Connecticut Historical Collections

The above is a representation of the Jiollon (Quarry, so called; be- ing the prii]tipal place, at the lime this drawing was taken, where this stone was quarried. The engraving shows the position in which the stone is found. Recently, (1S;3(3,) a now (|uarry has been opened, a few rods north of the one represented. This range is near the boun- dary line between Bolton and Vernon, and about 13 miles from Hart- ford. This stone is a species of slate, of a brilliant light gray color, composed of mica and quartz, and is excellent for flagging and other purposes. It is extensively useil in the principal cities of the United States. For strength it exceeds any other known in this country, and the demand for it is rapidly increasing. Tiiese quarries have been worked about twenty years, though not in an extensive manner till quite recently. Messrs. A polios Sweetland, and Waterman Roberts, of Hartford, and Ahab Smith, and Isaac Keney, Jr. of Bolton, are the proprietors. Sweetland and Jxoherts, of Hartford, are agents fur the concern. COLUMBIA. Columbia was formerly a part of tlie town of Lebanon. It was in- corporated as a town in 1800. It is bounded n. by Hop river, which separates it from Coventry, w. by Hebron, k. by Lebanon and Wind- ham, and s. by Lelninun. It is about five miles long, and four wide. The central part of the town is twenty two miles east from Hartford. The township is uneven and hilly, um\ the soil is a coarse gravelly loam, being hard and dry, yet well adapted for grazing., The town constitutes one Congregatiupal society. 544 COLUMBIA. It was in tliis place lliat Dr. Eleazar Wheelock, the fiiit president of Dartmouth College, had his celebrated Indian school. His house and the t;chuol stood a lew rods from the present CongreLcauonal chinch. Dr. Wheeloclv was born In Windham, iu April, 1711, andgiadualed at Yale College in 1733. Soon after leaving college, lie entered into the ministry, and soon received an unanimuus iuvitalion to become the pastor of the second society in Lebanon, (now Columbia,) with which he complied. While a minister in this place, he became desirous to em[)loy himself in a more ex- tended field of action. The unhappy and neglected tribes of Indians in the county, and on its borders, excited his compassion and engaged his attention. About thi.-> time, (1711,) Sampson Occam, a serious Indian youth, solicited instruction, as Mr. AViieelock had opened a school for a small number of young men who were preparing for college. He willingly received young Occum into his family and school, where Jie continued for about three years. He afterwanls became a piea'cher of consideiable celebrity. Dr. Wheelock conceived, that if he could educate Indian yoiuh lor mis- sionaries, they would be more successful among their countrvmen than the whites. With these views, he undertook himself the care and expense of educating two Indian lads from the Delaware nation, in 1751, but tiie design was so benevolent, liiata num- ber of gentlemen soon united with him. His pupils increased, and after receiving riuineions benefactions, the largest of wliicli was the benefiiction of Mr. Joshua Moor, of Mansfield, he called his instiiiuion "Moor's Indian Charity School." In 1701, the school consisted of about thirty scholars, of whom about halt were Indian youth. The Indian boys were accommodated in a part of the house given by Mr. Moor. The school house was nigh Mi. Wheelock's dwelling, in the hail uf which the students ami their instrnctois attended morning and evening |)ra3'eis. To enlarge the pow er of doinggood, conlrilmtions were solicited not only in vaiioiis pans of this conntry, but also in iMigland and Scotl.tnd. The money (-ollected m England was put into the hands of a boaril oltnislee?, of whom the earl oi Uartmimlh was at the head. From this circumstance, when Dr. AVheelock was invited by the government ot' New Hampshiie to lemcn'c to Hanover and estnbli^h a college in that place, it was called Dartmuulh College. This seminary was incorporated in 17oi», and Dr. Wheelock was declared its lounder and president, with the right of a|)poinling his successor. In 1770, Dr. Wh;^elock removed his family and school to Hanover, his pupils per- forming the tour on foot. The roads at that period were in a very rough and unfin- ished stale, and it was in many places dillicnlt to proceed. The site selected Ibr the college and other buildings, was an extensive plain, shaded by lofty pines, with no accommodations, except two or three small log huts, and no house on that side of the river within two miles, through one continued dieary wood. The number of souls then with him was about seventy. Log houses were .soon constructed, and a small framed house was begun, designed for the reception of Dr. Wheelock and his lamily. The frame of a college, ei;;hly feet in Ien;;th and two stories in height, was soon after raised, and pailially coverc d: a hall, and two or three roums in it, were considerably advancfil when the autumnal storms eommenred Upon a circular aiea ol' about si.