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Birthday Reflections of Deacon
Jedidiah i-iorse. . .
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Birthday Reflections

OF

Deacon Jedidiah Morse,

Woodstock, Conn.

'I AM 84 YEARS OLD, THIS DAY.
JULY 19th, 1810."

GD

providence:
standard printing company.
1901.

'•Aye, thus it is. One generation comes, —
Another goes and mingles with the dust.
And thus we come and go, and come and go.
Each for a little moment filling up
Some little space; and then we disappear
In quick succession, — and it shall be so
'Till Time in one vast perpetuity
Be swallowed up."

Cri8

BIRTHDAY REFLECTIONS,
WITH A REGISTER OF MY PAST LIFE.
JULY 19th, 1810.
" I am no-w 84 years old this day."

THIS 19th day of July, 1810, being the anniversary of
my birthday, — 84 years have passed away since the
day of my birth, — the question naturally arises, How
have I hitherto lived ? Really, 1 have reason to blush and
be ashamed that 1 have done so little for God and His glory
when my life has been filled up with large experiences of
His goodness and mercy from my youth up, even to the
present time. O, that I may be more and more devoted
to Him who is the length of my days, and the foundation
of my hopes ; to the energies and protection of His grace
I would now commit myself, as I draw nearer and nearer to
the eternal world which is now before me, and cannot be far
distant. 0, may 1 increase in the love of God, and be more
and more resigned for eternal glory.
A Few Reflections on the Early Part of My Life.
When I was about the age of seventeen or eighteen years,
a certain number of persons of about my age proposed,

agreed, and set up a conference meeting for religious pur
poses, such as reading, prayer, religious conference, etc.,
which were attended principally on Sabbath evenings, after
the public worship was ended, which meetings 1 believe were
salutary and beneficial to several of our number, and to
myself in particular. I believe they were a means in the
hand of the spirit of God to bring me to a sense of my lost
and depraved state by nature, and to seek and look for help
only where true help can be found, and that I was brought
to bow to His sovereign footstool, and to resign myself and
all I had to His sovereign will and pleasure, and be wholly
at His dispose, both in this and the coming world. But,
after a while, our conference meetings subsided ; yet I took
great delight in reading and hearing the word of God and
the duties of Christianity. But, after all, 1 had a great
struggle in my own mind about my duty in making a public
profession of religion, and joining the church. In the mean
time, though young in years, I made suit to her that was
soon afterward my beloved wife, and who was a professor
of religion, and after our marriage, by her piety, advice and
good counsel, I was more strongly inclined to think and
believe it was my duty to obey the command of Christ,
" Do this in remembrance of me." At length, in about six
months after our marriage, I joined the church of which she
was a member, and have seen no just cause since to change
or alter my principles of profession ; though many times since
clouds and darkness have been round about me by reason
of so much deadness, dullness, coldness, lukewarmness and
formality in duty, that I have been many times in doubt
about the sincerity of my profession and experience. Yet,

after all due and candid consideration and examination, I
cannot, I dare not give up my hopes in the goodness and
mercy of God, tho', after all, 1 have my fears that I may be
deceived by my wicked heart or a subtle adversary or
both. But it is my hearty desire and prayer, that if I have
been hitherto deceived, I may, by the free, unmerited grace
of God, be undeceived before it is too late.

Some Further Reflections of My Past Life.
1 was born in Woodstock, July 8th, 1726, old style. I
was married to Sarah Child, daughter of John and Abigail
Child, February 19, 1747. My wife was born May 12, 1724.
We lived a married life together fifty-eight years one month
and sixteen days. We had ten children ; five of them died
in infancy. One, viz., Lydia Child, my youngest daughter,
at the age of thirty-four years, died, and left five children.
Four of ours, 1 hope, are still living. Have had forty-five
grandchildren, and twenty-seven of the fourth generation.
It was niy fortune to marry young, and set up in a family
way. Having had but a bare common school education as
4o learning, I have great reason to bless God that I was
e^rly devoted to Him, religiously instructed and educated
by my own Christian parents.
It is a very comforting and pleasing reflection when I
consider that all of my surviving children are agreeably and
comfortably settled in the world ; and what adds still greatly
to my delight and comfort is, that they, one and all, have
made the highest profession in religion, and have devoted

