Members of Windsor’s Abigail Wolcott Ellsworth DAR chapter pose on the front porch of the Oliver Ellsworth Homestead on the occasion of opening it as their new chapter headquarters, October 8, 1903. WHS collections 2008.2.2, photo by Katherine Barker Drake (standing far right).
2019 marks the 125th anniversary of Windsor, CT’s Abigail Wolcott Ellsworth Chapter of the DAR. For the occasion, we are republishing this article by Ella M. Kinney, which originally appeared in The Windsor Town Crier newspaper in December, 1916, and was titled “A Sketch of the National and Local Organizations of the Daughters of the American Revolution”. We have edited it for length.
A Sketch of the National Organization of the DAR
In July, 1890, Mrs. Mary S. Lockwood asked pertinently through the public press: “Were there no foremothers in the American Revolution?”
The question acted upon the women of the country as a sort of call to arms, and on the 9th of August of the same year, Miss Eugenia Washington, Miss Mary Desha, and Mrs. Ellen Hardin Wolworth met with Mrs. Lockwood and it was decided that there should be a national society to be called the Daughters of the American Revolution. On October 11th, 18 women signed the Covenant which brought the society into existence. Active work was immediately commenced.
Mrs. Caroline Scott Harrison, wife of the President of the United States [Benjamin Harrison], was chosen as Regent and soon afterward plans for handling the many and rapidly growing interests of the organization were presented. The President General expressed her opinion that a home center should be arranged for as soon as possible. In February, 1892, Mrs. W. D. Cobell eloquently expressed the idea of this home center as follows:
“The outward and visible sign of what we believe to be an inward and spiritual grace, is the building of a House—a House Beautiful—to be the property in fee simple of these American women calling themselves by inherited rights, Daughters of the American Revolution. It should be the finest building ever owned by women and it should be purely American.”
The answer to this appeal is now to be seen in the beautiful headquarters of the National Society of the DAR in Washington. The Abigail Wolcott Ellsworth Chapter of Windsor gave its mite toward the Building and Furnishing Fund of the now completed Continental Hall.
It is said to be the costliest and most impressive monument of its kind ever built by women in this country or any other.
Abigail Wolcott Ellsworth Chapter
Painting of Oliver and Abigail Ellsworth, by Ralph Earl, 1792. The Ellsworth homestead, before the family added the front porch and columns, can be seen in the background through the window. Original at the Wadsworth Atheneum.
The story of our local chapter, which was named after the wife of Chief Justice Oliver Ellsworth, is of course of more definite interest to Windsor people and with the above data as a sort of introduction it follows:
In November, 1894, Mrs. Lucien B. Loomis of Windsor called upon Mrs. Sarah N. Hayden Power and her daughter, Miss Mary E. H. Power. She was accompanied by Mrs. Keirn, State Regent of the Connecticut DAR. Mrs. Keirn asked Miss Power (who was a Daughter of the Revolution and a member of the Ruth Wyllys Chapter of Hartford) if she thought a Chapter could be formed in Windsor, the oldest town in the State. She also asked Miss Power to secure the names of twelve ladies who would like to organize such a local Chapter. Several gatherings of women interested were held at Miss Power’s home before the required number was secured.
On December 8th a meeting was held at the home of Mrs. Mary E. Bell. Officers were elected as follows:
Regent, Mrs. Mary E. Bell
Vice-regent, Mrs. Lucien B. Loomis
Secretary, Miss Jennie Loomis
Historian, Miss Mabel C. Cobb
Treasurer, Mrs. Sarah N. Hayden Power
Registrar, Miss Mary E. Hayden Power
There were 18 charter members: Mrs. Mary E. Bell, Mrs. Louisa L. Hubbard, Mrs. Abbie H. Loomis, Mrs. Annie H. Loomis, Mrs. Sarah N. H. Power, Miss Mary E. H. Power, Mrs. Alice W. Hayden, Miss Mary L. Webb, Mrs. Elizabeth H. Ellsworth, Mrs. Ellen Phelps, Miss Jennie Loomis, Miss Mabel E. Cobb, Mrs. Lucretia H. Harvey, Miss Maria A. Phelps, Miss Laura F. Ellsworth, Miss Anna Maria Benton, Mrs. Julia D. Coffin, Mrs. Lucy M. Phelps (Mrs. E. N.).
Windsor’s Last “Real Daughter”
Anna Maria Benton’s 100th birthday gathering on April 16, 1897. She spent the occasion seated in her rocking chair using her ear trumpet to hear songs performed for her. WHS collections 2007.1.18.