\ acres, the pines were sdiai felled , and in all dinctions cuvered the ground to the height of about live feet. I'aths of cummunication were cut ihrongh ihem. . . . The snow lay four feet in depth between four and live munths. " Sometimes .standing iu the open air, at the head of his numerous family, Dr. Wheelock )iresented to God their mornin:; and evening jirayers ; the siirrouiuling forests, for the first time, revei- berated the solemn suuiids of supplication and praise."* He. died in 177i), in the lJ!Uh year of his age, and was succeeded by his .son in the presidency of the colle-e. The fullowiiig inscriptions are copied from monuments in the burying ground, near the Congregaliouul church in Columbia. Sacred to the memoiy of Mrs. Sarah, the wife of ye Rev'd Eleazer WheelocK", who died Nov. 13, A. D. 171G, and in the 4 1th yr. of her age ; and of a character too great und good, to have any thing worthy of it inscribed here. Sacred tu the memory of Dea'u Tiiom.\s Lvm.4N, who died Aug. 13, 1783, in the hOih year of his age. He was a man of great experience in ye Christian Religion. Few m our vvorhl have enjoyed a more constant cdmmunion with Heaven, or at intervals had greater discoveiies of Divine things. His life was zealous and exem|)l:try, Ins death was peacel'ul and triumphant. He did great honor to religion while he lived, but greater when he died. In his last moments were seen ye power o( ye divine life, and ye most convincing proofs to ye truth of ye Christian Religion. Behold my friends, what grace can do for men. When by it, they like babes are born again. ♦ Memoirs of V'heeloek, l)y Drs. M'Clareaiul Parish. c 0 \' i: N T n y . 545 COVENTRY. CovKNTiiY was fust scltlccl about the year 1700, by Nathaniel Rust and some others. The settlement of the town has, however, been dated fi-om 1709. In the spring of this year, a number of respectable persons from Northampton and other places moved into the town, and the inhabitants were so increased in about two years, that they were incorporated with the privileges of other towns. The planters were from a great variety of jilaces, but principally from Northampton and Hartford. The township was originally given by Joshua, sachem of the JMohegans, to a munbin- of legatees in IJariford, who convened their right to William l*iiklii, Joseph Talcoit, \Villiam Whiting, and Richard Lord, to be a committee to lay out said low iishiji, and make settlements on the lands. iSurth vicio of tlic llulc Hoitsc, Coventry. Coventry, the central part of which is eighteen miles east from Hart- ford, is bounded n. by Tolland, w. by Rolton and Vernon, e. by the Willimantic river, separating it from I\lans(Jel(l, and s. by Hebron and Colum.bia. Its average length and breadth is upwaids of six miles. The surface of the town is uneven, anil the soil is generally a gravelly loam. There is a lake, or jjond, in this town, called JV(iii<::ombog, two miles in length and one in breadth. A stream, called the Skunganmg, runs from north to south through the town ; and, uniting its waters with another stream, forms Hop river, which passing eastward till it reaches the Willimantic, constiiules llic greater jnirt of the southern boundary of the town. The above is a view of the birth-place of Capt. Nathan Hale, the martyr to American liberty. The house is on elevated ground, com- manding an extensive prospect westward; twenty miles from Hartford, and seven from Tolland. 69 546 c 0 V E N T R y . Capt. Hale giadimled at Yale Coilo?;e in 1773. The anlciil glow ol" pauiotisia iiuluceil him in an early jieriod of ihe KevoUuidii lo enter the army, as a cajuaiii in the light iiiraiitry regiiiieiit, couimainled by Col. KnowiiiJii vi Ashloitl. Alter the defeat of the Americans on the '21\\\ of Atigu.st, 1770, and their retreat from Long Island, Gen. "Washington became extiemely desnuLi.s to gain some knowledge resjieet- ing the enemy's fntnie operations. Nutw iihsiandmg the exlieme dilhcully and pel il of the undertaking, Capt. Hale volunteered liis services tu the commander in chief. Having disguised himself and crossed over to Long 1-land, he proceeded to the Brit- ish encampment, obtained the necessary information, but at the moment of liis leav- ing the island, he was recognized by a relative, who was a refugee, and betrayed. He was taken before Sir William Howe, who, without the foiinaliiy of a tiial, ordered liim lo be hung the ■ni..ti nwintni:;. This peremjitory order \\as carried into cli'cct in a cruel, barbarous, and revengeful manner. 1 le met his I'ale wilii ci.mposnre and firmness. His last wonU were, ''that he lamenled ihal he had but one lUe to lose for his country." The lion. Samuel Ilunliit^tiui, governor of fMiio, was the .<on of the I'ev. Joseph Huntingion of this town. In 1801, he leinoved to Ohio, then coinjiarntively a wilder- ness. He was appointed to a succes.^ioii of imi)ortunl ollices. He died at i'aiusville, June 7th, 1817, aged 1".) yeais.