USA > Connecticut > Hartford County > Bristol > Historical sketch of the Congregational society and church in Bristol, Conn. : with the articles of faith, covenant and standing rules of the church : together with a catalogue of members since its gathering and a catalogue of members April 1st, 1852 > Part 1
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org.
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4
4.602 7br 47549
M. L.
REYNOLDS HISTORICAL GENEALOGY COLLECTION
1
N ALLEN COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY 3 1833 01068 5300
1)
美
HISTORICAL SKECTH
OF THE
CONGREGATIONAL SOCIETY AND CHURCH 4
IN BRISTOL, CONN.
WITH THE
ARTICLES OF FAITH, COVENANT,
AND
STANDING RULES OF THE CHURCH.
TOGETHER WITH A
CATALOGUE OF MEMBERS
SINCE ITS GATHERING, AND A
CATALOGUE OF MEMBERS
APRIL Ist, 1852.
[PUBLISHED BY ORDER OF THE CHURCH.]
HARTFORD : PRINTED BY D. B. MOSELEY. 1852.
THE
THE NEWBERRY LIBRARY CHICAGO
1847549
R. 11515
WE have carefully examined the following Historical Sketch, and the Catalogues of the former and present members of this Church, as prepared by TRACY PECK, Esq., and find them to be as correct as can be expected. And we believe it is in compliance of the wishes and vote of the Church.
CHARLES G. IVES, ELISHA C. BREWSTER, TRACY PECK, .CHAUNCEY BOARDMAN, THOMAS BARNES, NEWELL BYINGTON, DANA BECKWITHI,
Church Committee,
BRISTOL, April Ist, 1852.
13905
Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2015
https://archive.org/details/historicalsketch00firs 2
HISTORICAL SKETCH.
THE following statement was prepared by the Hon. TRACY PECK, a member of the Church and one of the Committee, and will explain to some extent, the time and manner of the formation of the Society and the gathering of the Congregational Church in the present town of Bristol.
In the year 1721, the original eighty-four proprie- tors of the lands contained within the limits of the patent of the town of Farmington, procured their lands lying within the present town of Bristol, to be surveyed and lotted out at right angles, among them- selves, according to their respective lists for the year 1672. This tract of land is five miles square, and lies at right angles ; at the same time there was al- lowed to two Indians, viz. Bohemia and Poland, a lot of land containing one hundred and eighty-six acres, and also a lot to said Poland of four and a half acres-these lots lay adjoining, and upon them. these Indians peaceably resided for a number of years. A portion of the village of Forestville stands on these lots. The stream of water between East Bristol and Forestville, called "l'oland Brook," takes its name from one of these Indians, and upon its banks Poland lived. The ridge of land lying south and south east-of Forestville, called "Bohemia Bank" takes its name from the other Indian, who lived on the flat near its foot.
The permanent settlement of Bristol, by the Eng- lish, is said to have commenced in the year 1727, , -the date of the earliest deed to an actual settler is.
4
November 22d, 1727. The purchaser was Mr. Daniel' Brownson, of Farmington. This land lies back of the store of Mr. Rowland M. Andrews.
In the year 1728, Mr. Ebenezer Barnes, from Farmington, and Mr. Nehemiah Manross, from Leb -. anon, took deeds of lands and settled upon them. Mr. Barnes' deed included the lands now owned by the widow Lydia Pierce and others. Mr. Manross" deed included lands now owned by Mr. Ephraim, Downes and others ; meaning the place south of Qrrin. L. Botsford's. These men raised families and. some of their descendants now reside here. Mr .. Manross, in 1735, purchased a tract of land now owned by Elisha Manross, Esq., and others, upon, which he built a small house-the cellar of which is now to be seen, and is about forty rods south of the residence of Elisha Manross, Esq. From 1735 to the present time much of the lands contained in that purchase have been held by his descendants.