Anna Maria Benton was the one real daughter of the Revolution [her father served in the Revolutionary War], and was in her 97th year. During the year 1895-6 five new members were added. One of these was Mrs. Ellen Ellsworth Curtis, a great-granddaughter of Chief Justice Oliver and Abigail Wolcott Ellsworth.
At this time the local Chapter was, with the exception of two recent organizations in towns of much less historic significance, the smallest in the state.
On April 15, 1897, Anna Maria Benton celebrated her 100th birthday. The day was a memorable one. Her home with her grand-niece, Mrs. Walter W. Loomis, the Vice-Regent of Abigail Wolcott Ellsworth Chapter, was beautifully decorated by kind friends and neighbors. She received guests to the number of 75, including the members of the local Chapter, in her usual quiet and happy manner.
Miss Benton lived to see one more birthday and on the 13th of May, 1898, she passed peacefully away. A few days later she was laid to rest in Palisado Cemetery, the members of the local Chapter attending the funeral in a body.
Monuments
In June 1898 the Chapter unveiled a boulder on “The Island,” [elevated land where the Loomis Chaffee School campus is now] before a large number of invited guests. Exercises were held at the Town Hall before the unveiling and afterwards luncheon was served at Grace Church Parish House. The inscription on the boulder reads:
“This rock marks the first English settlement in Connecticut by members from Plymouth Colony 1633. Dedicated by the Abigail Wolcott Ellsworth Chapter Daughters of the American Revolution, June 1898.”
The First English Settlement Rock as it looked in the early 20th-century, located near the site of where the Plymouth Colony erected their trading post in 1633. WHS collections 1998.60.1, 2014.1.18.
Shortly after [the 1903] meeting the heirs of Chief Justice Oliver Ellsworth announced their intention to give the Ellsworth Homestead to the Connecticut State Chapter of the DAR and arrangements were made for exercise appropriate for the occasion. One day in August some of the ladies of the Suffield Chapter and several members of the local Chapter went to the Ellsworth House to cut, sew, and make the curtains. Later in September, the same ladies went and helped to put the rooms in order for the memorable day, October 8th, 1903.
The dedication was a great occasion for Windsor. Flags were flying everywhere and by all roads people were coming to the opening of the Homestead.
His Excellency, Governor Abiram Chamberlain, escorted by the First Company, Governor’s Foot Guard, attended and gave a greeting. Mrs. Sara T. Kinney, State Regent, presided over the meeting. The presentation of the deed to the Homestead was made by Mrs. Frank C. Porter, a great grand-daughter of Oliver Ellsworth. Acceptance on behalf of the Connecticut DAR was gracefully expressed by the State Regent. A reception and an inspection of the Homestead followed, during which a band concert was given on the beautiful lawn.
Anna Maria Benton’s grave in Palisado Cemetery, with “Real Daughter” plaque and DAR marker.
On September 30, 1904, occurred the patriotic pilgrimage of the Connecticut Daughters of the American Revolution with the Abigail Wolcott Ellsworth Chapter. The exercises were held in the Congregational Church, greetings being extended by Miss Jennie Loomis.
The President General of the National Society, Mrs. Charles W. Fairbanks, and other guests, were in attendance, and the graves of Chief Justice Oliver Ellsworth and Abigail Wolcott Ellsworth; Roger Wolcott, Governor of Connecticut in 1750, and Sarah Drake Wolcott, his wife, were decorated. Then the pilgrims proceeded to the Ellsworth Home where they planted a seedling of the Charter Oak tree upon the lawn.
In the year 1914 this Chapter placed a tablet in the Roger Ludlow School to his memory and also held exercises appropriate to the occasion. The Chapter has also given its mite at various times toward helping children to get an education.
Hello! I see that one of the charter members was a Hubbard. My ancestor Samuel Hubbard is on the Windsor Founders List. He married Tacy Cooper in Windsor (by Mr. Ludington). They were of the party of early settlers that later set out for Agawam Springfield where My ancestor Ruth Hubbard Burdick was the first white child to born in 1640. I’m trying to find out more about Tacy Cooper and her origins. Is there any information you might have on her? Thank you!
I remember you emailed me a while back about Tacy Hubbard (the name is pretty unique so it rang a bell and I looked through my old emails). No one has asked about her since you did, so I’m not aware of any other information beyond what we found then, unfortunately. Were you looking to answer any specific questions?
