Converse Surname
in the
History of Windham County, Connecticut
Volume I, 1600-1760, and Volume II, 1760-1880

South Killingly Settlement

In the north part of Killingly, settlement was rapidly advancing. William Larned, a young adventurer from Framingham, bought land of Winter in 1712. The two Richard Evanses now sold their homesteads and removed to Providence. The northern farm was purchased by Samuel Converse of Woburn in 1710; the southern establishment-"a tenement of houses, barn, orchard, tanning pits, fulling-mill" with about three hundred acres of land-was sold to Simon Bryant of Braintree for £224, who to his other valuable possessions added seven blooming and capable daughters. James Wilson of Lexington bought land of Converse, adjoining Bryant, and Samuel Lee also settled in this thriving neighborhood........

The first settler in the vicinity of Quinnatisset Hill was Samuel Converse of Woburn, who secured a deed of land from Richard Evans in 1710, and with his wife and five sons settled about a mile south of the hill-top. The Killingly, settlers were near him on the south, but northward to the old towns of Oxford and Mendon the country was a savage wilderness, its rude paths only designated by marks on tree trunks. Mr. Converse's dwelling-house stood near the Boston road, and furnished rest and entertainment to many a passing traveler......

The holders of land under grants from Massachusetts hastened to identify and appropriate their possessions. Dudley, Stoughton and even Black James secured their portions at once, but the other grantees met many obstacles. A corner of Gore's had been taken up by Samuel Converse......

Quiinnatisset, when thus assumed by Connecticut, was mostly a savage wilderness; its few settlers, Dresser, Howe, Jewett, Younglove, Converse and the squatter, Spalding-scattered along its southern and western borders. The best part of its land was taken up by non-residents, and a town organization was deemed by these gentlemen essential for the security and settlement of their property......

Settlers soon also took possession of land on the French River, David Shapley and Samuel Davis buying farms of Captain John Chandler in 1715. Henry Ellithorp next settled near the site of the present Grosvenor Dale, north of Davis. Samuel Converse, for fifty pounds, conveyed "a part of High Plain, near Quinnatisset, to Urian Horsmor of Woodstock, in 1716. James and Jeremiah Horsmor also bought land of James Leavens and Peter Aspinwall, east of French River. In 1716, Josiah Wolcott made the first sale of land on Quinnatisset Hill, conveying, for two hundred pounds, four hundred acres on the summit of the hill, to Captain John Sabin of Pomfret, and agreeing "to defend said Sabin in quiet and peaceable possession of the premises, so that he be not forcibly ejected." .....

The first public meeting of the inhabitants north of Killingly was held according to this warrant, July 9, 1728. The number of residents within the society limits is not known. Its leading men were Sampson Howe, Simon Bryant, Joseph Cady, Henry Green and Benjamin Bixby. Richard Dresser, the first settler, was then in failing health and died a few days after this meeting. Samuel Converse, the first settler near Quinnatisset Hill, with four grown sons, was still active in public affairs. Sabin's house on the hill-top was deemed the most fitting rallying point for the new society. Rude bridle-paths from various neighborhoods led up to this bleak eminence. Its northern extremity was still heavily wooded. The ruins of the old wigwam once occupied by Quinnatisset's praying Indians, were still visible. Sabin's establishment comprised the entire settlement. A goodly number of the inhabitants gathered on this July afternoon to organize a religious society. Jonathan Clough was chosen moderator......

The North Society, encouraged by addition of territory, the generous land-tax granted and the prospect of settled government, pursued the work of building with great animation and alacrity. The people's hearts were stirred up and they willingly aided, as if with one heart and soul, in constructing this first tabernacle. In all parts of the large society, men were working upon the meeting-house. Bryant, Wilson, Cady and Whitmore in the South-neighborhood; Howe, Shapley, Crosby, Jewett, Ellithorp and the Horsmors from the French River valley; Wiley, Starr, Ellis, Atwell, Pudney, Coats and the Bixbys from Brandy Hill and vicinity; Henry Green and his eight sons from Pottaquatic; Samuel Converse and his four from the Quinnatisset farm and meadows; Moffat, Munyan and Joslin from the borders of Rhode Island; Johnson, Brown and others from Lake Chaubongagum; John Hascall from the extreme northwest corner of the precinct-were all engaged in felling, hewing, or hauling timber for this much-desired house of worship. Young Jacob Dresser, though but eighteen years of age, did his part with cart and oxen......

