LIBRARY OF CONGRESS oDDiaaabHEb • O.V .S- ,>,^^A-^ ^'• '^^. ."^^ ,C; 1*' ^% .0^^ -C^ 'o.» 4 o F* rx ^^--^^ . <^ >" ^v .0 't ;>.V,^:-. \/ ;^^, %^^^ .k^^^x, \/ > V * -^v 0\ „ II o *>- Oi. •. ' • ■<5> rv" o " 9 ^ ■ -^ 0' T'^v .>;^* ^-^0^ : i body — the Windham County Association — " fourteen learned ministers," armed with all the powers and terrors of ecclesiastic authority, hoping by this united appearing" and testimony to scatter the evil forces of Separatism — attempting, says Backus, "to scatter that flock after their shepherd was smitten." But the storm evoked had passed far beyond human manipu- lation. The ministers met a most tumultuous recep- tion. Their attempted arguments and remonstrances were drowned "in unchristian and ajiprobrious revil- ings," and they were forced to retreat, after reading a formal protest in the name of the appointed eccle- siastic authority of the county. A month later the Mansfield Separates succeeded in carrying through the ordination of another brother, John Hovey, while good Deacon Marsh was kept locked up in jail for six months. But despite, and partly because of, these very ol)- stacles and persecutions. Separatism was making- great advances. Not only in Connecticut but all over New England, Christians were coming out from the established churches. "Come out from among them and be ye separate," was the cry that rang through the land. " Come out from these dead and corrupted churches ; from the abominable tyranny of those unchristian and ungodly Civil Constitutions, and rejoice in the liberty wherewith Christ has made us free." Every town, nearly every community, was 38 HISTORIC GLEANINGS. stirred by this religious movement ; masses of eu- tliusiastic Separates, breaking av>'ay from the yoke of Egyptian bondage in joyful hope of establishing a pure church and hastening forward the glorious day of gospel grace and deliverance. Ignorant, fanatical, unaccustomed to self or church govern- ment, burning with zeal and righteous indignation, how great their need of wise and competent leader- ship. One man alone, according to the church historian. Rev. Isaac Backus, was equal to the oc- casion. To one man above all others they turned for help and guidance ; Elislia Paine was the Moses to lead the Separates from Egypt to the Promised Land. From every quarter came to him letters and messengers beseeching his presence and aid, and to this work he dedicated his life and energies. Like Wesley, of later times, he went about his mission, traveling from town to town and from one colony to another, everywhere aiding in the formation and building up of Separate churches. His superior ed- ucation and sound judgment enabled him in some degree to direct and control the seething elements. " A mixed multitude " accompanied the Israelites out of Egypt. The Separate movement swept through the lowest stratum of society, in a day of compara- tive ignorance and imperfect civilization, taking in not only the ignorant, fanatical and visionary, cranks of every variety, but the sore-heads, the grumbleto- SPENT LIGHTS. ?>0 nians ; all who for any cause were brought into op- position to constituted authorities. To bring these scattered and disorderly congregations into anything like coherent and orderl}^ church estate, seemed a task beyond the power of mortals. But Paine and other devoted Separates went bravely forward, trust- ing in the righteousness of their cause and the help of their divine Leader. The Mansfield Separate church adopted and published an elaborate covenant, which may be considered the official statement of New Light doctrine and practice. A pure church, perfect assurance of conversion and salvation in every member, liberty to choose and set aside its own offi- cers, and, also, to preach, exhort, and support the preacher in its own fashion, were its distinguishing characteristics. As far as possible this covenant was made the standard in other Separate churches. The destruction of Saybrook Platform was made a special object in Connecticut. " A Short View of the Con- stitution of the Church of Christ," and the difference between it and the church as established by Civil Au- thority, published by Solomon Paine, serving " as a burning torch to enlighten the conscience " in this regard. The views and practices of the several churches depended much upon the character of their leaders and the strength of the separation. In com- munities like Canterbury and Plainfield, where it in- cluded a majority of the respectable families, they 40 HISTORIC GLEANINGS. differed little from other CoDgreg-ational chvirclies except in g-reater spirituality and liberty of speech. The testimony of Rev. David Rowland, pastor of the standing church of Plainfield, who by reason of his position was obnoxious to the New Lights, has great weight. He writes, at a later date — " Although some things appeared among thom at first very un- warrantable, yet considering their infant state it must be ac- knowledged by all that were acquainted with them, that they were a people, in general, conscientiously engaged in promoting truth, and Mr. Stevens, their minister, a very clear and powerful preacher of the Gospel, as must be acknowledged by all who heard liim." But while laboring " to guard against things that might lead to darkness and corruption," they ad- mitted one fatal error — the assumed possession of the "ke}' of knowledge," by which they not only had perfect assurance of their own conversion and eter- nal salvation, but through " the inward actings of their own souls " could test the spiritual condition of all with whom they came in contact. The adoption of this pernicious principle wrought incalculable mis- chief — leading the New Lights to despise human knowledge, to set their own personal impression against all evidence and authority, and above all to deny the possession of true religion to Christians whose experience varied from their standard. It led SPENT LIGHTS. 41 tliem to denounce with most scathing seventy the ministry and meml)ership of the established churches. Nothing' brought the Separates into such disrepute with true friends of the Revival as the abuse and maledictions poured out upon the standing churches. But when turned upon themselves the use of this supernatural key was even more disastrous. No one was safe from the "inward acting" of his neighbor's soul. Few of these perfectly assured and regener- ated church members escaped church censure and discipline. Their records are filled with accusations, trials, admonitions, and excommunications. With no authority back of themselves to settle their disputes, trusting to their own impulses and literal interpreta- tion of detached passages of scripture, these loosely organized bodies quickly fell into scandaloiis disorder and confusion. Letters coming to Elislia Paine from many New Light organizations show how widespread were these difficulties and disorders. And against these bodies of struggling Separates were ranged all the forces of civil and ecclesiastic au- thority. To the Government of Connecticut the New Lights were simply outlaws, excluded by special act of legislation from privileges granted to other dis- senting churches. Deluded Baptists and intruding Episcopalians might claim the benefit of The Tolera- tion Act, but for the rebellious children of their own favored churches there could be no release or mercy. 4* 4:2 HISTORIC GLEANINGS. Did the New Light leaders, taunted with their own ig-norance, attempt to found an academy at New London for the better instruction of young- men as Christian teachers and exhorters (an experimental Northfield) ? A law was at once enacted, October? 1742, forbidding the establishment of such school or academy for young persons without liberty from the Assembly, upon very severe penalties. Should such unlawful school be established the civil authority of a town was ordered to make inspection, and proceed with such scholars and students, and such as harbor or board them, according to the law of the colony re- specting transient persons. In the same Act it pro- vided — that no person that has not been graduated in Yale or Harvard colleges, or other Protestant college, shall take the benefit of the laws of the Government respecting the settlement and estate of ministers. And while thus denying New Lights liberty of speech and worship, liberty to found and attend schools of their own order, they took from them as far as pos- sible every civil right. Separates were excluded from town offices ; men of substance and character, like Obediah Johnson, of Canterbury, when elected repre- sentative to the Assembly by a majority of his fellow citizens, was not allowed to take his seat because of holding the office of deacon in the rebellious church. Ordained Separate ministers Avere shut up in jail for joining in marriage their own church members. Bap- SPENT LIGHTS. -io tisms and marriages performed by them were pro- nouuced illegal. And worse than all in its effects, touching all classes, were the rates extorted for the support of the established churches. In the ej^es of the law each Separate was still a member of the parish in which he resided, and obliged to pay for the sup- port of its stated religious worship. Refusing to pay, his goods were forcibly taken by the collector, and, however much exceeding the amount due, no overplus was ever returned. If goods were insufficient the men were carried to prison. These were the days of Con- necticut's " religious persecution," not bloody, indeed, but most harrassiug and persistent. All over the col- ony were heard the cries of these afflicted Separates — men dragged to jail by force, wives and children left helpless at home. Instances of special hardship are noted — the poor man's only cow driven away from his door, the meat or grain laid up for winter suste- nance carried off by the merciless collector. Wind- ham jail was so crowded with victims as to require an additional story. In Norwich, where there was a strong New Light element, the contest was very bitter. The venerable mother of the church historian. Rev. Isaac Backus, Avas taken from her home aiid confined thirteen days in jail for refusing to pay her church rate. It took the constable and six assistants to carry a resistant brother to jail. Rev. Alexander Miller, of Yoluntown, ancestor of the late Hon. 44 HISTORIC GLEANINGS. William L. Gaston, of Massachusetts, tells his story in the subjoined petition : "Whereas, we are rendered incapable upon the account of sickness and imprisonment, of sending a petition, we take this opportunity of informing your Honors of the difficulties we have met with as to our outward man because we are constrained to observe and follow the dictates of our own conscience, agree- able to the Word of God, in matters of religion, looking upon it to be God's prerogative to order the affairs of his own worship. We are of that number who soberly dissented from the Ghurcli established by Conn, and though we have no design to act in contempt of any lawful authority, or to disturb any religious society, but only to worship God according to the rules he has given us in his Word in that way now called Separation, yet have we suffered the loss of much of our goods, particularly be- cause we could not in conscience pay minister's rates, it appear- ing to us very contrary to the way that the Lord hath ordained even the present way in which ministry are maintained — Poor men's estates taken away and sold for less than a quarter of their value, and no overplus returned, as hath been the case of your Honor's poor informers ; yea, poor men's cows taken when they had but one for the support of their families, and the children crying for milk and could get none, because the collector had taken their cow for minister's rates. Neither have they stopped liere, though we have never resisted them, but when our goods could no longer suffice we were taken from our families and cast into prison, where some of us have lain above two months, far distant from our families, who are in very difficult circumstances. Yea ! and here we must unavoidably lie the remainder of our days unless we consent to such methods for which we can see no warrant in God's Word. No ! surely it never came into his SPENT LIGHTS. 45 mind, neither Iiath he commanded that it should be so, that the Gospel of Peace shoidd be so maintained ; he hath told his minis- ters how they shall have their maintenance, but not a word of imprisoning men for refusing to maintain them, surely the best things corrupted form the worst. And now, we pray you to take notice of our difficulties, and grant us relief from bondage that we may enjoy the privileges other dissenters enjoy. Windliain Prison, May 13, 1752." No notice was taken of this representation, and the prisoners Avere kept in jail till the authorities thought proper to release them. Two years later they again presented their case to the Assenil)ly : — " We, whose names are subscribed, because we could not in conscience pay minister's salary, which we find neither precept nor example for in the Word of God, as we understand the same, and after we had once and again suffered the loss of much of our substance, being taken from us by collectors, our bodies were taken . . . and cast into prison in said Windham jail, where we were closely confined, some of us above twenty miles distant from our families — where we lay some of us ten weeks in most distressing circumstances as to our bodies, and our families re- duced or exposed to difficulties too affecting to your Honors to hear, could they be related. During which time we wrote to you to inform you of our difficulties even while we were in prison, but having been informed that said letter was never read publicly and cannot be found, offer this to you. Alexander Miller. Peter Miller. Joseph Sr.\LDiNG. Joseph Warren." 46 HISTORIC GLEANINGS. Elisba Paine, after the reuioval of his family to Long Island, returning in midwinter for household goods and stock, was arrested for rates due Mr. Cogs- well and kept for months in Windham jail, to the great inconvenience and suffering of himself and family. Petitions sent to the General Assembly for relief in numberless cases w-ere promptly " dismissed by both houses." A formal memorial presented in 1753, from the representatives of some twenty-five New Light churches, praying for the benefit of the Toleration Act, was scornfully rejected. Men whose hearts had been stirred in childhood by stories handed down from their grandfathers of the persecutions of "Bloody Claver'ouse" and "Wicked Jeffries," now^ thrust their own brethren into like bondage. In vain w^as the parallel forced upon their notice — " We are but asking for the privileges for which our fathers bled and suffered and came to this new world." " I can but marvel," says Elisha Paine, " to see how soon the children will forget the sw^ord that drove their fathers into this land, and take hold of it as a jewel, and kill their grandchildren therewith." Again he writes— "The Roman Emperor was the first beast which persecuted the Christians that separated from their established religion, and by their law, fined, whipped, imprisoned and killed them ; we all own that the Pope or Papal throne is the Second Beast, which compels all under him to submit to his wor- SPENT LIGHTS. 47 ship. Now what your prisoner requests of you is a clear distinction between the Ecclesiastic Constitu- tion of Connecticut, by which I am now held in prison, and the aforesaid two thrones or beasts, in the foun- dation, constitution and support thereof." But their eyes were blinded that they could not see distinction or parallel. The mistakes, the excesses, the violence and hostility of the Separates furnished, as was said, " an awful specimen" of their need of this very sys- tem which they so bitterly denounced. Failing in all attempts to procure relief from the government of Connecticut, the Separates were driven to appeal to the throne of Britain. Twenty Separate churches prepared a memorial, praying King George to grant them the benefit of the Toleration Act of Great Britain. This memorial was carried to Eng- land by a special deputation in 175G, and first exhibi- ted to the " Committee for the Dissenters." That body received the report with amazement, and could scarcely believe that the children of men who had fled from the domination of a State religion would have fashioned a parallel yoke for their own country- men, and that Dissenters from the church establish- ment of Connecticut were denied privileges granted to those in the mother country. This denial they deemed a plain violation of charter rights and feared that the presentation of the Separate memorial would greatly injure Connecticut. The chairman's letter of 48 HISTORIC GLEANINGS. remonstrance and censure, and the disturbances ac- companying the French and Indian war, modified the policy of the government, and thenceforward ex- emption from rate paying- under favorable circum- stances, and other slight ameliorations of treatment^ was grudgingly accorded. But this leniency came too late to save the great majority of Separates. A number of their leaders were already gone, worn out with the severity of the conflict ; their churches had wasted ; the rank and file were greatly demoralized, A few churches, indeed, struggled on, holding fast to their peculiar principles, and in time secured a stand- ing among the regular Congregational churches of Connecticut, and are still represented by flourishing and influential church fellowships. But for the great mass it was defeat and bitter disappointment — their buoyant hopes of a pure church and emancipation from Saybrook yoke blasted and destroyed. Their heroic stand for principle ; their battle for eternal rights and freedom degenerated into a noisy squab- ble with rate collectors. The more substantial ele- ment went back into the stated churches ; a very respectable number allied themselves with the strug- gling Baptists ; the remnant remaining were but Pa- riahs and outcasts — " Wild Separates " as they were called ; veritable terrors ; violent, factious, impracti- cable, hurling anathemas upon all who disagreed with them ; their " hand against every man and every man's hand against them." SPENT LIGHTS. 