Technically, Tacy Cooper Hubbard founded the first chartered church in America. Her husband states that it was her tenacity that led him to believe they needed to break away and found their own church. Tacy is my 10th great grandmother. It is said by some sources that she was born in Mendlesham, England; her father was Lt. Thomas Cooper, who immigrated to the colonies and died in the burning of Springfield Oct. 5, 1675. Cooper was recruited by William Pynchon to move to Springfield, Mass. to be part of the settlement established there.
Two Thomas Coopers are found in records for 1583 in England. There is a Thomas “Cowper” but more interestingly, there is the Thomas Cooper/Arnolde born Feb. 19, 1583 at Salford, Bedford, England. Since the Arnold family were also Sabbatarians, this looks like a more likely candidate to be the immigrant Thomas Cooper. His father is listed as Robert Cooper or Arnolde:
Citing this Record “England Births and Christenings, 1538-1975,” database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:J7MG-VQP : 6 December 2014), Thomas Arnolde Or Cooper, 19 Feb 1583; citing SALFORD,BEDFORD,ENGLAND, reference ; FHL microfilm 845,460.
There is also a man who appears to be Robert’s brother John Arnolle or Cooper, who has a son the same year, September 26, 1683 in nearby Toddington, Bedford, England, He names his son Thomas Cooper as well.
Citing this Record “England Births and Christenings, 1538-1975,” database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:J7MG-7Y5 : 30 December 2014), Thomas Arnolle Or Cooper, 26 Sep 1583; citing TODDINGTON,BEDFORD,ENGLAND, reference ; FHL microfilm 845,459.
Some additional information about Thomas Cooper is found in the Pynchon Court Records included in “Colonial justice in western Massachusetts, 1639-1702; the Pynchon court record, an original judges’ diary of the administration of justice in the Springfield courts in the Massachusetts Bay Colony. Edited with a legal and historical introd. by Joseph H. Smith”.
https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=mdp.39015000696081;view=1up;seq=19;size=75
Page 223: Thomas, acting as town juror, advises that defendant Thomas Miller receive 15 lashes for hitting Nippinnsuite? Jones with the butt of his gun; Nippinnsuite is indicated as native American;
Page 230: Acting as Juror finds for widow Margaret Bliss;
Page 125: Elected selectman Sept. 26, 1644;
Page 214: Juror 1644;
Page 215: Sworn Freeman 1649;
Page 243: Juror in action against John Bliss by Samuel Allin for alienating the affections of Samuel’s wife, Hannah Woodford;
Page 244: Juror 1660
Pages 245-246: Inquest Juror in the case of child Ebenezer Herman, drowned April 7, 1660.
Page 216: Juror in case of child abuse of Samuel Edwards against Thomas Mericke (Merrick) brought by Alexander Edwards; child is 5
Page 217: Took the oath of fidelity Feb. 6, 1648(1649);
Page 240: Appointed juror 1658
Page 236: Complaint against John Bliss 1655
Page 380: Military rank confirmed and appointed Deputy of the General Court at Springfield, March 11, 1667/1668
The following information was compiled from: http://www.tributaries.info/p2981.htm
1.) Elected 1662 “Their being presented into this Corte by Ensigne Cooper the Names of Severall persons who were by the trayned band of Springfeild chosen to severall places and Offices in the said Company, together with the desire of the said Company that this Corte would confirme the said persons in such Places and offices to which they were chosen: The Corte taking into consideration the desires of the Trayned Band of Springfeild thought fitt to confirm and ratify the choyce of the Souldery There: And therefore Doe accordingly declare That Samuell Marshfeild is and shalbe the Clark of the Trayned Band at Springfeild: And that Thomas Stebbins is and shalbe their Eldest Serjeant: And Miles Morgan their Second Serjeant: And that Jonathan Burt is and shalbe their first Corporall: Benjamin Parsons the Second Corporall: Rice Bedortha the third Corporall: and John Dumbleton the fourth Corporall: ‘(fr. The Pynchon Court Record, page 266)
Lt. Thomas Cooper was one of six men appointed by the General Court of Massachusetts Bay, 12 Oct 1670, a committee to order the settlement of the newly granted plantation of Stony River (now Suffield, Connecticut). The northern boundary of the township adjoined Springfield on the west side of the Connecticut River “at a little gutter about halfe a mile below the Brooke commonly called the three mile brooke below Lieut. Cooper’s house.”””'(Sheldon, Hist. Suffield, 49.)”””””’
