Litchfield County CT Archives History - Books .....Mr. Griswold's Administration 1882 *********************************************** Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/ct/ctfiles.htm *********************************************** ************************************************************************ The USGenWeb Project makes no claims or estimates of the validity of the information submitted and reminds you that each new piece of information must be researched and proved or disproved by weight of evidence. It is always best to consult the original material for verification. ************************************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Joy Fisher sdgenweb@yahoo.com May 24, 2005, 3:35 am Book Title: HISTORY OF THE TOWNS OF NEW MILFORD AND BRIDGEWATER, CONNECTICUT, 1703-1882 CHAPTER XVI. MR. GRISWOLD'S ADMINISTRATION. 1790—l802. One minister above all others, in New Milford, has received almost unlimited censure, as to doctrine and church polity; and a consideration of this man's work is here given a brief space by way of a history of the church and society. The censure which he received at the time, was almost, if not wholly, from persons outside of the township of New Milford, and especially from ministers. New Milford people never had much to say against the Rev. Stanley Griswold. "Nov. 22, 1787. Voted, that the society's committee be desired and directed to make enquiry after, and hire a candidate to preach for such term of time as the society shall hereafter agree for, at the cost of said society, having first had the Rev. Mr. Taylor's consent and advice in the affair; and the Rev. Mr. Taylor being then requested, came into the meeting and there gave his consent to call in a candidate to preach, if the society thought best, provided he was not thereby kept out of his just dues from the society, which matter was agreed to be left to Mr. Taylor and the committee to adjust on just and equitable principles." This matter passed without further records until in July, 1789, when a committee was appointed to consult with Mr. Taylor as to his salary and relations to the church; and the committee reported that Mr. Taylor would make no difficulty, but that if he was continued in his pastoral relations, he thought he should receive an annual allowance, but should not demand it. At the next meeting, which was about a month later (Aug. 31, 1789), "after a free conversation on the subject of settling a gospel minister, it was moved, to try the minds of the members of the meeting, on the question of giving Mr. Stanley Griswold a call to settle in said society, upon which question there appeared sixty-six in the affirmative, and four in the negative." "Voted, that this society will give Mr. Stanley Griswold, as his salary, the sum of one hundred pounds lawful money annually, during the time he shall continue to be our minister." At the same time, they voted to give him two hundred pounds lawful money as a settlement; and that Mr. Griswold should continue to preach for them until his decision in the matter should be reached. In the next October, Mr. Taylor left the matter of an allowance to him in case another minister should be settled with the society, upon which the society voted to give him eighty pounds a year in money or certificates, with interest or lands (for which variety in form of payment he must have been very thankful, since it is not so much of a difficult task to buy land when one has the money in hand). In November, 1788, a vote was passed by the society to take out the slips in the meeting-house, and make new pews for a part or the whole of the house; but in the following December, they voted to postpone the matter, perhaps, although it is not certain, in view of the idea of first securing an assistant in the pastoral office; for in the next July they proceeded in this matter as above to secure such assistance. On the 21st of December, 1789, Messrs. Reuben Booth, Benjamin Buckingham, and Noble Hine were chosen society's committee, to whom were added "Dea. Sherman Boardman, Abel Hine, Abel Hine, Esqr., and Col. Josiah Starr," who completed the agreement with Mr. Griswold and reported to the society; and the whole matter was settled by the votes of the society on the 25th (Christmas) day of December, 1789, his salary to commence on the day of installation, "to be paid in gold or silver, or such produce as he shall accept." Of Mr. Griswold's ordination, Rev. Mr. Taylor wrote in the church book: "January 20, 1790, Mr. Stanly Griswold was ordained by the Consociation of Litchfield county, colleague pastor with myself, of the First Church and congregation in New Milford; by appointment I gave the charge, and the Rev. Mr. Merwin of Washington the right hand of fellowship. NATHANIEL TAYLOR," By a record in the society's book we learn who preached the sermon: "Apr. 12, 1790. Voted, that the thanks of this society be given to the Rev. Mr. Daniel McClure, for his sermon delivered at the ordination of the Rev. Mr. Stanley Griswold, and that said society request a copy thereof that it may be printed." Dissenting Persons. About two years before Mr. Griswold was settled in New Milford, Baptist meetings were established in what is now Bridgewater, and quite a number of persons withdrew from the First Society and united with that meeting, and soon after (in 1789), the meeting-house was erected for that people, and for some years there was a continual agitation under the system of taxation for the support of the gospel in the First Society. A number of certificates are recorded of persons who united with the Episcopal Church, and the Separate Congregational Church, dated between 1790 and 1800. None are reported as having joined the Jemimaites, unless it was one under the name of "Sandimans," as follows: "Feb. 27, 1794. This may certify that I the subscriber, Henry Wood, profess the doctrines, tenets, and mode of worship of that society of religious denominations known by the name of Sandimans or Glassites, and that I lawfully and voluntarily attend their public worship and contribute a proportional part for the support of said religion as far as the laws and rules of that society extend, as witness my hand. HENRY WOOD." It is refreshing to meet once in many years, a thoroughly independent and broad-minded man, and as the following certificate was intended probably to be of that species, it is given here as a sample, hoping that people generally can comprehend the whole scope of the production: "To all whom it may concern, that, our friend Enos Camp, having examined him of his belief of our Order, and attending Congregation part of the Church of Christ at Warren, under the pastoral care of Elder Roots, the annexed minister of the said Congregation and