49 To all outward appearance the " Separate move- ment " had failed completely. As a sect, as an organ- ization, the New Lights were indeed " Spent Lights " — spent, perhaps, but not wholly extinguished. Those poor old Separates Avith all their faults, follies and blunders, have indeed long since passed away — their bodies resting in forgotten graves — but we rejoice to believe that " their souls are marching- on." The principles for which they contended are now recog-- nized and established ; the liberty for which they panted has become the birthright of every resident of this great country ; even that achimantiue, inflexi- ble Platform wdiich they so battered and berated ; that Ecclesiastic Constitution of Connecticut so sa- cred in the eyes of our grandfathers, has been set aside forever. And for these great and beneficent results the Separates helped prepare the way, and may be justly numbered with that " noble army of martyrs" which through weary ages has borne aloft the banner and shouted the battle-cry of religious freedom. Those New Light doctrines and principles that seemed at first so pernicious and revolutionary, slowly working their way into Christian conscious- ness, became the prevailing theology of the succeed- ing generation. The familiar religious conference and lay exhortation, which brought the Separates fine and imprisonment, has long been recognized as one of the most potent forces in the up-building and 50 HISTORIC GLEANINGS. strengtlieniug" of the cliiirch. And even " the ac- cursed practise " of allowing- women to speak in pub- lic, for wliicli tlie Separates were severely reprobated, is becoming a marvelous factor in the evangelization and illumination of the Avorld. We have lost sight for a time of the chief leader in this movement — the Canterbury lawyer, so active and influential in its development. Unlike most of his contemporaries, he lived to witness the apparent fail- ure of his mission. As Separate churches died out and his services were less demanded, he accepted the pastorate of a New Light church at Bridgehampton, L. I., and passed the evening of his days in quietly administering to their needs. However great his dis- appointment, it made no change in his convictions or temper. The faith that gave him such " sweet con- tentment " when confined in jail for preaching the Gospel he so much loved, kept his soul in perfect peace. The diary of his former adversary. Rev. James Cogswell, gives us a glimpse of him in his farewell visit to his native town as late as 1769. He sent for Mr. Cogswell to come and hear him preach and returned his visit. They " discoursed in a friendly manner." Mr. Cogswell took " the old gentleman " to task for " meddling with Connecticut establish- ment " and " his notion of saving faith consisting in assurance." Mr. Paine maintained his own views, but " with a pleasant countenance," and temper free SPENT LIGHTS. 51 from bitterness and severity. A reformer without ar- rogance, a Separate without bigotry or uncharitable- ness, he stood far in advance of his generation, and the light of his teaching and example long lingered in Christian hearts. Elisha Paine died in Bridge- hampton in 1775, in his eighty-fourth year, having preached to his beloved flock till within fifteen days of his decease. II. WINDHA.M COUNTY WOMEN OF OLDEN TIME.- Our scant knowledge of early New England women is much to be regretted. While the deeds and lives of the Pilgrim fathers have been depicted for us in great variety of form, the Pilgrim mothers remain mostly in shadow. And as the sons of the first emi- grants went out into the wilderness to build up other homes and settlements, the daughters are even more in abeyance. AVe learn by the self-sacrifice of Lady Arabella Johnson, the exquisite letters of Margaret Winthrop, something of the character and tone of those women who followed their husbands over the ocean. But of the great majority of those who helped build ap thousands of homes in the waste places of New England we knoAv comparatively nothing. " Their name, their years, spelt by the unlettered muse," the date of birth, marriage, death, and birth of children, is all that has been left us. And yet we know that these mothers, wives, and daughters l)ore their full share in laying these foundations, and suf- fered even greater hardships and privations. * Publislied in " Tlie Plainfield Graphic." WINDHAM COUNTY WOMEN OF OLDEN TIME. 53 The first woman within Windham county territory of whom we know anythin"- more than the above data is Mrs. Abigail Bartholomew, second wife of Samuel Paine. After the Woodstock colony had got- ten in their first plantings of corn in the summer of 1686, they looked about for a miller, and invited Wil- liam Bartholomew of Branford to fill this important office. This stalwart pioneer had passed through a number of exciting experiences, and while living in Hatfield in 1677 had suff'ered the horrors of Indian invasion, and saw his young daughter Abigail, then five years old, carried away captive. The story of capture, suffering, and escape was still fresh in mem- ory, when, ten years later, she came with her father's family to take up her abode in the plantation of New Roxbury. It was the year after the close of King PhiliiD's war, when there was less thought of immedi- ate danger. At about eleven o'clock in the morning when most of the men were at work in the fields, the savages burst in upon the settlement, killed twelve persons, wounded five, set all the houses on fire, and with seventeen prisoners, beat a hasty retreat. All but five of the captives were Avomen and children. One man escaped to report their probable destruction All attempts at negotiation were foiled. The little party was hurried on over the bleak country, up rivers and lake, arriving at Canada in wintry weather, They were the first New England captives who had 54 HISTORIC GLEANINGS. been forced to travel through this dreary wilderness. Two of the Inisbands of the captured women imme- diately bestirred themselves to procure their release. Obtaining" a commission from the government of Massachusetts and tardy help from New York, they toiled northward, mostly by water, carrying their canoes upon their backs from Lake George to Lake Champlain. On January 6, 1678, they reached Cham- blee, and found the prisoners at Sorell and vicinity. They then went on to Quebec, where they were civilly entertained by the French Governor, terms of re- demi^tion agreed upon, and a guard allowed them to Albany. On April 19 they started on their return journey. Arriving at Albany May 22, they sent mes- sages to those "loving friends and kindred at Hat- field," who for seven anxious months had wearily waited for tidings : " These few lines are to let you understand that we are arrived at Albany now with the captives, and we now stand in need of assistance, for my charges are very great and heavy ; and, there- fore, any that have any love to our condition, let it move them to come and help us in this strait. Three of the captives are murdered, old goodman Plympton, Samuel Russell, Samuel Foot's daughter. All the rest are alive and well, namely, Obadiah Dickinson and his child, Mary Foot and her child, Hannah Jen- nings and three children, Abagail Allis, Abigail Bartholomew, goodman Coleman's children, Samuel Kellogg, my wife and four children, and Quintin Stockwell. I pray you hasten the matter, for it requires great haste. Stay not for the Sabbath, not shoeing WINDHAM COUNTY WOMEN OF OLDEN TOIE. 55 of horses. We shall endeavor to meet you at Kinderhawk. Bring provisions witli you for us. Your loving kinsman, Benjamin Waite." As soon as possible a company was fitted out to meet tliem as arranged. Tliey rode tliroiigh the woods to Westfield and soon all reached home in safety — the day of their arrival the most joyful day that Hattield had ever known. The ransom of the captives cost about two hundred pounds, which was gathered by contril)utions carried forward by " the pious charity of the elders, ministers and congrega- tions of the several towns." A daughter of Mrs. Jennings, born in Canada, was named C-aptivity. We may well believe that the presence in Wood- stock of a young woman who had passed through such an experience would excite great interest. Indian alarms were frequent in those days. Again and again the anxious iidiabitants were forced to re- pair to the carefully-guarded garrisons. A trembling fugitive, whose husband and children had l)een butchered upon their own hearth-stone, brought the news of the terrible massacre at Oxford. And all through these troubled years oar Abigail served as a perpetual object lesson, showing to mothers and children the reality of the ])eril that threatened them. She married first, Joseph Frizzel, and later, Samuel Paine, and lived to repeat to many children and 5t; HISTORIC GLEANINGS. grandchildren the story of her marvelous captivity and escape. Mrs. Esther Grosvenor, of Pomfret, comes down to lis as a very distinct personality. Her husband, Mr. John Grosvenor, having- died soon after completing negotiations for the Mashamoquet Purchase, Mrs. Grosvenor was much more concerned with business interests than most women of her day. Her name stands first upon the list of those receiving allotments of the Purchase, and she was naturally very promi- nent in division and distribution of the large estate. Born in England, she brought with her strength of constitution and dignity of character. A trouble- some squaw once invaded her kitchen, demanding immediate supply of food, and even attempting to snatch the boiling meat from the kettle. Mrs. Gros- venor held her back with her broomstick till her son Ebenezer came to the rescue with more effective weapon. Like other women of superior station she was very helpful in care of the sick, and was viewed as a mother by the Avhole community. She retained to old age her vigor and habit of authority, and in- sisted upon walking to attend church service till within a short time of her decease. In striking contrast with this " Colonial dame " is the first woman whose voice comes down to us from Brooklyn. A beautiful tract of land directly south of Mashamoquet was purchased by Sir John Black- WINDHAM COUNTY WOMEN OF OLDEN TIME. T) i well in 1686, as agent in behalf of a number of Eng- lish and Irish Dissenters, Avitli expectation of founding a colony upon it. Capt. Blackwell also received from Connecticut a grant for a township, including his purchase, which was to be laid out as a separate town or manor, by the name of Mortlake. King William's accession in 1688, and the religious privileges now granted in Great Britain frustrated all these plans. Blackwell returned to England, and his jourchase was left neglected till after his death in 1713 his son con- veyed it to Jonathan Belcher, of Boston, who entrusted Capt. John Chandler, of Woodstock, with its survey and division. The tract was still in native wildness, save for one small clearing taken up by a squatter, Jabez Utter. To him Chandler granted at first a deed of the premises for his labor and expense " in building, fencing, clearing, l)reaking up, improving and subduing " the same. The probable reason why this bargain was not carried out, and for the non-ap- pearance of Jabez in the subsequent expulsion is found in New London court records, wherein at just this date we find him arraigned for horse stealing, and sentenced to return the horse and pay the plain- tiff ten pounds, also to pay the County Treasury forty shillings, or be whipped ten stripes on his naked body, etc. Mary, the Avife of Jabez, was a woman of spirit, and held on to her home with a woman's tenacity. 5S HISTORIC GLEANINGS. When the sheriff came to demand possession of the premises, she barricaded doors and windows and held on. All efforts failing- to move her, young- John Chandler was sent to effect ejection. The story of the siege is told by Mary herself in very vig-orons English. She g-ives the names of some twelve or fif- teen young- fellows from the neig-hboring towns who aided in the raid, bringing- with them drums, clubs, axes, and all needful implements. Upon her utter refusal to grant possession they proceeded to tear down her fences, batter the house with stones and clubs, set up ensigns of divers colors, drink to the health of King James, committing, she says, "Many high and heinous enormities, treasons, profanities, and grievous wickedness." After carousing all day they had an interval of quiet till towards morning, Avhen " they revived their noise, marching round the house, beating drums, and singing psalm tunes," per- haps imitating the siege of Jericho, and then young Chandler made proclamation : " Now we have got- ten the victory ; now the day is ours," and raising poles against the house, three of the leaders vaulted upon the roof, came down through the chimney, opened the door and let in the sheriff. Even then the resolute mistress refused to yield possession, and had to be violently dragged out and flung down back- ward out of the door ; but at last, late in the after- noon, "they drove me away from my home and drove WINDHAM COUNTY WOMEN OF OLDEN TIME. 59 my cliildreu with me into the wilderness, and set a guard about me, and left us there to perish without any shelter but the Heavens," — but still with life enough to make her way to a justice, and make piti- ful complaint as "his Majesty's distressed, forlorn subject." Certainly no modern Brooklyn matron could use her tongue more ejffectively than this first Avoman resident. Some pleasant glimpses of early home life in Wind- ham county come to us from the diary of Mrs. Me- hitabel Chandler Coit, of New Loudon, whose hus- band, Thomas Coit, was brother of Plainfield's first minister, Rev. Joseph Coit. She writes : "June 18, 1707. My husband and sister Sarah and I went to Stonington, and brother Joseph Coit was married to Experience Wheeler. June 21. We came home again." Mrs. Coit was the sister of Capt. John Chandler, of Woodstock, daughter of Dea. John Chandler. When fifteen years of age she notes : " May 31, 1G88. My father, with liis family, went to live att New Roxbury, afterwards called AVoodstock. Feb. 8, 1089. Hannah Gary born, the first child that was born in Woodstock. April 18. The Revolution at Boston. June 25, 1695. We were married." This diary was maintained through life, and while noting i^rominent events, and the business ventures 60 HISTORIC GLEANINGS. of her husband — a pioneer ship-builder — it is mainly- taken up with domestic details, the birth of her six children and childhood mishaps : " June 14, 1706. Billy Coit fell into the cove and was almost drownded. March 10, 1708. Martha C'oit's foot burnt with a warming pan. April 29. A plank fell off the stage upon Thomas Coit and struck him down but gott no grate mater of hurt. Aug. 13. Mr. Vryland's vessell was burnt upon the stocks, and John Coit's foot was burnt." A visit at Woodstock in 172G gives us a peep into inside life ; those minor domestic details left out from general history, and, therefore, all the more valuable : " May 19. I set out to go to Woodstock, and before we got to Bowlses it rained a smart shower and we fain to go in there for shelter. When the shower was a little over we sat out again got to Norwich, stayed at Lathrops that night and had fryed veal for supper. Friday we dined at Cady's and had beef and pork and herbs ; began to be very weary. I rid behind Sam Morris most of the way ; got to W. a little before night, almost tired to death. Sabbath day. Went to meeting ; come home very weary. 22. Half dead still but went to brotlier Josephs a foot (just over the line in Pomfret). 23. Came back again ; made seven calls on the way and so to brothers very weary (Capt. John Chandler's, South Woodstock). 24. Election day : — We went up to town ; see tra3ming ; went to dinner at Coz. Johns, Billy and his wife there too ; sister, cousin Hannah, Coz. Billy's wife and I called at James Corbiu's, Mr. Dwights, Jas. Bacons, Jabez Corbin's, Dea. Morris's and Mr. Carpenters and so home ; same day com- ing home sister fell down and brake her arm ; they sent for Parker WINDHAM COUNTY WOMEN OF OLDEN TIME. !> Some of them are from men of liig-li official position. Ministers and colleg-e students were especially ad- dicted to this exercise, and many phases of colonial and early national life are thus brought to intimate knowledge. The journal on which this " life record " is founded is from a humbler source, a farmer's son with very limited advantages, and might be said to represent the daily life of an average Connecticut citizen dur- ing the period. It Avas kept by the same young fel- low who gave us pictures of the Rhode Island cam- paign of 1778. He began it the previous year when ambling back to camp after a furlough, and contin- ued it till near the close of his long life. Jotting from day to day the doings and happenings that came to pass, he gives us not only his own life's ex- perience, l)ut a fair transcript of the growth and de- velopment of the nation in whose birth he had borne a part. A musty pile of 3^ellow foolscap, tattered ci- phering and account books, tells the long story. Let us see what we can glean from it. Dec. 3. 1777. We see a stout lad of eighteen rid- ing leisurely over the hills of Windham County, on his way back to Danbury. Brothers John and Jesse enlisted into the regular State regiments and served their quota. Our Zeph, with a little more snap, or spring, or wilfulness, elects a different service. He has not very pronounced ideas about the true in- 170 HISTORIC GLEANINGS. wardness of the war that is in progress, but he Hkes to be about "bosses," and appreciates the fun of hunting Tories, and so he strayed down to Fairtield County and enHsted as a teamster. He has already spent six months guarding; and carting Government stores, and now returns to duty after a brief furlough. It takes four days to reach his destination. First night— "Put up at a very good tavern in Coventry." Slowly surmounting the Bolton Ridges he spends the second night at " old Captain Coles " in Farming- ton. On in the rain through Washington to one John Clemmons in Litchtield. " 6. Through New Milford and Newbury and got to Danbury about dusk." Work begins next day, care of oxen and horses, and foraging for supplies. Danbury was one of the most important store-houses maintained by the Con- tinental Army. The previous April through the great " Tryon raid " it had sustained a terrible loss, eight hundred barrels each of beef, pork, and flour. Seventeen hundred tents, all burned and wasted. Now they were struggling to replace these stores and our Zeph drives all over the country with cart and oxen — goes to Bethel, Stamford, Norwalk— " Stays at a bad place. The man was clever but had a devil for a wife." "Dec. 21. Went over a dreadful bad mount- ain into Duchess County to Col. Vandeboro's, and loaded seven barrels of flour : went for hay to Joseph A life's record. Ill Hauford's farm — a Toiy that lias gone to the Eegu- 1)) ars. It is all work and no play for our country lad. He complains of poor living- ; has no cook and no time to cook for himself ; no bed to sleep in, no letters from home. How little this poor little teamster realizes the sig-nificance of what he is doing"? How little he knows of what is passing-? There is Putnam and his Connecticut regiments right over against them in the Highlands ; Washington and his hungry soldiers at Valley Forge ; Congress vainly striving to meet the situation ; State Legislatures and Corre- sponding Committees at their wit's end for men and munitions, and our poor home-sick Zeph sees nothing but his small trials. Even Thanksgiving day " brings no rest." Jan. 1, 1788. Prospects brighter. We get a cook and fare better. " Pecks folks are diabolical Tories but Mother Peck baked rye and injuu bread for us Continentals and gave us a good New Years supper, rice pudding and baked beef — but the brandy is almost gone and what s/mll we do ?" Feb. 2. Saw two of his neighbors and heard from home ; first time since leaving it. A visit to Fairfield was another treat, for there he saw his brothers and " got a good dinner of scallops, pork-sides and bread." " Bought twelve sheets of paper and an almanac for a dollar : saw a lady with a roll upon her head seven inches 172 HISTORIC GLEANINGS. high. It looked big enough for a horse and had wool enough in it for a pair of stockings." At the close of the year, Zeph made over his oxen and rejoiced in freedom. "Nobody shall say when I shall drive team." He takes a job of flax-dressing upon shares ; had good cider and a bed to sleep on. Spring comes on early ; snipes whistle, frogs peep, but his year's pay is withheld, and then work fails him. He sells his horse for eight dollars, and that is soon eaten. Home-sickness sets in. He sees blue-birds, robins, black-birds, and tries " to fly home " after them like a foolish boy. Then he swallows his pride and goes back to teaming — "pities Continental oxen." A harder trial awaits him ; his trousers give out. He could get no cloth for new ones or for patching. "My breeches, O my breeches," he bewails, and flually is reduced " to put on a petticoat." Among all the privations endured by Revolutionary soldiers, this was the most humiliating. And just at this time Capt. Hoyt's house is burnt down, and Zeph's knap- sack is consumed with all his worldly goods, viz. — two canteens, one inkhorn and box of wafers, one gimlet, one pair shoes, one case bottle of "West India rum, forty-nine pounds flax, one frock. " April 22. Fast throughout Continental Army ; did no work & drew butter for the whole month, eat victuals now at the school house and lie at Major Gailors on a feather bed. Take care of sixteen horses. A life's record. 