The Connecticut courant, and the weekly intelligencer — Hartford [Conn.], 1781-06-19 00:00:00, page 4

The said Elisha Witter, from his youth up, appeared to be
of a Ready turn of mind, not so much inclined to rude com
pany as youth in general are; and when he came to a state
of manhood, appeared to have his mind much exercised a
bout a future state : He has been aftrift observer of theSab
bath, and spent much ofthe time before and after public wor
ship, in reading theßible,^nd books on divinity; and after
he entered into a married state, kept religious orders in his
family : And it was observed by a family that lived in the
fame house the winter past, that when the weather was not
Suitable to work abroad, he would read almost whole days,
'till his eye-fight was so weakened he could scarcely read at
all; and his mind was so impressed with regard to a future
state, that it was observed by his friends that he grew flack
about the common bufiuefs of life, in which he used to be
very Ready and careful.
On the 2111 day of April laft,by rhe over-ruling providence
ofthe holy and al'-wiledilpofer of all things, Lieutenant Da
niel Witter, oldcft brother to the said Elisha, was seized with
a fit as he was at work in his field, which firft deprived him
of his eve-fight, and soon after of his reason and the use of
his limbs, to the great surprise of his family; they immedi
ately sent to his father and two brothers, who lived about two
miles distant, who immediately repaired to his house, and
found him speechless in a diftrefled condition, very alfe&ing
to all present; the said Elisha seemed to be very fepfibly mo
ved, and immediatly went for a do&or, which he procured.
The physician viewing the patient, gave it as his opinion
that the difficult, he laboured under would prove Fatal, which
it did. It was observed by some present at that time, that
they thought Elisha was so overcome with grief, that he was
a little beside himfelf. The father, or one'of the brothers,
continued with tlie distressed man 'till he died.
On Monday, the third day after Daniel was taken, Elisha
went from his own house to his father’s, and told them he
Vas come to take his last farewell of them, for he should die
that night, and in a very serious and solemn manner told
them, he wished them all well, and cautioned them to pre
pare for death, shook hands with them, and bid them fare
well. The family was much surprised—Frederick went im
mediately to his brother Daniel's, and told his father (who
was then taking care ofhim) he believed it was best for him
to go home, and he would stay with his brother, for he
thought Elisha was disordered in his mind. Accordingly
the father went firft to Elisha's, who in a voy serious manner
said he should die that night. His father told him, that he
was affraid he was under some delusive impre fiion; for al
though either of them might die that night, it was a secret
unknown to them, and did net belong to diem to know; and
therefore he doubted it was a temptation of Satan ; and
Observed to him, a time of trouble was a time of temptation,
and d fi cd him not to give way to such suggestions, for he
was afraid he would be left to do violence to himfelf. Eli
sha told him he had no such thoughts, .he could assure him.
Aider a considerable conferrence the father went to his own
house, being but about sixty rods dillant. Soon after, Elisha
came there, and told his father he should certainly die that
night, and desired him to be kind to his wife, after he was
dead, and let her have the profits of the lands he dad proposed
for him, to support her and her child. The father replied,
he might depend he would be kind to them if they should
outlive him; but said that was a matter entirely unknown to
them, —and tried to divert his mind from that infatuation.
The evening following, Lome of the kind neighbours
came to visit him : He told them he should die thak night;
and took a pair of silver shoe-buckles out of his shoes, hand
ed them to his wife, and bid herkeep them to remember him
by; but she returned them, and endeavoured to divert his
mind, but could not. One of his neighbours tarried with
him all night, who said he seemed to be restless in his mind,
slept but little. and was up once during it. The next morn
inr his father went to visit him, spent feme time with him,
ana thought he seemed a little more composed : He then said
, he should die the night following, or when his brother Dani
el did, and said he had felt something ofthe fits his brother
was exercised with; and while he was under that infatuation,
he told his wife, although they had concluded co name their
infant Jonas, he would have her name it Elisha, to bear up
Lis name.
The fame day above mentioned, (Tuesday) the Rev. Mr.
Paul Park, a neighbouring miniftef, came to visit him, aud
spent several hours with him: He told Mr. Park, he should
die that night. Mr. Park asked him how he knew? Hefaid
by inspiration. Mr . Park endeavoured to convince him of
his error; and after a friendly conference, lefthim, and Gid
he thought there was no great danger of his doing himfelf a
mifehief—and his friends had not the least fufyicion of his
hurting any body but himfelf.—-Sometime in the afternoon,
before Mr. Park left him, news was brought to Elisha, by his
father ofthe death ofhis brother Daniel: While Mr. Park
was prefeur, he did not seem to be much moved at the tidings.
