Sketches Of The People And Places Of New Hartford In The Past And Present

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SKETCHES

OF THE

PEOPLE AND PLACES

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NEW HARTFORD

-IN T HE-

PA ST AND PRESENT.

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NEW HARTFORD, CONN.

I'UHUSIIEP AT THE OFFICE OF THE TltlBUNI!.

Introduction

The writer of the following "Old Times" articles began the publication of them in the New Hartford Tribune as nn experiment, upon taking the proprietorship of that paper. For several years, he had been collecting material relative to the early history of the town, following his own desire to learn all that could be gleaned concerning the pioneer settlers, and the localities which their memory has made sacred to the heart of every loyal descendant. Strange to say, no one had ever before attempted any perpetuation of the old time memories which were fast passing into oblivion, until the writer and another member of his family commenced the work. A partial result of that research has been given to the public in the Litchfield county volume, in which the history of New Hartford is given in general outline, from the earliest steps which led to its settlement until the present time. That was but the outline, of which these homely sketches may be called the filling. Limited space admitted of no anecdote or family details in the former, while these form the greater part of the matter collected in the following pages.

The articles put forth as a venture, proved a success, and that a long silent chord in the popular heart was touched, was abundantly proved by the scores, perhaps hundreds, of letters and expressions of interest received by the writer from representatives of New Hartford families both at home and far away, who read with pleasure the records of those they knew in childhood, and lived over again their own youth in these traditions of the fathers, and wanderings among the hills and valleys of the old town. Had some one begun this work fifty years ago, what treasures of local history now buried forever in the silent breasts which respond to no human questioner, might have been preserved. The oldest inhabitant of the town is now of the third or fourth generation from the early settlers, and since these articles have been in preparation, a number who contributed of their early recollections to the author's note book, have been removed by death.

The demand for back numbers of the papers containing the "Old Times" articles has so far exceeded the supply, that it has been thought best to re-publish them in pamphlet form, this has been done with a careful revision, and additions and corrections have been made in many places, where subsequent information received seemed to render such change necessary.

It seems fitting that a brief sketch of the first settlement of the town, and its initiatory steps, should be given as a prelude to the newspaper articles.

In 1686, the General Assembly of Connecticut, fearing their colonial charter would be annulled, and the unoccupied lauds of the colony sequestered, made a hasty conveyance in trust to the proprietors of Hartford and Windsor of the lands "bounded north by the province of Massachusetts, east by Farmington and Simsbury, south by Woodbury and Mattatuck, and butting west on the Ousatunnack river." When the trouble with England was over, and the colonial government again re-eatablished, Hartford and Windsor were loth to give up the western acres which they 1 had come to consider their own, and after much litigation and disturbance in the matter, the General Assembly, for the sake of peace, made a compromise, and divided the lands in controversy with the claimants, Hartford and Windsor getting the eastern or more desirable portion, and the colony taking the western portion. In 1732, Hartford and Windsor diyided the Bpoils in a deed of partition which gave to Hartford the territory now embraced in New Hartford , Winchester, Hartland, and the eastern part of Harwiuton. The south-east portion* now New Hartford, was valued by the proprietors at fifteen shillings an acre, and then contained by estimation 23,942 acres. Winchester and East Harwinton were valued at ten shillings, and Hartland at only seven shillings and sixpence an acre.

Each tax-payer of Hartford on the list of 1720, or his heirs, was proprietor of an undivided share in some one of these townships, in proportion to his list. New Hartford fell to the Bhare of one hundred and eighty-two proprietors. A oomtnitte was appointed to set off lauds to such as wished to settle thereon, and all who entered their names for settling were obligated, "in two years next ensuing their agreement with the committee, to build a tenantable house of sixteen feet square on said land, and break up two or three acres of said land, and in one year more after said two years are expired, personally to inhabit by themselves or family on said land, and to be obliged to continue inhabiting on said land for the space of three years longer, after the first three years are expired."

It was decided by surveyors sent out from Hartford to view the land, that Town Hill and its immediate vicinity afforded the most suitable locality for a settlement, accordingly, home lots were laid out, half a mile in length, and twenty rods wide, on the easterly and westerly sides of a highway sixteen rods wide, also short lots eighty rods long, where suitable land could be found, near the hill. Iu May 1733 the General Assembly passed an act, giving the township the name of New Hartford, and in December of the same year the home lots were drawn by the proprietors, the rest of the land was laid out in divisions, and drawn from time to time, the last drawing being in 1742.