173 25. Boviglit cloth for breeches. Gay ! Straddled two horses at once and run them till I fell through and hurt myself. 29. O, I hant got no breeches yet but today boiled or washed cloth to make some " and next day the}' were made and donned. Various diversions were now practicable, such as raiding houses and mills for suspected Tories — and at the end of three months Zepli received wages and discharge, and gladly started homeward with a fellow freedman — "Through Woodbury and Water- bury, over the mountain through Southington to Farmington, Hartford, Bolton, Coventry, Ashford." Reached home at sun two hours high, a pleasant tramp in the freshness of youth and June. Four days at home, one spent in "training at the meeting-house," and our restless youth sets o^^t for Providence with his lu'others. There are younger boys to help the old folks carry on the Bleakridge farm, and the older ones must work their own way in the world. Zeph finds work at low wages till drafted for military service. For these are stirring times. With the French fleet outside the Bar, and La Fay- ette and Green in counsel with Sullivan, and all the regiments that can be mustered in, and companies of militia, hurrying to Rhode Island for a desperate effort to drive away the British, these stout young fellows must do their part. Zeph's hard experience has been already given. 174 HISTORIC GLEANINGS. A few days' rest at home followed the campaign, when he called upon " the girls " and once more " went to meeting in the meeting-house," and then Zeph resumed work in the vicinity of Providence, digging stones, laying wall, &c. Home at Thanks- giving time when a dance was on hand. He hears of the death of one of the expected company — " Benoni Smith — the ground caved in while he was digging out above, and next day the jury sat upon him and there was a dance that night and I went, which at the time I did not think it was a fit season ; funeral next day." Zeph did other things in those irrepressible days discreetly veiled from prying eyes in undecypherable hieroglyphics, for work was scarce and Satan pro- portionately active. Fiddling and flax-dressing were resources in the winter, when he and brother John tramped about Connecticut, and found a job far over in Cheshire — where they lived well and had plenty of cider and good company. On good days they could dress as high as fifty-two pounds — half of which was their own — and on bad days cut rails and make brooms with true Yankee faculty. Again in '79 they seek work and fortune in Smith- field. Times are hard and currency all " out of joint." Zeph gives fifty-five dollars for a ready-made linen shirt, and pays for other needfuls in proportion. The winter following Avas emphatically the Amrl one when A life's record. 175 sickness and suffering- prevailed alike at camp and at home. Walking- home in January, 1780, Zeph is caught in the great snow-storm, struggles through waist-deep to a farm-house, where he spends the night. Next day by carrying a bushel of corn two miles to mill on his shoulders, he purchases a pair " of wooden shoes or rackets," which did good service through the snowy winter. Towards spring, on snow- shoes, he again sought for flax-dressing, but luck and work now failed him. Resuming wall laying in Smithfield he records a strange phenomenon : "May 19, 1780. Now let not this day be forgot. In the morning it was cloudy and we laid a little wall, wind southwest. About ten o'clock it looked darker and I expected it would rain and it g-rew darker and darker. We worked at the wall till we could not see to range ten rods right. We went into the house and it was about twelve. The fire shined like night. They light a candle to eat dinner. The air or clouds look like brass, yellow, and things too I reckon. 20. Last night was as much darker than usual as the day but I saw it not : was asleep." Zeph's interest in meteorological observation was quite in advance of his generation. With keen eye he notes the changes of the weather, the direction of the wind, the coming and going of birds, the putting forth of buds. " Sept, 25, 1780. I see a star plain as 170 HISTORIC GLEANINGS. the sun right over head at mid-day." He sees it day- after day. " It rises some time before day very large aud bright." Star-gazing in those days alternates with sky -lark- ing. Zeph is in great demand for frolics and husk- ings, and handles the fiddle-bow as deftly as the erow-bar. Still the hieroglyphics continue and mul- tiply, hinting at some feminine complication. In frequent visits at Bleakridge they become more vo- ciferous. The course of true love is not running smoothly. Finally a crisis is reached and Zeph breaks out into open lamentations. He waits upon somebody to a ball but is almost crazy. He can't eat nor sleep and don't know what to do with himself. '■ Talks of loupiug o'er u lyuu." Other youth have survived similar mischances. Zeph raves and tears in prescribed fashion, and then takes himself back to work in Rhode Island ; has his *' hair braided the new braid" and starts anew. Business and public doings now receive more at- tention. Zeph and brother John hire a farm and carry it on together, with pretty sister Mary for housekeeper. Men go to Newport for a month, and Gen. Washington passes through Providence and we try hard to get a peep at him. Still the times are no better, hard work and poor pay is the cry. " I pay sixty dollars for an ink-horn, also buy a sailor jacket for self and a red broad-cloth cloak for sister A life's record. 177 Mary." lu spite of hard times the young- folks have a merry season. "Who can say that former days were better than the present ?" What a state of so- ciety is depicted in these yellow pag-es. What frol- icking-, and junketing, and promiscuous intercourse nmong these young people. How many children came into the world Avithout, or quickly following, marriage of parents. Statistical Zepli apparently chuckles over these unseemly entries. " A liab}' laid to such a fellow," is no rarity in these pages. After two years' hard work the farm is given up and wall-laying resumed, Avith intervals of haying and husking. Peace was proclaimed April, 1783, and we are hoping for better times — " When an honest man can live by the sweat of his broAv, Sir." Hieroglyphics appear again in which L. B. con- spicuously figures^" L. B. and I rode doAvn to Brown's farm and did eat and drink — watermelons plenty." And then comes the crowning entry. " Oct. 14, 1783. Finished Farnam's Avail ; had Jon- athan Angel's horse and rode home ; then took George Streeter's horse and L. B. and rode to Elder Mitchell's in the evening, and about 9 o'clock Ave M'ere married and so Ave rode back again, and two better beasts than Ave rode are seldom to be found, Sir, your most obedient. And Elder Mitchell Avas 85 years old. Oct. 15. Eode to Angels and Streeters and dug stone." Next month the young- couple get ITS HISTORIC GLEANINGS. thing's together for housekeeping, and ride to Con- necticut to keep Thanksgiving with old Father Jacob, and appear out at church in Priest Russell's meeting-house, and Zeph's fiddle is brought into exercise. And now, with wife and family to support, our Zeph is busier than ever. He tries various schemes, Yankee fashion ; sjieculates in poultry ; works " at slaughtering ; " runs a meat-cart ; sells liquor and cakes at North Providence ordination, and then falls back upon wall-laying. Husks and fiddles all night through the autumn. Hires "two rooms up stairs and one bed-room, half garret, needful cellar-room " for twelve silver dollars rentage. But times are hard and even this low rent is paid with difficulty. Chil- dren come on apace. A cradle is one of the first ar- ticles of furniture, and a "little lad" is soon trotting round and tumbling down stairs. Then comes an- other boy, and last " our daughter Dolly." And now come several hard years for our journal- ist. He finds that life is something more than a frolic. He works hard in various ways but can hardly make a living. There is the same cry all through the States, and men are flocking to the new countries. Twice our Zeph breaks away, axe in hand — the first time for Whitestown on the Mohawk, and is sent back by a rumor of small-pox. Again the next year, 1787, he trudges up to the Berkshire Hills ; visits old A life's record. 17U Uncle Gideon ; looks round ; but his heart fails him and he sneaks back home — "a long journey and no profit to anybody, but 'tis past and cannot be re- called." Dec. 27, pays his taxes ; owes fifteen shil- ling's and has nothing- in the world but his head and a cow. Gets very little work through the winter : neig-hbors sicken and die and there is " no one to assist in trouble." " A child found on Mowry's farm supposed to have been murdered." The fiddle is sold and frolicking comes to an end. But there are brighter days in store for the young Republic. Willing and skillful hands will not always labor for a mere pittance. Those straggling, strug- gling, debt-burdened infant States are to be bound together into a compact Nation with central govern- ment and financial basis. Little Rhody, with all her intense individualism and assertion of State rights, has to submit to manifest destiny and overwhelming public opinion. Zeph chronicles the rejoicings " on account of the new constitution being framed and sent out," and the barbecue July 4, 1788, when " they roast a whole ox," but his sympathies are with the " Governor and Gen. West who are anti-federalists " — and anti-federal ideas stick to him through life. With renewed hope he hires another farm this same spring, with two oxen, ten sheep, six cows ; but after two years has to borrow money to square up accounts with his landlord. Perhaps the good condition of ISO HISTORIC GLEANINGS. the family, as set clown by statistical Zepli, March, 1790, has something- to do with this failure. They must have consumed much store of Rhode Island pork and white corn meal. Zeph weighs two hundred pounds ; Mrs. Zeph, one hundred and ninety ; Pri- mus, seventy-nine ; Jack, seventy-three ; Dolly, sixty- seven. After many failures and vexations he hires a large farm at halves and pitches into work more vigorously than ever. He has sixteen cows, four oxen, and other stock in proportion ; hires two stout boys for six months for $38 each. Wife and children help in pick- ing up aijples and other fruit, with one hundred and twenty barrels of cider and forty-six barrels of beer as the result of their labor. There is no hint of church-going and Sabbath-keeping, but the children go to school and are supplied with the new spelling- book — "Webster make," and busy Zeph manages to get time " to hear the scholars say their pieces." Fourteen men help about the fall husking, and six hogs are dressed, weighing 1,787 pounds. Free- handed Zeph pays his help forty shillings more than the bargain in return " for eight months faithful ser- vice." " Rafting thatch " for some of his buildings, Zeph has a narrow escape : loses his footing, goes down under the water, and sticks fast in the mud. Two men, clutching him by the arm, are not able to stir him till others pried him out \\dth a haj^pole. " I A life's kecokd. 181 did breathe three times while under the water," but got home alive, " thanks be to Clod," and we rejoice in this ejaculation. " Work, work, work," goes on with unabated vigor. Another great crop of apples is transmuted into beer and cider ; and cheese, butter, and pork, turned out in heavy liulk. But with all this labor there is little real profit. The great fruit farm, so near to Provi- dence, draws a superabundance of company. Mar- ried sons and daughters of the owner flock thither in and out of season, and the house is filled with company and confusion. The children fall ill from lack of care and accommodations, and Zepli and his wife tire of their hard bargain. And now old Father Jacob comes to the rescue. Doubtless his faithfiil old heart had long yearned over his Rhode Island prodigal, and now he opens home and farm to him. The other children are out in the world, and a place is ready for him — " Come back to the good land of yellow corn and steady habits, come back to church -going and town-meet- ing, come back from Egypt to Canaan ! " and Zepli has sense enough to heed the call. " April 1, 1796. Sat up all night and wife too, to fix things to move." He went out alone with his fid- dle-boAv, and came liack with a goodly caravan — wife, three children, household goods, and a small herd of cattle. Yet after years of hard toil he left debts be- 182 HISTORIC GLEANINGS. hind him, and confides to his journal that he owned nothing- but a small stock of furniture. With old-time versatility Zeph adapts himself to the situation, attends town-meetings, school-meet- ings, trainings, ordinations, and funerals. For meet- ing-going he has lost his relish, and the Rhode Is- land wife " cares for none of these things." His energy finds outlet beyond the narrow farm routine ; he picks up ashes and experiments in potash-making, hires a saw-mill and gets out boards. With hard work he achieves 844 pounds of potash, which he carts to Providence and ships to New York, receiv- ing ninety dollars cash in return. Another venture brought him an hundred dollars. Yes, our Zeph is getting on at last and settling down into an order- loving, Connecticut citizen, with a little more snap to him than common. Soon he is made " school committee-man " for his district, and " went to Taun- ton and hired a schoolmaster for four months for forty-one dollars." Then, too, his politics are in his favor. These Bleakridge farmers sniff at the stiff- necked orthodoxy of the old Federal leaders, and welcome the new Jeffersonian doctrines as expounded by our breezy Zeph, and he leads the small minority that cast their votes for Thomas Jefferson. He goes to Oxford to attend " the Artifillians Fu- neral," observed in honor of Gen. Washington, " that worthy general, who died December 14, 1799." Again A life's record. 18:3 au(l again lie rides to Oxford to hear the noted Uni- versalist, Hosea Ballon, whose preaching- suits him better than that of the plain-speaking Baptists and Methodists who are active in his neighborhood. More deaths than births are now recorded ; more funerals than weddings. Those old Bleakridge settlers are dropping oif. Uncle Bijali " fell into the fire and died when there was no one in the room." Ten years later his aged widow found dead on the ground two rods from the house — all right the night pre- vious ; " got up and dressed and took her pail and staff and went out to the well ; slipt down, no one hearing her, and she perished in the cold snow and rain." In spite of these inevitable shadows it is a happy- time at the Breakridge farm. The old people are easy-going and cheerful, and the young folks merry and thriving. They go to school and church and singing-school, and have young company. The boys are getting helpful at farm-work. Dolly has grown up tall and comely — " A right smart girl," the neigh- bors say, "her father over again." "May 11, 1801. Dolly ketcht cold by wading in the river ; has pain in her side," and herb-drink does not seem to help her. Spring work is driving, but this illness is more than all. Early in June she is attacked with violent pain in her head — is light-headed and full of jiain. Doctors are called from far and near. Wise old Dr. Eaton from Dudley ; famous Dr. Hubbard from Pomfret 184 HISTORIC GLEANINGS. eacli with bis saddle-bags and train of " apprentices." Dr. Hubbard stays six hours with her but there is no relief. It is the height of the busy season ; haying is coming on ; the potash kettle breaks in the melt- ing ; hail-stones fall as large as an ounce ball ; l)ut what are these things compared with Dolly's sick- ness ? "I stay in the house all day and only turn some hay : wife and I sit up all night. Dolly grows weaker and has no sense at all — a sorrowful spectacle to behold." "Julyl. Very hot. Dolly grew weaker every hour. I was up twice before 3 o'clock and then O lamentable, at half past four July 2, the breath left the body of our daughter Dolly. This morn makes twenty-one days and nights that this poor girl has had such an extreme pain in her head and a fever almost burnt up. The Doctor calls it the Phrenitus and then the Pubmatick fever. 3. Elder C. did preach and the funeral attended this afternoon." Work is resumed next day, hoeing and mowing. Poor Zeph sees Dolly in his dreams ; holds her in his arms, "looking just as she did when a baby," and then the name drops out from daily record. Primus goes to high school in Dudley for a term and then keeps school himself. Jack, our youngest boy, starts out in the world to work on the Boston turnpike. " May 8, 1802. Snowed all the afternoon. 9. Froze hard enough to bear a horse ; cold and dry ; no grass." Zeph and his wife drive on with work all A life's record. 