '2. That our Inhabitants may be under some wages, that they may be capable of subsisting in the town, and not labor under the difficulty of war and famine together. 3. That some addition be made to the price of billeting soldiers, especially for this town, where the provision, at least a greater part of it, hath been fetched near twenty miles for the billeting of soldiers this year 4. That some act be made concerning Fortified Houses, that the people may have free liberty of the use of said Houses as there is occasion. 5. That there may be an explanation of the Act of the Govemor and Council, made the last summer, which obliges every proprietor of ' a home lot to attend the military,by himself or some other person in his room, as the law directs, in case a person hath fifty pounds in the public list; for many of our deserters have put off their home lots and some of their lands, so that many of them have not a whole Right or a home lot in this place, and so escape execution upon that act. As to the Indians hunting in our woods, we submit to your Honors' ordering that affair as in your wisdom you shall think best for us. All of which we humbly recommend to the consideration of this Honorable Assembly, and ourselves your servants desiring Heaven's blessing to rest upon you, and that God Almighty may be with you, to direct in all weighty affairs which are before you, and make you rich blessings in your day and generation, your humble petitioners shall, as in duty bound, ever pray. JOHN MARSH, In the name and by desire of the rest." On this Memorial, a Committee of Conference was appoint- edby the two branches of the Legislature, consisting of Samuel Bells and Matthew Allyn, Esquires, on the part ofthe Upper House, and Capt. John Fitch, Capt. David' Goodrich and Mr. George Clark, on the part of the Lower House. The result of their dehberations was embodied in the following enactment, which passed both Houses at the October Session, 1724 : " Upon the Memorial of the Inhabitants of the Town of Litchfield — Be it Enacted and Ordained, by the Govemor, Assistants and Dep-y uties in General Court assembled, and by authority of the same, That whosoever hath or ought to have been an Inhabitant, and is a Proprietor of Lands within the said Town of Litchfield, or have de serted and left said Town since difficulties have arisen there on the account of an Enemy, and shall neglect, for the space of one month after the rising of this Assembly, to return to the said Town and there abide, or send some man in their room and .stead to perform and do the necessary duties of Watching and Warding, and the like, during 44 HISTORY OF LITCHFIELD. the continuance of the difficulties of the war, shall lose and forfeit all their right and estate in and upon any and all «f the Lands aforesaid, and their estate, right and interest therein, unto the Corporation of Connecticut. And Further, it is Pr(yvided, That if any other man, being now a Proprietor and Inhabitant, or a Proprietor and ought to have been an Inhabitant in said Town, shall hereafter, during the continuance of fear and danger of the enemy, desert and leave the said Town, or neglect to repair thither and there personally abide, without constantly providing some other sufficient person in his room and stead, there to perform all duties as before mentioned in the case of those who have already deserted, shall likewise forfeit th^ir estates in and to all the lands in the Town aforesaid, unto this Corpora tion. And Further, it is Provided, That upon complaint made to the Committee of War, at Hartford, of or against any such deserter, upon their satisfaction of the truth thereof, the said Committee shall declare the forfeiture ;¦ and the said Committee are empowered to admit any other person who shall go and abide there in the room of the deserter and perform the necessary duties as aforesaid, and he shall hereafter receive a grant from this Court of the estate escheated as aforesaid for his confirmation therein. And it is Further Ordered, That five shillings per week shall be allowed for billeting soldiers in Litchfield for the summer last past." On the 18th of January, 1724-'5, a meeting of the inhabi- ants of the town was held, on which occasion it was voted that a Committee should be chosen " to consider of and make application to. the Council of War in behalf of the Town, for what they judge needful for the peace and safety of the Town in this time of trouble and danger." Rev. Timothy Collins, Mr. Nathaniel Hosford, Lieut. John Buel, Ensign Nathaniel Smith, Sergt. John Stoddard, Mr. Joseph Bird and Mr. John - Marsh, were appointed said Committee. At a Town Meeting held on the 10th of May, 1725, " it was voted and agreed, that there shall forthwith be erected one good and substantial Mount, or place convenient for sentinels to stand in for the better discovering of the enemy and for the safety of said sentinels when upon their watch or ward ; that is to say, one Mount at each of the four Forts that were first agreed upon and are already built in said Town, which Mounts shaU be built at the Town's cost, by order and at the discretion of such men as the Town shaU appoint to oversee and carry on the above said work. At the same Meetmg, Voted, That Jo seph Kilbourn, shaUtake the care of building the Mount at tiie North Fort, and Samuel Culver shall take the care of building MEMORIAL. 45 the Mount at the East Fort, and Jacob Griswold at the West Fort, and Joseph Bird at the South Fort." During the Legislative Session then next ensuing, the Com mittee already named presented the following Memorial, viz. : " To the Honorable Governor, Assistants and Representatives, in Gen eral Court convened — The Petition of the Inhabitants of the Town of Litchfield humbly sheweth : That whereas your Petitioners, notwithstanding all that this Honorable Court hath done for us, which we accept with all thank fulness, remain under great trouble by reason of the war, which hath so much hindered us in our husbandy, which hindrance yet remains upon us, and hath already greatly shortened our crops. If the war continues, we shall scarcely be able to raise our bread-corn or support ourselves in this place, without some relief, either by putting our In habitants under some pay from the Government, or by some other way as your Honors in your wisdom shall think best for the whole of the Inhabitants ; and that something be further done concerning our non-residents, by reason of whose absence we are great sufferers ; and that some act be made concerning liberty in garrison-houses ; and that some money be granted for finishing our Garrisons, which we are very unable to do ourselves. All which your humble Petitioners submit to your Honors' great wisdom ; and that you may be made a rich and lasting blessing in your day and generation, your Petitioners shall, as in duty bound, ever pray. Dated at Litchfield the 25th day of May, A. D, 1725. JOHN HARSH, NATHANIEL HOSFORD, TIMOTHY COLLINS, JOHN BUEL, JOSEPH BIRD, The Upper House appointed His Honor the Deputy Gov ernor and Major Wolcott a Committee on the Litchfield Me morial; Major John Burr and Messrs. Seymour and Leete were appointed a simUar Committee on the part of the Lower House. The foUowing Resolutions, which soon after passed both Houses, probably emanated from them : " This Assembly, taking into consideration the difficulties of the Town of Litchfield in thi* time of trouble with the Indians, and that sundry persons claiming Rights in said Town are not resident in the same, have- therefore Resolved : 1. That each person claiming a Right or Rights in said Town, that shall not be constantly residing in said Town, shall pay and forfeit, towards defraying the public charges in defending the same, the sum of £30 per annum for each Right he claims, and so pro rata for any time he shall be absent without allowance from Capt. Marsh, John Committee or Agents Town of Litchfield." 46 HISTORY OP LITCHFIELD. Buel and Nathaniel Hosford, or any two of them ; and by the same rule of proportion for part Rights. And if any such claimer shall neglect payment of the said forfeiture at the time and to the Commit tee hereafter appointed in this Act, the said Committee are hereby fully empowered to sell so much of the Lands in Litchfield claimed by such non-resident person, as wiU answer the sum so forfeited ; and all sales and alienations made of such Lands by the Committee, shaD be good for the holding the same to the grantees and their heirs forever. And this Assembly appoint Major Roger Wolcott, Capt. Nathaniel Stanley, Esq., and Mr. Thomas Seymour, a Committee to take account of all forfeitures that shall arise by force of this act, and upon the non payment of the same, to make sale of the Lands as aforesaid. And it is Further Ordered, That all such forfeitures shall be paid to the said Committee at the State House in Hartford, on the first Monday in June, which will be in the year 1726 ; and the said Com mittee are to deliver all such sum or sums as they shall receive by force of this act, unto the Treasurer of this Colony, taking his receipt for the same — the said Committee to make their accounts with the Assembly in October, provided nevertheless that the Right of Joseph Harris is saved from any forfeiture by force of this act. And it is further provided, that if any such claimer shall keep an able-bodied soldier in said Litchfield, who shall attend duty as the Inhabitants do, such claimer shall be excused for his non-residence during such time. 2. And it is Further Enacted, That all houses that are fortified in said Town, shall be free for the use of the people and soldiers in the garrison. 3. That the Inhabitants of said Town shall be allowed five shill ings and six pence per week for billeting soldiers. 4. That Mounts shall be built in the Forts that are already made in said Town, at the public cost ofthe Colony ; and Capt. Marsh, John Buel and Nathaniel Hosford, or any two of them, are appointed to build the same, keeping fair accounts of their doings herein, aud lay the same before the Committee for the War, who are directed to give orders to the Treasurer to pay what shall be justly due to th^m for their services. 5. That all able-bodied young men that are dwellers in said Town and are eighteen years old and upwards, and have no rig^t to any Lands in said Town, and shall constantly reside therein until October next, and do duty with the Inhabitants, shall be allowed three shillings per week out of the Public Treasury, until October next; unless the Committee for the War in Hartford shall order to the contrary for part of said time. , 6. That every able-bodied man that is fit for service to the accep tance of the commissioned officers, that hath a Right in said Town, and shall constantly reside therein and do his duty according to the command of the captain until October next, shall be allowed out of the Treasury eighteen pence per week, unless the Committee for the War shall order to the contrary for part of the time." In consequence of the provision ofthe 4th Resolution, it was THE INDIAN WAR CONTINUES. 47 " Voted, That the persons appointed by the Town to take the care of building the Mounts at the Forts, shall proceed no farther by virtue of their orders from the Town, that so the Mounts may be built at the charge of the Colony." At the same Legislative Session, Messrs. Nathaniel Wat son, of Windsor, and Matthew Woodruff", of Farmington,-^ch presented a petition for a bounty for having shot an Indian during the preceding summer, while in the King's service at Litchfield. The statements of Messrs. Samuel Beebe, Shubael Griswold and Joseph Pinney, on the subject, are on file in Hartford. The following is from Mr. Beebe : " Samuel Beebe, of lawful age, testifieth and saith — That he heard Matthew Woodruff say that he thought he had not struck the Indian that he shot at, but thought he had overshot him. The next morning we went out to the place where we had the fight, and then said Wat son went to the place where he stood when he shot at the Indian, and then directed a man to the spot where the Indian stood that he shot at, and there was the blood found very plentiful ; and those that were there, followed the blood to the place where we did think the said In dian did die, and further. The Indian that said Watson shot at, was about six or seven rods from the place where the Indian stood that Woodraffshotat. SAMUEL BEEBE. Litchfield, May the 24, 1725." Tlie annexed Petition is also copied from the colonial files : " To the Honorable Joseph Talcott, Governor of His Majesty's Colony of Connecticut — Whereas, When your humble Petitioners were impressed to come up to Litchfield to keep garrison, we were encour aged by our officers to come, because it was but for a little while we should be continued here, just till the Inhabitants could get their seed infb the ground. That business being over, and our necessity to be at home being very great, we humbly pray your Honor to dismiss or ex change us by the beginning of June ; whereby your Honor will great ly oblige your Humble Petioners. JOSEPH ROSE, Litchfield, May 23, 1725. In behalf of the rest." During the summer of 1725, the war with the Eastern Indians still continued, though it does not appear that the people of Litchfield suffered in consequence, except by being kept in a state of suspense and anxiety. At the October session of the Legislature, it was voted that " forasmuch as the continuance of the unhappy war between Massachusetts and the Eastern Indians is hkely to endanger our frontiers, and the county of Hampshire, this Assembly empowers the Governor and the Committee of War at Hartford, to impress and send forth such forces as they shaU thmk needful to defend our own frontiers ; 48 HISTORY OF LITCHFIELD. and in case of a threatened attack upon Hampshire county, a force may be sent to aid them, but they are not compelled to keep garrison there." • It is not until a year later, (October, 1726,) that the records give indication that any immediate danger was apprehended by the people of this town. At this date, " upon news that the Indian enemy were coming down upon our frontiers," it was resolved " that there be fortliwith thirty effective men raised in the towns of New Haven and WaUingford, to march to Litch field, to be under the direction and command of Capt. John Marsh, of Litchfield, for the defense of said town — twenty of whom shall be raised in New Haven, and ten in WaUingford ; and thata Sergeant march with them directiy from each of said towns ; and that the Major of the county make out his orders to the Captain in said town accordingly." Twenty effective men were at the same time ordered imme diately to be raised in Milford, and marched to New Milford, to be under the command of Capt. Stephen Nobles, for the de fense of that town. [ Captains John Marsh and Stephen Nobles were directed at once to " send forth small scouts, to call, and, in the name of the Assembly, to command, all the friendly Indians to retire to their respective towns or places where they belong, and not to be seen in the woods except with Englishmen." The friend, ly Indians were to be employed for the defense ofthe frontiers- and for scouting — and were to be paid eighteen pence per day TfrhUe engaged in the-latter service, and twelve pence per day for warding and keeping garrison in towns. Five men were directed to be sent from Woodbury for the defense of Shepaug until the danger should be over. Captains Minor and Preston were directed to order their Lieutenants to see to it that the men were forthwith sent. These men were placed under the command of Lieut. Ephraim Warner. Though Litchfield had been nominaUy incorporated, " with all the powers and privUeges ofthe other towns in this colony," in 1719, she was yet without a Patent, or Town Charter. It appears to have been regarded by the settlers as a matter of importance as well as of etiquette, that the town should be APPLICATION FOR A PATENT. 49 more fully recognized and protected, by letters patent under the great colonial seal. Accordingly, in May, 1723, John Marsh was appointed by his feUow-townsmen an Agent to apply to the General Assembly for this purpose — who presented to that body the following Petition : "To the Honorable Governor, Council and Representatives, in Gen- eral Court assembled at Hartford, May 9th, A. D. 1723. The Pe tition of John Marsh, Agent for the Town of Litchfield, humbly sheweth : That this Honorable Assembly did give and grant to the Inhabi tants of said town of Litchfield, all that land lying north of the town of Waterbury, and to begin at Waterbury north-west corner, and from thence to run in a west line to Shepaug river and to bound east on Waterbury river, and west by said Shepaug, and to run north seven miles and a half; as more at large by the record of said grant may appear. That the Inhabitants of said Litchfield, for great and valuable con siderations, have made a purchase of the said Lands of the towns of Hartford and Windsor, who had a claim thereto by virtue of a grant anciently made by this Assembly to them. That the Inhabitants aforesaid have, through many fatigues, perils and dangers, removed themselves and families thither, and undergone the great hardships of settling a new town ; the which your Honors will ea.sily conceive to be attended with, since it is so remote a settle ment and a frontier to the government. So that if the blessing of Heaven shall rest upon them, as it hath hitherto seemed to smile upon the undertaking, there is a prospect that they in a short time may be come numerous, and succeed in some measure proportionable to the views they first had therein. _ _That the Inhabitants, excited by an observation made on the unhap- "py disputes that have oft arisen in towns by a long delay of settling and ascertaining their bounds, and determining the property of the Lands within, and being desirous in time to secure themselves from such uncomfortable and almost undoing disputes, have procured their lines to be run and necessary monuments to be made therein, on the north and south of said Litchfield, the procuring whereof (our present low circumstances considered, we being in our infancy,) must needs be very burthensome. The said Inhabitants, by their Agent aforesaid, do therefore humbly pray this Honorable Assembly to give them a more particular grant of the said town, and confirmation thereof, by a Patent under the seal of the Government, in due form, and your Honors' humble petitioners shall, as in duty bound, ever pray. JOHN MARSH." No sooner was this appUcation known, than Woodbury sent in a remonstrance, particularly objecting to the southern bounds of Litchfield, as claimed by her. A Patent, however, 7 50 HISTORY OF LITCHFIELD. was drawn up in due form, bearing date, May 19, 1724. For some cause, (probably on account of the continued remon strances of Woodbury,) the instrnment was not officially grant ed to the parties applying therefor, untU several years subse quent to its date. In May, 1731,"Messrs. John Bird and Ben jamin Hosford, " Agents for the Proprietors of the Town of Litchfield," presented a Memorial. to the Legislature, stating that they are yet without a Patent, and praying that " the difficulty and contention and impoverishing lawsuits, because of an unsettled Une, may be prevented by a Patent according to our purchase and grant," 'as is therein expressed. The Legislature, in response, gave directions that the proprietors of Woodbury should be notified ofthe application, and warned to appear before the Assembly, aud show cause, if any they had, why the memorial should not be granted. As nothing further is found relating to the matter, it is presumed that the petition was this time successful. A copy of the Patent is here given, viz. : "The Govemor and Company ofthe English Colony of Connecticut in New England, to all to whom these Presents shall come, Ghbeting : KNOW YE, That the said Governor and Company, by virtue of the power granted unto them by our late sovereign. King Charles the Second, of blessed memory, in and by His Majesty's Patent, under the great seal of England, dated the twenty-third day of April, in the four teenth year of His Majesty's reign, and in pursuance thereof and in Generjd Court assembled, according to charter, did, by their act, i&ad:&< May fourteenth, Anno Domini, 1719, upon the humble petition of Lieut. John Marsh, of Hartford, within the said Colony, and Dea. John Buell, of Lebanon, grant unto the said John Marsh and John Buell, and partners, settlers, being in the whole fifty-seven in number, liberty to settle a town westward of Farmington, in the county of Hartford, at a place called Bantam, which town was to be in length east and west, eight miles, three quarters, and twenty-eight rods, Jind in breadth, seven mUes and an half — to be bounded east on Mattatuck river, west part on Shepaug river and part on the wilderness, north by the wilderness, and south by Waterbury bounds and a west line from Waterbury comer to the said Shepaug river. And Ordered, that the said town should be called by the name of Litchfied, as more fully appears by the said act. The said Governor and Company, byvirtue of the aforesaid power, and by their special act bearing even date with these presents, for divers good causes and considerations them hereunto moving, have given, granted, and by these presents, for themselves, their heirs and successors, do fully, clearly and abso- THE PATENT. 51 Ititely give, grant, ratify and confirm, unto the said John Marsh and John Buell, and the rest of the said partners, settlers of said tract of land [in their actual, full and peaceable possession and seizin being] and to their heirs and assigns, and such as shall legally succeed and represent them, forever, [in such proportions as they, the said partners and settlers, or any of them, respectively, have right in and are law fully possessed of the same,] all the said tract of Iscnd now called and known by the name of Litchfield, in the county of Hartford aforesaid, be the same more or less, butted and bounded as followeth, viz : Be ginning at the north east corner, at a tree with stones about it, standing in the crotch of Mattatuck river aforesaid, and running southerly by the side of said river until it meets with Waterbury bounds, where is a well known white oak tree standing about fifteen rods west of said Mattatuck river, anciently marked with IS : IN : From thence run ning west twenty three degrees thirty minutes south, to two, white oak trees growing out of one root, with stones about them, and west one mile and a h^lf to Wr.;erbury north west comer bound mark ; and from thence west flve degrees thirty minutes north to Shepaug river, where is a tree and stones about it butting upon Waterbury township ; then beginning at the first mentioned tree by Mattatuck river and run ning westward into the wilderness, to an oak tree marked and stones laid around it ; then south to a crotch in the Shepaug river ; and thence by the westermost branch of Shepaug river to Woodbury bounds. And also all and singular, the lands, trees, woods, underwoods, wood- grounds, uplands, arable lands, meadows, moors, marshes, pastures, ponds, waters, rivers, brooks, fishings, fowlings, huntings, mines, min erals, quarries, and precious stones, upon and within the said land. And all other rights, members, hereditaments, easements and com modities whatsoever,to the same belonging or in any wise appertaining, so butted and bounded as is herein before particularly expressed or mentioned, and the reversion or the reversions, remainder or remain- ders,-jights, royalties, privileges, powers or jurisdictions whatsoever, of and in all and singular the said tract of land and premises hereby granted, and of and in any and every part and parcel thereof. And the rents, services and profits to the same incident, belonging or apper taining — To Have and to Hold all the said tract of land, and all and singular other the premises hereby given or granted, or mentioned, or intended to be granted, with aU the privileges and appurtenances thereof^ unto the said John Marsh and John Buell, and the rest ofthe partners, settlers of the same, their heirs and assigns, to their only proper use, benefit and behoof, forever ; and to and for no other use, intent or purpose whatsoever. And the said Governor and Company, for themselves and their successors, have given and granted, and by these presents do give and grant, unto the said John Marsh and John Buell, and the rest of the partners, settlers of the tract of land herein before granted, their heirs and assigns; the said tract of land so butted and bounded as aforesaid, shall from time to time and at all times foi^ ever hereafter, be deemed, reputed, denominated, and be an entire town of itself, and shall be called and known by the name of Litchfield, 52 HISTORY OF UTCHFIELD. in the county of Hartford, and that the aforesaid partners, settlers and inhabitants thereof, shall and lawfully may from time to time and at all times, forever hereafter have, use, exercise and enjoy all such rights, powers, privileges, immunities and franchises, in and among them selves, as are given, granted, allowed, used, exercised and enjoyed, to, by, and amongst the proper inhabitants of other towns in this Colony, according to common approved custom and observance ; and that the said tract of land and premises hereby granted as aforesaid, and ap purtenances, shall remain, continue and be unto the said John Marsh and John Buell, and the rest of the partners, settlers, their heirs and assigns, in proportion aforesaid forever, a good, peaceable, pure, per fect, absolute and indefeasible estate of inheritance in fee simple, to be holden of His Majesty, his heirs and successors, as of His Majesty's Manor of East Greenwich in the County of Kent, in the Kingdom of England, in free and common soccage, and not in capite, nor by Knight's service — Yielding therefor, and paying unto onr Sovereign Lord, King George, his heirs and successors forever, one fifth part of all ore of gold and silver which, from time to time and at all times forever hereafter, shall be there gotten, had or obtained, in lieu of all services, duties and demands whatsoever. In witness wheeeof. The said Governor and Company have caused the Seal of the said Colony to be hereunto affixed. Bated at Hartford, May the \^th day, Anno regni regis Decimo. Georgii Mag'ts Britfee, Fran'ce, Hyhem'tB, Annogue Domini, ~ _ One Thousand Seven Hundred and Twenty-Four^ 1724. G. SALTONSTALL, Govemor. By order of the Govemor and ) Company in General Court >- assembled. ) Hez. Wtllis, iSecretary." [seal.] CHAPTER TV. MISCELLANEOUS EVENTS. The preceding Memorials and Resolves so vividly'portray the hardships and dangers here experienced by our ancestors, in their efforts to subdue the wilderness and render it a fitting abode for civilized men, that any extended comments would be quite superfluous. Indeed, little can be known of their histo ry during the period of which we have written, except what is gleaned from these plaintive yet manly expositions of their cir cumstances and feelings. It is difficult for ms — surrounded as we are with the blessings of Peace snd Plenty — to realize that our predecessprs amid these very scenes, were thus exposed to the combined evils of war ahd famine — ^bringing their food through the woods a distance of twenty miles ; tilling their fields only when protected by an armed guard; men, women and children, from time to time flying in alarm to the garrison^ for safety ; and the whole adult male population of the town - coiqnelled, in turn, to keep public watch and ward through a succMsion of years ; at the same time, clearing off" the forests, hunting wild beasts, and fighting the common enemy ! Is it not a nftitter of surprise as well as of gratitude, that during the entire continuance of the war on our frontiers, but one inhab itant of Luchfield feU a victim to savage violence ? The reader will have noted the interesting fact, that Roger Wolcott (afterwards Governor) was, even at this early period, actively engaged in devising measures for the protection and defense of this town — ^little imagining, probably, that here his descendants were destined to find .homes so cherished, and to act so distinguished a part, during the succeeding century. In a preceding. chapter we have seen that the territory now embraced within the limits of this township, was covered by 54 HISTORY OP LITCHPIELD. the Charter granted by Charies II. of England, in 1662, to the Governor and Company of the Colony ,of Connecticut ; that in 1687, the colonial government conveyed it to the towns of Hartford -and Windsor ; that in 1716, committees appointed by these towns, purchased of the Indians all their right and inter est therein ; that in 1719, committees of these towns sold and conveyed • these lands to John Marsh, John Buel, and their associates, in fee, for what was considered a fair equivolent. These latter gentlemen became the first individual owners of the specific tracts which were from time to time surveyed and laid out to them. It would seem that for some years after the settlement of the township, Hartford and Windsor continued to exercise a kind of guardianship over the affairs of Litchfield. Thus, in Feb ruary, 1722-'3, Messrs. Hosford and Buel were appointed to treat with the committees of these towns concerning the non- , resident proprietors of Litchfield. At a town meeting held on the Ist of AprU, 1724, it was " voted that the committees of Hartford and Windsor choose inhabitants ;" and in case these committees should select for residents any whom the authorities of this town should regard as " not wholesome," it was provided that the character ofthe new-comers should be judged by indifferent men, and if by them declared to be good inhabitants, then the cost was to be paid by Litchfield — other wise, the cost was to be paid by the committees referred te^^- Even during the prevalence of the Indian wars, th^gh "\much of their time was necessarily engrossed in providing for MB^means of subsistence and defense, our fathers w<^e not uninih4ful of the ordinary duties pertaining to them £r pubUc- spirited citizens. * Divers matters of a miscellaneous character came up for consideration in their town meetings, some of which wUl be noted in this chapter. The lowlands, south-west of the viUage — ^bordering upon Bantam River, the Little Pond, and Bantam Lake — ^are known on our early records as " Bantam Swamp, or the Flooded Lands." They cover about six hundred acres ; and, having been nearly free from timber and brush at the tune ofthe first settlement, they were regarded as very valuable on account of -~ BANTAM SWAMP. 65 the grass. In the original allotment of lands to the first pro prietors, each Right entitled the owner to four acres of meadow in this swamp. After all had thus received equal shares, a subsequent division of the balance was made. As early as April 5, 1725, Lieut. John Buel and Nathaniel Hosford were " appointed to state the bounds of the Flooded Lands, in order to laying out4he same ; and if said Hosford and Buel cannot agree, then Joseph KUbourn to be the third man to help in said work." At the same meeting, it was voted " that the clerk record no land laid out upon the Little Plain, until the difference concerning the same be issued." In order to understand the purport of the last record, it should be stated that a controversy had sprung up between Joseph Bird and Nathaniel Hosford, on one side, and the remaining proprietors on the other side — as to whether the " Little Plain" was a part qf Bantam Swamp and ought to be laid out as such. The dis pute waxed warm ; and it was at last determined to appoint two arbitrators from out of town, who should have power to select a third. The gentlemen agreed upon by the contending --parties, were, Capt. Joseph Hawley and Mr. Samuel Root, both of Farmington, who made choice of Ensign Nathaniel Wads- worth, also of Farmington, to assist them in the arbitration. They made the foUowing Report — • " We, the subscribers, having heard the pleas of both parties, and considered them with the records, concerning the land in controversy, are of opinion and do give it as our judgment, that the land called the Little Plain is no part of Bantam Swamp, nor ought to be laid out in lieu thereof ; and that it is free to be laid out to make up the addi tion to the ten acre lots. The charge of the arbitration is seventeen shillings ; and we order that Lieut. Buel and John Bird pay the said charge — to C^pt< Haw ley seven shillings, to Ensign Wadswortt four sbillings,^nd to Samuel Root six shillings. JOSEPH HAWLEY, NATH'L WADSWORTH. Farmington, Feb. 25, 1725-'6. SAMUEL ROOT." At a town meeting held, Dec. 21, 1725, (Mr. John Buel, Moderator,) Messrs. Jacob Griswold, Benjamin Webster and John Marsh, were appointed a committee to survey Bantam Swamp. In November, 1726, a tax of ten shiUinga on each Right was laid, to be expended by a committee in " lowering 56* HISTORY OP LITCHPIELD. the natural ponds for the draining of the swamp ;" and Messrs. John Buel, James Church and Joseph Bird, were appointed said committee. The object intended, however, appears not to have been accomphshed ; for in March, 1731, and again in January, 1732, it was voted to make application to the Governor and Council for the same purpose. On the 30th of April, 1733, a vote was passed " to offer unto the Governor and Council Capt. Joseph Minor and Capt. WiUiam Preston, of Woodbury and Dea. Nathaniel Baldwin, of Litchfield, as a committee for the proprietors of Bantam Swamp, in order to commissionate them to drain said Swamp," &c. Many years afterwards, by blasting away the rocks and erecting> a dam on the outlet of Bantam Lake, the swamp was partially drained ; but even now, during freshets or long rains, they are frequently overflowed. As was the case with the settlers of the New England towns generally, the founders of Litchfield regarded the subject of education as a matter of primary importance. As stated else where, one sixtieth part of the township (about seven hundred acres,) was originally set apart for the support of schools. In December, 1725, eight pounds were appropriated from the town" treasury " for hiring school-masters and school-dames" to in struct the children in reading and writing for the year next ensuing ; and a like sum was ordered to be raised by a tax upon the parents or guardians of the children, to be gathered by the town collector. Messrs. Marsh, Buel, Hosford and Goodrich, were chosen a school committee. Two years later ten pounds were paid out of the public treasury for the same object, with the proviso that four pounds of this sum shoiUd be given for the siipport of 5 writing school, and the balance " for teaching of chUdren by school dames" — from which we are to infer that the female teachers did not give instruction in wri ting. The first reference made by the records relative to building a school house, is contained in the doings of a town meeting held Dec. 23,1731 — (Mr. Joseph KUbourn, Moderator) —which is as follows : " Voted to buUd a school house in ye center of ye town, on ye Meeting-House Green ; and Joseph KUbourn, Jr., Ebenezer Marsh and John Gay, were chosen a committee to carry on said work." At the same time it was SCHOOL LANDS. 5^ voted to build the school house twenty feet square. The school committee were authorized to hire a school-master and set up a' school during the succeeding fall and winter. Messrs. Jacob Griswold and Benjamin Gibbs were appointed in December, 1727, to run the lines and set up monuments " between the School Lots and Pine Island." The question as to how the School Lands should be disposed of to the best advantage, appears to have been very difficult to settle. On the 12lhvof March, 1729, it was voted to seU them for one thousand pounds ; and Messrs. Marsh and Bird were designated to manage the sale. Some one, doubtless, caUed in question the right of the town to make such a sale ; as, a week later, the inhabitants, in general town meeting convened, ap pointed Mr. Marsh their Agent to apply to the General Assem bly " for liberty to make sale of the school lands in witchfield." The application was unsuccessful ; but the people soon found a way to evade the letter of the law. On the 29th of Novem ber, 1729, it was " voted that the School Right in Litchfield. should be leased out for the maintenance of a school in said Litchfield for nine hundred and ninety-nine years ensuing." Messrs. Marsh, Buel, Hosford and Bird, were appointed a com mittee to lease the lands accordingly. As if apprehensive that even this lease might ultimately expire and thus give their descendants unnecessary trouble, with a far-reaching glance into futurity, they proceeded to bind their successors " in ye recognisance of ten thousand pounds lawful money, to give a *neiD lease of said Right at the end of said term of nine hun dred and ninety-nine years, if there shall be occasion" .' In pursuance of these votes, the committee appointed for that purpose, on the 15th of April, 1730, leased to sundry in dividuals the School Right for the time designated ; the grantee paying twenty-seven pounds annually for eight years, for the support of the School; and the ninth year, paying to the selectmen four hundred and fifty pounds, to be forever kept for . the support of a School in Litchfield. * To the lease was an nexed the following "Postscript. — Before signing and sealing^ the abbve-men- tioiied signers and sealers agreed, that whoever" J)cctipies and 8 58 HISTORY OP LITCHFIELD. improves aU the above land or lands, or any part of them, shall pay aU rates or taxes that shall arise upon them or any part of them, during the whole term of the lease." In the year 1767, it was " voted to divide the money for which the School Right was sold, between the old Society, the South Farms Society, and the Church of England, in proportion to the list of each part." The subject of " seating the meeting-house," often came up for action in town meeting, and produced not a little commo tion. In some of the old towns whence the Litchfield settlers came, the foUowing order was observed in this matter, viz. : 1. Long pubhc service. 2. Dignity of descent. 3. Rank in the Grand List. 4. Age. 5. Piety, &c. This order was in good degree discarded by our early Litchfield ancestors. Va rious methods were tried by them, but generally without any very satisfactory result. In December, 1735, the town appoint ed as a committee for this work, the following persons, viz., Sergt. Culver, Joseph Kilbourn, Jr., Ebenezer Marsh, John Gay and Supply Strong. At the same time this committee were thus instructed to act, to wit : " Every man's list for four years past shaU be added together, and every man's age be reckoned at twenty shiUings per year, to be added to his list ; and for them that have not four lists, they shall be seated by the last list, or according to the discretion of the committee." The committee proceeded according to these instructions, but the result did not suit. Their doings were ordered to t)e^ set aside ; a new committee was appointed, with no other in structions than to act in accordance with their best judgment in the premises. Their action, for a wonder, was silently ac quiesced in on this occasion. r In December, 1726, it was ordered that the people should be notified of the occurrence of each Town Meeting, " by a note set up on the sign-post and on the grist-mill door, seven days before the meeting ; and said note shaU specify the time and place and aff"airs of the meeting ; and the Grand Meeting shall be on the 2d Tuesday in December annually." At a later date, notices of town meetings were directed to be " posted on aU the grist-mill doors, and on the school-house door in South Farms." MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS. 59 In May, 1728, it was voted to petition the General Assembly for a tax upon all the undivided land in the town not already put in the list, of five shillings per hundred acres, each year for the space of four years. The prayer of the petitioners was read ily granted, and in the following December, Messrs. Marsh and Buel were appointed to lay the tax " according to the grant made by the Assembly." Our boundary lines have not unfrequently called for the action of the town. Naugatuck river on the east, and the Shepaug (in part) on the west, are " natural^ boundaries " which could not easily be mistaken. The north and south bounds, however, were for a long time not very clearly defined. In the words of the Patent, the town was bounded " north by the wilderness," and south by Woodbury and Waterbury, with no other visible bounds than marked trees and heaps of stones. In the Patent previously granted to Woodbury, that town is described as being " bounded north by the commons." It is fair to presume, that when the trees and stone-heaps disap peared, some doubts might arise as to the precise locality of the lines described. It appears by the public records that as early as 1727, the accounts of Messrs. Joseph Bird, James Kilbourn and John Bird were adjusted " for meeting the Woodbury men, in order to perambulate." A year later, Messrs. Nathaniel Hosford and John Bird were chosen agents " to act in the controversy "between Litchfield and Woodbury." In 1731, the gentlemen last named were re-appointed on a committee for a like pur pose — or, as the record has it, " to enquire and make search what light can be'hadconcerning.Wr line against Woodbury." Subsequently, during the same year, it was voted in town meeting to " take some method to settle our south-west bounds according to our Grand Deed and Grant." At the same meet ing, Messrs. Hosford and Bird were chosen " to carry on said affair, and trying to agree, and to agree, with Woodbury ; and if they don't agree with them, to go to the General Court next, and endeavor to get a Patent according to our Deed and Grant." A tax of three shillings was laid on each undivided Right, to defray the expenses. Some eleven years after, (in 60 HISTORY OF LITCHFIELD. May, 1742,) the records inform us that this tax of three shiU ings on a Right had proved insufficient for the purpose intended* and a further tax of one shilhug and six-pence on each Right .i(Ae» undivided, was laid for the furtherance ofthe same object. How the controversy with Woodbury was finally settled, does not appear. The only alteration of any consequence, ever made in our limits as originally defined, was in this south-west cor ner of the town. Litchfield, at this point, formerly ran down some distance below the junction of the Bantam with the She paug, embracing the beautiful vaUey south of Mount Tom, then and still known as " Davies' Hollow." Upon the incorpora. tion ofthe town of WasMngton, in 1779, (which had previously been a part of Ancient Woodbury,) the Litchfield line was so altered as to run across the top of Mount Tom, thus ceding Davies' HoUow, aud the lands adjacent, to Washington. Litchfield, in town meeting assembled, at first resolved to op pose this summary method of robbing her of a portion of her original domain, and appointed the Hon. Andrew Adams an Agent to appear before the General Assembly in her behalf. It was subsequently voted not to oppose the project ; and, in stead. Colonel Adams was appointed to present a Petition to the Legislature that the town of Washington be cited to " reg- tdate the line of the town." The line was soon after amicably agreed upon, and has not since been a subject of contention. In December, 1.753, Capt. Stoddard and Supply Strong were apppinted a committee to "measure from the crotchof the- Shepaug river to the north-west corner of the town, with Mr. Jloger Sherman, County Surveyor." There seems also to have been some uncertainty and dispute respecting our northern boundary, though the matter never assumed a serious aspect. At a town meeting in February, 1745-'6, Messrs. John Buel, Joseph Bird and Supply Strong, were appointed a committee " to settle the line between Litch field and Goshen and Torrington." In May, 1754, Messrs. Ebenezer Marsh and Benjamin Webster "were appointed Agents to represent the town with respect to the north line, before the General Assembly at Hartford ;" and in February, 1755, Captun Moses Stoddard and Messrs. Supply Strong and WILD BEASTS. 