USA > Connecticut > Hartford County > Hartford > Christ church, Hartford, Vol. II, 1760-1900 > Part 1
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CHRIST CHURCH, HARTFORD, CONN. VOL. II
1
-
CHRIST CHURCH, 1907
5
1
ADDITIONAL CONTRIBUTIONS
TO THE
history of Efrist
Burch
hartford, Conn.
WITH THE RECORDS OF BAPTISMS, CONFIRMATIONS, COMMUNICANTS MARRIAGES AND BURIALS
1760-1900
REVISED AND CORRECTED
With the Compliments of
JAMES J. GOODWIN,
Hartford, Conn.
BELKNAP AND WARIILLE 1908
CHRIST CHURCH, 1907
ADDITIONAL CONTRIBUTIONS
TO THE
history of Efrist
Burch
Hartford, Conn.
WITH THE RECORDS OF BAPTISMS, CONFIRMATIONS, COMMUNICANTS MARRIAGES AND BURIALS
1760-1900
REVISED AND CORRECTED
VOL. 2
HARTFORD, CONN. BELKNAP AND WARFIELD 1908
Lite 6.6. 000dum 1 JUL 1908
PREFATORY NOTE
N the Explanatory Note in the History of the Parish of Christ Church, published a few years since, it was said, " it is supposed, that in com- mon with many parishes, there has not been such a careful keeping of records and papers as is desirable and proper." Some errors may also have occurred in transcribing from the records, not always clearly deciphered and others made from memory after a lapse of time. A more careful recognition of the duties of rectors and the requirement of papers with written names, before the per- formance of any clerical function, would prevent many mis- takes, little in themselves perhaps, but valuable in the future if corrected. This was specially noticed by Mr. George E. Hoadley, long connected with the parish, who soon set himself about correcting these sins of commission and omission. With a wonderful knowledge of the people in the town and the parish, he added a persistency in investigation which was untiring. He has gone through the records of the baptisms, marriages and deaths, correcting errors and supplying omis- sions ; has consulted old newspapers and magazines, visited grave yards for names and dates, and by inquiry and cor- respondence, has vastly improved the different lists. He has strongly developed the characteristics of an "Old Mortality." The Christ Church records are rendered more valuable by his researches, and I most cordially thank him for what he has done.
It had long been the desire of Mr. Charles J. Hoadly, formerly State Librarian, to carry out the design of placing pinnacles upon the Church building. The original drawings were found and under the superintendence of Mr. George Keller, the work has been satisfactorily completed, and now stands a noble monument to the wishes of those who originally erected it, and to those who have added to it at various times
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CHRIST CHURCH, HARTFORD.
since. The fraternal sympathy of Mr. George E. Hoadley, shows what this old church family has done for Christ Church parish. The cost was over ten thousand dollars. It shows what has been done in preparing a suitable house for the wor- ship of Almighty God. Long may it stand, a source of com- fort and happiness, a teacher of divine truth.
The omissions and corrections in the text, are printed in italics. Mr. Frank Farnsworth Starr has aided in correcting and arranging the several parts.
As before, in the case of the History of the Parish, the same generous hand has furnished the means for this publica- tion.
December 30, 1905.
G. W. R.
TABLE OF CONTENTS.
HISTORICAL NOTES
CHURCH LOT, ACCOUNT OF LAWSUIT IN REGARD TO, 9
CHURCH LOT, COURT RECORD CONCERNING,
CHURCH, DESCRIPTION OF, 1830, I3
CLARK, GEORGE H., REV., SKETCH OF, 19
CLERGY, LIST OF RECTORS, . 24
CLERGY, OTHERS CONNECTED WITH THE PARISH, 25
GOODWIN, JAMES, REV., SKETCH OF, 22
HOADLY MEMORIAL, NOTICE OF, 18
RECTORS, LIST OF,
24
SALTONSTALL, LINDALL W., REV., SKETCH OF,
22
RECORDS
BAPTISMS,
29, 30, 32, 33, 34, 35-16I
CONFORMISTS, . 31
163-191
CONFIRMATIONS,
COMMUNICANTS,
193-241
31, 33, 243-288
MARRIAGES,
31, 289-332
BURIALS,
333
ERRORS, .
