mil .,,44 I ,,1

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"I give thej\ Biols^
far the fov,neUn^ of a, Cffl&gt Bt, ifits Colony"

HISTORICAL SKETCH

TOWN OF ENFIELD,

COMPILED UX'DEIl THE DIHECTION OP THE

COMMITTEE OF ARRANGEMENTS FOR CELEBRATING

CENTENNIAL
IMIYERSARY OF OUR INDEEENDENCE,

JtJLY 4. 1876.

By a. JOHNSON, GEO. H. BOOTH, and L. H. PEASE, M. D.,

COMMITTEE.

H A E T F 0 R']
The Case, Lockwood & Beain^|PP^., Printers.
1876.

HISTORICAL SKETCH

TOWN OF ENFIELD

COMPILED UNDER THE DIRECTION OF THE

COMMITTEE OF ARRANGEMENTS FOR CELEBRATING

CENTENNIAL
ANNIVERSARY OF OUR INDEPENDENCE,
JULY 4, 1876.
By A. JOHNSON, GEO. H. BOOTH, and L. H. PEASE, M. D.,
COMMITTEE.

HARTFORD.
The Case, Lockwood & Brainard Co., Printers.
1876.

FOR MANY OF THE FACTS CONTAINED IN THE FOLLOWING SKETCH
THE COMMITTEE ARE INDEBTED TO
J. RANDOLPH PEASE, Esq.,
TO WHOM THEY NOW TENDER THEIR HEARTY THANKS.

t 1^ *

HISTORICAL SKETCH OF THE TOWN OF
ENFIELD.

The first settlers of Connecticut generally located them
selves in the vicinity of some of the beautiful and fertile
meadows that are interspersed along the borders of New
England's noblest river. The cause of such selection needs
no explanation, as those charming alluvial tracts were un
doubtedly deforested when first discovered, and had long been
the seats of aboriginal cultivation. The inviting appearance
of those meadows, the superior facilities which they offered
for immediate subsistence, soon peopled their borders; whilst
the heavily timbered regions adjacent, though of a strong and
rich soil, were in a measure neglected. That pleasant and
valuable portion of country which lay against the (now
Enfield) falls on the Connecticut, was granted to the town of
Springfield by the General Court of Massachusetts as early as
1648 ; but, being covered with a heavy growth of timber, its
settlement was not effected until nearly fifty years after the
country above and below the falls had become the abode of
civilization. The first effectual attempt to settle the land near the falls,
by the town of Springfield, was made in 1678, although a few
grants had been made to individuals in 1674, and a saw mill
had been erected at Freshwater by Major Pynchon, which was
burnt by the Indians in 1675.
The territory now comprised in the town of Enfield was
originally supposed to belong to the Colony of Massachusetts,
and was claimed by that colony as falling within their juris
diction, according to the line run by their surveyors, Wood
ward and Saffrey, and was attached to and made a part of the
town of Springfield.

In 1679, the town of Springfield, at a town meeting held
August 4th, authorized the settlement of a plantation at
Freshwater River, and appointed ' a committee consisting of
" John Pynchon, Samuel Marshfield, Thomas Stebbins, Sen^,
Jonathan Burt, and Benjamin Parsons, to grant out the land
unto persons there to inhabit and to order and act all matters
so that the place may become a town of itself."
In pursuance whereof the said committee held frequent
meetings and made grants of land, house lots, field land, and
meadow, to sundry persons who desired to settle there, the
first of which actual settlers was John Pease and his sons,
John and Robert, whose home lots were allowed to be two or
three rods wider than the others, for the reason that they
were the first settlers.
The Peases brought their families in the spring of 1680,
and in the course of the season were followed by Simeon
Booth, John Burroughs, Simeon Rumril, Daniel Collins, John
Kibbe, Samuel Terry, Jr., Thomas Bancroft, Jonathan Pease,
Isaac Gleason, Lot Killam, Rowland Thomas, James Hay
wood, William Booth, Isaac Meaoham, John Bement, John
Bement, Jr., Thomas Geer, John Pairman, Obadiah Abbe,
Henry Abell, Joseph West, Samuel Merritt, Thomas Per
kins, Jonathan Bush, Isaac Morgan, and John Pierce.
The settlers increased in numbers so that in 1683 they
petitioned the General Court of Massachusetts to be made a
town by themselves, as follows:
" To the Highly Honored Greneral Court of the State of Massa
chusetts, to be assembled at Boston on the 16th of May, 1683.
" The humble petition of the subscribers sheweth that we,
your humble petitioners, having had grants of land from the
town of Springfield at a place below it called Freshwater
Brook, and belonging to the said town of Springfield, by grant
from the Honorable General Court, several years since, and
having encouragement from said Springfield to be a distinct
Society, and free from said town, they having by a clear and
full vote manifested their readiness thereto, and that they
will allow us to come to their Longmeadow Brook, and then

iio run from the great river on an east line, and so to take all
their land below their Longmeadow Brook on the south side
of it, between it and the foot of the falls, in order to our
becoming a society of ourselves; and when it shall so be they
will release us wholly from Springfield, upon which some
have made a beginning at Freshwater Brook already, and
more are desirous to settle there if the place may be con
trived and authorized to be a township, and may have suitable
proportions of land granted them for that end ; wherefore we
make our humble address to this honored General Court for
their countenance, protection, encouragement, and establish
ment, herein requesting the grant of such a tract of land
there for a township as may capacitate the grantees to live
comfortably thereon, that they may, through the Divine Ben
ediction, be enabled to maintain and uphold the worship of
God and His ordinances, and discharge all public dues which
will necessarily occur when the place shall be settled. Be
seeching your Honors for this end to consider the nature of
the land which your Honors may have full information con
cerning, from the worshipful Major Pynchon and Springfield
Deputies, who know it well.
That the best of the land which is not above a mile and a
half in breadth, eastward from the great river, is woody and
swamp land and must by hard labor be won for improvement,
and then at the end of that mile and a half, and in some
places not half a mile, the rest for about five miles eastward
from the great river is generally piney and barren sandy land
capable of no improvement, so that much of the land that
must be improved will be six or seven miles from the great
river to the mountain, and calls for a large tract of land for
a township in this place, and needful to run out eastward ten
miles from the great river, there being so much barren land
within the tract, to gain the mountain, and some better land
thereabouts, for to help to a subsistence ; and thus submitting
ourselves and our desires to this honorable assembly's pru
dent regulation and ordering what may advance the comfort
able society and settlement, whether by empowering a com
mittee to manage the affairs of the place for a while, and then