61 Jonathan Kilbourn, were appointed " to go with the Surveyor of the County to the North Line of Litchfield." - The colonial files contain a statement in the hand-writing of .the famous Roger Sherman, and bearing his signature, giving ja nainute account of the running of the north line of Litchfield, by him, as County Surveyor, in 1754; also several affidavits on the same subject from Edward Phelps, Moses Stoddard, Jonathan Kilbourn, Supply Strong, Ebenezer Buel, ThomaS Cathn, John Bird, and others.- As the bounds, however, were subsequently fully established in accordance with the claims of this town, and have not been a matter of controversy for the last eighty years, the publication of the evidence adduced can answer no good purpose. The boundaries of South Farms were established and defined in 1767 ; those of Northfield in 1794 ; 'and those of MUton in 1795 — at the time of the organization of these parishes. It is an interesting fact, and one not generaUy known, that the town of Goshen was organized at the house of Dea. John Buel in West-street, in this village, which stood on the site now owned and occupied by Mr. Thomas Leverett Saltonstall. On the 27th of September, 1738, the proprietors of Goshen (orL ginally caUed New Bantam,^ met at the place designated, and elected Dea. Buel Moderator, and Capt. Joseph Bird, Clerk. They then adjourned to meet at the same place at 8 o'clock the next morning, when, the organization of the town "was completed. Dating from this day, the centennial anniver sary of Goshen was celebrated on the 28th of September, 1838 -r-on which occasion an interesting historical discourse was de livered by the Rev. Grant Power^ Several of the original proprietors of Goshen were residents of Litchfield. *' Mr. Morris remarks — " Many years after the settlement of this town, deer, bears, and wUd-turkeys, were numerous. Deer and bears were taken by himters between the years 1760 and 1770, and turkeys at a later period. Wild-cats occasion ally visit us, and destroy sheep and lambs. A small tract near the north-east part of the town, is rough and ledgy, and affords them a refuge from liunters and their dogs. Considerable mischief was done by them in the winter of 1811-r'12." 62 HISTORY OF LITCHPIELD. Mr. Gibbs, the historian ofthe Administrations of Washing ton and Adams, (vol. i. p. 9,) writmg of the boyhood of the younger Wolcott, (1765-'78,) draws the foUowing picture of this town as it was seventy and eighty years ago : — " At a pe riod much later than this, Litchfield was on the outskirts of New England civilization, and presented a very diflferent aspect from its now venerable quiet. The pickets which guarded its first dwellings -were not yet decayed. The Indian yet wandered through its broad streets, and hunters as wUd as our present borderers, chased the deer and the panther on the shores of the lake. The manners of its inhabitants were as simple and prim itive as tiiose of their fathers a century back, in the older set tlements on the Connecticut. Traveling was entirely on horseback, except in winter, and but a casual intercourse was carried on with the distant towns. Occasionally, and more frequently as they became more interesting, tidings reached them from Boston, and even from the old world." There are persons yet living, who remember when bears and wolves were hunted in " Blue Swamp," and deer and wild- turkeys were frequently seen within two miles of the Court House ;* when Indians, in companies of twenty or thirty, were accustomed to make their annual visits to this town, encamp ing on Pine Island or along the lake-shore — the men employ ing themselves in hunting and fishing, while the squaws made and peddled baskets and brooms. Foxes, minks, muskrats, rabbits, woodchucks and raccoons, are now frequently trapped' within the limits of this township. Snipes, quaUs, partridges and wUd-ducks, frequent our woods or lakes ; while our waters abound in trout, suckers, eels, perch, roach, and pike or pick. erel. The pickerel, however, is not a native. In April, 1779, the town voted, " on request of Capt. John Marsh, that he might have the exclusive Pickerel Fishing in the Loon [or Cranberry] Pond, for the space of twenty years, provided he shall at his own expense procure Pickerel to breed and propa- *Capt. Salmon Buel, (now in his 92d year,) has seen wfld deer in the swamp between his present residence and the viUage. Mr. Amos Benton informs we that in 1774 (he then being a small child,) a bear passed but a few rods from him, while he was playing by the brook near his present residence. The alarm was given, and his father snd some of the neighbors started in pursuit— but did not succeed in killing him. THE BANTAM INDIANS. 63 J gate therein, in a reasonable time." It seems," however, that no advantage was taken of this privilege ; but in the winter of 1809, twenty-eight pickerel were brought from a pond in South wick, Massachusetts, and put into Cranberry Pond. Their progeny has greatly increased, so that they are caught in abun dance in the several lakes of the township. In Bantam Lake they often grow to a large size — sometimes weighing five and a half and even six pounds. They are familiarly termed by our fishermen, " Bantam Shad," and find a ready market in the viUage, as well as afford congenial sport to amateur anglers from city and country. By-Laws have from time to time been passed by the town for the protection of our " fisheries," by prohibiting the drawing of seines and nets, which have had a good effect. Of the Indians who inhabited this tbwnship previous to its settlement by the whites, comparatively little can now be gleaned. President Stiles, in his " Itinerary," tells us the Bantam Indians were on terms of allegiance with the Scata- cooks, the Pootatucks, and Weatogues. Mr. Cothren suppo ses they were but a clan of the Pootatuck or Woodbury tribe. This seems not improbable, as th^e aboriginal names signed to the purchase-deed of Litchfield, (dated at Woodbury, March 2d, 1715-'16,) are all mentioned in the .list of sachems, saga mores and principal men of that tribe. Some of them doubt less belonged in Bantam, and were famUiar with the bounds of the territory disposed of The fact, too, that a "reservation" was required for the hunting houses of the clan, favors such a supposition. Chusquenoag and Weroamaug (or Raumaug) whose names stand first on the deed — one as a grantor and the other as a witness — were Sachems of the Wyantenucks, who were the nearest neighbors of the Bantams on the west^ and, (according to the same authority,) constituted another "clan ofthe Pootatucks. \ • . . ¦ We have seen how much trouble was occasioned to the early settlers by the savages. It is by no means certain, however, that the murderers of Harris or the capturers of Griswold be longed to the Bantam clan. The Mohawks — a fierce, warlike, roving tribe — were a terror not only to the whites but to all 64 HISTORY OP LITCHHELD. j the Indian tribes of Western Connecticut. Even in times of peace, they were accustomed to make their annual visits to the sea-side for purposes of fishing — subsisting, on their excursions, by plundering their weaker brethren along the route.- With the fearful cry — " We are come, we are come, to suck your blood!" they rushed on from one hamlet or encampment to another, spreading terror before them, and leaving httle but desolation behind them. When they made their appearance, the Connecticut Indians would raise the cry from hill to hUl — " The Mohawks ! the Mohawks !" and fly to some place of refuge, without attempting any defense. Sometimes they were pursued to the very threshold of their wigwams, and slain in the presence of their families. It is stated that in these and other cases of sudden alarm, all the tribes on the Housatonic, and between the Housatonic and the Naugatuck, could com municate with each other, from the Sound two hundred miles northward, in a few hours, by cries and rude telegraphic signals from a chain of " Guarding Heights" which they had estab lished. One of these "Heights" was Mount Tom in Litchfield.* As the Bantam fishing-grounds -were nearly in a direct line from the Mohawk country to the Soimd at Milford, (which was long their favorite place of resort,) they would naturally enough pass this way. _ On the borders of our Great Lake they would encounter not only the native clans of the vicinity, but others who had come hither to fish and hunt. If there were warriors enough on the ground to make a stand against the- intruding Mohawks, a fierce and bloody conflict would ensue. That such batties have been fought on the now quiet rural shores of our beautiful lake, and for a mile or two northward, is clearly indicated by the stone arrow-heads which are scattered in such profusion in the soil. It is true, they are found -in other parts of the township, but nowhere in such abundance as in the locality described. The writer remembers, as one ofthe pastimes of his childhood, following in the furrow be hind the plowman, on the West Plain, for the express purpose of picking lup these interesting-memorials of a by-gone race theuy of course, regarded simply as playthings. . These arrow- ¦ .A ?Cothron's Hist; of Ancient "Woodbury, p. 87. INDIAN RELICS. 65 heads are of various shapes and sizes, and are made of diff'erent tinds of flint — black, white, red, and yellow ; showing them to have been manufactured by different and probably distant tribes. Divers other Indian relics have, in years past, been found in Litchfield, but, by reason of the want of some conven ient place of deposit, they have generally been scattered and lost. Some of these , according to the accounts we have received, were of curious and skUlful workmanship. Since the organ ization of " The Litchfield County Historical and Antiquarian Society," in 1856, quite a variety of stone hatchets, pestles arrows, pipes, chisels and dishes, have found their way into its cabinet. In the autumn of 1834, a piece of " aboriginal sculp ture" was found in this town, which is thus noticed by the Enquirer of October 2d, of that year :^" A discovery of a sin gular CARVED STONE IMAGE, or BUST, representing the head, neck-, and breast of a human figure, was made a few days since on the Bantam River, about forty or fifty rods above the mill-dam, half a mUe east of this village. Some boys happened to dis cover near the banks, the head of the figure projecting above the ground, which so excited their curiosity that they imme diately dug it oub and conveyed it to the mill, where it is for the present deposited. The image, which is apparently that of a female, is carved from a; rough block of the common gran ite, some part of which is considerably decayed and crumbly, yet must have required more patient and persevering labor than generally belongs to the character of the natives ; and though in point of skill and taste, it falls something short of Grecian perfection, it is certainly ''pretty weU for an Indian.' For what purpose it was intended — ^whether as an idol for worship, or the attempt of some fond admirer to preserve and immortalize the lovely features of his dusky fair one, or whether it was iherely a contrivance of some long-sighted wag of old to set us Yankees a-guessing, or even whether it is one hundred or five hundred years old — aU is unrevealed ; though no doubt some tale is hanging thereby, if we could only find it out. All our American antiquities have this interesting pe- ciiUarity, that we know nothing of their history. We have not even* the twUight of fabulous story to reheve our curiosity. 9 66 HISTORY OP UTCHFIELD. "The Past is hidden in deeper obscurity than the Future." This curious reUc is now preserved in the cabinet of Yale College. Presuming our historians are correct in the opinion that the Pootatuck Tribe was spread over the present townships of Woodbury, Bethlem, Litchfield, New Milford and Washington, whatever relates to them can hardly prove uninteresting to my readers. It has been asserted that the Pootatucks sometimes off'ered human sacrifices to appease or propitiate their gods. In proof of this, President Stiles in his " Itinerary" preserves an ac coimt of a great ppwowing, which took place at a vUlage of this tribe, about the year 1720. Mr. De Forest gives the sub stance of Dr. StUes' account, as follows : The scene was wit nessed 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 by five or six hundred Indians, many of whom came from distant towns, as Hartford and Farmington. While the Indians, exci ted by their wild rites and dark superstitions, were standing in a dense mass, a little girl, gaUy dressed and ornamented^ was led in among them by two squaws, her mother and aunt. As she entered the crowd, the Indians set up their " high pow wows," howling, yelling, throwing themselves into strange postures, and making hideous grimaces. Many white people stood around gazing at the scene ; but such was the excited state of the savages, that, although they feared fpr the child's safety, none of them dared to interfere, or to enter the crowd. After a whUe the two squdws emerged alone from the press, stripped of aU their ornaments, and walked away, shedding tears and uttering mournful cries. The informant, deeply in terested 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 lit tie ^rl. They would not teU her, and only repKed that they should never see that littie girl again. The other Indians also remained sUent on the subject ; but Mrs. Bennet beUeved, and she said that all the English then present believed, that the In dians had sacrificed her, and that they did at other times off'er human sacrifices. MR. boardman's long PRAYER. 67 ..The Sachem whose residence and private domains were nearest to Litchfield, and with whom the early settlers ofthe town were most intimate, was Weroamaug, or Raumaug. His reservation in the parish of New Preston waslicyacent to the reservation of the Bantam Indians, over whom his jurisdic tion extended. He was a true friend of the whites, and in his last years professed to have become a convert to Christianity. The Rev. Daniel Boardman, who was ordained as the minister at New Milford, in 1716, became much interested in him. In a letter to a friend, he calls him " that distinguished sachem, whose great abilities aud eminent virtues, joined with his ex tensive 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." During Rau- maug's last illness, Mr. Boardman constantly attended him- aiid endeavored to confirm his mind in the vital truths of the Christian faith. It was a sad place for the dying chieftain ; for a majority of his people, and even his wife, were bitter op ponents of the white man's religion, and used all their influ ence against it. One day when the good pastor was standing by the sachem's bedside, the latter asked him lo pray, to which he assented. It happened that there was a sick chUd in the village, and a powow was in attendance, who had undertaken to cure it with his superstitious rites. As soon as the clergy man commenced his prayer, Raumaug's wife sent for the medicine-man and ordered him to commence his exercises at the door of the lodge. The powow at once set up a hideous shouting and howling, ahd 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, whUe the In dians gathered around, solicitous for the success of their pro phet. The powow was determined to tire out the minister — and he, on the other hand, was quite as fully resolved not to be put to silence in the discharge of his duty by the blind wor shiper of Satan. The invincible minister afterward gave it as his belief that he prayed fuU three hours, before he was per mitted to come oflf conqueror. The powow having completely 68 HISTORY OP LITCHFIELD. exhausted himself with his efforts, gave one unearthly yeU, and then, taking to his heels, never stopped till he was cooling himself up to his neck in the Housatonic. Raumaug died about the year 1735 — or, some fifteen years after the first set tlement of Litchfield. In consequence of the frequent alarms on account of the Indians, the settlement of the town was greatly retarded. Other Memorials, of a later date than those given in the chap ter preceding this, complain of the difficulties which the set tlers stUl encountered, and ask for legislative interference in their behalf. Indeed, for more than thirty years after the Garrisons were erected, they were resorted to with more or less frequency, by individuals and families, on account of ap prehended danger. One of these Garrisons stood near the present residence of Mr. Holmes 0. Morse, on Chestnut HUl, and was remembered by Mr. Elisha Mason, who died in this viUage no longer ago than May 1st, 1858. Another stood one mile west of the Court House, on the north side of West-street, opposite the homestead of Mr. Benjamin Kilbourn. Some of the remains ofthe last-mentioned fort were recently discovered. Good penmanship and correct orthography were not univer sal accomplishments, even among Town Clerks, a century and a quarter since. As a general thing, in copying from records or files, I have not attempted to follow either the speUing or the^unctuation of the original documents. In these respects the records are sometimes as quaint and peculiar as were Uie" language and manners of the people themselves in a former age. Here is a specimen or two : " Voted that ye owners of shoolers sent to school for time- to come shal find fire wood for ye schooU ;" '^ Voted to ajurn this meeting to to morah Sun half an hour High at Night." These are by no means the worst cases to be found. A few other town votes are here correctly rendered, as curiosities in their way : Voted to ap point Lieut. Buel and Samuel Orton " to assist the Clerk in perusing the town votes and to conclude what shall be trans cribed into the town book, and what not :" " Voted that sheep shall be free commoners ;" " Voted that a Basin for Baptism be procured, and that the money be drawn out of the Town DEATH OF JOHN BUEL AND JOHN MARSH. 69 Treasury to pay for the same ;" Voted liberty to the Rev. Timothy Collins " to erect a Blacksmith's Shop joining to his fence the backside of the meeting-house ;" Sergt. John Bird was " chosen Quorister to tune the Psalm in the public wor ship." Many other transactions of the town, equally primitive in their character, might be given — ^but these are sufficient to indicate the great change that a century has wrought in the nature of much of the business done at our town meetings. It is a sad commentary on the frail tenure of human life, that, in every new settlement, no sooner have the pioneers erected their huts and commenced clearing up their lands, than it becomes necessary to provide a resting-place for the dead. The Bjirying Ground west of our village was set apart for that purpose by the first settlers of the place, and for many years was the only cemetery witliin the limits of the township. In this humble and now almost forsaken enclosure, rest side by side, sometimes in undistinguished graves, legislators, judges, mechanics, farmers, congressmen, paupers, merchants, maidens — parents and children — the lovely, the loving, and the beloved — pastor and people — the village patriarch and the infant of yesterday — pioneers, statesmen, peasants, officers, soldiers, slaves — the red warrior of the forest, and the beautiful-browed daughter of his Saxon successor — ^lawyers, and juries, and cli ents, and criminals — awaiting in hope or fear their final sum mons and destiny. Sweet be their slumbers, and gloriousjtheit_ awakening ! At the close of the first thirty years after the settlement of the town commenced, a large proportion of its founders had exchanged a life of labor and weariness for the repose of the grave. Generally, they reached a good old age, and, by the gradual decay of nature, passed gently and almost impercepti bly down the valley of years. Among these, were the two most conspicuous and useful men among the original propri etors of the township — John Marsh and John Buel. A brief outline of the history of these men, will close this chapter. John Marsh had long been a prominent citizen of Hart ford before he interested himself in the Western Lands ; and from the time when he came out to "view the new plantation," 70 HISTORY OP UTCHFIELD. in May, 1715, tUl about the year 1738, his name was intimate ly associated with the history of Litchfield. I need not reca pitulate the many ways and times in which he was called upon by his feUow-citizens to serve them in public employments, as detailed on the preceding pages. He served this town in the various offices within her gift during the entire period of his residence here. WhUe an inhabitant of Hartford, his na tive town, he was often a Representative in the Legislature, a Justice ofthe Peace, an Associate Judge ofthe County Court, and a member of the Council of War. He returned to Hart ford in his old age, and died there. His remains lie interred in the old Burying Ground back of the Center Church. His chUdren remained in this town, and his descendants here and elsewhere are very numerous. John Buel was about fifty years of age when he became a resident of this town, and had previously filled the office of Deacon of the Church in Lebanon. That portion of our histo ry which has aheady been given, affords a sufficient guarantee of the estimation in which he was held by his fellow-citizens. He was repeatedly elected tQ almost every office within their gift, besides being appointed on nearly all the most important committees. As a Deacon in the Church, Captain of the Militia, Selectman, Treasurer, Representative and Justice ofthe Peace, he discharged his duties efficiently and faithfully. A -hrieJLlinecdote (as given by the Rev. Mr. Powers, in his Cen tennial Address at Goshen,) will serve to illustrate the bevo- lence of his character : In the winter of 1740-'41, a man came from CornwaU to purchase some grain for himself and family, who were in great need, and was directed tp Deacon Buel. The stranger goon called, and made known his errand. The Deacon asked him if he had the money to pay for the grain. He answered aflfirmatively. " Well," said the Deacon, " I can show you where you can procure it." Going with the strag- ger to the door, he pointed out a certain house to him, saying, " There lives a man who wiU let you have grain for your money. I have some to spare, but I must keep it for those who have no money." Deacon Buel departed this life, AprU 6th, 1746, aged 75 years. His wife survived him twenty-two CHARACTER OP OUR PEOPLE. 71 years. Both were interred in the West Burying Ground. The inscription on the tomb-stone of the latter is as follows : "Here lies' the body of Mrs. Mary, wife of Dea. John Buel, Esq. She died November 4, 1768, aged 90 — ^having had 13 Children, 101 Grand-ChUdren, 247 Great-Grand-ChUdren, and 49 Greal^Great-Grand-Children ; total 410. Three hundred and thirty-six survived her." The name of Buel has always been prominent in our local history. Litchfield was peculiarly fortunate in the character of its early settlers. The proprietors seemed to know, instinctively, that the location of their settlement — so remote from all the elder towns of the colony, and apparently beyond the influen ces of civilization and religion — would naturally invite to its seclusion and consequent freedom from restraint, the vicious, the abandoned, and the fugitive from justice. Consequently, the utmost care was taken that none but persons of good char acter should settle among them. Mr. Woodruff" says — " If a stranger made a purchase in tlie plantation, a provisP was sometimes inserted in the deed, that the Inhabitants should accept of the purchaser, and that he should ' run the risk of trouble from the Grand Committee.' " We have seen on an other page the vote of the town on this subject. It is with pleasure, that a Son of Litchfield is able to say that the peo ple of the town have ever borne and stUl bear the reputation of being distinguished for inteUigence and virtue. CHAPTER V. EVENTS PRECEDING THE REVOLUTION. The first French War began in 1744, and closed with the signing of the Treaty of Aix la Chapelle, October 4, 1748. At this period, Litchfield was in a condition too weak and ex posed to be expected to lend any efficient aid in such a contest. Indeed, it is not known that her soldiery were in any instance called upon to march any considerable distance frdm her own frontiers. Our records give no indication ,of any unusual ex citement — the seat of the war being, in this instance, so far dis tant, that our people seem scarcely to have been conscious of its existence. The voters assembled in town meeting, went through with the ordinary routine of business, and adjourned, without intimating that the town or the colony was in any way interested in the fierce conflict that was then being waged between England and France. Mr. Cothren informs us that in May, 1748, the inhabitants of Woodbury appointed Col. WUham Preston an Agent to pre fer a Memorial to the General Assembly for the organization of a new county to be called the County of Woodbury, to embrace the towns of Woodbury, Waterbury, New Milford, Litchfield and New Fairfield, and as many of the northern towns as might choose to join them^with Woodbury for the county seat. The result need not be told. At the October Session of the Legislature, A. D. 1751, the County of Litchfield was organized, and embraced seventeen towns, viz.,' Litchfield, Woodbury, New Milford, New Hart ford, Harwinton, Barkhamsted, Colebrook, Canaan, Goshen, CornwaU, Hartland, Kent, Norfolk, Salisbury, Sharon, Tor rington and Winchester. For some time much difference of opinion prevaUed as to the location of the shire town. Litch- FIRST COUNTY OFFICERS. 73 field, Goshen, Canaan and CornwaU, urged their respective claims with much zeal ; but the most formidable contest was between Litchfield and Goshen. Tlie latter was supposed to occupy the geographical center of the proposed county,, and many persons had settled there in expectation that the seat of 'justice would be established in that town, among whom was Oliver Wolcott, afterwards Governor. To the sore disappoint ment of many of the contestants, Litchfield was ultimately named as the county seat in the act incorporating the new county. This was a most important event in the history of the town ; and from this time onward, for several years, it rapidly improved in its appearance as well as in the number and char acter of its inhabitants. By a census taken in 1756, it was ascertained that its population was 1366. Oliver Wolcott was appointed first High Sheriff, and immediately thereupon took up his residence in this village. John Catlin, of Litchfield, was appointed County Treasurer ; Isaac Baldwin, of Litchfield County Clerk; WiUiam Preston, of Woodbury, Chief Judge ; Thomas Chipman, of ¦ Salisbury, " Samuel Canfield, of New Milford, John Williams, of Sharon, and Ebenezer Marsh, of Litchfield, Associate Judges ; and Samuel Pettibone, of Go shen, King's Attorney. Even after this county was thus formed, and its officers ap pointed, the town of Woodbury continued to manifest her dissatisfaction in various ways and at aU reasonable times. Instead of being made the central and shire town of the new .county, she was left quite in one corner. She first petitioned the Legislature, (in May and again in October, 1752,) to be re-annexed to the eounty of Fairfield. Twenty years later, an effort was again made to persuade the General Assembly to organize a county to be called Woodbury. On this occasion the town of Woodbury laid a rate of a penny and a half on the pound, in addition to the regular tax, to be applied toward erecting the cmmty buildings ; and, further, she generously off'ered the use of her Town Hall for a Court House! The reader wiU not n«ed to be informed, that these as well as more .recent attempts to destroy the ancient landmarks. of the Coun. ty of Litchfield, have proved M«st«;cess/wZ. 10 74 HMXOBY OP LITCHHELD. At a town meeting, held in December, 1753, liberty was voted to Isaac Hosford and others " to erect a house for their convenience on Sabbath Days, east of the meeting-house." In January 1759, liberty was granted to Mr. John Farnham to " set up a Sabbath-Day House in the highway a little north of the School House." Capt. Edward Phelps erected a simUar house in the middle of East-street nearly opposite the present church-edifice of the First Congregational Society ; and still another was remembered by the late Mr. Elisha Mason, which stood on or near the spot now occupied by the dwelling-house of Dr. Lewis in East-street. As they were among the " insti- tutipns " of the Olden Time, and are quite unknown in our day, a brief reference to their design in connection with one of the simple customs of our ancestors, can hardly require an apology. They were built by, and for the accommodation of, persons residing at a distance from church — their object being, to furnish the owners and their families, together with such friends as they might choose to invite, with a warm retreat, in winter, during the intermission between the forenoon and af ternoon services on the Sabbath. We must bear in mind that in those days a stove, or any other means of warming a church, had never been seriously thought of. These houses generally consisted of two rooms, each about twelve feet square, with a chimney between them and a fire-place in each room ; and in such cases were erected at the expense of two or more families. Dry fuel was kept in each room ready for kindling a fire. If the oold was extreme, the " hired man " or one of the sons might be sent forward in advance of the family, to get the room well warmed before their arrival. The family, after filling the ample saddlebags with refreshments, including a bottle of beer or cider, took an early start for the sanctuary. Calling first at their Sabbath-Day House, they deposited their luncheon, and having warmed themselves, and covered up the glowing embers, tiiey were ready at the appointed moment to take their seats in the house of worship, there to shiver in the cold during the morning service. At noon, they returned to their rooj», with p«cl3^j>fi ft few friend*. The fire was re-kiadlefl, the saddlebags were broughlt forth, ajj4. tUw aeutents plftced THE' ACADIANS. 75 Upon a prophet's table, of which all partook. The frugal repast being ended, thanks were returned. The patriarch of the household then drew from his pocket the notes he had taken of the morning sermon, which were fully reviewed — all enjoy ing the utmost freedom in their remarks. Sometimes a well chosen chapter, or a page from some favorite author, was read, and the noon-service was not unfrequently closed with a prayer. All then returned to the house of God. Before starting for home at the close of the afternoon service, they once more repaired to their Sabbath House, gathered up the saddlebags, wrapped themselves thoroughly up, saw that the fire was left safe, and in due time aU were snugly seated in the sleigh, and bbund homeward. By the Treaty of Utrecht that part of the old French domin ion called Acadia, or Nova Scotia, was ceded to Great Britain. In 1749, three thousand seven hundred and sixty English ad venturers, under the Hon. Edward Cornwallis, sailed for that country, and settled on the coast at a place wliich they named Halifax, in honor of the Earl of Halifax, one of the Lords of Trade and Plantations. During the following year, the French Governor of Canada sent an army of Frenchmen and Indians to reduce Nova Scotia. The expedition was successful — and Acadia was once more a French province. The French neu trals (many of whom had been driven oflf, or had been so per secuted that they were virtually compelled to leave,) now joyfully returned to their old homes, by special invitation of the government. The sad story of the Acadians, or " French Neutrals," has often been told ; but the subject is not likely to be exhausted, while sympathy for the innocent and sorrowing has a place in the human heart. The classic lyre of Longfellow and the historic pen of Bancroft have alike celebrated their ¦wrongs ; and a mere outline of the principal events in their history, must suffice for our present purpose. Acadia, or Nova Scotia, was early settled by the French Catholics, who soon surround ed themselves by many of the comforts and conveniences of civilized life. They erected respectable dwellings and church es, and cleared up and cultivated their lands. At length the 76 THE HISTORY OP LITCHPIELD. EngUsh took possession of the island, and the French were subjected tothe grossest indignities by those who were bent upon obtaining possession of their houses and lands. They expressed their wUlingness to take the oath of aUegiance to England, but refused to bear arms against their beloved Prance. Their oppressors now resolved to break up the settlements and disperse the people among the other EngUsh colonies in Amer ica. A proclamation was accordingly issued, ordering all the males of French descent, of ten years old and upwards, to ap pear at certain places designated, on the 5th of September, 1755. They obeyed the summons — little dreaming of the fate that awaited them. On their arrival, they were forthwith de clared to be the king's prisoners, and were informed that their houses, lands and live-stock were confiscated to the crown, but that they were at liberty to take with them their money and household goods. On the 15th of the same month, oue hun dred and sixty-one men were driven, at the point of the bayo net, on board the vessel which was to convey them from their homes forever. During the autumn and early part of winter, seven thousand of these miserable exiles were thus forced on ship-board and scattered over the colonies, from New Hamp^ shire to Georgia. Four hundred were sent to Connecticut ; who, at an extra session ofthe Legislature convened on the 21st of January, 1756, were distributed among, some fifty towns according to their grand lists. Husbands and wives, parents and children, brothers and sisters, were thus arbitrarily separ ated — ^their destination and destiny unknown to each other ! Precisely the number that was ultimately allotted to Litchfield, I have not been able to ascertain. At least two of them are remembered by persons now living. One of the number (named Sybil Sharway or Shearaway) married Mr. Thomas Harrison, a prominent citizen of this town, in 1764, and her descendants are now among our most excellent and respected people. The Selectmen and CivU Authority of each town were directed to provide for the exiles, and take proper care of the sick and aged ; and not to allow any one of them to leave the town without a written order or passport. It was further provided by the Legislature, that if any one should be THE LAST FRENCH WAR. 77 found beyond the prescribed limits, he should thereafter be confined and not permitted to go at large. It is not until January, 1759, that our town records make any allusion to these people. At this date it was " voted that the Selectmen may provide a house or some suitable place in the town, /or the maintenance ofthe French.'" In the County Treasurer's book, also, occurs the foUowing entry, -riz : " To paid John Newbree for keeping William Dunlap and the French persons, 54s. Qd., which the County aUowed, and R. Sherman, Justice of the Quorum, drew an order dated April 25, 1760, as per order on file." What is usually termed the last French War commenced in 1755 and continued eight years. In this great contest Litch field was actively engaged. Indeed, the people of all the northern English colonies were required to exert themselves to their utmost capacity to repel the invasions of the French. During the preceding winter. Sir Thomas Robinson, one of the king's principal Secretaries of State, had addressed a letter to Connecticut in his majesty's name, containing the inteUigence that troops were about to be sent from England to aid the col onies, and calling upon her to raise her quota of the balance of the forces that might be deemed requisite for the contem plated expedition against Crown Point. The Assembly was immediately called together ; and it was resolved to raise one thousand men for the campaign, and the Governor was at the same time authorized, in case of emergency, to call out five hundred more. When the united forces of British, Provincials and Indians, reached Albany, their place of rendezvous, they constituted an army of over six thousand men — under the chief command of General William Jolmspn. The two Connecticut regiments were under the immediate command of General Phineas Lyman and Colonel Elizur Goodrich ; the Indians be ing under guidance of the celebrated Mohawk Chief, Hen drick. In this campaign, the French were defeated in an im portant action near Lake George, though Colonel Williams, of one of the Massachusetts regiments, and the invincible Hen drick, were slain. Lieutenant-Colonel Whiting, who, by the faU of his superior, became the chief officer in the most fatal 78 HISTORY OP LITCHHiaLD. part of the engagement, eminently distinguished himself as a cool, brave and judicious commander. Seven hundred of the French were left dead on the field, and the brave Dieskau was fatally wounded and taken prisoner. For this victory Johnson was knighted. Before the battie was fought, however, he had sent an eamest requisition to Governor Fitch for more troops. In response to this call, the Legislature was convened in August, 1755 ; and it was resolved to raise two additional regiments, and send them forthwith into the field. Samuel Talcott and Elihu Chauncey were commissioned as Colonels of these regiments, and Drs. Timothy Collins of Litchfield, and Jonathan Marsh of Norwich, were appointed Physicians and Surgeons. These regiments, consisting of seven hundred and fifty men each, were on their march within a week after the alarm was given. Connecticut now had in the northern army not less than two thousand five hundred men. Though Crown Point was not taken, Great Britain and her Colonies were jubilant over the success of their arms. I will not stop to detail the incidents of the disastrous cam paigns of 1756 and 1757. Through the inefficiency of such British officers of Abercrombie, Loudoun and Webb, the finest army that had ever trodden the soil bf America, was permitted to accomplish nothing. The capture of Crown Point had been abandoned, and an unsuccessful attack had been made upon Louisbourg. During these years, Connecticut kept constantly in the field a force of five thousand men. The campaign of 1758 opened with auguries of better success, under the auspi ces of Mr. Pitt, who had been elevated to the premiership. Connecticut at once resolved to raise five thousand men for the service, which was one quarter of all the troops called for from the northern colonies. The Connecticut troops were formed into four regiments, and Colonels Phineas Lyman, Nathan Whiting, Eliphalet Dyer and John Read, were appointed commanders. At the same time, Benjamin Hinman, of Wood bury, in this county, was commissioned as Lieutenant-Colonel of one of these regiments. Fourteen thousand regulars, and a considerable naval force, •were sent over from England to co-operate with the ^rovinciala. A portion of these troops, THB FRENCH WAR. 79 under Lord Amherst and General Wolfe, together vrith the ships-of-the-line under Admiral Boscawen, were sent against Louisbourg ; while tho remainder of the provincials and regu lars, under General Abercrombie and Lord Howe, went on an expedition against Crown Point and Ticonderoga. The Con necticut men were with both of these divisions of the army. The garrison at Louisbourg, with its two thousand five hun dred regulars, six hundred militia, and vast quantity of mil itary stores, was surrendered into the hands of the victorious English and provincials. Abercrombie's expedition, however, did not prove as successful. Having been twice repulsed, with the loss of Lord Howe, the commanding general ordered a retreat, in spite of the remonstrances of the provincial officers, who believed that victory was still within their reach. Colonel Whiting's Connecticut regiment was with Abercrombie ; and the " orderly book " which he used in that unfortunate cam paign, is still in the possession of his grandson. Major Jason Whiting, of Litchfield, and contains many interesting facts relating to the transactions of that branch of the army with which he was connected. From this time till the close of the war, Connecticut con tinued to keep in the field not far from five thousand men. In the campaign of 1759-'60, Crown Point and Ticonderoga were captured by the English ; and subsequently, Montreal and the whole ofthe French possessions in Canada were surren dered into their hands. In all the transactions of this memor able war, Litchfield contributed her full quota of men and means. Unfortunately, but a single list of the soldiers raised iu this town, during the period referred to, has been preserved. The names of some of the Litchfield officers who received commissions between the years 1755 and 1763, are here given, as it is known that a part of them were in the war, viz., Solomon Buel, Captain, 1756 ; Ebenezer Marsh, Colonel, 1757 ;. Isaac Baldwin, Captain, do. ; Joshua Smith, Lieutenant, do, ; Abner Baldwin, Ensign, do. ; Archibald McNeile, Captain, 1758 : Zebulon Gibbs, Ensign, do. ; Stephen Smith, Lieuten ant, 1760 ; Eli Catlhi, Lieutenant, do. ; Isaac Moss, Lieuten ant, 1761 ; Josiah Smith, Lieutenant, do. ; Asa Hopkins, 80 HISTORY OF LITCHFIELD. Lieutenant, do. ; Gideon Harrison, Ensign, do. ; David Lan don, Ensign, do. ; Lynde Lord, Ensign, 1762. Zebulon Gibbs (whose Narrative we give in the Appendix,) informs us that he was in the northern army from 1756 to 1762. In March, 1758, he was commissioned as Ensign in Captain Hurlbut's company, which was raised as a part of the force designed for the capture of Crown Point. The following names are copied from " A Pay-RoU for Capt. Archibald McNeile's Company, in the Second Regiment of Connecticut Forces, for the year 1762,"-^which is on file in the Secretary's Office, Hartford : Archibald McNeile, Captain. Isaac Moss, 1st Lieutenant, Increase Moseley, 2d do. Elisha Blinn, Ensign, Thomas Catlin, Sergeant, Nathaniel Taylor do. Bezaleel Beebe, do. Hezekiah Lee, do. Arch'd McNeile, jr. do. Roger Catlin, Corporal, Wm. Drinkwater, do. Nathan Stoddard, do. James Lassly, do. Daniel Barns, Drummer, Jacob Bartholomew, do. Charles Richards, Samuel Warner, Samuel Gipson, Joseph Jones, John Barrett, John Barrett, jr. William Forster, Francis Mazuzan, Thomas Wedge, Reuben Smith, ' • Jeremiah Osborn, Benjamin Landon, Isaac Osborn, Robert Coe, Adam Mott, Asahel Hinman, Roswell Fuller, Daniel Grant, William Emons, Moses Stoddard, Gideon Smith, Jonathan Smith, Hezekiah Leach, Adam Hurlbut, Jeremiah Harris,' Eli Emons, Alexander Waugh, Orange Stoddard, Ezekiel Shepard, Oziaa Hurlbut, Daniel Harris, John Collins, Solomon Palmer, "Jonathan Phelps, - John Cogswell, Mark Kenney, Aaron Thrall, Timothy Brown, Roswell Dart, William Bulford, James Manville, SOLDIEJSS OP THE FRENCH WAR. 81 Benjamin Bissell, David Nichols. Ichabod Squire, Comfort Jackson, Elisha Walker, Amos Brougton, Nathaniel Lewis, Levi Bonny, Thomas Barker, Samuel Drinkwater, Asahel Gray, Eliakim Gibbs, Samuel Peet, Ephraim Smedley, Edmund Hawes, Silas Tucker, Robert Bell, Thomas Sherwood, Ephraim Knapp, Titus Tyler, Thomas WiUiams, Justus Seelye, James Francier, George Peet, Nathaniel Barnum, Adonijah Roice, Elisha Ingraham, Daniel Hurlbut, Ebenezer Blackman, Domini Douglas, Amos Tolls, Thomas Ranny, Daniel Hamilton, Asahel Hodge, Daniel Warner, Titus Tolls, John Ripner, Caleb Nichols, John Fryer, Ebenezer Pickett, It is not to be inferred that all the members of Captain McNeile's company belonged in Litchfield. Some in the list are recognized as residents of neighboring towns. Lieutenant Moseley, for instance, was a Woodbury man. He became an eminent lawyer, legislator and judge, in his native county, and afterwards removed to Vermont, and was there elevated to the bench of the Supreme Court. The name ofthe late Colonel Beebe, of ihis to'WTi, wUl be noticed among the Sergeants of this company. At a stiU earUer - date, he had been a member of Major Rogers celebrated corps of Rangers, and was engaged in one of the forest fights when the soldiers were dispersed by order of their commander, and each man was directed to fight, in true Indian style, from be hind a tree. Beebe chanced to be stationed near Lieutenant Gaylord, who was also from Litchfield county. He had just spoken to Gaylord, and at the moment was looking him in the face for a reply, when he observed a sudden break of the skin in the forehead, and the Lieutenant instantly fell dead — a baU from the enemy ha'ving passed through his head. *^;. 