USA > Connecticut > Fairfield County > Wilton > Manual of the Congregational Church of Wilton, Conn. : 1726-1904 > Part 1
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7476
MANUAL
OF THE
Congregational Church
OF
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Wilton, Connecticut.
1726-1904.
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HAMILTON, PRINTER Danbury, Conn 1904
1851348
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WILTON CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH.
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Historical Sketch OF
Wilton Congregational Church.
" Wilton Parish " in the Town of Norwalk was incorporated by act of the Colonial Legislature of Con- necticut, May 12, 1726.
The organization of the Church and Society prob- ably took place between June 14th and 27th, 1726, and the first pastor, Rev. Robert Sturgeon, was installed July 20, 1726.
Dis-satisfaction with " the life and conversation " of Rev. Mr. Sturgeon led to his dismission in 1732, but there is no record of the council called by Church and Society to dismiss him, neither is there any record kept in his ministry of the names of the first church members although the Society records of this period are still preserved.
Rev. William Gaylord, born in. West Hartford, 1709, a graduate of Yale College 1730, was ordained pastor, February 13, 1733. With his ministry commence the Church Records written by his careful hand, giving the account of his ordination, the families in the Parish as far as his knowledge extended ; the church membership, marriages, and deaths. He died in office, January 2, 1707, in his fifty-eighth year, after a faithful ministry of
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nearly thirty-four years, and was buried in the Sharps Hill grave yard. In his ministry the second meeting house was built on Sharp's Hill and the burial yard ad- jacent opened. In this church Whitfield preached in the year 1740.
Rev. Isaac Lewis, a native of Stratford, Conn .. a graduate of Yale College. 1765, was ordained as pastor, October 26, 1768. He shared with liis people the anxie- ties and financial difficulties of the Revolutionary War. which seriously affected the parish. His efforts to have the half-way covenant abolished also made the last part of his pastorate an uneasy one, and at his request he was dismissed June 1, 1786. Afterwards settled in Green- wich, Conn., as pastor, he remained in office thirty-two years. He died in Greenwich, Conn., August 27, 1840, in his 94th year.
A vote was passed December 13, 1773, to build a new meeting house but no definite agreement was made as to its situation in the parish. A decision was made to build it in its present location, December 28, 1789, and such furnishings as were suitable for use were transferred from the old meeting house. This building, the present church, was dedicated in December, 1790. The sermon was preached by Rev. Timothy Dwight, afterward presi- dent of Yale College, from Genesis 28 : 17.
During eight years there was no settled pastor of the church, but November 18, 1793, a call was given Rev. Aaron Woodworth, of Coventry, Conn., a graduate of Yale, 1789. He was ordained January 8, 1794, but on account of poor health he requested a dismission from his charge and it was granted in 1800. He did not re- sume any other ministerial charge and died in Wilbra- ham, Mass., Feb. 25, 1840.
Rev. John I. Carle was installed June 3, 1801. On account of "irregularities in his christian life and moral
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habits," Consociation refused to grant his request for a regular dismission and " before further action was taken he left the ministry " and removed from the state. Dur- ing the pastorate of Mr. Carle the "Parish of Wilton " was incorporated into a town, consequently public town business was not transacted in the meeting house and the marriages and deaths were recorded on the Town books.
Rev. Samuel Fisher, from Sunderland, Mass., was called to the pastorate of the church and installed De- cember 3, 1805. He was a graduate of Williams College in 1799. Having received a call to the Presbyterian Church of Morristown, N. J., at his request he was dismissed July 5, 1809. During his ministry the half- way Covenant and Confession of Faith was given up and a new Covenant and Confession of Faith adopted.
Rev Sylvanus Haight of Galway, N. Y., was in- stalled October 17, 1810. During his ministry two powerful revivals blessed the church and a large number, about 160, were added to the church. The present fund of the society was raised in his ministry. Rev. Mr. Haight, after a pastorate of twenty-one years, was by his request dismissed August 17, 1831. His death oc- curred at South Norwalk where he spent the last years of his life, April 6, 1864, in his 88th year.
Rev. Samuel Merwin, for twenty-seven years pastor of North Church, New Haven, was installed February 23, 1832. Coming here in impaired health which did not improve with the change, he was dismissed at his own request September 25, 1838. The present parsonage completed during his pastorate was first occupied by himself and family. Rev. Mr. Merwin returned to New Haven, and not resuming another pastorate, devoted himself to christian work in that city until his death September 3, 1856,
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Rev. John Smith, a native of Wethersfield, Conn., a graduate of Yale, 1821, was installed pastor February 22, 1839. One of the most remarkable revivals in the history of this church occurred during his ministry, and in May, 1842, ninety-five were admitted to the member- ship of this church. During his pastorate the church edifice was remodeled, the ancient high pulpit with its sounding board was removed, the square pews changed, and the galleries lowered. Rev. Mr. Smith was dismissed June 27, 1848. His last years were spent in Stamford, Conn., where he died February 20, 1874, in his 78th year.