In 1729 Mr. Nathaniel Messenger, from Hartford,. and Mr. Benjamin Buck, from Farmington, took deeds. Mr. Messenger's included the lands now. owned by Orrin L. Botsford and others ; his house. stood on the other side of the road. Mr. Bucks' deed. included the farm now owned by Mr. Lazarus Hard, and his.residence was upon it. About the same year Mr. John Brown, from Colchester, took a deed of the farm lying between the lands of Mr. Ebenezer Barnes and Mr. Nehemiah Manross-a small brown house now stands on this purchase-the rolling mill also, stands upon it. The descendants of Messrs. Mes- senger, Buck, and Brown, have all left this place, as. is supposed.
8
In 1736, Mr. Moses Lyman, from Wallingford, purchased and settled upon the place now occupied by Mr. Hopkins Roberts and others. It is supposed this was a very worthy man. It is not known that any of his descendants reside among us.
In 1737, Mr. Ebenezer Hamblin, from Barnstable, Mass., purchased and built upon a piece of land ad- joining Poland brook; upon which he built and resided, the cellar place is now to be seen ; he afterwards moved and resided, as is supposed, on the west side of the road, north of the house of Orrin L. Botsford, where the cellar place is to be seen. This man and his family were one of the best families in the place ; his de- scendants have long since left town. The Rev. Le- onidas Lent Hamblin, D. D., of Cincinnati, Ohio, a Bishop of the Methodist Episcopal Church, is a de- scendant of his.
In 1742,Caleb Abernethy, from Wallingford, bought and settled upon the corner lot south of Orrin L. Botsford's slaughter. The Harwinton and Wolcot- ville Abernethys are descendants of this man.
Between the years 1740 and 1747, David Gaylord, Joseph Gaylord, Stephen Brooks, Caleb Matthews, and others, from Wallingford, and Daniel Mix, from Farmington, made purchases of land and settled here ; the Gaylords in the south and south west part of the place ; Mr. Matthews and the Brooks on Chippin's Hill, which hill took its name from an In- dian of that name. Mr. Mix was the first purchaser of and settler upon the ground upon which Foster's hotel, the Post Office, and other buildings stand.
Messrs. Abel Roice and Nehemiah Roice, from Wallingford, were early settlers. Abel Roice built, 1*
·
6:
lived and died in the old house owned by Mr. Orrin Ives, and Mr. Nehemiah Roice the one now owned by Jeremiah Rice, Esq. It is now more than a century since these two houses were built. All of these persons were Congregationalists, and attended: public worship at Farmington, then under the minis -- try of Rev. Samuel Whitman.
In October, 1742, the General Assembly on their memorial granted them the liberty of winter privi- leges, and to hire an orthodox and suitably qualified person to preach among them for six months annual- ly, commencing on the first of November, and the Society was called " South West Society," or 'Win- ter Parish.' The first Society meeting was holden, on the eight day of November, 1742, and Ebenezer Barnes was chosen Moderator, and Moses Lyman,. Society's Clerk.
Messrs. Edward Gaylord, Nehemiah Manross, and: Ebenezer Hamblin were chosen Society Committee. At this meeting it was "Voted, To hire preaching so. long as the Court has given us liberty." At a Soci- ety meeting holden on the twentieth of December,. 1742, it was voted to hire Mr. Canfield to preach, during the winter season. (This was Mr. Thomas: Canfield, a graduate of Yale College of the class 1739; and a classmate of the Rev. Samuel Newell .. Mr. Canfield was afterwards settled in Roxbury, in: 1744, and died in 1795.)
At the session of the General Assembly holden in. May, 1744, upon the memorial of Mr. Ebenezer Barnes and others, they were incorporated into an. Ecclesiastical Society, with the limits of five miles. square, and. called " New Cambridge."
7
At the first Society meeting holden in New Cam -. bridge, on the fourth day of June, 1744, it was "Voted! that we apply ourselves to the next Association for. advice in order to bringing in a Minister as soon as: conveniently may be."
At an adjourned Society meeting holden on the seventh day of June, 1744, " Voted that we would! apply ourselves to Mr. Joseph Adams, as a proba- tioner or candidate, in order for settlement among us in the Gospel Ministry." We can say nothing: more of this Mr. Adams, except that he graduated at Yale College in 1740, and died in 1782,
At a Society meeting holden at the house of David; Gaylord, (the Eleazor Norton place,). on the fourth day of September, 1744, Mr. Samuel Newell was in- vited to preach to the Society ; also at the same meeting, " Voted to attend public worship at the. house of Stephen Barnes." (This house stood near the house of Mr. Alphonso Barnes.)