6
we humbly suggest the persons appointed by Springfield
hitherto, as most meet, or otherwise as your wisdom and
fatherly care shall prompt unto and confirm such immunities
as may fortify us against the difficulties of so liard and woody
a place, and that you may not want Divine Grace iii your
most weighty concerns, we shall ever pray.
John Pynchon, Isaac Meacham,
Thomas Stebbins, Rowland Thomas,
John Pease, Elisha Kibbe,
Thomas Bancroft, Daniel Collins,
Benjamin Parsons, John Pease, Jr.,
Jonathan Burt, Isaac Morgan.
To the truth of what is in this Petition asserted, so far as
it concerns the concession of Springfield to them, we do attest
by subscribing our hands this 12th day of May, 1683.
Samuel Marshfield,
Japhet Chapin,
Benj'n Parsons,
Selectmen of Springfield."
Answer of the General Court to the above.
" At a General Court held at Boston, May 16th. In answer
to tlie Petition from Springfield and others, for a township a
little below Springfield at Freshwater brook, this Court doth
grant a township there to the petitioners, and such others as
the Committee of this Court appoints shall (grant) to them,
and the bounds of said plantation or township be from the
lands Springfield hath granted them (viz.), from the mouth
of the Longmeadow brook below Springfield, from thence to
run southward by Connecticut river six miles, and the bounds
or line between Springfield and this new township shall run
off from Connecticut river upon a due east line ten miles
from the mouth of said Longmeadow brook where it empties
itself into the Great river, alias Connecticut river, and that
this said town be called Enfield, and for the admittance of
inhabitants, granting of allotments, and ordering all the pru
dential affairs of the said township, this Court appoint Maj.

John Pynchon, Lieut. Thomas Stebbins, Mr. Samuel Marsh
field, Dea. Jonathan Burt, Dea. Benjamin Parsons, or any
three of them, Maj. Pynchon being one, to be a committee
who are fully empowered to manage all the affairs of said
township till this court take further order, and that the said
town be free from all payments of the country rates for five
years from this time."
The committee as above named, proceeded to manage the
affairs of the town, and appointed John Pease, Sen., Isaac
Meacham, and Isaac Morgan, Selectmen, and to grant allot
ments to such as desired to settle there, lay out highways,
etc., and on the 7th of April, 1684, set apart lands for the
support of the Ministry and for schools. The land for the
Ministry was laid out on the south side of the highway which
runs out east from the middle of the town, 13 rods wide,
where it is still to be found, and the school lands on the north
side of the same highway, but whether the schools ever
received any benefit from them is not known.
At a meeting of the Committee, the Grantees, and oth'elps,
on the 18th March, 1679-80, it was unanimously agreed to
purchase the land of the Indians, and in pursuance thereof,
they procured the following Indian deed :
'' To all people to whom these shall come : I, Totaps, alias
Nottattuck, the right Indian owner of all the land on the east
side of Connecticut river, from Asnuntuck, alias Freshwater
river, to Umsquattauck, at the foot of the falls, being willing
to accommodate the English (viz.), Lieut. Thomas Stebbins,
Jonathan Burt, Benjamin Parsons, John Pease, William
Dounton, Thomas Gould, and others who were settling a
plantation about Freshwater river, do agree and fully consent
to a sale and surrender of the greatest part of my land there
to the said English and such others as shall there plant and
settle, and therefore know ye that I, Totaps, alias Nottattuck,
for and in consideration of twenty-five pounds sterling to me
in hand paid by Major John Pynchon of Springfield, at and
before the ensealing of this present wherewith I acknowledge
myself fully satisfied and contented, have bargained and sold
and by these presents do give, grant, bargain, sell, alien,

assign, enfeoff, and confirm unto the said Major John Pynchon
in behalf of the said Lieut. Stebbins, Jonathan Burt, Benja
min Parsons, John Pease, Wm. Dounton, and Thomas Gould,
their heirs, assigns, and successors, all that tract of land on
the east side of Connecticut river which is against the falls
from Asnuntuck alias Freshwater river, on the north, down
southward along by Connecticut river side about 3 or 4 miles
to the brook below the heap of stones, which brook is called
by the Indians Poggetoffee, and by the English Saltonstalls
brook, and so from the mouth of said Saltonstalls alias Pogge-
toflfee, to run from the great river Connecticut directly east
eight full and complete miles to the mountains, and the whole
tract of land to be complete eight miles from the great river
at the southerly and at the north end, also to run to the moun
tains east, with all the profits and advantages to the said tract
of land belonging, whether woods, underwoods, brooks, water,
stones, minerals, pastures, meadows, or marshes, and all the
t "ipurtenances to the same belonging, to have and to hold the
.:t<ii've granted tract of land with all liberties and privileges
a^^jei Gaining thereunto, to the said Thomas Stebbins, Jona
than Burt, Benj. Parsons, John Pease, Wm. Dounton, and
Thomas Gould, their heirs, assigns, and successors, and to
their only use, benefit, and behoof, forever. And I, the said
Totaps, alias Nottattuck, for myself and my heirs, do hereby
covenant, promise, and grant to and with the said Thomas
Stebbins, Jona. Burt, Benj. Parsons, Wm. Dounton, and
Thomas Gould, their heirs and assigns, that I, the said Totaps,
alias Nottattuck, at the time of ensealing hereof, was the true
and sole lawful owner of the afore bargained premises every
part thereof, and had in myself full power, good right, and
lawful authority to grant, convey, an(Jg.^s^ifip,ljfche^^pe as
above said, as a good and sure estate of inheritance, fc, .^jver,
without any condition, reservation, or limitation of use or
uses, whatsoever : Except that I reserve to myself a liberty
of hunting on the common land in the woods, and catching-
fish in the rivers, yet not so as to exclude the English thereto ;
also, and with this only exception, shall and will warrant and
defend the same to the said Thomas Stebbins, Jona. Burt,

