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A 
 
 BRIEF HISTORY 
 
 OF THE 
 
 TO¥N OF NORFOLK 
 
 FROM 1738 TO 1844: 
 
 NUMMARY OF EVENTS AND TRANSACTIONS WHICH HAVE OCCURRED 
 
 IN THIS TOWN, FROM ITS FIRST SETTLEMENT, 
 
 CHRONOLOGICALLY ARRANGED. 
 
 FAITHFULLY COLLECTED FROM THE PUBLIC RECORDS OF THE TOWN 
 AND OTHER CORRECT DOCUMENTS, WITH THE DATES 
 X ACCURATELY ANNEXED. 
 
 TO WHICH IS ADDED 
 
 A DESCRIPTION OF THE TOWN, INCIDENTS, LIST OF OFFICERS, 
 AND OTHER INTERESTING MATTER. 
 
 BY AUREN ROYS, 
 
 To"wn and Ecclesiastical Society Clerk. 
 
 " He commanded our fathers, that they should make them kuowii to their chil- 
 dren ; that the generations to come might know them, even the children which 
 should be born; who should arise and declare them to their children ; that Uiey might 
 set their hope in God." ,^X*-^i * "-•S'/'e 
 
 18G7 
 
 o N E W - Y 0% K : VV«hio?^-' ' 
 
 PRINTED BY HENRY LUDWIG, 
 
 70 VESEY-STREET. 
 

CONTENTS 
 
 Brief history of Norfolk, ----__. i 
 
 Concluding remarks, --------45 
 
 Romantic and extensive views, ------ 46 
 
 Summary of events, etc., ------- 47 
 
 Situation — Description — Resources, ----- 50 
 
 Incidents, --------__ gg 
 
 Representatives to general assembly, ----- 72 
 
 List of graduates, etc., from this town, - - - - - 75 
 
 Ministers employed — Deacons, --_-__ 75 
 Admissions to the church, ------.77 
 
 Memoir of Madam Elizabeth Robbins, - - - - - 78 
 
 Memoir of Joseph Battell, Esq., ----- _ 79 
 
 List of deaths of male heads of families, ----- 80 
 
 Town officers, --------- 83 
 
 Grand Ust, from 1759 to 1844, 85 
 
 School money, ---------89 
 
HISTORY 
 
 TO¥N OF NORFOLK. 
 
 The unconveyed lands in the colony of Connecticut, 
 were claimed by a company instituted in the fourteenth 
 year of the reign of Charles II., and incorporated by 
 the name of the governor and company, and while emi- 
 grants were effecting a settlement of several towns in 
 the colony already conveyed and incorporated. On the 
 11th of October, 1722, there arose an unhappy contro- 
 versy between the legislature and the towns of Hartford 
 and Windsor, originating from the following circum- 
 stances. 
 
 In the troublous times of Sir Edmund Andrus' ad- 
 ministration, who attempted to grasp and enrich him- 
 self and his minions, by the sale of the lands in the 
 colony hitherto unconveyed, the legislature, it seems, 
 had, in a hasty manner, conveyed to the towns of Hart- 
 ford and Windsor, the section of the colony described 
 in the annexed grant, dated January 26th, 1686, in the 
 words following. 
 
 " This court grants to the plantations of Hartford and 
 Windsor, those lands on the north of Woodbury and 
 Mattatuck, and on the west of Farmington and Sims- 
 bury, to the Massachusetts hne north, to run west to 
 Housatonic or Stratford river, provided it be not, or 
 part of it, formerly granted to any particular person, to 
 make a plantation or village." 
 
 1 
 
2 HISTORY OF THE 
 
 The design of this conveyance was, that those towns 
 should hold the lands thus granted, for the governor 
 and company, untd those times of danger and trouble 
 should be past, but not as their property. They had 
 never purchased, nor given the least valuable consider- 
 ation for them, and had no valid deeds or patents of 
 them ; yet, by virtue of the above grant, they laid claims 
 to all the lands within the hmits expressed, and in viola- 
 tion of the most exphcit laws of the colony, they pro- 
 ceeded to locate and vend the lands in controversy. 
 
 The governor and company still claimed the lands as 
 firmly as if no grant had been made to those towns. 
 And some of the principal innovators were arrested and 
 punished by the superior court, and some of them were 
 committed to the common prison in Hartford. The 
 contention finally rose so high, that quite a number of 
 persons collected in a riotous manner, and even while 
 the assembly were in session, they went forward, broke 
 open the jail and set those prisoners at liberty. The 
 sheriff of the county of Hartford was ordered to pursue, 
 apprehend, and re-commit them, and was authorized, if 
 necessary, to call out the militia of the county to assist 
 him. 
 
 Notwithstanding these firm and determinate measures, 
 several persons were attempting to lay out and dispose 
 of, for their own benefit, the lands which lay north, east, 
 and west of Litchfield, and west of Farmington and 
 Simsbury. Suitable persons were authorized to arrest 
 them. The rioters in Hartford we e eventually taken, 
 and fined each £20 and £.5 costs. But on their preferring 
 a petition to the assembly, their fines were abated to 
 £20 fine and costs. 
 
 Soon after this, three men from Hartford and two 
 from Windsor ventured to lay out the town of Goshen, 
 and claimed it for their own ; they were prosecuted and 
 fined. In order to quiet the business, the assembly 
 appointed a committee whose duty it was to endeavor 
 amicably to settle it. They labored assiduously for 
 nearly two years, and reported their doings to the 
 assembly. Pursuant to their report, the assembly re- 
 
TOWN OF NORFOLK. d 
 
 solved that the lands in controversy should be divided 
 between the colony and the towns of Hartford and 
 Windsor : the colony to have the western, and Hartford 
 and Windsor the eastern division. The town of Litch- 
 field and two other conveyances were not to be included 
 in this division. 
 
 The business was thus settled, and the legal proprie- 
 tors proceeded to survey and locate townships, and 
 give them names, which were subsequently established. 
 The four following parcels of land were deeded by 
 Hartford to Windsor. 
 
 The first tract surveyed in this division was named 
 Torrington, the second was called Berkhempstead, the 
 third Colebrook, the fourth Harwington. This was 
 done in 1732 ; in 1733, Hartland, Winchester, and New- 
 Hartford were incorporated. 
 
 The following towns were sold and named at the 
 session of the assembly in May, 1737, their agents 
 having conducted the business in the several towns 
 directed. The one sold at New Haven was called 
 Goshen ; the one sold at New London, Canaan ; that at 
 Fairfield, Cornwall ; and that at Windsor, Kent. The 
 township proposed to be sold in Hartford, April, 1738, 
 was cahed Norfolk, and the one sold in May after, at 
 Hartford, was called Salisbury. These towns were all 
 annexed to the county of Hartford, and were to be 
 settled by the inhabitants of Connecticut ; it took several 
 years for the sale and settlement of them. 
 
 Norfolk was the first town appointed to be sold for the 
 colony at Hartford, on the second Tuesday in April, 1738. 
 It failed, and was again offered for sale at Middletown 
 in 1742, but was not entirely sold until about sixteen 
 years from that time. There were so many townships 
 offered for sale, which were considered far preferable to 
 it, both as to soil and situation, that when it was first set 
 up at vendue, one bidder only appeared and bid off a 
 small part of it. 
 
 In May, 1750, an act was passed by the assembly, 
 ordering the remainder to be sold at public vendue at 
 Middletown, December next ensuing; and, if not sold 
 
4 HISTORY OF THE 
 
 then, to continue the vendue until it was sold. This was 
 not effected until about four years after. There were 
 at this time twelve or fourteen persons on the lands, 
 who eventually became proprietors. 
 
 In 1758, when the town was incorporated, there were 
 but twenty-seven families residing in it. There were 
 fifty proprietors of the disposable rights, and it was a 
 condition among the proprietors that each should settle 
 one family upon his respective right within five years.* 
 This so expedited the settlement, that in about three 
 years the number of families increased to sixty, and 
 soon to seventy. 
 
 Timothy Horsford, of Windsor, took a deed of one 
 right of 400 acres, which he retained and paid for ; being 
 the tract since occupied by Titus Ives and Nathaniel 
 Pease in the westerly part of the town, on the Canaan 
 road. Mr. Horsford sold his right to Titus Brown, and 
 soon after, he sold it to his brother Cornehus Brown, 
 both from Windsor. Mr. Cornelius Brown built a 
 house on the tract and removed his family. His team 
 drew the first load which passed through the Green- 
 woods, so called. Mr. John Turner and Mr. Jedediah 
 Richards soon after came from Hartford and lived near 
 Mr. Brown. These were pious families, and were early 
 engaged in the estabhshment and promotion of Christian 
 society. 
 
 In consequence of unavoidable embarrassments, 
 together with the forbidding aspect of the then wild and 
 uncultivated tract, the first purchasers forfeited their 
 first payment, forty shillings on the right, and it was re- 
 sold. Soon after the second sale, a number of families 
 settled in this town. In the north part, Ebenezer, Ezra, 
 and Samuel Knapp, and James Benedict, all from Dan- 
 bury. Jacob Spalding and Isaac Holt soon came into 
 that part of the town. 
 
 In the south part, the first settlers were Joseph and 
 Samuel Mills, Asahel Case and Samuel Cowls, all from 
 Simsbury ; Samuel Manross came from Farmington, and 
 built a log-house near where the meeting-house now 
 stands. Joshua Whitney removed from Canaan and 
 
TOWN OF NORFOLK. O 
 
 erected a frame-house near, and Cornelius Brown a 
 saw-mill on the present site of the centre grist-mill. 
 
 The second sale of the town was effected by the 
 agency of Mr. John Turner, who was appointed by the 
 town to make application to the assembly for its sale. 
 He at the same time procured its incorporation ; also a 
 land-tax to continue two years, to assist in defraying the 
 ecclesiastical expenses. 
 
 Stationed as were the first settlers in this then dreary 
 wilderness, the land, since improved for meadow and 
 pasture, being then mostly covered with a thick-set 
 forest, the severe winters of this climate adding much to 
 the dreariness of the scene, the inhabitants near the 
 centre of the town were greatly favoured by a kind 
 Providence, " who careth for oxen," in having discovered 
 that the low meadows west of the meeting-house were 
 then mostly open, and for two or three years supplied 
 the few cattle then in their possession with coarse 
 hay. 
 
 It is believed from the appearance then, and present 
 examination, that those now valuable and productive 
 meadows were, in ages long past, the bed of a lake of 
 considerable extent, and that the outlet was down the 
 falls by the centre grist-mill. The natural dyke ap- 
 pears to have extended across from the ledge bordering 
 the north-easterly side of the present meadows, to the 
 turn of the road west of the centre mill. From some 
 unknown cause — probably by the same convulsion of 
 nature which so terribly shattered the rocks composing 
 the ledge — the barrier gave way, and poured the con- 
 tents of the lake and its yielding dyke with thundering 
 and appalhng velocity — appalling if there were the eyes 
 of man to see, or ears to hear — down the falls by the 
 mill, leaving only a small stream meandering through 
 the meadows. 
 
 As the potent enemy of life soon began its ravages, 
 the inhabitants were obliged to seek a place where to 
 bury their dead. The first burials were in Canaan, 
 where the first settlers attended public worship on the 
 Sabbath. The first person buried in this town was the 
 
6 HISTORY OF THE 
 
 wife of Jedediah Turner ; her grave with two others 
 were on the ground where Col. J. W. Phelps huilt his 
 house ; in digging his cellar the bones were found almost 
 entire ; they were enclosed in a case and deposited not 
 far distant in a decent and proper manner. The next 
 persons who died were placed in the present centre 
 burying-ground. 
 
 The fear of invasion of a foreign foe, and the still 
 more dreaded assaults of the aborigines of this country, 
 whose aggressions and cruelty they had already experi- 
 enced, induced them to learn the art of war. The first 
 militia company embodied in this town was commanded 
 by Lieutenant Whitney, who was afterwards appointed 
 captain when the company became full. 
 
 Notwithstandino; the embarrassments common to infant 
 settlements, many indeed, and peculiar ones fell to their 
 lot ; for in addition to the troubles attending the unsettled 
 state of the colony, civil, political, and ecclesiastical, 
 which they sufiered in common with their brethren of 
 this new country, they had also to encounter severe 
 hardships in trying to subdue a stubborn soil, and erect 
 habitations for their families from the crude, and at that 
 time the expensive materials obtainable from abroad, 
 which, in their circumstances as early settlers, must some 
 of them be dispensed with ; yet having imbibed the spirit 
 of the New England fathers, they determined, as soon 
 as practicable, to provide for the stated enjoyment of 
 gospel ordinances. They therefore unanimously agreed 
 to exert themselves for that purpose. 
 
 December 20th, 1758, an itinerant clergyman by the 
 name of Treat was procured, and preached the first ser- 
 mon ever delivered in this town. They had occasional 
 preaching until January 8th, 1759 ; they then hired Mr. 
 Peck to preach for a considerable time, and also agreed 
 to commence building a meeting-house for the worship 
 of the God of their fathers and their God. These exer- 
 tions they soon perceived were likely so to involve them, 
 that in May following, they ap})lied to the general 
 assembly for the land-tax before mentioned. It is not 
 stated whether they obtained this or not, but in October 
 
TOWN OF NORFOLK. 
 
 of the same year they again apphed to the assembly 
 for a land-tax of two pence on the acre, to continue 
 four years ; this, it appears, they obtained. 
 
 The inhabitants who were legal voters, assembled 
 December the r2th, 1758, and organized their first town- 
 meeting ; it consisted of 44 members — their names were 
 
 the followino; 
 
 George Palmer, Moderator. 
 William Barber. 
 Jedediah Richards. 
 John Turner. 
 Ebenezer Knapp. 
 Cornelius Brown. 
 Aaron Aspenwall. 
 Samuel Gaylord. 
 Ezra Knapp. 
 Isaac Pettibone. 
 Edward Strickland. 
 Samuel Cowls. 
 Ebenezer Burr. 
 Elijah Barber. 
 Ebenezer Pardia. 
 Cornelius Dowd. 
 Joseph Mills. 
 Gideon Lawrence. 
 Asahel Case. 
 Justis Gaylord, 
 Rufus Lawrence. 
 Eli Pettibone. 
 
 Samuel Mills. 
 Thomas Knapp. 
 Ebenezer Knapp, Jr. 
 James Hotchkiss. 
 Samuel Ransom. 
 Abraham Knapp. 
 James Benedict. 
 Stephen Baker. 
 Joshua Whitney. 
 Jacob Spalding. 
 Stephen Comstock. 
 Jedediah Turner. 
 Samuel Strickland. 
 Jabez Rood. 
 Samuel Monross. 
 Luther Barber. 
 Timothy Gaylord. 
 Elisha Richards. 
 Giles Pettibone. 
 Jonathan Strieland. 
 Amariah Plumb. 
 David Turner. 
 
 Thirty heads of families only, now (1828) reside in 
 this town who are descendants from the above-named 
 persons. 
 
 For fifty-six years, the civil and ecclesiastical concerns 
 of the town were conducted by one corporate body. Im- 
 posing and collecting taxes, appropriating money and 
 other property collected to meet the exigencies of the 
 day, and prudently parcelling it out — in small sums, of 
 course — in some measure to satisfy the pressing and 
 numerous claims then demanding their attention. For 
 the above reason the subsequent history will be carried 
 on in a connected form, and so as not needlessly to break 
 the chronological chain. 
 
8 HISTORY OF THE 
 
 1759. — November 26th, the people invited the Rev. 
 Mr. Noah Wetmore to preach on probation. While he 
 was employed, they proceeded so far in building the 
 meeting-house as to raise and cover it. This must have 
 been performed, or a considerable part of it, in an incle- 
 ment season, and previous to June 24th, 1760. 
 
 1760. — March 31st, the inhabitants united in giving 
 Mr. Wetmore a call to settle and reside with them as 
 their minister. A committee was appointed to treat 
 with him on the subject, and also to advise with a council 
 of clergymen, who were about to convene, respecting 
 their contemplated union ; and in case he was re- 
 jected, or did not accept their proposal, they were 
 authorized, if practicable, to obtain the Rev. Noah Bene- 
 dict to supply his place. For some reason, not now 
 known, Mr. Wetmore was rejected by vote in a regular 
 meeting ; Mr. Benedict was not obtained. In their 
 destitute condition, the Rev. Daniel Farrand, of South 
 Canaan, was very kind and attentive to them, preaching 
 occasionally, assisting at funerals, and on other occa- 
 sions ; he also assisted in first gathering and organizing 
 the church, which then consisted of 23 members only. 
 
 They did not rest here, but in a meeting assembled 
 June 24th, 1760, they agreed to invite the Rev. Jesse Ives 
 (brother to Titus Ives,) to preach on probation; he 
 was obtained, and December 24th following, they gave 
 him a call to settle over them as their gospel minister. 
 They proceeded so far towards settling Mr. Ives, as 
 to offer him the minister lot, and to give him a salary 
 of £62 10s. annually, for 3 years, and after that time, to 
 give him a salary of £70 per annum statedly. The time 
 was set for his ordination — the third Wednesday of Octo- 
 ber, 1760 — a committee was chosen to provide for the 
 ordaining council, in the proper time. Another com- 
 mittee was appointed to accompany Mr. Ives to the 
 association, soon to meet, and to attend his examination. 
 His ordination, for reasons not now known, was postpon- 
 ed. In February, 1761, another committee was appoint- 
 ed to attend the examination of Mr. Ives a second time ; 
 but soon after an altercation took place between him 
 
TOWN OF NORFOLK. 9 
 
 and one of his expected parishioners, and he was left to 
 exhibit a specimen of his very hasty temper, and im- 
 prudently and wickedly used such language as very 
 much disgusted the man, and those to whom he related 
 the matter. The business respecting his settlement pro- 
 ceeded no farther. 
 
 The call of Mr. Ives was unanimous, but the second 
 attempt to decide the matter was not so propitious ; one 
 vote only constituted the majority in his favor. It 
 seems the town had too hastily given him a deed or 
 lease of the use of the parsonage land, for he was after- 
 wards required to quit his claim. His other claims 
 against the town were not promptly liquidated, and a 
 law-suit was the result, which, after considerable delay, 
 brought the business to a close. 
 
 Our fathers were not discouraged by this failure, but 
 with renewed zeal pursued their favorite object. In 
 June, 1761, they invited Mr. Ammi Ruhamah Robbins, a 
 young candidate for the ministry — son of the Rev. Phi- 
 lemon Robbins, of Branford, in this State — " to preach 
 to us on probation." After taking suitable time to 
 acquaint themselves with his qualifications, and to de- 
 liberate on the subject, they, on the I6th of September, 
 1761, gave him a unanimous call to take the charge of 
 them as their minister; the committee informed him 
 of the result of their deliberations, and proposed to him 
 the following stipend and terms : viz., to give him the lot 
 reserved for the first settled minister, and an annual 
 salary of £62 10s. for two years, and after that time 
 agreed to give him a stated salary of £70, payable an- 
 nually, and in produce at the market price, and fixed 
 by a committee to be appointed annually for said pur- 
 pose ; (this mode of payment was continued for 45 
 years, when a contract was made). After due consi- 
 deration Mr. Robbins accepted the terms proposed, and 
 waited their time to receive him as their minister. 
 
 Michael Humphrey, Esq., and Ezra Knapp, were 
 appointed to accompany Mr. Robbins to the association 
 and attend his examination. He was approved of by 
 the association, and the 28th of October, 1761, fixed 
 
10 HISTORY OF THE 
 
 upon for his ordination. The time arrived, and pre- 
 parations were made for the occasion. At the age of 
 21, Mr. Robbins presented himself before the ordaining 
 council, and submitted to their examination, which re- 
 sulted in his ordination. The council was composed of 
 the following clergymen, who performed the services 
 assigned them in the solemn transaction. 
 
 Rev. Mr. Lee, of Salisbury, offered the introductory 
 prayer ; Rev. Mr. Robbins, his father, preached the ser- 
 mon, text 2d of Corinthians, 5th chapter, 20th verse. 
 
 Rev. Dr. Bellamy, of Bethlehem, offered the conse- 
 crating prayer, and gave the charge. 
 
 Rev. Mr. Champion, of Litchfield, gave the right hand 
 of fellowship ; Rev. Mr. Robberts, of Torrington, offered 
 the concluding prayer. 
 
 The number of families in town at this time was 60, 
 and soon increased to 70. The church consisted of 38 
 members. In May 13th, 1762, Mr. Robbins married 
 Miss Elizabeth Le Baron, daughter of Dr. Le Baron of 
 Plymouth, Mass., and removed her through the then rough 
 and devious way to his new habitation, there to suffer 
 many privations, aid him in his arduous and responsible 
 station, share with him in trials, in joys and sorrows, and, 
 finally, to close his eyes on scenes long dear to them, 
 and for several years after to live in lonely widow- 
 hood. 
 
 Our progenitors, deeply impressed with a sense of 
 the importance of religious institutions, were, from the 
 commencement of their residence in this place, united 
 in their exertions to establish them on a permanent 
 foundation ; and, after several fruitless attempts to settle 
 a gospel minister. Providence sent them a man to break 
 to them the bread of life, who w^as cordially received, 
 and in union with the people of his charge, enjoyed the 
 smiles of the Great Head of the church, and served 
 them faithfully for 52 years ; he finished his course, 
 and rested from his labors. His memory will be ever 
 dear to the church and inhabitants of this town. 
 
 When considering the nuiltiplicity and variety of their 
 engagements, their pecuniary embarrassments, many and 
 
TOWN OF NORFOLK. H 
 
 of a mao-nitude one would think sufficient to dampen 
 the ardor of most communities in their mfant state and 
 pecuHar location, political troubles thickenmg around 
 them, and threatening to overwhelm and blast then- dear 
 and cherished hopes— we cannot but admire how stea- 
 dily they persevered in pursuit of the superior object ot 
 their wishes. One thing which very much engrossed 
 their attention was the building a house, wherein pub- 
 lickly to worship God and permanently establish reli- 
 o-ious order. By the strictest economy, management, 
 mid patient labor, in the course of about 12 years, they 
 so far accomplished their wishes, as to be m a good de- 
 gree accommodated with a house dedicated to the wor- 
 ship ofGod and the establishment of divme ordinances. 
 Many other improvements were made at that time, 
 which will be noticed in the proper place. 
 
 Their progress in building the meetmg-house may be 
 seen by the following statement : in 1759, they com- 
 menced building the meeting-house, and m the course ot 
 the year raised and covered it. In 1761, underpinned 
 and floored the lower part of it. In 1767, laid the gal- 
 lery floor. In 1769, finished the lower part and made 
 the pulpit. January 2, 1770, dignified and seated it. 
 In 1771, finished the galleries and procured a cushion 
 for the pulpit desk. 
 
 The house, respectable in its appearance tor those 
 early times, was in dimensions 40 by 50, of suitable 
 heioht for galleries, built in a plain style, without any ex- 
 teriml decoration, except the then fashionable triangular 
 cornices or laps over the doors and windows. The in- 
 side finish was equally plain and remained unpamted. 
 The outside was painted about this time, with what was 
 called a peach-blow color, which must have appeai-ed a 
 glaring contrast to the sombre hue of the thick and lotty 
 Frees which then surrounded it; so dense, that in coming 
 from the south it was not seen until entering the lower 
 part of the triangular green, now in use, and cleared ot 
 the incumbrance of lofty hemlocks and wide-spreadmg 
 maples, etc. ; and the surface thus cleared exposed a 
 still more stubborn article, to be removed in due time— 
 
12 HISTORY OF THE 
 
 rocks, deeply imbedded, had lain undisturbed since 
 creation, until they felt the force of powder, which they 
 could not resist ; yet, some remain as a specimen of the 
 once rough appearance of the surface. In 1793, the 
 house was painted white, and retained a slight appear- 
 ance of it when taken down in 1814, having stood about 
 55 years. 
 
 The conffreafation was, for some time after the house 
 was finished, or in a condition to occupy, summoned 
 to assemble on the Sabbath, and on other occasions, by 
 blowing a horn, or some other signal understood and 
 authorized by vote of the town. Suitable persons were 
 appointed and required to see that every one, who had 
 not a satisfactory excuse, should regularly attend public 
 divine worship in the sanctuary, and, also, that every 
 family be fm*nished with a Bible. 
 