Ministerial Member of the ancient association of Baptists of Philadelphia, By the authority reposed in me, by that select body agreeable to the Constitution of this Republic reposed in Congress, we do hereby acquaint all our Christian Brethren of all sects that as he is not bound under any obligation of payment this year by bond or promise to any sect whilst he conducts as a faithful patriot and faithful citizen, he is, agreeable to the Federal Constitution, clear from all in-cumbrances of notes or demands of ecclesiastical payments or anything that may have any attendency thereunto. New Milford, 1st Jan. 1792, as witness my hand, THOS. JONES, Ministerial Elder. EDMOND CLARK, Deacon." To which the Society's Clerk of New Milford added: "By me Nicho. S. Masters, Society's Clerk. Vive le Republique" Sure as the life of Josephus the Historian, Nicho. S. Masters, the lawyer, should have been prosecuted for adding those three French words ! Donation Lands. A few months after Mr. Griswold's ordination, a movement was started that resulted in securing material aid to all the ecclesiastical societies of the town, but especially to the First Society. After considerable consultation a committee was appointed by the Proprietors of undivided lands in the town, to propose "a plan for disposing of unncessary highways," which reported on Nov. 1, 1790, and the plan was adopted, and the work at once commenced. The proposition was to sell all such lands and put the money at interest, and use the interest only for the support of the Gospel in the town forever. The money, as a fund, was to be proportioned, "to each of the societies of the Presbyterian Congregational order, and to the professors of the Church of England in said township, according to their List of Ratable Estate in said New Milford, in the year A. D. 1789, and the Quakers and every other sectary or religious denomination of people in said old township." The committee who reported the plan consisted of Sherman Boardman, Benjamin Buckingham, Eleazer Warner, Reuben Booth, and Elisha Bostwick, and they were continued the committee to carry out the plan, give the deeds for the land and divide the money, Elisha Bostwick being the treasurer in the matter. In June, 1793, they made a division of £172 4s. 7d. lawful money, and in October, 1802, they made a division of £122, 12s. 9d. Of all this, the amount proportioned to each society was: To the First Congregational society, £209 18 9 To the Episcopal Church, 46 7 5 To the Separate Society, 26 6 10 To the Quakers, 5 7 6 To New Preston Society, 6 17 0 ___________ £295 7 6 "Seating the Presbyterian Meeting-house" It is to be regretted that no complete account of the seating of the meeting-house is on record until in 1797, when Elijah Board-man was one of the committee for this work. He then made a drawing or plan of the inside of the house, and recorded a list of the persons as seated, and the amount of the tax-list of each. For more than fifty years this subject was an absorbing theme to the entire town, which fact can be but a matter of wonder at the present day, but is on about the same scale of self-aggrandizement as the present custom of putting on the most costly clothing in which to appear in church. Soon after Mr. Griswbld was settled here the meeting-house was re-arranged inside; the old seats were taken out and new pews put in, and the seating continued for more than thirty years later, after the manner here represented. "Names of persons seated in the Presbyterian meeting-house by the committee for that purpose, April, 1802, with their tax-list: First Rank. Sherman Boardman, $3,515 Abel Hine, 2,658 John Treat, 2,604 David Northrop, 2,545 Benj. Buckingham, 2,491 Josiah Starr, 2,415 Enos Camp, 2,254 Benj. Bostwick, 2,281 Oliver Warner, 2,187 Lemuel Warner, 2,178 John Merwin, 2,146 Epinetus Platt, 2,117 David Merwin, 2,056 Gideon Treat, $2,024 Aaron Gaylord, 2,013 Patience Hine, 2,011 Stephen Merwin, 1,927 Abel Merwin, 1,907 Nathan Gaylord, 1,912 Israel Camp, 1,941 Asa Warner, 1,871 Daniel Clark, 1,869 Samuel Sanford, 1,842 Abel Gunn, 1,834 Epinetus Gunn, 1,808 Lemuel Canfield, 1,801 Eli Smith, 1,720 Stephen Hine, 1,713 Abner Gunn, 1,702 David Beach, 1,667 Samuel Dunning, 1,633 Thomas Wells, 1,619 Elizur Warner, 1,618 Giles Chittenden, 1,629 Ebenezer Gaylord, 1,610 John Hull, 1,609 Ezra Noble, 1,578 Elisha Bostwick, 1,566 Elijah Boardman, 1,505 Edward Bennitt, 1,493 Ephraim Buck, 1,477 Nathaniel Taylor, 1,468 Riverius Camp, 1,455 Rev. Stanley Griswold, [1] Nehemiah Strong, Joseph Merwin, Mrs. Sarah Booth, Mrs. Hannah Ruggles, Mrs. Jane Todd, Mrs. Rachel Welch, Mrs. Freelove Terrill, Jeremiah Platt, Joseph Ferriss, Zachariah Ferriss, John McEwen, Elizur Fairchild, Stephen Miles, Stephen Chittenden, 1,301 Jonathan Bostwick, 1,223 Nehemiah Sanford, 1,259 Anna Platt, widow, 847 Second Rank. Reuben Warner, Jr., 1,459 Benj. Brownson, 1,390 Doct. Reuben Warner, 1,367 Beebe Hine, 1,363 Matthew Brownson, 1,343 Richard Clark, 1,315 Thomas Downs, 1,284 Wm. Bradshaw, 1,273 Eli Todd, 1,258 Homer Boardman, 1,253 Eber Bishop, 1,248 Samuel B. Buck, 1,228 Daniel Camp, 1,226 Noah Brownson, 1,194 Ezra Botsford, 1,164 Andrew Minor, 1,161 Abraham Fairchild, 1,140 Ithamer Canfield, 1,133 Daniel Everitt, 1,111 Abijah Bennitt, 1,106 Jonathan Mygatt, 1,069 Thomas Brownson, 1,071 Jonathan Downs, 1,075 Isaac Nichols, 1,065 David Merwin, Jr., 1,051 Wd. Martha Jackson, 1,051 Nathaniel Smith, 1,050 Orange Warner, 1,050 William Taylor, 1,047 Solomon Northrop, 1,033 Wd. Sarah Downs, 1,020 Truman Minor, 1,017 David Beard. 1,010 Philo Canfield, 1,008 Liffie Sanford, 1,008 Thos. Clark, Fort Hill, 991 Josiah Lockwood, 984 Joseph Ruggles, 983 John Stilson, 976 Mary, and H. Brownson, 1,012 Jared Lane, say 60, 974 Levi Chatfield, 967 David Noble, 966 John Canfield, 959 Abijah Treat, 958 Benj. Mead, 957 Abel Canfield, 954 Philo Ruggles, 953 Timothy Beardsley, 952 Chauncey Lowrey, 951 Amos Bostwick, 950 Aaron Hitchcock, 938 David Gorham, 935 Noahdiah Mygatt, 924 Elnathan Peet, 922 Elizur Bostwick, 917 Epinetus Platt, Jr., 911 Joshua Knapp, 909 James Phippeney, 846 Edward H. Prince, 906 James White, 898 Asa Prime, 898 Jeremiah Rundle, 896 Tamar Masters, 891 William Nichols, 906 Benjamin Banks, 892 Hopestill Platt, 741 Simeon Baldwin, Mrs. Bostwick. Mrs. Mygatt, Wd. Anna Gregory, Ephraim Sterling, Solomon Hill, Thaddeus Gilbert, Reuben Edwards, Benoni S. Sanford, William Phelps. Third Rank. Samuel Lockwood, 889 Daniel A. Pickett, 889 N. B. Buckingham, 882 Joel Canfield, 863 Elijah Downs, 860 John Warner, 856 Gideon Platt, 852 Isaac Terrill, 846 Annis Clark, 843 Jobe Fenn, 842 George Willson, 840 Samuel Comstock, 834 Ebenezer Thomas, 824 John Roburds, 818 John Terrill, 806 John Camp, 804 Oliver Terrill, 798 Ralph Smith, 790 Daniel H. Ferriss, 