Thomas Cooper was killed by Indians 5 Oct 1675 [6 Oct, Pynchon], moments before the assault on Springfield began during Philip’s War. “When all remained quiet on the morning of October 5, Lieutenant Cooper and Thomas Miller, the town’s constable, decided to ride to Fort Hill and investigate. Cooper in particular was convinced that the Agawam would remain loyal to the English despite hostilities throughout the valley. He was wrong; only a short distance from the garrisons the two were ambushed. Miller died instantly but Cooper kept his mount long enough to warn the nearest garrison, at which point he also died. A marker on present-day Mill Street designates the spot of the ambush.”””’ ( Pynchon BMD Record Index, 47, Lieut. Thomas Cooper d.: 6 Oct.)”
(Eric B. Schultz and Michael J. Tougias, King Philip’s War, 178-179).
His widow married (2) Lt. William Clark of Northampton, and died in 1688. (Pynchon BMD Record Index, 47, wid. Sarah Cooper/Lieut. William Clarke m.)
‘(Pynchon Manuscript Records, 2, Leiut. Wm. Clarke/wid. Sarah Cooper m.) (Martin E. Hollick, New Englanders in the 1600s, 58.)
See The Great Migration: Immigrants to New England 1634-35, 2:205-12”
2.) Elected Mar. 31, 1663, Northampton, Mass. “…… being succeeded in it by Ensign Thomas Cooper, who was confirmed by the County Court at Northampton on March 31, 1663. ”(Burt, Life & Times of Henry Burt, 85.)”
Lt. Thomas/1 Cooper, one of the first settlers of Springfield, Massachusetts, married Sarah/1 Slye, daughter of George/a Slye, with whom he had 9 children.1 Admitted freeman of Springfield, 5 Apr 1649.2 Testified, with Dea. Jonathan/2 Burt, 29 Sep 1662, regarding the intentions of Henry/1 Burt, who died intestate 29 Sep 1662. ( Pynchon Court Records, 266).
Data from The Cooper Family in America (http://www.hinesite.accessgenealogy.com/cooper.htm) website link not working.
From FAG site:
Thomas was a trader in beaver pelts and was active in the Springfield militia, specializing in scouting and translation. Oral history has him trading with Indians and adopting their ways to a degree that caused some friction with townspeople. Ironically, after living to a great age, he perished in the burning of Springfield– fighting with the settlers against marauding Indians.
#79615 Our Royal, Titled, Noble and Commoner Ancestors
Lt. Thomas Cooper was killed when Indians burned down the town. Lt. Thomas Cooper was on the first Springfield Board of Selectmen in 1644 and he was the Springfield Representative to the Massachusetts General Court in 1668.
Lieut Thomas Cooper Find A Grave Memorial# 71445957
Founder of the Seventh-Day Baptist Church in America. Tacy was born in 1608 and was 2 years older than her husband. She had a brother John who lived in London in 1677 and 1680 and a brother who lived in Yarmouth, England. Tace had a great deal of influence on her husband’s religious path she being adamant regarding their stance on infant baptism, observing the Sabbath, and taking communion. Tace’s original name may have been Tace, a favorite Puritan girls name for silence but she is also called Tasy.
They first lived in Wethersfield after their marriage. Wethersfield with other towns were involved with hostilities with the Pequots. Times were hard, and their church only had 7 members, and there was inner dissent. Tase and Samuel removed to Springfield in 1639 with their first child, six months old. They stayed there for 8 years and born there were Bethiah, Ruth and Rachel. On May 10th, 1647, the Hubbards departed Springfield and went downriver to found another settlement, Fairfield. Here they were threatened with jail in Hartford if they did not renounce their views on baptism. This prompted them to leave for Rhode Island Oct. 2, 1648 for a 12 day journey. There they were baptized by Pastor John Clarke on Nov. 3, 1648. Baptists were being actively persecuted by the Puritans at this time. Tase and Samuel were with this church for 23 years, and Samuel was their biographer.
In March 1665, Tase was converted to the teachings of the sabbatarian Stephen Mumford. She seems again to have taken the lead on this issue, with Samuel following about a month later.For six more years they continued worship at Mr. Clarke’s church.Harrassment and prosecutions continued for objectors of infant baptism like Thomas Gould. Finally, the matter came to a head as to whether a church could be allowed to practice anabaptism and Samuel Hubbard, William Hiscox and Joesph Torrey went to the General Court to present their case to defend their colleagues in Boston. This did not sway the court and 2 men, Farnum and Turne,r were sentenced to perpetual imprisonment, and Russell died in prison.