11 82 HISTORY OF LITCHFIELD. The long succession of colonial wars, which had now terminated, had taxed the American people almost beyond precedent. The whole country was yet new, and but thinly settled. The farms were only partially cleared up, and the great mass of the population were poor and compelled to delve hard for the requisite food for the subsistence of themselves and families. Notwithstanding all this, a large proportion of the most efficiept and able-bodied men were constantly being called off to fiU the ranks of the army ; while those who remain ed at home must support themselves, provide food and cloth ing for the soldiers, and pay the enormous taxes which war always brings in its train. If those who first enUsted, lived to return home, they or others were soon called upon again and again to enter the public service. This long experience and severe discipline, however, was, unwittingly to all, pre paring officers, soldiers and citizens, for the severer and more important crisis which was then approaching. The next great question which agitated the minds of our people, was that relating to the Stamp Act. The peace of 1763 had left Great Britain immensely in debt, and the eyes of her financiers were at once turned towards the American Colonies, as a field whence their future revenues might be materially augmented. The proposed impost was at length laid, by an act of parliament, " upon every skin, ©r piece of veUum, or parchment, or sheet or piece of paper," that should be thenceforth used in the colonies ; and no deed, lease, bond, policy or mortgage, was legal, unless it bore the royal stamp. • This act created great indignation on this side of the Atlantic. The Legislature of Connecticut protested against it, and finally agreed upon an address to parliament, which was sent to the colonial agent in London, with instructions " firmly to insist on the exclusive right of the colonies to tax themselves." The people everywhere were excited, and the measure was freely discussed and boldly denoimced at the corners of the streets, in popular assembUes, and in town meetings. The more resolute and reckless of the populace formed themselves into secret organizations caUed " The Sons of Liberty," with the design of preventing the use of the stamped paper by a THE STAMP ACT. 83 summary process, if necessary. In this town there was probs ably no difference of opinion on the main question at issue. On matters of minor importance, the people did not alway, agree. The Connecticut Courant of February 10th, 1766, con tains a communication dated at Litchfield on the 1st of Febru ary of that year, which is as follows — " At the Desire of several of the Towns in this County, by their Agents chosen and sent here for that Purpose, a Meeting was called of the Free-born Sons of Liberty, to meet at the Court-House in this Town ; and being assembled to the Number of about forty or fifty Persons- proceeded npon the Business for which they met. And not^ withstanding the great Opposition they met with, from Col. E r M h and one S n S e,* (whereby the Meet ing was much hindered,) yet they came to the Choice of five Gentlemen, who were to act as Agents, and are to join the Gentlemen from the other Towns in the County, who are to meet here, at a general County Meeting, to be held on the second Tuesday of February, 1766, at ten o'clock in the fore noon ; when it is expected they will come to such Resolves as they shall think most Conducive to prevent the Thing we fear from ever taking Place among us. The Meeting would have been conducted with the utmost good Agreement and Dispatch, had it not been for the Gentlemen mentioned above, who em ployed all their Power to render it abortive, not only by con suming the Time in long and needless Speeches, (wherein Mr. M ^h especially discovered to aU present, an inexhaustible Fund of Knowledge, by several new-coined Words, unknown in the English Language before,) but they also opposed by their Votes almost every Motion that was made to forward it." The Courant of February 24th, contains the doings of the convention referred to. In their declarations, the purest senti ments of patriotism and loyalty, are blended -with a love of good order and a regard for the supremacy of the law, which are remarkable for those times. The people of Litchfield were no friends of mob-law, even when mobs were fashionable elsewhere. Separation from the mother-country, was a subject which had not then been breathed audibly, even if it had been thought of, by the most zealous patriot. Hence, while some of these sen- * The names are thus left blank in the Courant. 84 HISTORY OF LITCHPIELD. timents, in the boldness and beauty of their expression, almost rival some of those which were ten years subsequently embodi ed in the Declaration of Independence, they are still made subservient to the condition of the people as faithful subjects of the king. The same spirit led them in due time to throw off the yoke of foreign despotism and to vindicate their rights as Freemen. In the article which is here given, the original copy is followed in capitalizing as well as in other respects : " At a Meeting of the Inhabitants of almost all the Towns in Litchfield County, convened by their Agents in Litchfield on the Second Tuesday in February, 1766, for the Pur pose of giving the clearest Manifestation of their fixed and most ardent Desires to preserve, as far as in them lies, those inherent Rights and Privileges which essentially belong to them as a Free People, and which are founded upon the unalterable Basis of the British Constitution, and have been confirmed by the most solemn Sanctions — and of their readiness to promote (according to tlieir Ability,) the public Peace and Happiness, which have been greatly disturbed by the most alarming Infringements upon their Rights — the following Sentiments were unani mously agreed in : " I. That they entertain the highest Regard and Veneration for those just and -virtuous Resolutions made by the Hon. ¦ House of Representatives of this Colony in October last, ex pressing the Duty and faithful Allegiance which they and the Inhabitants of this Colony owe to our rightful Sovereign, King George the Third — and those Rights and Privileges which essentially belong to His Majesty's Subjects in this Colony ; and likewise those Sentiments respecting the unconstitutional Nature of an Act of the British Parliament for granting Stamp- Duties in the British Colonies. "H. That they conceive, to keep up in their brightest View the first Principles and Origins of the EngUsh Government, and strictly to adhere to the primary Institutions of it, is the only sure Way to preserve the same, and consequently the Prerogative of the Crown, and the CivU Liberties of the Sub ject, inviolate. THE STAMP-ACT. 85 " in. That they are not able to form a more perfect Idea of AUegiance to His Majesty, than what consists in an inflexible Attachment to the forementioned Principles. " IV. That, in their Opinion, for any Power whatsoever to claim a Right to dispose of their Property without their Con sent, given in a Constitutional Way, is, in Effect, to claim a Right to dispose of all their Property at Pleasure. " V. That for innocent Subjects to be imminently exposed to certain Ruin, by the Execution of any penal Statute, is, they conceive, utterly irreconcilable with every just Idea of Freedom. " VI. That God made Mankind free, (as being essential to their Happiness,) and as, by His Blessing, the Advantages of English Liberty have been handed down to them from their most virtuous and loyal Ancestors, so they -will endeavor, by all reasonable Ways and Means within their Power, uprightly to preserve and faithfuUy to transmit the same to their Pos terity. " VII. That they really believe, without the least Shadow of a Doubt, that said Act, imposing Stamp-Duties, &c., is UNCONSTITUTIONAL, and therefore necessarily believe that the Observance thereof is not obligatory upon them. " VIH. That any Office for distributing Stamped Papers in this Colony, appears odious and detestable to them, as being, iu its Operation, utterly destructive of their most valuable Rights. " IX. That if any Stamped Papers shaU be imported into any Part of this Colony (which they most cordially wish might never be,) they hope the speediest pubjic Notice thereof may be given, that the same may be preserved untouched for His Majesty. " X. That if any Person in this Colony has represented that the People in it might, under any possible circumstances, be come •wiUing to have the aforesaid Act executed upon them, or to have one Farthing of their Property taken from them, except by their own Coiisent, given as aforesaid, they are per suaded that such Representation must have been the Result 86 HISTORY OF LITCHPIELD. of extreme stupid Ignorance, or dictated by a maUgnant, apos tate Spirit. " XI. That they -wUl never suffer any Jealousies to arise in their Minds, that any Person in this Colony is unfriendly to its Civil Liberties, except upon the fuUest, clearest, and most un deniable Evidence. " xn. That it was never any Part of the Design of this Meeting to endeavor to bring about the least Alteration in the Legislative Body of this Colony. ".Xin. That whereas some very ignorant or dissolute Per sons may, in this time of Perplexity, be disposed to commit Outrages against the Persons or Property of others, or to treat with Disrespect and Insult the civil Authority of this Colony : They do therefore hereby solemnly declare, that Nothing (ex cept a Privation of their Liberties,) could or ought to fill their Minds with a deeper and more fixed Resentment than such Conduct-^and that they -will always be ready and wilUng to assist and support, to the utmost of their Ability, the public Magistrates, in preserving, in the greatest Purity, the Peace and good Order of the Public. " XIV. That these their Sentiments of firm Allegiance to His Majesty, and their strong and unfailing Desires to preserve their Constitutional Rights and PrivUeges, and to promote the public Peace, good Order, and Happiness, be pubUshed in the Connecticut Courant, and that this Meeting be adjourned to the third Tuesday in March next, at ten o'clock in the fore noon, to be held at this place." The Stamp-Act was followed by laying a tax upon divers other articles imported, from England, which led to a combin ation known as " the non-importation agreement." This agreement was, however, shamefully violated by many of the New York merchants. The indignation of the people of Con necticut was in consequence fnlly aroused ; and it was resolved that a General Convention of Delegates from all the towns in the colony, should be held in New Haven, on the 13th of Sep tember, 1770, " to take into consideration the perilous condi tion of the country, to provide for the growth and spread of home-manufactures, and to devise more thorough means for PREPARING FOR THB REVOLUTION. 87 carrying out to the letter the non-importation agreement." A iown meeting was held in Litchfield, on the 30th of August — ^Mr. Abraham KUbourn presiding. At this meeting, Capt. John Osborn and Mr. Jedediah Strong were appointed Dele gates to the Convention referred to. The Legislature about this time, made special enactments preriding for arming and disciplining the mihtia — lohy, they were scarcely themselves aware. Many of our most efficient officers of the French War now received advance commissions in the colonial regiments. These officers, by long service with the commanders in the Standing Army of England, had learn ed whatever was worth knowing in their system of mUitary tactics, while they had faUed to learn their inefficiency, pro crastination, and punctiUous regard for etiquette. They were now destined to turn the knowledge, thus acquired, to good account. Among those thus appointed, were, OUver Wolcott, who had commanded a company in the northern army in 1748,. and was now commissioned as Colonel ; and Ebenezer Gay, a resident of Sharon but a native of this town, who was raised to the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel. In the mean time, matters of local interest and importance were not neglected. The lands were laid out to the sev eral proprietors, bridges were built, and by-laws were passed. I have suggested that the establishment of Litchfield as the county seat, was an important event in the history of the town. Several wealthy and prominent gentlemen from a distance, soon after this event, settled in this viUage — among whom I may mention EUsha Sheldon, Lynde Lord, and Reynold Mar vin, Esquires, aU from Lyme, in the eastern part of the colony. Some of the finest mansions stiU standing on the HUl, were erected between 1752 and 1760, inclusive. The records give indications of the " march of improvement " in other respects. Liberty was granted to Joseph Pickett " to set up a Barber's Shop anywhere in the Highway except on the Meeting House Green." Lieutenant Stephen Smith, who had figured in the if late war," and was subsequently in the service at the North, deceived permission to set up a MaU House and Distillery. The first Court House was buUt on the pubUc square, a little 88 HISTORY OP LITCHPrELD. east of the Meeting-House ; but the town passed a vote forbid ding the erection of a Jail and County House on the square — offering, however, a piece of land for that purpose in any other part of the town which might be selected. In December, 1740, Messrs. Samuel Culver, Joseph Bird, Ebenezer Beebe and Moses Stoddard, were appointed " to view and lay out a suitable Highway through the north-westerly part of Litchfield leading to CornwaU ;" the same committee were also directed to lay out a road to the east part of Goshen — ^probably the highway which now connects with Goshen East Street. The principal highways leading to New Milford, Goshen, Woodbury and Harwinton, were aU laid out previous to 1750. In 1752, the Rev. Timothy Collins was dismissed from the pastoral office in this town ; and on the 4th of July 1753, Mr. Champion was settled in his stead. In 1762, a new meeting house was erected on the Green, which stood sixty-seven years, when it was superceded by the present chujch-edifice of the First Society. CHAPTER VI. THE BEVOLUTIONABY ERA. . The revolutionary spirit early began to manifest itself in Litchfield . A series of oppressive and retaliatory measures on the part of the British ParUament, served to test, to the fuUest extent, the patience aud patriotism of the people. In conse quence of the destruction of the tea in the harbor of Boston, that Town was selected as a special object of ministerial ven geance ; which, as a natural result, served to eUcit the sympathy and co-operation of the friends of freedom through out the country. The subjoined document evinces the spirit of the voters of this town on the occasion, and needs no ex- j^lanation, except that OUver Wolcott, Esq., was Moderator of the meeting from which it emanated : " The Inhabitants of Litchfield, in legal Town Meeting as sembled, on the 17th day of August, A. D. 1774, taking into consideration the Distress to which the Poor of the Town of Boston may likely be reduced 'by the operation of an Act of the British Parliament for Blocking up their Port, and deeply commiserating the unhappiness of a brave and loyal People, who are thus eminentiy suffering in a General Cause, for vin dicating what every virtuous American considers an essential Right of this Country, think it is their indispensable Dtity to afford their unhappy distressed brethren of said Town of Bos ton, all reasonable Aid a,nd Support. And this they are the more readUy induced to^ do, not pnly as ' the Inhabitants of said Town are thus severely condemned for their reluctance to submit to an arbitrary, an unconsented to, and consequent ly unconstitutional Taxation, but the whole of the great and loyal Province of the Massachusetts Bay have been condemned 12 90 HISTORY OF LITCHFIELD. unheard, in the loss of their Charter Privileges, by the hereto fore unknown and unheard of exertions of Parliamentary Power, which they conceive is a Power claimed and exercised in such a manner as cannot fail of striking every unprejudiced mind with Horror and Amazement, as being subversive of all those inherent, essential and constitutional Rights and Privi leges which the good people of this Colony have ever held sa cred, and even dearer than Life itself, nor ever can -wish to survive ; not only every idea of Property, but every emolument of civU life, being thereby rendered precarious and uncertain. " In full confidence, therefore, that no Degree of Evil thus inflicted on said Town and Province, will ever induce them to give up or betray their own and the American Constitutional Rights and Privileges, especially as they cannot but entertain the most pleasing Expectations that the Committees of the several North American Provinces, who are soon to meet at Philadelphia, will in their wisdom be able to point out a Meth od of Conduct effectual for obtaining Redress of their grievan ces — a Method to which (when once agreed upon by said Com mittee) this Town will look upon it their duty strictly to attend. And in the mean time, earnestly recommend that subscriptions be forthwith opened in this Town, under the care of Reuben Smith, Esq., Capt. Lynde Lord, and Mr. William Stanton, who are hereby appointed a Committee to receive and forward to the Selectmen of Boston, for the use of the Poor in that place, all such Donations as " shall be thereupon made for that pur pose ; and also to correspond -with the Committee ,of Corres pondence there or elsewhere, as there may be occasion. "We also take this opportunity publicly to return our thanks to the members of the Honorable House of Representatives of this Colony, for their patriotic and loyal Resolutions, passed and published in the last Assembly on the occasion, and order them to be entered at large on the Public Records of this Town, that succeeding ages may be faithfully fiirnished -with authen tic Credentials of our inflexible attachment to those inestima ble Privileges which we and every honest American glory in esteeming our unalienable Birthright and Inheritance." C0M>nTTEE3 OP INSPECTION. 91 At the annual Town Meeting, held December 6, 1774, it was Voted, That the Honorable Oliver_Wolcott, Esq., and Messrs. Jedediah Strong, Jacob Woodruff", John Marsh, John Osborn, Jehiel Parmelee, Abraham Bradley, SetliBird, Archibald Mc Neile, Abraham Kilbourn, Nathan Garnsey, James Morris and Ebenezer Benton, be a Committee for the Purposes mentioned . in the Eleventh Article of the Association Agreement of the Grand Continental Congress in Philadelphia, Sth of September last, arid approved, adopted and recommended by the General Assembly of this Colony at their session in October last." The " Eleventh Article of the Association Agreement," here referred to, provides for the appointment of " Committees of Inspection" in each city and town, " whose business it shaUbe attentively to observe the conduct of all persons touching this Association ; and when it shall be made to appear that any person has violated its articles, they are to cause their names ^ to be published in the Gazette, to the end that all such foes to the Rights of British America may be publicly known and universally contemned as the enemies of American Liberty, and thenceforth we break oflf all dealings witli him or her." Committees of Inspection were also appointed at the annual Town Meeting in 1775 and 1776. In addition to the above, the following persons were appointed, viz., .Messrs. Reuben Smith, Lynde Lord, Andrew Adams, Archibald McNeile, Jr., Moses Sanford, Tapping Reeve, Jonathan Mason, Caleb Gibbs, Nathaniel Woodruff", William Stanton and Nathaniel Goodwin. The celebrated Aaron Burr, (afterwards Vice President of the United States,) became intimately associated with Litch field during this period. He graduated at Princeton College in October, 1772, and in the foUowing June, his only sister, Sarah Burr, became the wife of Tapping Reeve, Esq., of this town. " In May, 1774," says his biographer, (Davis i, 46,) ' " he left the Rev. Mr. Bellamy's, and went to the house of his brother-in-law. Tapping Reeve, where his time was occupied in reading, principally history, but especially those portions of it which related to wars, battles and seiges, which tended to inflame his natural miUtary ardor. The absorbing topics of taxation and the rights of the people were agitating the then 92 HISTORY OP LITCHPIELD. British Colonies from one extreme to the other. These sub jects, therefore, could not pass unnoticed by a youth of the the enquiring mind and ardent feelings of Burr. Constitu tional law, and the relative rights of the crown and the colo nists, were examined with aU the accumen which he possessed, and he became a whig from reflection and conviction, as weU as from feeling." Burr remained in Litchfield on this occa sion something over a year. The letters written by him while here, contain frequent allusions to local matters, and to indi viduals (especially the young ladies) residing in the place. In a communication to Matthias Ogden (dated at Litchfield, Au gust 17, 1774,) he says — " Before I proceed further, let me teU you that, a few days ago, a mob of several hundred per sons gathered at Barrington, and tore down the house of a man who was suspected of being unfriendly to the liberties of the people ; broke up the court then sitting at that place, &c. As many of the rioters belonged to this colony, and the Supreme Court was then sitting at this place, the Sheriff was immedi ately despatched to apprehend the ring-leaders. He returned yesterday with eight prisoners, who were taken without resis tance. But this ininute, there are entering the town on horse back, with great regularity, about fifty men, armed each with a white club ; and I observe others continually dropping in. I shall here leave a blank, to give you (perhaps in heroics,) a few sketches of my unexampled valor, should they proceed to hostUities ; and, should they not, I can tell you what I would have done." After the " blank," the young hero adds — ^" The above-mentioned sneaks all gave bonds for their appearance to. stand a trial at the next court, for committing a riot." WhUe Burr remained at the house of Judge Reeve, he was ' startled by the. news of the Battie of Lexington, which took place on the 19th of April, 1775. Immediately thereafter, he addressed a letter to his friend Ogden, urging him to come to Litchfield and make arrangements with him for joining the standard of then- country. The Battie of Bunker HiU soon followed — (June 16th.) As Ogden could not come at once to Litchfield, Burr started for Elizabethtown, New Jersey, to assist his friend in arranging for a speedy trip to Cambridge, AABON BURR. 93 where the American army was then encamped. In July, they reached Cambridge ; and in September, Burr enlisted as a pri vate soldier in Arnold's expedition through the wilderness to Quebec. It may be added, that Litchfield was Colonel Burr's recognized home for some half dozen years.* On the morning of the 10th of May, 1775, Colonel Ethan Allen, a native of Litchfield, at the head of his brave Green Mountain Boys, surprized and captured the Fortress of Ticon deroga. Several of this Uttle band of heroes were born and bred in this vicinity. Lieutenant Crampton, who entered the fort by the side of AUen, was also a native of this to'wn, and had resided here during a large part of his life. On this occa sion was captured the first British flag that fell into the hands of the Americans in the revolutionary contest! The magni tude and importance of this exploit will be better understood, when considered in connection with the vast amount of time, and treasure, and blood, which the fortress had cost the Brit ish Government. The day foUo-wing the capture of Ticonder oga, the garrison at Crown Point, \ni\i all its military stores, were surrendered to Colonel Warner, a native of Roxbury, in this County. * On the 27th of January, 1776, 'Judge Reeve wrote to Burr thus — " Amid the la mentations for the loss of a brave, enterprising General, [Montgomery,] your escape from such imminent danger, to which you have been exposed, has afforded ns the greatest satisfaction. The news of the unfortunate attack upon Quebec arrived among us on the 13th of this month. I concealed it trom your sister until the 18th, when she found it ont ; but, in less than half an hour, I received letters firom Albany acquainting me that you were in safety, and had gained great honor by your intrepid conduct. * * It was happy for us that we did not know you were an aid-de-camp nntil we heard of your welfare ; for we heard that Montgomery and his aids were killed, without knowing who his aids were. Your sister enjoys a middling state of health. She has many anxious hours on your account ; but she tells me that, as she believes you may serve the country in the business in which you are now employed, she is contented that you should remain in the army. It must be an exalted public spirit, that could produce such an effect upon a sister as affectionate as yours." For several months in 1781, Mrs. Theodocia Provost (the dasiiing young widow of Colonel Provost, of the British Army,) was a resident of Litchfield ; and a few of her letters written fiom this place are preserved in Davis's Life of Burr, vol. ij pp. 224^227. She became the. -wife of Burr, July 2, 1782. Aaron Burr, became aid de-f:amp to General Washington, Attomey General of the State of New York, U. S. Senator, and, in 1801, was a candidate with Jefferson for the Presidency of the United States — the two receiving an equal number of electoral votes. After an exciting contest of several days in the U. S. House -of Representatives, Jef ferson was chosen President, and Surr Vice President 94 HISTORY OP LITCHPIELD. In January, 1776, Captain Bezaleel Beebe, of Litchfieldj^. received orders to enlist a company for the defense of New^ York. The tidings spread rapidly throughout the town, and awakened anew the enthusiasm of the whigs. A veteran who died within the last few years, stated that when the inteUi gence reached him, he started on a run for the Captain's head quarters, i"earing the roU would be full before he could reach there. Captain Beebe's orders reached him on a Sunday, and by the following Saturday, the company had been raised, arm ed, and equipped, and were on their march toward Fairfield. The following paper, with the names attached, is inserted here for preservation : " We, the Subscribers, being convinced of the Necessity of a body of Forces to defeat certain Wicked Purposes formed by the instru ments of Ministerial Tyranny, do solemnly engage ourselves and enlist as Private Soldiers, in a Regiment to be Commanded by Colonel An- \ DEEW Ward, Jr., under the command of Major General Lee, for , the Term of Eight Weeks at the utmost from The Day we March \ from Fairfield, which is the place of Rendezvous; the Honorable Major General Lee having given his Word and Honor that we shall not be Detained a single Day after said Term. Dated at Litchfield, 21st day of January, 1776." Lieut. Jonathan Mason, Sergt. Benjamin Bissell, Briant Stoddard, Elihu Harrison, James Woodrufij Roger N. Whittlesey, Oliver Woodrufij Charles Woodrufi", Jr., Phineas Goodwin, Joseph Sanford, Zebulon Bissell, Stephen Brown, Benjamin Taylor, WilUam Patterson, Moses Taylor, John Lyman, Frederick Stanley, Obed Stoddard, James Crampton, T. Weed, Caleb Munson, George Dear, Abraham Wadhams, Jacob Gaylord, Martin Nash, EUhu Grant, Oliver Griswold, Abram Beach, Zadock Gibbs, Jr. Ichabod Tuttle, Josiah Bartholomew, Jr. Chauncey Beach, Jesse Stanley, George Dear, Jr. EUsha Mayo, Adino Hale, Nathaniel Newell, Allen Lucas, REVOLUTIONARY SOLDIERS. 95 « Luman Bishop, William Starr, Asaph Benham, Heber Gilbert, Jr. Joseph Finney, Zebulon Palmer, Zebedee Sturtevant, Joseph Peters, Martin Curtiss, Truman Gilbert, Levi Swan. Heman Brown, Joel Barnes, Luther Comstock, Peleg Holmes, Daniel Swan. Alexander Sackett, Those who have a knowledge of the leading men of Litch. field county from forty to seventy years ago, will recognize in the above list the names of many of her most prominent and influential citizens — men of wealth and enterprize, who, though surrounded by the endearments of domestic life, vol untarily enlisted as private soldiers in that dangers expedition. The roU as here given is not complete. About two-thirds of the persons named in the list belonged to this town ; the re mainder were from Goshen, Torrington and Warren. They were all enlisted from the 21st to the 25th of January, 1776. The names of a few additional members of this company may be gleaned from the following Appraisal : « Litchfield, 26th January, 1776. " We, being- requested to apprise the Arms belonging to Capt. Bez aleel Beebe's Company, in Col. Andrew Ward's Regiment, going on an expedition to New York under the command of General Charles Lee — we accordingly apprized the same, being first duly sworn, viz., Elihu Harrison's Gun, Bayonet and Cartridge Box, in his own hands. \^Figures omitted} Roger N. Whittlesey's Gun in the hands of Briant Stoddard. Joseph Sanford's Gun, Bayonet and Belt in his own hands. Nathaniel Allen's Gun, Bayonet and Belt in his own hands. Obed Stoddard's Gun, Bayonet, Cartridge box and belt. Joshua Smith's Gun in his own hands. Zebulon Bissell's Gun in his own hands. James Woodruff's Gun carried by Stephen Brown. Phineas Goodwin's Gun, bayonet and belt. Whiting Stanley's Gun carried by .James Crampton. Oliver Woodruff's Gun carried by himself. Hezekiah Agard's Gun carried by John Lyman. Jedediah Strong's Gun, bayonet and belt carried by Wm Patterson. Lieut. Jonathan Mason's Cartridge box. Samuel Canfield's Gun carried by himself. Noah Garnsey's Gun carried by T. Weed. 96 HISTORY OP LITCHPIELD. Sergt. Benjamin BisseU's Gun and Bayonet carried by himself. Asa Osborn's Gun and Cartridge box carried by himsel£ Jedediah Strong's Gun carried by Benjamin Taylor. Jedediah Strong's Gun carried by Frederick Stanley. Eeuben Smith, Esq's, Gun, Bayonet, Case and Belt, carried by Capt. Beebe. Capt John Osborn's Gun carried by Moses Taylor. Abraham Bradley, ) . Thomas Catlin, [ Appraisers on Obed Stoddee, ) ¦ In May, 1776, a regiment was ordered to be raised for the defense of the State, " to be subject to join the continental army, if so ordered by the Governor." Captain Beebe was appointed to the command of one of the companies of this regiment, with Jesse Cook for 1st lieutenant, and James Wat son for 2d lieutenant. Lieut. Watson was soon transferred to another corps, and John Smith, of Litchfield, was commission ed in his place. The following is a complete Ust of the officers and soldiers of this company : Bezaleel Beebe, Captain, Jesse Cook, Lieutenant, John Smith, do. Wait Beach, Ensign, Levi Peck, Sergeant, Cotton Mather, do. Heber Stone, do. Solomon Goodwin, do. Samuel Cole, Corporal, Ezekiel Bissell, do. EUjah Loomis, do. David HaU, do. Joel Taylor, Drummer, Epaphras Wadsworth, Fifer, Nathaniel AUen, Cyrenius Austin, Enos Austin, Joseph Austin, Andrew Austin, - EUhu Beach, Bamias Beach, Zebulon Bissell, James Beach, Asa Brooks, Daniel Benedict, Samuel Baldwin, Elisha Brownson, Benjamin BisseU, Daniel Bams, Ebenezer Bacon, Noah Beach, Elisha Bissell, Frederick Bigelow, Hezekiah Bissell, James Davis, Friend Dickinson, Jesse Dickinsoo, SolomoB Dickinson, Ebenezer Dimon, Gershom Fay, Remembrance Pilley, Joel FrojBt, John German, - Phineas Goodwin, REVOLUTIONARY SOLDIERS. 97 Beriah Birge, James Birge, Noadiah Bancroft, Ithamar Gibbs, Moore Gibbs, Samuel Gleason, Isaac Hosford, Abraham Haskins, Amos Johnson, Charles Kilbourn, Henry Hclntire, -Thomas Mason, Oliver Marshall, Timothy Marsh, -Alexander McNiel, Ebenezer Landon, Remembrance Loomis, James Little, John Lyman, Noah North, David Olmsted, Ethan Osborn, John Parmeley, Joseph Goodwin, Benjamin Gibbs, Gershom Gibbs, Henry Plumb, Eliphaz Parsons, Joseph Sanford, Frederick Stanley, Timothy Stanley, Jared Stewart, Joseph Spencer, Daniel Smith, Aaron Stoddard, Ira Stone, John Strong, Peleg Sweet, Stephen Taylor, Joseph Taylor, .Samuel Vaill, Jeremiah Weed, John Weed, Gideon Wilcoxson, John Whiting, Oliver Woodruff, Solomon Parmeley, These names are copied from the account-book and billet- roll preserved among the papers of Col. Beebe. From various accounts and memoranda found in these papers, we are able to gather certain facts in the history of some of these soldiers. Thus — " August 9, To cash paid for cofiin for Ira Stone ;" Sept. 7, " Lieut. John Smith was discharged from tbe army in New York ;" " John German was dismissed from my com pany by order of a General Court Martial, July 9, 1776 ;" " Aug. 9, James Beach died about 8 o'clock in the morning ;" "Sept. the Sth, 10 o'clock at night, Samuel Gleason died;" in the account with Joel Taylor — "Paid one doUar to Zebulon Taylor to deliver to the mother of the above Joel Taylor, de ceased, it being cash that was with him when he died ;" " Sept. 27, 1777, Received of Capt. Beebe 22 shiUings for mileage from Philadelphia to Litchfield. (Signed,) Abraham Haskins." 13 93 HISrORY OF LITCHFIELD. From .the account of Gershom Gibbs — " Received of Capt. Beebe three dollars that belonged to my husband and son, which was part of the money sent to them whilst prisoners in New York. (Signed,) Tabitha Gibbs." From the account with Nathaniel Allen—" Sept 27, 1777, To cash left with Joseph Agard to be paid to Mrs. Allen, that was left with me when Mr. Allen died." Prom the account with Phineas Goodwin — " To back rations 16 days at Fort Washington," &c. The fate of some of these individuals, together with that of many others belonging to this company, will be more fully explained in the narrative which follows. About the 1st of November, 1776, thirty-six picked men, (all of whose names are given in the preceding roll,) were placed under the command of Capt. Beebe and sent to Fort Washing ton to aid in its defense. This post, together with Fort Lee on the Jersey shore, commanded tlie mouth of the Hudson, and was hence regarded by the enemy as a tempting prize. In anticipation of an attaclc, the works had been strengthened and reinforced. At the critical time, the Fort and Harlem Heights were manned by two Pennsylvania Regiments com manded by Colonels Magraw aud Shea,Rawlin's Riflemen from Maryland, some of the militia of the flying camp, and a few companies detailed from the Connecticut Regiments. On the 15th of November, Sir William Howe summoned Colonel Ma graw, (who had the chief command of the garrison,) to sur render. That brave officer, acting under the immediate ad vice of Generals Putnam and Greene, responded, that he would defend himself to the last extremity. On the morning ofthe 16tli the attack was commenced at four difFereiit points nearly at the same moment. The Hessians under Knyphau- -sen assaulted the south side ; the English Light Infantry, two battalions of Guards, the 33d Regiment, and a body of Grena diers, commanded by General Matthews and Lord Cornwallis, attacked the east side ; on the south, a feint was attempted by Colonel Sterling with the 42d Regiment ; wliUe Lord Percy, with a very strong corps, directed the assault upon the west ern flank of the fortress. The assailants were provided with exceUent trains of artiUery, which were brought to bear with FORT WASHINGTON. 99 effect. The attack was prosecuted with extraordinary energy and spirit, and the Americans continued to defend themselves until resistance became fruitless. During a recess in the fight, the garrison was again summoned to surrender ; and, after a brief consultation with the officers, Magraw capitulated. The entire American force, amounting to two thousand six hun dred men, surrendered as prisoners of war. During the seige, the enemy lt)st about twelve hundred, and the Americans about ^four hundred. Gorton, the historian, informs us that "while the enemy were advancing to the attack. Generals Washington, Putnam and Greene, and Colonel Knox, with their aids, crossed the river and approached toward the Fort. They were warned of their danger, and, after much persuasion, were induced to return. The garrison, however, was watched with intense interest by Washington, who, from Fort Lee, could view several parts of the attack ; and when he saw his men bayoneted, and in that way killed while begging for quarter, he cried with the tender ness of a child, denouncing the barbarity that was practiced." The terms of the capitulation were regarded as liberal and honorable on the part of the victors, and highly favorable to the vanquished. The manner in which those terms were vio lated, and every principle of humanity set at naught, by the miscreants into whose hands the unfortunate prisoners were placed, is without a paraUel in the history of the revolutionary struggle. Crowded, with hundreds of others, into the Sugar- House and on board the Prison-Ships, without air or water and for the first two days without food, contagion and death were the natural consequences. The dysentery, small-pox, and other terrible diseases, broke out among them, and very few of the whole number survived the terrible ordeal. On the 27th of December, 1776, an exchange of prisoners took place. Only eleven of Captain Beebe's Company were able to sail for -Connecticut, viz., Marsh, Woodruff", R. Loomis, B. Beach, N. Beach, Marshall, Brownson, Bissell, Little, Benedict and Mason. Six of these died on their way home, viz., Bissell, Brownson, B. Beach, Marsh, Marshall and Loomis. The remainder of those who were living at that date, being too ill to be removed, were 100 HISTORY OP LITCHPIELD. left behind — ^where all (except Sergeant Mather,) died within a few days, most of them with the small-pox., Here follow the names tif these " picked men." The notes prefixed, appear to have been added by Captain Beebe at the different periods corresponding with the dates : " An Account of the Prisoners' Names and Places of Confine ment. Sergt. Cotton Mather — returned home. Sergt. David Hall — died of the small-pox on board the Gros- vener, Dec. 11, 1776. Elijah Loomis — died. Gershom Gibbs — died on board the ship, Dec. 29, 1776. Timothy Stanley — died on board the ship, Dec. 26, 1776. Amos Johnson — died Dec. 26, 1776. Timothy Marsh — died on his way home. Barnias Beach — died on his way home. Samuel Vaill — died on board the Grosvener, Dec. 27, 1776. Nathaniel Allen — died of small-pox, Jan. 1, 1777. Enos Austin — died of the small-pox, Dec. 4, 1776, in the evening. Gideon Wilcoxson — died. Thomas Mason — reached home. Alexander McNiel — died. Daniel Smith — died in New York, of small-pox, Jan. 1, 1777. Noah Beach — reached home. Daniel Benedict — reached home. Isaac Gibbs — died Jan. 15, 1777. Oliver Marshall — died on his way home. Solomon Parmely — went on board the ship, and I fear he is drowned, as I cannot find him. David Olmsted — died Jan. 4, 1777. Jared Stuart — died Jan. 26, 1777, in the morning. John Lyman — died Jan 26, 1777. ^Elisha Brownson— died on his way home. ' ¦ • The above I^ismiers are at Livingston's Sugar House. Zebulon Bissell — died in Woodbury, on his way home. Aaron Stoddard — died Jan. 12, 1777. John Parmely — died Jan. 15, 1777. Joel Taylor— died Jan. 9, 1777. James Little — reached home. Phineas Goodwin — died Jan. 5, 1777. [The above at the Church called the Nortk Church. TREATMENT OF PRISONERS. 