185 the same, and watch with their sick neighbors, for it is a sickly season, dysentery prevailing", and many die. Jack comes home from his summer's work hearty and rugged, with a hundred dollars for his father, besides what he keeps for himself. Zeph sets out apple trees, improves his farm and helps on pub- lic occasions ; takes both his boys to help raise a frame for the new Baptist meeting-house, where a hundred men gather, and they have dinner, supper, and liquor enough for all. Trainings are com- mon, too, where liquor flows in abundance. There is a " General Training" at Woodstock — a great pa- rade, ending in much confusion. The day being hot " many did near faint. Very dark night, with thun- der and lightning ; many rode off the road ; fell off and got hurt ; horses could not see." Fortunately for Zeph " rum was most poisinous to him for some years," and he quit drinking. Politics are very lively at the time of Jefferson's re-election, and Zeph proudly reports " sixteen Re- publican votes," with larger gains in prospect. Bap- tists and Methodists are coming out against the old Federalists and Standing Order. In 1806 Zeph is very active in carrying through a great Republican Fourth of July celebration at the Centre. He helps build a bower, arranges toasts, provides musicians. A flaming Methodist leads in prayer, and a fervent Baptist elder delivers the oration. Federals and 186 HISTORIC GLEANINGS. orthodox look gkim enoug-li at the parade, while Zeph goes home in triumph and reports ninety-six Republican votes at the next election. Other public matters claim attention — " a new road to be laid over Bleakridge ; schools to be looked after." Zeph hires a school-ma'am to keep school three months for five shillings a week, while Primus gets twelve dollars a month for his services. Here are some medical prescriptions for colds and swollen face — " a sirup of dogwood, marshmallow, barberry, tansy and wormwood boiled ^\ith rum and molasses — Substitute red-briar for dogwood and barberry and boil in spring water that runs to the north." Some- time during these years Primus marries, somewhat against the approval of the parents, and " has a daughter without much clatter," and Jack slips off to live with his Uncle Abel. As the family lessens, work and business increase. There is progress in the air. The life and stir of the new century and repiiblic are reaching this remote corner. The " factory " has come to stay. Great mills for working up cotton are going up within a few miles. Zeph hires a saw-mill to get out boards for the buildings. Scarcely has he begun work when he is caught in a freshet. "June 14, 1807, Rains all day. 15. A very great flood indeed ; so high was never seen before by more than one foot ; new bridge carried away " — but by working and watching day A life's record. 187 and night Zepli manages to save his mill. The next year the road-making* is resumed. Over seventy men at work, Avith many oxen, plows, and carts, Zeph leads with six men and four oxen, and furnishes cider by the barrel, but again " contradiction and dispute " lilock the wheels of progress, and the needed road is left unfinished. With all his digging and driving he is ready to help in sickness ; attends the funeral of a neighbor's wife, and " the most peo- ple present I ever saw at a funeral." A little girl neighbor, four or five years old, " got up in a cart and jumped about, and fell over the foot-board, and cries, ' I have killed myself,' and died in half an hour." Zeph carries six to the grave in his big wagon. " Sept. 15, 1808. Drove a wagon to Pomfret to Kegimental training, and carried four men for three- and-sixpence each." Three days later and the big wagon takes a load of eight " to hear the Methodists at their first camp-meeting. They keep it five days and nights. Oct. 14. Carry wool to be carded at the Factory — Cut sausage meat and filled the skins with a tin on jDurpose — a great improvement upon stuffing it in by fingers." " 1809, March 4. James Madison takes his seat as president. Sept. 4. Raise in all a hundred and fifty bushels of potatoes. Nov. 8. Father rather poorly. 12. Had a bad night, sat up in chair. 25. Father ■worse, rather more weak and faint ; sleeps most of 188 HISTORIC GLEANINGS. the day ; fails fast. 26. Some above 8 o'clock my fatlier left this earthly tabei'Dacle. 15. Rain ; Elder C. preaches ; funeral set at 11, went to the grave at 3 P. M." The aged mother soon follows — "May 11, 1810. Mother very poorly. 22. Mother seemed in m ore extremity, and left breathing a little after three. Four of her nine children attend the funeral, where Elder C. officiates as previously for Dolly and father." And now Zeph is left with wife, work, and weather observations. "1810, Jan. 14. The coldest day that m ost ever was known," the " cold Friday " of mete- orologic fame. " March 12. A great snow fifteen inches deep." A school quarrel demands heroic treatment. Zeph is one of three men chosen by the district "to see what was to be done," and he "went to the school inspectors and brought eight of them down to the school house, where they heard all sides and corrected both parties." A new era opens this autumn of 1810. "I take yarn from Pomfret Factory to weave." A great opportunity has come to these suppressed New England women. Weaving this smoothly-spun yarn into cloth they receive good pay in any kind of goods they fancy. How the tongues and shuttles rattle in many a farm-house. Our friend, Mrs. Zeph, is one of the first to improve the privilege. Everything else gives place to the cloth weaving ; even neighborly calls and afternoon going-out-to-tea are suspended. A. life's record. 189 *" I hope you read your Bible," hints Elder C. in one of his pastoral visitations. " Gracious," Avas the quick reply, " I don't git time to look in the alma- nik." Four pieces of heavy bed-tick are carried back to the Factory in December and broad-cloth taken in exchange. Then two tailoresses appear and exhibit for their week's work great coats for Mrs. Zeph and Jack, straight-lwdy coats for Zeph and Jack, and two waistcoats, for which work each re- ceives one dollar and twenty-five cents. Yarn for seven hundred and fift\' yards of bed-ticking is brought home for spring work, and while the " good wife plies the shuttle," her good man hires a grist mill for the season, and by help of fourteen oxen and as many men, set a new millstone. Another rebellion in the school-house is settled without outside inter- vention. " They could not turn out the master." September, 1812. Zeph takes seven passengers for a dollar each to witness the brigade training at Brooklyn. He reports, " five regiments on parade, one of horse, twenty-five hundred troops, and four times as many spectators, something of a war-like appearance " — an exhibition calculated to rouse more interest in the war then in progress. 1813, June 21. Jack, now at home for the summer, is warned " to l)e at the Centre tavern complete in armor by twelve to go to New London as there were British there." Four neighbors' boys obeyed the same 190 HISTORIC GLEANINGS. summons, " most of the iDfantry and all the militia that did not abscond," for this war is unpopular in New Eng-land, and even Administration men like Zeph and his neighbors have little enthusiasm. Those that stood fire were marched into the meeting--house, and treated to a spirited address from the minister before starting- on their march. Communications with the outside world are still infrequent, and little was heard from the absentees during their three weeks service. The invasion was not accomplished, and the boys had a good time and brought back, instead of laurels, a list of false alarms, fizzles, and ridiculous sayings and doings that made sport for a life-time. Reports of naval victories enkindled war-like sympa- thies. " October 3. Hear that Commodore Perry hath taken six British vessels on Lake Erie." Elemental disturbances receive more specific record. " February 10, 1814. Rains hard and froze on trees ; fore twelve at night trees began to break and split, and the dreadfullest cracking that ever I heard. They say it was like the report of heavy artillery. 11. The trees bowed their heads like weeping willows, a melancholy sight, and the fruit trees are broken as the oldest man never saw before." " 1815, Jan. 31. Exceeding cold, coldest morning for many years by the thermometer." The historic September gale came the same year. " Rained very fast ; hard wind ; between 9 and 10 A. M. began a A LIFE S RECORD. ' TJl tornado ; southeast wind blew very hard indeed ; hath torn down thirty-seven large apple-trees, and upset many smaller ones ; near all our fence torn down and timber lands most dreadfully turned up by the roots." The cold summer of 1816, handed down by tradi- tion as the " starved -to-death " summer — is duly and daily noted. " May 7. Windy and very cold. 17. Very cold. 29, 30. Very cold and dry with frost. June i. Frost, fi. Very cold night, ice froze as hard as window glass ; put up sheared sheep. 7. Very exceeding cold ; wore coat, jacket, surtout, and wig, and none too hot. 10. A very hard frost, ice as thick as half a window glass ; corn cut close to the ground." This condition prevailed through the entire season — cold and dry "vvdtli a few warm days. Very cold spells in July, August, and September. Zepli harvests live loads of corn, " two good-for- nothing but fodder, only two bushels fully ripe." " 1817, Feb. 14. Caught in Providence by a cold snap exceeding anything that hath been in fifty years by the thermometer — warmed four times coming- home ; many froze some but I did not, coldest night most ever I see." Another cold spell came in May. " 12. Cold night, ice on grass. 16. A very large black frost, exceeding cold. 20. Ice on grass-top like shot. 21, 22. Hard frosts." These frost-bitten crojjs and war prices make hard 192 HISTORIC GLEANINGS. times for the poor, but Zepli is fore-handed now and able to reheve needy neighbors, lending- them money and helping in many ways. Meanwhile the loom is busy as ever, turning off great pieces of bed-tick, gingham, and " dimino." " War's alarms " do not disturb the peace of the old farm-house. Jack is living at home now with a brisk, young wife — a neighbor's daughter, very acceptable to the old folks,, and grandchildren are making the house merry. Primus is plodding along steadily and has a houseful of stout boys and girls, some of them always stop- ping at " Grandpa's." And there are hired men at work on mill and farm, travelers stopping to chat, townsmen discussing war and politics — a busy, cheer- ful, prosperous household, with Zepli for head and centre. " Feb. 14, 1815. Hear news of peace. Peace! 28. Federalists celebrate P. E. A. C. E. between America and England at the Centre, and there is a great ball in the evening. March 4, 1817. James Monroe takes the chair as president and David D. Tompkins as vice-president." The war is over now, but there is a battle going on in Connecticut ; a fierce fight for a new State constitution, and our Zeph is one of the foremost fighters. They say he is captain there at Bleakridge, and brings down loads of men in his big wagon to town meeting. " Sept. 4. Went to Free- man's meeting and the Republicans chose two Rep- resentatives to our liking ; farmers ; a good day." A life's record. 193 " July 4, 1818. "VVeiit to town meeting to choose delegates to send to Hartford to frame a constitution for the State of Connecticut. Federalists had two votes most. Sept. 29. Heard Constitution read." A week later town accepted constitution by a vote of 174 versus 95, and Zeph is " well pleased." And now the Republicans have control in the old Federal town, and Zeph is selectman. His energy and ver- satility tind ample scope in his new office. Now he is letting out the poor to be boarded for a dollar or seventy-hve cents a week ; or l)uying a new town hearse ; or laying out roads ; or deliberating with officers from other towns where to set the new court- house. A special service is performed in perambu- lating the boundary line between Massachusetts and Connecticut, involving ten days labor. " July 5, 1819. See the blazing star." With increasing years and honors, Zeph manifests greater zeal for public worship ; owns two pews in the Baptist meeting-house, and helps on repairs for the same, and buying a farm for the minister. Ordi- nations, association meetings, baptisms, funerals, are duly chronicled. A great " revival season " excites much interest. Sees " Elder C. baptize seven of them young girls, and hears two more tell the travail of their minds ; staid to see them take sacrament, home at sundown." " April 5, 1820. See three dipt at Bap- tist meeting-house. June 14. Went to Baptist meet- 194 HISTORIC GLEANINGS. ing'-house and heard a woman preach from Vermont a,nd she preached well, I thought too. 18. Went to meeting- and Elder C. he whipt us smart for hearing a woman preach and I wish he had heard her him- self." I It is said that Elder C. referred to this woman preacher who had been allowed to occupy the pulpit in his absence " as a grievous wolf who had entered the fold."] Common and uncommon casualties find place in the record. A small fire starting by the roadside " went up the hill as fast as a man could walk ; fought fire as long as we could see ; next morn, rallied early and fit fire to Alump Pond — thirty -four men. It ran north a vast ways, cutting all before it." "April, 1821. Neighbor M.'s died this day about mid-day, sudden ; fell over backwards in her chair ; taken up and said she was dying and it was so. June 20. Hard thunder shower, lightning struck powder house. This clap struck down H. C, flung him down lifeless, but he came to, was blue but full of pain. Sept. 1. As hard a shower as ever I knew, filled up streams like a freshet. 3. Strong S. E. wind and rain, many trees blown down, fences and most of our apples. 15. Down by the pond trod on a water- snake, and it bit my leg, and it swelled and was sore. Kept on working. 24. Leg no better, swollen more, pain some. 25. Had a hen split open and put on my leg three or four hours, then burdock leaves. 26. A life's record. 195 Put on more leaves and went to see the regiment per- form at the Centre. 28. Put meadow moss on leg and it looks more purple. 29. Set out for Franklin to see Dr. M. and he said he could cure the bite of a snake, had poultice. 30. Another poultice and physic, pills at night. Oct. 1. A wash and two pills. 2. Physic and water gruel. 3. Leg looks better. 5. Had bandage made and Dr. M. put it on. Paid Dr. M. ten dollars for attendance and nearly five dollars for board." At home he resumes work, taking Dr. M.'s powders, but the leg does not heal. All winter he is doctor- ing and poulticing, and goes to see a man who had been similarly afflicted by the sting of a wasp, but gets no benefit. Finally he puts his case into the hands of a " woman quack doctor," who, by vari- ous washes and treatments, succeeds in reducing the inflammation, but he never regained his former strength. That he should have survived the poison and treatment shows great vitality. A neighbor, who while cutting wood was called to go down into his well for a bucket, was taken with great pain, shivery, cold sweat, and died in twenty minutes. March, 1826. Work is laid aside, and Zeph is driving round buying store-cloth, a new hat and pair of boots, and finally a trunl'. What does this mean ? We look back along the crumpled page, and there, half concealed by old-time hieroglyphics, we find the 196 HISTORIC GLEANINGS. key to the situation. The crowning- honor of his Hfe has come — Zeph has been chosen town representa- tive and is going- to the leg-ishiture ! Little did he think when he tramped through the State fifty years before, driving team and swinghng flax, that he should revisit those scenes in such honored guise and company, driving in coach and four with fellow legis- lators. But these fifty years of life and work have taken the spring and nonsense out of him, and it is a somewhat sober old fellow that now drives over the hills. " I feel neither smart nor courageous," is his meek admission ; in fact he is homesick and out of his element. He boards at " Widow Bishop's," and sees a steamboat and other new things, and we may be sure he never missed a roll-call, and voted the straight party ticket. But one permanent effect came from this New Haven sojourn. Among his fellow boarders there was a glib Methodist minister who walked and talked with our homesick legislator, and somehow made clear to him some things that had before puzzled him, perhaps those Calvinistic points that have bothered wiser heads than his. However that may be, Zeph joins a Methodist class after his return, and slipping down to the river is quietly bap- tized one Sabbath summer evening. The shadows lengthen. Zeph seems an older man after his return from New Haven. The year of 1828 was especially calamitous. " A cow breaks her leg A life's record. 107 and has to be killed ; sad for tlie poor cow ; " an ox sickens and dies ; the colt dies ; it is a bad season for lambs and sheep, and even the geese refuse to hatch properly. Cut-Avorms appear in g-reat force and cut off the young- blades of corn. June 30, a hard thunder shower. Nathan's new house Avas struck ; the clock was torn to pieces, and a dog un- der the table killed ; but a " deaf boy heard better after the shock." And it is what old people call " a very dying time, indeed." Neighbors and kindred drop off like autumn leaves. One brother dies after long illness ; one is found dead on the road, supposed to have fallen off his cart when asleep. Pretty sister Mary, who kept house for us long ago in Khode Is- land, comes from the West to visit her old home and dies soon after her return. Sister Hannah, living near by, soon follows. This neighbor wastes away in long disease, Zeph and his wife watching with him night after night, after their old, helpful fashion. That one, going cross-lots through a wet place stum- bled " and fell forward with his forehead against a stone and his face in the water and died surpris- ing." Another is drowned in his saw-mill flume. Saddest of all was that of the lone, lorn woman found dead in the swamj). It is supposed " she got up in the night in a fright l)y the Avind bloAviug very hard and started for a neighbors but got out of her way into the SAvamp where she fell. She left her shoes 198 HISTORIC GLEANINGS. and stockings in the house." Poor lone creature, flying- barefoot and panic struck to meet her death in the dank swamp — does fiction parallel these trage- dies of real life ? But a new source of comfort has come to our old journalist. Politics have lost much of their interest with change of party names and measures. We are Democrats now fighting Whigs, Banks, and Anti- Masons, but not with the old fervor. There are things of more vital interest upon the stage. These are the days of " the great revivals of 1830-33," and Zeph's whole heart is in the joyful work. Meetings are held everywhere, at private houses and meeting- houses ; " pike-gate and grove." " See Elder T. bap- tize old Miss W. and many people." " Benjamin A's son speaks like preaching, many more talk ; a very good meeting." "Elder Lovejoy is here, (a noted name and preacher.) Two were plunged and two more had water poured on their heads." "Aug., 1830, went to meeting in a tent, 36 x 20 — some speak- ing, no preaching ; tent full and many more outside." Camp meetings and " protracted meetings " are kept up the following year, and Zeph reads his Bible through by course in the interim, beginning January 1 and finishing March 31. The clouds darken. The mother of the household, the strong, bustling, hard-working wife and mother is failing in strength, but the work goes on as usual A life's record. 