789 Nehemian Sanford, Jr., 783 Samuel Garlick, 776 Abraham Roburds, 771 Asaph Buck, 764 Elisha Downs, 763 David Cable, 761 Josiah Smith, 767 Joseph Merwin, Jr., 757 Isaac Downs, 739 Jobe Terrill, 734 John Smith, 733 Caleb Beach, 733 Josiah Buck, 733 Wakefield Noble, 732 Ralph Keeler, 731 William Doan, 729 Samuel Stevens, 728 Eli Starr, 728 Benjamin Platt, 724 Asher Canfield, 724 Joseph Peck, 723 William R. Phelps, 719 Wd. Sarah Knapp, 716 Solomon Fenton, Lucy Garlick, Ebenezer Trowbridge, James Jessup, Abijah Seelye, Paul Welch, Jr., Elijah Canfield, 711 Stephen Chittenden, Jr., 703 Gershom Bennitt, 702 David S. Boardman, 699 Amos Morriss, 699 Samuel A. Botsford, 693 Jesse Cole, 691 Asa Brownson, 694 Salmon Buck, 687 David Fairchild, 682 Fourth Rank. Edmund Garlick, 682 Noah Titus, 677 David Lockwood, 676 Reuben Brownson, 679 Daniel Nichols, 678 Gideon Gunn, 675 Stephen Crane, 661 Abijah Beach, 655 Matthew Mallet, 653 Timothy Cole, 648 David Gaylord, 648 Jonathan Bostwick, 680 Friend G. Northrop, 641 Reuben M. Booth, 640 David Baldwin, 642 Gerardus Booth, 640 John Baldwin, Jr., 638 John Burr, 636 Daniel Lines, 635 Daniel Gaylord, 627 Truman Gaylord, 627 Briggs Ingersoll, 627 John Oviatt, 624 James Green, 624 Abel Beers, 620 Herman Canfield, 616 William Gillett, 610 Daniel Garlick, 610 Major Terrill, 601 John H. Treat, 598 Clark Blackney, 596 Ichabod Noble, 595 Orange Merwin, 595 Elizur Warner, Jr., 589 Asa Baldwin, 586 Joel Northrop, 588 Lemuel Morehouse, 582 David Bostfldck, Jr., 582 Nathan Hoyt, 574 Uriah Sanford, 574 Joel Northrop, 571 Samuel Oviatt, 570 Jeremiah Canfield, 565 Gideon Baldwin, 561 Jeremiah Platt, Jr., 559 Abel Hine, 2d, 557 Thomas F. Welch, 553 Artemas Ruggles, 552 William Watson, 552 James Riggs, 552 John W. Merwin, 552 John Stilson, Jr., 550 Benjamin Hamlin, 550 Isaac Hartwell, 550 Thomas Sanford, 546 William Camp, 543 Orange Kenney, 541 Solomon Bostwick, 541 Nathan Belts, 538 David Hull, 536 William Gaylord, 535 Aaron Ketcham, 533 Solomon Cole, 532 Charles Rundle, 527 Elihu Marsh, 2d, 516 Walker Clark, 516 Simeon Dutcher, 504 Elijah Brownell, 501 Joseph Ferriss, Jr., 500 Herman Curtiss, 498 John Woodruff, 495 Benjamin Ruggles, 495 Augustine Mygatt, 491 D. Munson Fairchild, 434 Daniel H. Gaylord, 473 Elizur Bostwick, Jr., 488 Daniel Canfield, 483 John W. Northrop, 487 William Nickerson, 483 Samuel Summers, 473 Richard Rundle, 477 James McMahon, 485 Isaac Beard, 467 William Thayer, 464 Amos Northrop, 457 Stephen Ferriss, 454 David Beard, 453 Isaac Stone, 452 Aaron Hitchcock, Jr., 448 Elisha Beardsley, 444 Everitt Shelton, 439 Morehouse Squire, 433 Simon Garlick, 437 Edward A. Northrop, 426 Jacob B. Platt, 424 Daniel Bradshaw, 421 David'Merwin, 3d, 420 • Isaac Briggs, 420 William Conn, 417 Samuel Bennitt, 415 Asher Beardsley, 428 Jonathan Stevens, 422 Eli Knapp, 407 Cyrenus Ruggles, 414 Joseph Bennitt, 407 Nathan Hitchcock, 404 John C. Edwards, 401 Nathaniel Brownson, 411 Joseph Bradshaw, 395 Stephen Merwin, Jr., 394 John Taylor, 395 Stephen Lockwood, 391 Cyrus Warner, 383 Philo Noble, 380 Herman Merwin, 423 Lyman Keeler, 374 Thomas Bradshaw, 372 Ezra Noble, Jr., 367 William Prime, 367 Rufus Ferriss, 370 Abijah Terrill, 354 Solomon Northrop, Jr., 350 Samuel D. Allen, 390 Samuel Clark, 463 Fifth Rank, Duncan McLean, Daniel Leach, Joel Sanford, Edward Edwards, Seelye Richmond, Cyrus Northrop, Sibyl and Lois Oviatt. Sixth Rank. Rowland Norton, Benedict Davis, Elisha Murray, Jr., Ezra Drake, Truman Lake, David Stone, Wells Stone, Wheeler Summers. [1] Fourteen were seated not by list but by age, or station in life. The accompanying plan shows where the members of the First Society were seated in the meeting-house, and their rank in the society. Elijah Boardman drew the first plan on a leaf of the society's book, in 1797, and several were drawn thereafter,—the last in 1822. The system was continued after that, but we find no plan drawn or placed upon record. In the list for 1821 the position of names had changed very much from 1802. Thomas Wells stands first, and Elijah Boardman second, for, although he attended the Episcopal Church some of the time, he never withdrew from this society. The first thirty names, having the highest lists, in 1821, stood thus: Thomas Wells, $4,375 Elijah Boardman, 3,909 Ithamar Canfield, 3,607 David Merwin, 3,124 Wid. Sarah Gunn, 3,060 Beebe Hine, 2,881 Wd. Susan Taylor, 2,779 Abel Merwin, 2,650 Eli Todd, 2,643 Stephen Hine, 2,519 Riverius Camp, 2,448 Elisha Bostwick, 2,328 Homer Boardman, 2,224 Samuel Comstock, 2,180 David Beard, 2,043 William Taylor, 2,033 Eli Starr, 2,023 Richard Clark, 1,931 Noadiah Mygatt, 1,913 Solomon Bostwick, 1,867 Daniel A. Pickett, 1,840 Philo Canfield, 1,741 Josiah Lockwood, 1,702 Orange Merwin, 1,676 David S. Boardman, 1,638 Martha Jackson, 1,519 Cyrus Northrop, 1,584 Joseph Merwin, 1,576 Truman Gaylord, 1,551 John Taylor, 1,543 At this time the lowest sum set to any name was $306, and the list contained 181 names instead of 335 in 1802. In 1802 Mr. Griswold was here, and had been eleven years. The meeting-house was crowded to overflowing. A larger and more intelligent audience was not to be found, probably, in Litchfield county, the only rival being that at Litchfield, which had not then attained its full glory or celebrity. From Mr. Griswold's time to 1820, the society in its membership melted away like snow before the rain, until it possessed but little more than one-half its old number; yet this was the time which has been spoken of for many years as the greatest period of success to the church. As the Congregational attendance on public worship grew less and its support less, the Episcopal Church gained. The material support of the First Society did not so much diminish, for the wealthier members, many of them, remained—they being older members; but the depletion of numbers went on so that after nineteen years, 154 families were lost to the society. When the Rev. Benjamin Benham was settled rector of St. John's Church here in 1807, his engagement was for one-third of the time; but before he left, in 1827, this church was able to pay for his services all the time,—that is, their strength was much increased. The author of this book has no objection to the increase of the Episcopal Church; the question is as to the claim of prosperity in the Congregational Church while for twenty years the congregation was growing smaller. But it is claimed that the church membership was increased during this time. How was it? In 1810, when the church record was revised, they threw overboard something like 200 names of persons who stood in the Halfway Covenant relation, which left very few communicants in the church; then they went to work to bring these persons back into the church upon profession of experience, and as they