101 • Oliver Wc^odrufif — reached home. Remembrance Loomis — died on his way home. \_The above at Bridewell. The above Prisoners belong to Capt. Beebe's Company, Col. Bradley's Regiment. Corporal Samuel Cole,"^ Were either killed or made Jeremiah Weed, 1 their escape from Fort Wash- Joseph Spencer, f ington, on the 16th of Novem- John Whiting, j ber, 1776." Probably no similar instance of mortality occurred during the entire war. Only six survivors out of a company of thirty-six hale and hearty young men, is a per-centage of loss rarely reached even in the most fatal engagements. But few, if any, of these men were slain in battle. They died misera ble deaths, from cold, hunger, thirst, suffocation, disease, and the vilest cruelty from those to whom they had surrendered their arms on a solemn promise of fair and honorable treat ment ! Well might Ethan Allen (a professed infidel,) with clenched teeth, exclaim to Captain Beebe, as he did on one occasion — " I confess my faith in my own creed is shaken ; there ought to be a hell for such infernal scoundrels as that Lowrie !" — referring to the officer in charge of the prisoners. Captain Beebe, in consideration of his office, was allowed tho limits of the city on his parol of honor, but was compelled to provide himself with food, lodging, and shelter. He was accustomed to visit his men daily, so long as any remained, and did whatever he was allowed to do, to alleviate their wretched condition. He was not exchanged with the other prisoners, but was detained within the " limits " for nearly a year, at his own expense. During much of this time. Colonel AUen was held in New York as a prisoner of war ; and, before the remnant of. the Litchfield soldiers were exchanged, these two gallant of&cers often met for consultation. ;. In June, 1776, the General Assembly ordered six battalions to be raised in this State and marched directly to New York, there to join the continental army. A company was raised in Litchfield for this service, of which Abraham Bradley was Captain, TiUey Blakesley, 1st Lieutenant, Thomas Catlin, 2d Lieutenant, and James Morris, Jr., Ensign. 102 THE HISTORY OF LITCHPIELD. Among the " Wolcott Papers " is preserved the following Deposition made on the 3d of May, 1777, before Andrew Ad ams, Esq., /. P., by Lieutenant Thomas Catlin, of this town, (father of the late Di". Abel Catlin,) who was an officer in the American army in New York in 1776. He avers, in substance, " That he was taken Prisoner by the British Troops 6n New York Island, September 15, 1776, and confined with a great number in close Gaol, eleven days ; that he had no susten ance for forty-eight hours after he was taken ; that for eleven whole days they had only about two days' allowance, and their pork was offensive to the smell. That forty-two were confined in one house, till Fort Washington was taken, when the house was crowded with other Prisoners ; after which they were in formed they sllould have two-thirds allowance— ^which consis ted of very poor Irish Pork, Bread hard, mouldy and wormy, made of canail and dregs of flax-seed. The British Troops had good bread. Brackish water was given to the Prisoners, and he had seen $1 50 given for a common pail ,of water. Only between three and four pounds of Pork was given three men for three days. That for near three months, the private sol diers were confined in the Churches, and in one were eight hundred and fifty; that about the 25th of December, 1776, he and about two hundred and twenty-five others were put on board the Glasgow at New York to be carried to Connecticut for exchange. They were on board eleven days, and kept on black, coarse broken bread, and less pork than before. Twen ty-eight died during these eleven days ! They were treated with great cruelty, and had no fire for sick or well. They were crowded between decks, and many died through hardship, iU usage, hunger and cold." , ' - This is another specimen of the treatment of our prison ers by the enemy. It is a source of gratification to every American to be able to say, that British prisoners in American hands, in the same contest, were treated more like gentlemen than like brutes. r " Before the revolution," says Mr. Gibbs, in his History of the Administrations of Washington and Adams, "a leaden equestrian statue of George III. stood in the Bowling Green THE LEADEN STATUE. 103 in the city of New York. At the breaking out of the war, this was overthrown, and, lead being highly valuable, was sent to General Wolcott's at Litchfield for safe keeping ; where, in process of time, it was cut up and run into bullets by his daughters and their friends." In a paper read before the New York Histoncal Society, by the author above quoted, in October, 1844, be gives a curious and interesting history of this statue, from which the following extracts are made : " ACCO.CNT OF THE StATUE OP GeORG^E III. FOEMERLT STANDING ON THE Bowling Green, New York. " Most of the members are probably aware that an Equestrian Statue of King George III. stood upon the Bowling Green, in this city, prior to the Revolution, and was overthrown soon after its com mencement. I believe, however, that its subsequent fate has never been recorded, and having in my possession a paper giving authentic information on the subject, I have supposed that the royal effigy might be worth a brief obituary. Holt's (New York) Gazette, as quoted by Mr. Dunlap, gives the following notice of its erection : ' August 21st, 1770, being the birth-day of Prince Frederick, the father of George III., an elegant Equestrian Statue of his present Majesty, George III. was erected in the Bowling Green, near Fort George. On this occasion the members of his Majesty's Council, the City Corporation, the Corporation of the Chamber of Commerce, Ihe Corporation of the Marine Society, and most of the gentlemen of the City and Army, waited on his Honor, the Lieutenant-Governor Col- den, in the Fort, at his request ; when his Majesty's and other loyal healths were drunk under a discharge of thirty-two pieces of cannon, from the Battery, accompanied with a band of music. This beautiful Statue is made of metal [Dunlap says, by way of parenthesis, ' the writer did not like to say what metal represented his royal majesty, the best of kings — it was lead,'} being the first equestrian one of his present Majesty, and is the workmanship of that celebrated statuary, Mr. Wilton of London.' ' Symptoms of disloyalty, betokening revolulion I suppose, soon man ifested themselves in the rude treatment of the effigy, for on the 6th or February, 1773. an act was passed ' to prevent the defacing of Statues which are erected in the city of New York.' Upon the above account Mr. Dunlap observes — ' This statue stood till sometime in 1776. I saw it^in 1775. In 1776 it was thrown down, and tradition says converted into bullets to resist his gracious majesty's soldiers when sent to enforce the doctrine of ' the sovereign ty of the British ParUament over the Colonies in all cases whatsoever' — the doctrine of Mr. Pitt, Lord Chatham, which he died inan effort to enforce. Tbe pedestal stood until long after the Revolution. No 104 HISTORY OP UTCHFIELD. fragment of the horse or his rider was ever seen after its overthrow, and so completely had the memory of the event been lost, that I have never found a person who could tell me on what occasion it was or dered, or when placed in the Bowling Green.' Some cotemporary notices of the destruction of this effigy have been pointed out to me, which I will cite. The first is from a book of general order* issued by Washington, the original of which is in the possession of this Society. It is as follows : « July 10. Though the General doubts hot the persons whopuUed down and mutilated the statue in Broadway last night, acted in the public cause, yet it has so much the appearance of riot and want of order in the army, that he disapproves of the manner, and directs that in future these things shall be avoided by the soldiery and left to be executed by proper authority.' The next is in a letter from Ebenezer Hazard to General Gates, dated July 12th, 1776, which will be found among the Gates Papers, and in the Society's Collection — and is as follows : 'The King of England's arms have been burned in Philadelphia, and his statue here has been pulled down to make musket balls of, so that his troops will probably have melted majesty fired at them.' Another is in a letter from New York, of July 11, 1776, pubUshed in the New Hampshire Gazette of the 27th — -¦ ' Last Monday evening, the Equestrian Statue of George III., with tory pride and foUy raised in the year 1770, was, by the Sons of Freedom, laid prostrate in the dust — the just desert of an ungrateful tyrant. The lead wherewith this monument is made, is to be run into bullets, to assimulate with the brains of our infatuated adversa ries, who, to gain a peppercorn, have lost an empire. A gentleman who was present at the ominous fall of his leaden majesty, looking back to the original's hopeful beginning, pertinently exclaimed in the language of the angel to Lucifer — ' If thou he'est he, but ah how fallen ! how changed !' ' Mr. Stephens* (Incidents of Travel in Russia, etc., vol. ii, p. 23,) mentions having met with a curious memorial of its destruction, and at an out of the way place. This was a gaudy and flaring engraving in a black wooden frame, representing the scene of its destruction, which he found in a tavern at Chioff, in Russia. 'The grouping of picture,' he says, ' was rude and grotesque, the ringleader being a long negro stripped to his trowsers, and straining with all his might npon a rope, one end of which was fastened to the head of the statue and the other tied around his own waist, his white teeth and the whites of his eyes being particularly conspicuous on a heavy ground of black.' How this picture found its way to Russia, it would be difficult to imagine ; it would certainly be not less a curiosity here than there. The document I have mentioned gives an account of its remaining history in a shape which history seldom assumes, that of an account * John L. Stephens, the celebrated traveler, was a graduate of the Litchfield Law School. THB LEADEN STATUE. "IQg current. It is preserved among the papers of General (afterwards Governor) Wolcott, of Connecticnt. It is a statement of the number of cartridges made from the materials of the statue by the young la dies of Litchfield, and is in these words : • Mrs. Marvin, 3456 cartridges. " " on former account, 2602 6058 Ruth Marvin on former account, 6204 Not sent to court house 449 packs, 5388 11,592 Laura, on former account, 4250 Not sent to court house 344 packs, 4128 8378 Mary Ann, on former account, 5762 Not sent to the court house 119 packs, out of which I let CoL Perley Howe have 3 packs, 5028 10,790 Frederick, on former account, 708 Not sent to court house 19 packs, 228 936 37,754 Mrs. Beach's two accounts, 2,002 Made by sundry persons, . 2,182 Gave Litchfield Militia, on alarm, 50 Let the regiment of Col. Wigglesworth have 300 Cartridges, No. 42,288 Overcharged in Mrs. Beach's account, 200 42,088' The original document is in General Wolcott's hand writing, and is endorsed ' number of cartridges made.' There is.no date to it, nor is there mention made by him ofthe fact of their being made from the statue ; but a memorandum added by his son, the last Governor Wol cott, explains it as follows : • ' N. B. An equestrian statue of George the Third of Great Britain was erected in the city of New York, on the Bowling Green, at the lower end of Broadway, Most of the materials were lead, but richly gilded to resemble gold. At the beginning of the Revolution, this statue was overthrown. Lead then being scarce and dear, the statue was broken in pieces, and the metal transported to Litchfield as a place of safety. The ladies of the village converted the lead into cart- 'lidges, of which the preceding is an account. O. W.' r'-^The'Mrs. and Miss Marvin and Mrs. Beach, mentioned in the pa per,' belonged to famiUes who yet reside in Litchfield ; the other per sons "'yarned, were the two daughters and youngest son of General JWolcott . , 14 106 HISTORY OF LITCHFIELD. - Litchfield, it may be noticed, was, during the war, a place of great importance as a miUtary depot. After the capture of New York by the British in 1776, all communication between New England and Pennsylvania was turned tb the westward of the Highlands on the Hudson, and the troops and stores were usually passed through that viUage as a point on the most convenient route to the posts on the river yet in possession of the Americans. General Wolcott, who was a member of the Continental Congress, Uved there ; and, during the intervals of his congressional attendance, was constantly occupied in raising troops to supply the requisitions of Washington, Putnam and Gates. It appears from his letters that he returned to Connecticut shortly after the adoption of the Declaration of Independence, of which he was one of the signers, and it is probable that the statue was transported there at his instance, immediately after its destruction. Of its identity as the material for the cartridges above mentioned, there can be no doubt. The last Govemor Wolcott, on graduating from Yale College in 1778, was appointed to an office in the Quarter Master's Department, under General Greene, and was posted at Litch field in charge of the stores there. His opportunity for knowing the fact, as mentioned in his note, was therefore certain. The late Hon. Judge Wolcott, moreover, who figures in the account as ' Frederick,' and who was a hoy at the time, informed me a few years ago that he well remembered the circumstance of the statue being sent there, and that a shed was erected for the occasion in an apple-orchard adjoining the house, where his father chopped it up with a wood axe, and the girls had a frolic in running the bullets and making them up into cart ridges. I suppose the alarm of the militia, on. which some ^ere dis tributed, was Tryon's Invasion in 1777, when Danbury was burnt. On this occasion, fourteen men, tlie last in Litchfield capable of hear- .ing arms, were started at midnight to aid in repulsing the enemy." A few miscellaneous facts relating to Litchfield men are here introduced nearly in chronological order. : It sho\ild have been mentioned^ previouslyj that Captain David Welch, of Litchfield, commanded a company that was caUed into active service early in ,1775, and in April of that year he was commissioned as Major in ColonelHinman's regi ment. He served throughout the war, and was an efficient and popular officer. During this year, also, Jedediah Strong was appointed a Commissary to purchase Horses for the Army ; and OUver Wolcott was chosen a member pf the continental congress. -Fisher Gay, of Farmington, (a native of this town,) was one of the Lieutenant-Colonels appointed and commis sioned at the special session of the Legislature held in March. Ll May, 1776, Amos Parmeley was allowed by the Assembly £14: 12 : 1, lawful money, " for nursing his sick son, John, MISCELLANEOUS EVENTS. 107 who was a soldier in Major Welch's company, General Woos- ter's regiment, in the northern army, in 1775J' This is the John Parmeley who died in captivity in New York, in Janu ary, 1777. Jedediah Strong was appointed Commissary for the purchase of Clothing, and on a Committee to exchange bUls of credit for specie. On the 4th of July, Oliver Wolcott appended his name to the Declaration ofi Independence. In October he was re appointed a member of the continental congress. Drs. Reuben Smith and Seth Bird were appointed by the Legislature, in October, on a committee " to examine all per sons in this State that should be offered at Surgeons or Sur geons' Mates in the continental army ov navy, and if found qualified, to give them certificates." Andrew Adams was appointed, with others, to cause the arrest of aU suspected persons, and those dangerous to the Uberties of America. In December, the Legislature appointed Tapping Reeve and Lynde Lord on a committee to " to rouse and animate the people," and endeavor to procure the enlistment of volunteers for Washington's army. A company was forthwith raised in Litchfield, and the foUowing officers were commissioned — Na thaniel Goodwin, Captain ; Alexander Waugh, Lieutenant ; and Ozias Goodwin, Ensign. At the same session. Colonel Wolcott was promoted to the rank of Brigadier General, and given the command of the Fourth Brigade. WhUe General Wolcott was attending upon the sessions of Congress in Philadelphia, his principal Litchfield correspon dents (aside from Mrs. Wolcott and his son Oliver,) were Samuel Lyman, Esq., and Dr. Reuben Smith — ^bolh, of course, true patriots. Mr. Lyman was accustomed to write upon family matters, and on pubUc affairs generally; whUe -Dr. "Smith kept the General advised on subjects of local interest. We give the subjoined letter from Dr. Smith entire— wiih. the •simple suggestion, that considerable allowance must be made for the personal and political prejudices of the writer. His insinuation in regard to Major Welch, for instance, was alike ungenerous and uncalled for. If his active service on the 108 HISTORY OP LITCHFIELD. field does not afford sufficient evidence of his zeal in the cause of Independence, we have yet a surer test of his patriotism in the fact that it was again and again endorsed by a majority of his feUow-townsmen, in electing him to" various public offi ces — at times, too, when they would not tolerate the least suspicion of toryism. When Dr. Smith's letter was writ ten, a feeling of coldness and despondency seemed to pre- vaU among the patriots throughout the colonies. A re-action had succeeded the enthusiasm with which the Revolution was inaugurated. Frequent reverses had led some of the truest friends of freedom to fear as to the final result of the conflict in which they were engaged. In addition to this, the fact is not to be disguised that there had been from the first a for midable minority of the voters of this town .who were bitter opponents of the " Great Rebellion," as they were wont to term it. These facts wUl serve to account for the temporary inactivity of the patriots in Litchfield, of which the Doctor complains. « Litchfield, I7th April, 1777. Hon'd Sir — Your favor of the 1st instant came to hand the 15th, and I now sit down to give you the desired information, though ignor ant of any proper conveyance. .At the Town Council in January, John Marsh, Sd, and Daniel Rowe, .were objected to as Innholders ; upon which Captain John, who ia jthis year one of the Selectmen, moved that Marsh might be called in, jWhich was agreed to. He accordingly came in, and acknowledged the several chaises in substance, and openly declared that in his opin ion America had better settle, the dispute on the best terms they could obtain- from Great Britain ; that the further- we proceeded, the 'deeper we should get in the mire, (his own words,) 'and must finally submit. Captain John tried to help him out, by putting some questions which jwould admit of ambiguous answers; but the young man was too open and frank in his answers, and accordingly, was left out, as was Rowe. Captain Seymour and David Stoddard were put in their room. The latter end of January I joined the army nnd§r- General Woos- tfer, and retreatmg soon after in a stormy night, was over fatigued feU sick, was carried up to Horseneck and there discharged, and re^ turned home some lime in February. Some soldiers having brought home the small pox, I found a number had ventured upon innoculation without makmg proper provision that it might not spread in the town. The people were much divided ; some warmly engaged for innocula^ tion, others as warmly opposed. Unhappily for me, I was chosen one of the Selectmen this year, (with Captain Marsh, Mr. Strong, Cap- tain McNiele and Captain Osborn,) and was therefore under a neeesS- LETTER FROM DR. REUBEN SMITH. 109 ty of interposing in the matter; and thought best, as it was against law, neither to encourage or oppose, but endeavor to bring it under proper regulations — in which, however, I failed of the wished for suc cess, our counsels being very much divided. Several having taken it the natural way from those that were innoculated, Captain Marsh was engaged to crush innoculation wholly ; and some people have been so unreasonable as to say Mr. Strong was both for and against it. . Be that as it way, it served as a game. Both had Uke to have been losers. I can't recoUect that March produced anything very remarkabl e except the struggle about the small pox. April ia a month of great importance and expectation. Several appeared by the suffrages to be candidates for election at the Freemen's Meeting. Mr. Adams came in first ; and, after many rounds, Mr. Strong just carried it against Captain Bradley. Captain John Marsh fell much short of the number I expected. Major Welch, who for some time has appeared a cool friend of the American cause, was ob served to have nearly all the tory votes. So much for Deputies. The Constables for Litchfield were Lieutenant Mason, (since dead,) Al exander Catlin, Briant and David Stoddard. Lieutenant Mason was appointed in the winter service, was seized with a pleurisy at De- Lancey's Mills, (Westchester,) sent over to Rochelle, and when we retreated from Fort Independence, was removed to Mamrock, where he died the same day. His eldest son, who was with Captain Beebe at Fort Washington, came home about the same time in a very miser able condition, and is since dead. Captain Beebe and Lieutenant Jesse Grant stiU remain in captivity. It was said, after our success at Trenton and Princeton, that we were abundantly able to exchange all our prisoners ; and certain it is, that we have numbers in hand, and yet our people are held prisoners. Is there not somewhere a neg lect? May these partial ills be productive of universal good! Has my honored friend any bright prospects ? Has be any cordial for one almost in the Nadir of Despondency ? Public spirit and virtue exist with us only in idea. Almost every one is pursuing his private "gain, to the entire neglect of the public good. Our proportion of the continental army, I believe, is not half completed. Men will not en list, and if drafted only for six weeks, (as has lately been the case,) they will rather pay a fine of five pounds. Thirteen men were the other day drafted in Captain Marsh's company to go to Peekskill and to be held but six weeks after their arrival. Not one has gone or in tends to go. This town met last week and voted £12 premium for every one that should enlist into the continental army for three years or during the war; but I cannot leam that one man has enUsted since. "This day orders came to town from the Governor and Council of Safe ty to fill up the Eight Battalions immediately, by drafting men out of .the militia and alarm companies, till the 1st of" January ; but it will hot be done, as a fine of five pounds will excuse from going. - Oiir money is continually depreciating. This week, John CoUins Sold two yoke of oxen for £95, which might have been bought a twelve month past for £20 p^r yoke. Every nece»ary article is eontinuaUy 110 HISTORY OP LITCHPIELD. rising in price, which proves a fatal discouragement to men's engagt ing in the service ; for if they go, their famiUes (say they) must un avoidably suffer and starve, as their bounty and pay wiU not procure them the necessary support. Monday, 28wiU serve as an iUustration ofthe character of the clergy of that period: " When the whole country was in a state of alarm at the inteUigence that Lord Cornwallis, with a large fleet and ar mament, was approaching the American coast, Colonel Tall madge happened to pass through Litchfield with a regiment FATHER CHAMPION 3 REVOLUTIONARY PRAYER. 129 of cavalry. While there, he attended public worship with his troops on Sunday, at the old meeting-house that stood up on the village green. The occasion was deeply interesting and exciting. The Rev. Judah Champion, then the settled minister of the place — a man of great eloquence and of a high order of intellectual endowment — in view of tlie alarming crisis, thus invoked the sanction of Heaven : " Oh Lord ! we view with terror the approach ot" the enemies of thy holy religion. Wilt thou send storm and tempest, to toss them upon the sea and to overwelm them upon the mighty deep, or to scatter them to the uttermost parts of the earth. But, peradventure, should any escape thy vengeance, collect them together again, O Lord 1 as in the hollow of thy hand, and let thy lightnings play upon them ! We beseaoh thee, moreover, that thou do gird up the loins of these thy servants, who are going forth to fight thy battles. Make them strong men, that " one shall chase a thousand, and two shall put ten thousand to flight," Hold before them the shield, with which thou wast wont in the old time to protect thy chosen people. Give them swift feet that they may pursue their enemies, and swords terrible as that of thy De stroying Angel, that they may cleave them down when they have overtaken them. Preserve these servants of thine. Almighty God ! and bring them once more to their homes and friends, if thou canst do it consistantly with thine high purposes. If, on the other hand, thou hast decreed that they shall die in battle, let thy Spirit be pres ent with them and breathe upon them, that they may go up as a sweet sacrifice into the courts of thy temple, where are habitations prepared for them from the foundations of the world." In the course of the revolutionary struggle, Litchfield was visited by most of the principal officers of the army. In one ofthe letters from Colonel Adams to General Wolcott, dated at Litchfield, May 6, 1777, the writer says — " WhUe I am writing, a Prussian General has arrived in town on his way to headquarters, said to have proper credentials." This is understood to have been Count Rochambeau, who came to this country early in the year 1777. General La Fayette passed at least one night in this village, while en route toward the Hudson with a train loaded with provisions and stores for the French Army. On this occasion he lodged in the south front room of the Judge Reeve House in South street. On the evening of Saturday, August 23d, 1780, General Wash ington arrived here, on his way from Hartford to West Point, and was (according to Mr. Gibbs,) entertained at tiie hospit- 17 130 HISTORY OF LITCHFIFXD. able mansion of General Wolcott, in South street. He spent the night in the village, and on the following morning pro ceeded westward, arriving at' West Point about 11 o'clock on Monday morning. ' It was at this time that he discovered the treason of Benedict Arnold, who commanded at that post. Washington's suite, among whom were Hamilton and Meade, were with hira on the occasion referred to.* Nearly a year later, Washington again passed through this town, as appears from the foUowing extract from his Diary : " May 18,1781. — Set out this day for an interview at Weth ersfield, with the Count de Rochambeau and Admiral Barras. Reached Morgan's Tavern, forty-three mileS from Fishkill Landing, after dining- at Colonel Vanderberg's. 19th. — Breakfasted at Litchfield, dined at Farmington, and lodged at Wethersfield, at the house of Mr. Joseph Webb." It is more than probable that the commander-in-chief was in Litchfield a third time. On the first visit above referred to, (if the dates given at the time, in the Hartford Courant, are correct,) he lodged here on a Saturday night, and took his de parture for the Hudson on Sunday morning. Our venerable fellow-townsman. Captain Salmon Buel, well remembers to have seen Washington on one of his visits to this town, at which time he is very sure he spent the night at the Gould House, in North street, then occupied as a tavern by Mr. Sam uel Sheldon. At all events, he went there in the morning, with about fifty of his school-fellows, for the purpose of seeing the renowned commander. A company of horse-guards were drawn up before the house, waiting for him ; but, as he was not ready to start, the guards rode down North street, and for a considerable distance out West street — returning in a short time to the Gould House. The General now came out mounted his horse, and the cavalcade proceeded down South street — perhaps te enable him to pay his respects to the Wol- cotts. Captain Buel is certain this was not on a Sunday morning. *See Gibbs- Adm's. of Washington and Adams, vol. i. p. 17 ; also, Hollister's Hist of Conn , vol. ii. p. 387. Washington's visits to litchfield. 131 The late Rev. Truman Marsh informed George C. Woodrufi", Esq., that in one of his visits to this town, Washington put up at the Kilbourn House, in Nortl; street, it then being an inn kept probably by Captain William Stanton. This house is still standing, between the Tallmadge Place and the residence of the late Dr. Samuel Buel. Several incidents connected with Washington's visits to Litchfield have been preserved. " A ludicrous story is told on this subject," writes Judge Boardman, of New Milford. "While Washington was riding through th^ west part of Litchfield, at the head of his retinue, a man named Clemens sallied out with a square bottle of rum in his hand, and addressed him some what after this style — " Great and glorious Washington ! will you condescend to take a dram with such a poor dog as I am ?" The General, with his habitual dignified courtesy, took the bottle and put it to his lips, to the immense gratification of his enraptured admirer, who always believed he had drank with General Washington." The following anecdote has been before published : A staid farmer residing in the upper part of Beach street — well known by the sobriquet of " Uncle App" — set out for the East Mill on horseback, with a load of grain. He was a true patriot, and loved the very name of Washington. On reaching the County House corner, he was informed that Washington had just left the village, and the procession was pointed out to him in the distance. In an instant. Uncle App's horse was seen dashing at full speed to the westward, the bags bounding at every jump, and the long skirts of the rider's overcoat stream ing in the wind. Gaining the head of the procession, he con- , fronted the leader face to faee. " Are you General Washing ton ?" he eagerly asked. " I am, sir," was the reply. " God Almighty bless your Excellency .'" was the emphatic response of the farmer, as he wheeled his horse — and the next moment he was quietly jogging toward the Mill. I recently submitted this incident, as here given, to Captain Buel, who knew Uncle App intimately. He assures me that the story is correct except in one important particular, viz., that the officer with whom he had the interview was not Gen- 132 history of LITCHPIELD. eral Washington, but one of his attendants — perhaps the Cap tain of the Guard ; and that iu fact he did not see Washington at all ! If Captain B. is correct in this, (and he is not likely to be mistaken,) the event doubtless took place at the time referred to on page 130, when the Guard paraded through West street before Washington was ready to join them. It is stated in the Appendix to the Rev. Isaac Jones' Cen tennial Discourse, preached in this town in 1845, that once when Washington passed through Litchfield, his soldiers, to evince their attachment to Iiim, threw a shower of stones at the windows of the Episcopal church, which then stood about a west of the Court House. He promptly reproved them, say ing — " I am a Churchman, and wish not to see the church dishonored and desecrated in this manner." It is a well known fact that during the war which had now closed so auspiciously, the American Army received frequent and valuable accessions by desertions from the British ranks. Two English soldiers, named Robert Morris and Richard Mor ris, at'one time applied for admission into the corps command ed by Captain Beebe of this town. They were accordingly enrolled as members of his company, and proved to be most excellent soldiers. It so happened that on one occasion they were about to engage in battle with the very regiment from which they had deserted. As a guard was to be left behind to protect the baggage. Captain Beebe, well knowing what their fate would be should they be taken prisoners, proposed that they should remain for that purpose. They begged to be excused from such an inglorious service — ^preferring to fight, and declaring that they did not intend to be taken. They did fight, and the EngUsh captain under whom they had for merly served, was among the prisoners who feU into the hands of the Americans. On the return of peace, Richard Morris settled in this town, and here for many years pursued his trade as a weaver. Being a bachelor, he built himself a little house, and lived entirely alone. In his latter years he became in temperate. He was found dead in his bed, August 24, 1806. The verdict of the Jury of Inquest was — " His death was oc casioned by drinking too large a draft of spirituous liquor, JOHN I. GATTA, THf HESSIAN. loo taken intentionally from, his own hand." The fatal bottle, containing about half a gill of brandy, lay on his breast, round the neck of which one hand was clasped, the other being placed on the bottom. John I. Gatta, a Hessian soldier, also became a permanent resident of Litchfield. He was a native of Hesse Castle, in Germany, and the only son of a wealthy baker, to which business he was also bred. With many others, he was pressed into the mUitary service by order of the reigning Prince, who had stipulated to furnish soldiers to King George of England, at so much per head, to be employed against the colonies. Gatta was soon put to the work of baking for the troops. He seems to have resolved from the first never to fight against America ; but an incident occurred before his arrival on our coast, which doubtless confirmed this resolution and hastened his desertion. He was a young man of spirit, and quite unaccustomed to the discipline which prevailed in the army. On being insulted by a subaltern officer, he sud denly raised a glass bottle which he held in his hand, filled with vinegar, and broke it over the head of the offendep. For this breach of order, he was sentenced to receive five hundred lashes — which sentence was subseqaently executed, though he was accustomed to say the flogging " didn't hurt much." On a certain night, while the ship in which he was brought over was lying at anchor near New York, Gatta quietly low ered a small boat into the water, paddled himself ashore,. en listed into a New York regiment, and served his adopted country faithfully during the remainder of the war. As al ready stated, he settled in this town ; and here, in 1791, he jmarried Sarah, daughter of Mr. Oliver Collins and grand daughter of the Rev. Timothy Collins. His descendants are now among our mcJst respected people. Mr. Gatta was a mark ed character, and somewhat eccentric. He had been so long in the service as to acquire habits of military precision and promptness, and a soldier's proverbial indifference to death. Said he — " When the Lord calls John I. Gatta, I shall answer, ' Here ." " Alas ! — ^he heard the roU-call long ago, which sujnmoned him from a world of vicissitude and trial to the land ui^seen. He died in this town in 1837, aged 81 years. 134 HISTORy OF LITCHFIELD. Towards the close of life, he thought and talked much of his native land and of the friends of his youth ; and sometimes' told, with much emotion, how, after his impressment, his mother, having pleaded in vain for his release, followed the press-gang for a distance of twenty miles, that she might have the mournful satisfaction of bidding her son farewell !j John Glass, William Barrell, Henry Poulson, James Glass aud Adam Tilford, all British soldiers in the revolution, be came residents of this town, and some of them died here, leav ing families. JOHN I. GATTAj. TMJ .HESSIA^ taken intentionally from his own hand." containing about half a gUl of brandy, lay on the neck of which one hand was clasped, the o on the bottom. John I. Gatta, a Hessian sol a pernianent resident of Litchfield. He was Castle, in Germany, and the only son of a \ which business he was also bred. With mar pressed into the mUitary service by order Prince, who had stipulated to furnish soldiert of England, at so much per head, to be emp' colonies. Gatta was soon put to the work c troops. He seems to have resolved from fight agaiust America ; but an incident occ arrival on our coast, which doubtiess confirmi and hastened his desertion. Hewas a youn and quite imaccustomed to the discipline wh the army. On being msulted by a subalteri denly raised a glass bottle which he held ii with vinegar, and broke it over the head of tl this breach of order, he was sentenced to rece lashes — which sentence was subseqaently exet was accustomed to say the flogging " didi On a certain night, while the ship in which over was lying at anchor near New York, G ered a small boat into the water, paddled hir listed into a New York regiment, and ser country faithfully during the remainder of t, ready stated, he settled in this town ; and he ..^married Sarah, daughter of Mr. Oliver Col daughter of the Rev. Timothy ColUns. His now among our m^t respected people. Mr. G ed character, and somewhat eccentric. He 1 in the service as to acquire habits of militar promptness, and a soldier's proverbial indiflfe Said he — " When the Lord caUs John I. G«.tt; * Here!' " Alas! — ^he heard the roU-call 1 summoned him from a world of vicissitude land un^seen. He died in this town in 1831 HISTOBjr OP LITCHFIELD. ise of life, he thought and talked much pf his L of the friends of his youth; and sometimes' ll emotion, how, after his impressment, his pleaded in vain for his release, followed the \ distance of twenty miles, that she might have atisfaction of bidding her son farewell !J WilUam BarreU, Henry Poulson, James Glass ord, all British soldiers in the revolution, be- of this town, and some of them died here, leav- ETHAN ALLEN. 137 sagatlia, worsted stockings, coarse shoes, and a red worsted cap. On ship board he was treated with great severity, being a part ofthe time hand-cufifed and imprisoned in a dirty cell. When angry, his rage was terrible. Once, on being insulted by a petty officer, he twisted oS", with his teeth, a ten-penny nail with which his shackles were fastened ! During the spring of 1776, he was brought back to America — but was detained in New York as a prisoner of war, until May 6, 1778, when he was exchanged for Colonel Campbell. After repairing to headquarters, and offering his services to General Washington, Allen visited the Grants, (or Vermont,) were his arrival was announced by the discharge of cannon, and other demonstra^ tiOns of joy. The newly organized State of Vermont appoint ed him to the office of Major-General and commander-in-chief of the State militia, and sent him as a special delegate to the National Congress. He was also elected a Representative to the Legislature — a post to which he was repeatedly re-elected. Aside from several pamphlets which had their origin in the controversy with New York, Allen published a Narrative of his Captivity iu a volume of 200 pages, and a theological work entitled " TAe Oracles of Reason," in which he attempts to subvert the doctrines of Christianity. His writings are bold, artful and egotistical, and, though sometimes crude and unpol ished, evince talents of a high order. The following anecdote (indicating that Allen in reality had very little faith in his own system of divinity,) is contained in a note to page 409, volume ii, of President Dwiglit's " Travels in New England and New York:" " Dr. Elliot, who removed from Guilford in Connecticut, to Vermont, was well acquainted with Colonel Allen, and had made him a visit at a time when his daughter was very sick and near to death. He was introduced to the Library, where the Colonel read to him some of his writings with much self- complacency, and asked — " Is not that well done ?" WhUe they were thus employed, a messenger entered and informed Colonel AUen that his daughter was dying, and desired to him. He immediately went to her chamber, accompanied by Pr. ElUot, who was desirous of \«tnessing the interview. The 18 138""'^ - _ HISTORY OP LITCHPIELD. • wife of Allen was a pious woman, and had instructed her daughter in the principles of Christianity. As soon as h^r father appeared at her bed-side, she said to him — ' I am about to die ; shall 1 believe in tiie principles you have taught me, or shall I believe in what my mother has taught me ?' He becanae extremely agitated ; his chin quivered ; his whole frame sliook— aiid after waiting a few moments, he replied — ' Be lieve ii;hat your mother has taught you.' " 'While Allen was on parole in New York, a British officer of lionorable rank sent for him to call at his lodgings. On his arrival, the officer told him that his fidelity, though in a wrong cause, had won the good opinion of Lord Howe, who was disposed to show him favor. He, at the same time, held out to him brilliant prospects of promotion and money, and large tracts of land either in Connecticut or Vermont at the close of the war. Allen replied, that if by faithfulness he had recommended himself to General Howe, he should be loth by uiifaithfulness to forfeit the General's good opinion ; and as to the lands, he regarded the ofi'er not unlike that made by Satan to Christ, who promised him " alHhe kingdoms ofthe world," when in fact " the old devil didn't own an acre !" The officer thereupon sent him away as incorrigable. Jared Sparks, LL. D., (late President of Harvard College,) in his Biography of the subject of this sketch, says — " There is much to admire in the character of Ethan Allen. He was brave, generous and frank — true to his country, consistent and unyielding in his purposes, seeking at all times to promote the best good of mankind — a lover of social harnioiiy, and a deter mined foe to the artifices of injustice aiid the .encroachments of power. Few have suffered more ih the caiise'of freedom, few have borne their sufferings with a firmer constancy or a loftier spirit. His courage, even when approacliingto rashness, was ^ calm and deliberate. No man probably ever possessed this attribute in a more remarkable degree. He was eccentric aud anibitipus, but these weaknesses, if such they were, never betrayed him into acts dishonorable, unworthy or selfish. So rigid was be in his patriotism, that, when it was discovered that one of his brothers had avowed tofy principles and had ETHAN ALLEN. 139 been guilty of a correspondence with the enemy, he entered a public complaint against him in his own name, and peti tioned the Court to confiscate his property in obedience to the law. His enemies never had cause to question his magnanim ity, or his friends to regret confidence misplaced or expecta tions disappointed.. He was kind, benevolent, humane and placable. In short, whatever may have been his peculiarities, and however these may have diminislied 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." This is certainly a high compliment, coming from the source it does. The theological writings of Allen, however, were not calculated to render him popular with the good people of New England. Preachers, poets and critics joined in a furious cru sade against him, to all of which he affected the utmost con tempt. Soon after the publication of his " Oracles," alluding to the anticipated attacks of the clergy, (in a letter to a friend,) he says — " I defy the whole artillery of heU-fire." The follow ing piece of satire from the pen of Dr. Lemuel Hopkins, (him self for some years a resident of Litchfield,) is preserved in Dr. Elihu Hubbard Smith's " Collection of American Poetry," which was printed at Litchfield, by Collier & Adam, in 1792 : " Lo, AUen, 'scaped from British jails, His tushes broke bj biting nails, Appears in hyperborean skies, To tell the world the Bible lies. See him on Green Hills north afar, Glow like a self-enkindled star. Prepared (with mob-coUeeting club, Black from the forge of Beelzebub, And grim with metaphysic scowl. With quill just plucked from wing of owl,) As rage or reason rise or sink. To-shed his blood, or shed his ink. Behold, inspired from Vermont dens, The seer of anti-Christ descends. To feed new mobs with hell-bom manna In Gentile lands of Susquehanna ; And teach the Pennsylvania qnaker High blasphemies against his Maker. Behold him move, ye staunch divines ! 