199 and the loom is seldom idle. Zepli, whose turn for rhyming gains upon him, sends this humorous missive to a neighbor : " My old dame is sick and poorly, And now tliere is more yarn yet lacking. She thought she'd state the matter fairly And have you bring the filling airly, And if you don't bring more blue than red You had better put yourself to bed, She hath been sick and kept a-drilling. And now hath stopped for want of tilling." But the trouble increases and becomes more mani- fest. Work can no longer stifle the growing anguish. Neighbors flock in apace ; sometimes '• six women at once." Poultices of every conceivable material, hot and cold, dry and liquid, are vainly applied. " Very full of pain," " wastes fast," are the discouraging en- tries. These are " solemn times " for our light-hearted Zeph. Three funerals re]iorted in one day and things grooving worse at home. " Sad, sad, sad." " Bad, bad, bad. A very bad day with some and I am sorrowful." But the illness was short. Worn with hard work and life's Ijurdens the strong frame soon succumbs. " She fell a-bleeding, grew dark to her, faint, and she died just before twelve, Sept. 14, 1831, aged 73." And now Zeph is left in the old home with Jack and his wife at the head of aftairs. But he is still too 200 HISTORIC GLEANINGS. vigorous in mind and body to settle down into a subordinate position, and public affairs claim atten- tion. He superintends the work on the new school house in o^tr district, selects brick of the best mate- rial, and does the work so thoroughly that it still bears witness to his fidelity. Then he builds a good stone wall for our burying-ground, and pays his heavy taxes for all these improvements without grumbling. " A])ril 9, 1833. 'Tis said that I am seventy-four years old this day, P. M. Thanks be to God that he hath spared me so long." He has more time now to note the weather and its changes. " We had an early spring, robins, blue-birds and red-winged blackbirds early in March. A hard frost in June killed most of our corn to the ground ; beans also ; " enjoys in No- vember the wonderful spectacle of " many shooting stars." Meetings engross much time and interest. Now some famous Methodist or Baptist elder gives a rousing sermon ; then they meet in some private dwelling — "a glorious meeting without preaching, many brethren speak and all to the Bible truth." He is in great demand for funeral occasions as bearer or manager this same Zeph who once danced all night when a mate lay dead in his coffin. But he is still Zeph, now " Old Zeph." No one would think of calling him anything else, or know him by his family name alone. He is a noted " character " now at town A life's record. 20 1 meeting's and all inil)lic doing's, with his quaint old wig and many-caped cloak, his reminiscences and w^eather-saws, and his knack at rhyming. Asked to make a rhyme upon an easy-going neighbor, more fond of prayer meetings than work, he instantly re- sponds : " There's Uncle Ase, so full of grace Sometimes bis cup runs over ; He'll lay and sleep and let liis sheep Eat up his neighbor's clover." Or he pictures " a hired man " with one snap-shot : " Here's Joseph Pace with his long face And not so very fat : He's poor to hoe and worse to mow, And what do you think of that ?" He has his old mare killed and l)uried decently, which was twenty-seven years old : " She could not live on hay And I would not put her away." " March 4, 1837. Martin Van Buren came in presi- dent. 5th. Sixty years past this day I went for two months to drive a team for the Continentals, to carry provision to the army at Peepskill ; staid fifteen months ; took team at Colchester. April 1. Town meeting, chose George Nichols and Vernon Stiles representatives. Republicans of the old stamp ; four 202 HISTORIC GLEANINGS. hundred voters in town. Some went not from this hill but enough without them." Trainings have lost attraction to him, perhaps because the trainings themselves are not what they used to be, but he takes little Nap to the Centre to see a caravan with two lions and ninety -five horses. Zeph works hard as ever, but there is a screw loose somewhere, and the farm yields less profit. No more carting surplus produce to market. No potash making and mill-working, and factory-cloth weaving under present administration. All the crops are lighter, and there is hardly hay enough for the cattle. The old man groans over this thriftlessness and " a prevailing evil" at the root. " April 9, 1839. Eighty years old this day & I am poorly. A failing year in health and results of labor. A severe winter, cold and stormy, no church going, look after pigs and chickens and read good books. Great excitement in town this spring of 1840. Fifty new voters made " — 737 votes cast. They say old Democrats are ahead ; but they cannot check the Tippecanoe craze and Harrison's election. Another losing season is reported — " short in corn, rye, hay,, and so it goes." Another cold winter keeps our friend at home, sink- ing more and more into the ordinary status of the superannuated, and too often supernumerary, grand- father. The gay young fellow whistling over the A life's record. 203 hills ; the busy man of afiairs driving- about town is gone, and we see a shriveled old man crawling" about the premises to feed the chickens, and poring over Baxter's Saints' Rest and his Bible by the fire- side. Friends of his youth, and companions of his life have vanished. Public and even church affairs no longer claim his attention. The great political overthrow, the opening railroad, excite but a lan- guid interest; but the journal begun in his youth, the daily chronicle of life and weather, still remains to him. Each morning, foul or fair, he hurries out to breathe the pure air of Heaven, survey the sky, note the direction of the wind. His dulled ear catches the first song of the spring birds ; his dimmed eyes mark the springing grass, the swelling buds. Two books are open to his fading vision — eternal works and words, to which some mortal eyes are ever closed. The great comet of 1843, stretching half way across the visible heavens, thrills his old heart — " but I go not to town meeting, nor to other meet- ings ; have not strength for it." The journal is getting mixed. The dates are jum- bled up ; we have turned the last leaf. " June 20, 1843. I find that I am failing ; feel very slim." Still the entries are kept up, but the lines run together. The summer sun is shining in full strength ; the corn is hoed and the grass is ready for mowing, fully ripe. The boys carry on the work — but old Zeph is " sa 204 HISTORIC GLEANINGS. tired." July 26, lie makes the last entry. A few more clays and nig-lits of weariness and watching- and eternal rest is his. Good-bye, old Zeph. For more than three-score years we have traveled with you on your pilg-rimag-e. Truly in thy case, " the end was better than the beginning-." "Average Connecticut citizen " did we say '? Faithful old soul ; true to yourself, your country, and your God, well will it be with each if our record marks as high a figure. VII. DODGE, THE BABBLER. In the closing" years of the hist century Pomfret hehl a hig-h place among Windham County towns. Less in extent and population than most of its towns it exceeded them in proportionate wealth and influ- ence. It held the Probate office for the north part of the county. Its post-office, administered by Judge Lemuel Grosvenor, accommodated all the neighbor- ing- towns. Its leading" citizens were remarkable for sound judgment and intellig"ence. Perhaps that United English Library, established as far back as 1739, had something to do with forming- the character of these men, and inciting young" men to obtain the privilege of college education. The town had also been favored with a succession of distinguished physicians. Doctors Lord and Warner, of Abing"ton, Dr. Waldo, of the Street, were noted in their pro- fession, and Doctors Hall and Hul)bard quite equalled them in reputation and extended practice. But perhaps there w^as nothing in which Pomfret took greater pride than in her meeting-house and ministers. This house of worship was the largest and most pretentious in Windham County, and ex- 206 HISTORIC GLEANINGS. cited the envious admiration of other towns. Her first minister, Kev. Ebenezer Williams, was considered one of the leading- ministers of his day, receiving- by bequest of Gov. Dudley, of Massachusetts, a me- morial ring in token of esteem and favor. An incip- ient wrang-le at the time of building- the great meet- ing-house was promptly healed by the sugg-estion that lack of harmony might hinder them in settliDg a minister, so that instead of having as they had done the best of orthodox preaching, they might be com- pelled to take up with " New Light stuff," or some inferior article. As successor of Mr. Williams they agreed upon Aaron Putnam, a young graduate of Harvard, who filled the place for many years to public acceptance, a man of learning and piety ; a sound if not eloquent preacher. Mr. Putnam's unhappy failure of voice in the latter part of his ministry brought in a new element. A col- league pastor was found needful, and again Harvard furnished the candidate — Mr. Oliver Dodge. The lively and agreeable manners of this young gentle- man, and the freshness and animation of his dis- courses, won universal favor, and he soon received a unanimous call to the colleague pastorate, one person only advising delay. But before the time fixed for ordination, uneasiness had arisen. The spirits of the young minister carried him beyond the ordinary bounds of ministerial propriety, and unfavorable re- DODGE, THE BABBLER. 207 ports came from abroad, so tliat the ordaining" council was confronted by a small number of " aggrieved brethren," objecting- to the ordination of- the candi- date on charges of " disregard of truth, neglect of duty, irreverent application of Scripture and un- becoming levity." Decision was referred to a special council of ministers and delegates — nine to be chosen by friends of Mr. Dodge, four by the opposition — which met in Pomfret, September 4, 1792. Four days were spent in considering the situation. The engaging manners of Mr. Dodge, and the large ma- jority in his favor, pleaded strongly in his behalf ; yet, as the good repute of a minister was a matter of such supreme importance, the council unanimously decided not to proceed to ordination. With paternal kind- ness they besought the young minister to accept this result in its true tenor, and endeavor in future to maintain that Christian spirit and live that exemplary life " that all the excellent and amiable talents and accomplishments with which God had been pleased to favor him, might be improved for eminent and most important purposes." Mr. Dodge demeaned himself through these trials with the utmost pro- priety, accepted the reproofs with due meekness, re- flecting upon himself in several alleged instances except that of falsehood of which he had never been •consciously guilty. Uninfluenced by this decision, the friends of Mr. 208 HISTORIC GLEANINGS. Dodge proceeded to renew their call in a regular society meeting", and requested the church to concur in this invitation. Very great interest had now been aroused, and it was evident that a large majority of the church would vote in favor of settling Mr. Dodge. To Mr. Putnam and the aggrieved brethren this seemed a very injudicious and hazardous experiment. There was one way by which this evil could be averted — the power allowed to ministers in Saybrook Plat- form, by which their single vote nullified the unani- mous vote of the church over which they were set- tled. Believing that Mr. Dodge was unfit for the ministerial ofiice, with a deep sense of his personal and ofiicial responsibility in the matter, Mr. Putnam now exercised this supreme power and dissolved the meeting without permitting a vote upon the question. So completely had a centiiry of Saybrook Platform administration eliminated from its adherents the spirit of original Congregationalism and recognition of the rights of individual church members, that this act of Mr. Putnam's was fully sustained by brother ministers. According to Windham County Associa- tion, the result would have been the same " had he allowed the church to vote, as he would then have left the meeting and rendered them incapable of further action." That a large majority of the church had any rights in the matter never seemed to occur to them. "A few more than half makes no difi'er- DODGE, THE BABBLER. 209 ence," said President Clap, of Yale. The rights of majorities had not then been admitted. But there was another side to the question. Op- position to the Say brook Platform, initiated by the unfortunate Separates half a century before, had now been streng'thened by more orderly bodies of Christians. Baptists, Episcopalians, the newly-ar- rived Methodists, were equally averse to accepting- one religious denomination as the established church, the " Standing Order " of Connecticut. Free-think- ers of every shade were bitter against it. The spirit of free inquiry was in the air. Public men who had been active in the attainment of civil liberty were realizing that religious restrictions were inconsistent with a Republican form of Government. Foremost among the opposers of the ecclesiastic establishment of Connecticut was Zephaniah Swift, of Windham, the able lawyer and jurist. His attitude on this point had given great offence to the ministers of the county who had upon this ground, opposed his elec- tion to Congress. Some of these ministers had as- sisted in the rejection of Mr. Dodge, and thus afforded Judge Swift ample ground of retaliation. As soon as the result of the Pomfret council was given to the public. Judge Swift took the field as champion of Mr. Dodge, The whole affair was " an open attack upon religious liberty and the rights of conscience." The power arrogated by the council was IS 210 HISTORIC GLEANINGS. " more unwarrantable and dangerous than that exer- cised by the pretended successors of St. Peter." The act of Mr. Putnam " in nullifying- the voice of the church by his single voice, his sovereign negative, was a most conspicuous instance of the arbitrary power vested in ministers by that celebrated code of eccle- siastic jurisprudence, known by the singular appella- tion of SaybrgokPlatfokm." " Is the exercise of such a power compatible with the equal rights, the unalien- able birthright of man ? Reason, common sense and the Bible with united voice proclaim .... that the Constitution which delegates to one the power to negative the vote of all the rest, is subver- sive OF THE NATURAL RIGHTS GF MANKIND, AND REPUG- NANT TO THE WORD OF GoD." Dodge liimself was the innocent victim of clerical revenge and malice; a young man of superior genius and merit ; a second Luther, battling against ecclesiastic despotism." Pomfret scarcely needed this outside stimulus to self-assertion. Her sympathy, pride, and will were all enlisted in behalf of the young minister. The result led to immediate and great departure. A large majority of members of the church withdrew from connection, and proceeded to organize as " The Reformed Christian Church and Congregation of Pomfret." A satisfactory covenant was drawn up and adopted, and public worship instituted in pri- vate mansions. Mr. Dodge, stimulated by contro- DODGE, THE BABBLER. 211 yersy and popular favor, was more eloquent and fas- cinating- than ever. Crowds flocked to the new place of worship, while the great meeting-house was al- most deserted. Eleven male members, with their families and minister, was all that was left of the large church membership. The County Consocia- tion, called to consider and advise, could do nothing. The church had taken itself out of their jurisdiction and Mr. Dodge scouted its summons to appear, and declared himself " no more amenable to their con- trol and jurisdiction than he was to the Bishop of London." Eemoved from all restriction, Mr. Dodge now came out more o^^enly as the apostle of a new dispensa- tion. It was a time of g'reat upheaval and discus- sion. Kevolutions in Government and thought were in progress. " The reign of long faces had passed ; ministers were now to act and talk like other men, and unite with them in mirth, festivit}'^, and amuse- ment. Puritan blueness and austerity were to give place to good fellowship and universal jollity. God was best served by merry hearts and cheerful voices." All knotty ]:)oints of doctrine were to be ignored ; the Scriptures a sufficient rule of faith and practice ac- cording to each man's personal interpretation. In the revolt from stiffened orthodoxy, these views and practices as set forth by an engaging and ehxpient speaker were most attractive. Dodge was the hero 212 HISTORIC GLEANINGS. of the day ; the popular minister. Numbers united with his church ; people from all the surrounding towns flocked to hear him. The friends of free re- ligion could not have selected a more eligible leader than this clever and accomplished young man, who could charm all hearts with religious rhapsodies, and dance, drink, and joke with equal acceptance. That it was difficult to find ministers of any standing to assist in his ordination added zest to the situation, as did the wordy battle in the columns of " The Wind- ham Herald " between Judge Swift and sundry min- isters who rushed to the defence of Mr. Putnam and the council. Nothing in modern times equals the bitterness of this newspaper controversy, and the vituperations exchanged between the combatants. All the sayings and doings of Mr. Dodge and his op- ponents were paraded before the public, and peaceful, dignified Pomfret figured as the scene of this scandal and division. Neighboring towns were drawn into the strife. Mr. Dodge, by invitation of one of the society committee, preached an afternoon lecture in Woodstock meeting-house. The minister. Rev. Mr. Lyman, having previously manifested his disapproval went into the house during service and read a public remonstrance. W^hereupon the friends of Mr. Dodge served a warrant upon Mr. Lyman for disturbing a religious assembly, and compelled him to pay as high a fine as the law would allow. In Pomfret the par- DODGE, THE BABBLER. 