succeeded, many of them having been the best people of the community for from twenty to forty years, it was supposed that great gain was attained. But it has been charged that Mr. Griswold introduced the Halfway Covenant, and "threw open the sacraments to all." He did nothing of the kind. Mr. Boardman. and Mr. Taylor practiced under the Halfway Covenant about sixty years before Mr. Griswold came into the parish, and Mr. Taylor and his church urged those persons in Halfway Covenant relations to come to the communion, during twenty years before Mr. Griswold came here. The resolutions, or acts of the church to this effect, may be seen in the eleventh chapter in this book. Mr. Griswold pursued the same course in regard to church ordinances that Mr. Taylor had followed for forty years before him, and no other; and, so far as the records show, and public report in New Milford goes, Mr. Griswold's success as a true minister of the Gospel was simply marvelous. The Rev. Truman Marsh preached here in the Episcopal Church nine years while Mr. Griswold was here, and his wife, returning fifty years after she left, told one of the first-class citizens of this place, who is still living, that she (Mrs. Marsh) had never seen "anything like the harmony, union, and good feeling, between all churches and among all the people," as that which prevailed in New Milford while she and her husband resided here, that is from 1790 to 1799. Such are some of the facts given in the records concerning this matter, and further items may be seen in the biographical sketch of Mr. Griswold. What the considerations were which led Mr. Griswold to seek a removal from the church and society cannot now be ascertained, for, to all appearances, from all records, there was great unanimity in desiring him to remain, and that there was no want of encouragement by way of success is very apparent. The only intimation as to the reason of his going that has been seen or heard of, is the action of the church after he had gone in withdrawing from the Litchfield South Consociation. It has always been maintained that this act was in consequence of the treatment Mr. Griswold received from that body, that action being regarded as an improper interference with the rights of the church. When Mr. Griswold proposed to leave, the society came together, June 7, 1802, and voted to relinquish any claim it might have upon the £200 settlement which was conferred upon him when he was ordained, as the minister of the parish during his natural life or ability to preach among them. The next August the following was passed, which appears to have been the last action the society took concerning him:— "The Rev. Stanley Griswold being absent, and it being uncertain how long that absence will continue: Voted, that the society's committee be and they are hereby directed to supply the pulpit until the first day of November next, unless Mr. Griswold should return and supply it himself before that time, and that they be directed to employ the Rev. Nehemiah Strong for that purpose if he will agree to serve the society until that time." One other resolution of the society passed December 20, 1802, seems proper to be recorded here:— "The Rev. Stanley Griswold having left the society, the business of supplying the pulpit came under consideration, when it was voted, that the society's committee be directed to supply the pulpit from time to time in such manner as they shall judge most expedient, and that they employ a candidate, which in their opinion will agree with the minds of the society." Immediately following this vote, in the same meeting came the consideration from the people of the Neck to build a meetinghouse under the hope of obtaining preaching, in proportion to the society tax they should pay. [1] [1] See Chapter on Bridgewater. It is very instructive as well as entertaining to study the changes which occurred in the tax-lists, from time to time, as some men grew richer, some poorer, while some passed away and their wealth was scattered, Sherman Boardman stood at the head of the list, at least twelve years. In 1797, the first ten on the list were:— Samuel Canfield (2d), £1,037 Reuben Booth, 979 Sherman Boardman, 957 John Treat, 740 Abel Hine, 736 Zachariah Sanford, 714 Benjamin Buckingham, 693 Jonathan Downs, 685 Oliver Warner, 656 David Northrop, 645 Then follows the list of 1802, as given in full heretofore. In 1809, the next list recorded after 1802, the first ten stood:— Sherman Board, $3,866 Abel Hine, 2,943 Josiah Starr, 2,764 Benjamin Buckingham, 2,548 Benjamin Bostwick, 2,492 David Merwin, 2,358 Lemuel Warner, 2,305 Epenetus Gunn, 2,271 Epenetus Platt, 2,243 Stephen Merwin, 2,218 In 1815, four years later, the change was very marked with several. Sherman Boardman's name is at the head, but he had died a few months before. Elijah Boardman had risen from the fifteenth to the third place; Thomas Wells from the seventeenth to the fourth place. The first ten stood thus:— Sherman Boardman, $4,212 Abel Hine, 3,199 Elijah Boardman, 3,001 Thomas Wells, 2,913 Epenetus Gunn, 2,827 David Merwin, 2,789 Benjamin Bostwick, 2,729 Benjamin Buckingham, 2,548 Abel Merwin, 2,513 Stephen Merwin, 2,489 The next name is Nathaniel Taylor (2d) 2,438. Such are the changes constantly transpiring. The old saying, spoken so often by the older people is so true: "The places which know us now will soon know us no more forever." Some brief account of prominent men, about 1800, is important, as showing the state of social life, and of business enterprises, and political sentiments. The Rev. Stanley Griswold was settled as pastor of the First Church January 20,1790. He was a native of Torringford, in the town of Torrington, Ct., was twenty-seven years of age, and had been married a few months. His father was a wealthy farmer of Torringford, and the house that Stanley was born in is still (1882) standing, and in a good state of preservation. Mr. Stanley Griswold preached in New Milford eleven years and a few months, with increasing interest and general acceptability to the people of the church, society and community, as is evident by the list of persons seated in the meeting-house in 1802, which was larger by many "heads in the list" than it had ever been before or has ever been since; and the standing of New Milford, socially, politically, intellectually, and in wealth, was high, compared with any other, and all towns in the state. The census of 1800 gives the number of inhabitants in the town as 3,198, of whom Mr. Griswold's parish must have included 2,000 at least, for he then preached regularly at Bridge water; but soon after he left New Milford, Bridgewater succeeded in becoming a separate society. Mr. Griswold purchased in February, 1790, a house and lot now the residence of