According to the records, highways were laid out, taxes levied, and lands surveyed with aB great dispatch as possible, considering that the country was an unbroken wilderness, infested by wild beasts and Indians. The summer of 1734 probably saw the settlers busily at work breaking ground, and building their "tenantable houses, sixteen feet square." New Hartford was the only one of the four townships colonized by the original proprietors. The pioneers of the town were, with very few exceptions, either proprietors or sons of proprietors, members of respectable and well-to-do families in Hartford, hence the peculiar propriety of the name New Hartford. The first settlers, as accurately as can be ascertained, were heads of families, viz : Stephen Kelsey, Jonathan Marsh, Martin Smith, Zebulon Shepherd, Samuel Douglass, Eleazer Goodwin, Cyprian Watson, his son Zaohariah, John Watson, Thomas Olcott, Noah Merrill, Joseph Merrill, John Morrill, John Andrus. Israel Loorais, Matthew Gillet. These were soon followed by John Seymour, Elijah Flower, Isaac Kellogg, Joseph Gilbert, Daniel Persons, Samuol Wells, John Spencer, Samuel Benham, Jonah Richards, David Ensign, William Steel, John Edgecomb, Thomas Bidwell, Daniel Shop herd, Jonathan Merrill, and others.

The proprietors in Hartford took a fatherly intest in the little colony. They gave thorn a very liberal highway grant, most of whii'h was sold from time to time for the benefit of the town, or exchanged for more convenient highways; also eighty acros for the support of a "gospel minister," and eighty more for the support of a school ; also twenty acres as a gift to the first minister who should settle in town, and a gristmill privilege. The settlement steadily grew and prospered, and in 1738 was incorporated by an act of the General Assembly.

New Hartford, March 23, 1883.

NEW HARTFORD.

ITS PEOPLE AND PLACES

—IN THE—

PAST AND PRESENT.

NUMBER OWE.

Ill this series: of articles upon the town of New Hartford, and its inhabitants of imfiiy years i*go,. it seems fitting, that we should commence on Town Hill, where in 1733 the first settlers of the town made their homes, and where for many years centered the interests of the township.

The Town Hill church, which has been abandoned as a place of worship since the death of Rev. Cyrus Yale in May '1864, Was built in 1 8^9. The original-edifice, owing to the straitened ciroumstances of the settlers, was ten .years in building, from 1730 to 1749, and stood just its width to the north, and its length to the east of the present church, and accord" Ing to the ancient records of the town, was "flfty-ftve foots in length and forty foots in bi'edth."

It was set by the compass, and fronted the south, a door on that sido opening directly into the audience -room. There were three aisles, or alleys then called, — one in the centre and one on oiveh side, with a row of narrow pews next the w>U. There were also doors, — one on ihe eftst and one on the west side, — whieh led by short passages into the side uislos. The high pulpit, with its overhanging sounding bourd, fronted the south door; on tho right of the pulpit wus the pew for tho minisstor's family, on the left the widows' pow, while the doacons sat just undor the droppings of the gospel on the left of the center aisle. Two immense square front pews, one on each side of the broad aisle, were occupied by prominent citizens and their families, while the rest of the congregation were accommodated in pews of various sizes ami shapes. Two enclosed pews near the centre of the house, which could be reached only "byjiarrow passages from the side-aisles, were irreverently called "eel-pots." The galleries were on the east, west and south sides, the latter being the singers' gallery, and tho stairs were in the southeast and southwest corners of the audience-room.

The old '•meeting house," originally a Jiigh building, was taken possession of by the town, cut down a story and converted into a town house, and for many years used for holding town and elector's i meetings. The building was cut down by I stationing a ohopper at each of the posts J which were cut off a little at a time, lot- ! -ting the building settle by degrees until j it had dropped low enough for tho purposo j sought. In November 1848, tho citizens I of the town desiring to hold their meet- ! ings in North Village and thc\ Center, | (now Nepaug\ it was voted to sell the old ! building, which was accordingly done, jCapt. John C. Smith and Major Sanfortl ' Brown being the purchasers at tho prico ■ of $50.