213 tisan feeling became very strong- and bitter. It en- tered into politics ; it divided families. The very children in the street jeered and mocked at each other as " Dodge-ites " and " Anti-Dodg-e-ites." An opposer of the popular favorite lost his place as town clerk, leaving this fareAvell upon Pomfret records : "Here euds the services of a faithful servant of the public, who was neglected for no other reason than because he could not Dodge — ^ " For more than six years this rupture and strife continued, and Mr. Dodge maintained his prestige and popularity. It does not appear that during this period he lost ground or adherents. His " finely- polished golden chain of equality and brotherly love " satisfied his congregation ; his good fellowship and easy insolence kept his hold in society. His oc- casional excesses and increasing levity were excused as the exuberant overflow of spirits, and by his frank admission of wrong. Nothing but his own suicidal act could have lost him his place in heart and favor. He held himself in restraint as long as it was possi- ble and then gave way at once and forever. Every- thing was sacrificed for liberty in vicious indulgence. After a week of revelry, driving from one low tavern to another, and even ofiering blasphemous prayers in a blacksmith's shop upon a challenge, he had the ef- frontery to enter his pulpit and attempt to conduct 214 HISTORIC GLEANINGS. the iis-ual Sabbath service. Rising to speak he fell upon the pulpit overcome with drunken sickness, fall- ing forever from his high estate. Apparently no at- tempt was made to excuse or palliate his conduct. Of his large following not one was left him, because he was too far gone to make the effort to retain them. At a meeting of The Reformed Church of Pomfret, July 4, 1799, upon complaint that Mr. Dodge had been guilty of repeated instances of intemperance in the use of spirituous liquor, and of indecent if not profane language, it was voted that he " be excluded from the rites and privileges of this church till by his reformation and amendment of life he shall be again restored to charity." But this charity was not called into exercise. The " lost leader " gave himself up to reckless dissipation. Seldom does one who has tilled so high a position, with so large a following, sink into such sudden obscurity and oblivion. The Re- formed Church vanished with its founder, its mem- bers gladly returning to the old chiirch that welcomed them into the fold. The name that had been so con- spicuous dropped from the records and " Herald," and he himself sunk out of sight and knowledge, only as tradition whispered tales of " Pomfret's drunken min- ister." But there is a sequel to the story. Last, spring the Probate judge of Windham at Willimantic chanced to light upon a somewhat curious old document, DODGE, THE BABBLER. 215 apparently an affidavit laid against a notorious of- fender, denominated "Dodg-e, the Babbler" — under date of 1805. The paper best tells its own story : "Dodge, the Babbler, in an harangue at Glastonbury, on the 8th of August, 1805, after declaiming upon church & state & law and religion — exclaimed — ' God knows, angels know, saints know, all honest men know, the Devils know, and none but knaves and fools but what do know, there ought not to be any laws for the support of religion. We should not then see the poor man dragged to jail to pay a minister's tax, while his family were left starving : we should not then have to pay four or tive hundred dollars a j'ear for ministers' dinners at Hartford : we should not then see ministers have the privilege of turnpikiug the road to Heaven and erect" ing gates and collecting tolls upon tliem.' He also used this expression : ' Minister's salaries are a stink in God's nose, and a stench in his nostrils.' The above expressions were heard by Mr. George Gilbert, of Hebron, and noted down at the time and in the meeting-house.'' And so we see our brilliant young- minister, who had stood so high in position and favor, who had been championed by Judge Swift and other distinguished advocates, wandering about the State as a mere " babbler " and driveler, undoubtedly injuring by in- temperance and indecency the very cause of religious liberty that he was trying to advance — his abilities and opportuinties wasted ; his life a wreck and beacon - warning. He is believed to have died in 1806 — the year following this parting glimpse. VIII. OUE FIEST WOMAN AKTIST. First in Connecticut, and in point of time one of the first women in this country, to gain public recog- nition as an artist, was Miss Anne Hall, of Pomfret and New York. She was only preceded and equaled as far as we can ascertain by Misses Anna C and Sarah M. Peale, granddaughters of the distinguished artist, Charles Wilson Peale. There may have been local women artists in some of our large towns, but none that gained more than a provincial reputation, or were honored like Miss Hall by election to mem- bership in The National Academy of Design. Miss Anne Hall was no untrained phenomenon. Like the Peale sisters she inherited artistic tenden- cies. Her father, Dr. Jonathan Hall, of Pomfret, and his father, had been lovers of art, and, unable to gratify their own aspirations, were eager to foster their manifestation in little Anne. Figures cut from paper or moulded in wax at a very early age showed great merit. A box of paints from China enabled her to gratify her love for coloring* and reproduce birds, flowers, fruit, and whatever caught her childish fancy. When a very young girl she accompanied an elder OUR FIRST WOMAN ARTIST. 217 sister to Newport, the home of the Mumfords, her mother's family. Here she was permitted to take a few lessons in oil painting and drawing- from Mr. Samuel King-, the teacher of Malbone and Washing-- ton Allston, Mr. King- also instructed her in the art of applying color to ivory. Returning to her Pom- fret home she practiced diligently in these various lines, and had the privilege of further instruction in New York city under the skillful teaching of Alex- ander Robinson, secretary of the Academy of Fine Arts. With such opportunities for cultivating native genius it is no wonder that Miss Hall achieved so high a rank among the artists of her time. Her first success was in copying from the old masters. Like Hawthorne's Hilda she possessed that sympathetic insight which enabled her to catch and reproduce the very soul of the original. Her brother, Charles H. Hall, of New York, supplied her with good pictures to copy. Copies of Guido's pictures were executed with a force and glow of coloring that won praise from experienced critics. In character and person Miss Hall was exceptionally lovely — a bright and shining light in that cultured society which distinguished Pomfret in the early part of the century. A foreign visitor at one of her fash- ionable assemblies gave verdict — " That Miss Hall's dress and demeanor Avould have done credit to any court in Europe." She had the literary accomplish- 218 HISTORIC GLEANINGS. ments of her time, some of her poems long living- in remembrance. But above all she shone in beauty of character — " her life a lofty striving after the highest ideal, which she exemplified in every act and word." Her ready kindness and sympathy, her willingness to devote her artistic skill to memorials of departed friends, was very noteworthy. Cherub faces of chil- dren long passed from earth are still held as priceless treasures in many households. But it was not till after her permanent removal to New York city, about 1820, that Miss Hall's fame be- came fully established, especially in her chosen line of miniature painting on ivory. Dunlap characterized her work as of the first order, combining exquisite ideality of design with beauty of coloring. He notes especially her groups of children, " composed with the taste and skill of a master, and the delicacy which the female character can infuse into the works of beauty beyond the reach of man." Some of these groups received the rare compliment of being sent abroad to be copied in enamel, and thus made inde- structible. Miss Hall excelled in rich coloring, and in those finishing touches that add so much charm — flowers in the hands of her women, wreaths twined about her cherub children, were marvels of grace and beauty. Among many distinguished subjects, she had the honor of painting one of the especial celeb- rities of the time — Garafilia Mohalbi. This lovely OUR FIRST WOMAN ARTIST. 211) Greek girl was taken captive during- the war with the Turks, and ransomed in 1827 by a Boston merchant and brought to this country. It was this picture ex- hibited at the National Academy that brought Miss Hall her election to membership, and the engraved copy was widely known and admired. As market value in our practical days is often made a test of ar- tistic merit, it may be noted that some of Miss Hall's groups were appraised at five hundred dollars, which was considered an extraordinary price for a native artist to receive. Unaffected in character by her distinguished suc- cess, Miss Hall remained modest and retiring, never seeking praise or notoriety. Struggling artists from her native country gained ready access to her studio, and found her ready with sympathy and counsel. Our late artist, Mr. Sawyer, spoke of her with enthu- siastic admiration, as one far in advance of the ordi- nary range of Avomanly attainment. She died at the home of her sister, Mrs. Henry Ward, New York, in 1863, having just passed her seventieth year. In the marvelous development of modern art, especially among women, this first woman artist in our State should not l)e overlooked, and it is hoped that a fit- ting memorial may sometime be prepared, with re- productions of those faces and groups which won such fame and favor. IX. JAPHETH m SEAKCH OF HIS FOEE- FATHERS. It is not so many years since the great majority of New England families outside of Boston were content to trace a vague descent from one of " three brothers," who might have come out of the Ark, or the May- flower, and then a genealogical boom swept through the land, flooding it with family trees, charts, tablets, genealogies, and histories. Various genealogic bu- reaus conducted by professional experts aid in the prosecution of such researches, and testify to the wide extent of the newly-awakened interest. With such intelligent and sympathetic aid the inquirer can hardly fail to exhume some eligible Pilgrim or Puritan of approximate family name — a vigorous and fruit- ful root from which he might safely predicate a goodly family tree. But as he attempts to establish connection between his own particular branch and this primitive root, and trace out the various ramifi- cations, difficulties multiply. If some eight or ten branches shoot oft' into as many States, or, still worse, if the off-shoots of two or three kindred roots com- JAPHETH IN SEARCH OF HIS FOREFATHERS. 221 mingle in one town, he will soon be involved in inex- tricable jangle and confusion. Or if he be so fortu- nate as to trace his own lineage straight back to some ancient patriarch, there will be other branches missing, boughs lopped oft*, mysterious growths en- grafted. The genealogist is sure to be confronted sooner or later with some obdurate sphinx of a prob- lem, whose solution defies his utmost eftbrt. The perplexities of Captain Marry at's hero in search of his lost father were light in comparison with those of our genealogical Japheths, searching through this great continent for their buried grandfathers and gi'andmothers. The friendly bureaus above referred to often fail in such emergencies. They can furnish upon demand any number of reputable forefathers. It is for you to prove whether some particular speci- men belongs to yourself, or to descendants of the other " two brothers." Left to himself the baftled Japheth pursues his weary search — exploring town and church records, unearthing family registers and letters, deciphering effaced epitaphs, afflicting the souls of far-off relatives by frantic ettbrts to make them bring to mind what they never knew or had long forgotten. Earnest appeals from some of these persistent searchers enlisted me in genealogical re- search. A dabbler in local history, it was easy for me to find and impart desired information. The ex- uberant and altogether dis^jroportionate gratitude 222 HISTORIC GLEANINGS. called out by very trifling" service in this line awoke deep commiseration : " I've heard of hearts unkind, kinds deeds With coldness still returning ; Alas ! the gratitude of men Hath oftener left me mourning." How many snubs must have been endured to make a little common courtesy so thank-worthy. Having had occasion to solicit similar favors from strangers, I answered every such appeal just as I liked my own answered, and in following this golden rule worked out a large experience which I would fain impart to other wayworn Japheths still groping for lost grand- sires. And, first, I would premise for your comfort and encouragement, that the object of your search is in all probability attainable. Those exasperating old ancestors and relatives, so persistently evading inqui- sition, did in very truth live and walk upon this earth and doubtless left behind them some memorial of their own birth and marriage, and those of their pu- tative offspring. Your " missing link " lurks in some furtive corner. That " pivotal fact " on which depends your connection with the parent trunk, or the com- pleteness and symmetry of the whole structure, is safely hoarded by some obscure collateral, all uncon- scious of the value of the latent treasure. In my JAPHETH IN SEARCH OF HIS FOREFATHERS. 2'2'd own experience the particular item establishing- the foundation fact of numerous investigations accrued through the agency of a single individual, it might almost seem providentially preserved to meet the foreordained recipient of his fateful message. Such was the Staytum case, involving a question of localit}'. Descendants of the patriarch Samson insisted that he settled at an early date on " the mile square " east of the river in First Parish, which they still held in possession ; but I found him an officer in Second Parish, occupying a farm between two rivers bounded by lines which human ingenuity could not have made more crooked. It was perfectly evident that the two farms could not have been identical, and that a resident of First Parish would not have been a church officer in the Second ; but the Staytums re- fused to yield an ell of their " mile square," or budge an inch from their position in First Parish. A hapjjy chance opened communication with a ninety -year-old descendant in a neighboring State, and from him came positive evidence that the original Samson {/id first buy and occupy an interval farm in Second Par- ish, and his son Smnson was the purchaser and first occupant of the " mile square." But if twenty sur- plus years had not been granted to the respected Hezekiah my exhaustive arguments would have been but vain words and fruitless Jeremiades. The gen- ealogist may settle it in his mind as a primal axiom, 224 HISTORIC GLEANINGS. that one person and most probably only one on tlie face of the earth can give him definite information upon any controverted point. One chance in twelve or thirteen hundred million ! But his inquiries are necessarily restricted to the Caucasian race, and finally narrow down to the sixty millions of the United States, and perhaps a few experts across the water. We might assume farther limitation by sec- tional probabilities but for the wide dispersion of descendants of early Pilgrims. Information con- cerning descendants of old Massachusetts and Con- necticut families would be naturally sought in the vicinity of former places of residence, but you are quite as likely to find it west of the Rockies. Facts vainly sought in many native sources strayed back to me unsought from the Ohio and Mississippi val- leys. I was long baffled in pursuit of a well-known Revolutionary veteran, very prominent at Bunker Hill and in subsequent service. Minute and per- sistent research in his own and neighboring towns failed to furnish any trace of him after the close of the war, and I finally numbered him among its un- recorded victims, buried like Moses in an unknown sepulchre, and then inadvertently stumbled upon his grave in the heart of the Empire State. A chance allusion from a casual correspondent led to the dis- covery of his early emigration and subsequent career. [The preceding hints, written some years since, and JAPHETH IN SEARCH OF HIS FOREFATHERS. 225 published in substance in the " New York Independ- ent," require some modification to snit present con- ditions. Durino- these years interest in g-enealog-ical researches has increased in g-eometrical proportion. Especially since the organization of the innumerable societies of " Dames," " Daughters," and " Sons," all requiring- straight lines of descent, have these inqui- ries multiplied, and facilities for tracing- these lines have increased in proportion. I should now discrimi- nate between roots and links. The former are to be sought near the original settlements and landing- places. It is the connecting- links that are often so evasive, and may be lighted upon in most unlikely places, and my " one man " theory should be restricted to inquiries of this nature.] These opportune chances and unforeseen discover- ies give a peculiar fascination to g-enealog-ical pur- suit, rekindling in fossil sires the fires of youthful enthusiasm. That which to the uninitiated is a sense- less groping among dead men's bones involves the tantalizing delight of gold-digging and treasure- hunting. Those thoughtless youngsters who jeer at genealogical enthusiasts might well envy the excite- ments and surprises of their adventurous quest. True, indeed, they are called to suffer many trials and disappointments. Nuggets are not found every day. Many a placer is dug over without disclosiog one golden glimmer. The proverbial " hunting for a needle in a hay -mow " often typifies the experience 226 HISTORIC GLEANINGS. of the g-enealog"ist ; yet, if the needle carry a thread the chance is not so hopeless. The slightest clew promptly followed ; the tiniest atom of real gold-dust may lead the way to marvelous discovery. A mere shred of a chance recovered my long-sought Missins. A once prominent family, occupying a large tract of land on a public thoroughfare, with a flourishing saw- mill, a tavern, and roads leading to various settle- ments — not only had every vestige of them disap- peared, but the site they had occupied could not be identified. The oldest inhabitant had only heard of them by vague tradition, and could give no satisfac- tory conjecture as to their place of habitation. I spent days puzzling over the map for it. I set up that saw-mill on every water privilege within the territory, but try it where I would some condition, would be lacking ; mill, tavern, highway, and by- ways could not be made to fit in with appropriate surroundings. Chancing at length to hear of an " old Widow Missin," visiting in a neighboring town, I hastened to call upon her. Like most women she knew nothing whatever of "Mr. Missins' " family and antecedents, but referred me to " Cousin Nimrod," in some out-of-the-way neighborhood, as one who might possibly give me some information. Starting next day in pursuit of this mythical place and personage, I drove some six miles southward for farther instruc- tions, and then switched off into an old road winding JAPHETH IN SEARCH OF HIS FOREFATHERS. 