At a Society meeting holden December 3d, 1744,. ". Voted that we hire Mr. Samuel Newell, for our minister, in case it should be the advice of the Asso- ciation, there being seven votes in the negative."- And this invitation, or call, was again made to Mr .. Newell, at a Society meeting holden January 21st,. 1745, and still again on the second of October, 1745,, there then being twenty-eight votes in the affirmative and two in the negative. Moses Lyman, John Hickox,. Abel Roice, Abner Matthews,. Stephen Brooks, and Caleb Palmer, here entered a protest against the management of said Society meeting, and consequent -. ly the meeting was adjourned until the 28th of said October, which meeting met agreeable to adjourn -- ment,; and. " V.oted to call.a. council.of. ministers.to,
8
hear and determine any differences among them with respect to settling Mr. Newell as their minister, and that the Rev. Samuel Whitman, Mr. Marsh, Mr. Colton, Mr. Wadsworth, Mr. Bissell, Mr. Elnathan Whitman, and Mr. Curtiss, should be the Council, with as many messengers as they should think fit to bring with them." The council met on the 13th of November, 1745. No record of the result of the council is to be found ; but, after this a Mr. Ichabod 'Camp, and a Mr. Christopher Newton, were invited to preach in the Society.
At a Society meeting holden on the second day of July, 1747, it was voted to proceed to the settlement of Mr. Samuel Newell among us since the associa- tion advise us to him ; " and here it must be noted" says the record, "that Caleb Matthews, Stephen Brooks, John Hickox, Caleb Abernethy, Abner Mat- thews, Abel Roice, Daniel Roe, and Simon Tuttle, publicly declared themselves of the Church of Eng- land, and under the Bishop of London."
At a Society meeting holden on the 20th day of July, 1747, it was voted to apply to the Rev. Samuel Whitman, of Farmington, Rev. Jonathan Marsh, of Windsor, Rev. Benjamin Colton, of West Hartford, Rev. Elnathan Whitman, of Hartford, and Rev. Jer- emiah Curtiss, of Southington, with their churches to assist in the ordination of Mr. Newell.
The ordination of Rev. Samuel Newell took place on the 12th day of August, 1747, and the Church was gathered at the Church-fast preparatory to the ordi- nation, and consisted of about twenty male members. Rev. Messrs. Whitman, of Farmington, Colton, of West Hartford, and Curtiss, of Southington, assisted at the fast and the formation of the Church.
9
In the month of March, 1746, Mr. Samuel Mes- senger, a County Surveyor, in pursuance of a vote of the Society, run out the Society lines, and placed bounds at some of the corners, and also ascertained the center, and there set a stake, and stones about it, and this is supposed to be near the barn. of Mr. Chauncey Boardman. On the sixth and seventh of October, 1746, a stake was set by a Committee ap- pointed by the General Assembly, around which the sills of the first meeting-house were to be placed, and in 1747, the first meeting-house was erected, being 30 by 40 feet upon the ground. This house stood about 60 feet a little to the north of east of the pres- ent one. In 17,70, the second: Congregational Church was erected, and the sills enclosed a stake placed six feet west of the then old meeting-house, which had been there placed by a committee appointed by the Hon. County Court. This house was sixty-five by forty-five feet upon the ground. In the spring of 17,97, a steeple was built, by subscription mainly, and attached to the north end of, it, and in the fall of the. same year, an excellent bell, weighing about 600: pounds was procured, by subscription, and placed in its belfry.
In 1831, the present Church edifice was erected,. and is seventy-two by forty-eight feet upon the ground, and stands about fifteen feet west and thirty south of the old house.
At a Church meeting holden August 3d, 1842, upon the report of a Committee, the following pre- amble and resolve were unanimously adopted, to wit -" Whereas, Mr. Thomas Barnes, a brother in the Church, procured and presented to this Church on the first day of May, 1841, two. three quart Flagons.