Irs massive white oak timbers, sensoned ! by the suns and Htorms of more than a 1 hundred years, wore used in tho building

NEW HARTFORD IN THE PAST AND PRESENT.

uf looms for the Greenwoods Company's cotton mills.

In the old church no chimneys were ever built, the worshiper? carried foot stoves and remained all day every Sunday to attend both morning and afternoon seryice. Some of those who were able to do so, built near the meeting house small buildings which they called "Sabbath day houses." These were rough but comfortable, and provided with conveniences for heating and cooking. Those who came from a distance could start a fire in the Sabbath day house and thaw out, preparatory to a long session, listening to a protracted Bermon. Here they could resort between the services and indulge in a hot cup of tea and a cold lunch. One of these old Sabbath day bouses is still in existence. It was purchased by Grove S. Marsh in 1834, arid removed north to about opposite the Yale homestead, and used by him to dress leather in. Mr. Marsh sold the bui.diug to Julius Harris who, about 1837, removed it farther north, down the hill to the cross-road, where it now stands on the corner, the property and home of Hiram J. Harris, the son of Julius.

It in an interesting fact that during the one hundred and twenty years, from the ordination of its first minister to its disbanding, the church on Town Hill had but four settled pastors, — Rev. Jonathan Marsh, from 1739 until his death in 1794; Rev. "Edward D. Griffin, D. D., from 1796 to 1801; Rev, Amasa Jerome, from 1802 to 1813, and Rev. Cyrus Yale, from 1814 to 1854, with an interim of three years.

Opposite the church, a little to the north, is the house which was built by Abram Kellogg 3d, about 1804. and occupied by him as a residence until his death, which occured about 1812. He was the greatgrandson of Esq. Isaac Kellogg one of the pioneer settlers of the town, and the father of four daughters and two sons, Maria, Jerusha (Benham), Sarah (Bailey), Amanda (Morse), Publius and Col. Abram G. now living in Winhtod. Aflor Abram Kellogg's death, tho property came into the possession of Roswell Marsh, and was occupied as a tavern several years by Daniel Johnson. Luther Loomis bought the place in 1820 and lived there until 1844, when he built the house now owned and occupied by Gfove S. Marsh. In this house Mr. Loomis' five daughters were born, viz: Eliza, Mary Ann, Caroline, Esther and Sarah. John P. Kellogg purchased the place and lived there until May 1379, when he died. His widow and her brother Eli J. Merrill now reside here.

Opposite this place was the house of Stephen Chubb, a blacksmith, who came to this town from Barkhamsted in 1755, and who was probably the first white man who ever had a home in the latter town. The house was afterwards occupied by Plato King, who lived there until he moved away from town. After King, the house was occupied by the widow of Shubael Crow, and later by Elijah Northrup and Douglas^ Williams. The latter sold the old house to Henry A. Kellogg, who occupied it as a residence several years when he removed to his present residence and tore down the old one. Mr. Kellogg still preserves a portion of the old "King house" which is attached to his barn and used as a cow house, some of the lath and plastering still remaining upon it.

On the opposito side of the street was the place of Col. Earles Thorp, who commanded a regiment of militia. His regiment paraded on Town Hill in the fall of 180G. The neighbors turned out and prepared the ground for the parade, blasted out rocks, leveled off, etc. This place was afterwards owned and occupied by Dr. Andrew Abernethy, a practicing physieian, who came hero about 180G. Some years later, the place was owned and occupied by Douglass Wiliams, and then by Virgil W. Kellogg, a brother of Henry A. Kellogg. The place is now owned by Mrs. Julie P. Smith, the authoress, and UBed as a dwelling by her farm overseer. It is on the corner of Town Hill street and the cross road which hmds over to West Hill. JuBt south of this house there was a house oc-

NEW HARTFORD IN THE PAST AND PRESENT.

cupied by Solomon Kellogg, but it was destroyed several years ago. In 1818 atones were taken from tbe walls of the old cellar and laid in the cellar walls of the house where Daniel Royce now lives.

On the opposite side of the cross road is Eaperanza, the beautiful home of Mrs. Julie P. Smith, a description of which will appear in the next article of this series.

NUMBER TWO.