227 iiortlieastward througli pastures of scrub-oak and huckleberry bushes, toward a bleak hill-rang-e. Having a well developed organ of what phrenologists call " Locality," it Avas extremely harrowing to reach a given point by describing the two long sides of a very acute triangle, but when, after a wearisome pull I reached the summit of the hill, all minor annoy- ances vanished. For, oh, dear reader, I saw it all at a glance. In this round-about style I had solved my problem. Clear as a mathematical demonstration it opened before me — the mill-stream and tavern-site in the valley, the great highway winding round the base of the hill, the old bridle-path eastward, and the " trod-out path " behind me, that had led to this happy outlook. Left behind by march of civilization and change of business centres, enlocked by hill and river, the lonely valley had evaded search till opened by the ]5ass-uame of the one man who held the key to its mysteries. The testimony of the faithful old Nimrod confirmed local intuitions. A quaint old hermit, forgotten by the world, alone he guarded the Missin records and traditions. In this secluded nook, once populous and full of life, his family had lived and flourished for more than a hundred years, and he alone could tell of their past glories, of the mill and the great tavern, and seven gambrel-roofed houses built for the seven sons of the first settler, and the briary grave-yard where name and race were buried. 228 HISTORIC GLEANINGS. and then sent me home rejoicing- by a cross-cut across the base of my triangle. Equally slight was the chance that restored to his alma mater a certain shadowy James H. Goner, un- heard of after his graduation early in the present century. I take great pride in this achievement as being- myself the medium for recovering the trail and enstarring' the lost graduate among his fellows. The dim rin2)ression of a surviving classmate, and a cas- ual entry in some old class-book suggested Mytown as his probable birthplace. Letters of inquiry were sent to minister, town clerk, postmaster, &c., but as the family had removed from town long before the remembrance of any of these authorities no light was gained from them. Catching at a straw, the col- lege biographer next addressed the embryo town historian, who with the rashness of inexperience es- sayed the quest. " It is of no use," sighed the ma- ternal counselor so helpful in previous inquiries. " I took special note in my young days of every young man in town that was privileged with going to college, and never was there a Goner among them." Nevertheless a careful examination of the faded church records detected a James Horner Goner bap- tized just in time for college entrance at the speci- fied date. James H ! First middle name on church record! That tioo Goner families should have in- dulged in such extravagance when double names JAPHETH IX SEARCH OF HIS FOREFATHERS. 229 Avere so niieommoii was extremely doubtful, but ad- mitting" that the vanished collegiate was represented in this record Avhat chance Avas there of unraveling- his subsequent career, as his family migrated Avest- Avard early in his college course and had long passed out of knoAvledge. AVell, it did look very dark for a time, but g-radually in the maternal consciousness faint echoes were awakened of long--g-one talk about a " Goner wood-lot " left behind unsold till after the death of the family head, Avlien it was boug-ht up liy "j^our Uncle Abishai," avIio had no end of trouble hunting- up the scattered heirs before he could se- cure a clear title. Uncle Abishai's papers and the probate records furnished the missing link and evi- dence, enabling us to trace the fugitive to West Ten- nessee, Avhere he kept school, practiced laAv, married and died, leavhig a AvidoAv and several children to receive his share of the Goner Avood-lot. I Another problem relating to this same Goner fam- ily has but recently attained solution. A somewhat indefinite marriag-e record represented the head of a large and respectable family as marrying " Susanna Goner alias Fuller " — a Avay of putting it that Avas a source of great perplexity to the present generation of descendants. Whether she was a Goner by birth or adoption could not be settled, and a " goner" she remained for many years. But the increasing de- mand for Eastern ancestors at length brought inqui- ries from the long-gone Goners,. and Avitli them the 230 HISTORIC GLEANINGS. information that our mysterious Susanna was indeed a born Goner, aunt of the missing college graduate, and that she had married for her first husband a certain • Fuller. And here came another puzzle. Chil- dren by the first husband had also gone West and were in communication with their Goner kindred, but not one of the descendants knew the first name of their grandmother's husband. The Fullers were a noted family, straight from Plymouth Eock, and they were very anxious to establish connection. I did the best I could for them, but could find no record of Susanna's first marriage. There were a number of Fuller boys baptized just about the date needed, but which was the happy man it was impossible to tell. But chance at length leading me to consult an earlier probate record, there I found the settlement of the estate of Susanna's father, and among the receipts recorded was one signed by Susanna and her Fuller husband— ;/?>6'if nmne and all complete. It was very curious. She might have selected for aught we know — Joseph, James, Samuel, Abel, John, Peter — but with remarkable prescience the chosen name that for so many years baffled inquiry was simply — Job — and more than Job's patience had been expended in trac- ing it.] The importance of imnned'i ately following up the faintest probability cannot be too strongly urged. If you lose your one chance what hope is left for you ? " We have these treasures in earthern vessels." Lives and memories hang on brittle threads. Especially if you hear of an elderly person likely to impart de- JAPHETH IN SEARCH OF HIS FOREFATHERS. 2?>i sirable intelligence, g"o for him at once. So many unforeseen casualties may occur. I remember once hastening- as soon as I thought decency would permit, to extract some needful item from a bereaved widower who, it was feared, would not long- survive the loss of his life's companion, and the poor old soul had already skipped off with a frisky young wife upon a wedding journey. A few days delay would have left my Jay problem unsolved. Nothing surprised me more than to find a prol)lem in this numerous and somewhat common-place family. The Jays were as plenty in town as robins and blackbirds, filling a whole district and burying-ground. A Nathaniel Jay bought up a large tract of land in that section and joined the church in due form at an early date, and I supposed in a single tramp through district and burying-ground I could pick up all family details that were needed. But behold, on the contrary, not a chatterer among them could give the least account of his ancestry, or had any knowledge or tradition of the first immigrant, Nathaniel. To be sure they could all prattle most volubly about Grandfather Jay, the popular landlord of the famous " Half-way Tav- ern," but he might have been Melchisedek himself for ought they knew of his origin, and so the matter rested, to my great annoyance, till Mrs. Blue Jay came chirping up to me one Sunday intermission (we did not go to the same church and met by the merest accident j. 232 HISTORIC GLEANINGS. " It's not Sunday talk',' she whispered mysteriously, " but you know what you asked my husband, and he has found out that Cousin Jotham out by ' The Brass Ball ' knows more about it than all the rest of us, and after haying- he is going to see him and write it off for you." " He need not trouble himself," I replied with my usual briskness, " I'll see him myself to-morrow." That a horse could have been beguiled out of the hay-fields on such an errand was extremely doubtful, but by rare good luck a friend needed conveyance to an out-of-the-way station in that vicinity. It was the loveliest of midsummer days. Passing over the old witch-ground, so famous in local tradition, what marvel that we were beset and hindered on our way. The wailing spectres, phantom reapers, and headless ghosts of other days had indeed forever vanished ; no magic deer wiled us into elusive chase over the hill-sides — but wild roses in the freshness of " young bud and bloom " essayed their utmost witchery ; clus- ters of rare, golden lilies beckoned into woodland hollows ; seductive strawberries gleamed out from uncut mowing, and over-bearing raspberry bushes fairly flung their luscious fruit into our mouths and baskets. Bob-o-links challenged a race over the fra- grant meadows ; thickets rang with the carols of cheery chewinks, and birds of strange plumage and alien notes enticed as if with the very song of the si- JAPHETH IN SEARCH OF HIS FOREFATHERS. -J;>3 reus. Heroically sliiitting" eyes and ears ag'ainst these blaDdishments we reached the station, unscathed, in due season, whence I pursued my way alone to the far- thest extremity of Jaydom, passing- many a home nest, and the great old tavern where Washington took breakfast " That's no such rarity," you will say. " Did not he breakfast, dine, or sup, in every old tavern of the country ? " But would not you like to have seen young- Nathan Hale prance up to the doorstep that cold January morning- in 1776, when the taverns Avere so crowded that he had to ride eig-hteen miles before he could snatch a morsel of food ; or hob-a-nob-ed with Putnam, g-lass to glass, in the great bar-room ; or bartered greetings with those valiant champions, Knowlton and Durkee ; or cheered the triumphant battalions under Generals Heath and Sullivan as they marched to New York after the evacuation of Boston ; or bring liack for one golden hour the vanished glories of the deserted thoroughfare ? Cousin Jotham's plain farm-house recalled me to present duties. A burly old fellow, with very red face and most abnormal nose, sat by the table at the open window munching down his supper. Pro- pounding with new hope the stereotyped query — " Can you tell me anything about the Nathaniel Jay who bought the Saltonstall tract in 174:0," "Yes, I know everything about him," he interrupted. " He 234 HISTORIC GLEANINGS. was my great-grandfather, and came to this town when grandfather Jay, his youngest child, was just two years old." And thence he went on to report his various wives and children, and their several hus- bands, wives, children, occupations, and places of residence, as clear, methodical, and minute, as if he had served apprenticeship at a Genealogical Bureau. He was his grandfather's boy, he said, and used to potter all over the farm with him, hearing his old stories ; and so it came to pass that he alone of all the race had treasured up the family history. And to think that Avithin three days after this interview this faithful custodian should have been gathered to his grandfathers, cut down in his own hay -field by a sun- stroke, and if I had waited for Mr. Blue Jay to have finished his haying, or if Mrs. Blue Jay had not broken the Sabbath, not one of their numerous brood might have heard this true story of their ancestors. Finding your prospective victim alive and accessi- ble, a word of caution may be helpful. Over rash- ness and precipitancy may blast your hopes in the moment of anticipated discovery. Old people, espe- cially those remote from the world in country places, are easily flustered and unstrung. To burst in upon a feeble old woman with blunt announcement of name and errand might drive every idea and memory from her bewildered brain, and reduce her to tempo- rary imbecility. JAPHETH IX SEARCH OF HIS FOREFATHERS. 2o5 " I think I did have a sister Olive once," whimpered a poor old lady badgered out of her wits by an un- skilled evidence-taker. Gradual approach should precede the main attack. Assume an errand if you have it not. Take along- your butter pail or egg basket, and from easy chat upon crops and weather glide imperceptibly into family matters, and you will hardly fail to unlock the treasures of mennny and the still more precious records, carefully hoarded in Bible and pocket-book. Whatever you hear or find, do not waste time and temper in debate and argu- ment. However absurd may l)e the family theory of your informants, it is not wise to controvert it. Their facts may be " first-rate " if their " theory don't coin- cide." You are not a judge nor partisan pleader but a seeker after truth ; and what you need above all is to have ever}^ witness state whatever facts he may have, after his own light and fashion. It is just pos- sible that his pet theory is nearer right than your own, and there are often germs of truth in the most absurd theories. More than once I have been forced to adopt views which I thought at first utterly jire- posteroiis. If 3^ou sufi^er pangs of conscience at leaving an ancient relative, in what seems to you gross error, consider the i>robable futility of attempt- ing to enlighten him. Jokes and opiates may be in- jected into the system, but what can expel an idea from the fossilized intellect? Even if under the 236 HISTORIC GLEANINGS. pressure of inexorable logic you compel your oppo- nent to admit that a man cannot die before he is born, or be older than his g-randmother, you will hear him within twenty-four hours reiterate the same absurd- ities. It is Avell, however, to insinuate mildly that other branches of the family hold different opinions and theories, leading* your informant to a more care- ful scrutiny of his own position, and bringing- out more clearly all sides of the question. These veteran hard-shells, with one or two de- tached facts to stand upon, are far less exasperating than their light-minded antipodes, void alike of facts and theories. Old people, in genealogical estimate, are either priceless or good-for-nought. Some have memories like a well-ordered store-house, with most valuable commodities carefully assorted and labeled ; while others are best typified by the household rag- bag or refuse-heap. Truly pitiful it often seems that eighty or ninety years' experience should have gar- nered up so little worth preserving or repeating — and yet it will not do to despise rag-bags and rubbish- heaps, for precious things sometimes slip into them that would never find their way into an orderly re- ceptacle. Such a time as I had with old Lady Feather-pate. The descendant of a pioneer family, with a grandfather almost Enoch-Arden-ized by cap- tivity in the French and Indian War, a father who had drummed through the Eevolution in Putnam's JAPHETH IX SEARCH OF HIS FOREFATHERS. 1^37 own reg-imeut, and personal acquaintance Avitli all the noted ministry and gentry of her own g-eneration — I could not g-et a tang-ible item out of her. Again and again, with the utmost care and patience, I would lead the conversation back to some note- Avorthy person or incident with which she must have been perfectly familiar, and off she would bob to some irrelevant household matter, descanting with greatest volubility upon her success in raising- calves, which seemed to have been the culmination of her life's achievement — (It was whispered, indeed, that her OAvn graceless cubs did her far less credit). But amid the scum and froth of this disjointed babble there bubbled out, inadvertently, a diamond of the first water; a definite, chronological, long-buried fact, whose recovery is pronounced by my friend, Mr. Gradgrind, of more practical value than the sum total of all my previous investigations — a fact which settled the original lay-out of a contested highway, and saved two towns from angry debate and impend- ing litigation. This apparent dependence upon mere chance and luck in antiquarian researches can hardly fail to awaken anxious solicitude. If we scarcely manage to save so many valuable items, must we not lose many others ? Even in matters that would seem to demand only patient plodding there is an element of uncertainty. A gap is found in the church records 238 HISTORIC GLEANINGS. just at the time that missing great-grandmother might have been born or married, a pivotal date by chance left out, precious names blotted or undeci- pherable, blundering entries, entailing inextricable confusion and bewilderment. It is almost needless to advise an earnest, persistent Japheth never to send for information when he can possibly go for it, know- ing as he does the risk of entrusting such search to an indifferent person. Undoubtedly experts may be found, especially in old mother towns, who take pro- fessional pride in unraveling the most complicated lineage ; but the acumen of the ordinary town clerk is, to say the least, problematic. They are often afflicted with that peculiar optical infirmity that re- stricts the vision to things directly under the nose. I have known them positively deny the existence of records that historic instinct ferreted out in five min- utes. It is observed, however, that an application of gold-dust or bank-note is a sovereign specific in such cases. Equally uncertain is the result of epistolary effort, the blanks, as in other lotteries, bearing a large proportion to the prizes. Of course, all that can be done is to try our chances over and over, believing that an earnest seeker will in time attain the object of search. For myself, I came at last to a certain assured conviction that all that I needed would some- how find its way to me. " Nor time, uor space, nor deep, nor high. Can keep away my own from me !" JAPHETH IX SEARCH OF HIS FOREFATHERS. 