10
of the value of twenty-six dollars each ; twelve cups of the value of six dollars each ; four platters of the value of eight dollars each ; and one vase of the value of ten dollars ; making a value in the whole of one hundred and sixty-six dollars, being a full sett of Communion Furniture, of the best double plated English manufacture.
Therefore, in consideration thereof, it is hereby Resolved, That the thanks of this Church be presented to the said Mr. Barnes, signifying to him thereby, that he has laid this Church under an obligation to ever pray for his prosperity, and the increase and growth of grace in his soul, and that the Clerk present to Mr. Barnes a copy hereof." The old Communion Furniture was given to the Central Evangelical Church in Barkhamsted.
The first Pastor, the Rev. SAMUEL NEWELL, Was ordained August 12th, 1747, and continued its Pastor until his death, February 10th, 1789, he being in the 75th year of his age. He lies buried in the south yard. Mr. Newell was a native of Southington, a graduate of Yale College, class 1739,-was married May 4th, 1749, to Mary, widow of Timothy Root, of Farmington,- her maiden name was Mary Hart. It is worthy of notice that Mr. Newell is the only clergyman of our denomination that lies buried in Bristol.
Rev. Charles L. Hungerford of the Methodist Epis- copal Church, a son of Mr. Evets Hungerford, died at Brooklyn, L. I., November 16th, 1845, aged twenty- nine years. His corpse was brought to and buried in Bristol, west yard. These two are the only cler- gymen buried in Bristol.
The Rev. GILES HOOKER COWLES, the second Pastor, was ordained October 17th, 1792. The Rev.
11
Jonathan Edwards, D. D., of New Haven, preached the ordination sermon, and the Rev. Timothy Pitkin, of Farmington, Rev. John Smally, of New Britain, Rev. Rufus Hawley of Avon, Rev. William Robinson of Southington, Rev. Simon Waterman of Plymouth, Rev. Benoni Upson of Kensington, Rev. Jonathan Miller of Burlington, and Rev. Israel B. Woodward of Wolcott, with their delegates, constituted the or- daining council. Mr. Cowles was dismissed, by mutual consent, May 24th, 1810.
Mr. Cowles placed upon the records of this church the following facts, viz .- " No dissatisfaction was manifested towards Mr. Cowles in any respect, the Society, as a reason for not doing any thing, mani- fested their fears that some few might be disposed to leave the Society from pecuniary motives ; but time will determine whether they misjudged or not.
Mr. Cowles, at the close of seventeen years and seven months ministry in this place, on the 27th of May, 1810, preached his farewell sermon from IIe- brews 13: 17. " For they watch for your souls as they that must give an account, that they may do it with joy and not with grief, for that is unprofi- table for you," to a crowded assembly, who were very much affected, and appeared to regret the un- happy circumstances which rendered the trying part- ing scene necessary. "Perhaps the instance was never known that a minister and people ever parted with so much harmony, but for wise purposes Provi- dence has ordered it so."
* " There were four seasons of awakening during Mr. Cowles' ministry. 218 members were added to the Church. 181 from the world upon their profes-
:
12
sion, and 37 'by letters from other churchs. Of the 218,-74 were gone by death, removals and excom- munications. The number remaining at his dismis- sion 162; of these, but 17 were members when he settled with them. The church parted with a truly faithful minister, whose choice was to live and die with them ; but he has gone, and the Church and Soci- ety's duty is plain to endeavor to choose another who will be faithful to the souls committed to his charge ; to support him, and assist him to fulfill the arduous task imposed on him." In about one year Mr. Cowles removed with his family to Austinburgh, Ohio, where he was reinstalled and remained until his death which occurred on the fifth day of July, 1835, aged sixty- nine years. While at Austinburgh he received the degree of Doctor of Divinity, from Williams College, Massachusetts. Mr. Cowles was born in Farmington on the 26th of August, 1766 ; was a graduate of Yale College of the class of 1789 ; studied Divinity with Dr. Edwards of New Haven ; was married Februa. ry, 1793, to Miss Sally White of Stamford.
