Connecticut Historical Collections

crossed the Ifousatonic river al Chiddesttrs ferry, near the prescMit site of Lewis' bridge. The following is a list of the first settlers, and the places from whence they removed. Samuel nalchiiisoii, Ivsc [. , Lebanon. JViitlKuiicI .Skinner, \\>^[ , ColclieMcr. J(iliii Spra^Lie, . . Lebanon. Jolm Panlee, . Nor\vallc. 'riimnas SkiinuM', . (.'oleheMec. Samuel ('alkiii, . (,\ilelii'^ler. .Suiuiiel Ciilleti, . . Ooleliesler. Johii Gould, . Hebron. JN^iles Coleinar), . . Colehesier. JVathaiiiel Skinner, jr. . Ciileliester. JSteptien (Jalkiii, . . Hebion. James Smilli, . 1 '.oil on. Kbenezer Miiilge, . Colehesier. .labez Crippen, . . (,'olcliesier. William Good rieh, . . Colehe.-,ter N. B. Mr. Gay was the man win for assistanee, when Harris was k Ncimcs. Where from. Jonathan Peiitt, . . Stainlord. Joseph Park, . . . Middletown. .loseph Hahsev, . . Siainloid. Joseph Monroe,^ . . . ^mualk. James Talinailge, . . ^.-u Haven. Daniel Hunt, \ . . l.-laiu.n. 'T'homns SpniKird, . . I.r'l.auon. Samuel Comsfoek, . . l.yine. Jonathan Danhain, . ('ohlnsier. Daniel Hamilion, . . l.rbanun. Barlliolomew lleaih, . Lrbanon. Samuel llurlbiirl, . . Lebaimn. 'I'liumas Heath, . . Libanoii. Georj,'eWay, . . . i-yme. John Gay, . . . I.iiehiield. IS sent as an express from Lilehfield to Harllbrd 1 bv Indians in 17-21. South view of Gov. Sinith''s house, Sharon. The above is a south view of the residence of the Hon. John Cotton Smith, about one mile south of the Congregational church. The vil- lage of Sliaron, which nray consist of about 50 or (!0 dwelling houses, in the vicinity of the churches, is situated principally oti one street, on the eastern side of a beautiful valley, 16 miles from Litchfield, anfl 17 from llariford. The central street runs about 1^ miles from ilie boun- dary line of the state of JNew York. There is a pleasant anil interest- ing village at "Hitchcock's corner," situated partly in New Yiuk and partly in Connecticut, in a beautiful and populous valley, and ilcli in the resources of agricultural wealth. Lllsworlh society, in the south part of the town, was established in 1800. 49-2 SHARON'. Sharon is boiinded n. by Salisbury, e. by the Ilousatonic river, sepa- rating it from Corn wall, s. by Kent, and w. by the slate of l\e\v York. Its ien(,rth is about 9 miles, and its breadtli nearly six. The surface and sod of the township are siriiiingly diversified. The eastern part of the town abounds with elevated hills, and some mountainous rant^es. This district aflbrds good grazing; the soil is a gravelly loam, and consider- ably stony. The western part of the township, which borders on the state of New York, is part of an extensive valley, having a level or un- dulating surface, and a ricii and fertile soil, and is considered one of the best tracts in the slate for raising grain. Agriculture is the principal business of -the inhabitants. Raising of sheep is followed to a consid- erable extent. There were some Indian settlements in the northwestern part of the town, which had been visited by a IMoravian missionary. The name of the missionary was David Bruce, who died and was buried on the Indian lands in Sharon, in the year 1724. His monument is still re- maining. The Indians left the town soon after the settlers came on.* The town was incorporated in October, 1739, The first town meet- ing was holden December 11, 1739. Capt. Dunham was moderator, Lieut. Jabez CriiJpen, Mr. Jolm S(jrague, Capt. Jonathan Dunham, selectmen. James Smith, fo/iii(z///e. ijeovgeW'^xy, grand juror . Na- thaniel Skinner, town clerk. The first tavern was kept by Jonathan Dunham. The first minister was Peter Pratt, who was ordained on the last Wednesday of A])ril, 1740; he was dismissed in 1745, for intemperance. The first meeting house was built of logs, in 1741. Another meeting house was com- menced in 1742, which stood about 25 years. The second minister was Rev, John Searle. He was from Sims- bury, and was ordained on the first Wednesday of August, 1749. Ha was dismissed in 1754, on account of feeble health. He recovered bis health, however, and was afterwards settleil at Stonehain, IMassa- • " (.