With this exception, all was harmony. No meeting house in the county was built with such apparent joyfulness. The little word "our," prefixed to all meeting-house votes, pleasantly indicates the personal interest and proprietorship felt by the whole society. An acre of land including the appointed site was given to the society by Hezekiah Sabin, and in spite of rough ways and the lateness of the season the work went on so rapidly that on November 15, the people were called together, "To consider how and in what method we shall proceed in order for making preparation for the raising our meeting-house." It was voted, "That every man in said society shall have liberty to bring in provisions and drink, what may be thought his proportion." John Dwight, Benjamin Bixby, Hezekiah Sabin, Edward Converse, Jonathan Clough and Sampson Howe were chosen to take care to provide for raising, and under their supervision the work was faithfully accomplished, and the frame raised before the setting in of winter......

At a society-meeting, December 13, Sampson Howe was again chosen clerk; Henry Green, Sampson Howe and Hezekiah Sabin, committee; Urian Horsmor, collector. A committee was chosen to see "if they can agree with workmen, and also to provide boards, clap-boards and shingles sufficient to cover our meeting-house." Urian Horsmor was made choice of "to seek a minister to preach with us till the first of March next coming." Messrs. Eliot, Coolidge, Hale and Howlet were nominated; Mr. Coolidge secured. January 20, 1729, Ensign Green, Jonathan Eaton, Joseph Cady, John Dwight and Edward Converse were appointed a committee to "agree with a workman to finish all the outside work belonging to our meeting-house." It was voted, "That this committee shall make Woodstock meeting-house their pattern to go by in letting out our meeting-house to any workman to cover and enclose, and do all the outside work as to carpenter and joiner work, accepting what said committee shall judge superfluous in said house." The house thus patterned, was Woodstock's second church edifice, whose fluted pillars and pilasters were quite beyond the means of the younger society......

Thompson Parish, when thus stated and established, contained between forty and fifty families, but was still in a very unsettled condition. It had no roads regularly laid out, no military company, and neither schools for its children nor pounds for its cattle. About half of its unoccupied land was claimed by non-residents; the remainder, despite enactments and injunctions, was laid out by the proprietors of Killingly, and distributed among her inhabitants. The cheapness and accessibility of land attracted many settlers. Samuel Narramore of Boston bought of Philip McIntyre sixty acres north of Wolcott's line, in 1729. Much of the Wolcott land was sold out to previous residents, Hezekiah Sabin buying the northwest corner. The Converse brothers, Edward, Samuel, Josiah, as they settled in life, purchased farms of Wolcott. John Russel added Wolcott land to his farm, and the widow of John Cooper, after selling her homestead to Marston Cabot, bought land of Wolcott. Ephraim Guile bought two hundred acres of land, with dwelling-house and orchard, of Samuel Converse. Sampson Howe sold land on the French River, beginning at a ledge of rocks, "Nathaniel Crosby's northeast corner," to Isaac Stone. Land west of the Quinebaug was sold by Woodstock proprietors......

February 2, 1733, the sum of five pounds was granted to Hezekiah Goff, "for to build ye ministerial pew in our meeting house, his finding of boards and all things necessary for said work, and to seal the house unto ye window and case ye window." It was also voted, "To finish ye meeting-house with lath, and plaster with lime. Seven shillings for making the rods for the Cannopee in our meeting-house, and eight shillings for the twelve pounds of iron made into these rods, were allowed at this meeting. March 9, an attempt was made "to asseartain ye place where each person may build his pew," but none was settled but that of Mr. Dwight and his son, John, "joyning ye Reverend Mr. Cabot's pew in ye northwest corner of ye meeting-house." April 9, it was voted and agreed, "To give unto Hezekiah Goffe, forty-one pound ten shillings to build two pair of framed stairs and lay ye gallery floors and face ye fore-seats round with good, handsome panel work, and find all materials and provisions necessary for said work, and to be done workman-like, as it shall be judged by indefrent workmen; said Goff is also to cart ye bordes to ye meeting-house." This work was accepted on the 4th of March following-"provided ye said Goff will line the inside of said facing, ye society finding boards sufficient." Captain Howe, Urian Horsmor and Thomas Converse were then chosen to agree with workmen to build seats in the gallery, copying, as usual, "ye form of Woodstock seats in their gallery," and John Wiley ordered to provide boards, planks and timber "fitting, suitable and sufficient for building five seats in ye front, and four seats in each side gallery." These being erected by the close of another twelve-month, and suitable allowance made for nails, planks and carting-the meeting-house, after six and a half years' labor was fairly accomplished, and on March 18, 1735, the society met to arrange its seating. Joseph Cady, Jun., Henry Green, Simon Bryant and Urian Horsmor were chosen committee for that purpose. Their rule to go by was simply, "computing all the charge of settling the gospel in said society, having respect, also, to age." Messrs. Cady and Green were also appointed "to take a deed of Lieutenant Sabin of a certain piece of land round about our meeting hous, as is already bounded for the Society's use." "A peace of land," near the French River, a mile or more southwest of the meeting-house, was also given by David Shapley "for a burying-place for said Society.".....