Rev. JONATHAN CONE, the third Pastor, was or- dained May 22d, 1811. The ordaining council con- sisted of the Rev. Messrs. Dan Huntington, Middle- town, Nathan Perkins, D.D., West Hartford, William Robinson, Southington, Jonathan Miller, Burlington, Salmon Cone, Colchester, Noah Porter, Farmington, and Luther Hart, Plymouth, with their delegates .- The Rev. Dan Huntington preached on the occasion. He was dismissed by mutual consent on the 19th of March, 1828. We find no record made by Mr. Cone of the fruit or success of his ministry among us ; but we find that during his ministry here 254
13
were added upon their profession, and 54 by letters from other churches ; total 308; and that 73 were dismissed and recommended to other churches .- Mr. Cone was afterwards reinstalled at Durham, Greene County, New York, where he remained until about two or three years previous to his death, when . he moved to New Haven, where he died January 4, 1850, in the sixty-fifth year of his age. Mr. Cone was born in Colchester, was a graduate of Yale College, of the class 1808 ; studied Theology at An- dover Seminary, Mass. He married Abbe Usher of Chatham.
REV. ABNER JOHNSON LEAVENWORTH, the fourth Pastor, was ordained December 16th, 1829. The council consisted of the Rev. Messrs. Joel Hawes, D. D., of Hartford, Noah Porter, D. D. of Farmington, David L. Ogden, of Southington, Luther Hart, of Plymouth, Jonathan Cone, of Bristol, Jason Atwater, of Waterbury, Darius O. Griswold, of Watertown, Erastus Scranton, of Burlington, and their delegates. Rev. Joel Hawes, D. D. preached on the occasion. Mr. Leavenworth was dismissed by mutual consent September 19, 1831. He has left no record of his ministry with us ; but we find that during his minis- try here, that twenty-three were admitted upon their profession and ten by letters from other churches. We find but five that were dismissed and recom- mended to other churches, but it is known that others were thus dismissed and recommended. He was installed at Charlotte, N. C., in the fall of 1832, and was dismissed on a call to the High Street Presby- terian Church, in Petersburg, Virginia, and was there
2
14
reinstalled November, 1839. Mr. Leavenworth was born in Waterbury, July 2d, 1803. Graduated at Amherst College, Mass. 1825, and at Andover Theo- logical Seminary, Mass., 1828. Married to Miss Elizabeth Manning Peabody, of Salem, Mass., June 14th, 1831. She died a few years since, and Mr. Leavenworth has married again, as we understand.
REV. DAVID LEWIS PARMELEE, the fifth Pastor, was ordained February 29th, 1832. The council consis- ted of the Rev. Messrs. Joseph E. Camp, of North- . field, Erastus Scranton, of Burlington, Noah Porter, of Farmington, Luther Hart, of Plymouth, David L. Ogden, of Southington, Laurens P. Hickok, of Litch- field, their delegates, and Dea. George Stanley from the church in Goshen. Rev. Laurens P. Hickok preached the sermon. He was dismissed by mutual consent on the 2d day of February, 1841, to take effect with the close of that month. Mr. Parmelee has placed upon the records of this church a full history of his ministry among us. He says there had been four seasons of special religious interest in this church and out of it. He further says, " The first had just commenced as I began my labors in this place, the joyful intelligence that the evidence was clear that God was present by the special influ- ence of his Holy Spirit hastened my course hither ;" that 157 members were added by profession, and 126 by letters, making the additions 283 ; that 103 were dismissed and recommended to other churches ; 4 excommunicated, and 55 died leaving on the first day of March, 1841-399. Mr. Parmelee includes, among the admissions during his ministry, 24 who
15
were admitted by profession January 8th, 1832, and 1 by letter the same day, for the reason that they were admitted after he had been called to become our minister. He was reinstalled at South Farms, August 25th, 1841, where he remains. Mr. Parmelee was born at Litchfield, on the 11th of November, 1795. He is not a graduate of any College ; he studied the higher departments of his literature and the classics with the Rev. Truman Marsh of Litch- field, and Louis Mitchell, Esq., and two other law students at Litchfield, who took an interest in the education of Mr. Parmelee. Ilis theological course was with the Rev. Joseph Harvey, D.D., then of West Chester. Mr. Parmelee and Miss Sally Stanley, (daughter of William Stanley, Esq.) of Goshen, were married August 28th, 1817.