 We again find it interesting to trace their slow but 
 sure progress in improvement in the incipient stage of 
 the settlement. While they were engaged in the im- 
 portant pm'suit just mentioned, sufficient, it would seem, 
 from the zeal exhibited, almost entirely to engross their 
 attention and occupy their time, yet they were not un- 
 mindful of the necessity of educating their children, and 
 preparing them for future usefulness. Schools were 
 early established, and encouraged by every means then 
 in their power. Limited, indeed, were the means, their 
 funds were low, and their books few. The following 
 books composed the hbrary of the pupil : the Bible, the 
 New England Primer, containing the assembly of 
 divines' Shorter Catechism, Dilworth's Spelhng Book, 
 containing a few pages of grammar, his Schoolmaster's 
 Assistant, containing the ground rules of arithmetic, and 
 some rules quite too abstruse for the juvenile scholar. 
 The writing scholar took his first lesson on the bark of 
 the white birch, or was restricted to the use of a few 
 sheets of paper, whereon to learn that useful art. His 
 indulgent and kind mother made his ink from the bark 
 of the soft maple, or the berries of the sumach. His in- 
 genious father made him an ink-horn — properly so-call- 
 ed — of the tip of a cow's horn, and set it in a round 
 
TOWN OF NORFOLK. **' 
 
 wooden bottom ; thus accoutred he ^cd away with 
 rhpprfiil stens to his school-house, in some instances 
 ar d ^Lt Tere to spend the day n. "t^X -" -- 
 fined summer heat, or the piercmg cold of wmter. 11 e 
 teachers were ins ructed from the same source and in 
 
 and pour instruction into the mind. ^ 
 
 in^n'o^Se^trfaSt l^ ^^^^^ 
 
 indeed in numbei- collected about the '»- ° J^ " 
 Robbms' settlement, consisting of ^b°" . 1^,'^, J°^X^; 
 splpcted from the comparatively few books obtainan e ai 
 that tTmeU was preserved for 30 or 35 years and t en 
 
 oW and dLibut^d among the P'-PX" leaLj 
 manner were the evenings of many f^™l>;; f ^^X. 
 snent Thus a reader occupied one corner ot tne nre 
 
 de surToundedby an interesting, and - -- —- 
 an attentive group of children, while the b»^y ^um o 
 the soinnin<T-wheel was heard in the othei. 1 "e"- aays 
 
 ver '^mdu^^iously spent, when tlie ---^-'l^^f':^ 
 circumstances would admit, in ^"'"g^" ' ^to massv 
 
 the huge forest trees, the logs ^^^.^ ^7,'^,'^ , " ° „7and 
 
 piles, which,, when -t on fi^^^^^^^^^^^ 
 
 :;rJ^'trcfiiMr:^^^^^^^^ -^ - add fud 
 
 to the fire by throwing on the Irush-wood. 
 
 Tn addition to all this labor and expense, passauie 
 ro dswerfmade, and the rugged -fa- cear«^and 
 
 smoothed sufficiently for oP^";"g VrX°co^°r7- oad, 
 town in different directions. In 1761 , the emu tr> i oaa 
 
 and approved of for making roads, was, to dig a pass or 
 
14 HISTORY ON THE 
 
 trench through knolls, and on the declivities of hills, 
 sufficiently wide for carts to pass forward, but in general, 
 not to pass each other but with difficulty. The wet and 
 marshy places which crossed their route, were filled with 
 round timber laid across the road, in some places they 
 were left naked, in others the interstices were filled with 
 earth, which formed a level for a time above the water 
 and mud. When coming to a rock of considerable size, 
 they very prudently sheered off, and took a circular turn, 
 avoiding it as an unconquerable obstruction. The 
 course of the highways, generally, was over high ground, 
 in order to escape the swamps and dense forests, which 
 in many places lay directly in their way. After, when 
 the surface was cleared and dry, many alterations we e 
 made in their direction, which better accommodated the 
 inhabitants in every part of the town. 
 
 The troublous times, which had for several years 
 been anticipated, now arrived. Their recital, as to de- 
 tail, is here omitted, and the reader referred to the official 
 documents published at large on the subject. It will be 
 sufficient in this place to say, our fathers now began very 
 sensibly to feel, in common with their fellow-citizens 
 throughout the country, the effects of British aggression, 
 innovation, and unwarranted demands. Those impolitic 
 measures, on the side of the British, were the cause of 
 their almost unanimously and firmly imbibing that spirit 
 of independence and freedom which actuated them in 
 their subsequent and arduous struggles for the defence 
 of their inalienable rights. The inhabitants of this town 
 determined, in cooperation with their fellow-citizens, to 
 withstand the torrent of abuse unmercifully poured upon 
 them, and to emancipate themselves from the now rude 
 grasp of their mother-country, if blood as well as treasure 
 must be the sacrifice ! 
 
 From the few public newspapers, then in circulation, 
 the news of the day was obtained, and the public proceed- 
 ings were made familiar to them ; and they told them to 
 their children. In 1774, having learned that the harbor 
 of Boston was blockaded by the British, in the true 
 spirit of Christian benevolence and of patriotism, they 
 
TOWN OF NORFOLK. 15 
 
 resolved, in legal meeting, to send relief to the inhabi- 
 tants who were in distressing circumstances. It was 
 timely ; and though like the widow's mite when com- 
 pared with their necessities, it was undoubtedly an ac- 
 ceptable offering. At the same meeting they levied a 
 tax of one half-penny on the pound, for the purpose of 
 procuring powder and other ammunition for the use of 
 the town, that they might be ready for any emergency 
 calhng for its use. For the same season, they establish- 
 ed a pest-house for the smallpox, a disease then dreaded 
 — especially if taken the natural way — almost as much 
 as the hydrophobia is now ! 
 
 In 1774, the 30th of June, they received the resolves 
 of the representatives convened at Hartford, and imme- 
 diately called a special meeting of the people, who voted 
 to approve, adopt and copy them. The import of the 
 resolves was very similar to those passed in Philadelpliia, 
 which are copied below. The Hartford resolves close 
 with the following spirited determination : 
 
 " It is an indispensable duty, which we owe to our 
 king, our colony, ourselves and our posterity, by all 
 lawful measures and means in our power, to maintain, 
 defend, and preserve inviolate, those our rights and 
 liberties, and to transmit them entire and inviolate to 
 the latest generation ; and that it is our fixed determina- 
 tion and unalterable resolution faithfully to discharge 
 this our duty." 
 
 The resolves above referred to, ten in number, are, 
 for substance, as follows : " We are entitled to hfe, 
 liberty and property, and no foreign power has a right to 
 dispose of either, without our consent. We are entitled 
 to all the rights, hberties and immunities of free and 
 natural-born subjects. By our emigration, we have not 
 forfeited, surrendered or lost, any of those rights, nor our 
 allegiance to our rightful sovereign. 
 
 " As we are not represented in the British parliament, 
 we are entitled to a free and exclusive power of k gisla- 
 tion in our several provincial legislatures ; subject only 
 to the negative of our sovereign. The respective 
 colonies are entitled to the common law of England, and 
 
16 HISTORY OF THE 
 
 the inestimable privilege of being tried by their peers of 
 the vicinage, according to the course of that law. That 
 we are entitled to the benefit of such of the Enghsh 
 statutes as existed at the time of our colonization. That 
 we are entitled to all the immunities and privileges con- 
 firmed to us by royal charters, or the several codes of 
 provincial laws. We have a right, peaceably to as- 
 semble, consider of our grievances, and petition the king 
 for redress. 
 
 " Keeping a standing army in any of our colonies, 
 without our consent, is illegal. It is rendered essential 
 by the English constitution, that the constituent branches 
 of the legislature be independent of each other." 
 
 December 26, 1774. Our people received the four- 
 teen articles of agreement, drawn up and signed by all 
 the representatives present, in their own names, and in 
 behalf of their constituents, to continue until their griev- 
 ances were redressed. A special meeting was called, 
 and a unanimous vote given to approve of, and abide by, 
 these resolves. They proceeded to appoint a committee 
 of nine, whose duty it should be to enforce the obser- 
 vance of them ; and a committee of three, to correspond 
 with the other colonies on the subject. Appointed for 
 said committee, Giles Pettibone, Esq., Dudley Hum- 
 phrey, Esq., and Titus Ives. 
 
 The resolves or articles of agreement, referred to 
 above, were passed in Philadelphia in September pre- 
 ceding, by the continental congress, then convened. 
 The articles follow, — -" Agreed, not to import any arti- 
 cles from Great Britan or any of its colonies, or of any 
 concerned in trade with them. Not to export any 
 article to those places either directly or indirectly. Not 
 to use or consume any article procured from those 
 places. Not to purchase any slave imported, but wholly 
 discontinue the slave-trade, and not assist in any way to 
 carry it on. Not to purchase any tea, on which a duty 
 has been or shall be paid. We will use our utmost en- 
 deavors to improve the breed of sheep, and increase 
 the number of them. 
 
 " We will encourage frugality, economy, and industry, 
 
TOWN OF NORFOLK. 17 
 
 and promote agriculture, arts, and manufactures, especial- 
 ly of wool. We will discourage every species of extrava- 
 gance, and if we lose a friend or relative, we will use no 
 more expensive mourning dress than a piece of crape, or 
 ribbon on the arm or hat, and our ladies, a black ribbon 
 or neck-lace. 
 
 " That the manufactures of this country shall be sold 
 at reasonable prices. That we will have no intercourse 
 with any colony which shall not accede to, or which shall 
 violate this association. That a committee shall be ap- 
 pointed in every town, whose duty it shall be to enforce 
 the observance of these resolves and agreements. The 
 committee appointed for the above purpose in this town, 
 were faithful in the discharge of their duty. The com- 
 mittee were — Giles Pettibone, Dudley Humphrey, Titus 
 Watson, Samuel Mills and Andrew Moore." 
 
 1776. — The irresistible lapse of time brought about 
 the important and interesting era and stage of revolu- 
 tionary achievement, when our fathers must give up the 
 arduous struggle for the defence of their rights, relin- 
 quish every claim to redress of grievances, obsequiously 
 bow under the yoke of oppression, and submit to the rule 
 of the rod of tyranny, or rise with united energy in the 
 spirit of freemen, panting for liberty and independence, 
 and steadily move forward to meet and contend with the 
 powerful phalanx of opposing difficulties and dangers. 
 
 Urged by the call of duty, they declared themselves 
 free from, and independent of their now oppressive an- 
 cestors ; and pledged their honor, their life, and their 
 treasures, if called for, in bringing the contest to a 
 favorable issue, and obtaining a peace and settlement 
 with their belligerent foe, in some measure adequate 
 to their just requirements, and honorable to those who 
 Jiad already, and those who must sufter and bleed in 
 the glorious cause, and those who may survive, and en- 
 joy the fruits of their exertions. 
 
 The people of this town were ever ready, it would 
 seem, to cooperate in every measure adopted, and ap- 
 proved of by our government, in that eventful day, 
 yet not without suitable examination and free dis- 
 
 2 
 
18 HISTORY OF THE 
 
 cussion. They now, pursuant to resolutions previously 
 made, rose almost en masse and prepared to meet the 
 call on them for their quota of men and necessary sup- 
 plies, to aid in prosecuting the defensive war in which 
 their brethren of the ditierent colonies were now deeply 
 and ardently engaged, — a war, it was believed, sanc- 
 tioned and approved of by that Being who sways the 
 sceptre of the universe, and to whom the united prayers 
 of the pious of this oppressed coimtry were addressed 
 for guidance and success. Their exertions appear to 
 have been unremitted until the banner of peace was un- 
 furled to their view. Several of their active and influen- 
 tial men fell in the contest, and their bereaved families 
 still flourish among us ; others returned to the bosom of 
 their families and friends, and lived to enjoy with them 
 the sweets of liberty and independence. 
 
 In 1777, the people of this town were afflicted with both 
 war and pestilence ; the camp distemper, or dysentery, 
 as it is now called, sw ept off" fifty-six persons of different 
 ages ; and the year following, thirty-eight died of the 
 same disorder ; and several, who went from this town to 
 serve their country, died in the army or on their return 
 home. In this distressing time, our fathers were en- 
 gaged in acts of kindness and benevolence, in endeavor- 
 ing to supply the wants of the inhabitants ; pressing, in- 
 deed, were the wants of the lonely woman and her chil- 
 dren, and especially the bereaved families. A com- 
 mittee was appointed to provide for the families of the 
 three-years' men — so-called, — and to procure salt for the 
 use of the inhabitants generally, (an article at that time 
 poor and scarce), they were directed to distribute it in 
 equal proportion to each individual in town. Thus, al- 
 though sequestered from the noise and bloody scenes of 
 war, our ancestors were severely tried with privation 
 and sickness, continual anxiety and care. The above 
 committee were — Sanuiel Cowls, Jr., Elijah Grant, Isaac 
 Holt, Jr., Titus Ives, Timothy Gaylord. 
 
 In 1777, this town was first represented in the general 
 assembly of this state. Messrs. Giles Pettibone and 
 Wm. Walter were appointed representatives. About 
 
TOWN OF NORFOLK. 19 
 
 this time a specimen of an army, subjugated and despoil- 
 ed of its weapons of war, was exhibited. A part of 
 Burgoyne's forces passed through this town as prisoners 
 of war ; encamping, for several days, on the centre 
 green. It was composed of Hessians and regulars, the 
 subjects of Great Britain, martially designated. They 
 were suffered to stroll around among the mhabitants and 
 beg for food, until ordered to march forward to the place 
 destined for their reception. One of the Hessians died, 
 and Hendrich Bale, another, lingered behind, became an 
 inhabitant of this town and married Sarah Hotchkis 
 They had three sons, Fredrich, Salmon and Josiah. For 
 the particulars of their capture and ultimate fate, the 
 reader is referred to the history of the Revolution. 
 
 The assembly, at their session in 1778, ordered each 
 town in this state, to appoint a committee, vested with full 
 power and directed to establish a uniform price through 
 the state for labor per day, the price of every article of 
 produce, every manufactured article, tavern prices, etc.* 
 The object is not stated. A few specimens will here be 
 noticed, in abstract. Labor, per day, 3s. 6d., 4s. 4^d. 
 and 5s. 3d., specifying the different seasons of the year, 
 and the kinds of labor ; a good narrow axe and scythe, 
 each lis. 3d. ; a good broad hoe, 7s. 6d. Joiners, per 
 day, 5s. 3d. and 6s. Ijd. Carpenters, 7s. Masons, 7s. 
 lO^d. Tailors, 5s. 3d. Tailoresses, 2s. 2d. Tavern 
 keepers, for a good meal of victuals, Is. 2d., for a mug 
 of cider, 7d, good West India rum, per gill. Is.; New 
 England rum, 8d. ; a mug of flip, made of good West 
 India rum, 2s. 4d. ; other rums. Is. 8d., etc. The 
 original list, a singular document, is on file in the town 
 clerk's office. 
 
 The same year, 1778, this town presented a petition 
 to the assembly of this state, through a county conven- 
 tion assembled at Litchfield, for an alteration in the 
 mode of taxation ; and, also, that the journals of the as- 
 sembly be published. They were determined, it seems, 
 
 * Said committee were— Giles Pettibone, Michael Mills, Titus Ives, 
 and Timothy Grajlord. 
 
20 HISTORY OF THE 
 
 to proceed deliberately and iinderstandingly in every 
 measure proposed to them and to be adopted by them, 
 intended for the public good. 
 
 In 1780, the inhabitants who were required to aid in 
 prosecuting the defensive war in which we were en- 
 gaged, were divided into three classes, each class was to 
 furnish a soldier for the continental service ; and for 
 their encouragement, the town voted to give each man 
 drafted, or enlisted into the continental service, £3 per 
 month in addition to their stipulated wages ; and in 
 order to enable them to pay this premium, they 
 levied a tax of 3^d. on the £1, to continue for three 
 successive years. Both foot and cavalry were entitled 
 to receive it ; it was payable in produce, and a com- 
 mittee was appointed to receive and distribute it. Polls 
 were exempted from paying this tax, the first year. Soon 
 after, an additional tax was levied for the same purpose, 
 of Is. on the £1, to be paid in state or continental 
 money ; or if any one chose to pay in produce, at the 
 stated price, it was to be received at the rate of 6d. on 
 the £1. The next year, 1781, the town voted, that 100 
 silver dollars should be received of a militia class, in- 
 stead of a man. This $100, was to be distributed equal- 
 ly to each of the three classes. At this time, state's 
 money was estimated at $2 for one of silver, and conti- 
 nental bills, $72 for one of silver, and it continued to 
 depreciate until $100 was required for a bushel of Avheat. 
 A committee was appointed at the same meeting, to 
 regulate their appropriations according to the deprecia- 
 tion of the paper currency. 
 
 In 1782, pursuant to an order from the general as- 
 sembly, (each town in the state having similar orders,) 
 this town collected a stated quantity of provisions for 
 the use of the army, consisting of pork, beef, flour, etc. 
 These were to be deposited in a convenient place, and 
 ready when called for. Inspectors of provisions were 
 annually appointed, for several years. The articles were 
 placed under the care of a man appointed for the pur- 
 pose, for safe keeping. By some means — not stated — 
 the provisions thus deposited were so damaged as not to 
 
TOWN OF NORFOLK. 21 
 
 be fit for the purpose designed. The loss was estimated 
 at £50. A serious loss, considering their circumstances 
 at that time. 
 
 While suffering under public losses and individual 
 embarrassment, heightened by the chilling clangor of 
 war, our fathers were sustained, and were still alive to, 
 and active in their duty, numerous as were the calls, 
 domestic and in defence of their rights. 
 
 In 1784, our people sent in, by their representatives, 
 a remonstrance, embracing the subjects — of collecting 
 debts, the mode of taxation, and particularly against the 
 commutation act. On the subject of collecting debts, 
 this, as it respected the congressional laws, may have re- 
 ference to the case of the claims of those persons, who 
 in the revolutionary struggle, from choice or some other 
 reason, removed to, or continued under the British go- 
 vernment ; or more particularly, it respected the laws of 
 this state on the subject, then in operation, which were 
 considered very oppressive. On the subject of taxation, 
 they directed their representatives to propose and urge 
 an alteration in the mode of taxation, the enactment of a 
 substitute by which they might be taxed simply accord- 
 ing to their property. The manner then pursued they 
 considered as unequitable. They likewise claimed as 
 citizens, the privilege of open doors and free admission 
 to hear the debates of the assembly ; and, also, that the 
 yeas and nays of both houses, on any and every impor- 
 tant subject discussed, shall be published. They were 
 particularly directed to remonstrate against the conmiu- 
 tation act, and through the legislature of this state, to 
 urge congress to desist. (Congress had made a commu- 
 tation of the half-pay for hfe, to the officers of the conti- 
 nental army, or those of them who preferred it, granting 
 the gross sum of five, years' pay in money or securities at 
 6 per cent, per annum.) At the close of the petition, 
 our fathers, in their usual spirited style, asserted that the 
 measure was unconstitutional, and very alarming to free 
 citizens, and an infringement of the articles of contcder- 
 ation of the United States. 
 
 As the ocean in a mighty storm, tossing its billows to 
 
22 HISTORY OF THE 
 
 the sky, when the storm ceases, gradually subsides, and 
 calmly settles into its bed, so with political convulsions, 
 it must take time to cease from agitation, and to settle 
 into a calm. This town, though remote from the san- 
 guinary scene, continued to feel the tremulous motion, 
 and years elapsed before the eflects of war had ceased ; 
 they were well prepared, by muhiphed calamities, proper- 
 ly to appreciate and rehsh the return of peace and quiet. 
 
 The inhabitants of this town had, in the course of the 
 war, slowly progressed in improvements — population 
 had increased, fields were cleared, roads opened, school- 
 houses erected, heavy taxes liquidated, and calls for 
 charity were apparently met with a cheerful heart. 
 
 Soon after the war closed, many enterprising families 
 and single young men emigrated from this town to 
 Vermont ; and, subsequently, a still greater number to 
 the western and north-western parts of New-York and 
 Pennsylvania, and onward to the State of Ohio, particu- 
 larly into that section of it called New Connecticut, or, 
 the Western Reserve, so that travellers from this town 
 to the north, north-west and west, by enquiring or acci- 
 dentally, will find and meet those whom he can recognize 
 as natives of this town ; and that many who people those 
 new settlements, were descendants from our first settlers, 
 or had recently gone from us. 
 
 In 1787, a circumstance occurred, which, for its 
 novelty and the rare sport it aflforded, may well be 
 noticed in this place. While the congregation was as- 
 sembled, and devoutly engaged in celebrating the annual 
 thanksgiving, the speaker having commenced his sermon, 
 a messenger entered the house, and with a firm and 
 manly step, walked partly up the middle aisle, with his eye 
 fixed on the speaker full of meaning and intelligence ; 
 the speaker paused ; and he informed the crowded as- 
 sembly, that five wolves — a dog and slut, with three pups 
 almost full grown — were now on Haystack Mountain^ 
 partly surrounded by men already collected, and that 
 more men were wanted to assfst in destroying them. 
 The speaker replied, he thought it a duty for every man 
 to turn out and combat these invaders ; immediately a 
 
TOWN OF NORFOLK. 23 
 
 great part of the male members of the congregation rose 
 from their seats, and flew to tlie scene of action. A hne 
 was formed round the mountain, distributmg at proper 
 distances those who were supphed with guns and ammu- 
 nition, and the Avhole circle was directed by leaders, 
 emulous to excel ; the line gradually contracted as they 
 ascended the mountain on every side, silent and cautious, 
 until the fdes were nearly closed. Tlie ravenous in- 
 vaders now appeared in rapid flight, coming towards the 
 line, the clubs and pitchforks were raised, the guns 
 elevated in martial form, the balls whizzed, and pirt of 
 the wolves were killed on the spot, the remainder rush- 
 ed to the opposite section of the hne, where they met 
 their fate, except the dog-wolf, who, frightened and en- 
 raged, rushed through the line — clubs, pitchforks, and 
 guns notwithstanding — but the steady and well-aimed 
 fire-arms soon stopped him, filling his body with balls, not 
 counted until more at leisure. They were all brought 
 dow^n into the village in triumph, and exhibited to a 
 numerous collection of people ; many, who dispensed 
 with their usual Thanksgivino; feast around the fireside 
 of their quiet homes, were seen gratifying their sight 
 rather than their appetites. 
 
 From 1787 to 1811, few occurrences transpired 
 worthy of historical record. This time was principally 
 occupied in attending to the common run of town and 
 society business. The reader is referred to the sum- 
 mary of events, annexed, for the particular transactions 
 and occurrences included in this interim. 
 
 1811. — September 16th, in a special meeting of the 
 inhabitants, a proposal was made to build a new meet- 
 ing-house, by raising a sum by subscription sufiicient, 
 with the usual tax of individuals liable to pay society taxes, 
 to defray the expense. After a free discussion of the 
 subject a vote was taken, and passed in the affirmative. 
 A committee was appointed, residing in the dift'erent 
 school districts, to solicit subscriptions. They soon ob- 
 tained $1827. Another committee was appointed to 
 ascertain the centre of the town in order to fix the site 
 for the meeting-house. But at a meeting, assembled 
 
24 
 
 HISTORY OF THE 
 
 the 9th of the next December, the above votes were re- 
 scinded, and one passed very unanimously to detray the 
 whole expense of building the meeting-house by sub- 
 scription. The money subscribed, to be paid in three 
 equal and annual instalments, beginning in one year {"rom 
 the above date. A new committee was appointed to 
 solicit subscriptions. They very readily obtained the 
 amount of $4437.75, and several gentlemen engaged to 
 add to their subscription if necessary. The remainder 
 of the expense was paid by a subsequent subscription. 
 Michael F. Mills, Esq., was appointed an agent to con- 
 tract for, and superintend the building and finishing of 
 the house. The site for the house was established June 
 15th, 1812. Mr. David Hoadly was engaged as archi- 
 tect ; and the business commenced early in the spring of 
 1813. The business proceeded with great regularity and 
 faithfulness. The house was completed in 1814, and 
 was dedicated in August of the same year. Its cost 
 was $6000. It was furnished with a good clock, by the 
 liberality of the Rev. Thomas Robbins, a son of our 
 first and beloved pastor. In 1822, an organ was pro- 
 cured and set in the front gallery, where accommoda- 
 tions were prepared to seat the choir of singers. 
 
