1 242371' 



HISTORY OF DERRYFIELD. 1 13 



The Revolution now became matter of concern to the exclus- 

 ion of a multitude of interests ; there was no Sunday for soldiers 

 or citizens, and the cause of Zion languished. In 1780 an effort 

 to repair the building failed, three years later the repairs were 

 not completed, and this state of affairs continued without better- 

 ment until 1790, at which time the "pew-ground" of the main 

 floor was sold at public auction, and the gallery area similarly 

 disposed of three years later. But the gallery pews were never 

 built and no part of the house ever finished. In the thirty-five 

 years which had elapsed the progress of decay had outstripped 

 the process of repair. Potter says, "The house was fit for a 

 place of worship at no time, but in summer and of a fair day it 

 answered better than a barn." The old, weather-beaten struc- 

 ture is well remembered by the writer, and remained in a dilap- 

 idated condition in Hallsville till 1853, when it was sold, moved 

 a short distance, and converted into a dwelling-house block, 

 which is still standing. 



Throughout this entire period we hear next to nothing about 

 schools. It is said there were none in Derryfield before or dur- 

 ing the Revolution, and Dr. Wallace asserts that no steps pro- 

 ductive of actual results were taken until some years later than 

 1788, and adds that "for nearly a century after the settlement 

 of the town there was neither lawyer, physician or minister 

 among its permanent inhabitants." It is certain there was no 

 schoolhouse untill 1795, and even that was built by private sub- 

 scription, none being built by vote of the town earlier than the 

 year 1798, possibly later. 



In such a community the morals of the people must have kept 

 pace with their ignorance and inattention to godliness. The 

 pursuits of fishing, hunting and river-rafting were not calculated 

 to favor a devout frame of mind, and the conventional restraints 

 of the church were lacking. A considerable number of the ear- 

 lier inhabitants were rollicking, devil-may-care roysterers, who 

 spent their spare time in wresting, bowling, or pitching horse- 

 10 