Samuel always speaks of his and Tacy’s marriage as “co-heirs of one mind in the Lord” and they seemed to have had a very happy marriage. Their continued views about the Sabbath, however, caused a final breach with Mr. Clarke’s church (Clarke was now their son in law). . On the 23 of December 1671, five people withdrew from Clarke’s church and with 2 others, founded at Newport, the first Seventh Day Baptist Church in America.They were William Hiscox, Samuel and Tase Hubbard, Stephen Mumford and wife, and Tase’s daughter Rachel Langworthy and Roger Baster. A second church was later founded at Hopkinton. In this church the Hubbards grandchildren were very prominent workers. They continued to struggle, but the church grew with powerful and well respected membership. Roger Williams remained a life long friend. Tase is found at church in 1697 but there is no trace of her after that. Source: Samuel Hubbard, of Newport. 1610-1689 by Huling, Ray Greene, 1847-1915. [from old catalog]
“The first recorded Seventh Day Baptist meeting was held at The Mill Yard Church in London in 1653 under the leadership of Dr. Peter Chamberlen. However many Seventh Day Baptists believe that records showing that it had originated in 1617 were lost in a fire.
The first Seventh Day Baptist church in America was at Newport, Rhode Island in December 1671.[1] Samuel and Tacy Hubbard, two members of the First Baptist Church of Newport, pastored by John Clarke (1609-1676), withdrew from that church and joined with Stephen Mumford, a Seventh Day Baptist from England, and 4 others, covenanting to meet together for worship, calling themselves Sabbatarian Baptists. Mumford, for his part, arrived in Rhode Island in 1665, and was mentioned as an advocate for seventh-day Sabbath in many records of that time. Other churches rose in Pennsylvania and New Jersey, and soon spread north into Connecticut and New York, and south into Virginia and the Carolinas. Seventh-day Sabbatarianism also emerged among the Germans at Ephrata, Pennsylvania, (founded in 1735). Ephrata was incorporated as the German Religious Society of Seventh Day Baptists in 1814, and the site where their community was founded came to be known at the Ephrata Cloister. The Seventh Day Baptist General Conference was organized in 1801.” http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seventh_Day_Baptist 8/1709
Based on the “Ebenezer” quoted by Ezra Stiles (Literary Diary III:82) an d by Nellie Johnson (6), her birthday may be 27 Feb. 1608/09.
Samuel and Tacy were part of the group that marched from Watertown, MA t o Connecticut in winter of 1635. (From Descendants of Robert Burdick).
Samuel Hubbard’s journal as quoted in the SDB Trilogy: “My wife took u p keeping the lord’s holy 7th day Sabbath the 10 day March 1665. I too k it up 1 day April 1665. Our daughter, Ruth 25 Oct. 1666. — Rachel – – Jan. 15 1666 — Bethian — February 1666. Our son Joseph Clarke 23 Feb . 1666.”
As Nellie Johnson puts it, Tasy “was, in 1664, the first convert in Amer ica to the doctrine that no authority existed or could exist for alterin g God’s decree establishing the seventh day as the Sabbath by the substit ution of another day.” (p. 6)
One of seven original signers of SDB founding document: Original SDB covenant is dated 7 December 1671 in one version (Backus) a nd 23 in the other version (Comer):
“After serious consideration and seeking God’s face among our Selves fo r the Lord to direct us in a right way for us, and our children so as mig ht be for God’s glory and our Souls good and others Example, We Entered i nto Covenant with ye Lord and with one another and gave up our Selves t o God and one another to walk togather in all God’s Holy Commandments an d Holy Ordinances according to what the Lord had Discovered to us or Shou ld Discover to be his mind for us to be obedient unto; with Sence upon ou r Hearts of great need to be watchfull over one another, Do promise So t o do, and in Edyfying and building up one another in our Most holy fait h —”
Robert Cooper from Yarmouth, 11 April 1644:
Loving and dear bror & sister Saml and Tase Hubbard, my hearty love reme mbd unto yo The occasion of this my writing unto yo is to certify yo y t I like N.E. very well. I wod not have you think yt I repent me of my c oming to N.E. for ti doth not, for I believe if I had staid there I sho d never have been that wch now I see to my comfort & I hope it will be fo r my souls good — I rest yr poor yet loving brother.
Robert Cooper. 3 1 4
My family were some of the founders of Wethersfield, Wyoming, New York after their old home town.