The fame afternoon, Mr, Oliver Spalding (who married
the eldest filter of the said Elisha) and his wife, who had been
attending on their brother Daniel, deceased, came to Elisha's
to make him a visit: He seemed to be extremely glad to fee
them, and infilled on their Raying all night, which they
conferred to. They spent the evening in friendly conversa
tion; anoElisha said, he lovedhis lifter Spalding, bethought,
the most of either lifter he had, for she had heen as a mother
as well as lifter to him ; she being the eldest lifter ofthe fa
mily, took care ofhim after his mother died, he then being
but about five years old. After they had spent the evening
in conversation every way suitable to their situation, Elisha
thanked them for their visit and good council ; and when
they thought of retiring to bed, he prayed with tire family,
in expressions very applicable to their circumstances, and his
own case in particular. 'After prayer he seemed to be loath
to go to bed, but after a while he went; though seemed to
be uneasy in his mind, lay awake sometime, but at length
fcMatixp ; His father ^n®wing Accompany Elisha had with
Qnfote& byparticular defoe.)
Preften Ma, 2!, t„r.
WHEREAS, there has been fomc imperfea sketches pub
lished oftbe awful tragedy committed by Elisha Wit
ter, for of William Witter, Esq; of Preston, the night fol
lowing rhe 24thday of April kft. It is desired bylome ofthe
friends of the unhappy man,that the public should be favour
ed with an authentic account of that lamentable tranfa&ion,
with the chara&er of themnhappy man who prepetrated the
crime.
TAKEN UP, in Mansfield, on the 28th of May last,
aBAY MARE, supposed to be 3 or 9 years old, a
black mane and tail, about 15 hands high, inclining most to
trot, shod on her fore feet, has no artificial mark, excepting
f a rowel in her breast, The owner is defined to call on the
fubferiber, pay charges, and take her away.
SAMUEL SOUTHWORTH.
Mansfield, June 7, 1781.
him, was not apprehenfive^f ar, danger, for he thought
he could not be better knitted. Elisha dept 'till about the
middle of the Light, then waked up in raving diftradien, and
put on his clothes ; his wife and Mr: Spalding likewise gotup,
and partly dreifed themselves, when he began to r^ye, struck
his wife with -his lift, and knocked her down; but she by
feme means made her escape out ofthe house ;-—Mr. Spal
ding tried to hold him, but Elisha's ftrength.was lo extended
he could do nothing with him, so Spalding retired back into
the bedroom where his wife andcluld were. -- Elirhafcream
ing and hallowing, don't tome into this room, for if you doyou
Will be torn all to pecos. Spalding's wife advised him to run
to her father's, and call help she dipt up a casement, and
he got out at the window: He asked her if he should help
her out ? She told him, no; said she did not believe her bro
tlier Elisha would hurt her. Spalding and Elisha's wife came
to heir father's, and alarmed the family ; Frederick Witter,
a d two young men that lodged with him, got up immedi
ately, and wentto Elisha's as quick as they could; and 'Squire
Witter, Spalding, and Elisha's wife, followed as fall as pos
sible, the right being exceeding dark and rainy. Frederick
was the Gift tha&got to the home.---the door being fattened,
he stove it open, rushed in, and saw, to hisgreat surprise, that
his brother had killed his filler Spalding, her child, and his
own infant; Frederick seized upon him, and threw him down
—the young met that followed, soon came to his diilhnce,
---the father, Mn Spalding, and Elisha's wife, followed feon
after; and though one man threw him down, it was as much
as four could do to bind him ; —he raved and cried, with an
awful tone, Jesus help me, take to thyfelf thy great power, and
reign ahd said, he had been fighting the battles ofibe Lord Je
fes, and the day of judgment was corns : He was pinioned, put
underguard, examined by several authority, andicrtcnced to
Norwich goal, where he remains in a crazy condition, t®
take his trial before the Superior Court in September next.
Let him who thinketh he ftandeth, take heed left befall.
The Thursday following the tragedy, the funeral of the a
bove-named Daniel Witter, Maty Spalding, and the two in
fantchildren, was attended by a great concourff of people ;
where the Rev. Mr. Levi Hart, of said Preston, preached an
excellent sermon suited to the occasion, from Luke xiii. and
the nine firft verses.