Benj. Parsons, John Pease, Wm. Dounton, and Thomas
Gould, their heirs, assigns, and successors, against me, my
heirs, or any Indians lawfully claiming the same, or any part
thereof, and shall and will, at any time hereafter, do any fur
ther act or acts for the more full, complete, and sure making
of the forebargained premises unto them, the said Thomas
Stebbins, Jonathan Burt, Benj. Parsons, John Pease, Wm.
Dounton, and Thomas Gould, their heirs and assigns, forever,
according to the true intent hereof, and the laws of the
Massachusetts jurisdiction. In witness whereof, I, the said
Totaps, alias Nottattuck, have hereunto put my hand and seal
this 16th of March, in the two and thirtieth year of the reign
of our Sovereign lord, Charles 2d, by the Grace of God,
King of England. Totaps alias Nottattuck,
His I 1=1 mark.
John Holyoak,
Sam'l Marshfield, ^,8
The mark X of Manandum, an Indian witness, - .e ;
Cogranasset, his /|/ / mark, an Indian witness, i ^r
Nassatuagua, his H mark, an Indian,
Benjamin Hinton.
Totaps, alias Nottattuck, acknowledged this instrument his
act and deed, relinquishing and resigning all his interest in
the premises, this 16th of March, 1688.
Before me, John Pynchon, Assistant."
At a meeting of the inhabitants, on the 15th July, 1683,
John Pease was chosen and sworn first constable of Enfield ;
and '^ \t?" *',„ii'if^ ofi and concluded that the way for choos
ing constables yearly shall be that the old constable shall
then, at a public meeting, nominate three such men, and only
three, as he shall judge meet to succeed him, which three
persons shall be put to the vote, and that man of those three
who has the greatest number of votes of the inhabitants pres
ent, shall be the constable.
It will be noticed that the north bound of the land con-
2

10
veyed by Totaps' deed, is Freshwater river ; the land north
of that stream had been previously conveyed by the Indians
in 1674, by a deed which describes the south bounds as " the
riveret called Freshwater or Asnuntuck, including the mead
ows thereon to its head and thence eastward to the riveret
called Scantick, up to the place where it comes down from
the mountains and including the meadows on both sides of
Scantick. The foot of the mountains is the eastern bound
ary." In 1688 the first town meeting was held, and John Pease
Jr., and Samuel Terry were chosen first Selectmen of Enfield.
At a town meeting in 1691, all inhabitants were ordered to
attend town meetings for choice of officers on penalty of 2
shillings fine. Thirteen attending such meeting shall be a
legal meeting. This vote making a quorum of 13 has never
been annulled.
After the incorporation of the town as above, the people
seem to have been occupied with their own internal affairs,
settling the boundaries of their several grants of land, laying
out highways, building bridges, establishing ferries, organizing
the church, building a meeting-house, settling ministers of the
Gospel, organizing schools, building school-houses, and con
ducting the general affairs of the town in a very orderly and
generally peaceable manner, although a long and bitter con
troversy between the Colonies of Massachusetts and Connec
ticut with regard to the boundary line between the two Colo
nies, occasioned by the erroneous survey of the Massachusetts
surveyors. Woodward and Saffrey, they claiming the line to
run below the falls at Warehouse Point, and Connecttcut claim
ing (and justly too), that the line should be at the mouth of
Longmeadow brook, and thence due east. In this controversy
the highest style of diplomacy was displayed, and the best
talent of the two colonies was engaged, and the records of
their doings will furnish to some future historian a rich field
for research, and of course the people of Enfield were deeply
interested in the struggle till its final settlement in 1749, by
Massachusetts relinquishing their claim to the greater portion
of the land in dispute, although she still occupies a consider-

11
able tract of land which justly belongs to Connecticut, ex
tending from the monument near the north line of Mr.
Sword's farm to a. point about 40 rods south of Longmeadow
brook. It is true that in 1715 Massachusetts gave to Connecticut
95,793 acres of land as an equivalent for the land wrongfully
occupied by them in Woodstock, Enfield, Somers, and Suffield,
which land Connecticut sold for the sum of 683 pounds ster
ling. In 1749 Connecticut received the above named towns into
their jurisdiction, and the first representatives from Enfield
to £he General Assembly, were Capt. Ephraim Pease, and
Capt. Elijah Williams, to the October session of that year,
and the town has been annually represented there to this
time. The following is a partial list of those who have served as
Representatives to the General Assembly of Connecticut,
many of them serving several times ; the names of the first
serving in 1749, have already been given ; 1789 and follow
ing:
Isaac Kibbe, Bliphalet Terry, Daniel Perkins,
Lemuel Kingsbury, Henry Terry, Blam 0. Potter,
John Taylor, William Dixon, Jabez Collins,
Lorain T. Pease, Eph'm P. Prudden, David Gates,
Henry Kingsbury, John King, Jared Brainard,
George Allen 2d, Samuel Booth, Jabez King,
Jabez T. Taylor, James Dixon, Charles Clark,
Albert Clark, Jonathan Pease, Erastus Olmsted,
William E. Dixon, Joseph P. Converse, James Alexander,
Aholiab Johnson, Sam'l T. Thompson, Ephraim Potter,
George Killam Jr., Parsons Henry, Wolcott Abbe,
Albert King, Asaph King, Omri G. Carrier,
William H. Osgood, Albert Olmsted, Henry Gowdy,
Robert B. Morrison, Dan. T. Chapin, Charles H. Briscoe,
Manly S. Snow, Robert McCron, John L. Houston,
Timothy W. Pease, Calvin 0. King, Reuben A. Pease,
Harry A. Grant, David Brainard, Seth Terry,
Theodore B. Potter, Alexander Law, Theodore W. Pease,

