USA > Connecticut > New Haven County > Cheshire > Exercises commemorative of the two-hundredth anniversary of the founding of the First Congregational Church in Cheshire Connecticut, 1724-1924 > Part 1
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Gc 974.602 C42ch 1763725
M. L.
REYNOLDS HISTORICAL GENEALOGY COLLECTION
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ALLEN COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY 3 1833 01148 6674
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COMMEMORATIVE EXERCISES OF THE FIRST CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH IN CHESHIRE CONNECTICUT
Congregational Church Greeted 1826 -1
EXERCISES COMMEMORATIVE OF THE TWO-HUNDREDTH ANNIVERSARY OF THE FOUNDING OF THE FIRST CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH IN CHESHIRE CONNECTICUT 1724-1924
HARTFORD PUBLISHED BY THE COMMITTEE 1925
COPYRIGHT, 1925, BY GEORGE C. F. WILLIAMS
Unfortunately some addresses were not reported, and it has not been possible to get copies for publication.
1763725
PROGRAMME FOR THE COMMEMORATIVE SERVICES 12, 13, 14 SEPTEMBER 1924 = FRIDAY EVENING SERVICE
Organ.
Doxology and Invocation.
Address of Welcome. REVEREND J. HERBERT BAINTON, Pas- tor.
Hymn. "O God, Beneath Thy Guiding Hand." Greetings from former Pastors :
REVEREND JAMES P. HOYT, D.D., 1890-1900.
REVEREND ROBERT W. NEWLANDS, 1901-1906.
REVEREND CARL STACKMAN, 1906-1911.
REVEREND VON OGDEN VOGT, 1911-1916.
REVEREND CHALMERS HOLBROOK, 1916-1920.
Soprano Solo. MISS MARION WILLIAMS.
Greetings from Cheshire, England. MRS. F. M. PEASLEY.
Greetings from the Mother Church at Wallingford. REVER- END EDWIN G. ZELLARS.
Greetings from the Sister Church at Meriden. REVEREND ALBERT J. LORD.
Hymn. "I love Thy Kingdom, Lord," Stanley.
Greetings from the Daughter Church at Prospect. REVER- END OSCAR L. LOCKE.
Greetings from the Churches of Cheshire. REVEREND EDGAR M. Ross, REVEREND GRESHAM W. MORRISON.
Hymn. "O God, Our Help in Ages Past," Croft.
Benediction.
Organ Postlude.
Reception on the Lawn immediately following this Service.
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FIRST CHURCH CHESHIRE CONNECTICUT
SATURDAY AFTERNOON
Pageant for the Two Hundredth Anniversary of the Chesh- ire Congregational Church. 1724-1924.
The Pageant was written by Miss Mabel Swift, and directed by Mrs. John L. Geist, both members of our church. It was held on the Roxbury Athletic Field at 2 o'clock. Music by the Cheshire Military Band.
EPISODE I.
Scene 1. Primitive Life.
The Spirit of the Forest enters with her wood-nymphs dancing about her. With the advance of Time, the Forest gives way to the Indian. (An Indian maiden, surprised at the approach of her lover, drops her pot of honey into the brook, hence the legend of the naming of Honey Pot Brook.)
Glimpses of Indian Life.
Enter the first settlers.
Scene 2. Pioneer Days.
The first settlement is begun and once more Father Time points to the future.
EPISODE II. 1724-1774.
Scene 1.
Father Time holds up a scroll bearing the dates 1724-1774. A Herald appears and calls the roll of the first inhabitants, answered by the descendants of the same, who give a brief history of this period.
Doolittle sends deputies to New Haven to secure the grant of the new town.
Andrews appoints men to lay out the village.
Ives goes out to survey. Johnson plans for protection. Brooks arranges for the new church.
Brooks's men meet, choose a spot for the church, draw up the plans and hold a dedication service.
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Scene 2.
Town meeting to discuss division between Wallingford and Chesh- ire.