themselves and their children to God, and I have good
reason to hope that they, in some measure, walk agreeably
to their profession.
A Few Reflections on the Life and Death
OF My Beloved Wife.
The fatal day, the 5th of April, 1805, was come when the
conjugal knot must be broken, or cut asunder, which had
bound us together for more than fifty-eight years. But, may
I not say with the Psalmist, " It is good for me that I have
been afflicted;" and, also, " I know, O Lord, that thy judg
ments are right, and that thou, in faithfulness, hast afflicted
me." God is good and kind to us, and is bestowing His
benefits upon us, tho' we are so unkind and unthankful for
the mercies we daily receive from Him ; and who has more
reason to be thankful than I have for His giving me so good
and agreeable a companion in early life, and continued our
mutual friendship and happiness for so long a time, and
during that long period of more than fifty-eight years there
were no contentions or differences between us, that there
were no acts of unkindness to reproach ourselves with on
either side ; and that our endeared friendship hath not been
interrupted by any angry passions on either part? Surely,
we have more reason to give glory to Go 1 and be thankful
for what was virtuous, excellent and lovely in my departed
friend and consort, and the pleasure, comfort and satisfac
tion we so long enjoyed with each other ; by all which we
see, that every creature is that to us which God is pleased
to make it, and no more.

A Few Dying Thoughts.
My soul, come meditate the day.
And think how near it stands,
When thou must quit this house of clay.
And fly to unknown lands.
And you mine eyes look down and view
The hollow, gaping tomb ;
This gloomy prison waits for you
Whene'er the summons comes.

I think it may be necessary and useful to my posterity to
leave for their benefit and satisfaction a short and compre
hensive register of my ancestors, by which they may be led
to understand and know their origin, which is as follows, viz.:
My grandfather, Peter Morse, was born in Newburyport,
in the year 1674; he was married to Priscilla Carpenter,
December 22d, 1698. They had fourteen children; only
eight of them lived to manhood, and two of them, tho'
married, died childless, and two others of them had but one
child each, who died in infancy. The posterity of my grand
father Morse were chiefly weakly and consumptive, and most
of them who lived to manhood died of that complaint ; none
of them arrived to the age of seventy years. My grandfather
Morse died of smallpox November 2d, 1721, in the 47th
year of his age ; and my grandmother Morse died August 3d,
1759, in the 79th year of her age.
My grandfather, Jonathan Peake, was born in Roxbury,
state of Massachusetts, in the year 1663; he was married
to Hannah Leavens, at Marlborough ; she was born in the
year 1666. He was one of the first thirty-nine persons who

8
came from Roxbury to settle the town of Woodstock, which
was then called New Roxbury, which was in the month of
April, 1687. They had eleven children, of which my mother
was the youngest but three, and lived to survive all the rest.
My grandfather Peake died September 20th, 1744, in the
81st year of his age; and my grandmother Peake died
October ye 16th, 1756, ninety years of age, lacking twelve
days. She lived to see her fifth generation. She had eleven
children, 76 of the third generation, 1 14 of the fourth genera
tion, and 2 of the fifth; total, 203.
My father, John Morse, was born in Woodstock, December
the 29th, 1699 ; and my mother, who was Sarah Peake, was
born April 18th, 1702. They were married February ye
7th, 1725, by John Chandler, Esq., Justice of the Peace.
They lived a married life together thirty-nine years nine
months and six days, when my father died of cancer and
consumption, November ye 13th, 1764, in the 65th year of
his age. My mother died March ye 15th, 1801, aged ninety-
nine years, lacking forty-four days. She was the oldest
person that ever lived in Woodstock, or that is buried in our
burying place, and her posterity is the most numerous. She
had ten children, three of which died in infancy; 72 grand
children, 219 of the fourth generation, and 18 of the fifth
generation; total, 319. Add the posterity of mother, 203, and
daughter, 319; total, 522. A singular instance of longevity
and posterity.
The following is an account or register of the time and
several places and stations I have served in the town and
First Society, in Woodstock, since I arrived to the age of
manhood, agreeably to a resolution 1 then made, which was

to do as much good in my day and generation consistent
with my talents, ability and time as I was able.
And in the first place, I would remark that the 12th day
of September, 1749, was the first Freemen's meeting held
in Woodstock, the year when the state of Connecticut took
this town under their jurisdiction, — it being before under the
jurisdiction of the state of Massachusetts, though within the
limits and boundaries of the state of Connecticut, — and on
said 12th day of September, I, with seventy-three others,
took the Freeman's oath, who were all inhabitants of the
said town, before James Bicknell, Esq., who was a Justice
of the Peace for Windham County; and since that time my
whole life has been filled up annually with one or more of
the following public concerns in the town where I was born
and have lived for eighty-four years.
In the first place, on the 4th of December, 1752, I was
chosen a Surveyor of Highways, and served the town in that
capacity six years.
On the 1st of December, 1755, I was chosen a Lister,
and served in that capacity seven years.
On the 7th of December, 1761, I was chosen a Constable,
and served in that capacity three years, in one of which I
collected the State Tax for the town, and two years as
Collector of Excise.
On the 5th of December, 1763, 1 was chosen one of the
Selectmen of the town, and served in that capacity eighteen
years, which time included the years of the Revolutionary
War.
ij On the 9th of April, 1764, I was chosen one of the
Representatives for the town, since which time I have served