239 Ever following-, never fainting-, watcliiug, hunting-, plodding, year after year, you will in time solve your problems, fit in your links, establish coimection, and complete in a good degree your family record. Some perverse great-grandmother or minor collateral may yet evade you, permitting you the tantalizing- pleas- ure of further research. Can anyone give tidings of a certain fair Rachel, married in 1738 to a faithful Benjamin C ? Blank spaces in many " Ancestral Tab- lets " are waiting for her name. [Several statements in the above paragraph need modification and retraction. I am most happy to afiirm that the efficiency of the ordinary town official is not in these days " problematic." On the contrary, since the great demand for family records, the in- efficient and blundering town clerk has become ex- ceptional, and many of them have attained almost preternatural acuteness in answering these demands. The stupidity of a former fossil, who withheld for half a dozen years the needful record from a most importunate old gentleman simply because of one superfluous letter in the name, cannot be paralleled in these days. Driven to desperation, this j^ersevering Japheth instituted search in every town of the coun- ty, though all the evidence pointed to one particular town. Having occasion to visit this town, I remem- bered his plaintive appeal, and taking up the birth- record, there, on the very first page, inscribed in large, bold letters with the blackest of ink, were the names of this identical " John and Hannah," at the 240 HISTORIC GLEANINGS. precise dates specified in search warrant — with just an o added to the family name, making- it Broad in- stead of Brad ! Anyone famihar with old records knows that a few vowels, more or less, make no differ- ence. There was no standard of spelling-, and, first names and date corresponding, there need have been no donbt in this and similar cases. Most fortunately our long suffering and waiting friend survived to attain this welcome verification.] The omission or displacement of some small letter may be equally disastrous in consequences. With deep contrition I recall the perplexity and labor in- flicted upon two painstaking genealogists by inad- vertently overlooking in proof the substitution of John for Jonah and Joseph for Josiah. Both had the sense to appeal from the printed page to previous notes, which fortunately enabled me to correct the error. Where old town records have been copied there is room for many errors to creep in, unless the copyist is familiar with old family names. In case of doubt it is wise to consult the original record. In an instance where the birth-date of the oldest child was omitted from the copy, I found it safely tucked away in the dogs-ear roll of the discarded leaf. Old minis- ters in baptizing a batch of babies sometimes man- aged to mix up the names in recording them — a source of perplexity somewhat difficult to unravel till we find him marrying- the exchanged Lucys or Abigails — and are able to fit them into their rightful families. JAPHETH IN SEARCH OF HIS f^OREFATHEKS. 24 i Still by care and patience we learn to, discriminate and circumvent these several errors. And even assured success may have its reserva- tions. It must be admitted that our ancestors are not always what we desired and expected. Some of us have to take up with Ham instead of Sliem or Japheth. I have myself restored grandparents to anxious descendants when I would fain have whis- pered Pope's couplet : " Go and pretend your family is youug, Nor own your fathers liave been fools so long." It was embarrassing to report to an unknown ap- plicant from Bodon, that one of the name had been publicly flogged at the whipping post for breaking- the Sabbath ; that another had figured as a witch, sticking pins into sleeping neighbors, and commit- ting other malicious pranks ; and a third, bearing the same unlucky name, was the last man /iwuj in the county ! One letter of inquiry among hundreds that have come to me is left unanswered, ray pen refusing to l:)last the hopes of the wife of a high church dig- nitary by the disgraceful intelligence that the last heard of her unworthy progenitor he had been con- victed of horse-stealing, whipped, branded, and sent back to jail for lack of means to pay the fine. Let him rest in dark oblivion. An ancestor with no more consideration for the feelings of descendants de- serves to be blotted from their record. 20 242 HISTORIC GLEANINGS. [I feel now that I was iitterly at fault iu the above premises and conclusion. Under present light and experience I feel that the inquirer should be in- formed of every fact connected with his family his- tory, and that the genealogist has no right to keep back discoveries, however unfavorable.] " From Nature's chain whatever link you stril^e. Tenth or ten- thousandth breaks the chain alike." If one link was unsound, those back of it may have proved of true metal. How great the loss inflicted in this particular instance can never be determined. My horse-lifter may have come from some robber count or highland freebooter ; he may have de- scended, like myself, from William the Conqueror or a line of raiding Vikings, and by withholding this link I have robbed the Bishop's children of ability to prove connection. We wish, like g-ood Mr. Omer, " that parties were brought up stronger minded," so that the genealogist need not feel qualmish in mak- ing-|,'disagreeable revelations. It is certainly absurd for citizens of our great republic to be unduly squeamish concerning- the social position of their an- cestors. We cannot " all be corporals " as the chil- dren expected in the old story, and may take right- ful pride in having worked our way up from the ranks by dint of honest struggle and gradual promotion. Even the honor and privilege of tracing your line straight back to historic names brought over in the Mayflower, or Winthrop's fleet, has its drawbacks. JAPHETH IN SEARCH OF HIS FOREFATHERS. 24:'.} " What a descent,'' said a sarcastic old g-entleman to a boastful scion of the Pilgrims. A less noted line may also portend a more vig'orous future. Fam- ilies, like their familiar symbol, grow, culminate, and decay. Your old trees have hollow trunks and many sapless, moss-grown branches. Some are blighted, some quickened by change of position and climate. " A tree tli;it stands square in old Massacliusetts, Wlieu transplanted to other States sometimes askew sets." The most hojielessly inert, lifeless, incapable speci- mens of humanity may be found among the descend- ants of old Puritan magnates. And while there are those who still do honor to illustrious names, it must be admitted that it is the new blood that chiefly leads in public affairs. Over fruitfulness in past genera- tions may have impaired capacity for present pro- duction, and the lower the social position of your grandfather the better may be the chance for your grandson's future. But there are things unearthed by the genealogist harder to bear than degree of social position. There are " blots on the escutcheon," bar-sinisters, too great, discrepancy between dates of birth and marriage, in some instances birth preceding marriage. Those familiar with ancient church records find frequent examples of such previousness. The custom of ex- torting a public confession from such offenders would 244 HISTORIC GLEANINGS. seem to have ag-gravated the evil, making- it alDiost a matter of course that such coufessioii should be needed. With our ideas of the strictness of Puritan morals and discipline, it seems remarkable that such a condition of things should have existed ; yet in point of fact, it was less immoral than appears on the surface, and was based on the old Germanic idea of the sacredness of the betrothal. "Eng-aged folks have a right to live like married ones," was the blunt assertion of one sturdy recusant. The poverty of the times, the lack of business openings, made it difficult for a young man to provide and maintain an inde- pendent household, and existing customs allowed great liberty of intercourse between contracting parties. In one case, at least, marriage was delayed till the youngster was old eiiough to be the most con- spicuous witness of the ceremony. It may be said that this liberty was seldom abused, and that in- stances where marriage did not follow this previous intercourse are very infrequent. But when for some unavoidable cause marriage was jDrevented, it bore most hardly upon the unmarried mother, bearing through life a burden of disgrace and sorrow, having lapsed no more than hundreds of more fortunate sisters who lived and died in honor. On the other side, a pathetic incident occurred in the death of a young mother soon after the birth of her child. The infant was baptized at its dying mother's bedside, JAPHETH IN SEARCH OF HIS FOREFATHERS. 24:5 but almost immediately the father had its birth re- corded under his own name, and his family assumed its charge and support. But a shadow followed the young- man through life. When, after a time, he de- cided to marry, his first child was given the name of his lost love, and his life ends in a mazy tradition of falling over a bridge in mist and darkness. In that case, as in many others, marriage had been delayed simply as a matter of convenience. But in the days following the Revolution there was far greater looseness of morals and manners. It was a time of general upheaval and commotion. The deadness of the established churches, the spread of French Revolution ideas and infidelity, the assertion of personal liberty, and the excessive use of liquor, all conspired to induce a very bad condition of affairs. The diary of our friend Zeph gives a graphic picture of the frolickings and junketing's among young peo- ple of his grade, and among his many frank entries are those of numerous births immediately preceding, or without, marriage. Nor were things much better among the higher classes. That such a graceless rep- robate as Oliver Dodge could have maintained his position in such a town as Pomfret, shows the low tone of public morals. Our first ventures in po))- ular literature bear striking testimony in this line. Ministers' sons and deacons' daughters, teachers in Plainfield Academy and promising young lawyers, 246 HISTORIC GLEANINGS. figure in hig-lily sensational stories, with only too much literal foundation. With the new century came new spiritual life and movements, and influ- ences Avere set at work that wrought a wonderful betterment in all directions. If any genealogical Japheth lights upon an unfavorable record, or lack of record, during this unsavory period, he can only comfort himself by the probability that many others are in the same situation. The genealogist may deem himself fortunate who never stumbles upon an unpleasant revelation. " Any possible move," says the wise Mr. Bucket, " being a probable move ac- cording to my experience." Considering all the bad things that have been done in the world, we have no right to claim exemption for our ancestors. And the farther back we go the g-reater probability of wrong- doing. It is all very well to trace your line back into the old world, intersecting lines of nobility and kings, but their character and conduct will not bear close inspection. A line or lines straight back without gap or blot to substantial New England settlers is as good a thing as one need have in the way of an- cestry, and many such favored lines have been tri- umphantly established, while failure in any point certainly demands great exercise of philosophy. But if you have not gained all that you would like, your search has not been fruitless. Apart from the fascinating excitement of pursuit it has strengthened JAPHETH IX SEARCH OF HIS FOREFATHERS. 2-1:7 the ties of blood and kindred, and g-iven you a closer apprehension of the oneness of the Immau family. Amid the hurry and rush of our headlong- national growth and expansion this modern interest in g"enea- log-ical research has a most beneficent an d humaniz- ing- influence, counteracting the tendency to separa- tion and dispersion, and drawing thousands of scat- tered families around a common hearthstone. Most noteworthy is its bearing upon the vexed question of New England's future. At a time when the out- flow of its native population and the influx of for- eigners has revolutionized the rural district, Avhen a great majority of Yankee farms are tilled by those of alien blood and tongue, this awakened interest in ancestral homes and shrines is a hopeful feature in the situation. Pilgrim sons of Pilgrim fathers pay pious visits to the g-raves of their ancestors, and ar- rang-e for their better care and more fltting memo- rial stone or tablet. Often the interest extends to the family homestead, the neighborhood, the town, and finds expression in helpful aid — in renovated church-yard and church edifice ; in public school- house or library building. Many a town has received a new impulse from these friendly gifts, arousing the before discourag-ed residents to greater eftbrts in their own behalf, and stimulating the interest and cooperation of other wandering sons and old-time residents. Family reunions at ancestral homes, 248 HISTORIC GLEANINGS- bringiiig- together sons and daughters from all parts of the land, strengthen the ties of blood and early association, and make it more and more evident that sons of New England will not outgrow their filial relations ; that the homes that nourished the infancy of our land will be even more honored and cherished as time rolls on. And in its more personal aspect the genealogist finds great reward. His feeling of kinship widens out to the whole family circle and brings them into reciprocal relations. Truly " he setteth the solitary in families." To many isolated lives he brings new sources of interest and consolation. The most shriv- eled old maid, the dryest old twig of a bachelor, gains new life and freshness when incorporated into a family tree. To how many of our elderly friends this pursuit has brought enjoyment that nothing else could substitute. How striking its adaptation to the instinctive craving of those, who retired from active labor, can thus gather up the past and project it into the future : " Becoming, as is meet and fit, A link among the days, to knit The generations, each to each." How hopeful the interest and enthusiasm thus awakened among the younger branches. Success to all the Japheths, far and near! May each achieve his " Tree," and may its shadow never be less. INDEX. A, Benjamin, 198. Abbe, Rachael, 100. Adams, Abigail. 54. Adams, Mrs. Eiisha, 127. Adams, Samuel, 17, 90, 91. Allis, Abigail, 54. Allstou, Washington, 217. Almy, Sampson, 162. Alton, Mrs. Elizabetli (Hos- mer), 127. Andros, Sir Edmund, S, 139. Angel, Jonathan, 177. Angell, Job, 151, 158, 154. Aplin, John, 147. Aspinwall, Peter, 135, 137. Avery, Mr., 17. Backus, Rev. Isaac, 37, 38, 43. Bacon, James. 60. Ballon, Rev. Hosea, 183. Bancroft, 90. Barrett, John, 113. Bartholomew, Mrs. Abigail, 53. Bartholomew, William, 53. Bass, Rev. John, 147. Belcher, Jonathan, 57. Bishop, Widow, 196. Blackwell, Sir John, 56-57. Blake, Goody, 128. Bolles, Lucius, 156. Bowles, Captain, 149. Bowlses, 60. Bradbury, Jermima, 61. Bradford, 17. jNIrs. Hannah, 66. Broad, Hannah, 239. John, 239. Brown, 146. Rev. Aaron, 72, 106. Jeremiah, 149. John, 149. Nicholas, 156. Buck, Lieut., 112. Bucket. Mr.. 246. Bullock, 148. C , Benjamin, 239. C, Elder, 184, 188, 189, 193, 194. Cady, 01. Daniel, 99. Joseph, 99, 149, 160. Mrs. Joseph, 160. Calhoon. Mr., 149. Cargill, Capt. Benjamin, 8. Lucy, 80. William E., 81. Carpenter, Mr., 60. Chaffery. Old, 18. Chandler, Capt. John, 57, 59, 60. Chandler, Deacon John, 59. John, 58, 61. Peleg, 156. Chase, 148. Chauncey. Dr., 73. Cheese, Sam., 118. Childs, Capt. Eiisha, 110. P^phraim, 110. Henry, 110. Christopher. Mr., 8. Clap, Rector. 30, 209. Rev. Thomas, 65. Clark, James, 103. " Claver'ouse, Bloody," 46. 250 INDEX. ClemmoDS, John, 170. Cleveland, Capt. Aaron, 94. Ebenezer, 29. Johu, 17, 29-31. Mrs. Josiah, 16. Gen. Moses, 94. Cop:swell, Rev. James, 26, 28, 29, 32, 46. 50, 92, 93. Coit, Abigail, 61. Billy, 60, 61. John, 60, 61. Rev. Joseph, 59-61 Martha, 60. Coit, Mrs. Mehitable Chand- ler, 59, 66. Coit, Thomas, 59-60. Cole, Nathan, 12. Coleman, Goodman, 54. Coles, Old Captain, 170. Congdon, 148. Converse, Jacob. 156. Cook, Capt. Nicholas, 141, 155. Corbin Mrs. Caroline Fair- field, 130. Corbin, Jabez, 60. James. 60. Corliss, Captain, 149. Cotton, Rev. Josiah, 147. Coy, 61. Crosby, Capt. Stephen, 112, 114, 115. Cutler, Ephraim, 98-129. Manasseh, 72, 76, 78,85, 99. Daggett, Dr., 65. Pres., 73. Danielson, George W. . 163. Danielson, Lieut. Col. Wil- liam, 98, 99. Danielson, Major, 99. Denison, Thomas, 36. Devotion, Ebenezer, 95. Elizabeth, 92. Dickinson, Obadiah, 54. Dike, Thomas, 112, 113. Samuel, 112. Dixon, Nathan F., 156. Dodge. David, 64. David L., 65. William E., 65. Oliver. 206-215, 245. Dorrauce, Rev. Samuel, 63- 63. Douglass, Benajah, 28. Dow, Rev. Daniel, 107. Mrs., 108. Dudley, 62. Governor, 206. Dunlap, 218. Durkee, Col., Ill, 233. Lawyer, 88. Capt. John, 108. Dwight, Dr., 158. Dyer, Col., 22, 24, 25. Lawyer, 88. Earl, William, 64. Eaton, 145. Dr.. 183. Joseph, 156. Eaton, Mrs. Anne Woodcock, 66. Edmonds. Mr., 66. Edwards, Jonathan, 11. Elderkin, Dr. Joshua, 90. Joshua, 92. Jedidiah, 98. Elliott, Apostle, 134. Elliott, Capt. Joseph, 99, 103, 105, 114, 115. Elliott, Lemuel, 160-161. Stephen, 114. Elwell, Lieut., 99-100. Farman, Joseph, 154. Fisk, 148. Fitch, Eleazer, 106-119. Fitch, Major James, Jr., 2-10, 16, 32, 75. Flint, Miss Dora, 91. Foot, Mary, 54. Samuel, 54. Foster, 146. Frink, Lawyer Nathan, 120. INDEX. 251 Prizzel, Joseph. 55. Frothingliam. Ebeuezer, 34. Froude, 2. Fuller, Job, 230. Gary, Hanuah, 59. Gaston, Hou. VVm. L., 44. Gay, Joseph, 124 Theodore, 124, 125. Gilbert, Geortion of the eai'ly work characterize the new volume. The work describes a large number of houses in Hartford and its neighborhood, in New London, and in New Haven and the towns confederated with it. Much new information will be found in the chap- ter on Construction, and the relation with English work is considered in the light of further study of •examples in the old countiy. Edition limited. THE HOMERIC PALACE. By NORMAN M. ISHAM. Illustrated by Eleven Full-Page Plates. Octavo. Cloth. $1.00 net. The Homebic Palace is an attempt, in an inex- pensive and convenient form, to set the main lines of the royal dwelling of Homeric times before the reader of to-day. The text collects the main facts abont the different parts of the palace. The drawings show the plans of the great strongholds, Troy, Tiryns, Arne, My- cenae, and gather into one plate the various types of rampart walls, into another the gates and ap- proaches. Bird's-eye views show, in one plate, four stages or steps in the building of a palace, in another a restoration, which is half plan, half section and elevation combined, of the palace at Tiryns, a view which, so far as we know, has never before been published, much as that building has been drawn and restored. All lovers of classical myth or history will find the work interesting. To the student it will be a con- venient text or reference book, and to the teacher of Homer it will be invaluable. '^ y 1 Ml \ ' jM P ^^ O M O <> *^*>^ ^ »»•-•*■. "^ ^.^'b'^' 0' 4 O. ^o V" :^^ ^«:->:^^;:^ ^^^ o'^^^NM':^-.. %^ ^ ...,,....• -^ ^ V - < • o - '^ '^_ -^^^^^ » ^^^c,-^' -^0^ 'b K .^ H •• .^^''^-*-. -mm- <.•^'"'^. 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