Mr. David E. Soule, the house recently torn down being the one then standing on it. This was the residence of Mr. Griswold while in the place. In 1802 he quietly resigned his position as pastor and removed, receiving the most cordial demonstrations of the confidence and good-will of the entire community. It seems proper to insert here the closing part of Mr. Griswold's Centennial Sermon, which has not been elsewhere introduced, and which was delivered a little over one year before he closed his labors in the parish:— "Two or three general remarks and a simple practical reflection shall close. Whoever looks back with an attentive eye upon the century that is now past, will see much to interest him, and somewhat to deplore. It has been a period of great changes, of some folly, and we may hope of considerable wisdom. As it respects this town, this state and New England generally, we may say, the first part of the century was distinguished for simplicity of manners and unaffected piety; the middle part for religious distraction;—the latter end for political confusion, with some improvement in civil government. "The people who first settled in this town and generally through the states at that time, were a plain, hardy, stout, sober, friendly people. They labored hard; their fare was coarse. Tea and other luxuries were then unknown in these parts. They were kind, hospitable, and exceedingly helpful to each other. Their piety, though fervent, was unmingled with that wild frenzy and spirit of enthusiasm which sprung up about the middle of the century. Preaching at that time was not boisterous, nor was it filled with metaphysical jargon. It was plain, sincere, and adapted to morality. " Thus it remained till toward the middle of the century. Then these settlements were called to bid adieu to their former peace and quietness, simplicity and pure religion. New light and fire were introduced. Great commotions took place—many became wild. Divisions and fierce disputations ensued. Enthusiasm and metaphysics were the order of the day. The country was ranged on two general sides,—the friends of the old steady order of things, who by their enemies were denominated Arminians, were on the one side, and those called New Lights on the other. "Happily, these things are now in a measure done away, and the former bitterness forgotten, though many of their effects are yet visible,—particularly in the variety of sects and religion's; systems which remain among us. "Toward the latter end of the century, on the subsiding of f religious commotions, political contentions came on. But as these will all be written in the civil histories of the times, I shall not enlarge upon them in this place. "Such is a brief sketch of the Eighteenth Century now closed, particularly as"it respects this town and its inhabitants. Whether it went out leaving the country and the world better or worse than it found them is not for us to say. This we can say, and can say it most assuredly, that not one of us who hail the introduction of this nineteenth century will live to see it closed. We have now seen all the centuries we shall ever see and heard all the century sermons we shall hear. Few, very few will live to see the present century half completed. When it shall expire, and the next open on our world, we all shall be gathered to the great congregation of the dead, to sleep with our fathers;—and those who are now unborn, will be here in our places. Here did I say? This building and these seats will then be out of being, and probably most of our present dwellings will then be gone, or known only by their ruins. New men, new things, and other affairs will be displayed here, and through our country, and through the world. "Let us, then, live as though, having no continuing city here —as pilgrims and strangers on the earth—looking forward and hastening to that better country- -that city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God." To the above we must add another extract in regard to statistics given by Mr. Griswold in the same sermon, especially, as his account of diseases refers to the fever-and-ague, which prevailed here very severely from 1796 to 1800, and which he calls, "Remitting, billious fevers." There are a number of other facts which prove this to have been fever-and-ague. "In 1756, a census was taken of the inhabitants of the slate, and this town was found to contain 1,137 people. In 1774 another census was taken, and the number in this town found to be 2,776. Another census was taken in 1782, and also another in 1790, but I have not been able, in the short time I have had to find the number in either of these belonging to this town. The last census was taken in the year just ended, and I understand the population of this town is found to be 3,198. This last is exclusive of those parts of the former town which were set off to Brookfield and Washington, which were included in the two first mentioned. If we should now recover those parts, the whole number would probably not fall much short of 4,000. "Above this it is supposed that, within fifty years past, there have people enough emigrated from this town into other towns and states to amount, with their posterity, to more than the number of people at present in the town. "Further, the whole number of persons who died in this town since its settlement is supposed to be nearly two-thirds as many as those now alive in it, that is, about 2,000 persons. I have not been able to find any accurate record of deaths from the beginning of the settlement. I shall only mention the records which I have kept myself since my residence here, which I have reason to believe are accurate. They embrace the whole town, exclusive of New Preston:— " In the year 1790 there died 16. (No special disease prevailing). In the year 1791 there died 14. (No special disease prevailing). In the year 1792 there died 23. (Scarlet fever began). In the year 1793 there died 41. (Do., raged severely). In the year 1794 there died 45. (Do., more severely, and other fevers). In the year 1795 there died 28. (Some local fevers). In the year 1796 there died 36. (Remitting bilous fevers began). In the year 1797 there died 33. (Do., continued). In the year 1798 there died 50. (Do., raged more severely). In the year 1799 there died 28. (Do., continued, but abated). In the year 1800 there died 32. (Do., continued, but abated more). ___ Total, 346 for 11 years. Average per year, thirty-one and a little over. "As I have also recorded the ages of the deceased, it appears that one-fourth part of those who die in this town are under six years of age, and one-half under thirty-five. One out of six of those born here lives to seventy years—one out of twelve lives to eighty—one out of forty lives to ninety—and one out of