10
the town in that capacity at thirty-one Assemblies, state and
special. On the 3d day of December, 1764, I was chosen Town
Clerk, and have served the town in that capacity twenty-
seven years and six months, in which time I have recorded
2,756 deeds, leases and executions; 1,804 births, 377 mar
riages, besides all town votes and other proceedings in Town
and Freemen's meetings that were matters of public record,
which contain 160 pages in large folio Town Record Book,
all of which has been done without any compensation or
reward. On December 14th, 1767, I was chosen Clerk and Treas
urer of the First Society, in Woodstock, and served in that
capacity twenty years, and fifteen years of the same time I
served as one of the society's committee.
On September 11th, 1764, I was chosen one of the Com
mittee of the South Propriety, in Woodstock, and have served
in that capacity twenty-five years, and collected and paid
out the interest on ' ye school money, annually, which was
no small trouble and burden.
March 26th, 1782, I was chosen Proprietor's Clerk, and
have served since then in that capacity seven years.
In the month of August, 1774, I was, by the General
Assembly of this state, appointed a Justice of the Peace
for the County of Windham, and so on, from year to year,
until the 20th of June, 1801, when my administration closed,
or subsided, by reason of my sending my resignation to the
Assembly, at their session of May preceding, which was
approved and accepted, and one nearly connected appointed
in my place, which 1 had sustained for twenty-seven years.

howsoever unworthy, in which time 783 judgments were
obtained before me, including confessions, and about 140
more actions commenced, which were settled by the parties
without judgment of Court, as near as I can now compute,
and in which time 1 married sixty-five couples. Rate
warrants for collecting taxes, society and highway taxes are
not numbered, but I have no doubt but they are some
hundreds, all of which were done without fee or reward.
I have also in my day wrote forty-five wills for different
persons, have also been Executor to several wills, and
Administrator on several estates. 1 have also been Arbitrator
and Auditor in many difficult and critical cases.
I was also appointed, and had a Commission from His
Excellency Samuel Huntington, Esq., who was then Governor
of the state of Connecticut, as a Notary Public, which com
mission is in full force to this day.
In the month of July, 1763, the month after the Rev.
Mr. Leonard was ordained, which was the 23d day of June
before, I was (though unworthy) chosen and appointed
Deacon in the church of the First Society, in Woodstock,
with Deacon William Skinner, and we stood together in that
relation to ye church forty-three years as brothers in
harmony and good agreement, and have taken sweet counsel
together, and many a time walked to the house of God in
company ; but our days of comfort, pleasure and satisfaction
are now closed as to this world by reason of the death of
Deacon Skinner, who departed this life in the 87th year of
his age, January 30th, 1807. While he lived, the days of
comfort and prosperity seemed almost closed by reason of
infirmities of old age, and days of adversity ensue as God

12
in His Holy and All Wise Providence saw fit to remove from
each of us, in a short time, the desire of our eyes, our dear
bosom friends, by the stroke of death. My wife died on the
5th day of April, 1805, in the 81st year of her age, after
we had lived together more than fifty-eight years. And
Deacon Skinner's wife died the 16th day of the same month,
in the 84th year of her age, after they had lived happily
together more than fifty-nine years. Thus, after we had
passed so many days and years in comfort and happiness
with our beloved companions, we were both, within eleven days
of each other, by the hand of Divine Providence brought
to mourning, each one for his loss, — the loss of our bosom
friends, the wives of our youth ; by all of which we may see,
as I observed before, that every creature is that to us which
God is pleased to make it, and no more.
And now, to add to all the rest, 1 have served my fellow
men for about fifty years in the necessary, tho' fatiguing,
business of a farrier, according to the best of my skill and
ability, both night and day. How much good I have done
in that way I must leave it to others to judge. According to
the best computation 1 can make, I have castrated upwards
of 1 ,700 horses and mules, and, no doubt, more than three
times that number of smaller creatures; and but four horse
kind of that number have died by means of the operation,
to my knowledge.
Thus I have stated in the foregoing narrative, in my
broken manner, the number of years in which I served the
town, county and state in which I was born, in the several
capacities aforesaid, since I arrived to the state of manhood,
and according to the resolution I made in the early part of