A visit to Ye Olde Cheshire where we shall see: A trial and the whipping post, a day at school, glimpses of church life, family prayer which is the foundation of Cheshire.
Note: Second Church Edifice erected 1736-1738 near site of Sol- diers' Monument. Vacated 1827, when the present church was com- pleted.
EPISODE III. 1774-1824.
Scene 1.
A colonial party. In a conspicuous place is a china tea-set. All are examining it, for it had been sent from England as a wedding present to the minister's bride and the parishioners have given a surprise party that they might come to see "them purty things her folks had sent all the way over here, just for them two to eat off of." A minuet.
Scene 2.
Rumors of war with England. Taxed articles rejected. The call to arms.
Scene 3.
Months have passed. Courier comes in with the list of first casu- alties. At last the Spirit of Peace returns.
With the approach of peace, the settlers again petition to be made a distinct town.
EPISODE IV. 1824-1874.
Scene 1.
A bugle is heard in the distance. Our own Civil War veteran enters. Children gather around as if listening to stories, and as the veteran tells his stories, tableaux appear: The Soldier's Farewell; Just Be- fore the Battle, Mother ; Lincoln and the Freed Man; When Johnnie Comes Marching Home.
FIRST CHURCH CHESHIRE CONNECTICUT
Scene 2.
A church choir of olden days.
EPISODE' V. 1874-1924.
Scene 1.
Father Time watching the progress of the last fifty years.
Traveling-Ox-team, horse and wagon, motor car, airplane.
Communication-Slow postal service, telegraph, telephone, radio.
Scene 2.
Father Time assured of the future.
Spirit of the Future comes leading all the children and young people of the church, followed by other organizations. In the center a banner is raised on which is printed, "The Hope of the Future." All stand silent till the Spirit of Christian Love enters carrying a Cross. She passes over the stage, beckons to all to follow. They march singing "Onward, Christian Soldiers," and leave the stage.
Father Time is left alone, but soon follows with a firm step, confi- dent of the future.
Supper following the Pageant, served to all members of our church and congregation, and to visiting friends, at five o'clock Saturday afternoon, upon the lawn near the church.
SATURDAY EVENING SERVICE MR. JACOB D. WALTER, Chairman.
Organ.
Invocation. REVEREND J. HERBERT BAINTON.
Old Anthem. "I Was Glad When They Said unto Me." THE CHOIR.
Old Hymns. THE CHOIR.
Historical Address. DEACON EDWIN R. BROWN.
Hymn. "Faith of Our Fathers."
Address, Architectural Design of Our Three Churches : The
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Relation of Art to Religion. REVEREND SHERROD SOULE, D.D.
Old Hymns. THE CHOIR.
Memories of Cheshire. DR. GEORGE C. F. WILLIAMS.
Hymn. "How Firm a Foundation," Portogallo. Benediction.
Organ Postlude.
SUNDAY MORNING SERVICE
Organ.
Doxology and Prayer.
Responsive Reading. REVEREND J. HERBERT BAINTON.
Contralto Solo. "Open the Gates of the Temple," Knapp. Scripture Lesson.
Hymn. "The Church's One Foundation," Wesley.
Prayer. REVEREND JAMES P. HOYT, D.D. Notices and Offering.
Offertory Solo. "If I Were a Voice," Woodbury.
Hymn. "Hark, Ten Thousand Harps," Stewart.
Sermon. REVEREND WILLIAM HORACE DAY, D.D.
Hymn. "All Hail the Power of Jesus' Name," Holden. Benediction.
Organ Postlude.
MRS. CHARLES C. FOSTER, Contralto. MR. URBAN N. TYACK, Organist.
SUNDAY EVENING SERVICE
Organ. Old Anthem (Denmark). BY THE CHOIR.
Responsive Reading. Led by REVEREND JAMES P. HOYT, D.D. Hymn. "O God of Bethel."
Prayer. REVEREND J. HERBERT BAINTON.