one thousand lives to one hundred." (See Biog. of Mr. Griswold.) Col. Samuel Canfield's name stands at the head of the tax-list of the town in 1797. He was the son of Samuel Canfield, Esq., who was the first Canfield in New Milford, and one of the Judges of the General Court. Col. Samuel was born in 1726, and died in 1799, aged seventy-three. His father died in 1754, aged only fifty-two years, and his mother died only ten years later. He was married in 1755, and became the father of the man whose name is the most familiar of all the older men who are still remembered, not excepting that of Col. Elisha Bostwick;—his name was Ithamar Canfieid. Col. Samuel, although wealthy, was a very busy, stirring man. He bought and sold many acres of land in New Milford—many farms—and was engaged with Reuben Booth in the purchase of a large tract of land at Fort Edward, N. Y. For about ten years, from 1765, when he was young, he with Bushnell Bostwick were the representatives much of the time from this town. Reuben Booth was a prominent man in the town many years, and in 1797 he stood second on the tax-list, according to the seating in the Congregational meeting-house. His early life was peculiar. He was born in Trumbull, and baptized there June 22, 1739. His mother died soon after, and he was, apparently, placed in care of another family than his father's. After two years his father married again, and, in 1743, removed from Trumbull to Roxbury, leaving Reuben in Trumbull, where he remained until twenty-one years of age, and then he came to New Milford. The tradition is that his own four brothers and sisters died young; and his father died in Roxbury, April 12, 1753, when Reuben was fourteen years of age; so that, when he came to New Milford, he had no kindred with whom he was acquainted. His half-brothers and sisters in Roxbury were strangers to him; therefore he must do the best he could, alone in the world; which accounts for the fact that very little information came to his descendants through him concerning his ancestors. On the third day of March, 1760, before he was twenty-one years of age, he purchased one acre and a half of land, with one-quarter of a barn, of Daniel Pickett, where now stands the residence of Mr. Walter Booth in New Milford village, on which he built his first residence—the old house recently torn down. He married, in 1763, Sarah, daughter of Daniel Hine, and the family at once stood among the first, and he became a leading man, as a farmer, in the town and in the county. He and Samuel Canfield, Jr., the Colonel, seem to have been engaged forty years in running a race as to which could buy and sell the most land-property in Connecticut, Vermont, and New York states; but he came but far ahead, having recorded to him about one hundred deeds in New Milford, and many of them deeds of good-sized farms. They, with a gentleman of Waterbury, bought several thousand acres of land at Fort Edward, N. Y., the last of which was disposed of by his grandson, Henry W. Booth, many years later. Reuben Booth was younger by a number of years than Samuel Canfield or Sherman Boardman, and made a more successful career of life than the others in this one thing; he began without property, bare-handed,—while the others had a large complement to start with, and came out only a little way ahead. They were all very acceptable members of the same church. Dea. Sherman Boardman’s name stood third on the tax-list in 1797, but in 1802 it stood at the head of the list, which position it retained until his death in 1814, in his eighty-ninth year. He was born in 1728; was sixteen years of age when his father, the Rev. Daniel Boardman, died, and was eleven years older than Reuben Booth, and two years younger than Col. Samuel Canfield. These three men were, for twenty-five years, contemporary in public affairs, and the most prominent, influential men of the town. Through the Revolution, with others, they stood together, and after that, to the death of the two, about 1800, they were the men of counsel and reliability. Mr. Boardman was in reality all that is implied in the words "the Deacon of the church," Mr. Canfield was emphatically the military Colonel, and Reuben Booth was the great commercial farmer—the buyer and seller of lands. The three were a great power in influence, and when combined, as they were to sustain the Rev. Stanley Griswold, Democrat though he was, the Litchfield South Consociation could not harm him, and it was largely the influence of Sherman Boardman that led the Congregational Church of New Milford to withdraw from that Consociation in 1805, three years after Mr. Griswold had left New Milford; a very proper act, which ought to have been done ten years before it was. Mr. Boardman was active in all the offices and positions of trust for the town more than fifty years, and he was held in the highest esteem by all his fellow citizens. The following is no more than true: "Mr. Boardman was of a very charitable and benevolent disposition, and his frank, social, cheerful temperament secured the affectionate regard of all the good, while the strictly honest and unvaryingly moral tenor of his life won the respect of all who knew him. It is believed that when he departed he left no personal enemy." [3] [3] Memoir of Mrs. Mary Ann Boardman. John Treat stood fourth on the tax-list in 1797, resided in the Neck, and some account of him will be found in the chapter on Bridgewater. Abel Hine, Esq., stood fifth on the list in 1797, but second from 1802 to 1815. He was born in 1731, and died in 1820 in his ninetieth year, and hence was three years younger than Sherman Boardman, and lived to be one year older. He was a very reliable, quiet, good man, engaged in many public offices, especially that of Justice of the Peace for many years, but was not as prominent as a public citizen as some others. He was a farmer, and lived on his farm southeast of the village, now the residence of Mr. E. B. Marsh, until 'he purchased the dwelling of Roger Sherman in 1761, where the Town Hall now stands, where he spent the remainder of his days. His son, Beebe Hine, was a prominent citizen many years, being still remembered with much pleasure. Col. Josiah Starr stood number three in the list in 1809. He was born about 1740, being the son of Capt. Josiah Starr, of Danbury, Ct., and came to New Milford in 1762 or 3, where he purchased the homestead where his grandson, Col. William J. Starr, now resides, and resided there until his death in 1813, at the age of seventy-three years. He served in the Revolution, being keeper of the military stores in Danbury, and in May, 1776, was appointed Captain in one of the regiments being raised for the defense of the Colonies; was appointed Lieutenant-Colonel of the second battalion, and commissioned