In the great movement westward initiated during this period, Killingly was deeply interested. Not only did she send many valued citizens to the western wilds, but one of her own sons was largely instrumental in opening the Western territory to emigration and settlement. Dr. Manassah Cutler, Hamilton, Mass., a man of unusual breadth and solidity of character, deeply interested in the development of the Nation, assisted in the organization of the Ohio Company in 1786, served as one of its directors and counsellors, urged its claims before Congress, and by his forcible arguments and commanding influence aided very greatly in securing the purchase of one-and-a-half millions of land for the Ohio Company, and the famous Ordinance for the Government of the Territory northwest of the Ohio River. Emigrants were urged to take immediate possession. Dr. Cutler's son Ephraim, then residing with his aged grandfather in Killingly, acted as agent for the company, and prevailed upon some twenty Windham County citizens to take shares in the purchase. Jervis, son of Dr. Cutler, Captain Daniel Davis, Theophilus Larned and Samuel Felshaw, were with the party that left Hartford, January 1, 1788, under the direction of General Rufus Putnam, crossed the Alleghanies by the old Indian pathway, descended the Youghiogheny by the boats they paused to build, landed at the mouth of the Muskingum, April 7, and there began the settlement of the township of Marietta and the future state of Ohio. They were followed when the spring opened by other men from the same vicinity, i. e., Theophilus Knight, Benjamin Converse, John Leavens, George, Jeremiah and David Wilson, Aaron Clough and John Russell, who went out not as members of a company, but as one reports,* "on our own hook, according to our own roving disposition and desire to see the world. We had a team of four horses and a baggage wagon for clothes, farming tools and provision, and off we set and had a very merry journey through the country. Part of the way we had eleven of us in company, and sometimes we were as merry as people need to be. Sometimes we met with disagreeable things, bad luck, bad traveling, but upon the whole we did pretty well." They were just forty days upon their journey, landing at Marietta, May, 18, 1788. Mr. Knight witnessed many interesting scenes during his sojourn in the territory-the arrival of the first women and children, the funeral of the first white man, the organization of the first court, the celebration of the Fourth of July, when Dr. Cutler delivered the oration and all partook of a twenty-five pound pike, barbecued for the occasion, the magnificent parade at the funeral of Judge Varnum, escorted by the officers of the garrison and a company of United States troops, together with "old Revolutionary officers and Indian chiefs in abundance-a very long procession to travel in a forest"-and they also help build the first houses in Ohio. Most of his companions made their homes in the new country, but two after twenty months returned with him to Connecticut, "not thinking it was so much better than any other country, that it would pay a man for carrying a large family to such a wilderness, inhabited by savages and wild beasts of the forest." Their report and example had no apparent effect upon their fellow-townsmen. So many other families emigrated westward from Killingly and adjoining towns, that it seemed as if "New Connecticut" would drain the life blood of its namesake. Many of these Killingly settlers were strong, intelligent men who had great influence in moulding the institutions and character of Ohio. Ephraim Cutler who removed to Waterford in 1795, was a member of the convention that formed the State Constitution in 1802. Captain Perley Howe, who left Killingly at the same date, Captains Daniel Davis and John Leavens, were men of wisdom and experience whose counsels were held in high esteem. Benjamin Converse died the year after settlement in Waterford, having already manifested such "genius, public spirit and enterprise," that his death was mourned "as a serious loss to the whole community." The adventures of his second son, Daniel, who was taken captive by the Indians in 1791, and after suffering great hardships managed to escape, and work his way through Canada and Vermont to Killingly, made a deep impression upon his former townsmen but did not deter them from following the narrator back to Ohio, where he became one of the most respected citizens of Zanesville.....