 1811. — October 28th, Mr. Robbins having preached to 
 this people 50 years, prepared and preached a half cen- 
 tury sermon, his text was Acts, 26th chapter, 22d and 23d 
 verses. He remarked, in course ofhis sermon, that, since 
 the church was first gathered in this town, 549 members 
 had been added to it. He had baptized 1277 persons, the 
 most of them were children of those who were in full 
 communion, a few were adults. He had attended 760 
 burials, the average number for each year being about 
 15. He had joined 276 couple in marriage. (The num- 
 ber joined by civil authority not known.) He had 
 preached 6500 sermons, including those preached abroad. 
 He also remarked that, at that time, there were but two 
 persons living who belonged to this church when he was 
 ordained — Mrs. Dorothy Case, of this town, and Major 
 Noah Allen, of Tyringham. He said that, in the whole 
 course of his ministry, there had been but two cases 
 
TOWN OF NORFOLK. 25 
 
 of distraint for ministerial taxes, and those two per- 
 sons had turned to other denominations after their tax 
 became due ; a striking and convincing proof of the 
 harmony and of the wihingness of his people to give 
 him support. 
 
 From the second year after his settlement, his salary 
 was established at £70 annually, during life ; but, from 
 1779 to 1783, he generously relinquished £14 of his 
 salary, annually, on account of the heavy taxes and 
 pressing calls for pecuniary aid in prosecuting the revo- 
 lutionary war. From that time to 1793 he received £70 
 per annum, when it was advanced to £90; and in 1806 
 it was set, by mutual agreement, at $300 during his 
 ability to preach. 
 
 Mr. Robbins performed the duties of a chaplain in 
 the army nearly through the year of 1776, for several 
 regiments. In 1783, he was on a mission to the west 
 for eight months ; and, in 1794-5-6, he performed 
 five several tours of missionary service in the destitute 
 new settlements, in the northern parts of Vermont, and 
 in the western and north-western parts of the state of 
 New-York. He was absent from his people two or 
 three times, for a few weeks each time, on account of 
 ill health. When with his people — which was generally 
 the case — he was very faithful and prompt in attending 
 to every call for pastoral duty, and exhibited a very 
 happy talent in his conversation on rehgious subjects, 
 in his addresses to his people from the pulpit, and in 
 all the performances of his sacred office. In addition 
 to this, and in consequence of his peculiar talent for 
 teaching, he prepared many young gentlemen for a 
 collegiate education — residents of this town and from 
 various and distant parts of the country. 
 
 From 1811, Mr. Robbins' health gradually declined, 
 but he was able to preach some part of the time until 
 the summer of 1813. He met with his people for the 
 last time for public worship, on the Sabbath, a little 
 before the old meeting-house was taken down ; being 
 unable to ascend the pulpit, he rose in his pew, and 
 closed the services of the day by a short but solemn 
 
26 
 
 HISTORY OF THE 
 
 address, and then, after a very appropriate and fervent 
 prayer, retired from the congregation of his beloved 
 people, to meet them no more, until he met them at 
 the bar of God to render their account — a scene to 
 which he had often referred them. 
 
 1813.— October 31st, Mr. Robbins died, aged 73. 
 At the particular request of this alHicted people, the 
 Rev. Dr. Lee, of Colebrook, met them and preached 
 the funeral sermon. Text, 2d of Kings, 2d chapter, 
 12th verse. He rose in the desk and exclaimed, 
 " My father, my father, the chariot of Israel and the 
 horsemen thereof." These words, uttered with his 
 usual pathos, with the remains of the good man lying 
 before him, dressed for the tomb, were peculiarly af- 
 fecting. In the course of his sermon he remarked, 
 Mr. Robbins was truly a son of the Sabbath ; he was 
 born on the Sabbath ; he was new born, as he hoped, 
 on the Sabbath, and he died on the Sabbath. He also 
 mentioned the followinij anecdote, of a nature calcu- 
 iated to brmg into exercise all the sensibilities of filial 
 affection. In reply to a remark, made by Dr. Lee to him 
 a few years since, " How happy you are, Mr. Robbins, 
 in your people ; so united, so attached to your person, 
 and so attentive to your ministry." " O," said the good 
 man, with the tear of parental affection glistening in his 
 eyes, " the people of Norfolk are my children ; I have 
 buried their fathers, and brought them up from infancy." 
 
 In the course of Mr. Robbins' ministry, there were se- 
 veral revivals of religion. The first season noticed 
 was in 1767, 10 members were added to the church. 
 In 1783-4, another occurred, 52 were added. In 1798 
 -9, 160 were added, and the whole number of com- 
 municants at that time was 300. Few years, if any, had 
 passed without some additions to the church. About 
 the time of Mr. Emerson's ordination, viz., in 1815 
 -16, another revival occurred, 122 were added. The 
 whole number of members at this time was 216. In 
 1827, 103 were added. The diminution of the number 
 of communicants, from 1799 to 1816, was from deaths 
 among the members, as a common cause ; but particu- 
 
TOWN OF NORFOLK. 27 
 
 larly dismissions and recommendations to other churches, 
 in that pecuhar time for emigration. 
 
 A custom was adopted and practised, nearly through 
 the whole course of Mr. Robbins' ministry, which, to 
 those who did not enter into the spirit of it, and perhaps 
 to those of the present generation, might seem rather 
 papistical, or as showing undue respect and reverence 
 for the clergy ; but, to the writer, it was a pleasing 
 exhibition — it was this : the congregation being generally 
 present, and seated, Mr. Robbins, punctual to the time, 
 entered the house ; he took off his hat, walked up the 
 broad aisle, bowing to the right and to the left, as if to 
 say. Good morning, my dear people : the people on each 
 side responded to the compliment, and rose as he passed 
 along, as if answering, Good morning, our dear pastor. 
 He then ascended the pulpit, hung up his hat, turned 
 and bowed to those seated in the galleries, and to the 
 choir of singers, as if to say. Good morning, my dear 
 children, and you who aid me in the divine service ; 
 they rose, as his eyes passed round upon them, without 
 tumult, as if replying. Good morning, our dear father in 
 Christ. This ceremony was performed in a graceful 
 manner, particularly on the part of the pastor. This 
 interchange of civility, giving it no more tender epithet, 
 was indicative of the respect and unfeigned love of his 
 people towards him as their spiritual instructor and 
 guide. 
 
 The writer, and those readers still living who sat 
 under his ministry, remember his mpjmer in general, 
 while officiating as a gospel minister ; his manner, in 
 the administration of the Lord's Supper, was peculiarly 
 solemn and impressive. After arranging the sacramental 
 furniture and the elements in due order, he addressed 
 the members in a few words appropriate to the occasion ; 
 he then invited the communicants to unite witli him 
 in prayer to the great Head of the church, for His bless- 
 ing on the elements and on each guest. After the prayer 
 was closed, he proceeded in the service by breaking the 
 bread, saying to the communicants, " Thus, as you see 
 this bread broken, was the body of Jesus bruised and 
 
28 HISTORY OF THE 
 
 broken for your sins." He then commenced a kind of 
 audible soliloquy, very helpful in directing the medita- 
 tions of the communicants to proper subjects. The 
 following words were generally repeated, or those of 
 similar import : 
 
 " He w^as wounded for our transgressions. He was 
 bruised for our iniquities ; the chastisement of our 
 .peace was upon Him, and with His stripes we are healed. 
 All we, like sheep, have gone astray, we have turned 
 every one to his own way, and the Lord hath laid on 
 Him the iniquities of us all. He was oppressed, and He 
 was afflicted ; yet He opened not His mouth. He is 
 brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep be- 
 fore her shearers is dumb, so He opened not His 
 mouth." He then, after suitable reflections, exhibited 
 the bread to the view of the communicants, and then 
 said, " Beloved brothers and sisters, this bread, now 
 broken before you, taken from a common and ordinary 
 use, is now consecrated, and, so much as is necessary, 
 appropriated to this sacramental use and purpose, ex- 
 hibits to you, symbolically, the broken body of our Lord 
 Jesus, which was broken for the sins of the world. I 
 do, therefore, as His minister, however unworthy, in- 
 vite you all to partake of it, remembering that, as oft as 
 you do this, you do shew forth the Lord's death until He 
 come." 
 
 After the bread was distributed, he took the flagon, 
 and, filling a cup with wine, exhibited it, saying, "Christ 
 also took the cup and gave thanks, saying, ' This 
 is the New Testament in my blood, which was shed for 
 you, for the remission of sins.' Let us imitate His ex- 
 ample^ and give thanks at the remembrance of His 
 mercies." After giving thanks, he invited the communi- 
 cants all to partake of the wine, which represented His 
 blood, shed to wash away sin. Use it in a believing and 
 thankful remembrance of Christ crucified, and in love 
 and charity to one another. After the distribution of 
 the wine, he said, " Supper being ended, our Saviour 
 and His disciples sang a hymn. Let us imitate their ex- 
 ample and sing." He then gave the blessing, which was 
 
TOWN OF NORFOLK. 
 
 29 
 
 generally expressed in the following words, " Now the 
 God of peace, that brought again from the dead our 
 Lord Jesus Christ, that great Shepherd of the sheep, 
 through the blood of the everlasting covenant, make 
 you plirfect in every good work to do His will, workmg 
 in you that which is well pleasing in His sight, through 
 Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. 
 
 Amen." 
 
 Hitherto, both town and ecclesiastical society busi- 
 ness has been conducted by the whole town in a corpo- 
 rate capacity. For this reason, the history of both has 
 been connected and brought down together ; and the 
 compiler takes the hberty still to pursue the same 
 
 plan. 
 
 In 1814, February 28th, an ecclesiastical society was 
 organized, and the appropriate timds and business were 
 transferred to it from the town, and it has since been 
 conducted separately. 
 
 1815, May 22d, the society gave a unanimous vote, 
 to call Mr. Ralph Emerson to settle over them as their 
 o-ospel minister, he having preached to us a suitable 
 time on probation. June 10th, Mr. Emerson accepted 
 the call, and the stipend offered him, and was ordained 
 the 12th day of the same month. The society continu- 
 ed well satisfied with the result, and their estimation of 
 the man increased during his parochial services with 
 
 them. 
 
 In 1817, a meeting of the society having assembled 
 pursuant to a notice given, a proposition was laid be- 
 fore them to establish an ecclesiastical society fund. 
 After an animated discussion of the subject, a constitu- 
 tion, already drawn, was presented and read, and delibe- 
 rated upon for a short time, and adopted. It was ex- 
 pressly stipulated, that it shall accumulate until it 
 amounts to the sum of $6666.67, the interest is then to 
 be used annually, to pay the salary of a congregational 
 or presbyterian minister who may settle over this 
 society, 'it continued gradually to accumulate, until 
 1824, when it was increased by a donation of $833.34, 
 from Joseph Battell, Esq., with this condition, that when 
 
30 HISTORY OF THE 
 
 the fund became full, $50 of the interest of said fund 
 shall be appropriated for the improvement of church or 
 sacred music. It continued to accumulate, and no inter- 
 est used, until 1845, when it amounted to $10,118.25. 
 
 In 1818, Augustus Pettibone and Joseph Battell, Esqs. 
 were appointed delegates to the convention for forming 
 the constitution of this state. 
 
 In 1819, a conference-room was built, in connection 
 with the centre school-house, cost $1000 for the whole 
 building, furnished with a large stove, and occupied oc- 
 casionally for a school of higher order. 
 
 In 18"22, a library company was formed. Incorporated 
 in March, 1824. The number of volumes first pur- 
 chased was 142, considerable additions have been 
 annually made to the number since. The inhabitants of 
 the town have enjoyed many advantages for acquiring 
 general information. A variety of newspapers, designed 
 to give the news of the day, religious, literary, political 
 ancl amusing. Several of the best periodical works have 
 been taken and read with avidity and profit. 
 
 In 1826, a society was formed and organized, for the 
 promotion and practice of sacred music, which has since 
 been greatly improved, and accompanied by an organ. 
 
 The singing for public worship, in the early times in 
 this place, was conducted in the following manner : after 
 the clergyman had given out the psalm and read it, the 
 senior deacon began by reading the first line, which was 
 sung, and then the next line was read and sung, and so 
 on through the psalm. The leaders needed little more 
 than strength of voice to recommend them to the notice 
 of those who united with them, and of the congregation 
 generally. A gamut, with a few concise rules, and a 
 small number of psalm tunes were annexed, this being 
 their only source of instruction in the science of sacred 
 music. The singers were mostly composed of the 
 middle-aged class, and were seated with their families and 
 seat-mates in the lower part of the house. In this 
 scattered situation they waited for the leader to com- 
 mence. He must give the tune, the pitch and the im- 
 petus. When he had sung a few notes, the tune and 
 
TOWN OF NORFOLK. 31 
 
 the sound was caught by the attentive ears of the per- 
 formers, and Old Hundred, or some of its respected 
 cotemporaries was ahernately sung devoutly, and, " in 
 lofty strains and cadence sweet," it arose from the 
 scattered performers, who each, except the leaders, de- 
 pended on others for time and movement, but were in- 
 dependent as to empliasis and diction. From a full heart 
 flowed the sincere tribute of sacred and grateful praise. 
 And, though a critic might say there was a jar in the 
 pronunciation of the words used, and not the most 
 perfect harmony in the melody, yet, so far as they were 
 devoutly uttered, they were accepted as they entered in- 
 to the ears of the Lord of Sabaoth. 
 
 This method appears to have been in use until 1774, 
 when we find the choristers were annually appointed in 
 regular town meetings. A choir was collected and seat- 
 ed in the front seats of the galleries. The town con- 
 tinued to superintend the singing until 1790, the last 
 notice on record of the appointment of choristers by the 
 town. The first appropriation to aid the choir, was $12 
 in 1798. In 1805, $60 was given by vote. In 1807, 
 $60 more. Sums were sometimes expended for that 
 purpose, at the discretion of the selectmen. At other 
 times, sums were raised by subscription, and teachers 
 hired from abroad. This choir has generally been am- 
 bitious to excel in that important and ])leasant part of 
 divine worship. They have almost uniformly borne the 
 palm, when set in competition with the neighboring 
 choirs, and it is believed, few exceed this at the present 
 time. They have, as before noticed, in reversion, an 
 annual sum of $50, as an income to encourage them in 
 their present exertions. 
 
 In the spring of 1828, Mr. Emerson received a 
 communication from the trustees of the Hudson Col- 
 lege, Ohio, stating the proposed designation of him to 
 the presidency of that institution. TJie trustees, at a 
 subsequent meeting, not having received a timely an- 
 swer to their communication, proceeded to elect Mr. 
 Emerson as their president. He was soon informed of 
 the appointment, and on the Sabbath, June 1st, he gave 
 
32 HISTORY OF THE 
 
 the necessary information to his congreation, and stated 
 in a few words his feehngs on the subject, and also the 
 need and propriety of visiting the institution, before 
 deciding in his own mind as to his duty in the case. 
 Having engaged a supply for his pulpit during his ab- 
 sence, he, with Mrs. Emerson, commenced then- journey 
 June 3d. During his absence the public mind was con- 
 siderably agitated on the subject, and his people in par- 
 ticular waited with great anxiety for his return, and to 
 know the result of his visit. Alter an absence of seve- 
 ral weeks he returned home, July 17th, and was very 
 cordially welcomed by his parishioners. 
 
 Sunday, July 20th, he addressed his congregation from 
 the following text — Isaiah, 59th chapter, latter clause 
 of the 19th verse : " When the enemy shall come in 
 like a flood, the Spirit of the Lord shall lift up a standard 
 against him." In the course of his remarks, he gave a 
 description of the moral state of the country through 
 which he had passed ; wishing at the same time by no 
 means to be understood as characterizing the whole pop- 
 ulation. He should enumerate some of the most promi- 
 nent crimes chargeable on a portion of the inhabitants ; 
 such as intemperance, sabbath-breaking, infidelity, lying 
 for gain, etc., an exhibition, showing that the enemy was 
 indeed coming into that part like a flood, and instigating 
 the inhabitants to the practice of the most flagrant 
 crimes that our depraved nature is prone to exhibit. He 
 then turned from the disgusting picture, and proclaimed 
 to his audience that the Lord was evidently setting up 
 a standard against the adversary — a delightful contrast ; 
 after mentioning se% eral particulars which went to show 
 the movements of the mighty conquerer, he said he 
 considered the institution in question, if well-established 
 and judiciously conducted, would be a powerful means 
 for suppressing the prominent vices of that widely-ex- 
 tended population, and a standard against the arch- 
 enemy. He thouglit the institution ought to be patron- 
 ized. He then concluded his discourse, by strongly ur- 
 ging it as the duty of every individual and congregated 
 church, in these highly-favoured settlements, to exert 
 
TOWN OF NORFOLK. 33 
 
 themselves by every means in their power, to aid in the 
 attempt to enhghten and reform that scattered people, 
 many of whom were emigrants from this part of the 
 country and endeared to us by the bonds of natural 
 affection and consanguinity. At the close of the meet- 
 ing, a church-meeting was warned, for the purpose of 
 discussing and acting on the subject of his accepting 
 the appointment of the said institution, and his dismis- 
 sion from the pastoral care and engagements to this 
 church and people. 
 
 July 23d, the church-meeting was held pursuant to 
 the Avarning given, and the subject of Mr. Emerson's 
 appointment was fully elucidated and discussed : — first, 
 by reading the correspondence between the trustees of 
 the college and Mr. Emerson, showing their urgent call 
 and unanimous election ; the state of their funds ; the 
 present satisfaction expressed by the community in 
 general, respecting the location of the college, etc. 
 These, with numerous minor considerations, which had 
 an immediate bearing on the concerns of the institution, 
 together with the consideration of the moral state of the 
 people residing in that section of our country, as ex- 
 hibited on the preceding Sabbath, were presented, as 
 affording weighty arguments in favor of his dismission 
 and acceptance of the appointment alluded to. 
 
 On the other side, was mentioned, as an opposing ar- 
 gument, the situation of this church in relation to those 
 in its vicinity ; the attachment of this people to their 
 pastor ; the unsettled condition of most of the neigh- 
 boring churches and congregations at the time ; the 
 present need of the standard of the gospel being firmly 
 fixed and defended in this place. These, with many 
 other considerations, were strongly urged against re- 
 leasing Mr. Emerson from his pastoral charade. The ar- 
 guments on both sides being freely and sufficiently pre- 
 sented, a motion was made and seconded, to unite with 
 their pastor in submitting the subject to the decision of 
 the north consociation of Litchfield county. The votes 
 were taken by yeas and nays, which stood as follows ; 
 nays, 58 ; yeas, 6. 
 
 August 30th, Mr. Storrs, professor of theology in 
 
34 HISTORY OF THE 
 
 Hudson college, arrived with the intention, if possible, to 
 obtain Mr. Emerson. After eight days' deliberation, a 
 meeting was warned to act on the subject. September 
 15th, the society met, pursuant to the warning given. 
 The meeting was organized ; a prayer for divine direc- 
 tion offered. Mr. Storrs being present, it was proposed 
 and voted to give Mr. Storrs, as an agent from the cor- 
 poration, fuh liberty to communicate needed information, 
 the particular request of the trustees, and to remark 
 freely on the subject to any extent he should judge expe- 
 dient in the course of the investigations. The liberty 
 was politely accepted, and faithfully improved. After a 
 free, lengthy, and interesting discussion of the subject 
 under consideration, Mr. Emerson having previously ex- 
 pressed a wish to submit the matter, unreservedly, to 
 the decision of his church and society, he now said, he 
 should cheerfully acquiesce in the result of their deliber- 
 ations ; yet, as they declined taking the responsibility on 
 themselves, he would now ask the church and society in 
 their corporate capacity, to unite with him in submitting 
 the business to the decision of the consociation, which 
 was soon to convene. The minds of the members of 
 this meeting were then taken by yeas and nays, which 
 counted as follows : nays, 95 ; yeas, 18 ; and the meet- 
 ins; was dissolved. Here the matter rested for a short 
 time, and the agitated state of the public mind had, in a 
 measure, subsided. Mr. Emerson continued cheerfully 
 and faithfully to perform his pastoral duties ; the calm, 
 however, was of short duration. 
 
 October 18th, 1829, Mr. Emerson communicated 
 to the congregation the anticipated official information, 
 at the close of divine service, respecting his appoint- 
 ment to the station of Brown professor of ecclesiastical 
 history and lecturer on pastoral theology in the theo- 
 logical seminary at Andover, and his acceptance of the 
 appointment, provided his pastoral connection with this 
 church and society should be regularly dissolved ; de- 
 claring at the same time, that his personal attachment 
 to this people remained undiminished. A church and 
 society-meeting was warned. 
 
 October 22d, the society met, pursuant to a warn- 
 
TOWN OF NORFOLK. 35 
 
 ing given, and being organized, Mr. Emerson again 
 read the communication and a proposition respecting 
 his call, and other documents relating to the case in 
 question. The meeting then proceeded to act on the 
 subject. A motion was offered to try the minds of the 
 meeting, by yeas and nays, whether they would concur 
 with Mr. Emerson, in referring the question under con- 
 sideration to the decision of a select council, or the 
 consociation. After due deliberation, the votes were 
 taken and counted: yeas, 11; nays, 70. Mr. Emerson 
 then notified the people present, that he felt it his duty 
 (however painful the circumstances in which he was 
 placed) to refer the question to the consociation, which 
 were expected soon to meet. Upon this declaration, 
 the society proceeded to appoint a committee of three 
 to represent and act for the society at the expected 
 meeting of the consociation. 
 
 Immediately after the society-meeting was closed, the 
 church-meeting was organized; a prayer was offered 
 for direction, the necessary preliminaries were gone 
 through, and the documents relating to the subject pre- 
 sented, so far as was requisite. Mr. Emerson expressed 
 his peculiar and undiminished attachment to the church ; 
 but at the same time declared his willingness to accept 
 the appointment, should such a measure be thought con- 
 ducive to the general interest of Christ's kingdom. He 
 then expressed his intention to refer the subject to the 
 decision of the consociation ; the church then pro- 
 ceeded to appoint a committee of three, to act in the 
 case before the consociation. The vote not to concur, 
 taken previous to Mr. Emerson's declaration of his 
 intention, stood about the same, as to proportion, as did 
 that of the society. 
 
 Nov. 3d, the consociation having convened, and a 
 prayer offered by the moderator for direction, on this 
 interesting occasion, a public and free discussion of the 
 subject before them commenced early in the afternoon, 
 and continued until 9 o'clock in the evening. 
 
 They were addressed by the committees, both of the 
 church and society, giving, by numerous ^nd cogent ar- 
 
3:6 HISTORY OF THE 
 
 guments, reasons why they could not consent to Mi% 
 Emerson's dismission. On the other side, Mr. Banister, 
 an agent sent from the Andover institution, being pre- 
 sent, he, with our committees, each in their turn, ad- 
 dressed the consociation with energy and pathos ; 
 pleading for and against his dismission ; Mr. Banister 
 pleading for liberty to place him in that institution, 
 according to his appointments After a patient attention 
 to the several addresses mentioned, and to remarks 
 made on the question before them, offered by the cler- 
 gymen and laymen who composed the consociation, 
 they found much embarrassment on the ground of legal 
 right to dismiss Mr. Emerson, as a mutual contract was 
 entered into, and still existing with his people, and 
 in undisputed operation. At this stage of their proceed- 
 ings, a motion was made to appoint a committee of 
 overtures, to consist of three clergymen and two lay- 
 men ; they were accordingly appointed and directed 
 to draft a resolution on the subject before the meeting, 
 and report the next day. 
 
 November 4th, they again met, and requested the 
 committee of overtures to report; having the precau- 
 tion to close the doors before the doings of said com- 
 mittee were declared. The result of their dehberations 
 was, a resolve in favor of dismissing Mr. Emerson. 
 The consociation then entered on an animated discus- 
 sion of the merits of the case ; the result was a rejection 
 or non-acceptance of their report. A second committee 
 was then appointed, consisting of one clergyman and one 
 layman ; they were directed further to investigate the 
 subject, and report to the consociation. The result was 
 a resolve decidedly against Mr. Emerson's dismission, 
 which report was accepted and approved of by the con- 
 sociation, and decided accordingly. 
 