The place on Town Hill now known as "Eeperanza" was built by Rev. Amasa Jerome, the third pastor of the Town Hill church, who had charge from 1802 until 1813, when he resigned on account of failing health, though he continued to reside there until his death, in 1832.

Mr. Jerome came to New Hartford from West Stockbridge, Mass. His first wife was Lucy the daughter of Governor Treadwell of Farmington; she died in the Dr. Aberuethy house, mentioned in last number, two years 'after Mr. J's Bettle ment, leaving a son George T., who was one of twins, the other having died immediately after birth.

Mr. Jerome's second wife was Roxy L. Hodges of Torrington, who survived her husband until .1857, when, she died in Bloomfield at the house of her son. By his second wife Mr. Jerome had five children, Lucy T. married Rev. Josiah Brewer, who was a missionary to Turkey. She is now a widow, and lives most of the time in Bloomfield.

Amasa II., died in Bloomfield several years ago. Emily died when six years old. Emily W., married Chas. M. Owen and now lives in Bloomfield. Timothy G., remained in New Hartford with his mother some yoars after his father's death; he now lives in Bloomfield. Sarah Elizabeth married Norman B. Morrill and now lives in the south part of the town. After Mr. Jerome was dismissed from New Hartford, he was settled at Wadsworth, Ohio, but being taken sick soon after, never removed his family to that place; His son George T., died at Capo Vincent, N. Y., about ton years ago.

After Mr. Jerome's death, the place was occupied by his widow and children until 1849, when it was purchased by Rufus Rood, who lived there until his death, July 4th, 1859. During Mr. Rood's ownership of the place the house burned down, but was immediately rebuilt. Mrs. Julie P. Smith the authoress, purchased the place in 1872 of Frederick Lyman, since which time it has been her residence, except during the coldest months of winter each year. Mrs. Smith has under her own personal supervision completely metamorphosed this farm and build ings. The house has been added to from time to time, until it scarcely bears a resemblance to its original appearance. In the reception room on the first floor is retained the old fireplace, and above it in ancient characters ia inscribed this legend, "The ornament of a house are the friends who frequent it." Small buildings or lodges have been erected in different parts of the grounds and painted in unique but tasteful colors. Summer houses are placed here and there, and even the old scraggy apple trees support observatories reached by steps and ladders, Stone walls have been handsomely, laid to serve as fences, and the grounds thoroughly drained at great expense. To the south and west of the house, on the West Hill cross-road, a troublesome swale has by the inventive mind of the gifted owner, beeu transformed into a fairy-like Iake,surrounded by every known variety of lilly and water flower, while a majestic maple grove hard by, well supplied with tables and benches, serves for a delightful resort where croquet and picnics may be induleed in by the hosts of visitors, who are entertained every summer at the mansion. The wide space left by the pioneers of 1733 on each side of the street fronting "Ksperanza" has been beautified by Mrs. Smith, rocks having been dug out, the grounds leveled off, and young trees, — maple, elm, pine and hemlock, — have been thickly set, so that in another generation the entire frontage will present the appearance of a well planned grove.

NEW HARTFORD IN TUB PAST AND PRESENT.

Immediately opposite *'Esperanza", but a fow years ago, stood the house occupied for more than twenty years by Mrs. Prosepina Goodwin, the widow of Joduthun Goodwin, and the mother of Judge Hiram Goodwin now living in the village of Riverton formerly Hitchcocksville. This house in its day was considered the handsomest residence on Town Hill. The house was built by Capt. William Cook, who was a blaeksmith, and forged every nail used in its construction upon his own anvil. Captain Cook sold the place to Rev. Edward Dorr Griffin, D. D., the second minister of the Town Hill church. Dr. Griffin was afterwards president of ' Williams College. From 1814 to 1822 this house was occupied by Rev. Cyrus Yale, the fourth aud last pastor ever settled on Town Hill, and in it Mr. Tale's two eldest sons wero born. Mrs. Goodwin, or "Aunt Pina" as she was affectionately called by her neighbors and friends, was the sister of Plato King mentioned in number one of this series, and like her brother was a person of more than ordinary intelligence and education. She died in 18G0 at the age of 85, and was buried in the Town Hill burying ground. The house was painted white, two stories, and had directly in front a well, over which was built a covering with a tall peaked roof. Mrs. Goodwin was the last occupant of the house, for in 1866 it was torn down, and all trace of it is now extinguished.