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Old Hymns. BY THE CHOIR.
Address, The Contribution of the Cheshire Congregational Church to the Ministry and to the World. REVEREND SHERROD SOULE, D.D. Hymn. "America," Carey. Prayer and Benediction. Organ Postlude.
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ANNIVERSARY COMMITTEES
MRS. FREDERICK M. PEASLEY, Chairman.
REVEREND J. HERBERT BAINTON, Pastor, Ex-officio.
Finance: Mr. Walter H. Baldwin, Mr. Edwin W. Storrs, Mrs. Wesley H. Bradley, Miss Mabel Swift.
Grounds: Mr. C. Allen Goddard, Mr. Paul T. Hotchkiss, Mr. Dexter W. Durand, Mr. Bernard M. Allen, Mr. Ben jamin P. Storrs.
Music : Mr. Urban N. Tyack, Organist and Choir Director. Hospitality and Information: Mrs. Wm. H. Bassett, Mrs. George W. Thorpe, Mrs. Joseph M. Speake.
Printing and Publicity: Mr. Charles H. Davis, Mr. Wesley H. Bradley.
Reception: Mrs. Charles H. Davis, Mrs. Frederick A. Ives, Mrs. Alfred G. Deming, Mr. Milton W. Hall.
Pageant: Mrs. John L. Geist, Directress, Miss Mabel Swift, Mrs. C. Allen Goddard, Mrs. George C. Erskine.
Sunday Services: Miss Mary E. Baldwin, Rev. J. Herbert Bainton, Rev. Chalmers Holbrook, Deacon Wm. H. Bas- sett, Deacon Samuel A. Hale.
Costumes: Miss Jessie M. Durand, Miss Stella M. Durand, Mrs. Ernest P. Welton.
Decorations: Mrs. Bernard M. Allen, Mrs. Arthur S. Backus, Mrs. Wm. H. Bassett.
Historical Programme: Deacon Edwin R. Brown, Miss Mary E. Baldwin, Mr. Frederick A. Ives, Mr. Jacob D. Walter.
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HISTORY OF THE CHURCH EDWIN R. BROWN
CHESHIRE, CONNECTICUT
I "T is well for us occasionally, amid the rush and excite- ment of modern life, to take a backward look over the track of time our fathers trod-even back to the early set- tlement of the New Haven colony. Such reflections would tend to increase our appreciation of the toils, privations and continued struggles our fathers endured in laying founda- tions, the results of which we today enjoy. We cannot di- vorce the present from the past, they are bound together in indissoluble bonds. No generation, strictly speaking, can be- gin its own work. Each event is related to other events; we of today reap fields that were sown by others, they labored and we enter into their labors.
In the year 1637-seventeen years after the landing of the Pilgrims-a distinguished company of emigrants from the mother country arrived at Boston. They were offered every inducement to remain in Massachusetts, but a few weeks after their arrival they decided to seek for and form a new colony. They had doubtless heard of the country lying on the shore west of the Connecticut River and sent a por- tion of their company to spy out the land. This little band was led by Theophilus Eaton, one of the most prominent of their company, and they selected the present site of New Haven as the most attractive place for their future home. Here they built a temporary hut and left it in charge of seven of their number. On the 30th of March following, the entire company set sail for the harbor of Quinnipiac, so called, which place they reached after a voyage of two weeks. The first Sunday after landing they held divine services
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under the spreading branches of an oak tree. Rev. John Davenport, at the morning service, spoke on "The tempta- tions of the wilderness," his text, "Then was Jesus led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil." At the afternoon service, Rev. Mr. Pruden was the preacher, taking as his text, "The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord." In November following, Theophilus Eaton and John Davenport made a contract with the Indians for the purchase of lands. The territory embraced in those deeds included what is now the town of Cheshire. This company, after erecting family homes, lost no time in organizing the First Congregational Church in New Haven and in erecting a substantial house of worship-our grandmother church.