Jan. 9, 1777. He was at the siege of St. John's, and on his return received the commission of Colonel, Aug. 10, 1780; was at Monmouth, German town, and with the army during that terrible winter of suffering when it was short of supplies. After the war he enjoyed a comfortable home many years in New Milford. Benjamin Buckingham stood number four in 1809; was a man of great energy of character; and a successful farmer residing on Second Hill, where he died in 1819, aged eighty-three years. Benjamin Bostwick, 3d, was among the prominent citizens in 1809, standing fifth on the list, having had considerable property left him, although his father and grandfather died young. His residence was on Second Hill, where his son Solomon resided after him. He was a successful farmer, a respected citizen, and died in 1815, aged seventy-one years. Zachariah Sanford was a prominent and active citizen in 1797, standing sixth on the list among 300. He was nephew to Benoni Stebbins, and came into the town about 1758. He was quite active, some years, in town offices and enterprises. His influence in the town was more noted as a farmer and stirring citizen than as a politician or town officer. His residence was near the mouth of the Aspetuck River. Oliver Warner, son of Capt. John, was an influential, successful farmer in the southern part of the town, and lived to the age of eighty-three. The Warner family stood high socially for many years. Capt. Isaac Bostwick, son of Lemuel, born in 1730, became a successful, prominent farmer in the town, his residence being about a mile northeast of the Great Falls many years. He was in the Revolution with his company of militia, from the south part of the town, some months, and was prominent in the work of the town in sustaining the war. After the war, and possibly during its continuance, he became collector for state taxes in New Milford, in which office he became involved, either by the delays occasioned by the great difficulties in the way of collecting taxes, the depreciation of money (some of which, at least, the town took upon itself), or by the improper use of the money, or by neglect to collect certain rate-bills within the specified time; and there is considerable evidence that this last was the difficulty; so that, in the year 1788, he was found a defaulter to the amount of £796 145. 6d. The uprightness of the Captain is seen in the full surrender of all he had, to meet these demands. The committee appointed to settle the matter for the town say in their report:— "And having, by the free consent of said Captain Bostwick, fully examined and inspected his rate-bills and papers, we find due upon said bills as they now stand, as follows:— " In hard money, including interest, £22 12 11 In certificates, including interest, £146 123 46, which, being reduced to hard money, [half loss], 73 6 2 In orders, including interest, £55 16s 10d; reduced to hard money, 14 0 0 In states money, including interest, £48 19s 8d; reduced to hard money, 12 5 0 ____________ Whole sum due on said bills, £122 4 1 Deducted for uncollectible bills [too bad!], 46 18 11 _____________ Whole sums due on bills and collectible, £75 5 2 Still to be abated on the bills [what for ?] 20 0 0 _____________ Due on the bills, £55 5 2." Here it may be seen that the bills as he received them amounted to £251 8s 10d; and all the credit he received for these amounted to £55 55 2d; loss £196 33 8d. Xxxxxx p. 278 To meet the deficiency, the committee report:— " We have received by quit-claim deed, eighty-five acres of land, mortgaged to said former committee, and five acres adjoining thereto —the whole at £39O 15 9 Also, by warrantee deed, fifty-one acres near his house, at 204 0 0 Also, by warrantee deed, one hundred acres in Hinesburgh, Vt., at 30 0 0 Also, his fees on the several taxes unsettled; reduced to hard money, [more loss!] 20 3 11 Also, two yoke of oxen, at - 24 0 0 Also, two cows [in room of depreciated money!] at 7 10 0 Also, two two-year-old heifers, at 3 10 0 Also, two calves, at 1 16 0 Also, in certificates 1s and state money orders, reduced to hard money [rather "hard"!], 6 0 0 Also, in notes and an execution, 57 8 10 Also, by an allowance to him for two counterfeit orders unavoidably lost, as we judge, 5 10 0 Also, his own note for hard money, 10 0 0 Also, his other note for £72, certificates reduced to hard money, 36 0 0 __________ £796 14 6." In addition to the above, Captain Bostwick gave a bond for one hundred pounds, to supply any loss, if such should occur, in the sale of the land deeded to the town. While the appearance of the whole matter seems afflictive, yet we must suppose that if this loss was wholly by depreciation of the various kinds of money then used, the town would not have demanded the payment in full as they did, and therefore the conclusion is that some way the Captain was negligent and failed to meet the responsibilities under which he had placed himself by accepting the office of county collector. After all, there is something grand in the way he surrendered his property and made provision for all liabilities. He did no smuggling, no running away, no unmanly work, but came to the front like a faithful captain in the time of trial. Lemuel Warner, brother to Oliver, was seventh on the tax-list in 1809. He lived to the age of eighty-two years. Capt. Elezur Warner, brother also of Oliver, was an influential farmer in the southern part of the town. He was deacon of the Congregational Church, and lived to the age of sixty eight years. He was captain in the war of 1812, and after the war received an appointment under the government, for several years, at the armory in Springfield, Mass. Col. Reuben Warner attained considerable military distinction; was justice of the peace, and lived to the age of sixty-seven years. He and his family were noted for their elegance of style and accomplished manners, they having a competency of worldly comforts. David Northrop, son of Amos, the first in this town, stood fourth on the tax-list of 1802. The Northrop family were successful, influential farmers, but the name in this family has nearly disappeared from the town; Aunt Sally Northrop having been the last, living to the age of a little over one hundred years, a crowning honor to the family. Capt. Abel Gunn, son of Nathan, stood number twenty-fourth in 1802, and, in 1809, fourteenth, and died in 1812, aged sixty-five years. Epinetus Gunn, son of Abel, stood twenty-fifth on the tax-list in 1802, eighth in 1809, and his widow, Sarah, fifth in 1821, he having died that year, aged sixty-four. Two families of the name of Gunn settled at Poplar Swamp (Park Lane) about 1750, and acquired considerable property and influence as citizens; but the name died out some years since. David Merwin, son