12
George S. Miller, J. Warren Johnson, Rufus Stratton,
Royal A. Fowler, William Gordon, David Doig,
Albert W. Allen, Joseph N. Allen, John Law,
Edward Hoskins, George Simpson, Theodore I. Pease,
Lyman Upson, Ephraim Bridge, Niles Pease, John R. Booth.
The town of Enfield has also furnished members of the
State Senate, as follows : Jabez King, Joseph P. Converse,
Joseph Olmsted, Jr., Charles H. Briscoe, Calvin 0. King, and
Chester Johnson.
Among prominent men in the early history of the town,
was John Pease Jr., son of the first John Pease, a surveyor
by profession , was employed by the Salem colony to the plant
ation previous to settlement. He surveyed and laid out the
town plat, and lots of proprietors, and is the person to whom
the town is indebted for its present broad street. He was
first constable after the organization of the town, first Captain
of Militia, Selectman, and first Representative to the General
Court of Massachusetts Bay, and was indefatigable in his
labors to advance the prosperity of the town.
Samuel Terry, ancestor of all the Enfield Terrys , was the
first man married in the settlement, became a prominent man
in the town.
Isaac Kibbe, only son of Isaac Kibbe the first male born in
town, was an enterprising business man, kept a public house
and store, and was contractor for building the meeting-house
now used as a town-house, and held various important offices.
The name has now become extinct in this town, but numerous
in the vicinity.
The population of Enfield has pretty steadily increased as
will appear by the following table, as ascertained from the
several census returns :
In 1756, 1050. In 1800, 1761. In 1840, 2648.
1774, 1353. 1810, 1846. 1850, 4460.
1782, 1551. 1820, 2065. 1860, 4997.
1790, 1800. 1830, 2129. 1870, 6322.
In 1876, probably more than 7000.

13
The rapid increase of population for the last thirty years,
is undoubtedly owing to the establishment of manufacturing
operations, especially those of Carpets and Gunpowder. The
former was commenced in 1828, and the latter several years
later, each giving a great impulse to business generally in
the town, and largely building up the two villages of Thomp-
sonville and Hazardville, the latter almost entirely built up
since the building of the Powder Mills there. The wealth
of the town has also increased in about the same proportion.
The Grand List in 1775 being about 25,000 pounds or |84,-
000, and in 1875 $2,635,248.
The first minister of the Gospel settled in the town, was
Rev. Nathaniel Collins, who was ordained in 1699, as appears
by the following extracts from the town record.
1699. " The town at this meeting declared their willing
ness by a clear vote to accept of Mr. Collins to be their min
ister to preach the word of God among us here at Enfield,
and so in convenient time to carry on the whole work of the
ministry among us here at this place. Also Mr. Collins de-
clareth his willingness to do the aforesaid work as God shall
enable him to do.
" The town by a full and clear vote express their willing
ness that Mr. Nathaniel Collins be ordained pastor of the
Church of Christ here, and also the town do grant him twenty
pounds in our pay, as we raise among us this to be paid year
ly, and every year. The town also engage to clear and bring
into improvement the land which the town formerly engaged
on which the house stands, and also the town engages to give
Mr. Collins twenty pounds towards finishing. his house, and
also give twenty pounds towards building a barn as soon as
they can." (The above named land is now owned and occu
pied by Mr. John S. Parsons.)
" At a legal town meeting held on the 21st day of March,
1721-2, Voted to give Mr. Collins one hundred pounds (in
case he will not take up with less), and wholly lay down the
work of the ministry among us and quit the town of all for
mer obligations that have been between him and the town
heretofore in respect to his salary or any other obligation in
that regard thereunto."

14
The successors of Mr. Collins in the ministry have been —
Rev. Peter Reynolds, who died 1768 ;
" Elam Potter, was dismissed ;
" Nehemiah Prudden, who died 1815 ;
" Francis Le Baron Robbins, died 1850 ;
" C. A. G. Brigham, dismissed ;
" A. L. Bloodgood, dismissed ;
" K. B. Glidden, acted as pastor ;
" Cyrus Pickett, dismissed ;
" Nathaniel H. Eggleston, acted as pastor ;
" George W. Winch, the present pastor.
From the first settlement to the year 1770 one minister and
one meeting-house had sufficed for the religious wants of the
town. In that year some of the church seceded and formed
a church and society called Separates, and built a meeting
house which was never finished, and in 1840 was demolished.
In 1772 the contract for building the meeting-house (now
the town house) was made with Isaac Kibbe, who agreed to
build and finish the house by New Years day, 1775, for 1100
pounds lawful money and receive for pay, corn at 2 shillings,
wheat at 4, rye at 3 per bushel, pork 3 pence, beef 2 pence,
bull beef excepted, tobacco if raised in town at 18 shillings
per hundred pounds, any person that wished having the privi
lege of paying money instead of said articles.
In the meantime various' sects have arisen and come in,
so that within the limits of the original town, exclusive of
Somers, which became a separate town in 1734, so that now
there are two Congregational societies, two Presbyterian, two
Methodist, two Episcopalian, two Roman Catholic, one Sec
ond Adventist, one Shaker, one Catholic Apostolic, and one
Universalist, and a few scattered Baptists ; so that it seems
that all those who believe in any part of the Bible might
worship to the satisfaction of their consciences, notwithstand
ing it is thought that a large portion of the people, judging
from their conduct, belong to that great unorganized denomi
nation called the Nothingarians.
The First Presbyterian meeting-house, in the village of