334
ADDITIONS,
INDEX,
337
HISTORICAL NOTES.
On pages 42 to 46 of the " History of the Parish of Christ Church, Hartford," mention is made of the troubles the early Churchmen of Hartford experienced in their attempts to purchase land on which to erect a church building. The follow- ing, taken from the newspapers of the time and the Court records, give a full account of the affair.
In the New London Gasette for March 20, 1772, we find :
" At the Desire of a Number of our Customers, the following Ac- count of a remarkable Cause lately tried in Hartford, is inserted in this Paper.
"In the year 1760, on the application of about 30 members of the church of England, settled in and near Hartford, the missionaries stationed nearest to that place, began and have since continued to visit them. In the year 1762, at a meeting, about 45 members voted to begin a church, to buy half an acre of land of f80 value, and ap- pointed a committee to purchase the land, take in the subscriptions for the pious uses intended and begin the work. The committee, as such, bought the land, took a deed for it, and at the expence of £120, laid a stone foundation of 60 feet by 45, and 18 feet square for a steeple. Thus it lay for some time, till one of the committee being under difficulties for want of money, sold the said land and foundation, applying the money to his own use. The purchaser sold the premises to another (whose ancestor was one of those who fled to this howling wilderness to shun episcopal tyranny and sacrilegious persecution.) The second purchaser having occasion to build himself a dwelling house, (in which he now lives) for the foundation on which it is erected, he appropriated the stones which had been laid for the afore- said sacred foundation: Thus for the present, by force of liberty - episcopal dissenters (in that place) were crushed in the bud, and being poor, discouraged, and 'in perill amongst false brethern,' the matter rested for some time. At last a few despised episcopal dis- senters, brought an action against the last mentioned purchaser, to
2
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CHRIST CHURCH, HARTFORD.
recover the seison and possession of the land, and damages for re- moving the foundation aforesaid. In January, 1772, the cause came to trial before the honourable superior court setting at Hartford. The cause was well argued by two able attornies on each side (Mr. Hillhouse and Root for the plaintiff; Elderkin and Hosmer for the Defendant.) Except that one of the latter ventured to resume the stale pretence equally senseless ungrateful and arrogant, that in the New England colonies, the members of the Church of England are dissenters.
"The Chief Judge (the Honourable Mr. Griswold) deliver'd the cause to the jury, with a charge so sensible and clear, a spirit of such candour and catholicism, and a manner so polite, as did honour to the cause and his exalted station.
"The Jury soon return'd with a verdict for the plaintiffs- £35 damage and their costs - which verdict was accepted by the court ; - to the great mortification of the defendants."
The following is taken from the Court records :
"C. Court Docket & Record
1769-70 51"
" At his Majestys County Court holden at Hartford in and for the County of Hartford in the Colony of Connecticut in New Eng- land by Adjournment on the third Tuesday of June 1770"
Present
JABEZ HAMLIN Esqr Judge
WILLIAM WOLCOTT
ZEBULON WEST
Esqrs Justices of Peace & Quorum"
SETH WETMORE SAMUEL TALCOTT
"33 Thomas Burr of Hartford in Hartford County one of the Mem- bers of the Episcopal Church in the said Town of Hartford and the rest of the Members and Brethern of said Episcopal Church Pits vs Samuel Talcott Junt of Hartford in the County of Hartford Defendt in a Plea of Trespass &c demanding the sum of £500 0. o lawful Money Damages as # Writt on ffile dated May 26th 1770 -
" The Parties appeared and joined in a Demurrer to the Declara- tion of the Plt as on ffile upon which they were heard And the Court is of Opinion That the Declaration of the Pit is not sufficient in the Law &c And therefore it is considered by the Court that the Defendt shall receive of the Pits Cost of Suit allowed to be fr : 3. o lawful money The Pit appealed from the Judgmt of this Court to the supr Court to be holden at Hartford &c on the Ist Tuesday of Septem"
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HISTORICAL NOTES.
next And Mr Elisha Wadsworth of said Hartford acknowledged himself to stand bound & indebted to the Treasr of the County of Hartford, in the Sum of £20. o. o lawful Money to be paid to said Treasr upon Condition that the PIts do not prosecute their Appeal to Effect and shall not refund all Damages if they make not their Plea good.