THE fubferiber, living in Hartford, would be glad to know
die owner or owners ofthe Hull of a certain Sloop, name
not known, now lying in Depoiller's creek, a little below
Fish-Kill lower landing. Said Sloop foiled np the North Ri
ver in 1776 to avoid the enemy's shipping, is now in a fair
way of being wholly ruined if not repaired immediately.
THO's. tISDALL.
June 12, 1781.
As the father ofthe deceased and criminal now in prison,
has a considerable large acquaintance with worthy chriftian
friends, whom he highly esteems, and who live remote; he
would hereby ask their fervent prayers, that it would please
God to support him, and allconcerned with him, in the pre
sent chaft sing difperfation of providence, and enable them
to make a wile and (nidified improvement thereof to the
glory of God : And alfe that it might please God to shew
mercy to his son, the criminal now in prifon—^reftore him
to the use ofhis reafon,and to a sense of ids great transgressi
on; and by the aids of divine grace.give him repentance un
to life, through the merits of the bleffcd Redeemer.
ALL persons that have any demands on the estate of Dr.
SAMUEL COBB, late of Tolland, deceased, are re
queued to exhibit their accounts to the fubferibers for fettle—
merit : And all persons that are indebted to said estate are
desired to make immediate payment.
SAMUEL COBB, 1 „ ..„
JEDUTHAN COBB, ] Administrators.
Tolland, June 5, 1781.
TO BE SO L D,
By GEORGE CALDWELL,
Coarfeand fine B 0 W STRINGS, of the best Quality,
for Hatter's use.
'Hartford, June 10, 1781.
WHEREAS Sarah, my wife, hath eloped from my bed
and board ;I therefore forbid all persons to credit
her on my account, as I will not pay any debts that shemay
central after this date.
JOHN BROWN.
Farmington, May 20, 1781.
n^HE several collectors of State taxes are hereby notified?
Jl that by ad of the General Assembly now fitting, no old
continental bills be received on any taxes, which have been
granted—-wherein prevision is made for receiving the bills
of credit of this State. A pun&ual compliance with which
a&, must be attended to.
JOHN LAURENCE, Treffircr.
Treafury-Office, Hartford, June 6, 1781.
The several Printers in this State are requeued to insert the
above.
RAN AWAY from the Subferiber, on the 16 Iff May
last, an apprentice boy, nam'd D AVID HA RRIS;
about 19 years of age, 5 feet 6 inches high, pock mark'd:
He carried with when he went off, two coats, one a blue
broadcloth, faced with white-two vests—one pair of fulled
cloth breeches—two check shirts, one wlrire ditto---4 pair
flockings —one pair openwork'd silver shoe buckles—Also,
one suit of linen cloths. Whoever will return said boy to
the fubferiber, shall have Five Shillings State Money.
ELIPHAS SPENCER.
Sulilbmy, June 7, 1781,
TO BE SO L D,
By M A RC US MARB L E,
AVery convenient Apothecary's Store with the Shop,
Furniture, and a small assortment of Drugs and Medi
cines, for hard Money.
Northfield, May 24, 1781.
TH E Sele& Men, State Agents, and holdcis of public
provisions, in the several towns in this State, are defined
to make return of the fame to the fubferiber, sinewing the
quantity and quality ; and all those who hold the fame on the
Edl fide and adjoining Connecticut river, are requeued, as
soon as may be, to transport the fame to the public magazine
at Hartford, and those on the weft fide ofthe river to trans
port the fame to Fish-Kul or Fish-Kill Landing, and deliver
the fame to the Deputy Commissary General of Issues, or his
order. Likewise all Persons holding any leather belonging
to this or the United States, put out on shares or otherwise, to
be tanned, are desired forthwith to return accounts of the
fame to the fubferiber, as the demands for that article at pre
sent are very preffirg.
RALPH POMEROY, Dep. Quarter Master.
All the Printers in this State are requested to give this ad
vertisement a place in their papers.
Hartford, Tune ti, 1781.-
S U VF ^ DOLLARS REWARD.