15
Thompsonville, was built in 1841 ; rebuilt in 1875. Their
pastors have been Rev. Joseph Harvey, from 1839 to 1857 ;
Carson W. Adams, 1857 to 1868; Henry P. Lee, 1869 to
1873 ; and Frederick S. Barnum, from 1874 to the present
time. St. Mary's parish (Episcopal) was formed, and the churcli
built in 1863. The rectors in charge have been the Rev.
Augustus Jackson, C. C. Adams, Leopold Simonson, and D. P.
Sanford, the present rector.
The ministers in charge of the Methodist church, at Haz
ardville, since 1836, when their first records commence, have
been the Rev. Messrs. Windsor, Ward, H. Torbush, M. Palm
er, and  Arnold, circuit preachers. Walter Wilkie,
1838; B. M. Walker, 1839; John Howson, 1840; Warren
Emerson, 1841; Lyman Leffingwell, 1842-1843; Sewell Lam-
berton, 1844; C. W. Turner, 1845; William S. Simmons,
1846-1847 ; Abel Gardner, 1848; Charles Morse, 1849-1850;
L. W. Blood, 1851-2; Carlisle S. Sanford, 1853-4; Anthony
Palmer, 1856-6; George W. Rogers, 1857-8; William E.
Sheldon, 1859; J. F. Sheffield, 1860-1; James Mather,
1862-3; E. B. Bradford, 1864; Charles A. Merrill, 1865-6;
Robert Parsons, 1867-8-9; James Mather, 1870-1; E. H.
Hatfield, 1872-3; Robert Clark, 1874. N. G. Axtell, 1875-6,
present preacher. Their present meeting-house was dedicated
in 1872.
The Methodist Chapel was dedicated in 1841. Tiie minis
ters there have been Rev. John Howson, from 1840-41, to
whom that society are indebted for the first building of their
chapel, and who by his piety, perseverance, and gentlemanly
and courteous manners, has become and still is one of our
most respected citizens ; L. W. Blood, 1842 ; M. P. Alder
man, 1843-4; Robert Allen, 1845 ; Anthony Palmer, 1846-7;
G. W. Stearns, 1848; John Howson, 1849-50; S. W. Cogge-
shall, 1851-2 ; Andrew H. Robinson, 1853 ; Samuel Pox,
1854-5; John D.King, 1856-7; Erastus Benton, 1858-9;
John Loyejoy, 1860-1 ; Sanford Benton, 1862, died during
the year ; Robert Parsons, 1863-4-5 ; R. Donkersly, 1866 ;
0. E. Mandeville, 1867; Ensign McChesney, 1868; John

16
Howson, 1869-70-1; J. T. Benton, 1872-3; Z. S. Haynes,
1874 ; J. D. King, 1875, the present pastor.
The Second Presbyterian meeting-house was built in 1846.
The church was organized in 1845 by the name of the United
Presbyterian Church of Thompsonville. The pastors of the
church have been Rev. Peter Gordon until 1851 ; Rev. James
McLaughlin till 1857 ; Rev. John M. Herron till 1858 ; Rev.
W. B. Sutherland from July, 1866, to April, 1867; Rev.
George M. Hall till 1872; Rev. Clark L. McCracken, the
present pastor.
The North Congregational meeting-house was built in 1855
by seceders from the First Congregational Church, with Rev.
C. A. G. Brigham, who continued with them till 1871, when
he was dismissed. They have had no settled pastor since.
Rev. Mr. Prince is now acting pastor there.
The Second Advent meeting-house, in the eastern part of
the town, was built in 1858. Rev. Harvey C. Smith, the
present minister, has preached there regularly since 1874.
The Catholic St. Patrick's Church, at Thompsonville, was
dedicated in 1860, Rev. James Smith, of Windsor Locks, in
ciiarge. The pastors since have been. Rev. B. Tully, from
1862 to 1866 ; Rev. William E. Duffy, till 1871 ; J. Cooney,
present pastor.
St. Bernard's Church, in Hazardville, was purchased in
1863, and has been under the charge of the priest in Thomp
sonville. The Episcopal Church of Thompsonville was organized as
a mission in 1851, and as St. Andrew's Parish in 1855. The
church was built in 1860. The rectors have been, Rev.
Samuel F. Jarvis, 1854-5 ; Rev. N. T. Gregory, 1855-62 ;
Rev. Augustus Jackson, 1862-3 ; Rev. John E. Pratt, 1863-5;
Rev. Henry Townsend, 1867-70 ; Rev. Emerson Jessup, 1871-
2 ; Daniel P. Sanford, present incumbent, from 1874.
In 1683, the town voted to build a meeting-house 20 feet
square, with studs 10^ feet, which house is supposed to have
stood near or in the burying-ground.
"Nov. 28th, 1705. The town vote to build a meeting
house, and Serjeant Terry and Zachariah Booth agree to
build and finish the same."