of David, born in New Milford (in Bridgewater) in 1757, stood twelfth on the list in 1802, and died in 1826 (says grave-stone) aged seventy-nine, which seems to be an error. His father came to the town about 1740. He married Mary Noble, and had nine children. The Merwin family has been prominent and influential unto the present time. John Merwin, son of David, of Bridgewater, stood eleventh on the list in 1802. Stephen Merwin, sixteenth in 1802, and was a successful farmer. Abel Merwin was seventeenth, and lived on Long Mountain. Gideon Treat, half brother of John Treat, although young, was among the most wealthy men of the Neck in 1802. See the chapter on Bridgewater. Epenetus Platt stood number nine on the list in 1809, and was at the time probably the wealthiest man in Lower Merryall, owning hundreds of acres of land. In 1821, the list, as already noticed, presented names in very greatly changed relations; young men had risen up into the places of their fathers, and new. names are introduced, much higher up the scale, who had become the men of activity and responsibility. The names look so well in the columns that, but for some instruction to be gained, we should leave them in their quiet standing. Thomas Wells is first, having his residence at Park Lane; a great farmer with a good farm. He is not a captain, nor a colonel; he does not go to the legislature; he is a farmer. He had been in the town just forty years; was descended from a governor of the state of Connecticut, and came into the town a young man, with some money to start with; that is all. Young men despise farming, but here is a farmer, leading a quiet, peaceable, honorable life,—a fair man,—a considerate man;—a good citizen, —well respected,—still highly spoken of;—his children are all an honor to the old home. The grand old elms in front of the house, standing in the place of the ancient row of poplars along that street, now proclaim the greatness of the years that are past, and of him who planted them a hundred years ago. He had a farmer's life and a farmer's reward, his name standing at the head of the tax-list of the town. Hon. Elijah Boardman stood second in 1821, and died two years later—in 1823—aged 63 years. His name standing here shows that he did not withdraw from the First Society, but was paying more for its support than any one in the town except Thomas Wells, and it is through his business management of the work of that society, from 1796 to 1821, that we have any and all of these lists preserved, concerning the seating of the people in the Congregational meeting-house. (See Biog.) Ithamar Canfield, third in the list, son of Col. Samuel Canfield, born in 1764. He built the long house still standing in front of Mr. Henry W. Booth's residence; resided in one part, and kept a store in the other until late in life, when he retired from business, and resided at the south end of the green until his death in 1848, at the age of 84 years. He was a good business man, careful, energetic, and successful, and much respected. Beebe Hine, son of Abel Hine, Esqr., a farmer and cattle-drover, fifth on the list of 1821, after a number of years of successful enterprise in his work, lost heavily by men in his employ. He was one of the most enterprising citizens of the town in his day, and hence did not make as much money for himself as improvements for the town. From 1806 to 1812 he was in the Legislature nearly every term. Capt. Eli Todd, son of Doct Jonah Todd, kept a tavern and store in Park Lane many years. About 1800 he was a prominent business man, and was active in the public offices of the town. His store was at the site of the two old houses still standing next north of Mr. Edwin N. Bostwick's house. Stephen Hine, Jr., son of Stephen, born in Woodbridge in 1754, came to New Milford when about 21 years of age, and settled on land he had purchased on Candlewood Mountain, where some of his descendants still reside. It is said that the soil of that locality, what there is of it, is about as unproductive as any in the town, but it is a good locality if judged by the characteristics of the Hine family, who have resided there and in other parts of the town. Riverius Camp married Huldah Clark in 1775, and settled on the plains about a mile north of Gallows Hill, where he lived until his decease in 1824. He was a man of considerable influence, as indicated by the town records. Col. Elisha Bostwick, twelfth in the list, son of Samuel, Sen.; born in 1748; served in the Revolution; was Town Clerk fifty-three years; a highly respected citizen. (See Biog.) Hon. Homer Boardman, thirteenth in the list, son of Dea. Sherman Boardman, was born in 1764, and was a farmer on the Boardman homestead, at Boardman's Bridge, all his life. He possessed a remarkably noble personal figure, and was one of the finest appearing men of whom New Milford could ever boast. He possessed intellectual qualities of unusual symmetry and perfectness, but never sought political distinction nor official position. He was greatly respected, and honored with all the high positions of trust and office of his native town, being elected as Representative and State Senator; and an elector of President and Vice-President of the United States in 1824. He died in 1851, aged 86 years. Samuel Comstock came from Stratford a young man, and married Elizabeth, daughter of Theophilus Baldwin, in 1751, and had a family of five sons and three daughters, but his descendants have all disappeared from the town. His home was on the east side of the street where the new Episcopal Church now stands. He was Representative several terms during the Revolutionary War, and must have been among the most influential men in the town at that time. He removed to Chestnut Land, in the northeast part of the town, in his later years. John Comstock, also from Stratford, and probably brother to Samuel, came to New Milford, and married Deborah, daughter of John Welch, in 1743. The Comstock families were influential and "well to do" citizens for many years. He had a son Samuel, and it is probable it was he who was called Samuel, Jr., to distinguish him from his uncle Samuel; for, according to the records, Samuel the elder had no son named Samuel. Hon. Perry Smith married Anne, the only daughter of Samuel Comstock, Jr. John Comstock's house was on the west side of Poplar street, a little way north from the old burying-ground. Additional Comments: Extracted from: HISTORY OF THE TOWNS OF NEW MILFORD AND BRIDGEWATER, CONNECTICUT, 1703-1882, BY SAMUEL ORCUTT AUTHOR OF THE HISTORIES OF TORRINGTON, WOLCOTT, AND DERBY, AND THE INDIANS OF THE HOUSATONIC AND NAUGATUCK VALLEYS, CONNECTICUT. HARTFORD, CONN.: PRESS OF THE CASE, LOCKWOOD AND BRAINARD COMPANY. 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