13
my life. And were I to have served in but one of the afore
said capacities in one year, it would have required 280 years
to have gone through the whole, if I have made a right
calculation ; that is, four common ages and twenty-five years
over, — that is, four times seventy years and twenty-five
years over.
When I reflect back, and take a retrospective view of my
past life, I can see many slips and failings, and shortcomings
in duty of every kind. But I think 1 must say, upon due
reflection, that I have endeavored to serve in every of the
aforesaid capacities and public stations in life according to
the best of my ability and capacity (human frailties excepted),
tho' 1 can now see wherein I could have done many things
otherwise and for the better, by which it appears that per
fection is not to be found in human nature.
Truly I must say that it ' is through the help and goodness
of God that 1 continue to this day a living witness for God,
that He is good and gracious, and demands our purest love
and affection above all others, and that our religion be that
of the heart, and under a helping sense of the manifold
blessings of a spiritual and temporal nature with which I have
been favored through the whole course of a long life, 1 would
say with the Psalmist, — and O, that I could say it under the
same impression of mind as he did, — "Let my mouth be
filled with thy praise, and with thy honor all my days ; cast
me not off in the time of old age ; forsake me not when
my strength faileth ; now that I am old and grey-headed
forsake me not, let my mouth shew forth thy righteousness
and thy salvation all my days, for I know not the number
thereof." But, after all, I must confess I frequently find a

14
backwardness to secret prayer, and much coldness and
deadness in it, and it puzzles me to see how this can be
consistent with a life of grace. However, 1 resolve that let
what will become of me, I will do all I can for God while
I live, and leave the rest to Him; and this I usually expe
rience to be the best way to be at peace.
How many years, months or days are yet to be added to
my life in this world God only knows ; to me it is uncertain.
I think and feel as tho' the time of my departure was at
hand, and that my time here is short; and it is my hearty
desire and daily prayer to God that I may be found ready,
quietly and patiently waiting all the days of my appointed
time, until the change shall come, and by the help and
grace of God be found doing His will, and my duty to my
family and my fellow-men.
The foregoing was wrote in my broken manner, and sub
scribed as the last register of my life, at the end of the
84th, and the beginning of the 85th, year of my age, and
by my own hand pr. me, Jedidiah Morse.
Woodstock, July ye 24th, 1810.

15

GENEALOGY.

Jedidiah Morse, the author of the foregoing Reflections,
was the son of John Morse, who was born in Woodstock,
December 29, 1669, and Sarah Peake Morse, born in Wood
stock, April 18, 1702. John Morse was the son of Peter
Morse, born in Newbury, Mass., November 14, 1674, and
Priscilla Carpenter Morse. His English ancestor was Anthony
Morse, who arrived in Boston in the ship James, from
Southampton, June 3, 1635. He was from Marlborough,
Wiltshire, England, and said to have been born May 9,
1606. He settled in Newbury, and was admitted Freeman,
May 25, 1636. He had wife, Mary (surname unknown),
by whom he had nine children, viz.:
2. I. — Anthony, born  ; married Elizabeth Knight,
May 8, 1660.
II. — Benjamin, born March 4, 1640; married  .
III. — Sarah, born May 1, 1641 ; married Amos Stick-
ney, June 24, 1663.
IV.— Hannah, born 1642.
V. — Lydia, born May, 1645; died soon.
VI. — Lydia, born October 7, 1647; died in a few
months.
VII. — Mary, born April 9, 1649; died, aged 13 years.
VIII. — Esther, born May 3, 1651; married Robert
Holmes, February 26, 1669,
IX. — Joshua, born July 24, 1653.

16
His wife, Mary, died, and he married for his second wife,
Ann  . by whom he had no children. She died March 9,
1680, and he died October 12, 1686.
2. Anthony. — Anthony was born about the year 1638,
and married May 8, 1660, Elizabeth Knight, by whom he
had children, viz.:
I. — Ruth, born May 20, 1661; died early.
II. — Anthony, born January 1, 1663.
III. — Joseph, born July 29, 1665.
IV. — Elizabeth, born July 29, 1667 ; died, aged 10 years.
His wife, Elizabeth, died giving birth to the last born, and
he married for his second wife, November 10, 1669, Mary
Barnard, by whom he had four children, viz.:
I. — John, born September 13, 1670.
II. — Mary, born August 31, 1672; married Jabez
Corbin, 1692.
'i III. — Peter, born November 14, 1674; married Priscilla
i Carpenter, December, 1698,
IV. — Sarah, born November 23, 1676.
He made his will February 23, 1678, and died two days
after. He lived and died in Newbury. The name of Peter \
Morse, son of the second Anthony, first appears on the
Woodstock Proprietor's records in 1705. Deacon Jedidiah
Morse was the father of Jedidiah Morse, D. D., clergyman
and geographer, born August 23, 1761, and grandfather of
Samuel Finley Breese Morse, son of the second Jedidiah,
born April 27, 1791.
E. H. B.

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