140 HISTORY OP LITCHHELD. Jlis tall head bustling tfarough the pines ; All front he seems, like wall of brass. And brays tremendous as an ass. One hand is clenched to batter noses. While t'other scrawls 'gainst Paul and Mos6s !" On the 23d of June, 1762, Allen married Mary Bronson of Woodbury, who died in 1784. Tlieir children were — Jo seph, Loraina, Lucy, Mary Ann, and Pamela. Loraina died young, and was the subject ofthe anecdote just given. General Allen died of apoplexy, on his estate at Colchester, Vermont, February 12, 1789, aged 51 years. A splendid monument, forty feet in height, (to be surmounted by a colossal statue of the hero,) has recently been erected to his memory at Burlington, by the Legislature of Vermont. The Honorable ELISHA SHELDON, a native of Lyme, and a graduate of Yale College in the class of 1730, became a resident of this village in 1753, and here spent the remainder of his life. He was an Associate Judge of the Court of Com mon Pleas for Litchfield County from 1754 to 1761 ; at which latter date be was elected a member of the Council, or Upper House, in which distinguished body he sat until his decease — a period of eighteen years. He was also chosen a Representa tive by the freemen of this town at ten semi-annual elections. Mr. Sheldon was equally conspicuous in the civil and ecclesi astical affairs of the town, and was often called upon to pre side at our town meetings. He also, for a period of eighteen years, held the office of County Treasurer. An active patriot in the revolution, he was not unfrequently appointed by the Legislature, and by his fellow-citizens, on important commit tees, having for their object the advancement of the common cause. He died in the midst of the great contest. His re mains rest in the West Burying-Ground, beneath a marble tablet, on which is inscribed the following epitaph : " This Monument is erected to the Memory of the Hon. Elisha Shel don, Esq., who departed this Ufe September the first, Anno Domini 1779, in the 79th year of his age. A Gentieman of extensive genius and Liberal Education, called in early Ufe to various public employments, both CivU and MiUtary, aU which he executed with punctuality and fidelity ; much respected for his Generosity and Benevolence, and greatly lamented by OUVER WOLCOTT. 141 his extensive Acquaintance. In early Ufe he made a profes sion of the Christian Religion, and tUl his Death adorned it by a very Exemplary Conversation. ' Blessed are the Dead who die in the Lord.' " The wife of Mr. Sheldon was Elizabeth Ely, by whom he had five chUdren, viz., Lois, (m. Lynde Lord, Esq., Sheriff,) Mary, Thomas, Samuel, and Col. Elisha, (commander of the 2d Regiment of Light Dragoons in the Continental Army.) The Honorable OLIVER WOLCOTT, LL. D., (son of His Excellency, the Hon. Roger Wolcott, Govemor and Chief Justice of Connecticut,) was born in Windsor, December 20, 1726, and was graduated at Yale College in 1745. . In early manhood, he commanded a company of volunteers in the Northern Army, in the war against the French. Having pur sued the usual course of medical studies, he established him self as a physician in Goshen, and was residing there at the date of the organization of the County of Litchfield, October, 1751. The Legislature appointed him the first High Sheriff of the new County, and he immediately took up his abode in this village, and continued to reside here until his decease, a period of forty-six years. He was thus but twenty-five years of age when lie became a resident of Litchfield, and hence his fame, subsequently achieved, as really belongs to us as if he had been born in the town. In 1752, he erected the "Wolcott .; House" in South street, which is still one of the most desirable residences in the place, though more than a century has rolled by since its foundations were laid. With a commanding per sonal appearance, dignified manners, a clear ahd cultivated intellect, and a character for integrity far above the reach of suspicion, it is not to be wondered at that he became a favorite of the people with whom his lot was cast. Besides holding the office of Sheriff for over twenty years, he was chosen a Repre- "sentative to the Legislature five times between the years 1764 and 1770, inclusive ; a member of the Council or Upper House from 1771 to 1786 ; Judge of the Court of Probate for the District of Litchfield from 1772 to 1795 ; Judge of the Court of Common Pleas from 1773 to 1786 ; and member of the Continental Congress from 1775 to 1784, (except two years.) 142 HISTORY OP LITCHFIELD. * He was one of that memorable band of patriots and sages who, on the 4th of July, 1776, aflaxed their names to the Declaration of Independence. In the early part of the war of the Revolu tion, Judge Wolcott was commissioned as a Brigadier General, and Congress appointed him a Commissioner on Indian Aflfairs for the Northern Department, with General Schuyler aud oth ers. In May, 1779, he was elected by the Legislature and com missioned by Governor Trumbull, as Major General of the Militia of Connecticut, to succeed General James Wadsworth, resigned. In these important and responsible stations, he rendered the country essential service. On the field, in the camp, at tbe rendezvous, in the apartments of the Commissary of Supplies — ^in fact, wherever he could render himself useful — he was found, ever prompt in planning and efficient in exe cuting. At the same time he was an active member of the Committee of Safety ; and, when at home, was equally zealous and conspicuous in the local aflfairs of the town — officiating as Moderator, Selectman, Committee-man, &c. Indeed, no man in the State, at this period, discharged so many and varied public duties. A considerable share of the reputation which Connecticut acquired for promptness in furnishing men and means for the army, is due to General Wolcott. Certainly, to no other individual in the western counties could Governor Trumbull or General Washington appeal for aid, with the cer tainty of success, as to liim> In 1786, he was elected to the office of Lieutenant-Governor of the State, and was annuaUy re-elected for a period of ten years. In May, 1796, he was chosen Governor — the highest executive office in the gift of the people of his native State. To this distinguished position he was again elevated at the an nual election in 1797. He was now seventy years of age. His naturaUy robust constitution began to feel the weight of care and responsibility which had been so long pressing upon it. He departed this Ufe at his residence in Litchfield, December 1, 1797, aged 71 years. A sermon was preached at his funeral by the Rev. Azel Backus, D. D., which was published. Gov ernor Wolcott had long been a professed disciple of Christ, and his faith in the efficacy of the great Atonement sustained him OLIVER WOLCOTT. 143 in the decisive hour. " With all the splendor of his station and his well-earned fame," says Dr. Backus, "he was not ashamed to pray in the expressive language of the Publican, ' God be merciful to me a sinner,' and to make the most feel ing declarations of his own personal unworthiness. For several days before his death, the shattered remains of a once noble mind and vigorous body were devoted continually to God. His very breath appeared to be prayer, until, after many painful struggles, he fell asleep. 0 Death ! in what a mortify ing light doth thy power put the little glory of this diminutive 'world ! To what insignificance do earthly honors, dwindle, before the grandeur of eternity ! Nevertheless, the death ot" such a character is a grievous loss, especially under the present threatening aspects of Divine Providence, and the perilous sit uation of the country. Such tried characters are the " salt of the earth," and the pillars of our national existence. The presence, firmness, counsels, prayers and example of such Fathers, should be esteemed the " chariots of Israel and the horsemen thereof." But God governs the world, and his will is done. Let it be the solemn care of each one of us, to make a profitable improvement of the frown of Heaven in this remo val." Joel Barlow, in his great national poem. The Columbiad, thus refers to his zeal and eflforts in the cause of Independence : "Bold Wolcott urged the all-important cause, "With steady hand the solemn scene he draws ; Undaunted firmness with his wisdom joined, Nor kings nor worlds could warp his steadfast mind." No resident of the town ever achieved a more honorable and wide spread fame, than Oliver Wolcott — and no name in the historic annals of the Town and State in which his life was passed, is more earnestly and. affectionately cherished, than his. His family have been and are distinguished— ^some for high political stations, others for enterprize and wealth, some as professional or literary men — and all, for theh Uberality, sterling moral qualities, and exalted social position. His mortal remains rest in our East Burying-Ground, surrounded by those of many of his descendants and kindred. 144 HISTORY OP LITCHFIELD. ' Governor Wolcott married Lorana Collins, of Guilford, in 1755 ; she died, April 19, 17&4. Their chUdren were, Oliver, (who died in infancy, and was interred in the West Burying- Ground ;) Oliver, 2d, (see Biographical Notes ;) Lorana, m. Hon. WUliam Moseley, M. C, of Hartford ; Mary Ann, m. Lieut. Gov. Goodrich, of Hartford ; Frederick, (see Biograph ical Notes.) Ursula Wolcott, (a sister of Gov. W. next older than himself,) married Governor Matthew Griswold, and was the mother of Governor Roger Griswold. Thus, her father, brother, husband, son, and nephew, were all Governors of Connecticut ! — a fact which cannot, probably, be said of any' other lady who ever lived in the State or United States. The Honorable ANDREW ADAMS, LL. D., (a native of Stratford, and a graduate of Yale College in the class of 1760,) commenced the practice of law in Litchfield in 1774, and continued to reside here until his death, which took place in November, 1797. He rose rapidly in public esteem, and was chosen a Representative in October, 1776 — a post to which he was nine times re-elected. A friend of the Revolution, he took a prominent part in its favor in our town meetings, and by his influence and eflforts did much to promote the cause of the patriots in this vicinity. He rose to the rank of Colonel, and was for a short time in actual service in the war. In 1779, and again in 1780, he was Speaker of the House of Rep resentatives — the other member from Litchfield, (the Hon. Jedediah Strong,) being at the same time Clerk of the House. Colonel Adams was a member of the CouncU of Safety two years, a member of the State Council nine years, a member of the Continental Congress three years, a Commissioner of the Northern Congresses at Hartford and Providence in 1780; an Associate Judge of the Superior Coui-t four years, and Chief Justice from 1793 until his decease. He was also for a few years a Deacon of the First Church in this town. The body of the subject of this sketch rests beneath a marble tablet in our West Burying-Ground. His epitaph is as fol lows: "In Meniory ofthe Hon. Andrew Adams, Esq., Chief Judge of the Superior Court, who died November 27, 1797, in the 63d year of his age. /Having filled many distinguished COLONEL beebe. 145 offices with great AbUity and Dignity, he was promoted to the highest Judicial Office in the State, which he held for several years, in which his eminent Talents shone with uncommon Lustre, and were exerted to the great Advantage of the Public and the honor of the High Court in which he presided. iHe made an early Profession of Religion, and zealously sought to promote its true Interests. He lived the Life and died the Death of a Christian. His filial Piety and paternal tenderness are held in sweet Remembrance." Mrs. Eunice Adams, his wife, died June 4, 1797, aged 53 years. The " Litchfield Monitor" mentions it as a sad and singular coincidence, that Governor Wolcott and Chief Justice Adams (the two highest official dignitaries of the State,) both resi ding in the same village aud on the same street, should be ly ing apparently at the point of death at the same time. Gov ernor Wolcott survived his distinguished neighbor about three days only. The children of Judge Adams were — 1. Andrew, Jr., who m. Annis Canfield, of Sharon, and had two daughters, Cornelia, (wife of Dr. Tomlinson and mother of the Hon. Theodore E. Tomlinson, of New York city;) and Maria C, (wifeoftl.e late Hon. Henry F, Tallmadge. Andrew Adams, Jr., died in Litchfield in the year 1806. 2. Samuel, died also in L., un married. 3. Elijah, (see Biographical Notes.) 4. Eunice, m. Mr. Masters. 5. Polly, m. (perhaps) Nathaniel Lamson. 6. Lydia, m. Elias Cowles, merchant, of Litchfield, afterward of New York ; the Hon. Edward E. Cowles, late Judge ofthe Marine Court in that city, is their son. Colonel BEZALEEL BEEBE was born in Litchfield, April 28, 1741, and spent his life iu his native town, except when absent in the service of his country. At the age of seventeen he enlisted as a soldier in the French War, and marched with Captain Evarts' company to Fort George, where he was for some time stationed. He was afterward a member of Major '^;* I have Slid that Judge Adams commenced the practice of law in Litchfield is lfl4.'> The- indications are, that he became a reni2en< here some eight or ten years earlier than that diite. An Andrew Adams of this town was a Commissioner on two e>tat» at early as 1766 ; and was chosen a Lister in 1772. and 1778. 19 146 BISTORT OP LITCHFIELD. Rogers' celebrated corps of Rangers, an account of whose ex ploits was pubUshed iu London by their heroic commander ; and, with Rogers, he participated in the engagement which resulted in the capture of Major Israel Putnam. During much ofthe succeeding year, he- was stationed at Fort Miller under Captaux Whiting. In 1760, he enlisted in a com|iany com manded by Captain McNeile, of Litchfield, and continued in the service for three years — ^liaving in the mean time been chosen one of the Sergeants of the company. On the llth of July, 1764, he was married to Elizabeth, daughter of Captain John Marsh, of this town, and settled on the paternal home stead, north of Bantam Lake, which is still owned and occupied by his descendants. On the breaking out of the revolutionary contest, he was once more summoned to the field — ^liaving been commissioned as a Lieutenant in tho first recruits raised for that service, April, 1775. He forthwith marched with his company to Boston, and thence, after a short detention, to Crown Point, where he was transferred to the Quartermaster's Department. From this time onward, he was in actual ser vice (except while detained as a prisoner of war,) until the spring of 1781, at whicli time he applied for and received an honorable discharge, and once more returned home. As his distinguished public services have been frequently referred to in the preceding pages, it will not be expected that I should repeat them here. Suffice it to say, that he rose to the rank of Colonel in the Continental Army, ^ud enjoyed in an eminent degree the confidence and respect of bis superiors in office as well as of the soldiers under him. While chief commander of the coast guard of this State, he performed the duties and received the pay of a Brigadier General. A commanding figure, and a peculiar dignity of character and mamier, united to an innate kindness of heart and a courage equal to any emergency, contributed to render him an efficient and popular officer. He was chosen a member of the House of Representatives for the first time in the autumn of 1781, as a colleague of the Hon. Jedediah Strong, and was re-elected during the two suc ceeding years. In 1788, the Constitution of the United States was ratified, and the general government re-organized. In JEDEDIAH STRONG. 147 1792, '93 aud '95, Colonel Beebe was returned to the Legisla ture. . He also served his fellow-citizens as a Selectman both before and after the war ; and through life, was much em ployed by the Court of Probate in settling estates of persons deceased. * He departed this Ufe, May 24, 1824, aged 83 — ^his widow surviving him about a year. Several of his revolution ary letters, to Governor TrumbuU, General Silliman, etc., are preserved among the " Trumbull Papers" in the Library of the Mass. Hist. Soc, Boston. Colonel Beebe had six children, viz., 1. Sarah, d. unm'd. 2. Elizabeth, m. Joshua Garrett, of Litchfield. 3. Rebecca, m. Reuben Rockwell, Esq., of Colebrook, and had chUdren, among whom are, the Hon. Julius Rockwell, late U. S. Sena tor from Massachusetts, the Hon. Reuben Rockwell, etc. 4. Ebenezer, Major United States Army. 5. James, settled in Winchester, Conn., where he was three times elected a Rep resentatives, besides being twice chosen Senator for the 15th District. In 1837, he was a member of the Corporation of Yale College. He now resides in Hartford, Trumbull co., Ohio. 6. William, settled on the homestead in Litchfield where he still resides ; besides being seven times a Represen tative, he was a Senator in 1845 ; he has also been President of the Litchfield Mutual Fire Insurance Company, President of the Litchfield County Foreign Mission Society, &Ci The Honorable JEDEDIAH STRONG was born in Litch field, November 7th, 1738, and here spent his entire life. He graduated at Yale College in 1761, and, with a single excep tion, he was the first native of the town who ever received a collegiate degree. He first studied divinity, but, being early elected to office, he abandoned the sacred profession for the more congenial pursuits of pettifogger and politician. With in fact little to recommend him to the good opinion of his fel low-townsmen, he acquired and long maintained a poUtical ascendency second only to that of Wolcott and Adams. An imperious wiU and an affectation of power, aud a happy fttcul- ty of being at the same time " all things to all men," ho doUbt contributed to the result. A diminutive figure, a limping^^gait, and an unpleasant countenance, were, however, in some 148 HISTORY OP LITCHPIELD. measure atoned for by a certain degree of promptness and tact in the discharge of public business. He was a good penman, familar with legal forms, .and, though his style was verbose and complicated, he was much employed, both at home and abroad, in drafting, compiling and recording the official transactions of public bodies. He was a Representative at about thirty regular sessions of the Legislature — at fourteen of which he was Clerk of the House. In May, 1773, he was appointed (with Roger Sherman, Eliphalet Dyer, Matthew Griswold and William Samuel Johnson,) a commissioner to wait on Governor Penn at Philadelphia, to negotiate relative to the lands west of the Delaware. In May, 1779, he was ap pointed a Delegate to the Continental Congress, in place of the Hon. Stephen Titus Hosmer, resigned ; and was re-appointed in the October following. He was also an Associate Judge of the County Court for eleven years, a member of the Council of Safety, a member of the State Council, and a Delegate to and Secretary (.if the Convention which ratified the Constitu tion of the United States. He was a Lister six years, a Select man thirteen years, and Town Clerk sixteen years. The first wife of Judge Strong was Ruth Patterson, who died leaving an only daughter, Ida Strong. In 1788, he married Susan nah, daughter of the Hon. George Wyllys, Secretary of State, Hartford. The sequel is told in the following extract from The Monitor, bearing date July 26, 1790 : " Last Saturday se'nnight, the Hon. Jedediah Strong, Esq., a member ofthe Council of State, and one of the Judges of the County Court in Litchfield, was arrested upon complaint of his wife, and brought before "Tapping Reeve, Esq^., for trial. The delinquent requested an adjournment that he might pro- pure counsel, and the Court adjourned to Monday last. At the time of trial, the concourse of people made it necessary to ad journ to the Court House, where, after fuU enquiry, it appeai-ed in evidence that the accused had often imposed unreasonable restraints upon his wife, and withheld from her the comforts and conveniences of life ; that he had beat her, puUedher hair, kicked her out of bed, and spit in her face times without num ber. Whereupon the Judge, after summing up the testimony in a very eloquent and masterly manner, pronounced sentence that the delinquent should become bound witli sureties for his jedediah strong. 149 good behavior toward all mankind, and especially toward Iris wife, in the penal sum of One Thousand Pounds, and to ap pear and answer the charges against him at the next County Court. Nothing could be more satisfactory than this sentence, among his acquaintances in Litchfield and elsewhere, who have long known the infamy of his private character, while his hypocrisy and intrigues have imposed upon the good peo ple of the State at large." Several subsequent articles appeared in the Monitor, both for and against Judge Strong. The trial for divorce came on in New Haven, before the Council of State, of which the Judge was himself a member, and resulted in granting the prayer of the petitioner. From this time his career was downward. He became a drunkard and a beggar, and the town assisted in his support. But notwithstanding his degradation, he seems to have retained to the very last an earnest affection for his daughter. He left a long WiU in her favor, which may be found on our Probate Records. It is written in his peculiar style, and is a curiosity — ^bearing date, March 31, 1801. It is mainly occupied with pious reflections and counsels addressed to his daughter. " And finally," he adds, " that worldly wealth or earthly estate which it hath pleased the Universal Proprietor to commit to my temporary caro and stewardship on the sublunary, probationary theater, (or the remnant frag ments after so much spoliation of Envy, Covetousness, Op pression, or whatever mistake in extreme career of permitted human vicissitude,) my most mature and deliberate option and volition is, that disposition be made as follows : I recom mend, give and bequeath, to my beloved daughter, Ida Strong, my Bibles and inferior Orthodox Treatises on ReUgion and Morality, or relative or appertaining to Vital Piety or Practi cal Godliness, and aU other Books, JPampblets or Manuscripts, except Romances, if any be left extant, which I have long since, (though not soon enough,) intentionally consigned or destined to deserved oblivion in native shades of chaos." The amount of his " worldly wealth," as per inventory, was $96 66; while as an oflfset to this, claims against him to the amount of a few hundred dollars, were sent in. His executors were Captain Tlioinas Collier (editor of the Monitor,) and Ida Strong. — 150 history OP LITCHPIEliD. Judge Strong died August 21, 1802, aged 64, and was interred in our West Burying-Ground. No stone marks his grave, and the precise place of his sepulture is unknown. His daugh ter Ida died in Rupert, Vermont, in 1804. Colonel BENJAMIN TALLMADGE was born at Brook- haven, L. I., Febraary 25, 1754. His father, who bore the same name, was the pastor of the church in that place ; and his mother was a daughter of the Rev. John Smith, pastor of the church at White Plains. The subject of this sketch grad uated at Yale College in 1773. While superintendent of the High School at Wethersfield, in this State, he received a Lieutenant's commission, with the appointment of Adjutant of the Regiment — both commission and warrant bearing date June 20, 1776. In these capacities he joined the army, and continued in actual service until the close of the war. On the 15th of December, of the year last named, he received a Cap tain's commission in (Sheldon's) 2d Regiment of Light Dra goons. As this commission came from General Washington himself, the honor was conspicuous and highly appreciated. He was promoted to the rank of Major, April 7, 1777, and took his station as a field officer of the regiment. A separate detachment for special services was committed to him several times in the course of the war, on which occasions he received his orders directly from the commander-in-chieL On the opening of the spring campaign, 1777, General Washington, foreseeing that General Howe meditated some deciave blow, directed that ¦ all recruits should be . sent .forward to head - quarters as fast as tiiey were coUected. He also sent a par-. ticular order to Colonel Sheldon (who was at his winter quarters in Wethersfield,) to send on aU the efi"ective men of his regiment. Having about men and horses enough for four companies, they were placed in the best possible xjrder, and the conamand given to Major Tallmadge. His own company were aU mounted on dapple gray horses, which, witii black strai»s and black bear-skin holster covers, looked superbly. On his route to Washington's encampment at Middlebrook, New Jer sey, he passed with his troops through Farmington, Litchfield,* * May not this have been the time when Father Champion gave ntterance to the remarkable prayer inserted on page 129 ? colonel tallmadge. 151 Kent, Peekskill, (where he crossed the Hudson,) Haverstraw, Pompton, and Morristown — reaching the headquarters of the commander-in-chief on tho 23d of June. Major Tallmadge participated in the Battles of Short Hills and the Brandywine, tiiough, before the latter engagement, the remainder of tlie regiment, commanded by Colonel Sheldon in person, had ar rived. In the Battle of Germantown, the position of Major Tallmadge's squadron was at the head of General Sullivan's division, on the left of the center. In the early part of this sanguinary engagement, the Americans seemed almost certain of success ; but the heavy fog which soon enveloped both ar mies, prevented them, in some cases, from distinguishing their friends from their enemies. They were thus thrown into confasion — a panic ensued — and our men fled in every direc tion. By order of General Washington, Major Tallmadge repeatedly threw his dragoons across the principal thorough fare, to check the retreat of the infantry ; but tlie effort was inefifectual. While our army were encamped at Valley Forge in the gloomy winter of 1777-'8, tiie Major was stationed with a de tachment of dragoons, as. an advanced corps of observation between pur army and that of the enemy. In the perform ance of h^ duty, he scoured the country between the Schuyl kill and Delaware rivers — a distance of five or six miles — for the double purpose of watching the movements of the enemy, and preventing the disaffected from carrying prorisions to the enemy at Philadelphia. While on this service, he was attacked, about two o'clock one morning, by a large body of British light horse commanded by Lord Rawdon, and after defending himself resolutely for awhile, effected his escape with the loss of but three or four men killed and as many more wounded. While temporarily halting, soon after, at the " Rising Sim" Inn, within sight of the Britisli out-posts at Philadelphia, a country girl arrived from the city, whither she had been sent with eggs, with instructions to obtain some information res pecting the enemy. While she was communicating with the Major on the subject, the British light horse were seen advan- ing. In an instant he moimted his horse, when he found the 152 HISTORY OF LITCHFIELD. poor girl at his side, begging him to protect her. Without a moment for reflection, he told her to mount behind him, which she did — and in this way they rode at full speed to German- town, about three miles. After taking part in the Battle of Monmouth, and in the defense of Norwalk, (Conn.,) Major Tallmadge planned and executed an expedition against the enemy at Lloyd's Neck, on Long Island. Here was a strongly fortified post, manned by about five hundred troops — in the rear of which post a large hand of marauders were encamped. For the purpose of break ing up this band of freebooters, he embarked at Shipan Point, near Stamford, September 5, 1779, at 8 o'clock in the evening, taking with him about one hundred and twenty men. The attack was so unexpected, that nearly the whole party were captured. Having destroyed the boats aud huts of the enemy, the party re-embarked, with their prisoners, and before day light landed on the Connecticut shore, without the loss of a man. Ill the autumn of 1780, Major T. was stationed on the lines in Westchester county. Returning from below to the regi ment, then near Northcastle, on the evening of September 23d, he was informed that a prisoner had that day been brought in, by the name of John Anderson. On enquiry, he learned the particulars of his capture by three niiUtia-men, Paulding, Van Wert and Williams. He further ascertained that Lieutenant- Colonel Jameson, (yho, in the absence of Colonel Sheldon, then had command of the dragoons,) had sent the prisoner to General Arnold's headquarters, accompanied by a letter of in formation respecting his capture. At the respectful but ear nest solicitations of Major. Tallmadge, Anderson was brought back to Northcastle, but Jameson persisted in sending the let ter forward to General Arnold. The observation of the Major soon led him to the conclusion that the prisoner had been bred to arms, aud communicated his suspicions to Lieut.-Colonel Jameson — requesting him to notice his gait, especially as he turned on his heej to retrace his course across the room. — The Major remained with him almost constantly, and became deeply interested in his new acquaintance. After dinner on COLONEL TALLMADGE. 153 the 24th, he requested the use of pen, ink and paper, which were readily granted him. He immediately wrote the cele brated letter to General Washington, in which he acknowl edged himself to be " Major John Andre, Adjutant General to the British Army." This letter he handed unopened to Major Ta.llmadge, who read it with deep emotion. The sad and important sequel ofthe story is famiUar to every reader. A court martial of fourteen general officers (General Greene presiding,) adjudged him to be a spy from the enemy, and that, " agreeable to the law and usage of nations, he ought to suffer death." At 5 o'clock in the afternoon of October 2d, Major John Andre died on a gibbet, in the presence of an immense concourse of sympathizing people. His military suit having arrived from New York, he was executed in full uniform. Major TaUmadge walked with him from his place of confine ment to the foot of the scaflfold, where he bade him an aflfec- tionate farewell. Years subsequently, he wrote — " I became so deeply attached to Major Andre, that I can remember no instance where my aflfections were so fully absorbed in any mau. When I saw him swinging under the gibbet, it seemed for a time as if I could not support it. All the spectators seemed to be overwhelmed by the affecting spectacle, and the eyes of many were suffused in tears." In the autumn of 1780, Major Tallmadge requested permis sion of the commander-in-chief to attempt the destruction of the enemy's works at Smith's Manor, Long Island — but the General regarded the expedition as too hazardous to be under taken. Major T. did not, however, abandon the project, but secretly visited Long Island for the purpose of making obser vations and gaining information. On his return, he made an other appUcation, and obtained the consent of General Wash ington. On the 21st of November, with one hundred dis mounted dragoons, he embarked at Fairfield — crossed the Sound, and march toward Fort George, on south side of Long Island. The garrison was surprized and captured — the works were demoUshed, and the houses, shipping, ^nd an immense quantity of stores, were burnt. Some valuable articles of dry- goods were made up in bundles and bound upon the shoulders 20 154 HISTORY OP UTCHFIELD. of the prisoners, who were pinioned two and two. The victors then re-crossed the island to their boats, with their prisoners and booty. While the main body was thus on the march, the Major selected eight or ten men, mounted" them on horses which he had taken at the Fort, and made a digression for the purpose of destroying the king's magazine at Coram — which he accomplished — and, in the course of an hour and a half, joined his iassociates at a place where he had ordered them to halt. The whole company arrived in Fairfield — only one per son engaged in the expedition having been seriously wounded. Among the prisoners taken were one-lieutenant-colond, one lieutenant, one surgeon, about fifty rank and file, and a host of others in the garrison. For this daring and successful ex ploit. Major TaUmadge received the public thanks of the com mander-in-chief and ofthe Congress ofthe United States. He continued in actual service until the close of the war, and was engaged in several other desperate enterprizes. Our article, however, is already too long, and we must close the narrative of his revolutionary services with the relation of a single additional fact. From 1778 to 1783, an important aud confidential correspondence was carried on between Greneral Washington and Major TaUmadge, a large part of which is stiU in possession of the TaUmadge family. In November, 1782, he purchased of Mr. Thomas Sheldon, (for the sum of ^800,) the premises in North streetin this vii lage, still known as The TaZ/mat^-e P/ace. In the purchase- deed of this property he is styled " late of Long Island, now of the Continental Army." He continued in the public service about a year longer, when the army was disbanded, and the subject of this sketch retired to private life with the rank of Colonel. Before separating, the officers of the army formed themselves into a national association caUed The Society ofthe Cincinnati, of which Washington was chosen the first Presi dent. At the same time, a similar Society was formed for each State. Colonel Tallmadge was chosen the first Treasurer aud subsequent President of tiie jConnecticut Society. On the 16th of March, 1784, Colonel Tallmadge was united in marriage to Mary Floyd, (daughter of General WiUiara COLONEL TALLMADGE. 155 Floyd, of Mastic, L. I., a Signer of the Declaration erf Inde pendence,) and at once took up his residence in this village. Here he engaged extensively and successfully in merchandiz ing imtil 1801, when he was elected a member of the Congr^is of the United States. For a period of sixteen years, (by re election every two years,) he held his seat in that distinguished body. .-Once more retiring from public life, he devoted himself with even more than his usual zeal, to the advancement of every good cause. For many years he was an officer and liberal benefactor of various charitable institutions and socie ties ; whUe his contributions to the needy in his own town were much more frequent and extensive than were known to the pubUc. On the 3d of June^ 1805, Mrs. Mary Tallmadge died in Litchfield, leaving five sons and two daughters, viz., William S., Henry F., Maria, Frederick A., Benjamin, Harriet W., and George W. May 3d-; 1808, Colonel Tallmadge married Maria, daughter of Joseph Hallett, Esq., of New York.. He died at his residence in this village, March 13, 1835, in the 82d year of his age. The Sermon preached at his funeral by the Rev. Dr. Hickok, was published. Colonel Tallmadge possessed a tall and portly figure, and a courtesy and dignity of manner, which seem to have belonged pecuUarly to the era in which he lived. At the same time he was as accessible to the humblest as he was the highest in the land. All loved and reverenced him. The old soldiers of the Revolution were wont to seek his assistance and advice — and they were ever received with cordiality, and their wishes attended to. Officers, also, of every grade, frequently visited him, and never failed to meet with a hospitable welcome. There are persons yet living, who recoUect the interesting and affecting interview between him and Lafayette, at New Haven, where they met in 1824, after a separation of more than forty years. , They embraced and wept, as they recurred to the try ing scenes through which they had passed and the many chan ges whioh time had wrought, since, in the ardency of youth, they had parted on a distant battle-field. 156 HISTORY OF LITCHFIELD. The beautiful homestead where Colonel TaUmadge spent more than fifty years of his life, adjoins that where his com rade in arms, Colonel Sheldon, spent his childhood, youth and early manhood. The Honorable TAPPING REEVE, LL. D., became a resident of Litchfield in 1772, and spent more \h2,n fifty years of his life in this town. A son of the Rev. Abner Reeve of Southold, Long Island, he was born in that place in October, 1744. He graduated at the College of New Jersey in 1763, and spent four years as a tutor in that institution. On the 24th of June 1773, he married Sally Burr, a daughter of President Burr of New Jersey College, and a grand-daughter of the re nowned President Edwards. So long as she lived, she was an invalid, and for many years her husband spent a large portiOn of his time in ministering to her wants. " Though his domes tic afflictions withheld him from the active scenes of the Rev olution," says Dr. Beecher, in his Funeral Discourse, " none entered more deeply into his country's cause than he. He shared with his generation all the vicissitudes, hopes, fears, self-denials and losses, of that arduous day. He possessed, though in early life, the confidence, and participated in the counsels, of the wise and great and good men of that era ; and, at the moment of greatest dismay, wheu Wasliington fled with his handful of troops through the Jersies, and orders came for New England to turn out en masse and make a diversion to save him, the Judge was among the most ardent to excite the universal movement, and actually went in the capacity of an officer to the vicinity of New York, where the news met them of the victories at Trenton and Princeton, and once more Washington and the country were delivered." At one time, he had the honor of entertaining at his house in this village. General LaFayette and some of his brother officers, who were passing through this region on important public business. In 1784, he opened his celebrated Law School, of which he was the Principal for nearly forty years. Though fitted to shine in public Ufe, and though official honors were always within his reach, he seems rather to have shunned than sought promotion. He was once elected a Representative, and once only a mem- CHIEF JUSTICE REEVE. 157 oer of the Council. He was an enthusiast in his profession, and had indeed but little taste for anything else of a secular .nature. In 1798, he was appointed a Judge ofthe Superior Court and of the Supreme Court of Errors. Here his peculiar talents found ample scope for their full development. Until the adoption of the Constitution of 1818, all our Judges were elected annually by the Legislature. Judge Reeve gave such universal satisfaction, that he continued to be re-appointed from year to year until 1814, when he was promoted to the office of Chief Justice. On reaching the age of seventy years, he retired to private life — still, however, devoting much of his time to his favorite Law School. He died here, December 13, 1823, in the ,80th year of his age. He was eminently distinguished for ffi^ piety and learning. In seasons of revival, and indeed at all times, no layman in the parish was so efficient as a co- laborer with the pastor, as Judge Reeve. Mrs. Sally Reeve died soon after the war, leaving an only son, Aaron Burr Reeve. The latter, died in Troy, N. Y., in 1809, leaving an only son, Tapping Burr Reeve, who received his first degree at Yale College in 1829, and died the same year. With him the family of Judge Reeve became extinct. April 30, 1798, the Judge married a second wife — ^Betsey Thompson — who survived him a few years. Major MOSES SEYMOUR was born in Hartford, July 23, 1742, and became a resident of Litchfield in early man hood. Early in the war ofthe revolution, he was commissioned as Captain of the troop of horse attached to the 17th regiment of Connecticut miUtia/' In June, 1776, EUsha Sheldon, Esq., of Salisbury, was appointed Major-Commandant of the Fifth Regiment of Cavalry ; and the subject of this sketch received the appointment of Captain of one of the companies of this regiment. Though Major Sheldon was subsequently trans ferred to the command of the Second Regiment of Dragoons in the continental army, Captain Seymour retained his connec tion with the Fifth untU the close of the war. In April, 1777, on the occasion of the Danbury Alarm, Cap tain Seymour mustered his troops and proceeded forthwith to assist in repeUing the invason of Govemor Tryon. He parti- 158 HISTORY OP LITCHPIELD. cipated in the skirmishing whieh followed the retreat of the enemy toward the Sound. At the capture of Burgoyne, in October of the same year, he was once more at the head of . his favorite corps, and did good service in that most important and decisive engagement. A day or two after the terms of capitulation were signed, the American officers invited Bur goyne and his associate-officers to dine with them. At this interesting festival Captain Seymour was present. His ac count of the conversations that took place on the occasion, be tween the conquerors and the conquered, and particularly his minute recital of the toasts given on both sides, are stiU re membered with interest by his neighbors. The utmost cour tesy and good feeling prevailed on the part of the principal officers, and the responses to the sentiments given were hearty and enthusiastic. At length. General Burgoyne was called upon for a toast. Every voice was for the moment hushed into the deepest attention, as he arose and gave — " America and Great Britain against the world."' The response which fol lowed may be imagined. During the night which succeeded the final battle between Generals Gage and Burgoyne, Captain Seymour watched with a British officer who had been wounded and carried oflf the field in the midst of the engagement. Soon after he had en tered the room, the officer, who had not before learned the fate of the day, enquired eagerly of Captain S. as to the result. On hearing that the British had been defeated, he remarked — " Then the contest is no longer doubtful ; America will be independent. I have fought earnestly for my king and country, but tbe contest is ended !" The kindness of Captain Seymour to him, an enemy, deeply affected him. He thanked him again and again ; and finaUy oflfered him his watch and other rewards, which were of course refused. The gaUant American did all in his power to relieve the distresses and soothe the naind of his charge — but his wounds proved fatal. During the greater part of the war, Captain Seymour was stationed at Litchfield as a Commissary of Supplies for the army. In this department of the public service, his zeal and efficiency were conspicuous, and duly appreciated by Govemor BIAJOR SEYMOUR. 