was built in 1822 for Rev. Cyrus Yale by Captain Norman Merrill. "Father Yale," as he was reverently and affectionately titled by those who knew him best, came to New Hartford 1^1813, and continued until 1834, when he resigned and went to Ware, Mass., remaining there until 1837, when he was recalled to tho Town Hill church, and remained in its pastorate until his death in 1854. On the ground where the house stands was the house of Selah Merrill, mi old-fashioned linten dwelling. It was torn down when Rev- Mr. Yale built the present one. Selah Merrill was the son of Dr. Eldad Merrill, a practising physician in town in the last century.

Rev. Mr. Yale was a native of Lee, Mass., he married Aeenath Bradley of the same place. Their children were, Cyrus now of New Yorlrcity; John who for many years has been a practising physician in Ware, MaBs.; J. Bradley who died in New Hartford W 18^3; Jane Maria died at the age of 13; EHshft died fn infancy; Riehard H. t now of New Orleans, La.; Mary E., and Martha R., twins', tho former died in 1852, the latter is- now living in Philadelphia tho widow of Rev. Elias R. Beadle, D. D, t an eminent divine, and Lucy T., who married Mr. Horace W. Pitkin of Philadelphia, she died at the old homestead July 9th, 1880.

Tho house now owned and occupied hy Samuel A. Hawley, was built by Lieut. Isaac Steele for his son Roderick, who a few years after its erection r*m<Wed to

On the opposite side of the road a short ' distance to the north, we come to the line j tho "Genesee country," New York state, old "Yale homestead," which has tho ap- j Lieutenant (pronounced in those days pearance of a quiet and elegant retreat. | "LightVt") Stot»Jo lived in a house wliicli

The house, on which additions and improvements have been frequently raad-e, still rotains to an outside observer its appearance of thirty years ago, probably by the special design of Mr. Yale's children who make it their summer home, and wish to preserve from change so far as possible tho homo of their childhood. It iitands well back from the road, surrounded by stately shade trees, tho grounds in front am well cared for, with seats placed here and thorn in shaded localities. The house stood about five rods north of the house now owned and occupied by the widow of Isaac P. Steele. Tie was a man of considerable property, and had two sons and eight daughters. His second son, Isaac P. Sloelo, was for twenty years tax collector for this town. He was the fathor of Hubert A., tho Htc R. Gaylord, Catherine, (Mrs. WVodward of Wolcoltville) Ailgeline, and Mrs. Seth C. Paine, no died Jan. 27, 1 S57.

Tho next houso, on tho opposite- sido of

NEW HARTFORD IN THE PAST AND PRESENT.

the road, now owned and occupied by Daniel Royce, was built by Jonathan Rossiter in 1818. This was the place upon which Rev. Jonathan Marsh , the first pastor of the Town Hill church, lived and died. His house stood just back of the present one, the foundation of the old house may still be seen, the cellar having been filled up with the walls standing. When the original house was raised (about 1740) Rev. Mr. Mareh said to the men present that they must cut away the white birches between there and Mr. Israel Lootnis' house before they could have anything to eat or drink, as he wanted to see his nearest neighbors' house. They fell to, and cut the way clear, when the refreshments, including a goodly supply of rum, were forthcoming. It was the universal custom in those days to provide rum for all extraordinary occasions, religious, political, or social.

Rev. Jonathan Marsh was the bod of Rev. Jonathan Marsh, long the honored pastor of the church at Windsor, and of Margaret Whiting, his wife, who came of an eminent colonial family. He was born at Windsor, 171 4. He graduated at Yale College in 1735. After completing his theological studies be accepted the call lo New Hartford, where he was ordained, December, 1739, where he spent his life, and where he died, in 1794, aged eighty years. He was twice married, first to Elizabeth Sheldon, of Hartford, Februry 26, 1740-41, who died, after bearing him six children, May 20, 1749. On May 27, 1751, he married Mariana Keith, a young widow with two daughters, sister of John Lawrence, treasurer of the colony, a lady of many accomplishments, whose friends opposed her burying her graces in the wilderness of New Hartford. This wife* who survived her husband, was always called "Madame Marsh" by his parishioners; she also bore him six children. The following pen-portrait of him is from Rev. Frederick Marsh's recollections:

"Mr. Marsh was above the medium .height and size of men, well proportioned, kgrave and venerable in appearance, of a j social turn of mind, and accustomed to wear a large wig. He was settled on the half way plan ; was Arminian in his theological views. In his preaching, as I remember him, when about fourteen years old, was not animated, and, as it seemed to me, never earnest and rousing. I remember to have been seriously affected .on seeing and hearing him address the people on funeral occasions."