Superior Court Files.
" Hartford County. Adjourned Court December 1771
"To the sheriff of the County of Hartford his Deputy or Constable, of the Town of Hartford in Said County Greeting -
" In his Majesties Name you are hereby required to Summon Samuel Talcott Jun.r of Said Hartford to appear before the adjourned County Court to be holden at Hartford within and for said County on the third Tuesday of June Next then and There to Answer Unto Thomas Burr of said Hartford one of the Members of the Episcopal Church in the Said Town of Hartford and the rest of the Members and Brethern of Said Episcopal Church, in a plea of Trespass Where- upon the Plaintiffs declare and say that at Said Hartford on or about the 23d Day of April A: D: 1770 the Defendant with Force and Arms Unlawfully entered unto and Upon a Certain Piece of land Situate in Said Hartford containing half an Acre Butted and Bounded East on the Highway South on land belonging to Samuel Olcott and west on Land of Said Olcott and North on land of Samuel Mattox then and Still rightfully and in Fee Simple belonging to the Plain- tiffs and in their Possession then being and the Defendant Defendant so being Entered unto and upon the Same land did then and There with the same Force trample down and destroy the Plaintiffs good Grass then -- - - found growing on Said land and break the Turf and break down and Destroy the Foundation of a Building or Church then erected on Said land and take and Carry away from Said land One Hundred and Forty Loads of Stone to the Plaintiffs rightfully belonging of the Value of Eighty Pounds Lawful Money against the Mind and Will of the Plaintiffs and against law and Right to the grievous Damage of the Plaintiffs as they say to the amount of the sum of Five Hundred pounds lawful Money and there- of and for Cost the Plaintiffs bring this Suit fail not and make due Return According to law Dated at Hartford the 26th Day of May AD 1770-
John Kimberly Justs Paes Hartford 4th June 1770
I read this writ in the hearing of the within Named Defendant
Test Chester Wells Sheriffs Deputy
Fees 1/8
And Now the Defendant ptends and Says that the plaintiffs Declara-
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CHRIST CHURCH, HARTFORD.
tion and Matters therein are Insufficient in the law and prays Judge- ment.
Hosmer -
For the defendant Seymour
And
And the Plaintiffs say their Declaration is sufficient & Judgement &c.
Root for the Plaintiffs -
A true Copy as on file Examined By George Wyllys Clerk.
and now the Dft changing pleads and says he is not guilty in manner &
form as the Ptf in his Declaration
hath alleged and hereof puts himself on the Country
Elderkin 1 Hosmer
for the Deft
Hillhouse
and the plants - like wise
Root for plaints -
Superior Court Records Vol. "1769 to 1772 Nº 17"
"A Superior Court Holden at Hartford in the Colony of Con- necticut by Adjournment on Last Tuesday of December (being the 31st Day) Anno: Domini 1771. In the 12th Year of the Reign of George the Third of Great Britain &c King
Present the Honble Matthew Griswold Esqr Chieff Judge
Robert Walker
Elephalett Dyer Roger Sherman William Pitkin
Esqrs Assistant Judges.
Jury Sworn were.
Hugh Ledley
Wm Green
Jos: Bacon
David Adkens
Wm Woodford Elisha Deming Sam" Goff Moore Lemuel Roberts Edwd Chapm Grant John Ellice Return Strong Samll Filor Jr.