In 1667, the New Haven colony, under the leadership of Davenport and Eaton, voted to set off a certain portion for the formation of a new plantation: the village formed in ac- cordance with this vote was called Wallingford after the English home of some of the planters. As settlers increased, the fertile valleys where springs abounded and the green, self-sustaining vales on the west side of the river, that gave promise of an abundance of pasturage and grass, invited a westward settlement. The sons of Wallingford's first pro- prietors, with a few from New Haven, were the first to here make settlements. John Hotchkiss and Joseph Ives settled here previous to 1700. Others soon followed as settlers, first building log huts, but these were soon changed for frame houses.
As we gather to celebrate the two hundredth anniversary of this church, we call to mind those early settlers who so patiently endured in clearing what was then a wilderness and who, by many a weary march through unbroken for- ests, over stony pathways, by hard toil, day after day, suc-
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1750_ 2nd Church Chestin
Second Meeting House Built 1737-5
HISTORY OF THE CHURCH
ceeded in clearing land sufficient for settlement. For one hundred and ten years Cheshire formed a part of the town of Wallingford, and was a parish in said town for fifty- seven years.
As soon as roads were built to Cook Hill, the fresh meadows, and westward to Mill River, to Broad-Swamp, Moss Farms and to Cheshire Street, settlements rapidly in- creased. For several years those early settlers, with their families, went on foot or on horseback to the mother church in Wallingford and listened to the gospel message as pro- claimed, first by the Rev. Samuel Street, and later by the Rev. Samuel Whittlesey. No hard labor of the six working days of the week; no storm of rain or snow; no weary traveling through swamps thick with underbrush, with sim- ply a bridle path to mark their way, prevented those ear- nest souls from attending divine service. As families increased on the west side of the river these settlers desired to be set off as a distinct society. In the year 1718 Thomas Brooks, Stephen Hotchkiss and Matthew Bellamy complained to the General Assembly that by reason of the distance from town, and their great disadvantage to appear in public worship, and to "eddicate" their children, they desired a distinct so- ciety. A committee was appointed to examine the affairs of the West Farmers. 'This committee found forty-five families residing within the limits of the proposed society, and their estimated value £2000, and decided that it was best for them to remain with the old society at Wallingford. But a few years later it was deemed best to provide preaching for the settlers at the West Farms. December 11, 1722, the town of Wallingford, by vote, granted liberty to "ye farmers on ye west side of ye river" to have a minister to preach among them for three months and voted to give him £6. It is evident that services were held at the homes of Capt.
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FIRST CHURCH CHESHIRE CONNECTICUT
John Hotchkiss and Thomas Brooks before a church was provided, and that Rev. Samuel Hall was their first preacher. The evident success of those services made those settlers more anxious to have a society and church of their own. At first Wallingford did not favor this division, giv- ing as one reason "That it did not seem best to spoil a town to make a village," but by a vote passed April 30, 1723, consent was given and it was ordered "That a village be established on the west side of the river." Upon this action on the part of Wallingford the seal of legislative approval was set at the May meeting following. The meeting for or- ganization was held July 25, 1723, when the West Society in Wallingford was formed, and at the same time received the name of New-Cheshire.
At a meeting of the Society of New-Cheshire held De- cember 4, 1723, it was decided to build a meeting-house 40 feet in length by 30 feet in width and 18 feet between joints, without a steeple. As there was disagreement in reference to the site for this building, the Legislature was petitioned to settle the matter for them. They chose a site about one- fourth of a mile south of the present church edifice upon which this first house of worship was erected. This meeting house was ready for occupancy in the fall of 1724 and preparations were set on foot for the organization of the church. All necessary preparations having been made, on Wednesday, December 9, 1724, the messengers of the neigh- boring churches met the people, with their chosen pastor, in this newly built church for the completion of the work and to ordain the Rev. Samuel Hall, their first pastor. Accord- ingly the eleven male and fifteen female persons who had subscribed their names were constituted the First Congrega- tional Church in New-Cheshire; which was declared to be "According to ye establishment of ye government of 1676."