Of Mr. Marsh's twelve children, seven daughters and five soub, all but one, Jonathan, lived to attain the age of maturity. The daughters were all married, Ann to Zeb. Seymour of Hartford; Jerusha to Joseph King of Middletowu ; Elizabeth to Jerijah Merrill of New Hartford, she is buried in the cemetery on Town Hill ; Margaret to Luke Cooley ; Fanny to John CoIHds ; Mary to Abner Beach of GoHhen ; and Hanuah to Caleb WatBon of New Hartford, from whom she was separated, and. afterwards became the second wife of William Ellery of Hartford.

The oldest son Joseph Whiting, was the first graduate of Yale College from New Hartford, he married Elizabeth, daughter of Jonathan Marsh of Town Hill, went to the West Indies, probably on the Havana expedition, and died there in 1764 at the age of twenty-one. Daniel settled in New Hartford ; Isaac married Lucy, daughter of Deacon Martin Smith, removed to Tyringham, Mass., and died there in 1792; John Lawrence married Lucy, the widow of Isaac, they were married in Barkham" sted in 1790, by Col. Israel Jones, Jr., Justice of the Peace.

Rev. Mr. Marsh had a negro slave who did the work about his house and farm. The negro's name was Moses. About forty rods south-east of the house was an orchard of some fifty apple trees which were set by this slave ; it waB always called "Moses' orchard." At the southeast coiner of the orchard were potash works, probably owned by the Rev. Mr. Marsh. In 1825, probably fifty years after this "potash" was destroyed, leached ashes were taken from the spot, spread upon the land, and proved an excellent fertilizer. Jonathan Rossiter bought this place in 1814 of Asa Goodwin, for

NEW HARTFORD IN THE PAST AND PRESENT.

many years town clerk, and who is well remembered by many now living. Mr. Goodwin, who lived here from 1806 to 1814, purchased tho place in 1806 of William and Samuel Lawrence, relatives of the widow of its original owner.

In "old times" a little stimulant was considered essential to health, as well as pleasing to the appetite, and in haying time, especially, it was customary to provide it for laborers on the farm. Father Marsh was a careful man, and knew that cider brandy sometimes "biteth like a serpent." One day he presented his man Moses with a bottle containing a moderate quantity of the aforesaid article, and with the intention of diverting the negro's attention from the quantity to the superior quality of the liquor, told him that it was a good many years old. Moses took the bottle, held it up to the light, and with a disappointed look in his eye, replied : "Yes, Massa, but berry small of his age."

NUMBER THREE.

Having left the Daniel Royee place, we will cross the road, and a few rods to the north come to the old Loorais place. This may well be designated "old" as it is said to have been the first "home lot" upou which a house was built by the pioneers of 1733. The original dwelling stood where the old house is now going to decay, and was built by Israel Loomis, one of the first settlers of the town. Mr. Loomis was a comparatively young man, 29 years of age,when he came in 1733 to the wilds of New Hartford. In 1737 he was married to Sarah Simmons. His children were Mary, Israel, Laura, Joseph, Israel, Abigail and Ashbel. The first named Israel, Ashbel and Abigail died in early childhood.

Lieutenant Loomis, as he was then called, seems to have been a man of military tastes, he was lieut., of the first com pany or trainband ever organized in town in 1752, and from a reference in the records to powder taken by him from the town stock in 17i)8, it is inferred that he commanded a detachment of men from this town at the attack on Ticonderoga. He died September 10, 1781, in the 78th year of his age. In the record of his death he is called "Deacon Israel Loomis," though there is no other authority for so designating him. It is probable that he was a godly man, and sometimes officiated in the capacity of deacon during the absence or illness of the regular church officer. His wife Sarah died November 1791, in the 80th year of ber age.