17
" Oct; 28th, 1707. Voted to seat the meetinghouse before
they meet in it, and Capt. Meacham, Capt. Pease, Serjt.
Parsons and Ensign Terry, together with the Selectmen were
appointed to attend to that business."
In 1775 the third meetinghouse, now used for a town
house, was built, having a steeple, bell, and clock. The
corner stone of the house now occupied by the First Society
was laid June 13th, 1848, and completed and dedicated
Feb. 14th, 1849, at an expense of about $12,000, raised by
individual subscription.
Since 1835, eleven other houses for religious worship have
been built, and others are in contemplation.
The people of Enfield have always taken a deep interest in
the education of youth from the time, in 170d, when they
voted to pay John Richards fourteen pounds a year for keep
ing school, and if he continued to teach for five years, they
voted to give him twenty acres of land as convenient to the
school as might be ; and Nov. 15, " same year, they voted to
build a schoolhouse, to be 18 foot long, 16 broad, and 6 foot
studs, in the most convenient place in the middle of the
town." The early settlers of the town were very careful about the
character of their inhabitants, as appears by a vote of tlie
town. May 10, 1722. " That no person in the town shall
give nor sell any land to any stranger or foreigner without
having first obtained liberty from the town or selectmen for
the time being, for the same, on penalty -of paying twenty
pounds into the town treasury, for the use of the town, for
every breach of this act."
In 1774, when the controversy between England and the
colonies became sharp and exciting, the doings of the people
of Enfield, in town meeting assembled, are recorded as
follows :
" The Resolves of the representatives of this colony, passed
in May last, was read in this meeting, and fully agreed to
and acquiesced in, then further taking into serious consider
ation the present administration of the British colonies by
and under exertion of Ministerial and Parliamentary power,
3

18
and particularly the surprising and unprecedented act of
blocking up the port of Boston, etc., measures which have a
direct tendency to the destruction of the British empire; and,
if persisted in, must inevitably terminate in the subversion of
our Constitution and total loss of American freedom; and
while our hearts glow with the most filial duty and affection
to our rightful sovereign, Lord George the 3d, and to his
illustrious house, we feel the warmest sentiment of gratitude
to those worthy gentlemen whose noble and patriotic zeal has
animated them with such wisdom and firmness to oppose the
torrent of oppression rolling like a flood upon us ; we cannot
but express our deepest concern and grief that men who are
descended from the natural and known enemies of the House
of the Brunswick succession, and wlio inherit the intrigue
and malevolence as well as the honors and estates of their
ancestors, should find such access to the Royal Ear, and by
their subtlety and disguise alienate his Majesty's affections
from his dutiful and loyal subjects; and while we consider
that those who tamely submit to wear the shackles of slavery,
or behold, with a supine indifference, all that is dear to us
and posterity wrested from us by force, must be dead to the
principle of self-preservation, callous to every feeling of
humanity, and criminally regardless of the happiness and
welfare of unborn millions. Therefore, Resolved unanimously,
that a firm and inviolable union of the colonies is absolutely
necessary for the defense and support of our civil rights, with
out which all our efforts will be likely to prove futile. That
to facilitate sucli union, it is our desire that the committees
of the several governments meet in a general convention at
such place as shall be most convenient as soon as the circum
stances of the distance and communication of intelligence
will possibly permit, and the most effectual measures to defeat
the machinations of the enemies of his Majesty's government
and the liberties of America, is to break off all commercial
intercourse with Great Britain and the West Indies, until all
those oppressive acts of raising revenue in America be re
pealed." Immediately after the fight at Lexington, on Wednesday,

19
the 19th of April, 1775, messengers were despatched in all di
rections to give the news. It will be recollected that in those
days there were no railroads to carry passengers at the rate of
40 miles an hour, nor any telegraph wires to convey instanta
neous information, and that a few years previously it required
ten days traveling diligently for a man on horseback to reach
Boston from Windsor.
One of those messengers reached Isaac Kibbe's tavern on
Sunday following the fight, and announced the fact that the
Redcoats had fired upon the Minute-men, and that fighting
was going on all abou t Boston.
Mr. Kibbe procured a drum, and the people being in the
meeting-house, the drummer marched around the meeting
house beating the long roll furiously. The meeting suddenly
came to an end, and early the next day the following named
persons commenced their march for Boston, viz :
Nathaniel Terry, Major. John Simons, Capt.
Richard Abbe, Lieut. Joseph Booth, Ensign.
Samuel Jones, ^ David Chandler, )
Jonathan Bush, I ^ , Bliphalet Killam, I p , >]
Daniel Kingsbury, f ° ' Elilm Geer, f ' '
Barzilia Markham, ) John Simons, 2d, J
Privates — Nehemiah Chandler, J«hn Abbe, Samuel Pease,
Joseph Gleason, Thomas Hale, Isaac Pease, Jacob Terry, Jr.,
Oliver Bush, John Pease, 2d, Moses Bush, Samuel Hale, Mo
ses Warner, James Green, Edmund Bement, Seth Hall, John
McClester, Peter Pero, Nathan Markham, Thomas Abbe,
Daniel Burbank, Jabez Parsons, Hezekiah Parsons, Daniel
Prior, Samuel Hemingway, John Chandler, Henry Booth,
Benjamin Herrington, Benajah Griswold, Thomas Pease, Na
thaniel Lamb, Solomon Gains, Aaron Waters, Richard Fair-
man, Zebulun Pease, John Crosby, Titus Pairman, Levi French,
Ambrose Markham, Eliphalet Collins, Jacob Pairman, Josiah
Blakesley, Jonathan Allen, Asahel Parsons, John Hale, Aaron
Pease, Jr., John Morrison, Ebenezer McGregory, Jacob Shep-
ard, David Phelps, Jr., Ebenezer Parsons, Asa Meacham,
Peter Parsons, Isaac Markham, Gideon Pease, Shadrach Ter
ry, Abram Whipple, Christopher Marshall, James Pease,