 The choir of singers were collected at the meetincr- 
 house for the purpose of practising, as were the people 
 who assembled on this occasion, anxiously waiting the 
 find result. They were notified that the consociation 
 were ready publickly to declare their decision, and were 
 on their way from the conference-room to the meeting- 
 
TOWN OF NORFOLK. 37 
 
 house. The moment they began to walk up the broad 
 aisle, the choir commenced singing, accompanied with 
 the organ in its loftiest tone, the anthem, " Hear, O thou 
 Shepherd of Israel." The members of the consociation 
 and the people who were collected on the occasion stood 
 as thy entered their seats, and some continued in the 
 aisle until the anthem closed ; they then took their seats, 
 and the scribe read the proceedings of the consociation 
 and the final result of their deliberations. The scribe 
 then closed with prayer, after declaring their decision, 
 that they could not dismiss Mr. Emerson from his people. 
 The choir then rose, and with an elevated voice, chant- 
 ed the doxology, " Praise God, from whom all bless- 
 ings flow," at the close of which the congregation dis- 
 pelled and went to their homes to carry the joyful tidings. 
 The minds of this people were, for a few days, quiet, 
 and Mr. Emerson, as on a former and similar occasion, 
 cheerfully, as it appeared, continued to perform his pa- 
 rochial duties. Hope, though, dashed with fear, was en- 
 tertained that his recent call would be no further urged, 
 and that we should for years enjoy his very acceptable 
 labors. Nothing further was heard from Andover in- 
 stitution by the people generally, but it was known by 
 some that Mr. Emerson received frequent communica- 
 tions from that board- 
 Sabbath, November 15th, at the close of divine service 
 Mr. Emerson, addressing, with tender affection, the be- 
 loved church and people of his charge, communicated 
 the following : " I have just received a renewal of the 
 application for my removal to the theological seminary 
 at Andover. In view of it, the request which I feel bound 
 in duty to make is extremely trying to my heart, un- 
 speakably more so than if I could truly say, you had 
 become less the object of respect and affection than in 
 days that are past. Gladly would I be delivered Irom 
 this hour, but it cannot be. It is not that I regard you 
 less, but that I regard the cause of Christ more, that I 
 again disturb you on so delicate a question. My request 
 is as brief as it is comprehensive, viz., that in a spirit of 
 
38 HISTORY OF THE 
 
 Christian love, you would consent to the dissolution of 
 my present pastoral relation, or at least to a reference 
 of this question to the decision of the consociation; 
 some reasons were then given for urging this request. 
 
 A church and society-meeting was then warned to 
 meet November 19th. The public mind was again agi- 
 tated ; but, by reason of this renewed claim to a further 
 consideration of the subject, and Mr. Emerson's desires 
 being, at this time, clearly and decidedly expressed re- 
 specting it, the result of the subsequent meetings, both of 
 the church and society, showed that they were not pre- 
 pared, as on a similar occasion, to oppose him. 
 
 November 19th, 1829, the ecclesiastical society met, 
 and proceeded to act on the question of Mr. Emer- 
 son's dismission. After suitable time was spent in con- 
 versing freely on the subject, a memorial was read by 
 Mr. Emerson, stating his reasons for urging his present 
 claim, and other matter relating to the question under 
 consideration ; a document full of interest, and calcula- 
 ted to calm the mind as to the course pursued by him 
 in this trying case. This was addressed to the church 
 and society connected, and after deliberating for a short 
 time, the society first, and then the church, voted with 
 unanimity to accede to the request of their pastor in call- 
 ing a council. A council was accordingly mutually cho- 
 sen, consisting of five clergymen, all of whom were mem- 
 bers of the late meetingr of the consociation : these were 
 authorized to act definitively on the question of Mr. 
 Emerson's dismissal from his pastoral relation to this 
 people. 
 
 Tuesday, November 24th, 1829, the day fixed for the 
 council to meet, four of the council appointed con- 
 vened, the church and society were assembled, the neces- 
 sary conmiunications were laid before them by the pas- 
 tor. After a serious and careful attention to the several 
 documents relating to the subject, were presented, and 
 to various facts related by the pastor and the several 
 committees, the unanimity, both of the church and society 
 in acceding to Mr. Emerson's request, was very evi- 
 
TOWN OF NORFOLK. ^9 
 
 dent. No opposition appearing, they proceeded formally 
 to dismiss Mr. Emerson from liis pastoral charge over 
 this people, which was done by a unanmious vote. 
 
 Sabbath; November 29th, in the afternoon Mr. bmer- 
 son delivered a very appropriate and pathetic iarewell 
 discourse. In the introductory part ot it, he presented 
 some statistical estimates regarding the church, winch 
 may be interesting to the reader. Some ot them were 
 taken from Mr. Robbins' records of the churcli du- 
 ring his ministry, also m the interim from his death to 
 Mr. Emerson's 'settlement, and down to the present 
 time, 1829. 
 
 From Mr. Robbins' settlement, in 17G1, to his death, iu 1813 : 
 
 The number of baptisms was - - - 1'^^' 
 
 Admissions to the church, - - " ^ql 
 
 Deaths, greater part infant children, - - ^«^* 
 
 From Mr. Bobbins' death, to the settlement of Mr. Emerson :^^ 
 
 Baptisms, 29 adults, 34 children, - - - 63 
 
 Admissions, by letter and profession, - - A^i 
 
 Deaths, ---""'" 
 
 Since Mr. Emerson's settlement over this church and society : 
 Baptisms, 61 adults, 283 children, - - 344 
 
 Admissions by letter and profession, _ - - ^^o • ^ .i 
 
 Deaths, aside from infants, 85 males, 85 females, 208, in all. 
 
 The whole number, since the church was organized, stands thus: 
 
 Baptisms, - ' q-|o 
 
 Members of the church, - - - " -^ ' 
 
 u u » -nresent number, - ^'^'J 
 
 -n .1 ^ . . - - 1002 
 
 Deaths, - - - 
 
 Mr. Emerson remarked, that, of the whole number 
 who have joined this church by profession, nearly 6 
 to 1 were 'the fruit of revivals. He also remarked, 
 that, during the period of his connection with tins 
 church, "We have enjoyed great harmony, m ^f^^'^f 
 doctrines and practice, and there has been little to 
 molest or to make us afraid." 
 
 After addressing, separately, the aged, the middle- 
 
40 HISTORY OF THE 
 
 aged, the youth and children, the church, the parish^ 
 the choir of singers, and those persons he must leave 
 in an impenitent state, he bade the whole congregation 
 of his people an affectionate farewell. December 2d. 
 1829, he left Norfolk, to go and labor in another part 
 of the vineyard of his Divine Master. 
 
 In 1829, a temperance society was instituted and 
 organized ; a goodly number subscribed and submit- 
 ted to its regulations. In the course of that year, several 
 meetings of the society were held, and the number of 
 subscribers greatly increased. In 1830, the society 
 purchased, by subscription, tracts on the intemperate 
 use of ardent spirits, a number sufficient to distribute 
 to every family in town ; they were well written, and 
 calculated to promote the object of their publication. 
 
 1830, May 17th, the ecclesiastical society and church,, 
 having had the ministerial services of the Rev. John A. 
 Albro for six Sabbaths, were allowed to consider him as 
 a candidate for settlement, by permission of his people 
 in Chelmsford. After he returned home, the society 
 assembled for the purpose of giving him a call, to unite 
 with this people in the capacity of a gospel minister.. 
 A very respectable majority appeared in the affirmative^ 
 and a salary of $600 annually was voted for his serv ices,, 
 if he accepted the call. The church delayed acting in 
 the case, until June 3d, at which time they voted, almost 
 unanimously, to unite with the society in giving him a 
 call. The result of the meeting was soon comunicated 
 to Mr. Albro, and the people waited for his answer 
 with anxiety. June 11th, we received a communication 
 from him, stating his situation in relation to his people,^ 
 whose exertions, during his absence, had been great, 
 and they were likely to be able to render a good sup- 
 port and respectable accommodations for their pastor. 
 For those reasons he declined accepting a call from 
 us. Thus the society was disappointed, and another 
 candidate sought for. 
 
 1830, October 11th, Mr. John Mitchel, having preach- 
 ed to this congregation several Sabbaths, the church 
 and society met for the purpose of eliciting the minds 
 
41 
 
 TOWN or NORFOLK. ^ 
 
 of the people, respecting giving •'"" ^^^ ' J'^^^.S 
 exhibited a large majonty m the fi-ma v^ and ^otea 
 a salary of $650. The church, when called to J^* »> 
 theitefves, voted nnan.mously to conc« vith he 
 
 society in giving him ^ '^^'^ Pf^'"^"^,'^'^, J°u Tf ^r 
 with them as their gospel minister. 1 he resu t oi ou 
 
 proceedings was, after some delay, 5«™™"">^^ f "^ ^° ^Jj 
 
 ratfoTnoZving reached^, in due^^^^^^^^^^^ 
 :tr rS\f 1." crgr^gU dechmng to 
 
 ''^TI^l ""Inru'^-Gth the ecclesiastical society, by a 
 1831, Apiil -om, UK Theon iilus 
 
 rtri-^t: :rec^er' his' church and sl>ciety 
 !r:^:^Jl^, offermg him a„ annual salary 
 
 ; e a coLspondence took place^ 'TP.'f ^^Ihe e 
 nracticability of obtaining a convenient place wlieie 
 remigh accommodate a family, <=ho-'"g/t"m et Ws 
 Ann ?o nurchase; no pace was found to meet ms 
 
 vile, Ce 18th, 183?, a letter was received from 
 bin decli in" an acceptance of our mvitation. T n. 
 wl"'the t W- tLnpt wlhad made to procure the stated 
 
 mhiistration of go^el ordinances, since Mr. Emerson s 
 
 ''"rtust"'l6th a four-days' meeting for religious ser- 
 
 August loiu, cL luui J npio-hbormo- minis- 
 
 vices commenced, performed ^y neghl.oi ^ ^^^^_ 
 
 ters. They were P^^^ul'^'^y, '"'':''^''"|'e3 vvere new, 
 \ very smal proportion of the exercises were , 
 
 and calculated' to excite cm-ios.ty,bu "light he sard 
 to be an extraordinary use of ordinaiy means. 
 
42 HISTORY OF THE 
 
 assembly was numerous, attentive and solemn. Four 
 or five weeks previous to this meeting, a revival of 
 religion had commenced, and was progressing, in the 
 north-west part of the town ; several persons were hope- 
 fully converted. And at this time there were some 
 favorable appearances in several parts of the town ; 
 some few drops of the approaching shower were no- 
 ticed. We w ere soon blessed with a copious efiusion of 
 divine grace, which, though of short continuance, resulted 
 in the hopeful conversion of quite a number of persons 
 of various ages. Sabbath, Nov. 6th, fifty-seven were 
 added to the church by profession, twenty-seven of 
 them were baptized. Sabbath, February 12, six more 
 united, one of them was baptized. The protracted meet- 
 ing was considered blessed by the great Head of the 
 church, as a means of good to the people of this place, 
 and future happy results were anticipated. The number 
 of communicants gradually decreased by emigration. 
 There were at this time 349 resident members in this 
 church, and 31 abroad, who were not as yet dismissed. 
 
 1831, November 8th, the temperance society in 
 this town met, and were favored by Esquire Frost 
 with an animated and appropriate address, calculated 
 to rouse the attention of his audience to his favorite 
 subject : 81 subscribers were at this time added to 
 the society, making in the whole, at this time, about 
 340 members ; the number was considerably increas- 
 ed by subsequent exertion. All the venders of spirits 
 in this town, except one, refused to replenish their 
 stores, and the taps, through which hogsheads of it had 
 run, were now dry. The distillers sulfered their fires 
 to go out. Cider w^as made only, to supply the table 
 and for a few domestic uses. 
 
 1831, December 11th, Mr. Joseph Eldridge preached 
 his first sermon to us, he continued with us several 
 Sabbaths, preaching on probation. 1832, January 23d, 
 the ecclesiastical society met, and voted to give Mr. 
 Eldridge a call to settle over this society as their gos- 
 pel minister : yeas, 87 ; nays, 2. They also voted to give 
 him a salary of $650 annually, for his services. The 
 
TOWN OF NORFOLK. 43 
 
 church met immediately after, and voted mianimously to 
 concur with the society in giving Mr. Eldridge a call. 
 The doings of the church and society were communi- 
 cated to him. February 12th, his letter of acceptance 
 was read to the congregation. The society anticipated, 
 with anxiety and deep interest, the arrival of our ex- 
 pected pastor, and of the time agreed upon by the par- 
 ties for his ordination, when the stated ministration of 
 gospel ordinances should again be established. April 
 25th, Mr. Eldridge was ordained ; sermon by the Rev. 
 Dr. Taylor, of New Haven. An important era in the 
 history of this town. 
 
 1836, the general association of Connecticut met in 
 this town. Delegates from other associations and agents 
 from various benevolent societies attended with them. 
 They assembled June 21st, at 11 o'clock, A. M., at the 
 church and organized. 2 o'clock, P. M., Rev. Mr. Cal- 
 houn, of Coventry, (the moderator,) preached the sermon 
 for the occasion ; he presided in most of the meetings. 
 In the evening, the Connecticut education society, auxili- 
 ary to the American education society, was called to 
 act. The treasurer reported, and read the general re- 
 port. They were addressed by Rev. Mr. Bacon, of New 
 Haven, Rev. Mr. Kirk, of Albany, and Rev. Dr. Beecher, 
 of Lane seminary, Cincinnati, Ohio. June 22d, 2 
 o'clock, P. M., met for divine worship ; Mr. Kirk offered 
 the first prayer ; Dr. Beecher delivered a very animated 
 and appropriate discourse ; after which, the Lord's 
 supper was administered. In the evening, the Connec- 
 ticut home missionary society, auxiliary to the A. H. M. 
 society, met ; the reports were read, the society was 
 addressed by Rev. Mr. Lathrop, of Salisbury, and by 
 Dr. Beecher. June 23d, 10 o'clock, A. M., the children 
 belonging to the Sunday school assembled, and were 
 seated together each side of the broad aisle — an 
 interesting scene. Prayer by Rev. F. L. Robbins ; 
 the church and parents were addressed by Rev. Mr. 
 Beckwith, and the scholars by Mr. Kirk, in a manner 
 pecuharly calculated to gain their attention, impress 
 their minds, give instruction, and excite them to 
 
44 HISTORY OF THE 
 
 persevere in learning the scriptures, which they have 
 the privilege of" possessing at a cheap rate, and without 
 fear. At half-past 1 o'clock, P. M., Mr. Pinney, gover- 
 nor of Liberia, Africa, addressed a crowded audience, 
 stating their situation, circumstances, and claims ; their 
 future prospects, should suitable aid be afforded them and 
 native missionaries and teachers be raised up to in- 
 struct them. In the evening, the Norfolk temperance so- 
 ciety met, and were addressed by Rev. Mr. Kirk, in his 
 most animated and luminous style. The association had 
 closed their session at 5 o'clock, P. M. The association 
 of Connecticut met here for the first time, June, 1800. 
 
 In 1839, an academical school was instituted, by form- 
 ing a company and organizing it for the purpose of 
 its future regulation. Their first teacher was Rev. John 
 F. Norten. In 1840, they proceeded to erect a building 
 for the purpose, which was completed and dedicated 
 August 31st, 1840 ; cost $2000. The school commenced 
 operation in the new building with encouraging pros- 
 pects. 
 
 In 1841, the members of the methodist episcopal 
 church, residing in this town and its vicinity, erected a 
 house east of the centre burying-ground, and dedicated 
 it to the worship of God, where they might enjoy the 
 institutions and ordinances of religion. Its form and size 
 is well proportioned and convenient, its finishing is neat, 
 and calculated suitably to impress the mind of the devout 
 worshipper. 
 
 In 1844, which was calculated, as near as could be, as 
 the centennial year of the town,* Dr. Thomas Robbins 
 gave us a centennial address on the occasion. He intro- 
 duced his address by saying, that the very recent notice 
 he had received, and the short time for examining records 
 relating to the history of Norfolk, was his apology for 
 not being better prepared for the occasion. He, how- 
 ever, addressed us in his usual energetic and interesting 
 manner. 
 
 * N.B. la 1744, the settlement began near the Ives place, towards 
 Canaau. 
 
TOWN or NORFOLK. 45 
 
 CONCLUDING REMARKS. 
 
 After reading with attention the foregoing history of 
 the past transactions of the inhabitants of this town, 
 if we were to give a general character of our pre- 
 decessors, would it be too much to say : — 
 
 That union of sentiment, civil, political, and ecclesias- 
 tical, has been a characteristic and predominant fea- 
 ture in their proceedings. Firm friends of liberty and 
 good order ; ardent in petitioning for redress or favor, 
 but not clamorous ; very tenacious of their rights, but 
 not litigious, — if drawn into it, it was with reluctance, 
 but, when engaged in it, inflexible and persevering. They 
 were economical, but not penurious ; frugal, but not mi- 
 serly ; free to declare their sentiments on any subject, but 
 not dogmatical ; firm, yet open to conviction ; religious, 
 but not superstitious ; conscious of their general know- 
 ledge and information, but not pedantic ; industrious, but 
 ever ready to drop the implements of labor and resort to 
 the scenes of amusement, of collections for pubhc busi- 
 ness, or the more interesting seasons of social divine 
 worship on the days designed for labor ; and devoutly 
 assembling on the Sabbath. They were zealously en- 
 gaged in establishing useful and religious institutions, and 
 laying a foundation for the improvement and happiness 
 of their posterity. 
 
46 HISTORY OF THE 
 
 ROMANTIC AND EXTENSIVE VIEWS. 
 
 On Colebrook road, east of the Wilcox pond, look east- 
 erly — scattered dwellings, extensive, cultivated fields. 
 Tlie view meets the horizon. On old Goshen road, hill 
 south of Thomas Moses', look north-west — a distant view 
 into Sheffield, see surrounding mountains and hills ; look 
 to the right and left ; near Capt. Reuben Brown's, look 
 south, south-west, and south-east ; a distant and wild view ; 
 the scenery is specked with remote habitations of busy 
 men. Near Asa Button's, look north and north-west, 
 west to south-west ; ascend the mountain east of Mr. 
 Button's, and you will have an extended and sublime 
 view. Forty or fifty rods west of Eber Burr's, look 
 north-west, west and south-west ; the view is beautiful 
 and sublime. A little east of Samuel S. Camp's, look 
 north-west, a distant view into Sheffield, with mountains 
 on each side of the range of sight, and lofty ones inter- 
 cepting the view to the north-west ; look east, the centre 
 of the town, with buildings and church spire rising above 
 the surrounding trees. On the hill westerly of the Akins 
 house, look north-west ; an extensive view into Canaan, 
 Sheffield and Egremont, the Housatonic mountains tow- 
 ering west of Sheffield ; look easterly, you have a plea- 
 sant view of the centre and parts contiguous. On what 
 is called the Burr mountain, in various places, the pros- 
 pect is very sublime, beautiful and extensive ; walk to 
 the rock, called by some the Meteoric rock, near the 
 height south of James Swift's, see it resting on the sur- 
 face of a smooth rock, having crushed loose stones lying 
 between them, leaving a space under it sufficient to shel- 
 ter several sheep. 
 
TOWN OF NORFOLK. 47 
 
 SUMMARY OF EVENTS AND TRANSACTIONS. 
 
 The town of Norfolk was first sold at Middletown, - - 1742 
 
 The settlement first began, on the road towards Canaan, - - 1744 
 
 The road opened from Torringford to Canaan, - - - 1745 
 
 First child born in Norfolk, son of Cornelius Brown, - - 1745 
 
 Second sale of Norfolk at Middletown, - . - - 1754 
 
 The town was incorporated, seventeen families had settled, - 1758 
 
 The first town-meeting held, forty-foxir legal voters, - - 1758 
 
 Rev. Mr. Treat preached the first sermon in Norfolk, - - 1758 
 
 Rev. Mr. Peck was hired to preach, - - - - 1759 
 
 Agreed to build a meeting-house, . _ _ . _ 1759 
 
 Applied to the assembly for a land-tax, for preacliing, - 1759 
 
 A book procured for recording deeds, - - - - -1759 
 
 First grand list made out, a tax of £50 laid, _ - _ 1759 
 
 Applied for a land-tax, to the assembly, for meeting-house, etc., 1759 
 
 Rev. iMr. Wetmore hired to preach, ----- 1759 
 A meeting-house, 40 by 50, erected and covered, Robert Grundy, 
 
 architect, 1759 
 
 Voted to call Mr. Wetmore for our pastor — failed, - - - 1760 
 
 Invited Mr. Ives to preach, and gave him a call, - - 1760 
 
 The church first gathered, twenjy-three members, - - - 1760 
 
 Rescinded the vote respecting the call of Mr. Ives, - - 1761 
 
 Invited Mr. A. R. Robbins to preach to us on probation, - - 1761 
 
 First church-meeting— gave Mr. Robbins a call, - - 1761 
 
 The Lord's supper first administered to this church, - - 1761 
 
 Number of families in town sixty, and soon seventy, - - 1761 
 
 Mr. Robbins ordained. — A public library collected, - - - 1751 
 
 Agreed to pay Mr. Robbins in produce, appraised, - - 1767 
 
 A revival of rehgion occurred, ten were added, - _ - 1767 
 
 If ten, or even three families, set up a school, town will pay, - 1768 
 
 Selectmen empowered to sell school-lands, - - - . 1769 
 
 Pavsrmage-land sold — Meeting-house dignified and seated, - 1770 
 Centre burying-ground purchased, ----- 1774 
 
 Road opened from meeting-house to Beech flats, - - 1774 
 
 Highway districts located, - - - - - -1774 
 
 Mr. Robbins absent as cha])lain in the army, . . - 1776 
 Fifty-six persons died of camp distemper — next year thirty-eight 
 
 died, 1777 
 
 Voted to provide for the families of the three-years' men, - 1777 
 
 Town first represented in tlie general assenibW, - - 1777 
 Burgoyne's army passed through this town, as prisoners of war, - 1777 
 
 Committee appointed to fix a price for all dealing, - - 1778 
 Probate district of Norfolk established, ----- 1779 
 
48 HISTORY OF TlxE 
 
 Town clerk ordered to publish intentions of marriage, - - 1779 
 
 The smallpox in town — a pest-house established, - - - 1780 
 
 Parsonage and school lands leased for 999 years, secured, - 1780 
 
 First constable ordered to publish intentions of marriage, - - 1782 
 
 Militia of this town divided into three companies, - - 1782 
 
 Mr. llobbins went on a mission, eight months, - - - 1783 
 
 A revival of religion occurred, fifty-two members added, - 1783 
 
 Highway districts established — surveyors appointed, - - 1784 
 
 Five wolves were killed on Haystack mountain, - - - 1787 
 
 Shade-trees set around the centre green, - - . - 1791 
 
 Mr. llobbins' salary set at £90. — Went on a mission, - - 1795 
 
 School society organized, and business transferred, - - - 1796 
 
 Legacy of £i5 given by Isaac Holt, jun., interest for schooling, 1798 
 
 School society divided into districts, ----- 1798 
 
 Independence first celebrated in this town, - - _ 1798 
 A revival of religion occurred, 150 members were added, - 1798-9 
 
 Families in town, 290 — members in the church, 300, - - 1799 
 
 Greenwood's turnpike completed, cost $19,500, - - - 1799 
 
 Celebrated the birth of Washington, February 22, - 1800 
 
 Greneral association of C jnnecticut met here in June, - - 1800 
 
 Independence of the United States celebrated, - - - 1801 
 
 Annual town-meeting to be holden first Monday in November, - 1801 
 
 Course of road south of meetiiig-house established, - - 1802 
 
 Mr. Robbins' salary fixed, during his capacity to preach, at $300, 1806 
 
 Number of inhabilants in this town, 1441, - - - 1810 
 
 Mr. Robbins preached his half-century sermon, October 28, - 1811 
 
 An almost unanimous vote was given to build a new meeting-house, 1811 
 
 The present road to Groshen established,* _ - - - 1811 
 
 The centre of the town established by measurement, - - 1811 
 
 The site for the meeting-house agreed upon, - - - - 1812 
 
 Mr, Robbins died, October 31. — Ecclesiastical society organized, 1813 
 
 Meeting-house completed, cost $6,000, David Hoadly, architect, - 1814 
 
 Meeting-house dedicated, August, ----- 1814 
 
 Church clock presented by Rev. Thomas Robbins, - - - 1814 
 
 Voted unanimously to call Mr, Ralph Emerson, - - - 1815 
 
 The three miUtary companies were united in one, - - - 1815 
 A revival of religion occurred, 122 added to the church, - 1815-16 
 
 Mr. Emerson was ordained, June 12th, - - - - -• 1816 
 
 Ecclesiastical society fund was constituted, - - - 1817 
 
 Centre school-house and conference-room built, cost $1,000, - 1819 
 
 Assessors and board of relief constituted, - . - 1819 
 
 Number of inhabitants in Norfolk, 1422, - - - - 1820 
 
 Norfolk library company formed — number of vols, purchased, 142, 1822 
 
 Church organ procured, ------- 1822 
 
 Eight hundred and thirty-three dollars thirty-four cents added to 
 
 ecclesiastical society fund — interest to support church music, 1824 
 
 A general vaccination for kine-pox ordered, - - - 1824 
 
 Society for improving sacred music organized, - - - 1826 
 
 A revival of religion occurred, 103 were added to the church, 1827 
 
TOWN OF NORFOLK. 49 
 
 Mr. Emerson invited to take the presidency of Hudson college, - 1828 
 
 Church and ecclesiastical society refused to dismiss him, - 1828 
 
 Mrs. Elizabeth Robbins died, loved as an active Christian, - 1828 
 
 Mr. Emerson invited by theological seminary, Andover — dismissed, 1829 
 A temperance society formed, - _ _ _ _ 1829-30 
 
 Tracts for each family, on the subject of temperance, purchased, 1830 
 
 Gave Rev. J. Albro a call, for our minister — failed, - - 1830 
 
 Gave Rev. John Mitchel a call — failed, - - - _ 1830 
 
 Gave Rev. Theophilus Smith a call — failed, - - - _ 1831 
 
 A revival of religion occurred, sixty-three added to the church, 1^31 
 
 The temperance society counted at this time 340, - - - 1831 
 
 Two stoves were set in the meeting-house, _ _ . 1831 
 
 Gave Mr. Joseph Eldridge a call— ordained, April 25, - - 1832 
 
 Deaths this year, 30 — one half of them over 70 years old, - 1832 
 
 Mrs. Eldridge died, endeared to us as an active Christian, - - 1833 
 
 A cold and late spring, but fruitful autumn, - . _ 1833 
 
 Procured a hearse, and appointed a keeper, - _ _ .. 1834 
 
 An early spring, but expected fruits of autumn failed, - - 1834 
 
 A petition signed by 379 persons, against giving spirit-licenses^ - 1835 
 
 General association of Connecticut met here, June 21, - 1836 
 
 Academical school instituted, and company formed, - - 1839 
 
 Academy building erected and dedicated, cost $2,000, - 1840 
 
 Methodist Episcopal society erected a house for worship, - - 1841 
 
 Joseph Battell, Esq., died, November 30th, - - . I841 
 
 Independence celebrated, -----.. 1842 
 
 Centennial address given "bj Rev. Thomas Robljins, D. D., - 1844 
 John Strong bequeathed property to this town, said to be worth 
 
 $2,500, consisting mostly of real estate, not yet appraised, - 1846 
 
 The meeting-house was repaired and improved, cost $1,700, - 1846 
 The town purchased the lower room of the academy, and half the 
 
 ground attached to it, for a town-house, cost $725, - - 1846 
 
 4 
 
50 HISTORY OF THE 
 
 SITUATION, DESCRIPTION AND RESOURCES. 
 