S or , °'" ^° m the fubferiber, about the 29th of
M/yj^, a dark brown MARE, about 14 hands high,
eignt or nine years old, natural pacer, no brand, shod before,
a f^ ma ^ e and tail, fadule galled, and the hair wore off
r" h "° g ' r '. Whoever will take up said mare, and
11 Koen, lecure the thief, so that the owner may, have the
mare, and the thief be brought to jufiice, shall have fix silver
dollars reward and for the mare only tw o silver dollars, and
cadges paid, by'
.> „ , CONSIDER HOPKIN S.
New-Hartford, June 8, tfr,
T 1 ! A " D , from :!: - Subferiber, about the xft of Mav
O lart, a black MARE CCI. T, 2 years old, natural
p«co, far mller forehead and a strip of white on her nose,
omc white on her near hind foot, her mane hangs mostly
on toe near fide, no brand.--- .Whoever will take up said
marr, return her to tire owner, shall be handsomely re
warded, by 7
\ Tftr , NATHAN GRISWOLD.
^c^.-hihing-worth, Jure 7 , tfr.
A LL Pc: ft that have any dcnind^n7;r^i^;i
t c ^ e ° f JA^ES McLESTE R, late of
feceas c, are once more detired to meet at the house
in> defers d, on the ^ Monday of June, and the 2d and
Mondays m Jmy, in order for a final settlement of the
lame. Attendance will be given on each offaid days, by
JOHN REYNOLD S, 1 '
JOSEPH KINGSBURY 1 Admimftratorfy
June 8, 1781."
being, hy the hon. Judge of Probate
e^rc^iv^ar^ Berkshire appointed Commiffion
eis to rc.eivv ana examine the claims acainft the of
^'he } b p'' ° f "™^ dl deceased, represented in
fid on the dT ~'''' Beholder in Pitts-
A M r > ruefday 0. June next, from nine o'clock,
- ° I' B M. and afterwards on the
sues ay of every month, at th? time and place aboveme^
troned, for fix months fuccefiyely.
JOHN STRONG.
JOSIAH WRIGHT,
Pittsfield, May r 6, i 7 Br. TIMOTHI CHILDS.
tne hon. Court of Pronate for the county of Bcrk
'l"%'° examine the claims ofthe creditors on
the reflate or Malenah Hatch, late of Stockbridge, in lAid
county deceased, represented insolvent, and nine months be
ing allowed for the creditors to bring in the ; r claims - do
hereby notice that we shall attend said bufoefs a t °the
°" ^ " '!" sh> Innholder in said Stockbridge,
fir ft Mondays of May, June, July, August, September,
C^ober, November, December and January next, flora one
to seven o crock P. M.
SAMUEL BROWN, inn.
ASA BEMEN T,
Orita April N ^ L JAMES.
T 0 B E S O I'D; ■ -
(For bard mcney only)
a shopof the fubferiber in Middletown;
A GOOD fonment of NEW PEWTER, among
which are the article of T E'A-POTS o' the best
'Middletown, J^ 2, r^. ^^ ^^^
WE ^e fubferiber being appointed comnHfifoners bX
tin- Hon. Comt ot Probate, for the count, of Bcrk
smre, to receive and examine the claims of the creditors on
the estate of JOHN FOWLER, late of Stockbridge in fad
^^^d brfolvcrt; and fix months
being allo,red for the creditors to bring in thei^ claims do
hereby give notice, that .we shad attend on said b^ds rt
° f ^ A ° MARSH, innholder, in fi id
SiocAjiidge, on the firft Monday of June. July Airnnft
September, CRober and November next, from one o'clock
in the afternoon tilpfeyen.
SAMUEL BROWN, iun.
ASA BEMENT,
, DANIEL JAMES.
Stockbridge, May 7, 1781.
Lifertons a.TT^e aiy a:^8~ .if
BENJ , AM ™' IteofHartLnd, deceased
requeued to preleat their accounts so: fitment -Ard all
who are indented to said estate are defined to make imme
diate paymentto the fubferiber, at the house of the Hid
Leafed, where attendance will be given for that purpose.
t a SAMUEL BENJAMIN, Executor.
Hartland, June 4, 1781.
<,, RAYED ° r ftolcn from & paßme of the fubferiber
lome time tn May, a light bay HORSE, about „ hands
high, 4 years old, a natural trotter, a small Rar ir ;his fore
head, his mane cut, one hind toot white, shod a/1 round
Whoever takes up said horse, and returns him to the sub-
Icnber in Hartford, shall receive FORTY SHILLINGS (State's
money) reward, and all necessary charges paid.
ra T n .JOHN H. LORD,
Hartffl^ 7^ „ r^,