Thomas Burr of Hartford, in the County of Hartford one of the Members of the Episcopal Church in the Town of Hartford, and the rest of the Members and Brethern of Said Episcopal Church Plfs. (Contra) Samuel Tal- cott, Junr of Said Hartford, Defendant In a plea of Trespass &c demanding £500: Law- ful money in Damage as pr Writt on file. Dated May 26th 1770.
By Appeal of the Plaintiffs from a Judg- ment of the County Court held at Hart- ford in June 1770, this Case came to the
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HISTORICAL NOTES.
Supr Court at Hartford in Septr 1770: and by Legal Removes comes to this time. The Parties Appeared at this Court and were Now at Issue on the plea Not Guilty as on file; Which Issue with the Evidence being Committed to the Jury, they brot in the following Verdict (viz) In this Case the Jury find that the Defendant is Guilty in manner and form as the Plaintiffs in their declaration have Alledged and therefore find for the Plaintiffs to Recover of the Deft. the sum of Thirty five pounds Lawful money damage, and their Cost. Wher- upon it is Considered by this Court, that the Plaintiffs Shall Recover of the Defendant their Cost of Courts Taxed at fil : 15:6 Lawful money & yt Exn be &c Execution Granted January 17th 1772"
The following description is believed to have been written by the Rev. Nathaniel Sheldon Wheaton, then Rector of the Parish.
"CHRIST CHURCH, HARTFORD."
"The foundation of this solid and beautiful structure was com- menced in the autumn of 1827.
"On the 13th day of May, 1828, the corner-stone was laid by the Rt. Rev. Bishop Brownell, in the presence of a large concourse of people. From that time, the work was steadily carried on, until the 22nd day of December, 1829, when it was consecrated by the Rt. Rev. Bishop Hobart of New York, in the absence of the Bishop of the Diocese on his Episcopal visitation to the West.
" The following description of the edifice may be relied on for its accuracy ; although the writer is conscious how imperfect an idea can be conveyed of any specimen of architecture by mere description, un- accompanied by drawings.
"The church, as far as it is finished, presents a faithful example of the ECCLESIASTICAL STYLE; and bears a general resemblance to that modification of it which prevailed in England, in the time of the last Henrys. No particular building has been adopted as a model; but the details are almost all copied after drawings of the most approved specimens in England. The peculiar characteristicks of the style are very closely adhered to in every part; the utmost pains having been taken to avoid those unseemly admixtures, which characterize most of the attempts at Gothic architecture in this country.
" The main building is a parallelogram, 100 feet in length, by 70 in breadth, independently of the buttresses. These project three feet on each side, and at the ends, giving an area of 106 feet by 76, covered by the building. Its extreme length, including the tower, is 1211/2 feet.
" The tower is 221/2 feet square, fortified with double buttresses at the angles, and stands out 141/2 feet from the wall. It rests on a broad foundation of solid mason work, deeply sunk in the ground, to form an adequate support for the weight it was designed to sustain.
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CHRIST CHURCH, HARTFORD.
" The east end of the church presents three entrances; one through the tower, and the others into the vestibules, opening into the side aisles. The doors of the latter are deeply panelled, and finished above with tracery terminating in crocketed finials, having a light and grace- ful effect. The jambs are channeled with deep mouldings; and the space between the arch and the window is ornamented with spandrils, together with rich panels and tracery, the latter copied, with some slight variations, from those in Tattershall Church, Lincolnshire. Over each of these doors is a window rising to the same height with those on the sides, and enriched at the foot with light battlements.
"The entrance through the tower is by a door 13 feet 9 inches high, by 9 feet 6 inches wide within the stone jambs, which are deeply moulded, and carved into a flattened arch, with spandrils and a label above. The great depth of the door, which is sunk nearly three feet within the surface of the wall, together with the expansion and mould- ings of the jambs, give a striking relief to this part of the architecture. The door is composed of narrow panels separated by mouldings in strong relief, woven into tracery under the arch. Above is a window, copied in part, but considerably enriched, from one in the Chapel of Magdalen College, Oxford. The tracery in the window-head, is of the foliated or ramified description, the mullions being split at the spring of the arch, and interlaced, so as to produce a light and pleasing effect. These jambs are also of great depth, and cut into mouldings highly relieved. The space of dead wall above, is broken by tracery in stone, on a panel upwards of twenty feet in height; and above this is a light cornice, enriched with foliage, running round the tower, at the floor of the belfry, about 73 feet from the ground. The projections of the buttresses are here covered with gablets, the coping-stones below being of the usual form. The tower, at present, is finished only to the belfry; but is designed to rise about sixty feet higher, and to be con- structed of stone to the top.