20
Samuel Kingsbury, Peter Raynolds, John Parsons, Daniel
Terry. Some of the above-named never reached Boston,
the Red-coats having retreated and the excitement some
what subsided, and all reached home by Saturday night, except
the following named persons, who proceeded, and probably
remained in the vicinity of Boston all Summer and Autumn,
for as late as November, we find Capt. Parsons writing from
Hingham, for money wherewith to subsist his men. Heze
kiah Parsons, Capt. Thomas Abbe, Lieut. Barzilia Markham
Lieut. Samuel Hemingway, Serg't. John Chandler, Clerk.
Jacob Shepard, Benjamin Herrington, Henry Booth, Corpo
rals. Aaron Pease, Drummer. Privates, Daniel Prior, Bena
jah Griswold, Thomas Pease, Nathaniel Lamberton, Solomon
Gains, Aaron Waters, Richard Pairman, Zebulun Pease, Gid
eon Pease, John Crosby, Titus Pairman, Levi French, Am
brose Markham, Jacob Pairman, Jonathan Allen , John Hale,
John Morrison, Ebenezer McGregory, David Phelps, Jr., Ebe
nezer Hale, Ebenezer Parsons, Asa Meacham, Peter Parsons,
Isaac Markham, and Christopher Parsons." The horses used
in this expedition were charged for at the rate of two pence
per mile, and their forage at the rate of nine pence per day.
The Town Records, so far as we have been able to examine,
give but meager accounts* of their doings during the Revolu
tion, but there are some significant resolutions passed, as
appears by the following : —
March 31, 1777. It was voted to choose a committee to
take care of the families of those that shall engage in the ser
vice of the war, in their absence, then meeting adjourned
to April 7, and then voted to raise forty dollars to be paid out
of the town's treasures to each able bodied man that shall
enlist into the Continental army, by the first day of May
next, and the same sum to those already enlisted, to the num
ber of forty-seven men : It also appears by the following
vote, that the people of Enfield were Abolitionists at that
early day, for " at the same meeting, voted that Joseph Kings
bury, Capt. Perkins, and Ensign Eliphalet Terry, be a com
mittee to prefer a memorial to the Assembly in May next,
praying that the Negroes in this State be released from their
slavery and bondage."

21
At a meeting January 14, 1777, voted to raise a tax of six
pence on the pound, on the list of 1777, for tents and soldier's
wives. June 25, 1779, voted to raise two shillings four pence, on
the pound, on list of 1778, in money, to purchase clothing
for the soldiers in the Continental army, and that a rate be
made and collected forthwith.
In 1780, voted to pay able-bodied soldiers forty .shil
lings per month on certain conditions, to be paid in wheat, at
four shillings, rye, three shillings, or corn at two shillings
per bushel.
In 1781, voted a tax of three and one half pence, or seven
pence in States money.
The people of Enfield were nearly unanimous in favor of
the American Revolution. The most conspicuous and patri
otic individuals of those by-gone days were, Capt. Thomas
Abbe, John Pease, Capt. David Parsons, Capt. Hezekiah Par
sons, Nathaniel Chapin, Isaac Kibbe, Col. Nathaniel Terry,
and Capt. Daniel Perkins. The following named persons
belonging to Enfield, lost their lives in the service of their
country, in the Revolutionary War.
Freegrace Billings, Edward Collins, John Allen, Jedediah
Meacham, Benjamin Gains, Isaac French, Oliver Parsons,
Lieut. Noah Phelps, Levi Terry, Oliver Pease, Joseph Hall,
Nathaniel Pease, George Pease, and  Varnum.
Town meetings were held as often as once in two months
all through the war of the Revolution, mostly to devise ways
and means for raising soldiers, paying them their bounties
and wages, and providing for the support of their wives and
families, during their absence, and they undoubtedly taxed-
themselves to their utmost ability to.effect those objects, but in
the time allowed we have not been able to ascertain the num
ber of men who actually went into the army from tliis town.
During that time, and at all other times, much attention
was paid to the subject of education, and frequently, while
raising a tax of one and a half pence for town charges, two
pence on the pound were raised for schools. Much attention
was also given to highways and to fisheries, in the great river,
and to the ferries over the same.

22
In 1785, " voted that the Selectmen fence the Burying yard,
the front and two sides of it, and Mr. Bliphalet Killam to fence
the rear."
Due observance of the Sabbath was rigidly enforced, and
annually numerous Tythingmen were appointed to keep order
on that day.
About 1786, the early records of lands were copied by order
of the town, and that duty was performed by Augustus Dig-
gins, who was chosen Town Clerk that year.
In December, 1788, Mr. John Stores and Dr. Simeon Field
were authorized to set up and carry on inoculation for small
pox on the Island between Enfield and Suffield, called Copper
Island. In 1789, a committee was appointed to make proper
alphabets of the town books of Records, and in December of
the same year, voted that the Selectmen have four shillings
per day for each day in the town service the year ensuing,
they bearing their own expenses.
In 1781, the Shaker system of Religion was introduced into
Enfield, and the first proselytes were Elder Joseph Meacham,
who had been a preacher to a small society of Baptists in the
northeast corner of the town, his son David Meacham, Joseph
Markham, Benjamin Pease, Justice Markham, Jahiel Mark
ham, Samuel Eaton, Matthew Thompson, Eli and Elias Pease.
The Shaker Society was organized about 1788.
The pay for labor on highways in 1794 was three shillings
per day for a man and six shillings for man and team. In
1797, the town changed from pounds, shillings, and pence to
dollars and cents, and in that year raised a tax of one cent
and three mills for town charges and six mills to repair high
ways. Many votes are recorded in relation to domestic ani
mals running at large on the highways and commons of the
town, among which is one allowing swine to run at large,
provided they are well yoked and ringed according to law,
and one allowing geese to go at large from the rising to the
setting of the sun, being well yoked with a yoke not less than
twelve inches in length.
In 1802, Joseph Parsons and associates were allowed to set
up iron and other works at the Bridge on Scantic River, near