159 TrumbuU, General Wolcott, and others. Few men in this seption ofthe State labored as untiringly or accomplished more. I have elsewhere stated that Litchfield was a depot for military storea and provisions. Captain Seymour was employed not pnly-k^ tiie purchase of these articles, but assisted in storing and guarding them while here, and in superintending their transportation wherever they might be ordered by the com petent authorities. In September, 1781, we find him with hia dragoons, by order of General Wolcott, guarding a train of wagons loaded ^yith supplies for the French .Army, from Litchfield to FishkiU.* With the Peace of 1783, the subject of this sketch retired to private Kfe with the rank of Major. In 1789, he was elec ted by his fellow-citizens to the office of Town Clerk — a post to'which he was annually re-elected during the remainder of his life, a period of thirty-seven years I This uninterrupted bestowment of an office upon one individual for so long a time, is unprecedented in the history of the town. He was also a member of the House of Representatives at sixteen regutat sessions, commencing with the October session, 1795. In the early part of the present century. Major Seymour was occasionally a candidate of the political party with which he was connected, for the CouncU of State. In 1805 he received 7,426 votes, and at the election of the succeeding year he re ceived 7,671 votes, for that office. Major ^eymour was a gentleman of the old school, retaining to the last the manners and costume of that now obsolete class. On the 7tli of November, 1771, he married MoUy, daughter of Colonel Ebenezer Marsh, and had five sons and one daugh- ter^ — ^the latter alone surviving at the present time. Of these * The French Commissary, Jujardy N. Granville, (who appears to have pos sessed a very imperfect knowledge of our langoage,) left the following carious acknowledgment of the service, which is on file in the ComptroUer'a Office : " Wb, Commissary of War, employed in the Army of .Rochambeau, Certified that the Detachment composed of 24 Dragons or Light Horses commanded by Mr. Moses Seymour, capitaine, came on with our teams and stores from Litchfield. We certified beside that the said Capitain Moses has taken a great care fqr the secnritv of our convoy and bagage while he stay with ns till this place. •' JUJAKDY N. GRANVILLE. . FishkiU, Sep 22, 1781." 160 HISTORY OP LITCHPIELD. five sons, one became distinguished as a financier and Bank President ; two became High Sheriffs of this County ; one was a Representative, Senator, and Canal Commissioner, in the State of New York ; and one was for twelve years a United " States Senator from Vermont — the most remarkable famUy of sons ever raised in Litchfield. The daughter, Clarissa Sey mour, married the Rev. Truman Marsh, for many years Rec tor of St. Michael's Church in this town. _ Major Seymour died at his residence in this village, Sept. 17, 1826, in the 84th year of his age. His remains rest in our East Burying-Ground. There is yet another name which I would mention with respect in this connection — that of ELISHA MASON, the last ofthe Revolutionary Soldiers in Litchfield. With a patriot ism as unquestioned and a zeal as ardent as can be claimed for the most renowned of our heroes, he performed the humbler duties of his sphere as faithfully as they, though all uncheered by the hope of fame or pecuniary reward. He died in this village, June I, 1858, in the 100th year of his age. I fre quently had occasion to consult him on matters of local inter est, and found his mind clear and his memory retentive almost to the last. He seemed like one who had come down to us from a distant generation. In the last interview I had with him, (January 18, 1858,) he assured me that he weU remem bered the first meeting-house ever built in this town, and which was demolished when he was about three and a halfyears old. He also recollected the old fort which occupied the site of the present Court House, as well at that which stood on Chestnut HiU — both of which were erected as a defense against the In dians. In the great struggle for Independence, he had periled his life in the cause of his country. And what was his re ward ? On one occasion, at the expiration of a term of service, he was discharged on the Hudson, and paid off in continental currency. Starting homeward on foot, he reached Danbury, where he spent the night. In the morning, on attempting to settle his bill, his continental money was refused. He offer ed larger and still larger sums — and finally tendered bUls to the amount of forty dollars, for his lodging and meals ; but the ELISHA MASON. 161 landlord refused to take the currency on any terms. Mr. Mason was finally compelled to pawn his rifle to cansel his in- debtness. As his wages were but eight dollars per month, he thus oflfered the avails of five months' services for his keeping for twelve hours ! But though so poorly requited by the country for which he had fought, the soldier lived to enjoy the blessings of a free government, and in bequeathing them as a rich legacy to his posterity, he felt himself abundantly repaid for all his toils and privations. Ten years ago, many an active participant in the stirring events of that great contest which resulted in the freedom of America, still lingered with us ; and many a story of personal adventure was told, at many a fire-side circle, to eager Usteners. Now, alas ! the lips of those venerable men are forever sealed. Henceforth their chivalric deeds will live only in uncertain Tradition, or in the results which an all- wise Providence shall cause to flow from them. While enjoying the rich blessings which they assisted in achieving and transmitting to us, let us not fail to cherish their memory and emulate their potriotism. 21 CHAPTER IX. PROGRESS AND IMPROVEMENT. Though descendants of the puritans, and perhaps somewhat puritanic themselves, the -first settlers of Litchfield and their immediate, successors were not pf that class who pro scribed wholesome amusement and recreation. Their man ners and customs were indeed siniple. Industry and frugality were regarded as essential requisites. As already intimated, every man was from necessity a soldier and a hunter ; and the duties incumbent upon him in these capacities were fuU of bold adventure and^ealthful excitement. Where game was so abundant, a li^dy and athletic people like our fathers could not have waSeifor sport. Our streams and lakes, too, with their teeming abundance, aflforded pleasant and profita ble employment for such as had no better business. Husking-Parties, Apple-Bees, Raisings, Quiltings, Weddings, Spinning-Parties, and Balls, were made occasions of hilarity and social good-ciieer — though generally conducted with rus tic simplicity and the strictest regard to' economy. Mr. Mor ris says — " When young people of both sexes assembled to gether for amusement, they employed themselves principaUy in dancing, while one of the company sang. The first use of the violin in this town for a dance, was in the year 1748. The whole expense of the amusement, although the young people generally assembled, did not exc^d one dollar, out of which the fiddler was paid ! When this instance of profusion took place, parents and old people exclaimed that they should be ruined by the extravagance of the youth. In 1798," continues the same writer, " a ball, with the customary entertainment and variety of music, cost about $160, and nothing was said about it. It is not to be inferred from this diflference, that our youth had become more vicious than formerly ; but it THE STOLEN BRIDE. 163 serves to show a material change in the wealth aud character of the people." %, Tradition yet teUs of the festivities ahd merry-makings that took place on Litchfield HUl, when, a short thne before the Revolution, a gallant young officer of the militia led>^ the hymenial altar the accomphshed daughter of one of tiie mag-. nates of the town ; and how, in the midst of their rejoicings, the bride was mysteriously spirited away, and borne on horse back to a quiet inn in Northfield ; with what fleetness, on that bright autumnal evening, the bridegroom and his attendants rushed over tiie eastern hiUs to the rescue; how, on their arri val, the little inn was suddenly iUuminated, the vioUn struck up a merry tune, the dance commenced, and the festive-board was spread ; and how, an hour or two later, the cavalcade, like a triumphal procession, returned to the village. Long years thereafter, wheu the wars with the mother-country were over and a grateful people were enjoying the liberties which that bridegroom, on the battle-field and in the council-chamber, had assisted in achieving, the venerable couple would some times tell, to their children and their children's children, the story of the " stolen bride." The establishment of the Litchfield Law School by Judge Reeve, in 1784, and the Litchfield Monitor (a weekly news paper,) by Mr. Thomas CoUier, during the same year, affords indication of the growing importance of the town, and at the same time tended to give it a wider reputation. The inteUigence and social position of its inhabitants, no less than the beauty of its location, drew hither the wealthy and distinguished from abroad — some, for the purpose of enjoying the congenial quiet off the place ; others, to participate in its superior educational advantages. New and more fashionable pastimes were now introduced amoqg our people. In May, 1785, several Theat rical Pgrformances came oflf hi this vUlage, the principal char acters being sustained by students of Yale College. The Mon- " ^itor says — " Distinguished Merit -and Uterary AbUity were so evidently conspicuous and amply displayed on the Occasion, • as would have done flonour to a British Theatre." In July, 1787, Mr. Pool, an American Circus-Rider, announced that he 164 HISTORY OP LITCHFIELD. would give an exhibition "in Mr. Buel's Orchard, Litchfield." In November, 1789, Shakspeare's Plays were performed in " Mr. Buel's Bail-Room," by a company of strolling actors ; and about the -same time, "the Surprizing Performances of the celebrated John Brannan and wife, from Dublin, in the Curious and Ingenious Art of dancing on the Slack- Wire," was advertized. Toward the close of the last century, the Hon. Messrs. Tracy and Allen, both of Litchfield, were in Congress at the same time with the Hon. Chauncey Goodrich, whose wife was a Litchfield lady — a daughter of Governor Wolcott. During the same period, also, the Hon. Oliver Wolcott, Jr., of this town, (then a member of the Cabinet.) was residing at the eeat of government with his family. Thus, the talent and beauty of Litchfield, (both of which had by this time become famous,) formed quite an element in the society of the national capital. An anecdote of General Tracy has been preserved, commemo rative at once of Mrs. Wolcott's attractions and his own pecul iar wit. Mr. Listen, the then British Ambassador, who was thoroughly English in his ideas, on some occasion said to him, " Your countrywoman, Mrs. Wolcott, would be admired even at St. James." " Sir," retorted the Senator from Connecticut, she is admired^even on Litchfield HiU ."' Of the object of " Sabbath-Day Houses," I have already spo ken. The Rev. Henry Ward Beecher, in an address on the anniversary of the Landmg of the Pilgrims, deUvered in New York, December 20, 1853, alluded incidentally to the opposi tion made to the introduction of stoves into the old meeting house in Litchfield during the ministry of his father. This allusion called up divers reminiscences of the fierce war that was waged on the occasion. A New York correspondent of the Enquirer thus wrote — " When the heresy was broached, you probably recollect the intense excitement that prevaUed on Litchfield Hill. The parties were formed — the Stove Party and the Anti-Stove Party. For a time the storm raged fear fully ; but the Stove Party at length triumphed, and on the following Sabbath the stove was in its place." The writer then proceeds to give the results. One maiden lady, of the TRcmbrB.r..ll P-.a^e . THE STOVE CONTROVERSY. 165 anti-stove party, " commenced fanning herself, and at length apparently swooned away" — declaring, when she recovered, that " the heat of that torrid stove had caused her to faint." The Cleveland (Ohio) Herald copied Mr. Beecher's remarks, adding — " We have a Litchfielder right by us, who remembers all about that stove, and its advent into the old meeting-house on Litchfield Hill" — and the editor proceeds to give the recol lections of the gentleman referred to. The editor of the Hart ford Daily Courant appended the following remarks : " Now we have a word to say in the matter. Violent opposition had been made to the introduction of a stove into the old meeting house, and an attempt made in vain to induce the Society to purchase one. The writer was one of seven young men who finally purchased a stove, and requested permission to put it up in the meeting-house on trial. Afler much diiHculty, the committee consented. It was all arranged on Saturday afternoon, and on Sunday we took our seat in the fiass^ rather earher than usual, to see the fun. It was a warm November Sunday, in which the sun shone cheerfully .and warmly on the old south steps and into the naked windows. The stove stood in the middle aisle, rather in front of the Tenor Gallery. People came in and stared. Good old Deacon Trowbridge, one of the most simple-hearted and worthy men of that generation, had, as Mr. Beech er says, been induced to give up his opposition. He siiook his head, however, as he felt the heat reflected from it, and gathered up the skirts of his great-coat as he passed up the broad isle to the Deacon's Seat. Old Uncle Noah Stone, a wealthy farmer of the West End, who sat near, scowled and muttered at the effects of the heat, but waited until noon, to utter his maledictions over his nut-cakes and cheese at the intermission. There had in fact been no fieb in the STOVE — the day being too warm. We were too much upon the broad grin to be very devotional, and smiled rather loudly at the funny thino-s we saw. But when the editor of the village paper, Mr. Bunce, came in, (who was a beUever of stoves in churches,) and with a most satisfactory air, warmed his hands by the stove, keeping the skirts of his great-coat carefully between his knees, we could stand it no longer, but dropt invisible behind the breastwork. But the climax of the- whole was, (as the Cleveland man says,) when Mrs. Peck went out in the midst of the service ! It was, however, the means of reconcil ing the whole society ; for, after that first day, we heard of no more opposition to the warm stove in the meeting-house." On referring to the Society's Records, I find the subjoined reference to the transaction mentioned in the article from the Courant : 166 HISTORY OP LITCHPIELD. " The following representation in writing, viz., "An Association of Young Men, inhabitants of the Town of Litchfield, desire the First Ecclesiastical Society, by their Committee, to accept of a Stove and Pipe for their meeting-house. They request the Committee would consult the Societv. and inform the undersigned where they would wish to have it placed. ¦^ JOHN P. BRACE, ) HIRAM WALLACE, > Committee. L. GOODWIN, ) Litchfield, Oct. 18, I8I6." having been presented to the Society's Committee, and the Society having been informed by their said Committee that they had accepted the StoTO and Pipe referred to in said representation — Whereupon, Voted, That the Society's Committee be, and they are, instructed and directed to designate the place in which the said Stove shall be lo cated, and give the necessary directions regarding the mode in which the said stove,- and the pipe thereto attached, shall be erected. Attest, J. W. HUNTINGTON, Clerk." In nothing, perhaps, has there been a greater change during the last seventy-five years, than in the mode of traveling and carrying freight. Until the close of the Revolution,-traveling, especially in the inland towns, was performed almost exclusive ly on horseback. The saddle and the pillion were regarded by the upper and middle classes as articles of special conven ience and gentility — much more so than carriages and coaches now are. Horses were trained to carry double ; and it was not an uncommon thing to see father, mother, and at least one child, mounted on the some horse at the same time. Long journeys were sometimes taken with this tripple load. For years after the Old Forge, in tbe western part of this town, was erected, the ore for its use was brought from the iron- mines of Kent in bags slung across the backs of horses ; and the bar-iron manufactured there, was bent in the form of ox bows, and carried to . market on horseback ! Ox-carts and ox-sleds were common, and journeys of hundreds of mUes wer not unfrequently made in these tedious vehicles. Many of the ambitious and hardy young men of this town, who emigrated to Vermont, to the Genesee Country, and New Connecticut, went on /oo<— each carrying a pack, in which was enclosed^ as an indispensable part of his outfit, a new axe. Some who thus went, became men of wealth and distinction. There was no public conveyance between Litchfield and the neighboring or more remote towns, for a period of nearly sev- POST-RIDERS, MAILS, ETC. 167 enty years after the settlement of the place commenced, -^s early as 1766, it is true, Mr. WiUiam Stanton was a post-rider between Litchfield and Hartford ; but as it is understood that his journeys were performed on horseback, the inference is that he did not make a business of carrying passengers ! flu- deed, during the revolution, all regular communication be tween the interior towns was suspended, even where it had before existed ; but expresses were sent hither and thither, as the exigences of the hour might demand. Litchfield was on the great inland route from Boston to New York, as well as from Hartford to West Point, so that the amount of travel through the town was very great. The establishment of a weekly paper in this village, in 1784, seemed to call for some method of obtaining and circulating the " news." There was not a Post Ofl&ce or a Mail Route in the County of Litchfield ; and how the subscribers contrived to get their papers, may well be regarded as a mystery by the publishers of our day. In 1789, Jehiel Saxton, a post -rider between New Haven and Lenox, passed through this town on his route, at stated intervals. In 1790, another of this inter esting class of primitive letter-carriers aud errand-men, com menced 'his long and lonely ride over the almost intermin able succession of hills, between " the Litchfield Court-House" and the city of New York — ^leaving each place once a fortnight. That was a proud day for Litchfield — perhaps for New York also! But at length the enterprize of the printer accompUshed what the Government had failed to do. In January, 1791, the Monitor contained the foUowing announcement : " Post-Oppice Establishment. — The Public, particularly Gentlemen in tiie Town and Vicinity of Litchfield, have some time lamented the want of a regular and weekly Intercourse with the City of Hartford, by a Post immediately from this Town — are respectfully assured, that a Post in conjunction with Mr. Isaac Trowbridge, the Rider from New York, will start from this Office for Hartford regularly, once a week, commencing on Monday next, the 31st inst. This Establish ment has met the Sanction and Encouragement of Mr. Trow bridge ; and the Undertakers wiU be subject to the same Reg- 168 HISTORY OF LITCHFIELD. Illation and ResponsibUity required by the Postmaster General. Consequently, every Duty annexed to the Busmess will be strictly and pointedly observed. " And that the Public may be better accommodated, and derive a safe Repository for their Letters, &c., a POST-OFFICE is opened in Collier's Printing Office — at which Place all Des patches, to be transmitted through the Medium of either Post, must be deposited. During the Winter, (and tiU the 1st of May next,) the Post from New York wiU ride once a fortnight, and arrive on Tuesday Evening, commencing the 5th of the ensuing month. Those who have Business or Letters are re quested to leave their directions at this Office, for New York on Tuesday, for Hartford on Saturday Evenings, preceding / the days of departure ; as the Posts will positively start at an early Hour. Letters wiU be received at this Office for any part of the United States. Litchfield, Jan. 24, 1791." A memorial of those days may stiU be seen about half a mile west of the Court-House, in the highway — a mile-stone bearing the following inscription, viz. : "30 Miles to Hartford. 102 Miles to New York. J. Strong, A. D. 1787." Forty and fifty years ago, several of these relics, of red sand stone, were scattered along the main route through the town ship, from east to west; but they have nearly aU disappeared. The one above referred to, is of white marble, and was doulbt- less erected by the Hon. Jedediah Strong, who, at the date given, resided on the adjacent premises, and who appears to have been unwilling that an ordinary stone should stand so near his dwelling. He was evidently quite satisfied with his achiev- ment, as, in his subsequent advertizements, he designates the locaUty of his residence as " near the marble mile-stone," etc. On the 20th of February, 1792, the President of the United States approved and signed the Post Office Bill, by which, on and after the 1st day of June following, a Post Road was es tablished from New York to Hartford, via. White Plains, FIBST post OFFICE IN LITCHPIELD. 169 Northcastle, Salem, Pound Ridge, Ridgefield, Danbury, New town, New Milford, Litchfield, Harwinton, and Farmington. A Government Post Oflfice was established in this town during the same year ; and though for a while the only one in the county, it was not very generally patronized, if we are to form our opinion from the following and other similar adver tizements : " LIST OF LETTERS at the Post Office in Litchfield last quar ter : Noble Bostwick, New Milford ; Justus Cook, Northbury ; Da vid Fancher, "Watertown ; Reuben and John Miner, Winchester ; Jon athan Werden, Salisbury. B. TALLMADGE, P. M. Litchfield, Nov. 1, 1792." Within the half-dozen years next succeeding the latter date, commenced what may be characterized as The Era of Turn pikes and Stage-Coaches — which continued in its glory for somethmg over forty years. During this period, very much • was done to improve the routes of travel and to facilitate com munication of town with town. Turnpike Companies were organized in all parts of the State, and turnpike stock was re garded by capitalists as a safe, profitable and permanent in vestment. The Litchfield and New Milford Turnpike Com pany was incorporated in October, 1797 ; the Litchfield and Harwinton Company, in October, 1798 ; and the Litchfield and Canaan Company, in ¦ May, 1799. Then followed Straits' Turnpike, from Litchfield to New Haven, the Litchfield and CornwaU, the Litchfield and Torrington, and the Litchfield and Plymouth Turnpikes — so that, in due time, tt became almost impossible to get into or out of our borough without encountering a tolLgate. Four-horse Stage Coaches graduaUy came into use from the time that Tarnpikes became general ; and ultimately Congress enacted that the U. S. Mails should be thus conveyed on all the principal routes. Litchfield now became §n important centre of travel. Daily lines of Mail Stages were established between this village and Hartford, New Haven, Norwalk, Poughkeepsie, and Albany. One after another, Post Ofifices- were established in all the towns and principal villages in the County ; notwithstanding which, the business of the Litchfield Office has been constantly on tho 22 170 HISTORY OF LITCHFIELD. increase. Staging continued to be an extensive and profitable business in this town, until the opening of the Housatonic Railroad, in 1837, at which time the Poughkeepsie and Alba ny lines were discontinued. Two-horse Mail Wagons have since run from this village to meet the railroad trains at West Cornwall and New Milford. In 1848, the Naugatuck Railroad was completed from Bridgeport to Winsted — running through the entire length of this township, near its eastern boundary. Since that time, our only four-horse stage is that running from the village to the Litchfield Station on the Naugatiick Road. There are now six Post Ofifices in this township, viz., those of Litchfield, South Farms, Milton, Northfield, Bantam Falls, and Campville. In 1851, an oflfice was established at the Litchfield Station, called " East Litchfield" — of which Messrs. William Butler and Charles Carter were successively Post masters. It has since been discontinued. A Return from the General Post Ofifice, published some half-dozen years since, shows that the yearly receipts at the Litchfield Post Ofifice exceeded those of any other oflfice in the State, except those located in the cities. The following is beUeved to be a complete list of Postmasters at the Litchfield Oflfice, from its establishment to the present time, viz., Benjamin Tallmadge, Frederick Wolcott, Moses Seymour, Jr., Charles Seymour, George C. WoodruflF, Jason Whiting, Reuben M. WoodruflF, Leverett W- WesseUs, and. Greorge H. Baldwin. The Postmasters for this town, for the year 1858-'9, are Litchfield, Geo. H. Baldwin ; South Farms, W. L. Smedley ; Nortlifield, John CatUn ; Milton, H. Kilbourn ; Bantam Falls, L. Kenney ; CampvUle," J. M. Camp. ECCLESIASTICAL. 171 CHAPTER X. ECCLESIASTICAL MATTERS. FIRST SOCIETY. In a preceding chapter, I have given with some particular ity an account of the settlement of the Rev. Timothy Collins, and of the erection of the first meeting-house in this town. The building was clapboarded, but had neither steeple Or beU. Mr. Morris informs us that at the " raising," alVthe adult males residing in the township, sat on the sills at/6nce ! Mr. Collins was ordained as the first pastor of the First Church, June 19, 1723. There is no evidence, either recorded.or tra ditionary, which would lead us to suspect that aught but the most perfect harmony existed between pastor and people, dur ing the early part of his ministry. The first inference to the contrary may be drawn from the doings of a town meeting held December 25, 1728, when a memorial from Mr. C^ was read, and the consideration thereof " postponed tUl the next meeting" — which, however, was not called until nearly three months afterward. It appears from the records of the meet ing in March, that the memorial had reference to " the dis count of money since the agreement was made" between the parties. It was finally resolved to pay him ten pounds per year in addition to the eighty pounds originally agreed upon as his salary — " until the town shall see cause to order otherwise." On the 14th of April 1731, the first vote was passed for "seating the meeting-house." In the doings of the same meet ing occurs the following entry : " Voted, after darA;,tliat Mr. Collins have the choice of the pews for himself and family." The peculiar significance ofthe wording of this vote, will be understood when taken in connection with a previous vote, which provided that " no act of the town should stand in force that was passed after day-light failed to record it." 172 HISTORY OF LITCHFIELD. The controversy which began in a dispute concerning the salary of Mr. Collins, was continued thi-ough a long series of years, and increased in importance and acrimony. Though a decided majority of the church and society took sides against their pastor, there was still a respectable minority who sus tained him. In 1744, the town voted " not to make any rate for Mr. Collins under present diflficulties." At the same time a committee was appointed to treat "with the pastor respecting his salary " and absence from the workof the ministry." In December, 1745, a committee was appointed " to eject Mr. Col lins from the Parsonage Right." In December, 1750, Mr. ¦ '^G^^^p^red " to resign his ministerial oflfice." During the fncce^ng month, a committee was appointed to carry a charge , A^lif^'Mc. C. to the Consociation, " for unfaithfulness in the ' toinist^rial; office.'-' To this last vote, Serg't. Joseph Mason, ,Jdeut« Moses Stoddard, aud Messrs. George Marsh, Archibald I MeN«le,- John Marsh, William Peck, Sylvanus Stone, Asa J jEto^S;ins, aiid Alexander McNeile, " did protest." Two years i l»tQrj^,^,jBiiiilar vote to the last was olfered in town meeting, r MiA'^^jp^led by a decided majority — yeas 13 ; nays 41. I *«4Jtep-a?%iinistry in this town of about thirty years, Mr. Col lins vacated the pulpit in 1752. Though liis pecuniary contest with the town continued for a few years later, he seems to have .been not unpopular either as a citizen or civilian. Like many of the clergy of that day, he had received a medical ed ucation, and he continued here as a practicing physician dur- . ing the remainder of his life. He was elected by the voters of this town to the ofifices of Lister and Selectman, and was ap pointed by the Legislature a Justice of the Peace for Litchfield County. In 1755, he was appointed a Surgeon of one of the Connecticut Regiments in the Expedition against Crown Point. He is represented to have been a gentleman of good talents and stately demeanor, but with manners by no means concilia tory or popular. It is worthy of mention, as indicating that he may have been " sinned against" in his controversy with the town, that he was successful in the only lawsuit growing out of it. He died in Litchfield in 1776. In February, 1753, the town voted a caU to the Rev. Judah Champion, of East Haddam, who had graduated at Yale Col- ' SECOND MEETING-HOUSE. 173 lege in 1751. Two thousand pounds, old tenor currency, was voted as his settlement, and eight hundred pounds, old tenor, was voted as his yearly salary. Mr. Benjamin Webster was appointed to visit Mr. Champion, and deliver to him these votes of the town. Mr. Champion accepted the call, and was ordained as [lastor ofthe First Church, July 4, 1753. On the 30th of December, 1760, the town voted to build a new meeting-house- on the Green ; and Mr. Joseph Vaill, Mr. Alexander McNeUe, Deacon Peter Buel, Jacob WoodruflF, Esq., and Captain Solomon Buel, were appointed a Building Com mittee. At the same time, Reynold Marvin, Esq., was desig nated as the Town's Agent to apply to the County Court for a committee to fix the place for said meeting-house; and t)ol. Ebenezer Marsh, Timothy • Collins, Esq., and Capt. Elisha Sheldon, were appointed to wait on the Committee of the Court. The edifice was erected near the site of the old one, and was 63 feet long by 42 feet wide, with a steeple and bell. It was completed during tho autumn of 1762. Tlie old meet ing-house was sold at auction in November of that year — Mr. Asa Hopkins, Vendue Master. Mr. Champion proved to be an 'able and popular minister, and continued here in the pastoral oflfice until 1798. He died in this town, October 5, 1810, in his 82d year. From the organization of the -town to tlie year 1768, aU bu siness relating to schools and ecclesiastical afiFairs was transac ted ill town meeting. The Society of South Farms (or the Second Society of Litchfield) having been incorporated, tiie First Society met for the first time, May 9th, 1768. Elisha Sheldon, Esq., was chosen Moderator; Isaac Baldwin, Esq., Clerk ; Mr, Joshua Garrett, Treasurer ; and Mr. Edward Phelps, Jr., Capt. Oliver Wolcott and Capt. William Marsh, Society'sTjOmmittee. There was Uttie done at these Society's Meetings, from year to year, except to appoint officers, Com mittees, and Choristers. Now and then we find an entry in the records of a difiFerent character. Thus — December, 1772 — ^measures were taken for " coloring tiie meeting-house, and putting up Electrical Rods." At the same meeting, the Soci ety's Committee were directed " not to let the Town's Stock 174 HISTORY OP LITCHFIELD. of Powder and Ball to be stored in said house." Two years later it was voted that " the new method of Singing at present taught by Mr. Lyman," should be iiitroduced into the public worship of the congregation ; and the singers taught by Mr. ,Lyman were granted " the use and privilege of the Front Seats in the GaUery." The subject of the minister's salary stiU gave the Society much trouble. Mr. Champion complained of the depreciated and fiuctuating currency, as Mr. Collins had done before him. To obviate this diflficulty, the Society, in 1779, voted to give him as his salary for the then current year, the sum of seventy-five pounds sixteen shillings, money, " to be paid in the following articles at the usual prices aflfixed, viz.. Wheat at four shillings per bushel ; Rye at three shill ings do. ; Indian Corn at three shilUngs do. ; Flax at six pence per lb. ; Pork at twenty-five shillings per cwt. ; Beef at twenty shillings do. ; Tried Tallow at six pence per lb. ; Lard at five pence do ; Oats at one shiUing per bushel." Mr. Champion's successor was the Rev. Dan Huntington, who, at the time he received the call to settle here, was a tutor in Yale College. He was ordained in October, 1798. As he was a gentleman of learning and eloquence, the church and society were delighted with their new pastor ; and he ap pears to have been no less pleased at being settled in such a place and over such a people. . He thus wrote concerning them — "A delightful viUage, on a fruitful liUl, richly endowed with its schools, both professional and scientific, and their accomplished teachers ; with its venerable Governors and Judges ; with its learned lawyers, and Senators, and Repre sentatives, both in the National and State Departments ; and with a population enUghtened and respectable — ^Litchfield was now in its glory." During Mr. Huntington's ministry in this place, a remarkable reUgious awakening overspread this and and the adjacent parishes, resulting in the hopeful conversion of about three hundred persons among the difiFerent denomin ations of Litchfield. " This town," says Mr. Huntington, "was originally among the number of those decidedly opposed to the movements of former revivaUsts ; and went so far, in a regular church meeting caUed expressly for the purpose under mNISTERS OP LITCHPIELD. 175 the ministry of the venerable Mr. Collins, as to let them know, by a unanimous vote, that they did not wish so see them. The eflFect was, they did hot come. The report circulated, that Litchfield had " voted Christ out of their borders." It was noticed by some of the older people, that the death of the last person then a member of the church, was a short time before the commencement of our revival." Previous to the settlement of Mr. Huntington, the society voted him a " settlement" of one thousand dollars, and an annual salary of four hundred dollars ; also, agreeing to con tinue to Mr. Champion, during life, a salary of one hundred , pounds. ¦ In December, 1805, a subscription was made of fuiids to be placed at interest, for the purpose of adding two hundred dollars to the salary of the pastor. It would seem, however, that notwithstanding these efiForts to increase his income, Mr. Huntington had resolved upon leaving. The Church and Society, in February, 1807, voted not to concur in his request that a separation should take place between them. A Council, however, was called, and the connection amicably dissolved. In March, 1810, the Society voted a unanimous call to the Rev. Lyman Beecher, which was accepted, and he was installed on the 30th of the succeeding May — President -Dwight, of Yale College, preaching the installation sermon. After a successful ministry in this town of about sixteen years, he accepted a call from the Hanover-street Church, Boston, and was dismissed, February 21, 1826. His successor in the ministry here, was the Rev. Daniel Lynn Carroll, who was ordained October 3, 1827 ; and was dismissed, at his own re quest, March 4, 1829. In 1827, the Society voted to erect a new church-edifice ; and Messrs. Frederick Wolcott, Stephen Deming, Salmon Buel, William Buel and Leonard Goodwin, were appointed a Build ing Committee. The House was dedicated on the same day that the instaUation of Mr. Hickok took place. The Rev. Laurens P. Hickok, of Kent, was the next pastor, having been installed July 15, 1829. During his ministry here, of about seven years, 214 persons united with the church. Ninety-five of these were added at two communion seasons in 176 HISTORY OF LITCHFIELD. the autumn of 1831 — ^being a part of the fruits of the great revival of that year. In September, 1836, Dr. Hickok having been elected Professor of Theology in the Western Reserve College, Ohio, requestfcd a dismission from his pastoral charge, which was reluctantly granted — and he was dismissed, Novem ber 15, 1736. June 12, 1838, the Rev. Jonathan Brace, of Hartford, was ordained as pastor of the church ; and was dismissed, at his own request, February 28, 1844. During his pastorate of about six years, not far from one hundred and fifty persons united with the church. The Rev. Benjamin L. Swan was installed as the eighth pastor, October 22, 1846, and closed his labors here, on the 10th of May, 1856 — having supplied the pulpit with much ability and acceptance for nearly ten years. The present pastor, the Rev. Leonard Woolsey Bacon, was ordained, November 16, 1856, on which occasion the ordina tion sermon was preached by his father, the Rev. Leonard Bacon, D. D., of New Haven. Deacons ofthe First Church, (from 1723 to 1859.) — John Buel, Nathaniel Baldwin, Benjamin Hosford, Benjamin Kel logg, Benjamin Webster, Thomas Harrison, Peter Buel, Moses Stoddard, Andrew Adams, WiUiam Collins, Ozias Lewis,. Thomas Trowbridge, Andrew Benedict, Frederick Buel, Tru man Kilbourn, Charles Adams, Cyrus Catlin, Henry W. Buel, and Henry B. Bissell. Clerks of the Society. — ^Isaac Baldwin, Roger Skinner, Abel Cathn, Luke Lewis, Samuel Buel, Jabez W.'Huntington, Joseph Adams, Frederick Demihg, Samuel P. BoUes, George C. WoodruflF, Sylvester Galpin, Francis Bacon, James G. Bat- terson, Reuben M. WoodauflFj Frederick D. McNiel. Treasurers of the Society, — Joshua Garrett, Abraham Bradley, Isaac Baldwin, WiUiam Stanton, Moses Seymour, Samuel Buel, Joseph Adams, Luke Lewis, Frederick Deming, Sylvester Galpin, George C. WoodruflF, Charles Adams, Sam'l P. BoUes, Chauncey M. Hooker, Henry W. Buel. FIRST EPISCOPAL SOCIETY. 177 In 1735, Mr. John Davies, of Kinton, Hertfordshire, Eng land, purchased a tract of land in the south-west corner of this town, and not long after took up his abode in that wild and unfrequented region. He was warmly attached to the doc trines and forms of the Church, of England, [and was for some years the only Episcopalian in Litchfield. The unpopularity of Mr. Collins, of the congregational society, at length induced several of the leading members of his congregation to with draw themselves from his ministry, and to look elsewhere for religious instruction. On the 5tli of November, 1745, a meet ing was called at the house of Captain Jacob Griswold, by Messrs. Jacob Griswold, Joseph Kilbourn, John Davies, James Kilbourn, Thomas Lee, Samuel Kilbourn, Abiel Smith, Joseph Smith, Abraham Kilbourn, Elijah Griswold, Isaac Bissell, Wil liam Emmons and Daniel Landon — at which the- First Epis copal Society of Litchfield was organized. The first service after the English ritual, w^s performed in this town by the Rev. Dr. Samuel Johnson, President of King's (now Colum bia) College in the city of New York. At an adjourned Town Meeting, held on the 16th of February, 1747, it was voted, that " those who declared themselves members of the Church of England the last year, shall be discharged from paying their Minister's Rate for the last year — they paying two-thirds of the Rate that was made for them to pay the last year." This was one short step toward toleration. In that year Mr. John Davies deeded to the Episcopal Society in Litchfield, a tract of land situated about one mile west of the present Court House, containing fifty-two acres. This deed was in the form of a lease, for the term of nine hundred and ninety-eight years, for the use of the " Society for Propagating the Gospel in For eign Parts" — for which there was to be paid " one pepper-corn annually, at or upon the Feast of St Michael the Archangel, if lawfully demanded." About the same time, Mr. Daniel Landon deeded to Capt. Jacob Griswold and Captain Joseph KUbourn, a tract of fifty acres, " lying westward of the Great Pond, near a mountain called Little Mount Tom," to hold for the use of said Society for Propagating the Gospel, " to be by said Society applied and appropriated for the benefit ofthe 23 178 HISTORY OP LITCHFIELD. Minister ofthe Episcopal Church in Litchfield." The first church edifice of the parish was raised upon the first named of ^ these tracts, AprU 23, 1749. It was covered— seats, pulpit, reading desk and chancel were made — and it was used in this condition for about twenty years before it -wsls finished. It was named St. Michael's, by request of Mr. Davies. It stood (as did also the house of Captain Griswold, in which the society was organized,) nearly opposite the present residence of John E. Sedgwick, Esq., and continued to be occupied as a place of public worship for over sixty years. '' In 1749, John Davies, Jr., (the only survivhig son of the first benefactor of tho parish,) came over from Hertfordshire, with a wife and several young children,* and settled near his father, south-west of Mount Tom, at a place still known as Davies Hollow. As he was a gentleman of good estate, and an ardent Churchman, his arrival was regarded as an important accession to the Episcopal Society. He had previously crossed the ocean two or three times on tours of observation. His wife — ^whose maiden name was Mary Powell — was very reluc tant to leave her native land ; and had it not been for the fact that one or more of her children were aheady in the famUy of their grand-parents in Litchfield, it is doubtful if she would have been induced to come. That she should have regarded her new home in the wilderness as cheerless and lonely, com pared with the scenes she had left, is not to be wondered at. In writing home to her English friends, she is said to have described herself as " entirely alone, having no society, and nothing to associate with but Presbyterians and Wolves." ' Tho reader may be interested in the fact, that though the wolves long since disappeared from Davies HoUow, some of the de scendants ofi the excellent lady who thus wrote, are now num bered among the sect of christians which she seems to have regarded with such abhorrence. * William, Mary, Walter and James, were born in Hertford ; the other children, viz., Catharine, Elizabeth, Ann, James J., David, Rachel, George and Thomas, were bom in Litchfield. These were all children of Mr. Davies' second wife, Mary Powell. His first wife, Elizabeth Brown, was the mother of John, Thomas (the Rector of St. Michael's,) and William who died yotmg. The youngest son, Thomas, was bom about the time of the death of his elder brother of the same name. RECTORS OF ST. MICHAEL'S CHURCH. 