 Norfolk lies on the height between the Connecticut and 
 the Hudson rivers, thirty-five miles v^^est from Hartford, 
 and forty miles east of Hudson ; fifty-two miles north of 
 New Haven, and sixteen miles north of Litchfield. It is 
 bounded north on Massachusetts, and sixteen miles east 
 of the state of New-York. Its length from north to 
 south is nine miles ; its breadth from east to west ave- 
 rages four and a half miles. It contains, by estimation, 
 22,336 acres of land ; a great proportion of which is suit- 
 able for pasture and meadow, and feeds a great number 
 of cattle and sheep. Its air is salubrious, and its water 
 generally good. 
 
 The early inhabitants of this town, placed by Provi- 
 dence in a situation where industry was necessary in or- 
 der to procure the comforts of life, were schooled in and 
 inured to the practice of industry, and of steady habits ; 
 and brought with them those habits, and put them in 
 practice, when they became permanent residents. The 
 fruits of these were soon perceived and enjoyed by them, 
 and subsequently by their posterity, down to the present 
 time. Very few political, civil, or ecclesiastical dissen- 
 sions have occurred ; and its institutions and privileges, 
 it is believed, are surpassed, or have been, but by few of 
 its sister corporations in this state. From this statement 
 and the foregoing history it will be seen that its pro- 
 gress was slow, but sure ; it rose from small beginnings 
 to its present respectable standing among the towns of 
 its vicinity. 
 
 The management and internal resources of this town 
 will be noticed in part by the following statement : the 
 town was originally divided into fifty-three rights of lands, 
 estimated to contain 400 acres each ; three of the rights 
 were reserved by the State, when sold. One equal un- 
 divided right for a parsonage ; one for a school, and one 
 
TOWN OF NORFOLK. 51 
 
 for a minister's right ; this last right to be given to the 
 first orthodox minister who settled in town. In 1780, 
 the parsonage and school lands were, by proper autho- 
 rity, leased, on security, for the term of 999 years ; 
 the interest accruing, to be annually appropriated to the 
 respective uses originally designed. In 1846, November 
 1st, as reported, the ecclesiastical society fund, town 
 deposit, school society fund, bequests, donations, &c., 
 (some recent bequests, value not ascertained at this 
 time,) were estimated at $20,000. In 1818, the last offi- 
 cial act of the listers, the land in town was divided as 
 follows : 741 acres of plow land, 1024 acres of clear pas- 
 ture, 8575 acres of bush pasture, 3791 acres of wood 
 land, second rate, 8064 acres of wood land, third rate, 
 85 acres of boggy meadow, mowed, 80 acres boggy 
 meadow, not mowed. In 1826, there were fed in its pas- 
 tures and from its meadows, 201 horses, 2051 neat cat- 
 tle, and 3162 sheep. 
 
 Its hills are generally covered, to their summits, with 
 forest trees ; and most of them are accessible to the 
 woodman, and help to furnish timber for building, and 
 fuel for the fire-side. The great quantity of butter and 
 cheese made in town, enables the inhabitants to procure 
 their bread in abundance, which makes up the deficien- 
 cy of arable land. The sugar-maple supphes a great 
 part of their sugar, and its timber excellent fuel. Fruits, 
 both cultivated and wild, are found in sufficient quanti- 
 tity and of good quality. 
 
 There are a great variety of soils in the limits of this 
 town ; of course most of the staple articles of food are 
 produced by the industry of the farmer. The soil is con- 
 sidered stubborn, and requiring extra labor to produce 
 the necessary sustenance, yet the patient husbandman 
 generally enjoys abundance as the fruit of his labor. If 
 his fields do not wave with a luxuriant growth of grain — 
 " the stafl:' of life " — yet from the avails of his dairy he 
 can easily procure a plentiful supply of flour, of excellent 
 quality, and it may be said in truth, " his bread and his 
 water are sure." On his pastures, and from his mea- 
 dows and the produce of his fields, many cattle are fat- 
 
52 HISTORY OF THE 
 
 tened for the use of the inhabitants, and for market. 
 The dairies help to fatten great quantities of pork for 
 the same use. The flocks of sheep which range their 
 pastures, and speck the decHvities of our hills, furnish 
 improved and large supplies of wool ; and domestic in- 
 dustry forms a part of it into cloth of handsome fabric, 
 or of strong texture, for the use of the family or of the 
 mechanic who makes their machinery and implements of 
 husbandry. 
 
 Butter is made in great quantity, and the busy beei' 
 make us as much honey as we need. There is made in 
 this town annually, an average amount of 200,000 lbs. of 
 cheese. In 1826, the assessors placed on the grand 
 list, $36,851, vested in bank, turnpike, and other secu- 
 rities. The ecclesiastical society fund is accumulating. 
 In 1845 it began to be legally used, that is, the interest 
 of it. The public school fund does much towards sup- 
 porting our schools. 
 
 In 1832, there were 441 children in the nine school 
 districts who were benefitted by the pubhc school fund ; 
 the dividend for Norfolk that year was $154 35, which 
 since has been increasing. 
 
 Notwithstanding the embarrassments and losses, both 
 of men and treasure, incurred by our ancestors, in conse- 
 quence of their participation in the revolutionary strug- 
 gle, and subsequently the frequent emigrations to the new 
 settlements of our extensive country, it would seem for 
 a time that they must be stationary as to increase of 
 population and improvement ; yet at no time did they 
 exhibit a retrograde movement, and especially as to their 
 improvements. This town is very different from the 
 new settlements at the west, where we meet with a 
 dense population in the form of a village, and contigu- 
 ous to them an extensive wild, pierced here and there 
 with a passable road, and in some parts, at the distance 
 of from two to twelve or even fifteen miles apart, a log 
 hut is erected to cheer the lonely traveller, perhaps be- 
 nighted, where he may enjoy the fireside and homely 
 fare of its tenant. In this town the inhabitants are 
 thinly scattered over its surface, occupying large farms, 
 
TOWN OF NORFOLK. 53 
 
 bordering on each other, and separated by a division 
 fence of stone or rails, or by a forest hmited in extent, 
 and reserved to supply the possessor with fuel. The 
 followinor statement will oive a brief view of the build- 
 ings, famihes, &c., as to number, in 1828 : 
 
 207 Dwelling houses. 
 
 232 Families. 
 
 163 Families belonging to the first ecclesiastical society — permanent 
 
 residents. 
 191 Residents' farms. 
 
 43 Non-residents' farms. 
 
 22 Building lots. 
 These numbers will vary somewhat since the above date. 
 
 The annexed statement is taken from the official 
 document. 
 
 AQGKEGATE AMOUNT OF EACH DESCRIPTION OF PERSONS IN NORFOLK. 
 
 Census — June 1st, 1840. 
 
 
 MALES. 
 
 
 
 FEMALES. 
 
 Under 5 
 
 . 
 
 _ 
 
 77 
 
 Under 5 
 
 _ 
 
 - 62 
 
 5 to 10 
 
 _ 
 
 - 
 
 82 
 
 5 to 10 
 
 - 
 
 - 71 
 
 10 to 15 
 
 . 
 
 _ 
 
 91 
 
 10 to 15 
 
 - 
 
 - 61 
 
 15 to 20 
 
 _ 
 
 _ 
 
 83 
 
 15 to 20 
 
 - 
 
 - 82 
 
 20 to 30 
 
 _ 
 
 _ 
 
 112 
 
 20 to 30 
 
 - 
 
 - 113 
 
 30 to 40 
 
 _ 
 
 _ 
 
 76 
 
 30 to 40 
 
 - 
 
 - 93 
 
 40 to 50 
 
 _ 
 
 _ 
 
 66 
 
 40 to 50 
 
 - 
 
 - 70 
 
 60 to 60 
 
 _ 
 
 _ 
 
 49 
 
 50 to 60 
 
 - 
 
 - 57 
 
 60 to 70 
 
 _ 
 
 _ 
 
 27 
 
 60 to 70 
 
 - 
 
 - 36 
 
 70 to 80 
 
 _ 
 
 - 
 
 27 
 
 70 to 80 
 
 - 
 
 - 14 
 
 80 to 90 
 
 
 
 3 
 
 693 
 
 80 to 90 
 
 
 4 
 663 
 
 COLORED 
 
 MALES. 
 
 
 COLORED 
 
 FEMALES. 
 
 10 - 
 
 _ 
 
 _ 
 
 5 
 
 10 - 
 
 _ 
 
 3 
 
 10 to 24 
 
 - 
 
 - 
 
 4 
 
 10 to 24 
 
 - 
 
 7 
 
 24 to 36 
 
 - 
 
 - 
 
 2 
 
 24 to 36 
 
 - 
 
 1 
 
 36 to 55 
 
 . 
 
 _ 
 
 3 
 
 36 to 55 
 
 - 
 
 2 
 
 55 to 100 
 
 - 
 
 - 
 
 3 
 
 55 to 100 
 
 - 
 
 3 
 
 17 16 
 
54 HISTORY OF THE 
 
 Agriculturists 
 
 376 
 
 Academy - - - 1 
 
 Commercial 
 
 9 
 
 Scholars - - - 132 
 
 Manufactures and Trades 
 
 87 
 
 Common Schools - - 11 
 
 Learned professions 
 
 12 
 
 Scholars - - - 371 
 
 Pensioners - - - 
 
 9 
 
 Cannot read nor -write, over 
 
 Insane and Idiots 
 
 3 
 
 twenty years old - 4 
 
 The general appearance of Norfolk is romantic ; and 
 the first view to a stranger, in a fine season, peculiar- 
 ly so. As he ascends from the valley to the rising 
 ground, and winds his way along the serpentine road, 
 a continual succession of objects, " new and rare," stand 
 out in bold relief before him. From his elevated stand 
 he takes a horizontal glance into a decent habitation, 
 and turning partly around, he looks down on the roof of 
 another ; and still turning, his view is extended to a dis- 
 tant cluster of buildings, founded on an undulating sur- 
 face, presenting here a front, and there an ornamented 
 gable, some of which are painted by the patient process 
 of the brush, and some appear in time's sombre hue. 
 Here an abrupt precipice presents itself, and there a 
 startling gulf; the scene is continually changing. Un- 
 like the monotonous view of the extensive plain, which 
 tires the eye for want of an object within its ken to rest 
 upon at the distance. The traveller passes along, inhal- 
 ing our pure and salubrious air, and, on the whole, im- 
 bibes a favorable opinion of our situation. Were he a 
 painter, he might have thought it a rough sketch on na- 
 ture's canvass, with a little too much foreground to ad- 
 mit of a suitable extent of perspective. If a poet, he 
 might say — it may be used as a good, though rough, 
 stepping-stone in ascending Parnassian heights. The 
 general student will not only find this town fertile with 
 social enjoyments, but in his scientific researches will 
 find it fertile as a miscellaneous chapter in the volume 
 of nature. 
 
 The natural division of the town with respect to soil 
 and productions may be thus described, with few ex- 
 ceptions. A line drawn through the town, north and 
 south, about where the road runs, will, in the eastern 
 
TOWN OF NORFOLK. 55 
 
 section, show a soil rather heavy, through the most part 
 of its surface. Naturally moist and compact, it retains 
 the manure spread upon its surface, and thus prepared, 
 it produces heavy crops of timothy or herdsgrass, and 
 some other valuable kinds of grass. The largest dairies 
 are in this section, and so are the sugar-maple ; yet there 
 are good dairies and valuable sugar-works in the west 
 section. The maple, the birch, beech, hemlock and 
 other timber of large growth, are seen on this side — 
 large rocks, deeply embedded in the earth, here and 
 there show their hard surfaces, and seem to defy the 
 force of powder and human skill to remove them. On 
 the west side, with few exceptions, the soil may be 
 termed light, consisting, in many parts of its surface, of 
 sand and gravel, mixed with decomposed vegetable sub- 
 stances. Here is produced the red and the white clover, 
 and some lighter grasses, in large quantities ; and with 
 proper manure and good cultivation, fields of English 
 grain are sometimes raised, in waving beauty, which 
 fully compensate the cultivator. The oak, chestnut, 
 walnut, and other kinds of timber are indigenous to the 
 soil. This soil extends, with few interruptions, from 
 about a mile south of the centre, to the northerly extre- 
 mity of the town. 
 
 Our mountains do not rise to a Pyrenean altitude. 
 The precise heights have not been ascertained by actual 
 measurement, except the Haystack mountain, which is 
 said to be seven hundred feet ; but being based on an 
 extensive and elevated ridge, that and the others must 
 tower high above the Atlantic. They frequently do in- 
 tercept and divert the course of thunder showers, which 
 come from the north-west, turning them north or west 
 of us, and in some instances divide them and leave us 
 without a sprinkle of rain ; the fervid rays of the sun 
 soon break through the mist and are welcomed by the 
 beholder. The Burr mountain, and the one adjoining, 
 south of it, are supposed to be the most elevated situa- 
 tions in Norfolk, and they afford very extensive and 
 grand prospects. We find through the whole extent of 
 the town, a great variety as to its surface ; rising into 
 
56 HISTORY OF THE 
 
 hills, and sinking into valleys ; few fields are found 
 which approach very near a level, being for the most 
 part gently undulating, and of small extent. In the cen- 
 tre of the town the sun is seen to rise and set, say a de- 
 gree above an exact horizontal line, the surface being a 
 httle depressed. The general surface of the town may 
 be considered, when compared with the surface of 
 Canaan and Sheffield, and seen from that situation, as 
 a kind of plateau, or table-land. But few naked and 
 craggy clifts appear, like those in the arid regions of 
 the south ; a green hue appears, from a great variety 
 of mosses, woodbine, and a species of alpine vine, and 
 others ; but they are generally shaded by forest trees 
 which stand at their base, cling to their sides, or tower 
 on their summits, in some places impervious to the me- 
 ridian sunbeam. The stroke of the woodman's axe is 
 frequently heard echoing from their shallow caverns, and 
 the fallen tree, stripped of its encumbering limbs, is seen 
 making down the steep and winding descent, urged for- 
 ward by the woodman's lever, or drawn by the patient 
 and manageable ox, until it comes to a situation where 
 it comes in contact with the sled ; there the axe gives it 
 the right length for the sled, it is loaded, the team at- 
 tached to it, and the woodman, freed from his anxiety 
 and management while on its descent, flourishes his 
 whip and whistles along the beaten path until it arrives 
 at its destined w^ood-house. There is very little waste 
 surface, as before noticed ; the soil, even of our thick- 
 est forests, which is not occupied by its lofty tenants, is 
 generally covered, either with shrubbery or plants, which 
 botanists will show may be useful to man, although flour- 
 ishing in the sombre shade. The marsh and the quag- 
 mire are filling up with vegetable mould, and the earth 
 washed down from the surrounding hills, and they are 
 fast verging to a solid state. In instances not a few, the 
 loose rocks which formerly covered a great part of some 
 fields, have been reduced to a manageable size, and 
 placed in a wall enclosing the once almost useless field ; 
 thus cleared and defended, its soft and rich soil has be- 
 come productive and paid the laborer for his extra toiL 
 
TOWN OF NORFOLK. 57 
 
 The agriculturist will find a sufficient variety in the 
 soil, to invite experiment in his very important employ- 
 ment, and nerve the arm of industry, confidently expect- 
 ing the reward of the diligent, which in many cases is 
 realized. This, together with a vigorous frame and 
 well-strung nerve, make it a desirable occupation. No- 
 tice, also, the farmer's table, spread, liberally, with the 
 " fruit of summer's brown toil," independent, in a good 
 measure, of foreign supphes, which, if desired, he can 
 easily procure in exchange for his surplus produce. He 
 plants his fields and sows his summer crops, generally, 
 from the 10th to the 20th of May. He commences his 
 haying from the 1st to the 10th of July, and his harvest 
 from the 20th of July to the 1st of August. This must 
 vary, as the reader is aware, according to season and 
 situation. 
 
 The gardener may generally put his seed into the 
 ground from May the 10th to the 20th ; yet season, adap- 
 tation of soil, and situation, are to be carefully noticed. 
 The young plants, though watched with care, are liable 
 to be injured by late frosts and the chilling effects of the 
 north-east winds ; and as one writer remarks, " so of- 
 ten has spring's primrose-crowned head been thrust back 
 into the icy lap of winter " — and another, speaking of our 
 winters, says, " see winter lingering in the kp of May," 
 of course, in some seasons, which at first appear pro- 
 mising, it will be prudent to wait a few days. A later 
 planting is apt to produce more vigorous plants, and 
 more and earlier fruit. Our crops of most kinds, in the 
 fields, are rather late, when compared with those of Shef- 
 field, etc., and so are our garden vegetables ; but on the 
 whole, we enjoy them longer than do those who have a 
 warmer soil, and have them earlier. It is found practi- 
 cable successfully to cultivate many exotic plants as or- 
 naments to our gardens, and for use as culinary articles. 
 Several of the medicinal kinds are found to flourish, and 
 may be cultivated to profit ; such are tomatoes, senna, 
 foxglove, and the castor bean, affording the useful oil. 
 
 The botanist will notice that the great variety in the 
 species of vegetables, indigenous in this place, would be 
 
58 HISTORY OF THE 
 
 expected, from the variety of soils interspersed over its 
 surface. Its hills and dales, its mountains and rising 
 grounds, its smooth though limited meadows, the mean- 
 dering brook, and the shallow, dimpled water of the pond, 
 all conspire to produce and cherish their peculiar species 
 of vegetation, and help to vary the scene. The follow- 
 ing brief memorandum, respecting garden vegetables, as 
 to the time they are generally brought to maturity for use, 
 may suffice to show the comparative temperature of our 
 climate, one season and year with another, and check 
 our unseasonable longing after summer fruits. 
 
 First Marrou-fat Peas. First New Potatoes. 
 
 1824— July 21. 1824— August 11. 
 
 1825— July 21. 1825— July 29. 
 
 1832— July 28. 1832— August 8. 
 
 First Cucumbers. First Small Fruit, in 
 
 1824— August 11. 1825— Strawberries, June 7. 
 
 1825— July 21. " —Raspberries. June 28. 
 
 1832— August 12. " —Whortleberries, July 20. 
 
 " —Blackberries, July 28. 
 First Shell Beans and Corn. 
 
 1824— August 30. First Frost occurred. 
 
 1825— August 8. 1824— September 25. 
 
 1832— August 30. 1825— September 11, &c. 
 
 Vigorous shoots of the peach, cherry, and plumb will 
 grow in the summer ; but the rigors of winter destroy 
 many of them, and in those situations where they survive 
 the frost of winter, and become in a measure chmatized, 
 in a few years decay, having produced but little fruit. 
 We can, however, obtain a comfortable supply of these 
 precious articles from the warmer soil of Sheffield and 
 Canaan. The apple trees yield a good supply, generally, 
 for common use, though not early and of delicious fla- 
 vor ;— those we must obtain from abroad. Ours are im- 
 proving in quality by grafting and culture, which may for a 
 time do well : but it is thought that in our elevated situa- 
 tion they will degenerate and decay, and have to yield to 
 the edge of the pruning knife, like their predecessors of 
 
TOWN OF NORFOLK. 
 
 59 
 
 natural branches, and if the patience of the cultivator 
 holds out, other more promising branches are inserted 
 in their place. Pears do well, and a variety of grapes 
 are found to bear the frost of our winters, producing 
 plentifully if not checked with late frosts. 
 
 The geologist will notice, that although we are situated 
 within the zone of rocks of primitive formation, yet we 
 have specimens of secondary and transition. In the 
 eastern section of the town, large masses of rock are 
 found of primary formation, such as granite, gneiss, etc., 
 and some interesting specimens of secondary formation, 
 such as breccia, or pudding-stone, etc. In the western 
 section, will be found large masses of quartz or flint, 
 diminisliing in size, to the pebble. Some fields are 
 almost covered with them, of moderate size, between 
 which the gravel and sand appear in sufficient quantity 
 to produce good crops of corn, even where it is literally 
 hilled with them. Among the great variety of stones, 
 though not esteemed among the precious, some are very 
 valuable for buildings and for walls, and where skill, 
 patience, and funds permit, blocks and slabs may be 
 formed from them, both durable and ornamental. Good 
 beds of clay are found, and some of them have been 
 opened and worked, and it is hoped they will be, in 
 future, to a still greater extent. 
 
 The naturahst, when he turns his attention to the 
 beast that roves the forest and the declivities of our 
 mountains, and commences a research, will find no 
 dens or lairs of beasts of wild and ferocious habits ; and 
 it is believed that this town has never been a peculiar 
 haunt for them. In the early settlement of the town, 
 the timid deer, the bear, the wolf, the panther, and the 
 wild cat, were occasionally seen ; their visit seemed, how- 
 ever, like that of the wayfarer who turns in for the night, 
 and their depredations extended generally no farther than 
 to obtain a temporary meal, and they are away ; either 
 voluntarily, fleeing to regions more congenial to them, 
 or urged away by the untiring vigilance of our fathers ; 
 at any rate, they seem now to be exterminated, to a 
 degree almost regretted by the hunter. 
 