" The side view of the building presents five windows, the walls between being strengthened with buttresses, falling in at regular in- tervals, and terminating at present at the eaves. When finished, they will rise fifteen or twenty feet higher, and be surmounted by crocketed pinnacles. The present cornice of rough stone, will be supplied by an ornamented one; and the walls are intended to receive a battlement surrounding the whole roof.
"The windows are copied from those in St. Mary's Church, Ox- ford, acknowledged to be one of the most beautiful specimens of the perpendicular style which England affords. Each window is divided into three bays, by mullions rising perpendicularly till they intersect the arch, and exhibiting as much tracery in the window-head as the space can afford, without giving it a heavy appearance. They are about 25 feet in height, and are divided into upper and lower com- partments by transoms. The arches are protected by hood-mouldings ;
15
HISTORICAL NOTES.
and the deep jambs are also enriched with mouldings cut in stone. The windows are glazed with ground glass, in diamond panes, set, in lead sashes.
"The walls at the west end are also strengthened with buttresses. The chancel window is about 27 feet in height, and is divided by large mullions, and a transom enriched with battlements. The window- head is a composition from various subjects, designed to obscure the light as little as possible, to give the better effect to the transparency placed over it within. The attic is lighted by a trefoil window placed in the gable, and crowned with a hood-moulding.
"The walls were laid by Messrs. Scranton and Johnson of Derby, and are constructed of the chocolate-colored free stone from the Chatham quarries. The roof is slated, and rests on six trusses put together without mortice or tenon; and is believed to furnish one of the first instances of the application of Mr. Town's patent for bridges, to the support of a roof. In each vestibule is a handsome elliptical stair-case, affording an easy ascent to the gallery. The vestibules are arched with ornamented groined arches, the ceiling of the lower com- partment being decorated with a cornice enriched with foliage.
"The dimensions of the audience room are as follows: - length of the nave, 90 feet; length of the side aisles, 761/2 feet; breadth from wall to wall, 651/2 feet. The ground floor contains 138 pews, and the galleries 56, making in all 194, exclusive of the orchestra. From twelve to thirteen hundred people can be conveniently seated in the church.
"The inner doors opening into the side aisles, are partly copied from one in St. George's Chapel, Windsor; that in the center being a composition. The deep, moulded jambs of the latter, give it a singularly rich appearance, when seen from within. All the doors, both within and without, have their arches finished with a label, or hood-moulding, either resting on corbels, or terminating in a return of the moulding.
"The pulpit, desk, and altar, are situated within the chancel at the west end of the church. The panels on the front of the altar which is richly and heavily moulded, are of the most elaborate descrip- tion; and were copied together with the general form of the altar, with some variations, from the tomb of Archbishop Kemp, in Canter- bury Cathedral. The front of the desk, displays a variety of tracery, and rests on a base ornamented with quaterfoil panels, and deep mouldings, which also break round the altar.
"The pulpit is in the form of a hexagon with unequal sides. The cornice appears to be supported by small buttresses clustered around piers placed at the angles, and at equal distances on the front and sides of the pulpit. The spaces between are filled with tracery and narrow panels, deeply sunk, so as to give a bold relief to the ornaments. The trimmings of the desk and pulpit, are of purple velvet, edged with
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CHRIST CHURCH, HARTFORD.
lace and a deep fringe. The pulpit is designed to receive a canopy ; and it is also intended to cover the wall from gallery to gallery, as high as the bottom of the chancel window, with a screen composed of panels and light clustered columns; the doors of the Vestry-room, which is situated in the rear, forming a part of the tracery. The lateness of the season, and the wish of the parish to occupy the church as soon as possible, have prevented the execution of this part of the work.