•uiisiderable numbers of (lie liuljans resided in ihe ■western and nurih.U( ^icin parts ot'ilie town, whieli are watered by two bir^'e ponds, and b\' the 'I'lil MUc /icl/-, which touches the western borders of the iuwn. Their principal vilhi^n; was on the east side of the Indian pond, so called, wiiicli is a body of water lymj^ panly in the stale of New York, and partly in Connecticut. On a romantic and tieaiiiiliil plain, lying- between llus pond on the v/esit, and the Jndian ilu-dnldin, a spur of ilie Tui^h- haniiucl: [huge, on the east, was a numerous village, where the natives eunuiincil to reside for many years after the whites came into the town. This tribe was visited by the Moravian missionaries, and one of Ihem died and was buiied there. lie died in 174'J, and a plain stone was placed over his jjrave, with the follov/ing inscription : ' David Bruce of Edinburgh in Scotland, Minister of The Brethren's church among the Indians. Deparl'd 1749.' "N. B. The grave stone is broken into several fragments, and has long since been removed from the grave. By putting the several parts of the stone together, tjie Ibie- going inscription can be easily detected. "The letters are Ho man characters, and are become nearly illegible. Tradition says very litlle of the man, ami he had probably been in the jjlace but a short time when he died. It is hoped that- a more suitable monument may soon be erected to the memory of tiiis self denyiiig and elevated missionary. The deed from the Indians, by which they sold their lands to I'homas Barnes, was signed by .\cij ait ivuiiig and tiariholoview, two of the piincipal men of the tribe." — For this and other commtinic;i- tions respecting the history o^ sharon, the author would here express his ackuuwledg- raenls to Charles F. Hedgwick, Esq. of Sharon. SHARON. 493 diusetts, arid lived lo a great age. Ii is said by the late Dr. Dwiglit, in liis Travels, that Mr. Searle and the late Judge IN'oble of Williams- town, I\Iass., were the first persons who ever went to the top of Sad- dle Mountain, the highest mountain in Massachusetts. He is repre- sented as a man of mild and unassuming deportment, much given to metaphysical investigation, and he left Sharon, carrying with him the adectionate regards of his people. The third minister was Rev. Cotton Mather Smith, who was settled in August, 1755. He was from Suflield, and spent a lung life in the ministry in Sharon. Probably no minister ever had in a greater degree the confidence and aflection ef his jjcople, than JNFr. Smith. He is never spoken of at this day, by those who knew him, but witli the most unqualified respect and veneration, and the memory of his virtues and his excellence is now, at the distance of more than thirty years from his death, cherished with the most unfeigned satisfaction. He was the father of Hon. J. C. Smith, late governor of this state. The Episcopal society was establislied in 1754. Mr. Ebenezer Dibble was the first minister of that order in the town. He was suc- ceeded by a ]Mr. Davies, who died in early life. For a number of years the worship of this denomination was suspended, but within a few years they have erected a handsome church, and now maintain regu- lar worship. A new Congregational meeting house was erected in 1767 ; this was used by the society until 18-24, when the present brick church was erected. In the latter part of July, 1770, Rev. Geo. Whitfield passed through this town on a preaching tour. Tliere was consideiahle oppo- •silion to his being admitted into the meeting house, and arrangements liad been made to hold the service in an orchard, still standing near the ■meeting house. In case he should be refused. ]\Ir. Smith however in- vited him into the pulpit, though strongly opposed by a considerable number of inlbiential men. An immense congregation from this and the neighboring towns filled the meeting house to overflowing. His text was, "]Marvel not that I said unto you," &ic. Having announced his text, he ))roceeded to discourse on the doctrine of the new birth with astonishing power and eloquence, and the congregation were much moved by the power of the truth and spirit of God. The concluding words of his discourse were a quotation, with a little variation, from the lust verse of the 4th chapter oi' Solomon's Song: "Awake, O north wind, and come, thou south ; blow upon this garden, thai the spices thereof may How out. Let my beloved come into tlils garden, and cat bis pleasant fruits." Many of the inhabitants of Sharon followed him for several successive days, to hear the word of life from this devoted minister of the cross. The first preaching in this town by clergymen in the IMelhodlst con- nection, was in 1787. In the following year a society was formed. Camp meetings were holden in this town in 1S05 and 1806. Their first meeting house was erected in 1807. In consequence of the in- crease of the congregation, a large and beautiful house is now being erected by the society. 494 SHARON.