60 HISTORY OF THE 
 
 For many years past, we have had the precaution, 
 generally, at our town meetings, annually to offer a 
 premium to him who killed a wolf, panther, or a wild 
 cat ; but few have been killed and few depredations have 
 occurred. Once in a while, the sly and cunning fox, as 
 he passes along, takes a hen from the coop, or as she 
 sits on her nest, attending to her business of incubation 
 or nesthng her young — thus satisfying his present hun- 
 ger — or he may stop the gabble of a goose, in sport, and 
 pass on. There are several dams noticed across streams 
 which bear evident marks of the ingenious workmanship 
 of the beaver, nothing, however, appears of recent 
 operation, and the occupation of them must have been 
 in years long gone by. 
 
 The ornithologist, if he will institute his researches 
 in the summer season, perhaps will meet with as great 
 a variety of birds as can be found in any region of our 
 latitude, but they are mostly birds of passage, and emi- 
 grate, some soon after the harvest is gathered in, and 
 others later and in autumn, few remain through the win- 
 ter ; the robin stays to pluck the latest fruit that serves him 
 for food ; a few, with some others, are seen in situations, 
 cheered occasionally with the rays of the winter sun, 
 especially on the southern dechvities of our hills. In 
 the summer we are cheered with the notes of the bullfinch, 
 thrush, mockbird, American nightingale ; the humming 
 bird pleases the sight if not the ear ; a long catalogue 
 would be noticed by the ornithologist. The horned owl 
 finds in our forests, recesses dark enough to afford it a 
 home, and a shade from the too bright rays of the sun 
 until the curtain of night invites him forth, to disgust us 
 with its nocturnal hoot and to visit our poultry-yards. 
 Our birds, though not drest in as gaudy plumage as those 
 of some other climes, yet we prize their songs and think 
 of them in the dreary silence and tedium of winter, and 
 impatienly wait for their return in the spring, fondly 
 anticipating the pleasing transition from frigidness and 
 silence to melody. Some of their notes hail the earliest 
 vernal rays, and they climb the air in spiral flight to meet 
 the first rays of the morning sun, or, at more perfect day, 
 
TOWN OF NORFOLK. 61 
 
 they skim along the air in undulating lines, invigorated 
 by its rays. 
 
 There have been, it is said, about 400 species of birds 
 described as belonging to North America; of which we 
 may number a good proportion. We have also a large 
 proportion of the 100,000 species of insects, said to have 
 been collected in different parts of the world ; especially 
 in our latitude. 
 
 Reader, we will now return from our airy excursion, 
 and follow, if we can, the course of the superabundant 
 water, issuing from the ponds, the marshes, and the 
 filtered tribute of the hills and rising grounds. It 
 finds a passage, in a zig-zag course, round a hill in one 
 direction and then round another almost in a returning 
 direction, sometimes its course is diverted by a project- 
 ing or embedded rock, until by rippling here and gently 
 murmuring over its pebbly bed there, and anon precipi- 
 tating itself down an abrupt fall, part of it passes off in 
 one direction and part in an opposite one, both moving 
 on in search of the great depository. 
 
 The three brooks which pass a little west of the 
 meeting-house, coming from the Wilcox pond, east, 
 from the Tobey pond, southerly, and the one which runs 
 from the south through the meadows, unite west of the 
 centre, and pour down the falls by the centre mills ; 
 they receive the stream which comes from Wood Creek, 
 thus united they pass off by Blackberry river through 
 Canaan into the Housatonic. 
 
 From the Balcom pond issues the western branch of 
 the Waterbury river. The outlet of the Benedict ponds 
 is at Doolittle's mill, where it takes an easterly course 
 through Colebrook, by Sandy brook, and empties as a 
 tributary into the Farmington river. Three other small 
 streams, one rising in Paug, the source of two others is 
 easterly of North Goshen road school-house, these unite 
 in the southern district, pass through part of Winches- 
 ter and Winsted into Farmington river. 
 
 The water obtained by digging is generally pure, but 
 in a few situations it rises through a strata of clay, or is 
 impregnated with some mineral substance. We, how- 
 
62 HISTORY OF THE 
 
 ever, in many places, furnish our kitchens with the 
 cleansing element from the purling streams or rivulets, 
 in some measure tributary to those streams already 
 described, and a cooling beverage is in some cases and 
 situations obtained from the boihng spring — so called ; 
 they all please the ear with their purling melody, and 
 help to enliven the scene. 
 
 In noticing the temperature of our atmosphere, it 
 may be said, that the thermometer ranges from 10 de- 
 grees below zero to 92 above, as the extreme. In sum- 
 mer, its general range is from 70 to 80. In winter, from 
 8 below to 12 above. We have no tempests like those 
 which rise and accumulate, and destructively sweep over 
 extensive plains. The north-west wind is to us strong 
 and piercing, especially in winter ; in summer, it is pe- 
 culiarly refreshing. The east and north-east winds are 
 very chilly and heavy. The south wind and those east or 
 west of it are loaded with vapor, and accompanied with 
 a degree of warmth and rarity which, if continued a day 
 or two, becomes oppressive to the invalid, and in a 
 measure destroys the usual elasticity of our atmosphere. 
 This state of the air is not very common, and we have 
 so few undrained swamps and marshes, and those of 
 small extent and so frequently replenished with pure 
 water from the clouds, that they affect us but little, if at 
 all ; of course, our air is generally pure and salubrious, 
 and the brisk winds which are generally in motion tend 
 to keep it so, thus, in most situations, we inhale the life- 
 giving breeze, unhke the atmosphere in some parts of our 
 country, where the air is stagnant as the water over 
 which it broods, and from which it imbibes miasma 
 deleterious as the exhalations from the Upas, and when 
 set in motion by the breeze, scatters pale disease and 
 death around. 
 
 Now, reader, for the warring elements. When the 
 east and north-east winds have brought from their winter 
 stores immense bodies of vapor, and covered the surface 
 of our hills and valleys with a wallowing depth of snow, 
 the wind turns into the north-west and rises in its strength 
 and majesty, sweeps away the clouds that have been 
 
TOWN OF NORFOLK. ^3 
 
 accumulating for days, loads its wide-expanded wmgs 
 with snow, which had lain for a little time quiescent, 
 and wafts it over hill and dale and piles it about us in 
 appalling drifts. The traveller is abruptly stopped on 
 his passage by a high and almost perpendicu ar drift ; 
 his track is deeply covered behind him, on his right 
 hand, and on his left, waves of snow are rolling and 
 threatening, avalanche like, to overwhelm him. Here 
 we must leave him for the present, to extricate himseli 
 if he can; and after congratulating those who have had 
 the precaution and prudence to put up at an inn, or 
 turn into a hospitable dwelling, secure untd the blast is 
 over, we will now hasten to witness domestic scenes. 
 All moving is now suspended, except in the domestic 
 circle ; there all is bustle and hurry ; wood must be dug 
 out of the snow, unless economy and prudent oresight 
 has secured a supply under cover. The call ot the 
 housewife for her pail of water is so peremptory that it 
 must be had, the deep snow-drift at the kitchen door 
 notwithstanding. The farmer goes to his barn-yard 
 and dicrs out a sheep here and a yearling there, and 
 even the pig-sty is invaded, but its tenants can he and 
 grunt uncle? their burden, until their keeper comes to 
 relieve them, without sustaining any essential injury, 
 perhaps they lose in their covert situation one or two 
 messes. After the toils of a day like the one described, 
 the scattered family collects round the domestic fire- 
 side, each expecting as one expresses it, that every 
 corporeal sense will either be gratified or quiescent. 
 Who would regret having shared m the fatigues incident 
 to our situation as we pass through the changing sea- 
 
 sons. 
 
64 HISTORY OF THE 
 
 A NORFOLK WINTER. 
 
 SCOTCH STYLE. 
 
 (Tune, O, Logic 6'Buchan.) 
 
 The sun has gone southward a distance so far 
 It 's drawn up the big and bright polar star ; 
 The fields are all frozen, the lakes turn'd to ice ; . 
 The bleak winds are blowing, they whirl in a trice ; 
 The white snow is ranging o'er hill and o'er dale, 
 The trav'ler benighted looks chilly and pale. 
 
 Has comfort fled off with the sun in its car, 
 
 No substitute brought by the big polar star ? 
 
 Is naught but the bleak winds to sound in our ear, 
 
 No beverage but cold snow our stomachs to cheer ? 
 
 0, yes, dearest Jenny, my spouse and desire ; 
 
 We '11 close the dark blinds, and we '11 nurse up the fire ; 
 
 We '11 spread o'er our board, in a quite frugal style, 
 The well-earned income of summer's brown toil ; 
 We '11 eat and we '11 drink — talk in pleasantest mood, 
 And bless the kind Hand that provides us our food; 
 We '11 walk round the room, through the crevice we 'U spy, 
 Secure from its sharp blast, the cold wintry sky. 
 
 We '11 take little Jenny and set on the knee. 
 And hear her blithe prattle and innocent glee ; 
 To Jock we '11 tell stories which we used to hear. 
 And all shall partake of our harmless good cheer; 
 An evening thus spent, seems like evening in May, 
 For within door is peace, though without not so gay. 
 
 Let winter bleak howl from its dark frozen wave ; 
 Let billows, high mounted, the icy beach lave ; 
 With vegetive nature securely we '11 sing. 
 And wait the return of the warm and blithe spring; 
 But in the meanwhile, let us sigh for the poor, 
 And ask him most kindly to walk in our door. 
 
TOWN OF NORFOLK, 65 
 
 When spring shows her blossoms and summer looks gay, 
 We '11 plant the sweet melon and gather the hay ; 
 The bright yellow corn we '11 nurse up with care, 
 And hope in the autumn its plenty to share; 
 When winter comes round us with bellowing strife, 
 We 'U sit secure from it with children and wife. 
 
 Thus blest with contentment, we '11 pass through the year, 
 And, trusting the kind Hand, we \e nothing to fear. 
 When springs are all over and elements' war, 
 We 'U rise o'er the bright and the big polar star — 
 There in the high regions of bliss we will sing, 
 And hail the eternal and ever blithe spring* 
 
 b 
 
66 HISTORY OF THE 
 
 INCIDENTS 
 
 WHICH OCCURRED IN THE FIRST HALF CENTURY OF THE SETTLEMENT 
 
 OF NORFOLK, OBTAINED FROM VERBAL INFORMATION DATES NOT 
 
 ASCERTAINED. 
 
 The first road cut through Norfolk was done by Capt. 
 Isaac Lawrence, Canaan ; in its course it came to what 
 we now call Loon meadow, there they found a meadow 
 or opening of some extent, the grass grew upon it in 
 considerable quantity and of good quality ; on it they 
 found a dead loon, that had apparently come to the close 
 of life in a quiet manner, and this circumstance recently 
 gave the name to the place. There they gave part of 
 their team a chance to feed, and with the remainder went 
 forward towards what was after called the North Green ; 
 they returned at night and found all things safe, and 
 also an increase of their stock — a mare, which they left 
 in the morning, had brought them a fine colt. This road 
 or passway led on through the north-west part of the 
 town, near Mr. John Smith's, and on to what is called 
 the college farm. 
 
 In early times, a Mr. Barber, father of Capt. Timothy 
 Barber, formerly an inhabitant of Norfolk, came from 
 Simsbury, with two of his sons, well armed, to traverse 
 apart of the town, and coming to a place, since called 
 Pine mountain, they stacked their guns and strolled round, 
 and ascended the hill in hope of getting a distant view of 
 the surrounding country. Mr. Barber stepped into a hole 
 in the side of the hill, and something shot by him and 
 sprang up a tree near him. He did not at first know what 
 it was, but sent his youngest son to get their guns — he 
 did not find them ; still watching the animal, he sent his 
 oldest son, who soon returned with the guns ; while wait- 
 ing, he perceived that the creature grew very uneasy, 
 twisting his tail and changing his position, perhaps with 
 
TOWN OF NORFOLK. • "' 
 
 the intention of springing upon them. Mr. Barber 
 placed his sons each side of him, each havmg their guns 
 well charged; they fired and brought down a large pan- 
 ther in a condition to examine him with safety ; its claws 
 and fangs looked frightfully, and they rejoiced that they 
 had escaped them and rid the world of a frightful mon- 
 
 ivir. Cornelius Brown, one of the early settlers of 
 this town, going into the woods some distance trom his 
 house, was met by a bear, who soon prepared to spring 
 upon him; Mr. Brown attempted to chmb asmall staddle 
 near him, which proved too slender to support him at 
 a safe heio-ht from the ground ; the bear could, by stretch- 
 ina itselfriust reach his feet as he clung to the tree ; the 
 belir badly mangled his heels with his claws and teeth. 
 Mr Brown hallooed for help, and, after suftermg much 
 through fear and from his lacerated feet, help arrived— a 
 man, hunting in the woods with his dog, heard him ; the 
 do2 reached him before his master and worried the bear, 
 and he quit the assault before the man arrived. Mr. 
 Brown, glad to part with bruin, was helped home ; his 
 wounds were healed, the scars of which were to be seen 
 
 through life. , . , t^ .1 v •«„ 
 
 Several years after, Mr. Nathamel Roys, then living 
 near where Silas Burr now resides, was going round to 
 where Capt. AurenTibbals nowhves; turning round the 
 end of the winrow, so called, he was met by a bear ; it 
 soon prepared for an attack, Mr. Roys stood considering 
 whether to meet the bear unarmed or trace back his 
 steps ; he, having come out of his shop with his leather 
 apron on, thought with himself he would try that as a 
 weapon of defence. He looked sternly upon him, shook 
 his leather apron, and sprang towards him; brum, not 
 used to that mode of attack, settled down from his ram- 
 pant posture and made use of all his legs to assist him 
 in his flight from the frowning face and frightful rattle 
 of his antagonist. 
 
 About the time of meeting the bear, or perhaps the 
 winter following, Mr. Roys, busily engaged m his shop, 
 and his boys as busily engaged in gambols and play 
 
68 HISTORY OF THE 
 
 about the door-yard, several guns were heard on the 
 mountain west of his house, he sprang from his shop 
 and joined the boys in looking anxiously up the moun- 
 tain ; their curiosity was soon gratified by seeing three 
 deer rushing down, come to a perpendicular ledge west 
 of Mr. Burr's (now) dwelhng-house, they plunged down, 
 almost burying themselves in the snow ; soon, however, 
 they recovered, and the old buck, leading the way, passed 
 by the house, through the meadow, and on to the Brown 
 mountain. 
 
 In the early settlement of this town, before the tower- 
 ing hemlocks were cleared off the green, west of 
 the meeting-house, some of them had become dry and 
 easily combustible, it being a dry season; by some 
 means the leaves and dry matter took fire at the north 
 end of the ledge, and the north-west wind helping, it 
 spread rapidly towards the meeting-house, climbing the 
 dry hemlocks, and the flaming bark and limbs were 
 scattered round and near the meeting-house, which was 
 nearly or quite finished. The inhabitants near the centre 
 were aroused to exertion, and spread the alarm as far 
 as possible ; help came from every quarter, water was 
 obtained from a well at the house where Mr. Giles 
 Pettibone, jr., formerly lived, it was drawn about dry by 
 Mrs. Dudley Humphrey, who did not leave the well or 
 stop drawing the water until the danger was over. 
 A line was formed, from the well to the meeting-house, of 
 men, women and boys, each forwarding the water. 
 
 In the hard winter of 1779 or 1780, the extreme 
 cold and great body of snow, in that season, made it 
 necessary for many families to go quite a distance 
 and out of town to get grinding. They took the follow- 
 ing method. The father or one of his robust sons, put 
 say half a bushel of grain in a sack, tied on his snow- 
 shoes, and thus accoutred, with his dinner in the sack's 
 mouth, commenced his walk down to Jacob Beach's mill 
 in the hither part of Goshen, or the one in the north-east 
 part of the town. Follow in imagination this pedestrian 
 adventurer, 'opeing across fields and over fences to cut 
 short his way, avoiding in his route the shin-bush, which 
 
TOWN OF NORFOLK. 69 
 
 would about as certainly trip him up, or throw him 
 down, as the modern tangle legs, and he could not lie 
 so quietly and doze until the encumbrance was removed ; 
 no, he must manage to unharness his snow-shoes and get 
 rid of that encumbrance before he could hope to free 
 himself from the snow, which almost covered him, and 
 again take an erect position. If no other hindrance 
 happened, he returned the same day with his flour. Mean- 
 while the good housewife would boil part of their grain, 
 as a substitute for bread — a fine treat for the children, 
 surrounding the blazing fire, composed of large wood, 
 urged in by the lever or in some instances dragged in by 
 a horse. Fine winter evenings of olden times ! 
 
 To gWeft an idea of the immense bulk of snow which 
 fell in this elevated situation in some of our early winters, 
 I will relate the following incident : Mr. Reuben Munger, 
 then living near where Solomon Curtis now lives, built 
 him a barn, with a cow-house at each end, forming a large 
 square yard, open to the south. A heavy snow-storm 
 came on, which, with the help of the north-west wind, 
 which took the reins after it ceased falling, filled this 
 space, and rising with a gradual ascent until it reached 
 the ridge of the barn, a strong crust formed on the 
 surface. Mr. Munger arose on a fine morning, went 
 out to feed his cattle, and the strange idea came into 
 his mind, to feed his yearlings on the roof of the barn ; 
 he took an armful of hay and led several of his yearlings, 
 where he fed them on the very ridge, from which eleva- 
 tion they descended in safety. 
 
 When the late Rev. Ammi R. Robbins first found his 
 way through the thinly-settled north part of Litchfield 
 county, pursuant to an engagement with the agents of 
 the church and ecclesiastical society of Norfolk, to 
 preach to them on probation, he came to a house on the 
 old road, east of Mr. Button's (now) dwelling-house, said 
 to be that in which Mr. Thomas Tibbals afterwards 
 lived. He rode up to the door and inquired for the 
 boarding-house designed for their expected minister ; he 
 was informed that that was the place. He alighted, glad 
 to find even a temporary home. After taking some re- 
 
70 HISTORY OF THE 
 
 freshmeiit, he inquired the way to the meeting-house, 
 and very leisurely wended his way, frequently looking 
 forward to catch a first view of the sanctuary ; but the 
 view was so obstructed by the dense forest of hemlocks 
 and other large trees, that he arrived near the house 
 where Mr. Ebenezer Burr then lived, at the south end of 
 the green. His eye soon caught the sacred dwelhng, 
 dressed in its peach-blow hue, which gave a striking 
 contrast to the murky shade of the thick-set hemlocks 
 which remained near it. Follow him in imagination, 
 and think of his sensations, when raising his hand to the 
 latch of the door, which opened without the grating of a 
 key, he entered — silence reigned, where subsequently, 
 and for more than half a century, his voice was heard 
 by a devout and attentive audience, especially on the 
 Sabbath, which his Divine Master had sanctihed. He 
 returned to his lodgings, we may suppose, with his mind 
 so occupied with his future prospects that he passed over 
 his rough way with heedless steps. 
 
 The year after Mr. Robbins was settled over this 
 church, Mr. Henry Akins came from Torrington and 
 purchased a farm westerly from the meeting-house, 
 which he occupied through life. Soon after fixing his 
 residence here, he left his family one pleasant winter 
 morning, taking his gun, hoping to find some deer in his 
 ramble. He strolled on in a southerly direction, proba- 
 bly west of Tobey's pond, but not in sight of it. In the 
 after part of the day it became cloudy, the sun was hid- 
 den, and it soon began to snow. He thought best to be 
 on his return home ; he attempted, but soon found that 
 he was, wandering ; his out-bound tracks were covered 
 with snow ; without a compass or anything to guide 
 him, he could perceive, by often-recurring objects, that 
 he was retracing his recent steps. He was alarmed, 
 believing that he had not gained a rod towards home. 
 The cold increased ; darkness, and no relief from moon 
 or stars, came on, rapidly on ; he concluded that he 
 must spend the night in this wilderness, far from relief, 
 and how far from home he knew not. He perceived 
 that his feet were numb, but had felt no pain in them ; 
 
TOWN OF NORFOLK. '1 
 
 he came to a convenient place for kindling a fire, and 
 findino- dry combustible in plenty, which he gathered, 
 and anticipated the comfort of a warm fireside, and the 
 cheering blaze to disperse the gloom and darkness whicli 
 enveloped him. What was his astonishment, when about 
 to strike fire from his flint— his flint was lost; by some 
 mishap it was torn from his gun-lock, and he had no 
 spare one. Dreary, indeed, was his situation, and com- 
 fortless his circumstances. He retained his reasoning 
 faculties, and knew that if he attempted to seek a rest- 
 in*^ place it would be fatal; death by freezing must be 
 the resuU. He began walking from a tree near him to 
 one about forty feet distant, back and forth, until he had 
 made a firm and solid path. In this exercise he spent a 
 long winter night. When morning came he attempted 
 aaain to find his way home, but, as is generally the case 
 in such circumstances, he wandered stdl farther trom 
 home. He kept in motion, fearing to rest. His route 
 seemed to be west of the Tibbals mountain, and south- 
 erly, until he came near the place afterwards occupied 
 by a Mr. Balcom, south of Mr. Edmund Brown's present 
 habitation, where he was found the next day, towards 
 night, by his friends and neighbors, who had been m 
 pursuit of him from nine o'clock the evenmg before. It 
 seems he was still able to stand erect and walk. He 
 was helped home, and arrived that evening, to the joy ot 
 himself and family. His feet were found badly frozen, 
 and when, after a considerable length of time and much 
 suff-ering, they were healed, they were very much scar- 
 red and misshapen, but served him in future life, and 
 enabled him to cultivate his farm, bring up a large tami- 
 ly, and accumulate a good property. 
 
72 HISTORY or THE 
 
 LIST OF REPRESENTATIVES FROM NORFOLK TO THE 
 GENERAL ASSEMBLY, FROM 1777 TO 1846. 
 
 1777. Gfles Pettibone, WiUiam Walter. 
 
 1778. *Giles Pettibone, Hosea Wilcox. 
 f Giks Pettibone, Hosea Wilcox. 
 
 1779. Dudley Humphrey, Michael Mills. 
 Dudley Humphrey, Michael Mills . 
 
 1780. Giles Pettibone, Joseph Mills. 
 Titus Ives, Asahel Case. 
 
 1781. No appointment. . . . 
 Hosea Wilcox, Isaac Hoyt. 
 
 1782. Michael Mills, Nathaniel Stevens. 
 Michael Mills, Elijah Grant. 
 
 178a. Elijah Grant, Michael Mills. 
 
 Giles Pettibone, Ephraim Guiteau» 
 
 1784. Giles Pettibone, Dudley Humphrey^ 
 Giles Pettibone, Dudley Humphrey. 
 
 1785. Michael Mills, Dudley Humphrey. 
 Michael Mills, Dudley Humphrey. 
 
 1786. Michael Mills, Asahel Humphrey. 
 Michael Mills, Asahel Humphrey. 
 
 1787. Titus Ives, Hosea Humphrey. 
 Asahel Humphrey, Hosea Humphrey,. 
 
 1788. Asahel Humphrey, Michael Mills. 
 Dudley Humphrey, Giles Pettibone.. 
 
 1789. Dudley Humphrey, Giles Pettibone. 
 Dudley Humphrey, Giles Pettibone. 
 
 1790. Dudley Humphrey, Giles Pettibone. 
 Dudley Humphrey, Michael Mills. 
 
 1791. Dudley Humphrey, Giles Pettibone.. 
 Dudley Humphrey, Michael Mills. 
 
 1792. Dudley Humphrey, Giles Pettibone. 
 Giles Pettibone, Asahel Humphrey. 
 
 1793. Giles Pettibone, Asahel Humphrey. 
 Giles Pettibone, Asahel Humphrey. 
 
 1794. Asahel Humphrey, GUes Pettibone. 
 Asahel Humphrey, Giles Pettibone. 
 
 *' Spring. t! Autamui:- 
 
TOWN OF NORFOLK. 
 
 1795. Giles Pettibone, Nathaniel Stevens. 
 Giles Pettibone, Nathaniel Stevens. 
 
 1796. Asahel Humphrey, Nathaniel Stevens. 
 Asahel Humphrey, Nathaniel Stevens. 
 
 1797. Asahel Humphrey, Giles Pettibone. 
 Giles Pettibone, Nathaniel Stevens. 
 
 1798. Giles Pettibone, Nathaniel Stevens. 
 Nathaniel Stevens, Elcazer Holt. 
 
 1799. Giles Pettibone, Eleazer Holt. 
 Nathaniel Stevens, Eleazer Holt. 
 
 1800. Giles Pettibone, Eleazer Holt. 
 Nathaniel Stevens, Augustus Pettibone. 
 
 1801. Giles Pettibone, ■■ 
 
 Nathaniel Stevens, Augustus Pettibone. 
 