"On entering the church from the tower, the eye is immediately directed to the splendid transparency covering the whole window over the pulpit. The subject is that of our Saviour's ascension, after a picture of Raphael. The principal figure is surrounded by a wreath of foliage, forming a border in imitation of stained glass. The arch is also filled with a wreath, in the center of which is a chalice richly embossed, and bearing a cross on its front. The figure is represented in the act of rising through the clouds, the edges of which are strongly tinged with light streaming from above. The face is turned upward, the arms are extended, and the whole position is that of one buoyed up in the air as its native element. The effect of this beautiful piece of painting especially when viewed by the mellow light of a setting sun, is singularly rich and solemn. The window-heads on each side are filled with stained glass of various dyes and figures; and when seen in connection with the transparency between, present a view unrivalled perhaps in any church in the country. The transparency is from the pencil of W. Bacon, Esq., London; the stained glass was executed in Boston.
" The church is fitted up with side galleries, and an orchestra over the entrance. The front is ornamented with panels and mouldings wrought into arches, terminating in small carved finials; while the mouldings along the base support a light parapet. The ceiling be- neath the galleries, is composed of flattened rampant arches, groined, and resting on corbels next the wall. These arches are enriched with bold, fluted mouldings, their intersections being concealed alternately by a passion-flower and a cluster of oaken leaves in stucco. The arches above, are supported by rows of pillars, standing about fourteen feet from the wall. These are formed of columns clustered around square piers, each column having its capital, from which spring the groined arches over the galleries, resting also on corbels next the wall. The vaulting over the nave, is constructed in a manner, of which, it is believed, there is no example in this country. It springs from a line above the intersection of the transverse arches; and this gives an ap- pearance of loftiness and expansion, which could be attained in no other way. A member of the pillar is continued up to the spring of the main arch, which it thus appears to support; at the same time that it relieves the surface of flat wall below the vaulting. The crown moulding of its capital, is continued along from pillar to pillar, forming a cornice which supports a light battlement; and over this rises the main arch, with an extent unbroken, through the whole length of the
I7
HISTORICAL NOTES.
nave. This is struck from four centres, and rises about twelve feet, and forty-six feet above the floor of the church. Like the groined arches over the galleries, it is traced with a profusion of mouldings of great depth, and enriched where they meet with knots of oak leaves and acorns, and various kinds of foliage, in stucco. In the centre of the vault, are disposed bosses alternately large and small, of wreathed foliage, boldly executed in stucco. The form of these was taken from some very beautiful ones in Westminster Abbey. The largest are up- wards of two feet in diameter, and bear in their centre the characters JĘS in black letter, gilt.
"The orchestra is furnished with an organ, of three rows of keys; the case of which is designed in a style admirably corresponding with the architecture of the church. It presents a front fourteen feet broad by about twenty-six feet in height, relieved by four clustered pillars, the shafts from the impost to the capitals being formed of pipes clustered. The capitals are richly carved into foliage, and are sur- mounted by crocketed turrets. Small pipes and delicate tracery fill up the compartments between the pillars; and over the middle compart- ment rises an ogee arch, with a finial crocketed in a bold style. The instrument contains 22 stops, and nearly 1,500 pipes. One of the open diapasons is supplied with metal pipes throughout, the largest of which is fourteen feet long, and nine inches and a half in diameter, it being the largest metal pipe, it is said, in the United States. The instrument possesses great power and compass, and is equally re- markable for the richness and mellowness of its tones. It was built by Mr. Henry Erben, of New York, and does the highest credit to the skill of that young and enterprising artist. It is painted of a dark oaken colour, to correspond with the finishing of the interior of the church. The painting and glazing of the building were done by Mr. Gourley, a member of the parislı.
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