23
the house of Isaac Pease. It also appears that iron works,
clothiers' works, gristmills and sawmills had long previously
been erected on Scantic river at and near where the powder
works now are.
Among those admitted as freemen in 1812, which is the
earliest record of that kind, only one is known to be now
living, viz : " Benjamin B. Parsons."
The war with Great Britain, of 1812, made a little ripple
in the usual calm of affairs in Enfield, and many men went
into the army, the most noticeable, perhaps, being the com
pany of seventy-four men under Captain Luther Parsons, who
left Enfield on the 3d of August, 1818, for the defence of New
London. Many other detachments went there for the same
purpose, among which were the late Major Robert Morrison
and Captain Jabez Collins. Not one who served in that war
from this town are known to be now living, excepting Isaac
Allen, now in Clarkson, State of New York.
The first bridge over Connecticut River at Enfield Falls
was built about 1808, and Capt. Samuel Pease's record says
the channel arch fell August 19, 1821, of old age. The second
and present bridge was built in 1832, by the late William
Dixon, aided by a lottery. First wagon crossed Nov. 28th,
of that year.
The following named persons have served as Town Clerks,
the dates being the time of the commencement of their servi
ces: 1700, Thomas Hale ; 1714, Joseph Sexton; 1723, Zach
ariah Booth; 1729, Nathaniel Collins; 1735, Christopher
Parsons; 1735, Ezekiel Pease; 1749, Elijah Williams; 1751,
Edward Collins; 1786, Augustus Diggins: 1787, Edward
Collins; 1788, Eliphalet Terry ; 1812, Elam 0. Potter; 1827,
William Dixon; 1839, Jabez T. Taylor; 1849, Aholiab John
son; 1868, Seth Terry; 1868, Theodore I. Pease; 1871, Fred
erick B. Ely, now in office.
Enfield was made a Probate District in 1831, and Ephraim
P. Prudden was the first judge of tiiat court, who served one
year ; William Dixon, three years ; Lorin T. Pease, one year ;
Henry Kingsbury, three years; Aholiab Johnson, sixteen
years; Hiram S. Belcher, two years; George C. Owen, one

24
year; Normand Allen, two years; Seth Terry, four years;
William Olmsted, four years, and Frederick B. Ely, present
incumbent. The Canal at Enfield Falls was commenced in June, 1827,
and loaded boats passed through it November 11, 1829. In
1835, December 1st, the Methodist meeting-house at Hazard
ville was dedicated. Loomis, Hazard & Co. commenced their
powder mill there about the same time.
The Carpet Works at Thompsonville were commenced in
1828, by Orrin Thompson and his associates.
Although Enfield cannot boast of a great number of eminent
public men, yet the thousands that have gone from her, to
gether with their descendants, would at least people one great
State, and it has also furnished one Governor of Texas and
one Senator in Congress, and many of her children have filled
important stations in the Church, in State and in the Army,
while the founders of the villages of Thompsonville and Haz
ardville will be held in high honor by the people of this town
for many succeeding generations.
In the war of the rebellion the town of Bnfield was not
found wanting in respect to their duty to the country, and
responded promptly to every call, and sent into the army at
various times not less than four hundred twenty-one men,
(of whom 24 were three months men, 155 three years,
68 three years recruits, 48 three year substitutes, 79 nine
months, 47 re-enlisted ; of the whole number, 10 were killed
in battle, 42 wounded, 17 died of wounds, 1 missing in action,
16 died of fevers, 13 died in ,A.nderson ville prison, 55 dis
charged for disability, 130 mustered out at the end of the war,
79 nine months men on expiration of term. Several men
from this town also enlisted in other States who are not cred
ited to this town,) and took care to provide amply for their
wives and families dLuing their absence, and as in the time
of the Revolution, were ever found on the side of liberty,
freedom, and justice, and in every war has furnished more
men-than her just proportion.
The climate of Enfield is and ever has been very salubrious,
as is shown by the number of children raised there, the

25
average number in many families being ten, and also the great
age attained by many. Of twelve men whose deaths are
recorded previous to 1844, their average age exceeds ninety-
four years, and doubtless others whose age is unknown or not
recorded were of equal or greater age, and there are now
(1876) living in this town at least five men whose ages are
over ninety. The lives of females also are equally protracted.
Of eight deaths recorded previous to 1828, the average age is
95^ years, and there are now living several more than ninety
years of age, but how many is not known.
About 1713, the east part of the town began. The first
settlers on Scantic river, Nathaniel Gary, who built a house
and grain mill, Daniel Markham, near the iron works, Ger-
shom Sexton, near the mouth of Sawmill brook, and John
Gleason, who settled half a mile up the Scantic, and Thomas
Perkins, the last, in what is now called Scitico.
The settlement of Wallup commenced about the same time,
and the first settlers were William Bement and Josiah Col-
ton, near Buckhorn brook, and Nathaniel Pierce, near the
present residence of Norton Abbe ; others settled on Scantic
hills, in that part of the town, viz : Isaac Gleason, Israel
Phelps, and Ebenezer Chapin, near where widow Peter Chapin
now lives.
One hundred years ago there were five school houses in
town, and each contained one room, with desks fastened to
one side of the room for writers, who sat upon benches made
of heavy planks, supported by legs, and the small children sat
upon low benches of planks, laid upon blocks. The rooms
were warmed by open fire-places, supplied with wood furnished
by the parents of the children, in proportion to the number
sent. The wages of male teachers — who were exclusively
employed In winter — averaged not more than ten dollars per
month, and that of female teachers varied from seventy-five
cents to one dollar and fifty cents per week, who, in addition
to teaching reading and spelling, gave instruction in needle
and knitting work, and the whole town then paid for support
of schools, including what was drawn from the colony treas
ury, about five hundred dollars. Now there are sixteen school-
4

26
houses in town, three of which undoubtedly cost more than
all the dwellings in town previous to the Revolution, and are
fitted up with all the modern improvements, warmed with coal
brought from other States ; the schools taught by teachers
whose wages in one month exceed those then paid in the
whole town during the year, and the town pays $12,000 a
year for schools, besides some $300 for school visitors.
The history of the town for the last century is easily traced
and soon told ; but what will be in the next, who can tell ?
Hoping that when the close of the second century from the
organization of the town arrives, in 1883, you will have your
oldest records re-written, and a full history of the town com
piled and edited by some competent hand, we respectfully
submit this brief sketch of history as our report.

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