 1802. Nathaniel Stevens, Augustus Pettibone. 
 Nathaniel Stevens, Augustus Pettibone. 
 
 1803. Nathaniel Stevens, Augustus Pettibone. 
 Nathaniel Stevens, Augustus Pettibone. 
 
 1804. Augustus Pettibone, Eleazer Holt. 
 Augustus Pettibone, Eleazer Holt. 
 
 1805. Augustus Pettibone, Nathaniel Stevens, jun. 
 Augustus Pettibone, Nathaniel Stevens, 
 
 1806. Jeremiah W. Phelps Nathaniel Stevens, jun. 
 Jeremiah W. Phelps, Nathaniel Stevens. 
 
 1807. Augustus Pettibone, John Dickinson. 
 Augustus Pettibone, John Dickinson. 
 
 1808. Nathaniel Stevens, Benjamin Welch. 
 Augustus Pettibone, Benjamin Welch. 
 
 1809. Nathaniel Stevens, John Dickinson. 
 Nathaniel Stevens, John Dickinson. 
 
 1810. Nathaniel Stevens, John Dickinson. 
 Nathaniel Stevens, John Dickinson. 
 
 1811. Benjamin Welch, Joseph Battell. 
 Benjamin Welch, Elizur Hunger. 
 
 1812. Augustus Pettibone, Nathaniel Stevens. 
 Eleazer Holt, Augustus Pettibone. 
 
 1813. Eleazer Holt, Augustus Pettibone. 
 Eleazer Holt, Augustus Pettibone. 
 
 1814. Augustus Pettibone, Eleazer Holt. 
 Augustus Pettibone, Eleazer Holt. 
 
 1815. Eleazer Holt, Nathaniel Stevens. 
 Eleazer Holt, Nathaniel Stevens. 
 
 1816. Nathaniel Stevens, Elizur Hunger. 
 Nathaniel Stevens, Elizur Hunger. 
 
 1817. Nathaniel Stevens, Elizur Hunger. 
 Nathaniel Stevens, Augustus Pettibone. 
 
 73 
 
74 HISTORY OF THE 
 
 J 81 8. Nathaniel Stevens, Augustus Pettibone. 
 Augustus Pettibone, Nathaniel Stevens. 
 
 1819. ^Nathaniel. Stevens, Augustus Pettibone. 
 
 1820. Augustus Pettibone, Joseph BatteU. 
 
 1821. Lawrence Mills, Elizur Munger. 
 
 1822. Augustus Pettibone, Benjamin Welch. 
 
 1823. Augustus Pettibone, Benjamin Welch. 
 
 1824. Augustus^ Pettibone, Joseph Battell. 
 
 1825. Augustus Pettibone, Joseph Battell. 
 
 1826. Joseph Battell, Amos Pettibone. 
 
 1827. Amos Pettibone, Joseph Biggs. 
 
 1828. Amos Pettibone, Joseph Battell. 
 
 1829. Amos Pettibone, Thomas Curtis. 
 
 1830. Michael F. Mills, Amos Pettibone. 
 
 1831. Michael F. Mills, Edmund Brown. 
 
 1832. Jedediah Phelps, Harvey Grant. 
 
 1833. Michael F. Mills, Harvey Grant. 
 
 1834. Thomas Curtis, Warren Cone. 
 
 1835. Thomas Curtis, Elizur Dowd. 
 
 1836. Benjamin Welch, jun., Darius Phelps. 
 
 1837. Asahel E. Case, Levi Shephard. 
 
 1838. Warren Cone, Thomas Curtis. 
 
 1839. Hiram Mills, Elizur Dowd. 
 
 1840. James Shepard, Hiram Gaylord. 
 
 1841. Eden Biggs, David L. Dowd. 
 
 1842. Thomas Curtis, Dudley Nprton. 
 
 1843. No appointment. 
 
 1844. William Lawrence, James M. Cowls. 
 
 1845. E. G. Lawrence, Silas Burr. 
 
 1846. Harlow Roys, Hqrace B. Knapp. 
 
 STATE SENATORS FROM NORFOLK. 
 
 Honorable Augustus Pettibone. 
 Honorable John Dewell. 
 
 * S 
 
 pnng. 
 
TOWN OF NORFOLK. 75 
 
 LIST OF GRADUATES FROM THIS TOWN. 
 
 James Watson, Yale Col., 1776, Merchant, N. Y.— U. S. Senator. 
 
 Joshua Knapp, " 1776, Pastor, Winchester, Conn. 
 
 Giles Pettibone, jun., " 1778, Farmer and Innkeeper. 
 
 Joseph Ives, " 1782, Merchant, Albany. 
 
 Thomas Robbins, " 1796, Pastor and D. D. 
 
 Samuel Cowls, W. Col., 1796, Attorney,, Farmington, Conn. 
 
 Nathaniel Turner, " 1798, Pastor, N. Marlboro, Mass. 
 
 Isaac Knapp, " 1800, Pastor, Tutor, Westfield, Mass. 
 
 Sereno Pettibone, " 1800, Attorney. 
 
 Asahel Gaylord, " 1^04, Evangelist. 
 
 Rufus Pettibone, " 1805, Judge of S. Court, Missouri. 
 
 James W. Robbins, " 1802, Merchant, Lenox, Mass. 
 
 Francis L. Robbins, '• 1808, Pastor, Enfield, Mass. 
 
 Joseph Battell, jun., M. Col., 182-3, Merchant, New York. 
 
 Eleazer Holt, Yale Col., 1823, Pastor, Reading, Penn. 
 
 J. R. Lawrence, Union Col., 1825, Attorney, &c., Syracuse. 
 
 E. G. Lawrence, Ham. Col., 1827, Merchant. 
 
 Philip Battell, M. Col., 1826, Attorney, Middlebury, Vt. 
 
 Frederick T. Mills, Yale Col, 1827, Died wliile Student of Law. 
 
 Sheriden Guiteau, M. Col., 1829, Clergyman, Baltimore. 
 
 Coridon Guiteau, W. Col., 1882, Physician, Lee, Mass. 
 
 Reuben Gaylord, jun., Yale " 1834, Clergyman, Iowa. 
 
 Robbins Battell, " " 1839, Agriculturist. 
 
 Robert Bigelow, Ske. C(d., 1824, Commercial gentleman, Florida. 
 
 PROFESSIONAL MEN, NOT GRADUATES.— ATTORNEYS. 
 
 Augustus Pettibone, Attorney — C. Judge, C C— Rep. 30 Sessions — 
 
 State Senator. 
 Edmund Akins, Attorney. 
 
 Michael F. Mills, Attorney and Judge of Probate. 
 Roger Mills, Attorney, New Hartford. 
 Rice Stevens, Attorney, Huntingdon, Penn. 
 Grove Lawrence, Attorney — Judge — Syracuse, New York. 
 George B. Holt, Attorney — Judge of Circuit Court, Ohio. 
 Edmund Akins, 2d, Attorney, Mercellus, New York. 
 
 PHYSICIANS ABROAD. 
 
 Laman Pettibotie, Stockholm, L, county, New York. 
 
 Colbey Knapp, Guilford, Ch. county, " 
 
 Abraham Camp, Windham, " 
 
 Lewis Riggs, And Representative to Congress, State of N. Y. 
 
76 
 
 HISTORY OF THE 
 
 Elizur Butler, 
 Smith Knapp, 
 Chancey Moore, 
 Asahel Humphrey, 
 Benjamin Welch, jun, 
 Asa G. Welch, 
 James Welch, 
 Isaac Benedict, 
 Francis Benedict, 
 Nelson Cowls, 
 Two sons of Thomas 
 
 And Missionary to Choetaws. 
 Bleuham, New York. 
 New Haven, Vermont. 
 Salisbury, Connecticut. 
 ,, Litchfield, " 
 
 Lee, Massachusetts. 
 Lee, 
 Stand not known. 
 
 <c (< 6e 
 
 Geneva, Ohio. 
 Moses — place unknown. 
 
 PHYSICIANS WHO PRACTISED IN NORFOLK. 
 
 John Miner, 
 Ephraim Guiteau, 
 Philo Guiteau, 
 Hosea Humphrey, 
 Daniel Lyman, 
 
 Benjamin Welch, 
 Benjamin Welch, jun. 
 Benjamin Calhoun, 
 Wiliiam W. Welch, 
 John F. T. Cockey. 
 
 EDUCATED FEMALES — TEACHERS OF SELECT 
 SCHOOLS, ETC. 
 
 Sarah Tibbals — Mrs. Reeder, 
 
 Zilpah P. Grant — Mrs. Banister, 
 
 Laura Hawley, 
 
 Lucia Hawley, 
 
 Maria Hawley, 
 
 Louisa N. Frisbie, 
 
 Lucy Hart — Mrs. Wilcox, 
 
 AUice Welch — Mrs. Cowls, 
 
 Norfolk and Alabama. 
 Ipswich Seminary. 
 New Albany, Indiana. 
 High School, New Jersey. 
 High School, Tennessee. 
 High School, Baltimore. 
 Hilo, Sandwich Island Mission. 
 Oberlin Institute. 
 
 MINISTERS EMPLOYED BEFORE AND AFTER MR. ROB- 
 BINS' SETTLEMENT, WHILE ABSENT, AND SINCE HIS 
 DEATH. 
 
 Rev. 
 
 Mr 
 
 . Treat, 
 
 Rev. 
 
 Mr. Jerome, 
 
 Rev. 
 
 Mr. 
 
 Clark, 
 
 
 
 Peck, 
 
 
 " Bogue, 
 
 (( 
 
 
 H. Cowls, 
 
 
 
 Curtis, 
 
 
 " Stebbens, 
 
 " 
 
 
 Mitchel, 
 
 
 
 Gregory, 
 
 
 " D. Sherman, 
 
 " 
 
 
 Robbinson, 
 
 
 
 Heaton, 
 Wetmore, 
 
 
 " H. Sherman, 
 Dr. Atwater, 
 
 u 
 
 
 Smith, 
 Brockway, 
 
 
 
 Benedict, 
 
 
 Mr. Burtt, 
 
 a 
 
 
 I. Bobbins, 
 
 
 
 Pitkin, 
 
 
 " Lord, 
 
 (( 
 
 
 W. Mitchel, 
 
 
 
 Ives, 
 
 
 " Giddings, 
 
 «( 
 
 
 J. Clark, 
 
 
 
 Bobbins, 
 
 
 " Emerson, 
 
 i< 
 
 
 D. Smith, 
 
 
 
 Camp, 
 
 
 " Rockwell, 
 
 (( 
 
 
 Shepard, 
 
 
 
 Newell, 
 
 
 " Schaffer, 
 
 (( 
 
 
 Eldridge, 
 
 
 
 Potter, 
 
 
 " Albro, 
 
 
 
 
TOWN OF NORFOLK. 
 
 77 
 
 DEACONS. 
 
 Michael Humphrey, 
 Abraham Camp, 
 Joseph Mills, 
 Abraham Hall, 
 Samuel Mills, 
 Jared Butler, 
 David Frisbie, 
 
 Edward Gaylord, 
 Noah Miner, 
 Sylvanus Norton, jun., 
 Amos Pettibone, 
 Samuel Cone, 
 Darius Phelps, jun., 
 Dudley Norton. 
 
 ANNUAL ADMISSIONS INTO THE CHURCH, FROM 1760 
 TO 1844.— FROM CHURCH RECORDS. 
 
 1760 Twenty-three 
 
 1789 
 
 
 1818 
 
 Six 
 
 1761 Twenty-six 
 
 1790 
 
 Six 
 
 1819 
 
 Six 
 
 1762 Six 
 
 1791 
 
 Six 
 
 1820 
 
 Three 
 
 1763 Seventeen 
 
 1792 
 
 One 
 
 1821 
 
 Thirty- seven 
 
 1764 Twelve 
 
 1793 
 
 Nine 
 
 1822 
 
 Thirty-three 
 
 1765 One 
 
 1794 
 
 Three 
 
 1823 
 
 Six 
 
 1766 Nine 
 
 1795 
 
 Eight 
 
 1824 
 
 Four 
 
 1767 Nine 
 
 1796 
 
 Two 
 
 1825 
 
 Two 
 
 1768 Fourteen 
 
 1797 
 
 Eleven 
 
 1826 
 
 Two 
 
 1769 Seven 
 
 1798 
 
 Three 
 
 1827 
 
 Hundred and four 
 
 1770 Eight 
 
 1799 
 
 Hundred and 
 
 nine 1828 
 
 Seventeen 
 
 1771 Nine 
 
 1800 
 
 Thirty-six 
 
 1829 
 
 Six 
 
 1772 Seven 
 
 1801 
 
 Sixteen 
 
 1830 
 
 Three 
 
 1773 Eight 
 
 1802 
 
 Six 
 
 1831 
 
 Fifty- seven 
 
 1774 Eight 
 
 1803 
 
 Two 
 
 1832 
 
 Twenty-six 
 
 1775 Seven 
 
 1804 
 
 One 
 
 1833 
 
 
 1776 Four 
 
 1805 
 
 Two 
 
 1834 
 
 Twenty-one 
 
 1777 Three 
 
 1806 
 
 Seven 
 
 1835 
 
 
 1778 Nine 
 
 1807 
 
 Nine 
 
 1836 
 
 Three 
 
 1779 Seven 
 
 1808 
 
 Seven 
 
 1837 
 
 Three 
 
 1780 Four 
 
 1809 
 
 Seven 
 
 1838 
 
 Twelve 
 
 1781 One 
 
 1810 
 
 Four 
 
 1839 
 
 
 1782 Three 
 
 1811 
 
 Eight 
 
 1840 
 
 Eleven 
 
 1783 Thirty-three 
 
 1812 
 
 Three 
 
 1841 
 
 Thirty-five 
 
 1784 Twenty-seven 
 
 1813 
 
 One 
 
 1842 
 
 Five 
 
 1785 Six 
 
 1814 
 
 Six 
 
 1843 
 
 Fifty 
 
 1786 Five 
 
 1815 
 
 Twenty-two 
 
 1844 
 
 Two 
 
 1787 One 
 
 1816 Hundred and three 
 
 
 1788 Two 
 
 1817 
 
 Eleven 
 
 
 
78 HISTORY OF THE 
 
 MEMOIR OF MADAM ELIZABETH ROBBINS * 
 
 Mrs. Robbins died September 28th, 1829, aged 84. 
 Mr. Emerson remarked in his discourse at her fmieral : 
 "Her last sickness was very short, terminating in the 
 compass of two days. The faith which she manifested 
 on this occasion, appeared truly the substance of things 
 hoped for and the evidence of things not seen. In giv- 
 ing a character of this aged and pious matron, I would 
 say, her vivacity was remarkcble, tempered and guided 
 by truth and piety ; it was as useful as it was entertain- 
 ing. It delightfully mingled the animation and charm of 
 youth with the sedateness of age ; the life of spring, 
 with the ripeness and serenity ol" autunm. Her capacity 
 and readiness to entertain the numerous guests of the 
 family, when the duties of the study demanded the seclu- 
 sion of her faithful partner, are well known. Her know- 
 ledge of theology, especially in its practical bearings, 
 was extensive and highly useful." Towards the close of 
 his remarks he says, " Perhaps, ere this, she has received 
 a crown sparkling with the memorial of many a deed 
 the world never saw, and of which herself has to say, 
 'Lord, when was this, or why is it thus esteemed by 
 thee?'" The last friendly act performed for her was 
 September 30th, when she was placed in the silent 
 grave, by the side of her husband, there to wait the 
 re-animating call of the archangel. 
 
 * A memoir of Mr. Robbins is included in the history. 
 
TOWN OF NORFOLK. 79 
 
 A TRIBUTE OF RESPECT AND AFFECTION. 
 
 Joseph Battell, Esq., died November 30th, 1841, aged 
 67, after a laborious course, spent in the mercantile 
 business, commenced in early life and pursued with 
 energy and success ; acquiring property himself, and en- 
 abling others to do so. A friendly adviser and ready 
 helper, a faithful reprover of the heedless and improvi- 
 dent and encourager of the prudent manager, kind to 
 the needy and unfortunate, and withheld not a helping 
 hand, even from those whose vices and negligence made 
 them unworthy of his favor. All classes of citizens 
 experienced his kind regard, and felt more or less the 
 loss of him. His death was sudden and unexpected ; he 
 had fixed on a day to commence a journey to the west, 
 to attend to the pressing call of his extensive and im- 
 portant concerns in that section of the country. On 
 that day he was called to attend the funeral of Esquire 
 Hinsdale, of Winsted; he and several of his family 
 attended. He returned home to prepare to commence 
 his journey on the morrow, but before he entered his 
 house, he was attacked with apoplexy, and was carried 
 in, in a state of apparent insensibility, and remain-ed so 
 until morning, when his spirit took its flight — we hope 
 to a better world, and that his hope was exchanged for 
 fruition. He is dead ! said his family and friends who 
 were present. Mr. Battell is dead ! reiterated his neigh- 
 bors and the surprised inhabitants. The echo rolled 
 solemnly to the north and the south, to the east and to 
 the far west, accompanied with the admonition. Prepare 
 to meet thy God ! 
 
 AuREN Roys. 
 
80 
 
 HISTORY OF THE 
 
 LIST OF THE DEATHS OF THE MALE HEADS OF FAMI- 
 LIES WHO LIVED AND WHO DIED IN THIS TOWN. 
 
 FROM CHDRCH RECORDS. 
 
 
 DIED 
 
 
 
 DIED 
 
 Samuel Cowls, 
 
 1762 
 
 Edmund Akins, Esq. 
 
 
 1807 
 
 Samuel Com stock, 
 
 1764 
 
 Joseph Gaylord, 
 
 
 1807 
 
 Roswell Richards, 
 
 1765 
 
 Daniel Burr, 
 
 
 1808 
 
 Cornelius Brown, 
 
 1769 
 
 Reuben Munger, 
 
 
 1808 
 
 Isaac Pettibone, 
 
 1771 
 
 Nathaniel Stevens, Esq. 
 
 
 1808 
 
 Ezekiel Wilcox, 
 
 1774 
 
 Obadiah Pease, 
 
 
 1809 
 
 Jacob Holt and Levi Cowls, 
 
 
 Asahel Case, 
 
 
 1809 
 
 (buried in well,) 
 
 1774 
 
 Edmund Brown, 
 
 
 1809 
 
 Oliver Burr, 
 
 1775 
 
 Philo Guiteau, 
 
 
 1809 
 
 Thomas Curtis, (in army,) 
 
 1776 
 
 Thomas Tibbals, 
 
 
 1810 
 
 Bushnel Knapp, (shot for deer,)1777 
 
 Giles Pettibone, Esq. 
 
 
 1810 
 
 Michael Humphrey, Esq. 
 
 1778 
 
 Titus Ives, 
 
 
 1810 
 
 Joseph Plumby, (dxowned,) 
 
 1778 
 
 Giles Pettibone, jun. 
 
 
 1811 
 
 Samuel Gaylord, 
 
 1778 
 
 John Turner, 
 
 
 1811 
 
 Abel Phelps, 
 
 1779 
 
 James Benedict, 
 
 
 1812 
 
 Eliakim Seward, 
 
 1782 
 
 John Phelps, 
 
 
 1812 
 
 Simeon Mills, 
 
 1782 
 
 Samuel Pettibone, jun, 
 
 
 1813 
 
 Joseph Cowls, 
 
 1782 
 
 Rev. A. R. Robbins, 
 
 
 1813 
 
 Reuben Seward, 
 
 1732 
 
 Jedediah Richards, 
 
 
 1814 
 
 Jesse Tobey, 
 
 1788 
 
 Jacob Spalding 
 
 
 1814 
 
 Caleb Knapp, 
 
 1789 
 
 John Dowd, 
 
 
 1815 
 
 Bille Bishop, 
 
 1789 
 
 Francis Benedict, 
 
 
 1815 
 
 Joseph Mills, Deacon, 
 
 1792 
 
 Levi Grant, aged 44, 
 
 1816 
 
 Joseph Cady, 
 
 1793 
 
 Samuel Knapp, 
 
 90, 
 
 1816 
 
 Ebenezer Burr, 
 
 1794 
 
 Dr. Ephraim Guiteau, 
 
 79, 
 
 1816 
 
 Dudley Humphrey, Esq. 
 
 1794 
 
 Henry Akins, 
 
 86, 
 
 1816 
 
 Joshua Moses, 
 
 1795 
 
 Samuel Pettibone, 
 
 73, 
 
 1816 
 
 Joel Grant, (well sweep,) 
 
 1796 
 
 Jedediah Phelps, 
 
 60, 
 
 1817 
 
 Solomon Curtis, 
 
 1796 
 
 Agur Gaylord, 
 
 88, 
 
 1817 
 
 William Walter, 
 
 1796 
 
 Nathaniel Pease, 
 
 91, 
 
 1818 
 
 Isaac Holt, jun. 
 
 1797 
 
 Durius Phelps, 
 
 66, 
 
 1818 
 
 Samuel S. Butler, 
 
 1798 
 
 Josiah Roys, 
 
 80, 
 
 1818 
 
 Elijah Grant, 
 
 1798 
 
 Samuel Northway, 
 
 72, 
 
 1819 
 
 Stephen Walter, 
 
 1800 
 
 Sylvanus Norton, 
 
 78, 
 
 1820 
 
 Daniel Cowls, 
 
 1801 
 
 Michael Mills, 
 
 90, 
 
 1820 
 
 Titus Brown, 
 
 1802 
 
 Joshua Moses, jun. 
 
 58, 
 
 1820 
 
 Benjamin Picket, 
 
 1804 
 
 Daniel Cone, 
 
 39, 
 
 1821 
 
 Samuel Mills, Deacon, 
 
 1804 
 
 Aaron Burr, 
 
 71, 
 
 1821 
 
 Eleazer Orvis, 
 
 1805 
 
 Edward Gaylord, Dea." 
 
 78, 
 
 1822 
 
 Isaac Holt, sen. 
 
 1806 
 
 Jared Butler, Dea. 
 
 76, 
 
 1822 
 
TOWN OF NORFOLK. 
 
 81 
 
 George Tobey, ^ 
 
 Dudley Humphrey, -. 
 Joshua Nettleton 
 Samuel Knapp, 2.d, 
 Nathaniel Stevens, jun. 
 Rice Gaylord, 
 Timothy Gaylord, 
 Thomas Tibbals, jun. 
 Samuel Gaylord, 
 Stephen Norton, 
 Ebenezer Cowls, 
 Amasa Cowls, jun. 
 James Stannard, 
 Joseph Hull, 
 Deming T. Northway, 
 Elizur Munger, 
 HoptstiU Welch, 
 Moses Camp, 
 John Camp, 
 
 Levi Camp, 
 Jeremiah W. Phelps, 
 
 ElishaHawley, 
 
 Lewis Gaylord, 
 
 Isaac Spalduig, 
 
 Nichi las Hult, 
 
 Amasa Cowls, 
 
 Joseph Jones, 
 
 Joseph Ferry, 
 
 Beniamin INloses, 
 
 Jonithan H. Pettibone, 
 
 David W.Boys> "'' is32 
 
 Nath'l Hoys, w l^^^^f.^'' ^^^^o 
 Malachi Humphrey, aged 69, 1'- 
 
 John Bradley, 
 John Warner, 
 Abiather Rogers, 
 Ebenezer Norton, 
 I^i,e Gaylord, jun. 
 