The freeman's oath was administered to seventy-eight inhabitants. "They then voted and chose" Thomas Dike, Esq., Capt. Pain Converse, Simon Larned, Esq., Jason Phipps, Esq., Mr. Stephen Brown, selectmen; Jacob Dresser, town-treasurer; Simon Davis, Peleg Corbin, constables; Jason Phipps, Samuel Barrett, Jacob Converse, Ebenezer Prince, John Bates, John Jacobs, Dea. William Richards, highway surveyors and collectors; Amos Carrol, William Richards, fence-viewers; Henry Larned, Jonathan Ellis, Samuel Palmer and William Richards, listers; Simon Davis and Peleg Corbin, town-collectors; John Wilson, leather sealer; Ebenezer Cooper and Jeremiah Hopkins, grand-jurymen; Nathan Bixby, Peter Jacobs and Edward Paull, tithingmen; Amos Carrol, sealer of weights and measures; Joseph Watson, key-keeper. Captains Daniel Larned and Pain Converse and Thomas Dike, Esq., were appointed a committee to join such gentlemen as Killingly should appoint, to settle all debts and charges and divide debts and credits as directed. Jacob Dresser was authorized to purchase books for the town records. At the annual town meeting held December 12, these officers were replaced by others, viz.:-Selectmen, Lieut. Amos Carrol, Henry Larned, Jonathan Ellis; constables, Alpheus Converse, John Bates; highway surveyors, Ensign Joseph Brown, Daniel Russel, Samuel Palmer, Roger Elliott, Captain Jonathan Nichols, Edward Joslin, William Smith; grand-jurymen, Asa Bastow, James Paull; fenceviewers, Amos Carrol, Pain Converse.....

In the Baptist as in the Congregational society material progress kept pace with spiritual. Aversion to anything like compulsory rate-paying had always made it very difficult to raise a suitable support for the minister. After two-and-a half years of faithful service, Elder Crosby was voted forty dollars in payment. Ebenezer Green, one of the first deacons, had left a legacy of nearly three hundred dollars to the church. Liberal subscriptions from others enabled the society to purchase a farm* in the vicinity for the use and occupation of the minister, which, with an annual salary of eighty dollars, furnished a comfortable support. In 1803, a new meeting-house was erected on land purchased from Noadiah Russel and Jonathan Converse, fronting "on the great turnpike road from Boston to Hartford." More than a hundred men assisted at the raising, May 19, putting up a good frame, "40x42 and 22 feet posts, and having dinner, supper and liquor enough provided." Elder Crosby, Deacons Jonathan Converse and Thomas Day, Captain David Wilson, Joseph Dike and Abel Jacobs, served so efficiently as building committee, that in the latter part of August the new meeting-house was opened to entertain the Sturbridge Association of Baptist churches upon its second session.....

Though business in Thompson was brisk and offered many inducements, it did not check the increasing rage for emigration. Honored names borne by early settlers were no longer represented. Many families had emigrated to Vermont, New York and far Ohio. A number of young men went out soon after 1800 to seek their fortunes in the opening South. James H. Converse after graduation from Yale removed to Tennessee....... A bower was built upon the common, a band of music procured, and Jesse Jacobs authorized to prepare appropriate toasts. Joseph Wheaton, Esq., was president, and Dr. Knight vice president of the day. Elder John Nichols read the Declaration of Independence (1806) and offered prayer, "and there was a good entertainment, and a good oration delivered by Elder Amos Wells of Woodstock." Under this ministerial patronage the affair passed off with great decency and propriety in spite of the glum looks and disparaging comments of the unsympathizing Federalists. Thompson sent as representatives during its first twenty years, Obadiah Clough, Jonathan Nichols, Paine Converse, William Dwight, Israel Smith, Thaddeus, Henry, George and Daniel Larned, Simon Davis, Joseph Gay, John Jacobs, Jun., Noadiah Russel, Wyman Carroll, and Isaac Davis.....

The United Female Tract Society of Thompson and Killingly
..... Mrs. Martha Whitman Mason, wife of Mr. William H. Mason-a lady of great intelligence and force of character-was elected president; Miss Mary Atkins, Killingly, treasurer; Miss Nancy S. Gay, Thompson, secretary; directors, Misses Susan Bishop, Lucina Converse, Penelope W. Sessions; receivers, Misses Rebekah Gleason, Elizabeth Copp, Hope B. Gay. A hundred and twenty-two ladies enrolled themselves members of this society.......

Abiel Converse of Thompson opened a lawyer's office and succeeded in time to the office of State attorney.(1844).....Abiel Converse, Esq., removed to New London.