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HISTORY OF THE CHURCH
Rev. Nathaniel Chauncey of Durham, Rev. Samuel Whittle- sey of Wallingford and Rev. Isaac Stiles of North Haven, were the officiating clergymen. Rev. Mr. Chauncey was the moderator and made the opening prayer ; Rev. Mr. Whittle- sey preached the sermon and Rev. Mr. Stiles offered the clos- ing prayer. Mr. Hall's stipulated support was £65 for the first year and to rise with the lists until it reached £85. The following persons, with their families, were among the earli- est members, viz., Joseph Thompson, Nathaniel Bunnell, John Hitchcock, Joseph Ives, Stephen Hotchkiss, Daniel Andrews, Elnathan Beach, Thomas Ives, Thomas Brooks, Matthew Bellamy, Timothy Tuttle, Edward Parker, John Hotchkiss and Josiah Hotchkiss.
The first deacons chosen were Joseph Ives and Stephen Hotchkiss, chosen December 24, 1724. Deacon Hotchkiss was chosen at the same time to sweep and care for the meet- ing-house for one year, for which services he was to receive the sum of £1, and he was also the first one chosen to set the Psalms on the Sabbath. This little company of humble worshipers are now ready for work. To them religion was something more than a mere profession ; their purpose was "to adorn the doctrine of God their Saviour by well ordered lives and Godly conversation." Methinks I see them as they wend their way with devout bearing to this their beloved sanctuary. I seem to see them as they enter the only open door, perhaps with one of the Psalms of David upon their lips. I see them as they are seated in this plain, unadorned room, with no cushioned seats, no frescoed walls, no carpeted floor, no glittering chandeliers, no convenience for heating, but to their humble and subdued spirits this was none other than the House of God and the very gate of heaven. Here they met Sabbath after Sabbath and listened to the gospel message as proclaimed by the same servant of God; here
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their children were baptized and here they received the ordinances and blessings of the gospel. During the cold win- ter months this little company spent the hours of intermis- sion each Sabbath, around the blazing fires prepared for them at the homes of Deacon Stephen Hotchkiss and Josiah Hotchkiss, whose homes were near the church.
During the year 1732 the parish was afflicted with the smallpox scourge, during which time this little church was closed and this faithful company deprived of their place of worship. Out of a population of about 400, 124 persons were stricken with this disease, 17 of whom were removed by death. So many were sick at one time that it was impossible to obtain nurses to care for the sick or help sufficient to bury the dead. The pastor was stricken with this disease and this company wept when they remembered Zion. This was an occasion when the shadows gathered thickly around them, and some advised a return to the mother church, yet their faith was strong and abiding; the altar fires kept burning and they onward pressed their way until a divine light scat- tered the shadows. The mother church at Wallingford sent expressions of sympathy and substantial aid during these trying experiences ; its minister assisted in the organization of this church and in ordaining its first minister, who was a member of one of the families connected with the mother church, as were most of those who formed this church at its organization. This church should ever hold in grateful re- membrance the many instances of kindly interest, counsel and material aid rendered by the mother church to this church, her oldest daughter, during the years of its early history.