 Israel Crissey, 
 Ephia'.m Coy, 
 Lemuel Akins, 
 Luther Foot, 
 Jonathan Brown, 
 Eleazer Holt, Esq- 
 Ezekiel Fuster, 
 William Nettleton, 
 Moses Grant, 
 Emmons Andrus, 
 
 DIED 
 
 77, 18-23 
 
 8, 18-:^ 
 
 83, 1824 
 
 78, 1824 
 57, 1825 
 87, 1825 
 90, 1825 
 72, 1826 
 83, 1826 
 86, 1826 
 78, 1827 
 56, 1827 
 39, 1827 
 74, 1828 
 42, 1828 
 67, 1828 
 87, 1828 
 81, 1828 
 56, 1828 
 74 1830 
 70', 1830 
 83, 1831 
 41 1831 
 50, 1832 
 76, 1832 
 87, 1832 
 82, 1832 
 90, 1832 
 34, 1832 
 39, 1832 
 57, 1832 
 
 Thomas Hill, 
 Charles Walter, 
 Eden Milla, 
 Miles Biggs, 
 Seth Wilcox, 
 Samuel Cone, Dea. 
 Francis Bliss, 
 Reuben Dean, 
 Peter Freedom, 
 Halsey Stevens 
 David Frisbee, Dea. 
 Elias Kiiapp, 
 Abijah Brown, 
 Asher Smith, _ 
 Andrew H. Smith, 
 Albert Norton, 
 William French, 
 Luther N. Ailing, 
 Gerry Grant, 
 James Roys, 
 David Gaylord, 
 Stephen B. Treat. 
 Asahel Case, 
 James R''od, 
 Samuel Knapp, 
 Dr. Benjamin Calhoun, 
 James Hotchkiss, 
 Nathaniel Butler, 
 Reuben Palmer, 
 Jedcdiah White, 
 James Peck, 
 J„seph Battell, Esq. 
 Aaron Case. 
 Mansfield White, 
 Piiilemon Gaylord, 
 Auf^ustus Pf >ys, 
 Isaac N D'-wd' 
 David Orvis, 
 Elisaph Butler, 
 John T. Warner 
 J:;seph R ickwell, 
 Stephen Norton, 
 Reuben Gayl -rd. 
 \mmi B. Robbuis, 
 Francis Benedict, jun. 
 
 ^'(Clo^e of the Centennial >ca.) 
 Titus Nettleton, <^» *^ 
 
 DIED 
 
 93, 1835 
 78, 1836 
 72, 1836 
 88, 1836 
 69. 1836 
 51, 1836 
 44, 1836 
 '85, 1836 
 63, 1837 
 
 34, 1837 
 
 87, 1837 
 
 62, 1837 
 
 56, 1838 
 
 80, 1838 
 
 36, 1838 
 
 9 1 1838 
 
 7l' 1838 
 
 __, 1839 
 
 35, 1839 
 
 71, 1839 
 
 69, 1839 
 30, 1839 
 84, 1840 
 
 70, 1840 
 72 1841 
 63', 1841 
 50, 1841 
 
 60, 1841 
 81, 1841 
 91, 1841 
 
 61, 1841 
 67, 1841 
 70, 1842 
 47, 1842 
 76, 1842 
 52, 1842 
 49 1842 
 96, 1843 
 75, 1843 
 43, 1843 
 85, 1843 
 77, 1843 
 73, 1843 
 76, 1843 
 75, 1844 
 27, 1844 
 
82 
 
 HISTORY OF THE 
 
 Alden Miner, 
 Reuben Brown, 
 Rev. Asahel Gaylord, 
 Levi Barlow, 
 •James Shepherd, 
 Jarvis Garrit, 
 
 
 DIED 
 
 45, 
 
 1845 
 
 66, 
 
 1845 
 
 70, 
 
 1845 
 
 — 
 
 1845 
 
 n, 
 
 1846 
 
 48, 
 
 1846 
 
 William Dowd, 
 John Smith, 
 Thomas Curtis, 
 Joseph Smith, 
 Joseph Riggs, 
 John Strong, 
 
 — , 1846 
 73, 1846 
 61, 1846 
 95, 1846 
 67, 1846 
 87, 1846 
 
TOWN OF NORFOLK. 
 
 83 
 
 JUSTICES OF THE PEACE. 
 
 Joshua Whitney, 
 
 
 Edmund Brown, 
 
 
 jMicbael Humphrey, 
 
 
 Amos Pettibone, 
 
 
 Giles Pettibone, 
 
 
 E, Grove Lawrence, 
 
 
 Hozea "Wilcox, 
 
 
 Augustus P. Pease, 
 
 
 Dudley Humphrey, 
 
 
 Erastus Smith, 
 
 
 Asahcl Humphrey, 
 
 
 Anson Norton, 
 
 
 Nathaniel Stevens, 
 
 
 Benjamin Welch, jun., 
 
 
 Eleazer Holt, 
 
 
 Darius Phelps, 
 
 
 Augustus Pettibone, 
 
 
 Daniel Hotchkiss, 
 
 
 Benjamin Welch, 
 
 
 John Dewell, 
 
 
 Joseph Battell, 
 
 
 Auren Tibbals, 
 
 
 Joseph Riggs, 
 
 
 Benjamin Bigelow, 
 
 
 Michael F. Mills, 
 
 
 James C. Swift, 
 
 
 Bushnell Knapp, 
 
 
 Jeremiah Johnson. 
 
 
 PROBATE 
 
 JUDGES. 
 
 
 Giles Pettibone, 
 
 1779 
 
 James C. Swift, 
 
 1843 
 
 Augustus Pettibone, 
 
 1807 
 
 Michael G. Mills, 
 
 1844 
 
 Michael F. Mills, 
 
 1823 
 
 Daniel Hotchkiss, 
 
 1846 
 
 Joseph Riggs, 
 
 1842 
 
 
 
 TOWN CLERKS. 
 
 Joshua Whitney, 
 
 1758 
 
 Asahel Humphrey, 
 
 Michael Humphrey, 
 
 1760 
 
 Dudley Humphrey, 2d, 
 
 Dudley Humphrey, 
 
 1778 
 
 Joseph Jones, 
 
 Hosoa Wilcox, 
 
 1782 
 
 Auren Roys, 
 
 Dudley Humphrey, 
 
 1788 
 
 
 1794 
 1797 
 1802 
 1812 
 
 TOWN TREASURER. 
 
 Ebenezer Burr, 1758 
 
 Giles Pettibone, 1763 
 
 Giles Pettibone, jun., 1803 
 
 Nathaniel Stevens, 1810 
 
 Jonathan H. Pettibone, 1822 
 
 Darius Phelps, 1832 
 
 E. Grove Lawrence, 1833 
 
 ^Vi^ianl Lawrence, 1834 
 
 Oliver B. Butler, 183G 
 
84 
 
 HISTORY OF THE 
 
 FIRST CONSTABLES. 
 
 Eli Pettibonc, 1758 
 
 Ezekiel Wilcox, 1763 
 
 Daniel Humphrey, 1765 
 
 Giles Pettibone, 1767 
 
 John Watson, 1770 
 
 Timothy Gaylord, 1772 
 
 Thomas Curtis, 1775 
 
 Henry Akins, 1776 
 
 Michael Mills, 1782 
 
 Elijah Phelps, 1783 
 
 Isaac Holt, jun., 1785 
 
 Samuel Mills, 1786 
 
 Elijah Phelps, 1787 
 
 Giles Pettibone, jun., 1788 
 
 Darius Phelps, 1790 
 
 Solomon Curtis, 1793 
 
 Nathaniel Stevens, jun., 1795 
 
 Philo Guiteau, 1797 
 
 Nathaniel Stevens, jun., 1798 
 
 Moses Grant, 1800 
 
 Benjamin Welch, 1802 
 
 Aniasa Cowls, jun., 1804 
 
 Jonathan Pettibone, 1807 
 
 Ezekiel Wilcox, 1809 
 
 Bushnell Knapp, 1811 
 
 Thomas Curtis, 1813 
 
 Josiah Pettibone, 1817 
 
 Amos Pettibone, 1819 
 
 Thomas Curtis, 1822 
 
 Jedediah Phelps, 1826 
 
 Halsey Stevens, 1828 
 
 Sulivan Searle, 1831 
 
 Hiram Gaylord, 1834 
 
 Samuel Seymour, jun., 1835 
 
 Edwin Butler, 1836 
 
 Michael G. Mills, 1837 
 
 Truman R. Seymour, 1838 
 
 Asahel G. Phelps, 1840 
 
 Mark Bigelow, 1843 
 
 Samuel Seymour, jun., 1844 
 
 FIRST SELECTMEN. 
 
 George Palmer, 
 
 1758 
 
 Abel Phelps, 
 
 1759 
 
 Michael Ilumphrcy, 
 
 1760 
 
 Isaac Holt, 
 
 1764 
 
 Joseph Seward, 
 
 1765 
 
 Abraham Camp, 
 
 1768 
 
 Thomas Tibbals, 
 
 1769 
 
 Joseph Seward, 
 
 1771 
 
 Elijah Grant, 
 
 1774 
 
 Dudley Humphrey, 
 
 1775 
 
 Michael Mills, 
 
 1776 
 
 Titus Ives, 
 
 1782 
 
 Michael Mills, 
 
 1785 
 
 Samuel Mills, 
 
 1788 
 
 Ariel Lawrence, 
 
 1789 
 
 Asahel Humphrey, 
 
 1790 
 
 Eleazer Holt, 
 
 1794 
 
 Jedediah Phelps, 
 
 1797 
 
 Nicholas Holt, 
 
 1799 
 
 Nathaniel Stevens, 
 
 1802 
 
 Jeremiah W. Phelps, 
 
 1804 
 
 Eden Mills, 
 
 1806 
 
 Elizur Munger, 
 
 1810 
 
 Amasa Cowls, jun., 
 
 1811 
 
 Reuben Gaylord, 
 
 1816 
 
 Lawrence Mills, 
 
 1817 
 
 Reuben Brown, 
 
 1818 
 
 James Shepard, 
 
 1820 
 
 Amos Pettibone officiated. 
 
 1S23 
 
 Solomon Cowls, 
 
 1826 
 
 Edmund Brown, 
 
 1828 
 
 Erastus Smith, 
 
 1829 
 
 Hervey Grant, 
 
 18.30 
 
 Jedediah Phelps, 
 
 1831 
 
 Hiram Mills, 
 
 1832 
 
 Aureu Tibbals, 
 
 1833 
 
 Darius Phelp?, 
 
 1834 
 
 Elon Maltbie, 
 
 1835 
 
 Henry Porter, 
 
 1836 
 
 Willis Griswald, 
 
 1837 
 
 John Humphrey, 
 
 1838 
 
 John Humphrey, 
 
 1839 
 
 Elizur Dowd, 
 
 1840 
 
 Augustus Roys, 
 
 1841 
 
 Jjuther Butler, 
 
 1842 
 
 Luther Butler, 
 
 1843 
 
 James M. Cowls, 
 
 1844 
 
TOWN OF NORFOLK. 
 
 85 
 
 Amowit of the List of Taxable Property in Norfolk 
 annually, from 1759, in pounds until 1796, then 
 m dollars. 
 
 DATE. AMO NT 
 
 1759 
 1760 
 1761 
 1762 
 1763 
 1764 
 1765 
 1766 
 1767 
 1768 
 1769 
 1770 
 1771 
 1772 
 1773 
 1774 
 1775 
 1776 
 1777 
 1778 
 1779 
 1780 
 1781 
 1782 
 1783 
 1784 
 1785 
 
 £. 
 2292 
 2546 
 2650 
 3230 
 3680 
 4136 
 4433 
 4706 
 5074 
 6106 
 6451 
 7064 
 7652 
 7876 
 8143 
 9597 
 9156 
 9613 
 9830 
 10425 
 11059 
 10752 
 10666 
 9908 
 9685 
 8051 
 8076 
 
 In the early settlement of this town 
 taxes were laid by the inhabitants, 
 from £10 to £100, and sometimes 
 2d., 3d., and up to Od. on the pound, 
 as occasion required, and collectors ap- 
 pointed at the time, which had their 
 respective taxes to collect. 
 
 The collectors appointed at the an- 
 nual meetings generally collected mere- 
 ly the ministerial tax. 
 
 Land-taxes were imposed by go- 
 vernment of 2d. to 5d. on the acre, 
 which was generally gathered by col- 
 lectors appointed for that purpose. 
 
 Various methods have been ordered 
 and adopted for regulating the taxable 
 articles and the manner of taxing them, 
 as may be seen by referring to the 
 Statute Laws on the subject. 
 
 It may be noticed that the amount 
 of the grand list for 17 7 8 is al- 
 most the same as in 1795. In the 
 succeeding year it was set in dollars. 
 It will be curious to see the gradual 
 rise and diminution according to cir- 
 cumstances. 
 
 From about the year 1800 the first 
 constables have generally been em- 
 ployed to collect all the taxes. 
 
 DATE. AMO NT 
 
 1786 
 1787 
 1788 
 1789 
 1790 
 1791 
 1792 
 1793 
 1794 
 1795 
 1796 
 1797 
 1798 
 1799 
 1700 
 1801 
 1802 
 1803 
 1804 
 1805 
 1806 
 1807 
 1808 
 1809 
 1800 
 1811 
 1812 
 
 £. 
 
 8024 
 
 7898 
 
 7800 
 
 7881 
 
 8701 
 
 8825 
 
 9270 
 
 10097 
 
 10150 
 
 10467 
 
 $37039 
 
 35537 
 
 34898 
 
 35125 
 
 34222 
 
 32143 
 
 33135 
 
 36472 
 
 36072 
 
 32646 
 
 33558 
 
 32652 
 
 33404 
 
 34068 
 
 32436 
 
 33336 
 
 32189 
 
 In 1818, the last olicial performance of the listers, the occupation 
 of the land in Norfolk was as follows :— 
 741 acres of plow land. 
 1024 acres of clear pasture^ 
 8575 acres of bush pasture. 
 3791 acres of wood land, second rate. 
 8004 acres of wood land, third rate* 
 85 acres of boggy meadow, mowed. 
 80 acres of do. do. not mowed. 
 Making 22,360 acres accounted for. 
 
 6* 
 
86 
 
 HISTORY OF THE 
 
 From 1813 tJie per centage of the Highway y Town 
 and Ecclesiastical Society Taxes annually., with the 
 name of the Collector added. 
 
 DATE. 
 
 AMOUNT. 
 
 H.WAY. 
 
 TOWN. 
 
 EC. SOC. 
 
 COLLECTOR. 
 
 
 $. CTS. 
 
 CENTS 
 
 CENTS 
 
 CENTS 
 
 
 
 On Dollar. 
 
 On Dollar 
 
 On Dollar. 
 
 
 1813 
 
 32,729,66 
 
 3 
 
 D'e 
 
 3 
 
 Thomas Curtis 
 
 1814 
 
 33,787,82 
 
 2 
 
 1% 
 
 5 
 
 Thomas Curtis 
 
 1815 
 
 33,719,45 
 
 3 
 
 li.c 
 
 23i^ 
 
 Thomas Curtia 
 
 1816 
 
 32,081,08 
 
 3 
 
 3 
 
 3)^ 
 
 Thomas Curtis 
 
 1817 
 
 32,766,73 
 
 3 
 
 2 
 
 3 
 
 Josiah Pettibone 
 
 1818 
 
 33,009,73 
 
 3 
 
 2 
 
 3 
 
 Josiah Pettibone 
 
 1819 
 
 23,720,46 
 
 4 
 
 2>2 
 
 ^% 
 
 Amos Pettibone 
 
 1820 
 
 21,980,76 
 
 4 
 
 3 
 
 4K 
 
 Amos Pettibone 
 
 1821 
 
 21,268,27 
 
 4 
 
 3 
 
 5).i 
 
 Amos Pettibone 
 
 1822 
 
 22,481,29 
 
 4 
 
 Vz 
 
 5 
 
 Thomas Curtis 
 
 1823 
 
 22,380,69 
 
 4 
 
 4 
 
 5 
 
 Thomas Curtis 
 
 1824 
 
 23,428,81 
 
 4 
 
 4K 
 
 4i.< 
 
 Thomas Curtis 
 
 1825 
 
 23,398,27 
 
 5 
 
 6 
 
 4}..< 
 
 Thomas Curtis 
 
 1826 
 
 21,926,07 
 
 5 
 
 5 
 
 4 
 
 Jedediah Phelps 
 
 1827 
 
 22,043,58 
 
 5 
 
 5 
 
 43^ 
 
 Jedediah Phelps 
 
 1828 
 
 21,960,25 
 
 5 
 
 5M 
 
 5 
 
 Halsey Stevens 
 
 1829 
 
 22,257,26 
 
 4 
 
 5 
 
 5K 
 
 Halsej Stevens 
 
 1830 
 
 22,097,90 
 
 6 
 
 5K 
 
 4 
 
 Halsej Stevens 
 
 1831 
 
 22,522,54 
 
 5 
 
 5 
 
 4 
 
 Sulivan Searle 
 
 1832 
 
 23,404,22 
 
 5 
 
 4;.< 
 
 4'. 
 
 Sulivan Searlo 
 
 1833 
 
 22,814,36 
 
 5 
 
 4 
 
 4| 
 
 Sulivan Searle 
 
 1834 
 
 24,217,91 
 
 5 
 
 3 
 
 5 
 
 Hiram Gaylord 
 
 1835 
 
 23,867,79 
 
 5 
 
 4 
 
 4K< 
 
 Samuel Seymour, jun. 
 
 1836 
 
 23,121,30 
 
 5 
 
 5 
 
 4V2 
 
 Edwin Butler 
 
 1837 
 
 23,353,67 
 
 6 
 
 5 
 
 4K 
 
 31ichael G. Mills 
 
 1838 
 
 23,243,89 
 
 5 
 
 5 
 
 4^< 
 
 Truman R. Sejmour 
 
 1839 
 
 23,589,53 
 
 5 
 
 5 
 
 5 
 
 Truman R. Seymour 
 
 1840 
 
 22,522,57 
 
 43^ 
 
 4 
 
 4M 
 
 Asahel G. Phelps 
 
 1841 
 
 22,036,35 
 
 5 
 
 ^% 
 
 53^ 
 
 Asahel G. Phelps 
 
 1842 
 
 21,18,^,28 
 
 5 
 
 Z% 
 
 5 
 
 Asahel G. Phelps 
 
 1843 
 
 20,569,46 
 
 2M 
 
 4 
 
 6 
 
 Sjimuel Seymour, jun. 
 
 1844 
 
 21,391,48 
 
 7' 
 
 H.&T- 
 
 2 
 
 Samuel Seymour, jun. 
 
TOWN OF NORFOLK. 87 
 
 Copy of the Summary of the List of 1812. 
 
 Polls, from 21 to 70, - 
 Polls, from 18 to 21, .... 
 
 Oxen and Bulls, 4 years old, - - - 
 Cows and Cattle, 3 years old, ... 
 
 Cattle, 2 years old, - - _ - 
 
 Horses, 3 do. - . _ _ 
 
 Ditto, 2 do. . - - - 
 
 Ditto, 1 do. . - . _ 
 
 Plow land, per acre, - - - - 
 
 Clear pasture, do. _ . _ _ 
 
 Boggy meadow, do. _ - _ - 
 
 Bush pasture, do. _ . - - 
 
 Uninclosed land, 1st rate, . - . 
 
 Ditto do. 2d rate, - _ _ 
 
 Ditto do. 3d rate, - - - 
 Chaise, at 20, 80, 40 and 65 dollars each. 
 
 Gold watches, _ . . - . 
 Silver watches, ----- 
 
 Brass-wheeled clocks, - - - - 
 
 Wooden-wheeled clocks, - - - - 
 
 Fire places, 1st class, - - - - 
 
 Ditto 2d class, - - - - 
 
 Ditto 3d class, - - - - 
 
 Ditto 4th class, - - - - 
 
 Stores, 1 story high, - . - - 
 Money on interest, 6 per cent. 
 Bank stock, 3 per cent. 
 
 Assessment for occupation, discretionary. 
 
 20 sheep only deducted from any one list. 
 
 In 1815, sheep were not placed in the list. 
 
 Those alterations in the assessment of taxable property will, in some 
 measure, account for the sudden rise or diminution of the amount of the 
 Grand Lists. 
 
 OLS. 
 
 CTS. 
 
 60 
 
 00 
 
 30 
 
 00 
 
 10 
 
 00 
 
 7 
 
 00 
 
 3 
 
 00 
 
 10 
 
 00 
 
 7 
 
 00 
 
 3 
 
 34 
 
 1 
 
 67 
 
 1 
 
 34 
 
 
 84 
 
 
 34 
 
 
 34 
 
 
 17 
 
 
 9 
 
 34 
 
 00 
 
 10 
 
 00 
 
 20 
 
 00 
 
 7 
 
 00 
 
 5 
 
 00 
 
 3 
 
 75 
 
 2 
 
 50 
 
 1 
 
 25 
 
 10 
 
 00 
 
88 HISTORY OF THE 
 
 In 1819, the Listers were dismissed^ and Assessors and 
 Board of Relief appointed. A copy of a Summary 
 of a List by them. 
 
 Polls, set in List at $40 each. 
 
 Houses and 2 acres of land,* - - - - - 2 pr ct. 
 Land, ._.-_-_-3 
 
 Mills, stores, etc., _ . - - - - 3 
 
 Horses, .-.-.----8 
 
 Neat cattle, 6 
 
 Silver plate, 50 
 
 Carriages, " -- " - - -40 
 
 Money at interest and bank stock, - - - - 6 
 
 Clocks and watches, ------ 50 
 
 Wagons, -------30 
 
 In 1820, polls were set in list at $30 ; horses, at 10 per ct. ; carriages, 
 at 25 per ct. ; wagons, at 15 per ct. 
 
 In 1822, stud horses were set in the list at $25, and in 1823 they 
 were not on the list. 
 
 In 1824, real estate was placed on the list at 3 per ct., and personal 
 property, at 6 per ct. 
 
 In 1825, $11,000 were lost by the failure of the Eagle Bank, and 
 deducted from the list of a resident of this town — J. B. 
 
 In 182G, sheep were added to the list, at 6 per ct. And polls were 
 
 set in the list at $20 each. 
 
 In 1843, polls were set in the list at $10 each. 
 * Ad valorem. 
 
TOWN OF NORFOLK. 
 
 90 
 
 Number of Children and Dividend of School Money 
 i?i each School District, for October, 1832. 
 
 
 DISTRICTS. 
 
 
 OHILDREN, 
 
 DIVIDEND. 
 
 
 
 
 
 $. 
 
 CTS. 
 
 Middle, 
 
 - 
 
 - 
 
 111 
 
 38 
 
 85 
 
 East 3Iiddlc, 
 
 - 
 
 - 
 
 fi2 
 
 21 
 
 70 
 
 North Middle, 
 
 - 
 
 - 
 
 45 
 
 15 
 
 75 
 
 North End, 
 
 . 
 
 - 
 
 47 
 
 IG 
 
 45 
 
 Pond, 
 
 - 
 
 - 
 
 34 
 
 11 
 
 90 
 
 West side, - 
 
 - 
 
 - 
 
 35 
 
 12 
 
 25 
 
 North Goshen 
 
 road, - - - 
 
 - 
 
 •24 
 
 8 
 
 40 
 
 South Goshen road, - - - 
 
 - 
 
 47 
 
 16 
 
 45 
 
 South End, - 
 
 . . . . 
 
 ■ 
 
 3G 
 441 
 
 12 
 
 60 
 
 
 $154 
 
 35 
 
 
 
 — 
 
 Whole Number and Dividend. 
 
 WHOLE NO. WHOLE AMOUNT 
 
 OF CHILDREN. > OF DIVIDEND. 
 
 1833 
 
 418 
 
 1834 
 
 424 
 
 1835 
 
 424 
 
 1836 
 
 417 
 
 •'^. CTS. 
 
 486 25 
 
 516 00 
 

 A 
 
 BRIEF HISTORY 
 
 OF THE 
 
 TOWN OF NORFOLK 
 
 FROM 1738 TO 1844: 
 
 I 
 
 '<, SUMMARY OF EVENTS AND TRANSACTIONS WHICH HAVE OCCURRED 
 
 I IN THIS TOWN, FROM ITS FIRST SETTLEMENT, 
 
 CHRONOLOGICALLY ARRANGED. 
 
 FAITHFULLY COLLECTED FROM THE PUBLIC RECORDS OF THE TOWN 
 
 AND OTHER CORRECT DOCUMENTS, WITH THE DATES 
 
 ACCURATELY ANNEXED. 
 
 ' TO WHICH IS ADDED 
 
 ; 
 
 J A DESCRIPTION OF THE TOWN, INCIDENTS, LIST OF OFFICERS, 
 
 '> AND OTHER INTERESTING MATTER. 
 
 BY AUREN ROYS, 
 
 Town and Ecclesiastical Society Cleii:. 
 
 " He commanded our fathers, that they shovild make them known to their chil- 
 dren ; that the generations to come might know them, even the children which 
 should be born ; who should arise and declare them to their children ; thatHhey might 
 set their hope in God." 
 
 ^ N E W - Y O R K : 
 PRINTED BY HENRY LUDWIG 
 
 70 VESEY-STREET. 
 
 M DCCC XLYII. 
 
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