179 From the organization ofthe society in 1745, to 1754, they were without. a settled minister. The Rev. Drs. Mansfield, Johnson, Cutler and Beach, occasionally officiated here ; and in the absence of a clergyman, prayers were sometimes read by Messrs. Davies, Landon and Cole. The first Rector of St. Michael was the Rev. Solomon Palmer, M. A., who had been pastor of the Congregational Church in Cornwall from 1741 to 1754. In March of the preceding year, to tbe great surprize and grief of his people, he on the Sabbath pubUcly announced himself an Episcopalian in sentiment. He soon after sailed for England, where he was ordained Deacon and Priest by the Rt. Rev. Zachary Pierce, Bishop of Bangor ; and returned to this country during the same year (1754,) bearing a commission from the Venerable Society as missionary for Litchfield, Cornwall and Great Barrington. His salary from the Society was £60 per annum. With the exception of about three years, (during which time he was Rector of Trinity Church in New Haven,) Mr. Palmer continued to reside in Litchfield, in the exercise of his pastoral duties, until his death, which took place November 1, 1771, at the age of 62 years. He was buried near the old parish church, one mile west of the present edifice — where, Mr. Jones informs us, his tomb stone was standing in 1812. . His epitaph has recently been carved on a handsome modern monument in the West Burying Ground. His successor in the ministry of St. Michael's, was the Rev. Thomas Davies, M. A., (son of Mr. John Davies, Jr.,) who was born in Hereford, England, January 2, 1737, and was brought to Litchfield by his father in 1745, when but little more than eight years old, and was left here with his grand parents. This was some four years before his parents became residents of this town. Having graduated at Yale CoUege in 1758, and pursued the usual course of theological studies, Mr. Davies sailed for England, and was there ordained Deacon by the Archbishop of Canterbury, at Lambeth, on Sunday, August 23, 1761, and was ordained Priest by the same prelate on the foUowing day. Like Mr. Palmer, he rotumed hither as a missionary ofthe English Society " for Litchfield county 180 HISTORY OF LITCHFIELD. and the parts adjacent." By a subsequent and more definite appointment, the parishes of New Milford, Roxbury, New Fairfield, New Preston and Sharon, were designated as his field of labor. On the removal of Mr. Palmer to New Haven in 1763, he became the minister of St. Michael's, and remained here in charge of the parish until his decease, May 12, 1766. His Memoirs and Diary, (with a likeness,) were pubUshed in New Haven in 1843 — edited by the Rev. Mr. Hitchcock. The volume contains the record of a large number of Baptisms and Marriages in Litchfield. As heretofore intimated, Mr.Talmer returned to Litchfield and continued his pastoral duties in this place during the remainder of his life. Mr. Benjamin Farn ham, a candidate for Holy Orders, officiated in the parish for a few months, until the arrival of the Rev. Richard Moseley, who was sent hither as a missionary of the Society in England. Mr. M. was not welcomed with any degree of cordiality, and was never recognized by tiie congregation as their pastor. He consequently returned to England, and carried with him such an "ill report" of the parish as to cause a suspension ofthe annual aUowance from the English Society for the year 1773, On a due representation of the facts in the case, the salary was restored in 1774. The Rev. James Nichols, a native of Waterbury and a grad uate of Yale College, became Rector of the parish, April50th, 1775. Though he is represented to have been a talented and" popular preacher, the excitement consequent upon the Revo lution drove him from the pulpit, and tiie church was closed untU 1780. Mr. Nichols then resumed his ministerial; duties, and the society from that time gradually increased in numbers «.* 'The Episcopalians of Litchfield have good cause to remember the Davies mily with gratitude. John Davies, Son., (in addition to the gift of tbe lands referred to,) was perhaps the most liberal contributor towards erectiiig the first Episcopal church in this town. He died November22, 1758,snd his remains were brought seven miles from his residence and interred in our West Burying Ground, where they rest without a stone to mark the spot. ' He ordered gifts of mourning apparel .to be made to his colleagues in erecting the chnrch. John Davies, Jr., in January, 1794, gave a piece of land near his residence in Davies Hollow, for a church and burying-gronnd, on whieh, mainly at his own expense, a. place of worship was erected. Aged and infirm, he sat in the door of his house and wit nessed the raising of the building. He departed this life. May 19, 1797, in his 84th year. His widow, Mary, died December 15, 1801, iu her 76th year. On the organization of the town of Washington in 1779, Davies Hollow was annexed to that towhship. PROGRESS OP EPISCOPACY. 181 and in public favor. On the 26th of October, 1784, it was in corporated by an Act of the General Assembly of the State, and thereupon it was duly organized according to law. Episcopacy in Litchfield had thus far been tolerated, and the the members of the society had for the most part been treated by their fellow-townsmen with the ordinary courtesies of Ufe ; but a large majority of the people of the town as well as of the members of the colonial and State governments, seem to have been particularly loth to do anything that might look like en couraging ^issent from what had so long been the established religion of Connecticut. In 1785, an "Address of Thanks" to the Legislature was drawn up by the Rev. Mr. Nichols and signed by Daniel Landon, Jr., in behalf of the society, for the act of incorporation. " Wishing the favor of a Justice of the Peace to adorn our Society," (wrote Mr. Landon,) " they nominated Mr. Seth Landon, with some others, as a fit person to fill that oflfice." Seventeen years after this request was made, Mr. Seth Landon was for the first time appointed to the oflfice for which he was thus nominated ; nor do I find that,-iit-the intermediate time, more than one Episcopalian was appointed to the magistracy for this town ! It was not until the JeflFersonian Campaign, when Messrs. Champion and Huntington began to introduce ^oZiitcs into their sermons and prayers, that Episcopacy became sufficiently formidable in the town to demand its full share of civil and political rights. Mr. Nichols resigned his charge ofthe parish in May, 1784; and on the 9tli of September, 1785, the Rev. Ashbel Baldwin, (a native pf Litchfield and a graduate of Yale College,) be came the Rector of St. Michael's, and continued to occupy the position for about eight years — when he was succeeded h^ the Rev, David Butler, (afterwards D. D.) His successors have been the Rev. Messrs. Truman Marsh, Isaac Jones, John S. Stone, D. D.s WiUiam Lucas, Samuel Fuller, D. D., William.Payne, John J. Brandagee, Benjamin W. Stdne, J. M. WUley, and the present Rector, Rev. H. N. Hudson. Jn 1796, during the ministry of Mr. Butler, a large number of Episcopaliana residing in the west part of the town seceded from the first Episcopal Society, and erected a new church. 182 HISTORY OP LITCHPIELD. . - The edifice, which stood upon the hiU nearly opposite , the Burying-Ground at Bantam Falls, was fifty feet long by thirty- six broad, and was surmounted by a tower, bell, and steeple. It was planned and buUt by Mr. Giles Kilbourn, who died on the 13th of September, 1797, and his funeral was the first attended within its waUs.* In October, 1797, the seceders petitioned to be released from paying taxes to the First Epis copal Society, and for permission to organize themselves into a distinct Society. On the 6th of November foUowing, this petition was granted ; and on the 14th, the " Second Episcopal Society of Litchfield" was duly organized, with the foUowing officers, viz., Messrs. David Kilbourn, John Landon and Syl vanus Bishop, Society's Committee ; James Kilbourn, Clerk ; and Heber Stone, Treasurer, In 1803, the two Societies were amicably united, and so continue at the present time — though they manage a portion of their affairs independently of each other, and have diflFerent Rectors. The Old West Church (as it was called,) was occupied as a place of public worship about forty-six years, and was taken down in the summer of 1843 — a smaUer edifice having about that time been erected a few rods farther west. Services were held for tbe first time in the new church — which bears the name of St. Paul's — on Sunday, December 24th, 1843, by the Rev. G. C. V. Eastman, the newly appointed Rector. At the commencement of Mr. Marsh's ministry in this town, in 1799, he agreed to preach one-Sfth of the time in MUton, where there were a few families of Episcopalians ; and in 1802 a neat and convenient church was erected in that section of the town. It was raised on the 25th of June, 1802 ;^ finished in 1827 ; consecrated by Bishop Brownell in 1837, and is stUl in use. There is also a fiourishing Episcopal church and society in Northfield, in the south-east part of this town, under the care ofthe Rev. Frederick Holcomb. D. D., of Waterto^. * Mr. K. was enthusiastically devoted to his business as a Builder,*and did much in his generation to improve the architecture of this vicinity. The Tallmadge House, and the present residences of William Deming and Henry R. Coit, Esq's., (all in this village,) were built by him. An obituary notice of him in the Monitor, „ (which is understood to have been written by the Kev. Dr. Butler,) says — " He was a mau of uncommon industry, and a very valuable member of society." His funeral sermon was preached by Dr. Butler. METHODISM IN LITCHFIELD. 183 In June, 1790, tho Rev. Freeborn Garretson, one of the ablest and most earnest Apostles of Methodism in America, visited Litclifield on his way from the Hudson river to Boston. He was at that time Superintendent of the Northern District, and, in his itinerant joumeyings, was almost invariably attend ed by his colored servant, Harry, who was himself a licensed preacher of no mean distinction. They traveled together on horseback, apparently vicing with each other in their zeal for the promotion of the cause of their common Master. On Wednesday, June 23d, (as we leam from Dr. Stevens' Memo rials of Methodism,^ Mr. Garretson "rode seven miles to Litchfield, and was surprized to find the doors of the Episco pal church open, and a large congregation waiting for him. He discoursed from the words — ' Enoch walked with God,' — and believed good was done. He left Harry to preach another sermon, and went on to the centre of the town ; the bell rang, and he preached to a few in the Presbyterian meeting-house, and lodged with a kind churchman." On the same day, Mr. Garretson wrote in his Diary — " I preached in the skirts of the town, where I was opposed by , who made a great disturbance. I told him the enemy had sent him to pick up the good seed ; tiirned my back on him, and went my way, accompanied by brothers W. and H. I found another waiting company, in another part of the town, to whom I declared, ' Except ye repent ye shall all likewise perish.' In this town we have given the devil and the wicked much trouble ; we have a few good friends." On his return from Boston, Mr. Garretson again preached in Litclifield — ^Friday, July 13, 1790. So far as I have learned, these were the first Methodist ser mons ever preached in this town. The Litchfield Circuit was organized during the spring of 1790, and embraced, according to Mr. Stevens, " the north western section of Connecticut." In May, 1791, the Rev. Messrs. Matthias Swain and James Covel were appointed by the conference to labor in this Circuit. Their immediate suc cessors, previous to the commencement of the present century, were. Rev. Messrs. Lemuel Smith, Samuel Ostrander, Philip Wagner, James Coleman, Enoch Mudge, F. Aldridge, Jesse 184 HISTORY OP LITCHFIELD. Stoneman, Joseph MitcheU, Daniel Dennis, Wesley Budd, Ezekiel Canfield, WiUiam Thatcher, Ebenezer Stevens, Free man Bishop and Augustus Jocelyn. On the 21st of July, 1791, the famous Bishop Asbury preached in the Episcopal church in this town. In reference to his visit here, he wrote — " I think Morse's account of his countrymen is near the truth ; never have I seen any people who could talk so long, so correctly, and so seriously, about trifles." A. hard hit, certainly ! — is it not too well deserved ? I have found no records whatever, indicating the progress of this denomination in Litchfield, for many years subsequent to the last of the dates here given. Tho names of the follow ing persons in our Grand List for 1805, are put down as " mem bers of the Methodist Society," viz., Noah Agard, Isaac Bald win, Ebenezer Clark, Thomas F. Gross, Elisha Horton, Samuel Green, Jonathan Hitchcock, Roswell McNeil, Jonathan Rogers, Daniel Noyes, John Stonejp,hd Arthur Swan. In 1837, a handsome church edifice was erected by the Methodists, in Meadow street, in this village, which was dedi cated on the 27th of July of that year. The dedication ser mon was preached by Professor Holdich, of the Wesleyan University; and an ' appropriate discourse was delivered by the Rev. Mr. Washburn. Tlie following clergymen have since been stationed here, generally for two years each — ^Rev. Messrs. Charles Chittenden, iKeyes, Gad Smith, Jason Wells, D. L. Marks, William Dixon^ Joseph Henson, WiUiam B. Hoyt, N. C. Lewis, H. N. Weed, Louhsbury,\and WilUam Howard. The number of members of tiiis church j as- raported to the Conference about a year since, is 113. - '-^.^'^ &^^'V- In addition to the church in this vUlage, there is a Methor dist church in Milton and another on Mount Tom. The late Rev. Horace Agard, and the Rev- Joseph L. Morse, are, so far as I can learn, the only natives of the town who have become Methodist ministers. There is a flourishing Baptist Church and Society at Ban tam FaUs, under the charge of the Rev. Mr. Ganun. For merly there was a Baptist Church in Northfield, which flour ished for several years under the pastoral care of the Rev. Messrs. Seth Higley and Levi Peck. BIOGRAPHICAL NOTES of iatiUes m'is ^tsiismU uf t|e f 0ton irf f itepeUi. ADAMS, Samuel, a native of Milford and long a resident of Stratford, came to this village to reside a few years previous to his death: — which took place here, November 12, 1788, in the 85th year of his age. He had been a prominent lawyer and Judge of the Fair field County Court. His widow, Mrs. Mary Adams, died ia this town, August 29, 1803, in the one hundred and sixth j/ear of her age, " She retained," says the Monitor, " her memory, reason and activity remarkably, until about two years before her death. After she was an hundred years old, she rode on horseback thirty miles in one day." She was a daughter of Mr. Zachariah Fairchild, and was born in Stratford, May 7, 1698 ; thus shaving lived in. three centuries 1 ADAMS, Andrew, LL. J>.ii(son of the preceding,) resided in this town about thirty years, aftiis^^ecame Chief Justtcte of §he State. He died in this village, Ti-Iiileholdihg^that office, Nov. 27,;i797, aged 62. [See pp. 144 and^SfeottKis^bluihe/l^ iifeS^ ALLEN, John,anativeof^reat Barnugton, Mass., was^dmitted to the Litchfield Bar"inl7,|^j^cQiitiuuedJto reside here^^ prac ticing lawyer until his3^t1ii;?iiK^efe,yeatil812. r7''He wa8;;a, SEepre- sentative at seven sessionsf "Clerk of the House in 1796; member of Congress from 1797 td;i799^i^-and;iriember 6£ the State, Cpfincil from 1800 to 1806. He hot only Jqsaessed great powCTs of iniric^but was remarkable for his imposihgpresence— having been nearly seven feet in height, and with a proportionably heavy frame. He was buried in our East Graveyard. -ALLEN, John W., (son of the preceding.) was born in Litchfield, but left his native town soon after the death of his father. Having Studied law, he settled in Cleveland, Ohio, where he became eminent in his profession. In 1837, hewas elected a member of Congress from Ohio, and was re-elected in 1839. He has also been Mayor of Cleveland, Presidential Elector, etc. "- ' ' ,' ' ALLEN, General Ethan, the Hero of Ticonderoga, was bom in Litchfield, January 10, 1737-8 ; and died in Burlington, Vermont, February 13, 1789, aged 5 1 years. [See pp. 1 35, etc. of this volume.] 24 186 HISTORY OP LITCHFIELD. AGARD, Rev. Horace, (son of Mr. Noah Agard,) was born in Litchfield, received a license to preach from the Methodist Confer ence, and for some time labored successfully in his native town. Re moving to the State of New Tork, he was ordained Deacon in Paris, by Bishop George, in 1821, and two years later he was ordained Elder at Westmoreland, N. T., by the same Bishop. For eleven years out of nineteen of effective service in the ministry, he was Pre siding Elder of the Susquehanna and Berkshire Districts. He died in the faith, January 8, 1850. BACON, Asa, a resident of Litchfield from 1803 to 1852, was bom in Canterbury, graduated at Tale College in 1793, and died in New Haven in February, 1857, aged 86. He was one of the most eminent lawyers at the Litchfield bar. His widow, (a daughter of the late Hon. Epaphroditus Champion, of East Haddam,) is still living in New Haven. BACON, Epaphroditus Champion, (eldest son of the preceding,) was born in Litchfield in 1811 ; graduated at Tale College in 1833 ; . and settled in his native town as a lawyer. In 1839, he was a Del- e;;ate to, and Secretary of, the National Convention which met at Harrisburg and nominated General Harrison for the Presidency of the United States. Mr. Bacon was elected a Representative from this town in 1840, and again in 1841. He was a diligent antiquarian and genealogist. While traveling in Europe, he died at Seville, Spain, January 11, 1845, aged 34 years. BACON, Lieutenant Frederick A., (son of Asa Bacon, Esq.,) was born in Litchfield in 1813 ; entered the Navy in his youth, and was attached to the U. S. Schooner Sea GuUoi the Exploring Expe dition, which foundered off Cape Horn, May 1st, 1839, and all on board perished. He was 26 years of age. Lieut. Bacon was mar ried, and left one son. BACON, General Francis, (youngest son of Asa Bacon, Esq.,) was bora in Litchfield in January, 1820 ; graduated at Tale College in 1838 : studied law with the Hon. O. S. Seymour, and settled as a lawyer in his native town. With the exception of two or three years, he continued to reside here until his death. In 1847 and 1848, he was First Clerk of the House ; and in 1849, he was elected to the Senate of this State. He was also Major General of all the Militia of Connecticut. He died in this town, September 16, 1849, aged 29 years and 8 months. General Bacon married Elizabeth Duteher, of Canaan, and left one daughter, Kate. BALDWIN, Isaac, graduated at Tale College in 1735, settled in Litchfield in 1742, and died here, January 15, 1805, aged 95 years. He was a Representative at ten sessions, Clerk of the Probate Court twenty-nine years, Town Clerk thirty-one years, and Cleik of the Court of Common Pleas forty-two years 1 BALDWIN, Rev. Ashbel, (son of Isaac Baldwin, Esq.,) was bom in Litchfield, March 7, 1757, and graduated at Tale College in 1776. -2>t^^O-Ot'!i^ BIOGRAPHY 187 He was ordained Deacon nt Middletown, by Bishop Seabury, Aug. 3, 1785 — being the first Episcopal ordination in the United States. In September following, he was ordained Priest by the same Bishop. From 1785 to 1793, he was Rector of St. Michael's church in this town, and was afterwards for 'about thirty years Rector of Christ Church, Stratford. He was Secretary of the Diocese of Connecticut, and member of the General Convention. Mr. Baldwin died in Roch ester, N. T., Febmary 8, 1846, in his 89th year. From his register it appears that he had preached and performed service about 10,000 times ; baptized 3,010 persons ; married 600 couple; and buried about 3,000 persons ! BALDWIN, William B., (son of Captain Horace and grandson of Isaac Baldwin, Esq.,) was born in Litchfield, January 7, 1803, and has been for more than twenty years past one of the editors and pro prietors of the New Haven Daily and Weekly Register. He has also been State Printer, member of the Common Council of the City of New Haven, &c. BARNE.S, Amos, (son of Mr. Enos Barnes,) was born in Litch field, and settled in Pittsfield, Mass., where he still resides. He was an officer in actual service in the last war with Great Britain ; has since been a Selectman, Magistrate, and Trial Justice of the Police Court ; and in 1837 and again in 1838, he was elected a member of the Massachusetts House of Representatives. BEEBE, Bezaleel, a Colonel in the continental army, was bom in Litchfield, April 28, 1741 ; died May 28, 1824. [See p. 145.] BEECHER, Lyman, D. D., was born in New Haven, October 12, 1775 ; graduated at Tale College in 1797 ; and was ordained pastor of a' churcli in East Hampton, L. I., in December 1798, with a salary of $300 per year. In 1810, at the age of thirty-five years, he was instaUed pasthr of the First Church ip Litchfield, and remained here in that capacity for a period of sixteen years. This was, as he him self states, by far the most active and laborious part of his hfe. In addition to his ordinary pastoral services, he was probably more con spicuously identified with the establishment of the great benevolent associations of the day, than any other country pastor in New Eng land. Returning, full of zeal, from the first meeting of the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions, in 1812, he called to gether, in this village, several clergymen and laymen from various parts of the county, who organized the Litchfield County Foreign Mission Society — the fiest Auxiliary of the American Boabd. He was active in all the reforms of that period. His Six Sermons on Intemperance, which were preached in our old meeting-house in 1826, were widely circulated on both sides of the Atlantic, and were among the earliest and most effective means in arousing the Christian world to the evils of intemperance. In 1826, Dr. Beecher became pastor of the Hanover street Church in Boston; and in 1832, he accepted the Presidency of Lane Theological Seminary in Ohio, in which lat ter oflSce he continued for some ten years. Subsequently, for a few 188 HISTORY OF LITCHFIELD. years, he was engaged in preparing his Works for the press. He now resides in Brooklyn, New Tork. Dr. Beecher has been three times married, and has had thirteen children, viz., 1 Catharine E., distinguished as an author ; 2 Eev. William H. ; 3 Rev. Edward, D. D,, ex-President of Illinois College ; 4 Mary Foote, m. the Hon. Thomas C. Perkins, of Hartford ; 5 Harriet, died young, on Long Island ; 6 Rev. George, died in ChiUcothie, Ohio ; 7 Harriet, m. Rev. Dr. Calvin E. Stowe, now of Andover, Mass. ; 8 Rev. Henry Ward; 9 Rev. Charles, of Georgetown, Mass.; 10 Frederick, died young, in Litchfield; 11 Isabella Holmes, m. John Hooker, Esq., of Hartford ; 12 Rev. Thomas K., of Elmira, N. T. ; 13 Rev. James C, Seamen's Chaplain in China. Of these, Mrs. Stowe, Henry Ward, Charles, Frederick, Mrs. Hooker, and Thomas K., were horn in Lhchfield. BEECHER, Rev. Henry W.ird, was born in Litchfield, June 24, 1813 ; graduated at Amherst College in 1834 ; was licensed to preach in April, 1838; and was settled as pastor of a church in Lawrence- burgh, Indiana, in the fall of the same year. From August 1839 to October, 1847, he was pastor of a church in Indianapolis, Indiana ; and since the last named date he has been pastor of the Plymouth Church, Brooklyn, N. T. He is a powerful and popular preacher and lecturer, and is said by the New American Cyclopedia to have "the largest uniform congregation in the United States." He is the author of a volume of Lectures to Young Men; The Star Papers ; Views and Eocperiences; Talks about Fruits, Flowers, and Farming, &c. ; and two volumes of extracts-from his extemporaneous discourees, noted down, edited, and published, by members of his congregation have had an extensive circulation. Mr. Beecher was married, Aug. 3, 1837, to Eunice, daughter of Dr. Artemas Ballard, of W. Sutton, Ms! BEERS; Seth P., was born in Woodbury, July 1, 1781, studied law with the Hon. Ephraim Kirby, and at the Litchfield Law School, and was admitted to the bar on the 20th of March, 1805. He has ever since resided in this village. In November, 1813, he was ap pointed by President Madison, Collector of the Direct Taxes and Internal Revenue of the United States, for Litchfield county, and held the offlce until it was aboUshed in 1820. He was also State's Attor ney for five yeare, and a Representative in 1820, 182 1, 1822 and 1823. In 1821, he was Clerk ofthe House, and during the sessions ofthe two succee"ding years he was Speaker. In 1824, he was elected a State Senator, and, while holding that office, the Legislature appoint ed him Assistant Commissioner of the School Fund. On the resig nation of the Hon. James Hillhouse, he was appointed sole Commis sioner, June 1, 1825, and resigned said office to take effect December 1, 1849. The Legislature passed a unanimous vote of thanks to Mr. Beers "for his long, laborious and faithful labors as Commissioner of the School Fund." Mr. B. has also been a candidate for Congress ; and in 1839, he was the regular democratic nominee for Goverapr. He was a Presidential Elector in 1836, and State Superintendent of Common Schools from 1845 to 1849. BIOGRAPHY. 189 BIRD, John, (son of Dr. Seth Bird,) was born in Litchfield, Nov. 22, 1768 ; graduated at Tale College in 1786 ; practiced law for a few years in his native town ; removed to Troy, N. T., in 1794, and died there in the year 1806, aged 38 years. He had been a member of the Legislature of New Tork, and a member of Congress from that - State. Ex-President Van Buren thus writes to the author of this vol ume concerning him : "John Bird I did not know personally, but have always taken much interest in his character and career. He must, according to all accounts, have been one ofthe very ablest men in the State, though a very eccentric one. There have been but few men among us, who have left behind them so many racy ¦ anecdotes illustrative of their peculiarities." His first wife was a daughter of Col. Joshua Porter, of Salisbury ; his second wife was Sally Buel, daughter of Mr; David Buel, of Troy, formerly of this town. He left several children. BIRGE, Gen. John Ward, was bom in Litchfield, January 7, 1803, and in his youth wentto reside with an uncle in Cazenovia, N. T. He received his medical degree at Geneva College, and is a successful practitioner in Utica, where, as a surgeon and occuhst, he.has a high reputation. He is, however, principally famous for his connection with the Patriot War in Canada in 1837-'8. He had previously been Colonel ofthe Eighth Regiment of New Tork State Cavalry; and, while holding the office of Brigadier General, (an extensive organi zation being perfected aloiig the lines, having for its object the freedom of the Canadas from British rule,) he was waited upon by a deputation from the executive compiittee havingthe matter in charge, who urged upon him the acceptance of a Major General's commission, with the command of the second of the three Divisions. After some hesitation, he accepted the position, and fixed his headquarters at Watertown, N. T. The confidence and enthusiasm of the people on the subject, for fifty miles on each side of the lines, was so unbounded, that such a thing as failure seems not to have been thought of. The whole plan of operations, however, was frustrated by a rash attempt of Colonel Von Shoultz, a gallant Polander, to land at Prescott with his regiment. Success would have made Heroes and Patriots of the chief actors in the enterprize ; failure made them Rebels and Traitors. Von Shoultz and others were hanged, some were banished, and some (among whom was the subject of this sketch) were tried for a breach of the neutrality laws. General Birge is a son of the late Joseph Birge, Esq., who died in this town in 1854. BISSELL, George Beckwith, (son of Mr. John Bissell,) was born in Litchfield, SepL 12, 1823, entered the United States Navy in his youth. In August, 1846, he was attached to the U. S. Brig Truxton when she was wrecked on the coast of Mexico, and with others was seized and held as a prisoner of war. On his release, he made a visit to his native town ; but soon re-joined the Navy, and for eighteen months was attached to the scientific department at Washington. He joined the Frigate Cumberland in New Tork, as Sailing Master, on the Slst of August, and died at the Naval Hospital in Brooklyn, Sep- 190 HISTORY' OF LITCHPIELD. tember 10, 1848, aged2o years. His remains were brought here for interment. Ilia elder brothers, John Bissell, Jr., and Edward Bissell, Esq'rs., (both lawyers in New Tork city,) were born in the State of New Tork, but resided many years in Litchfield. The latter has been a Purser in the Navy. BISSELL, Lyman, (son of Mr. Hiram Bissell,) was born in Litch field, October 19, 1812 ; was Captain in the United States Arniy, and Paymaster of the New England Regiment, in the War With Mexico ; and is still an officer in the Army. BRACE, John P., was born in Litchfield, February 10th, 1793 ; graduated at Williams College in 1812; and was for some years Principal of the Litchfield Female Academy, and siibsequently of the Hartford Female Seminary. For eight or ten years past, he has been one of the editors of the Hartford Daily and Weekly Courant. - Mr. Brace is the author of Lectures to Toung Converts, Tales ofthe Devils, and The Fawn afthe Pale Faces. -^ tfr?'- -", . ' BRACE,"Charle3, Loring,.the celebrated traveler, is a son of John P. Brace, Esq., an4 Was)6omin LitclidSeld, June 19, 1826. Having graduated at T^e College in 18146; and pursued a course of theologi cal studies^ he Ipent'geveral years travelibg in Europe; as a part of the fruits of which^ he has given to the pabUp three or four very in teresting volumes, ¦viz.,'' Hungary in 185l,^ 'Home' Life in Germany, The Norse F6W,^c^ la May, 1851, during die Hungarian struggle for independence, Mr. Brace was seized as a spy hy the Austrian au thorities, and imprisoned at Gross Wardein; but after a lapse of thirty days, hewas released, through the intervention of Mr. McCurdy, then American Minister to Austria. He is now Secretary of the Children's Aid, Society in the city of New Tork. , ; . BRADLET, Abraham, (son of Abraham Bradley, Esq.,) was horn in Litchfield, February 21, 1767, studied law, and became a Judge in Luzerne county, Penn. From 1799 to 1829,.he was First Assistant Postmaster General of the United Stales.' .He drew and published a Map of all the Post Roads in the Union, with the Post Offices and distances cjlearly defined. He died at hfa residence in the city of Washington a few years since. ;"¦¦,.¦ . ¦ -¦' - ' ,• BRADLET, Dr. Phineas, (brother ofthe preceding,) was bom in Litchfield, July 17, 1769 ; married Hannah Jones, of this town, and settled here as a physician and druggist. When the office of Second Assistant Postmaster General was created by Congress, Dr. Bradley was appointed, and retained the position for about twenty-five years. He was a gentleman of wealth, and distinguished for his hospitaUty and benevolence. He died at his beautiful seat, Clover HiU, two miles north of the national capitol, in the spring of 1845, aged 76. BRADLET, Wflliam A., (son of the preceding,) was born in Litchfield, July 25, 1794, and settled in the City of Washington, where he still resides. He has been President of the Patriotic Bank, Postmaster, and Mayor of the city. BIOGRAPHY. i^T" 191 BUEL, David, Jr., born in Litchfield, October 22, 1784 ; gradua ted at Williams College in 1805 ; settled as a lawyer in Troy, where he still resides. In .1&21, he was a Delegate to the Constitutional Con vention of his adopted State ; for some years held the office of First Judge of the Courts of Common Pleas for Eenselaer county; and in 1842, he was elected a Regent of the State University — a position which he still holds. .From 1829 to 1847, Judge Buel was a Trustee of Williams, College. . May 24th, 1814, he married Harriet, daughter of John G. , Hillhouse, Esq., of Montville, Conn., and has several sons and daughters, I' Wfl> >;.^^fi_;r/„. , - s j, --:'< BUSHNELLjEev. Hoi^e^ iWson o^Ensign Bashnell, Esq.) was born m Litchfield in IfOJ^^radalited af Tale College in 1827, and was a Tutor in that institutign from i§29, to, 1831.- .For the last twenty-seven .years, he has been pastor o^ George C. Woodruff " 1852 Charles 0. Beldeu " 1854 P. K. Kilbourn " 1 855 3 Edward W. Seymour " 1858 iu oflice COUNTY OF LITCHFIELD. [Previous to 1819., this Court consit^ted of one Presiding Jud.^c and four Ai^.'^ociatc Judges, called " .Justices of the Qaoiiim.''' From 1819 to 1S3'J, there "were but two Associate Judges, instead of four. From 1835 till the abolition ofthe Co Aaron Smith. MoiTis Woodruff. ¦Morris Woodruff. Morris Woodruff. Morris Woodruff. Morris Woodruff. Jonathan Buel. Jonathan Buel. Jonathan Buel. Ephraim S. Hall. Ephraim S. Hall. Ephraim S. Hall. Phineas Lord. PMneas Lord. Seth P. Beers. John Welch. John Welch. Phineas Miner. Morris Woodruff. Morris Woodruff. Reuben Webster. William Beebe. WiUiam Beebe. Morris Woodruff. Morris Woodruff. Truman Smith. EUhu Harrison. Asa Hopkins. Truman Smith. Elihu Harrison. Phineas Lord. Phineas Lord. William Ray. William Ray. E. Champion Bacon. E. Champion Bacon. Enos Stoddard. . Enos Stoddard. Dan Catlin. Dan Catlin. George Seymour. George Seymour. William L. Smedley. Christopher Wheeler. Christopher Wheeler. Thomas M. Coe. William Newton. William Newton. Samuel P. Bolles. Samuel Brooker, Jr. Garry H. Minor. Edward Pierpont. WiUiam Bissell. WilUam BisseU. LITCHFIELD GRADUATES. 245 NATIVE AND RESIDENT GRADUATES, INCLUDING THOSE WHO HAVE E.ECIVED HONORARY DEGREES. Note. — This list is not designed to embrace the names of such as have received medical degrees only — though some of the number have received the m. d. iu addi tion to other degrees. In the first column, the * indicates that the person whose name is given on the same line, was born in this town. The figures in the same col umn denote the number of years the individual lived in Litchfield. The figures in the second column, indicate the year of graduation. The t after the name, indicates"' an honorary degree. The name of the coUege is given immediately after that of the graduate. * 1848 Edward P. Abbe, Yale, clergyman in Massachusetts. * 1848 Frederick K. Abbe, Yale, " " 10 1825 Elisha S. Abernethy, Yale, lawyer — now resides in Bridgeport. 30 1760 Andrew Adams, ll. d., Yale, Chief Justice of Connecticut. — 26 1791 John Allen,t Yale, lawyer and member of Congress. ~" * 1840 John W. AUen.t Yale, lawyer of Cleveland, Ohio; member of Congress. 48 1793 . Asa Bacon, Yale, an eminent lawyer — died in New Haven in 1857. •• * 1833 ' E. Champion Bacon, Yale, lawyer, legislator— died at Seville, Spain, 1845. * 1838 Francis Bacon, Yale, lawyer, Senator, Major General. 3 1850 Leonard W. Bacon, Yale — ^present pastor of the First Church, Litchfield. * 1776 . Ashbel Baldwin, Yale, formerly Rector of St. Michael's, Litchfield. * 1810 Charles A. Baldwin, WUliams, lawyer in State of New York— died 1818. 65 1735 . Isaac Baldwin, Yale, lawyer, legislator, clerk of the courts ; died in 1805. * 1774 Isaac Baldwin, Jr, Yale, lawyer and legislator ; died in Pompey, N. Y , 1830. * 1801 Isaac Baldwin. 3d, Yale, lawyer — died in 1844, * 1801 Samuel S. Baldwin, Yale, lawyer— died in 1854. 9 1766 George Beckwith, Yale, pastor of the church in South Farms. 30 1827 Josiah G. Beckwith, M. D., Union, a practicing physician in this town. 16 1797 Lyman Beecher, D. D., Yale, former pastor of the 1st Church in this town. * 1833 Charles Beecher, Bowdoin, now pastor in Georgetown, Mass, . 16 1822 Edward Beecher, D. D., Yale, late President Bliuois College; author, etc. 16 1628 George Beecher, Yale, died while pastor of a church in ChiUcothie, Ohio. * 1834 Henry Ward Beecher, Amherst, pastor of Plymouth Church, Brooklyn. * 1843 Thomas K. Beecher, lUinois, now pastor in Elmira, N. Y. 16 1833 WiUiam H. Beecher,t Yale, formerly pastor in Midnletown, etc. 16 1842 Frederick D. Beeman, Yale, lawyer, and clerk of the courts. — 1800 Amos Benedict, Yale, lawyer— died in this town in 1816. * 1846 Andrew D. Benedict, Kenyon, Episcopal clergyman, * 1847 Samuel Benedict, Trinitv, late Ass't Rector Trinity church, N. Haven. * 1846 Alfred H. Beers, sr. d., f rinity, physician in Buffalo, N. Y. * 1839 George W. Beers, Trinity, member of the Bar, Litchfield. ,* 1786'- John Bird, Yale, lawyer in Litchfield & Troy, N. Y. ; member of congress. * 1851 * Edward BisseU, Yale, lawyer in Fondulac, Wisconsin. * 1849 Oscar BisseU, Yale, pastor of a church in Westminster, N. H. * 1853 WiUiam BisseU, Ji. D., Yale, physician in Salisbury. * 1833 Noah Bishop, Yale, pastor of a church in or near Springfield, Ohio. * 1812 John P. Brace, WiUiams, teacher, author, editor. * 1846 Charles Loring Brace, Yale, author. Secretary ChUdren's Aid Soc, N. Y. 6 1850 Jonathan Brace,t D. D.. Yale, now pastor of a church in Milford. 3 1843 John J. Brandagee, Yale, former Rector of St. Michael's, Litchfield. * 1812 Solyman Brown, Yale, dentist, author, clergyman. New York city. 30 1836 Frederick Buel, Yale, Agent American Bible Society, California. 15 1826 WiUiam P. Buel, m. d., Yale, physician on Califorma steamer. * 1844 Henry W. Buel, M. D., Yale, physician in his native town. jr* 1805 David Buel. Jr., WUliams, of Troy, N. Y., lawyer. Judge, regent univ'ty. 12 1836 Joshua D. Berry, Middlebury, late President Shelby CoUege, Ky. ? 1832 Amos B. Beach, Union, late Rector St. Paul's, Bantam FaUs. * 1827 Horace BushneU, D. D., Yale, pastor North Church, Hartford ; author, etc. 10 1833 David Butler, D. D ,t Washington, former Rector St. Michael's. 42 1787 Joseph E. Camp, Yale, pastor church in Northfield. * 1822' AlbertiB. Camp, Yale, pastorin Bridgewater, Ashby, Mass., etc. * 1786 ' Lynde Catlin, Yale, merchant, and President Merchants Bank, N. .ICork. * 1839 John Catlin, Yale, teacher, &c., resides in Northfield. 60 1751 Judah Champion, Yale, 2d pastor of the first church in this town. 27 1780 Amos Chase, Dartmouth, pastor church in South Farms. 9 1803 Samuel Church, ll. d., Yale, chief justice of Connecticut. 246 msTOEY OF litchfield. * 1844 John ChurchiU.t Yale, now pastor of a chnrch in Woodbury. 64 1718 TimothyCoUins, Yale, first pastor of the first church in this town. * 1758 Ambrose CoUins, Yale, went a missionary to the Indians, and died. — 1758 Thomas Davies, Yale, former Rector of bt. Michael's. * 1811 WiUiam Deming, Yale, resides in his native town. , . „ ^ — 1829 George C. V. Eastman, Middleburv, Rector of church in Bantam FaUs. 9 1822 Samuel Fuller, D. d., Union, late President Kenyon CoUege, Ohio. * 1759 Fisher Gay, Yale, colonel revolutionary army; legislator, magistrate. _ 47 1791 James Gould, ll. d., Yale, Judge Sup. Court, principal Law School. * 1827 George Gould, Yale, of Troy, N. Y., now Judge Supreme Court, N. York. * 1824 James E. Gould, Yale, lawyer, died in Augusta, Georgia, 1830. * 1816 WiUiam T. Gould, Yale, Judge Court of Oyer and Tei-miner, Augusta, Ga. * 1839 John M. Grant, Yale, colporteur m Maryland, &c. * 1844 Wm. H. Guernsey, Yale, clergyman ; died in Savannah, Ga., 1850. * 1849 Luther B. Hart, Union, late pastor Baptist church, North Norfolk. 7 1820 Laurens P. Hickok, D. D., Union, now Vice President Union coUege. 7 1851 George A. Hickox, Trinity, now a practicing lawyer in this town. 16 1840 Gideon H. Hollister, Yale, lawyer, clerk of the courts, senator. 32 1784 Uriel Holmes, Jr., Yale, lawyer, judge, member of congress. * 1816 Uriel Holmes, Jr., Yale, died July 3, 1818, whUe member Theo. Sem. And. 8 1784k Lemuel Hopkins,t Hi. d,, Yale, poet, &c. 11 1794 Dan Huntington, Yale, former pastor of the first church in this town. * 1822 Charles P. Huntington, Harvard, now Judge Superior Court, Boston, Ms. 27 1806 Jabez W. Huntington, Yale, lawyer, judge, member of congress, senator. * 1824 WitUam P. Huntington, Harvard, pastor in Mass. and Illinois; artist, etc. 6 1843 George J. Harrison, Union, now congregational minister in MUton. 40 1792 Isaac Jones, Yale, minister of St. Michael's parish. 3 1791 Benjamin Judd, Yale, pastor in Milton. * 1837 James Kilbourn, Yale, pastor in Bridgewater, Middle Haddam, & Hlinois. 15 1840 John KUbourn, Yale, teacher in State of New York. * 1853 P. K. Kilboum,t Union, author of this volume. * 1787 Ephraim Kirby.f Yale, lawyer, .judge, author of " Kirby's Reports." * 1844 Wm. H. Lewis,t D. D., Kenyon, Rector of Holy Trinity church, Brooklyn. — 1788 Daniel W. Lewis, Yale, lawyer, state's attorney. ! 6 1770 Samuel Lyman, Yale, removed to Sprmgfield, Mass. ; member of congress. * 1783 Lynde Lord. Jr., Yale, died in his native town in 1813. * 1812 Stephen Mason, Williams, former pastor in Washington, now in Michigan. 50 1748 Reynold Marvin, Yale, lawyer, king's attomey; died here, July 30, 1802. * 1786'- Samuel Marsh, Yale, lawyer in his native town, and in Norfolk, Va. * 1786^ Truman Marsh, Yale, Rector of 8t. Michael's 27 years; died here iu 1851. * 1775 J.ames Morris; Yale, teacher, magistrate, legislator, captain; died 1820. * 1803 James Morris, jr., Yale, tutor University of Georgia ; d. in Sunbury, Ga. * 1804 Eeuben S. Morris, Yale, lawyer; died in Utica, N. Y., in 1832. * 1838 Dwight Morris, Union, lawyer in Bridgeport, judge of probate, legislator. * 1776 Benjamin Osbom. Dartmouth, pastor in Tmmouth, Vt.; author, a. 1818. * 1779 Isaac Osbom, Dartmouth, farmer, teacher, deacon; died in Litchfield 1826. * 1779 Jeremiah Osbom, Dartmouth, farmer, died in Litchfield in 1829. * 1784 Jacob Osborn, Dartmouth, farmer and teacher, died in Litchfield in 1821. * 1784 Ethan Osbom, Dartm'th, pastor Fairfield, N. J., 64 yrs ; d. in his 100th yr. 13 1729 Solomon Palmer, Yale, Rector of St. Michael's ; d. m this town in 1771. ? 1760 Benjamin Palmer, Yale, died in 1780. * 1853 John M. Peck, d. D.,t Harvard, Baptist pastor inDlinois; author; d. 1858. * 1853 Wm. G. Peck,t Trinity, (also at West Point,) Prof. Mat. Colum. Col., N. Y. * 1842 James Peck, Union, merchant at La Crosse, Wisconsin. 