The records of eternity doubtless contain the names of many to whom the portals of this modest church was the gateway of heaven. In this plain church edifice, more rude
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HISTORY OF THE CHURCH
in its construction than several barns and garages now in Cheshire, those early settlers held their solemn assemblies, offered up their united prayers and plainly announced their strict views of doctrine. At the appointed hour no clear- toned bell rang out its call for the hour of worship: but the beating of the drum for the first time and the second from Joseph Thompson's to Abraham Barns's summoned the en- tire population to this temple for worship. In plain and carefully kept clothes, the saintly heads of families with their strictly trained and solemn-faced children, came, after the toils of the week, here to receive the promised blessing. The imagination cannot but revert to those occasions with an admiration toned down almost to holy reverence. Here, in the midst of a silent wilderness, the hardy, toil-worn set- tlers with their wives and children, gathered; with reverent joy they held communion with the Great Head of the church and with one another, and drew from it the strength they needed for the trials and duties of their daily lives. To them each sermon, every prayer, every tranquil Sabbath, was the more precious for all that it had cost them. This plain church building and all those who worshiped in its enclo- sure, have alike mouldered to dust and but very few now re- maining as members of this church are direct descendants of that humble band of believers. We fully trust that they have been united with that great host whom no man can number of those who have during these years thronged the shining way that leads upwards to the Father's house of many mansions.
No warm fire from stove or fireplace was furnished to counteract the chill of a cold December or January day ; no chimneys and no facilities for heating were then enjoyed, but occasionally an aged female was allowed the luxury of a foot stove or heated brick or stone. It was a common
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thing on a cold Sunday in winter, to see the minister teach- ing the divine word clad in overcoat, muffler and mittens.
That first church building was removed in the year 1737, a portion of it being used in the erection of the second church edifice and the remainder sold to one of its members and forming a part of his family home built that year. It is related that at one time and another this house contained parts of three Congregational church buildings.
The New-Cheshire society, having outgrown this first meeting-house, voted, in 1736, to build a new one much larger than the first. It was to be 45 x 64 feet and 24 feet between joints. John Parker, Caleb Matthews, John Hull, Benjamin Dutton and Joshua Hotchkiss were appointed the building committee. A new site more central was presented to the society by Rev. Samuel Hall, upon which the new church was built in 1737.
This church stood east of the Soldiers' Monument on our church green, reaching eastward nearly to the present road- way. The steeple was on the north end; the pulpit on the west side directly opposite the main entrance, over which was the old-time sounding board. Below the pulpit was the deacons' seat and the communion table, while in front of the pulpit were seats for the old people-those over 70 years of age-one on the north side for the old ladies and one on the south side for the old men.
During these years the population of the parish was rap- idly increasing to the extent that in 1774 the New-Cheshire parish numbered 1933 persons, the bounds of the parish then extending as far west as the center of Prospect. Rev. Samuel Hall officiated as pastor from 1724 to 1767, cover- ing a period of forty-three years, at which latter time Rev. John Foot was chosen his colleague. Mr. Hall, however, offi- ciated for nine years afterward and then closed his ministry
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with a discourse from Samuel 19: 35, "I am this day four- score years old." Mr. Hall baptized during his ministry 2018; admitted to the church 670 and buried 626: this was an average of 46 baptisms annually. The green in front of this church and the front portion of our town cemetery were among his benefactions to the society of New-Cheshire. The January following his ordination Mr. Hall married Miss Anna Law, a daughter of Governor Jonathan Law of Mil- ford, and settled in a homestead he had erected, which stood near what is now generally known as the E. A. Corn- wall place. Mr. Hall was the moderator of the New Haven County Consociation at the time of the so-called Dana Con- troversy in 1758, and took a decided stand with the so- called "Old-Lights" at that time.
The seating of the meeting-house was one of the impor- tant affairs of that time, and was thought over by minister and officials with much gravity. First came all those who bore titles as civil magistrates or military officers, then the rate list was taken up and high seats given to the men who paid high rates, down to those of the lowest rates. Then came the single men and sojourners, who were given seats as occasion required. The men were located upon one side of the church and the women, in the order of the rank of their husbands or fathers, on the opposite side. This seating business at times caused trouble, but the New-Cheshire church had less of it than the neighboring churches.
As there were no wagons in those days, the mode of travel was usually on foot or by horseback-in many instances, the husband and wife riding on the same horse, the wife riding behind her husband on a pillion. It is a matter of record that Captain John Peck and his wife often rode to church on the same faithful beast, their combined weight being over 500 pounds. To those early settlers, however
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