REV. RAYMOND HOYT SEELEY, the sixth Pastor, was ordained July 5th, 1843. The council consisted of the Rev. Horace Bushnell, D. D., Hartford, Noah Porter, D. D., Farmington, Elisha C. Jones, South- ington, Aaron C. Beach, Wolcott, Merrill Richard- son, Terryville, and Harvey D. Ketchell, Plymouth Hollow; with their delegates, and Deacons Sherman Smith, Burlington, Roderick Stanley, Plainville, and Brother Barnabas W. Root, Plymouth. Rev. Horace Bushnell, D. D., preached the sermon, Mr. Seeley was dismissed by mutual consent, on the 24th day of January, 1849, on a call from a church in Spring- field, Mass.,where he was reinstalled March 1st, 1849, where he remains. Mr. Seeley has left upon our records a very kind, tender and affectionate expres- sion of his thanks for the many expressions of kind- ness and affection received at our hands, with his
16
earnest prayers for the temporal and eternal happi- ness of ourselves and families. We find upon his record that thirty-two were added to the Church by profession, and fifty-nine by letters during his minis- try, and that 45 were dismissed and recommended to other churches. Mr. Seeley was born at Norwalk February 19th, 1812 ; he graduated at New York City University in July, 1839, and at the Theological Seminary in New York, in 1842. Mr. Seeley and Miss Catharine L. daughter of Hon. Timothy Cowles of Farmington, were united in marriage October 9th, 1843.
REV: WILLIAM HENRY GOODRICH, the seventh Pastor, was ordained March 13th, 1850 ; ordaining council, Rev. Messrs. Noah Porter, D. D., Farming- ton, Elisha C. Jones, Southington, William Wright, Plainville, James L. Wright, Burlington, Merrill Richardson, Terryville, Aaron C. Beach, Wolcott, William, W. Woodworth, Berlin, and their delegates. Rev. Chauncey A. Goodrich, D. D., New Haven, Rev. Jarius C. Searle, Unionville, and Dea. Charles G. Ives, delegate of this Church. The Rev. Ephraim Lyman, Joseph D. Hull, Chauncey Goodrich, and Erastus Scranton, being present were invited to sit with the council. Rev. Chauncey A. Goodrich, D.D. preached the discourse. Mr. Goodrich remains with us, and since his settlement there has been added to the church by profession fifty-six ; and by letters thirty-four ; and during the same time, twenty-six have been dismissed and recommended to other churches.
Mr. Goodrich was born at New Haven, January 19th, 1823 ; is a graduate of Yale College, class
17
1843, and of the Theological department in 1847. Mr. Goodrich and Miss Mary Prichard, formerly of Boston, were united in marriage at New Haven, April 23d, 1850.
DEACONS !
The following persons have been Deacons in this church, to wit-Hezekiah Rew, and David Gaylord were the first Deacons, and were both chosen No- vember 8th, 1747. Deacon Gaylord died April 23d, 1776, aged - years ; we cannot find when Deacon Rew died. His wife, Abigail, died Nov. 21st, 1764. His residence was near the house of Mr. Lott New- ell. Stephen Barnes was chosen to fill his place, and died March 21st, 1757, in the 43d year of his age, and was buried in the south yard.
Elnathan Ives was chosen October 13th, 1757, to supply the place of Deacon Barnes, deceased, and resigned his office October 15th, 1764, and died February 16th, 1777, in the 71st year of his age and was buried in the south yard.
Elisha Manross was chosen April 23d, 1765, to supply the place of Deacon Ives, resigned. He served until his death, which occurred on the 18th day of January, 1810, aged 83 years, and was buried in the south yard.
Stephen Hotchkiss was appointed in 1774, with reference to supply the place of Deacon Gaylord ; and served until about the year 1780,when he moved to Burlington, where he died in 1807, in the 89th year of his age.
2*
18
Zebulon Peck, Jr., was chosen to fill Dea. Hotch- kiss place, and served until his removal to Paris, Oneida County, N. Y., in June 1801. He died at Marshall, in said County, January 23d, 1820, aged 77 years.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.