6 1807 Amos PettingUl, Harvard, pastor church iu South Farms — 1816 to51822. * 1837 John H. PettmgiU, Yale, District Secretary Am. Board— Albany, N. Y. * 1804 John Pierpont, Yale, clergyman in Boston, author, lecturer, poet. 25 1813 Charles Perkins, Yale, lawyer, died in London, (Eng.,) Nov 18, 1866, M 64. 50 1763 Tappmg Reeve, ll. d., Princeton, chief justice of Connecticut. — * 1802 Aaron Burr Reeve, Yale, lawyer in Trov,N. Y., died in 1809. * 1829 Tapping Burr Eeeve, died in Litchfield'in 1829. — 1833 James Richards, d. d., Union, now Principal Ehn Park Col. Institute. — 1868 James Richards, jr., Princeton, Professor Ancient Lan. and Mat. in do. * 1831 RoUin Sanford, Yale, merchant in Brooklvn, N. Y. ; candidate for congress. * 1797 Horatio Seymour, ll. d., Yale, lawyer, U. S. Senator from Vt 12 years. * 1824 Origen S. Seymour, Yale, member of congress, judge Superior Court. " * 1863 Edward W. Seymour, Yale, lawyer, member present House of Represent's. 25 1730 Elisha Sheldon, Yale, legislator and judge ; died in Litchfield iu 1779. * 1800 Elisha Sheldon, M. D., Yale, died in 1832; buried in Litchfield. LITCHFIELD PHYSICIANS. 247 * Richard Skmner, ll. D.,t Middlebury, Govemor and chief justice of Vt. 25 1790 Aaron Smith, Yale, lawyer, legislator and merchant; d. in this town m 1834. 7 1806 Lucius Smith, Yale, merchant, colonel in war with Gt. Britain, clergyman. 45 1767^ Reuben Smith, Yale, physician, m^istrate, county treasurer; died m 1804. 35 1816" Truman Smith, Yale, lawyer, member of congress, U. S. Senator. * 1761 Jedediah Strong, Yale, member continental congress, legislator, etc. 3 1823 • John S. Stone, D. D., Union, former Rector of St. Michael's. — 1838 Benjamin VV. Stone, Trinity, " " " " * 1867 Storrs 0. Seymour, Yale, now a student of theology. * 1822 WUUam Sheldon, Yale, merchant, died in France m 1828; 10 1844 Benjamin L. Swan,t Yale, now pastor of a church in Stratford. 52 1773 Benjamin TaUmadge, Yale, member of congress 16 years. * 1830 ¦ Benjamin Talhnadge, jr.t Yale, Lieut. U. S. N. ; d. off Gibraltar m 1830. * 1811 Frederick A. TaUmadge, Yale, Recorder N. Y. city, member of congress. 28 1778 Uriah Tracy, Yale, lawyer, member of congress, U. S. Senator, General. — * 1778 Joseph Vaill, Dart'th, pastor in Hadlyme;d. 1838 after a ministry of 68 yrs. * 1824 Hermon L, VaiU, Yale, pastor in East Lyme; also Seneca FaUs, N. Y. * 1848 Louis F. Wadsworth, Trinity, lawyer in N. Y. city, Dep. Clerk Assembly. * 1837 Charles Wadsworth, D. d.. Union, pastor Arch st. church, Philadelphia. * 1795. HoUand Weeks, Dartmouth, pastor in Waterbury, and in Vermont. ? 1809 WiUiara E. Weeks, D. d., Prmceton; d. 1848, .e. 66. * 17781, John Welch, Yale, merchant, judge, legislator; died in 1844. * 1806 WiUiam Welch, Yale, captainU. S. A.; died in the public service in 1811. * 1827 WiUiam H. Welch, Yale, late chief justice of Minnesota Territory. 46 1747 Oliver Wolcott, ll. d., Govemor, Signer Declaration of Independence, * 1778 OUver Wolcott, jr, ll. d., Yale, Govemor, Secretary U. S. Treasury, etc. _* 1786 Frederick Wolcott, Yale, lawyer, legislator, judge pf probate. * 1779 Ezekiel Woodruff, Yale, lawyer, Adjutant revolutionary army. * 1849 Curtis T. Woodruff, Yale, Eector Episcopal church in Woodbury .- * 1825 George C. Woodruff, Yale, lawyer, legislator, judge of probate. * 1857 George M. Woodrufi; Yale, now a law student in Cambridge, Mass. * 1830 Lewis B. Woodruff, Yale, now a Judge Superior Court, New York city. * 1809 Simeon Woodruff, Yale, clergyman, settled at the West. * 1836 Lucius H. Woodruff. Yale, teacher in Insane Retreat, Hartford: d. in 1852. * 1803 Samuel Whittlesey, Yale, pastor at Washington and elsewhere. 2 1861 Junius M. WUley, '^^rinity, Rector of St. Michael's; now in Waterbury. Pliysicians who have Practiced in Litchfield. Note. — The * designates natives of this town, i Those who received the M. D. - Timothy Collins, from Guilford, the first cler^man and physician in the town, preached and practiced here from 1721 tUl his death in 1777. Thomas Little, from Taunton, came here about 1747 — died in Northfield of old age. - Seth Bird,* b. Jan. 4, 1733-'4; died in this town in 1804. Daniel Huntington, practitioner and draggist; d. in Woodbnry Feb. 19, 1819. Phineas Bradley, practitioner and druggist; became Ass't P. M. Gen'l U. States. Samuel Catlin,* b.Nov. 6, 1739; lived to old age, and died in his native town. Hosea Hulbert,J removed to Fairfield county. Daniel Sheldon,} a native of Hartford, practiced here from 1781 untU his death. - Phineas Smith.* b. Oct. 27, 1759; Uved and died in his native town. Comfort Bradley,* Jived and djedin native town. Partridge Parsons,* b. Aug. 22, 1763 , d. in Pen Yan, N. Y., May 9, 1846, aged 83. Robert Catlin,* surgeon, b. March 29, 1773 : d. in his native town in 1823. Abel CatUn,* b. March 18,. 1770 : died in his native town January 13, 1856. John M. West,t died in this town July 27, 1836, aged 47. Eeuben S. Woodward,t died m Northfield m 1849, aged 83. Isaac Marsh,* died in CornwaU, Sept. 1, 1829, aged 53. JosephParker.diedinSouthFarms, Feb. 6, 1830,aged70. „ ^ „ ,„„ WUliam Buel,*| President State Medical Soc, d. m this town, Oct. 15, 1851, je, 84. Samuel Bnel,*t died in this town, July 10, 1864, aged 72. Alanson Abbe,} now resides in Boston. Manly Peters,}: now resides m Knoxville, Tennessee. Norman Landon,*} died in this town in 1830. John W. RusseU,*} now resides in Mount Vemon. Ohio. Josiah Barnes,} now resides iu Buffalo, N. Y. 248 HISTORY OF LITCHFIELD. Moses A. Lee,} died while Professor in the Medical College at Pittsfield, Mass. Anson Wildman, practitioner and druggist: present residence unknown. John S. Wolcott,}* (son ofthe last Gov. Wolcott,) died in this town in 1844. Reuben M. Woodruff,*} died in this town AprU 29, 1849, aged 38. Charles VaiU,*} now resides in Eochester, N. Y. Garry H. Minor,} a native of Woodbury, now resides in South Farms. Benjamin Welch, jr.,} from NorfoUc, now resides in Salisbury. Caleb Ticknor,} died in New York, Sept. 7, 1840, aged 36. Samuel E. Childs,| now resides in Saratoga Springs. WiUiam Deming, jr.,*} now resides in Lenox, Mass. James K. WaUace,* now a practitioner at Bantam Falls. George Seymour,*} now a practicing physician in this vHlage. A. Sidney Lewis,*} " " " Eliada Osbom,*} " " " David E. Bostwick,*} " " " Orson Buel,* (botanic,) " " " D. B. W. Camp,*} ¦ "^/? " Northfield. '' ^ - ¦Ji Physicians born in Litchfield but who practiced elsewhere. [Not included in either of the foregoing Lists.] Judah Chainpion Landon, (son of J. R. Landon, Esq.) died in Kentucky a few years. John Ward liirge, now of Utica, N. Y. Levi Moulthrop, died in early manhood at Eockford, Illinois. Timothy Pierce, died at the South. Clark Sanford, settled in Stamford and died there. Jolm Stoddard emigrated westward. Asa Barnes, settled in Virginia. Burr Eeeve Abbe, Boston, Mass. Charles W. Grant, now resides at lona, near Newburgh, N. Y. Aaron W. Gibbs, now of Chicago, Illinois. Samuel CatUn, jr, formerly of Watertown : now in Michigan. Egbert Guernsey, author. Professor, and practitioner, New York city. Ozias Lewis, jr, of Kosciusco, Mississippi. Isaac W. Russell, died in Mount Vernon, Ohio. Joseph W. Camp, late of Bristol — now of Wisconsin. Fred'k B. Woodward, former physician in Woodbury — now Rector ch. in Bethany. Asa C. Woodward, now of Bethany. Elijah A. Woodward, now of Madison, Wisconsin. Warren Smith, died in Stillwater, N. Y., Nov. 1806. Ephraim Smedley, of North East, Pennsylvania. Aoel Brace, of Catskill, N. Y. — late coroner of Green co. Henry Holmes, of Hartford— ^Health Officer, Alms House Physician, Coroner. George Bissell, late of Dutches county, N. Y., now of California. Charles J. Kilbourn, of StanfordvUle, Dutches co., N. Y. ; died in this town in 1862. James B. Kilbourn, of Hinds county. Miss. ; died there in 1837. Washington Irving Wright, surgeon in the U. S. Army. Oliver Wolcott, died in California in 1856. A sou of Colonel Oliver S., he was the last ofthe Wolcotts in the line of the thi-ee Governors. His remains were brought to Litchfield for interment. Joseph Hall, died recently at North East, Penn. Augustus BisseU, Pennsylvania. Daniel H. Moore, died in New Haven in 1849. Walter Peck, died in Goshen Nov. 8, 1834, aged 24. Horatio M. Baldwin, died in Binghamton, N. Y., in 1842. Marcus M. Wood, of Greene, Chenango county, N. Y. Henry Pierpont, of Naugatuck. Charles H. Webb, of Woodbury. , Zephaniah Webb, of New York city. Moses M. Seymour, of-PainesvUle, Ohio. — , , .i ;. LITCHFIELD. 249 Town of Litchfield. The town of Litchfield is situated near the geographical centre of the County of Litchfield, of which it is the shire town or seat of justice. It is claimed, (by those who have from time to time sought to divide it,) that it is the largest township in the State — being eight miles north and south, by nine mUes east and west. It is 32 miles west of Hartford, 35 mile north-westerly from New Haven, and about 100 mUes north easterly from New York. It is bounded north by CornwaU, Goshen and Torrington ; south by Bethlem, Watertown and Plymouth ; east by Harwinton, from which it is separated by the Naugatuck river; and west by Warren and Washington. The Naugatuck, Shepaug and Bantam rivers, and some of their branches, pass through the town, affording an abundance of water-power. Bantam Lake, which lies wholly in this town, is the largest lake in the State, covering an area of 900 acres. The Little Pond covers about 15 acres ; and Cranberry Pond is stiU smaUer. Mount Tom Pond lies partly in Washington and partly in this town. The surface of the town is gently roUing, here and there breaking into abrupt ridges or bluffs. The highest of these is Mount Tom, some six miles south-west of the viUage, which reaches an al titude of 700 feet above the river at its base, or, according to President Dwight, 1500 feet above the level of tide-water. From Prospect Mountain, about four miles west of the Court House, may be seen the Cattskill mountains, west of the Hudson. A large proportion of the Ismd in the vallies and on the hUl-sides, is easUy tilled, and yields abundant crops. The balance is profitably used for meadow, pasturage and wood-land. Some of the most beautiful and diversity landscapes in New ]5ngland, are to be met with in this town. In 1800, the total amount of the Grand List of Litch field was $107,164 27 — of which sum $51,687 67 was for the First Society ; $26,882 02 for South Farms; $lf,740 45 for Northfield; $13,856 13 for Milton. In 1810, there were in the town 4087 acres of plow-land ; 7298 acres of meadow and clear pasture ; 966 acres of boggy meadow that was mowed; 294 acres do. not mowed; other meadow 1312 acres ; 9343 acres bush pasture ; 4408 acres first rate wood-land ; 3789 acres 2d rate do.; 4756 acres 3d rate do. Since that date, the plow-land, meadow and cleared pasture, have greatly increased ; while the area of wood-land has decreased in a like ratio. Wood is now so scarce and high in our borough market, that some of our people have already commenced burning Pennsylvania mineral coal. Litchfield contains four incorporated Ecclesiastical Societies and twenty-eight School Districts. The societies are, Litchfield, South Farms, Northfield, and Milton. The Naugatuck Railroad runs through the entire length of the township from north to south — the Litchfield Station being about four miles from the Court House. The population of Litchfield in 1756, was 1,366; in 1774, it was 1,554; in 1800, it was 4,287; in 1810, it was 4,639. From this time, the tide of emigration began to set so strongly westward that our population commenced decreasing. In 1820, the census-taker gave us 4,610; whUe in 1850, our population was but 3,987. In hotly contested elections, more than 1,000 votes have been polled in this town. Though the population of the Town has thus decreased, the Borough has gradually iucreas'ed its numbers, and has been constantly improving in rural beauty. In 1848-'9 the New England Mining Company commenced riining for copper in the "Pitch," four miles south-east of this vulage; and about the same time, another company with the famous P. T. Barnum at its head, began digging in the same vicin ity. Both these companies were unsuccessful. Bamum, in his examination before his creditors in New York, put down as one item of loss, " $10,000 sunk in a Litchfield copper mine." In other parts ofthe town, however, miners have met with better success. About two mUes north-east of the viUage, on the form of Mr. Beach, a shaft has been sunk 25 feet in depth, by Messrs. Sedgwick and BueU. The vein or lode is 14 feet in mdth, composed of pure quartz, with a slight mixture of felspar. In this vein is found a very pure gray Copper Ore, yielding by analysis 79 1-2 per cent, of copper. A bevel has been driven 140 feet, which whe completed, wiU intersect the vein at 50 feet in depth. In this vein are also found great quantities -of small pure garnets, which are as yet too small to be made valuable as articles of commerce. This vein, ' bearing nearly a north and south direction, can be traced for a distance of three mUes. On the farm "ofMr. Gilbert, half a mile from this location, was recently found an old shaft, 15 feet deep, which is supposed to have been sunk long before the Revolution. This has been cleaned out, ahd sunk 30 feet upon a small vein of iron and copper ran- ning together. The quantity of copper found is not yet sufficient to render the dig ging profitable — the imne having been but partiaUy developed. The lauds of the Connecticut Mming Company, on Prospect Mountain, promise an abundant retum for funds invested and labor performed. Disinterested parties who have visited these lands, and others who have analyzed and smelted their copper, nickel and sUver ores, pronounce the per ceuta^e of pure metal to be much greater than that of some the celebrated EngUsh mines. The enterprize is this company deserves and wUl receive a rich reward. „_ 33 250 HISTORY OF LITCHFIELD. Litchfield Borongh Corporation. At the May Session of the Legislature of this State, 1818, the inhabitants of this viUage presented their memorial, praying for a Borough Charter. In their petition they state that " the houses are as contiguous as they are in many of our cities ; that the Public Schools, which for many years have been estabUshed in this viUage, make a great addition to its ordinary population ; " that on account of their local situation and compact settlement, they are, as they conceive, in an unusual degree exposed to injury from fire," &c. The application was successful ; and the petitioners and their associates, residing within the limits prescribed, " were constituted and declared to be forever thereafter, a body corporate in fact and in name, by the name of the Cor poration of the Village of Litchfield," The powers vested in the corporation were simUar to those of the ordinary borough charters of this state, viz., to levy taxes for the purchase of fire-engines, fire-hooks, ladders, and such other improvements as should be deemed necessary to protect the viUage against fires ; to order and direct in all matters relating to side-walks, shade-trees, and the sinking of public wells and pumps ; to restrain cattle, sheep, and geese from running at large in the pubUc high ways ; and to pass such tiy-laws and regulations, with suitable penalties attached, as might, from to time, be thought necessary for the attainment of the objects contem plated in the charter. The officers designated in jthe act of incorporation, were, a President, Treamrer, and Clerh, (who were iu all cases to be ohosen by baUot,) a CoUector of Taxes, and a number of Fire- Wardens not to exceed ten, together with such other officers not enumerated as should be jnecessary to carry the by-laws and the provisions of the charter into effect. In case the collector should refuse or neglect to collect the tax according to the tenor of the warrant committed to him, the Presi dent must " issue his warrant directed to the Sheriff of the county of Litchfield, or his deputy, to distrain the sums or rates neglected by such collector to be coUected, to be paid out of the estate of said coUector." The Assessors were to be appointed by the County Court The first meeting of the inhabitants of the Borough under the charter, was held on the 17th of June, 1818, at which the following officers were elected, viz., Hon. Fred erick Wolcott, President; Dr. William Buel, Treasurer; and Joseph Adams, Clerk. A committee Jof five was appointed to prepare a code jof By-Laws for the Borough, viz. Seth P. Beers, Julius Deming, Asa Bacon, Phineas Miner, and Ozias Lewis. At an adjourned meeting holden on the 20th of June, it was voted to choose a Bailiff by ballot; and Dr. Abel Catlin was elected to that office". Benjamin TaU madge, Asa Bacon and Charles L. Webb, were appointed a Committee of Inspection ; and Ashbel Marsh was chosen Key Keeper. These gentlemen constituted the first list of officers of our corporation. It is sad to note the inroads which death has made in their ranks in the lapse of forty years. The President, Treasurer, Clerk, and BaUiff, together with Messrs. Demmg, Miner, Tallmadge and Bacon, are all with the dead. At the regular annual meeting in September, 1818, Judge Wolcott was re-elected President; Dr. Buel, Treasurer; and Mr. Adams, Clerk; Messrs. Roger Cook, Am brose Norton, Moses Seymour, Jr.^ Oliver Goodwin and James Trowbridge, were chosen Fire Wardens. At an adjourned meeting, Asa Bacon, Esq., was chosen Bailiff; Charles L. Webb, Leonard Goodwin. Jonathan Carrington, and Ambrose Norton, Assistant BaUiffs ; and Leonard Goodwin, CoUector. The first Board of Assessors consisted of Erastus Lyman, Esq., Gen. Morris Woodruff, and John N. Guun, Esq. The amount of the Grand List of the Borough, Oct., 1818,) as returned by the Assessors, was $128,913.65. In 1820, the Hon. Uriel Hohnes was elected President of the Borough. In 1824, he was succeeded by Dr. WiUiam Buel, who held the office for twelve years. His suc cessors have been the Hon. Phineas Mmer, Joseph Adams, Esq., Dr. J. G. Beckwith, Garwood Sanford, Henry B. Graves, and P. K. KUbourne, F. D. Beeman, and JohnH. Hubbard. In 1823, the second general assessment of the viUage was made by Samuel Sey mour, Frederick Wolcott, and Jonathan Carrington, Esqrs., (gentlemen appointed for that purpose by the County Court,) and did not differ materiaUy in amount from that made in 1818. The assessment of 1835 amounted to $140,627 ; that of 1S53, to $143,526 ; showing a gradual increase in the actual value of the real estate of our vil lage, from the date of its Incorporation to the present time. ^ The village now (1859) contains something over 200 dweUings, stores, offices, and shops; 4 liouses of Pubhc Worship, three of which have chapels annexed; a douri; House, Jail, and County House; two Banks, one Savings Bank, one weekly news- paper, three Hotels, an iisurance Office three PnbUc Halls in addition to the Town HaU and Court Room, three High Schools, (one for young ladies and two for Jl°n"?m a visit to his native country in the autumn of 1868, he perished" at sea, with 600 others, by the burning of the steamship Austria. • ZEBULON GIBBS' NARRATIVE. [Zebulon Gibbs was bom in Wmdsor Aug. 19, 1711; died m Litchfield Jan. 8, 1803.] " Mbmoibs of Capt. Zebulon Gibes. — Some memoirs of ray Ufe may not be un- V interesting. I came to Litchfield m the year 1720, then being in my tenth year. There '^were then but three famUies living within the limits of Litchfield, viz., John Peck, Captam Jacob Griswold, and Ezekiel Buck. Said Griswold was taken by two Indi- "•lis-in the month of May, 1722, and earned as far as Canaan; and in the succeeding ^.-'aieiit, when the Indians were asleep, said Griswold took theu: guns and made his es- Ir cane and returned to the town next day— though he was foUowed by the Indians *Withm sight of the houses then standing on the now town plat. In tiie same year, in '&e montfi of August, Joseph Harris was kiUed and scalped by the Indians. On the i^y that said Harris was kUled, I was solicited by him to go with him out to the Plain U^est of the town, to drive his team ; but as there was no guard going that day to that }x Dart of the town, I refused to go with him. He then went alone ; but when the news fceame into town that Harris was kiUed, there was an alarm made, and the people raUied Fiut Ul search of him, and I was the first who found bun dead. x «. j j I;f^I am now the oldekt man Uving in.the county of Litchfield, save one. I attended me first funeral that was ever attended in this town, of a yvhite person. I have been ^^htyhunter ta my early, Ufe ; I have kiUed five Deer in this town in one day. *^ rfe^nn t^Ticonderoga in the late revolutionary war, with Colonel Hinman. I KuveChe French War in the year 1766, tUl the year 1762. I was a conductor 254 HISTORY OP LITCHPIELD. of teams and horses, by which means I obtained the title of Captun. I married about the age of 21, and lived with mjr wife 62 years, and she died — ^by whom I had nine children ; three died yonng, and six Uved to settle in the world in tne marriage state.. I have had 48 grandctuldren, 133 great-grandchUdren, and sundry of the 6th genera^ tion, but the number I cannot ascertain. I am now 91 years old. I have enjoyed * The Monitor was continued for a period of 22 years: for 16 years of which, it had no rival in the town. It was printed on a sheet about one-third uie present size of the Litehfield Enquirer — with course type, and coarse blue paper. A single compoeitor might have set the type in a single day for all the new matter whioh was contained in some of the weekly issues. Yet it is a most interesting epitome of the olden times. From it we are able to glean very many facts and events in the history of this town and county, whioh are preserved no where else. Until after the advent ofthe present ~ century, both the town and county were federal in then: poUtics; and the Monitor was was at qnce the organ and the oracle of the federal party in this region. In August, 1806, two young printers — Messrs. Sellick Osbom and Timothy Ashley " — came to this town and established The Witness, a violent democratic newspaper. The Witness was edited by Mr. Osbora, who, though a man of talents and energy, was a most unscrupulous partizan and bitter satuist. Thongh there was a formida ble minority of democrats m the township at this time, Litehfield Hill was the strong hold of Federalism. TaUmadge, Reeve, Wolcott, Deming, Gould, Tracy, Holmes, " 'AUen, Aaron Smith, Rev. Messrs. Champion and Huntington, and indeed nearly aU - the leading men of the yUlage,were FedeiaUsts, andlookeanpon Je^rson as an infi del and reprobate. Subsequent to the Presidential Election of 1800, (whioh resulted in the choice of Jefferson to the Presidency, ) the partizan sermons and prayers of Messrs. Champion and Huntington of the congregational ohnrch liad driven several of their . church members (including Deacpn Lewis) to Episcopacy. ,. On one occasion, after a poUtical sermon from Parson Huntington, his venerable coUeagne, Fat^r Cham pion, prayed first ahd ferventiy for "to servant the Presidentof the United States".-' (John Adams ;) and concluded thus — " And, 0 Lord 1 wilt thou bestow npon the V " President (Jefferson) a double portion of Thy grace, /or Thou hnowesthe needg i The summary withdrawal of so many members, caused the first church no littie I barrassment. A formal expiUsion was proposed ; bnt some of them occupied Ii social positions, and others were nearly allied to remaining members. The matter \ finally adjusted by a simple withdrawal of the " watch and fellowship" of the ohui from the the seceders. The feeUng of hostiUty between federaUsts and demo~' was such that prominent men living the same neighborhood refused to recoroize other when they met; federal ladies refused even to make formal calls at the hou_ of their democratic neighbors ; and the children of federaUsts were forbidden toj sociate with those of the nated democrats. Such was the state of feeUng on Litehff Hill when The Witness opened its batteries on the ranks of Federalism. At fiiBtj saults were treated with contempt. Osbom grew bolder, more bitter, and more ] sonal— gathering up and parading before the pubUc the foibles or foUies (real or m nfactured) of the principal men of the viUage, against whose honor no word of susl cion had before been breathed. Charges and insinuations of hypcrisy and crime ' f^^W tW-^HirfcENTENNIAL CELEBRATION AT LITCHFIELD— 1851 THE PRESS AND POLITIOS 255 freely blended with the most scathing ridicule. This was " bearding the lion in his den." It was not long before Osbom was indicted, tried and convicted, of a Ubel on Julias Deming, Esq. Osbom and his partner, Ashley, were both subjected to a fine, in defanlt of the payment of which, both were committed to the County Jail. Ashley was soon Uberated; and Osborn might have been had he complied with the terms of the court. But, as he himself expressed it, " the only alternative offered him, was to have either his body or mind imprisoned, of course he remained in confinement." His friends regarded him as a martyr to his poUtical fidelity. It was pubUshed far and wide thrangh the columns of the democratic journals, that his health was sinking from confinement "in a damp and loattisome ceU:" that a maniac charged with murder was thrust into the same cell with him, &c. On the 4th of July, 1806, a meeting of the democrats of Litchfield was held at Phelps' Hotel, at which a committee of three was appointed "to repair to the prison and leam the true situation of Mr. Osborn, and his treatment since his imprisonment, and to report at an adjourned meeting." At the adjourned meeting, on the 14th, the committee reported, in substance, that they had visited Mr. O. at the jail : that he was confined in the same room with two crim inals, both charged with capital offences ; that his room was formed of damp and rag ged stone walls, in which the air was impure, stagnant and offensive, and so dark that it was difficult to distinguish one's features ; that his friends were generally denied admission to his room, and could only have intercourse with him througli the outer grate of the prison; that his health was failing, &c.. &c From this date, the com mittee visited the prison from time to time, and issued their weekly buUetins through tho columns of The Witness. In vain Sheriff Landon denied the truth of the com mittoe's original report. The story of Osborn's persecutions went abroad over the land. The democracy of distant States held indignation meetings, at which Osbom was extolled, the Connecticut Courts denounced, and the Litchfield federalists execra ted At length it was resolved to have a grand ovation in behalf of Osborn, at Litch field — and the 6th of August was fixed upon for the celebration. The great day finaUy arrived, and with it came an immense concourse of democrats from this and other States. Day-break was greeted with the discharge of one gun at the head of North street, a responsive discharge an the flag-staff on the Public Green, and martial music until sun-rise. At Sun-Eise, 17 guns were fired — with martial music. At 11, the procession moved in the following order, viz.. Military — commanded by Major Stephen Eanney ; Lieut. Swett, U. S. Officer sta tioned at Springfield, acting as Marshal, John M. Felder, as Adjutant, and Chauncey Hotehkiss, as Quarter-Master— consisting of Cavalry, commanded by Captain Carter. Band of Music Matross company from Danbury, commanded by Lieut. Ambler, do. do. of this town, comraanded by Capt. Bissell. do. do. composed of boys, in white uniform. Light Infantry, commanded by Captain Shethar. Infantry, commanded by Captain Grannis. do. commanded by Lieut. Stone. do. commanded by Ensign Norton. Two of the Committee of Arrangements. Clergy and Orator, General Timothy Skinner, President of the Day, Moses Seymour, Esq., 1 John Welch, Esq. > Vice Presidents of the Day, Ozias Lewis, Esq, ) Six of the Committee of Arrangement, Marshals of Connecticut and Vermont, CoUectors of New Haven and Middietowni Citizens generaUy. ' The procession passed under Osborn's prison window, with heads uncovered, each saluting tho prisoner with a passing bow, and the mUitary giving him a brigadier's salute. Notwithstanding the hatred with which many ofthe congregationalists regarded democracy, the society's committee had generously tendered the use of their meeting house for the occasion. Thither the procession wended. The services in the church consisted of a prayer by the Rev. Asahel Morse, (Baptist,) of Suffield ; Reading of the Declaration of Independence, by Jonathan Law, Esq., of Cheshire ; an Oration, by David Plant, Esq, of Stratford, [since member of congress and lieut. governor] : and an Address by Joseph L. Smith, Esq, of Litchfield. Before the arrival of the procession at the church, an occurrence took place which created much Ul-feeUng and comment at the time. Messrs. Champion and Hunting ton entered the church, and were proceeding up the aisle toward the pulpit, when (according to Mr. Champion's statement,) he was seized near the shoulder by Joseph L . Smith, Esq, a member of the committee of arrangements, who puUed him aronnd. 256 HISTORY OF LITCHPIELD. saying — " You have no business here, and must go out of the house." Mr. C. replied, that he was an old man, and wished for Uberty to sit in the pulpit, assuring him that he would make no disturbance. Mr. Smith grew more boisterous, and the two cler gymen withdrew. Mr. Smith and his friends published a very different version of the story; while the federalists reiterated that Smith had at flrst boasted ofthe exploit, and declared that he would have caUed the military to his aid if it had been necessary in ejecting the intruders. Mr. Champion seems to have taken the matter very seri ously. "I was much afflicted," he wrote, " at being cast out of the House of God, where 1 had worshipped almost 54 years, and could expect to be there but a few days more. These reflections crowded into my mind, when ejected and retiring from the place where God's honor had dwelt." At the annual election in Oclober, 1806, it maybe remarked, not a single democrat had been chosen to the Legislature in Litchfield county ; and the federalists had not been backward in taunting Osborn about the "revolution" which it was said he had boasted lie would produce in this region. At the annual election in May, 1806, the tables had been partiaUy reversed by the election of two democratic Eepresentatives from Litchfield by a vote of 314 to 308. A portion ofthe democratic enthusiasm in behalf of Osbom, is attributable to an appreciation of his services in producmg this result As an incident of the celebration, it is mentioned that during the day, a placard was displayed on the door of one of principal Hotels, bearing the significant words — " No Democrats admitted here." Some gentlemen from a distance put up, as was their custom when this way, with an intimate friend, who chanced to be a rank federaUst. He soon enquired if tliey had come to attend the celebration; and on be ing answered in the affirmative, he abruptly replied — "Then you cannot be a38timmo- dated at my house. As old friends, I should have been glad to see you ; as democrats I want nothing to do with you !" Such was the spirit of the times. When the services in the church were over, the procession was re-formed and pro ceeded to a large Bower which had been erected in the meadow on the south side of East street, nearly opposite the Jail, where a cold repast had been prepared by Capt. Phelps. Seventeen regular toasts were drank, accompanied by the discharge of can non and music from the band. Among them were the foUowing : "Justice — May false witnesses, perjured judges, and packed juries, be banished from its courts." " SeUeck Osborn — Like Daniel in the lion's den, he is teaching liis persecutors that the beasts cannot devour him." [3 cheers.] " Liberty of the Press — Litchfield Jail its stronghold." [3 cheers.] " The Political Clergy — If there were twenty Gods, perhaps some one might ap prove their services; but the one God wants no political pastors." [8 cheers.] " The memory of our departed friend, Ephraim Kirby — His virtues wUl live while our memory lasts; his merits shaU be known to posterity." " Litchfield Jail — Our votes will level it as the ram's "horns did the waUs of Jeri cho." [6 cheers.] The Witness complains that the name of Major Seymour was stricken from the roU of Justices of the Peace for this county, by the Legislature, (May 1807,) because of his participation in the 6th of August celebration. In June 1807, The Witness gives the following summary of the suits against Messrs Osborn and Ashley, viz. : " Fine and costs iu Ubel suit with J. Deming, Esq., $346 46 For publishing case of TaUmadge & Wolcott vs. General Hart, with comments thereon, fine and costs, 605 98 For slandering Thomas Collier, 522 00 (Besides cost of complaint in favor of Mr. Ashley against Thomas G. CoUier, which complaint the county court dismissed.) Aggregate, Sl,474 44 Osborn was not the only man involved in libel suits in those days. The Hon Tap ping Eeeve, and Capt. Thomas CoUier of the Monitor, were both" indicted before the U. S. District Court at New Haven, for Ubelmg President Jefferson; and the Eev Dan Huntington, of this viliiige, recovered $1,000 frora ilaj. Babcock, of the Hartford Mercury, a democratic paper. The Witness was discontinued in the sumraer of 1807— having been published about two years. SeUeck Osbom was a native of Danbury ; and, after leaving Litclifield published The Delaware Watchman at Wilmington, Del. A volume of' his Poems was pubhshed in Boston. He died in PhUadelphia in 1826. Tl?e Litchfield Monitor was discontinued in 1806-having been pubUshed by Mr. CoUier for 22 years. Thomas CoUier (son of Richard) was born in Boston Feb 20 1760, and died m Binghamton, N. Y., 1844. On leaving this town, he resided for'seyl eral years in Iroy. In June, 1799, an orphan lad of 14 years, named John C Wright OUR PARKS. 257 from Wethersfield, entered the Monitor Office as an apprentice, remained with Mr. CoUier uutU of age, married his daughter Mary, and for some time pubUshed a paper in_ Troy. Having been admitted to the bar, he settled in SteubenvUle, Ohio, in-the winter of 1809-'10; and in 1831, he removed thence to Cincinnati, where the venera ble couple are stUl Uving. Mr. Wright has been State's Attorney, member of Con gress, U. S. Attorney for the District of Ohio, and Judge of the Supreme Court." " In 1834, he received the degree of Doctor of Laws frora a Kentucky coUege. The Litchfield Gazette was commenced iu January, 1808, by "Messrs. Charles Hos mer and Oliver Goodwin, both from Hartford. The Gazette was discontinued May 17, 1809. Mr. Hosmer returned to Hartford, where he is still engaged in mercantUe bu siness, and has been for raany years the Recording Secretary of the Connecticut His torical Society. Mr. Goodwin remained in this viUage as a bookseller and stationer until his death in 1856. Isaiah Bunce came to this town soon after, and commenced The Litchfield Journal, the name of which was changed to The Litchfield Eepublican in 1819 — which, in turn, was succeeded by The Sliscellany, a sraaU quarto, in July, 1821. In Septem ber, 1822, Mr. Bunce commenced in this village the publication of The American Eagle, which he reraoved to New Haven iu March, 1826. Mr. Bunce was a raan of enterprize, and estabUshed a Bookstore, Beading Room, and Circulating Library; and was for a few years a Justice of the Peace. The Litchfield County Post was established in 1826, by Stephen S. Smith, from Poultney, Vermont. He disposed of the estabUshment to Joshua Garrett, who, after pubUshing the Post for a few weeks, sold out to Henry Adams in 1829. Mr. Adams soon changed the name of the paper to The Litchfield Enquirer, which it still bears. After editing and publishing The Enquirer for about thirteen years, he was accidentaUy drowned, while fishing, by breaking through the ice of Bantam river, near the entrance of that stream into Bantam Lake. Mr. A. was a son of the late Joseph Adams, Esq., of this village, and was a talented and popular editor. His broth er, Charles Adams, Esq., succeeded hira in the publication of the Enquirer. Frora 1845 to 1863, the paper was conducted by P. K. KUbourn. H W. Hyatt and E. C. Goodwin afterwards successively becarae proprietors of the establishraent. The pres ent publishers are Messrs. Adaras aud Betts. The Enquirer is now in its 34th volume. Nov. 3, 1833, Melzer Gardner, from Hartford, commenced The Litchfield Democrat, which was discontinued in September, 1834. Subsequently, while editing a paper in Richmond, Va., Gardner was shot on board a steamboat near that city, by a man to whom he had given offense by an article which he had published. The Litchfield Sun was commenced by John M. Baldwin, (a native of this town,) in February, 1835; sold out to S. G. Hayes, of New Haven, in Sept. 1837, who discon tinued it in April, 1839. In January, 1840, Charles E. Moss & Co. commenced The Mercury, which was transferred to Josiah Giles in the following August. It was discontinued some time in 1842. The Mercury was soon succeeded by The Democratic Watchman, also pub lished by Mr. Giles, which was discontinued in 1844. In 1846, J. K. Averill commenced the New Milford Eepublican, at New Milford ; iu September, 1846, he removed his office to this viUage, and changed the narae of his paper to the Litchfield Republican. W. F. & G. H. Baldwin, Albert Stoddard, aud Franklin HuU, successively continued the pubUcation of the Repubhcan. In 1856, the office was removed to FaUs VilLage, where the paper is stUl coutinifed under the name of The Housatonic Repubhcan. AU these papers, it should be remarked, were pubUshed weekly. OUR PARKS. Our East and West Parks, whioh now add so much to the beauty of our viUage, were graded, enclosed, and planted with trees, in the suramer of 1836. Daring tUe preceding year, the subject had been considered by our citizens, in connection with several natives of this town residing in New York city, and the sum of $600 was readily subscribed for the object. On the 2d of January, 1836, a special town meet ing was held — Roger Cook, Moderator, and George C. Woodruff, Clerk pro tem. At this meeting fuU permission was granted to the comraittee appointed by the subscrib ers of the fund to enclose and "improve as they shaU see proper," that portion ofthe Green or Highway at present enclosed in the parks referred to. One of the most effi cient and active members of the first Park Committee (and who, perhaps, did more than any other person in raising the Park Fund,) was the late Dr. J. S. Wolcott, of this viUage, a son of the last Gov. Wolcott. On the 4th of October, 1858, the town voted that the inhabitants of this vUlage ' have leave to construct, without expense to the town, a Park in the common ground between the East and. West Parks, in such suitable place as a comraittee appomted by this meeting shall designate, in such way as shaU not materiaUy interfere with travel.' 34 258 HISTORY OF LITCHFIELD Tlie LitcliMd Law School. This institution was established in 1784, by Tapping Reeve, Esq., (afterwards chiefjustice of the State, and LL. D.,) who was the sole Principal until 1798, when the Hon. James Gould, LL. D., became associated with hira. This was the first in stitution of the kind in the country ; and, as its conductors were learned and erainent men, it attained a wide-spread renown. Frora 1820, Judge Gould conducted the School alone for several years; when the Hon. Jabez W, Huntington becarae his as sistant. Inconsequenceof the failing health of Judge Gould, it was discontinued in 1 833. Up to that time the number of students had been 1,024 — every State then in the Union having been represented. Of this number, 15 becarae U. S. Senators; 50 members of Congress; 40 Judges of the higher State courts: 10 Governors of States; 5 members of the National Cabinet, ( Messrs. Calhoun, Woodbury, Mason, Clayton and Hubbard;) 2 Judges Supreme Court United States, (Henry Baldwin and Levi Woodbury;) 1 Vice President of the United State, (John C. Calhoun;) and several Foreign Ministers — among whom is the Hon. John Y. Mason, our present Ambassa dor to France. At the annual dinner of the " Story Association" ofthe Cambridge Law School, (Mass.,) in 1851, the foUowing reference was made to our Law School. Mr. Loring, like scores of his fellow-students, married a Litchfield lady. Judge Kent gave — " The flrst-iorn of the law schools of this country — the Litchfield Law School, The Boston bar exhibits its rich and ripened fruits. By them we may judge of the tree and declare it good." Hon. C. G. Loring, replied. He began with expressing his regret that there was no other representative from the Litchfield Law School present to respond to the compli mentary but just notice of that institution. " I do not remember, said he, to have ever been more forcibly reminded of my younger days, than when looking around upon our young friends in the midst of whom I stand. It recalls the time when I, too, was a student among numerous fellow students. It wiU, probably, be news to thera and many others here, that thirty-eight years ago, which to many here seeras a remote antiquity, there existed an extensive Law School in the state of Connecticut, at which more than sixty students from aU parts of the country were assembled,— every State then in the Union, being there represented. I joined it in 1813, when it was at its zenith, and the only promment establishment of the kind in the laud. The recollection is as fresh as the events of yesterday, of our passing along the broad shaded streets of one of the most beautiful of the viUages of New England, with our mkstauds in our hands, and onr portfolios under our arms, to the lecture room of Judge Gould— the last of the Romans, of Common Law lawyers; the imper sonation of Its geraus and spirit. It was, indeed, in his eyes, the perfeetion of human reason— by which he measured every principle and rule of action, and almost every sentiment. Why, Sir, his highest visions of poetry seemed to be in the refinement of special pleading; and to him, a non sequitur in logic was an offense deservmg, at the least, fine and imprisonment— and a repetition of it, transportation for Ufe. He was an admirable English scholar; every word was pure EngUsh, undefiled, and every sentence feU from us lips perfectiy finished, as clear, toransparent, and penetrating as hght and every rule and principle as exactly deflned and limited as the outlme of a ™fi Wn5X'™ .^ti, ?¦• ^'°'^^"^' Sir we obtained clear, weU-defined, and accu- !JI,l„f ^^»^ ® Common Law, and leamed that aUegiance to it wa^ the chief duty of man, and the power of enforcmg it upon others his highest attainment. From ?im fi Yr^hTT Jl.?"^'^? '°^''''' "^ ?^^ venerable Judge Eeeve, shaded by an aged ^.S^-iit?. ? ot himself. He was, indeed, a most venlrable man, in character and ff/w. V ',*''!?''' .I?'*^ ''?* P"'^