Rev. Gordon Hall, the son of the Rev. Gordon Hall, one of the first missionaries of the American Board, was born at Bombay, India, and graduated at Yale College, 1843, with high honors. He was ordained pastor of this church October 25, 1748. He was dismissed May 4, 1852, "that he might accept " a call to the Edwards Church, Northampton, Mass. He died on a visit to Binghamton, N. Y., November 5, 1879.
Rev. Thomas S. Bradley, a native of Lee, Mass., and a graduate of Williams College, 1848, was ordained pastor July 6, 1853. On account of poor health, he re- quested a dismission which was granted October 6, 1857. He died from fever contracted in service in the Civil War in Philadelphia, June 28, 1863. During his ministry in 1856 another Confession of Faith and Covenant was adopted, and the standing rules of the church were revised, and a manual of the church published.
Rev. Charles B. Ball, also from Lee, Mass., a grad- uate of Williamis College in 1856, was ordaned pastor, January 20, 1858. His ministry was much blessed to the church by a deep religious interest, but it was of brief duration. A sudden severe sickness ended his ministry on earth, January 27, 1859, in his 34th year. He was buried in his native place, Lee, Mass.
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Rev. Samuel R. Dimock, a graduate of Yale, 1847, was installed pastor, December 7, 1859. He requested a dismission to accept a call from the South Congregational Church, Pittsfield, Mass., and was dismissed June 8, IS61. The last years of his life were spent in Denver, Colorado, where he died April 19, 1898.
Rev. Wheelright N. Harvey, a graduate of New York University, was installed January 1, 1862. O11 account of impaired health, at his request, he was dismissed October 15, 1867. He did not resume the work of the ministry and died suddenly at Portland, Conn., January 8, 1889.
Rev. Samuel J. M. Merwin, a son of a former pastor, Rev. Samuel Merwin, was installed October 26, 1868. He was a graduate of Yale College in 1839. During his pastorate of twelve years, there was a decided growth financially, and in church membership. The present chapel was built in 1871, and an organ put into the church in 1876. The 150th Anniversary of the church organization was celebrated June 22, 1876, with appro- priate and deeply interesting exercises. At the request of Rev. Mr. Merwin, a meeting of Consociation was called July 13, 1880, and his request for dismission granted. Rev. Mr. Merwin died at his home in New Haven, Sep- tember 12, 1888, in the 69th year of his age. Memorial services were held in the Wilton Church the Sunday following, conducted by the acting pastor, Rev. Dr. Seward.
Rev. Frank Thompson was installed February 22, ISSt. His pastorate was short owing to pulmonary trouble, which led him to accept the position of chaplain in Valparaiso, Chili, under the charge of the American Seaman's Friend Society, and he was dismissed Nov. 7, 1883. The envelope system of benevolent contributions was adopted during his pastorate in IS82, and in 1884 it
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was decided to dispense with the afternoon preaching service on the sabbath.
An invitation was given November 8th, 1884, to Rev. Charles E. Upson " to labor as pastor for an indefi- nite period." Accepting it he commenced his labors November 16, 1884. Receiving a call to the Presbyter- ian Church in Kankakee, Illinois, he closed his ministry here June 16, 1886. During his pastorate the church was blessed with a revival and many, mostly young people, were added to the membership of the church. The present creed was adopted May 1, 1885. During this period the interior of the church building was reno- vated, a modern desk with platform took the place of the former pulpit, and a furnace was put in for heating the building instead of stoves.
Rev. Dwight M. Seward, of South Norwalk, was the acting pastor from September 5, 1886 until 1889. He was a graduate of Yale College, 1831, and after a long life of ministerial charge, he made his residence in South Norwalk, supplying the neighboring churches as they had need, with great efficiency His death took place at his home, January 17, 1901, in his goth year.
Rev. William D. Hart was born in Ira, N. Y., April 16, 1843. After attending several schools in the State of New York, he completed his college preparatory studies at Oberlin, Ohio. He graduated at - Oberlin College in the class of 1870. He then spent two years at Yale Divinity School, and one at Andover Theological Semi- nary, graduating in 1873.
For two years he acted as pastor of the Presbyterian Church at Litchfield, New Hampshire. He was ordained and installed pastor of the Congregational Church in Little Compton, R. I., October 1, 1875, and dismissed October 1, 1889. While in Litchfield and Little Comp- ton, for several years he was Superintendent of Public Schools.
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He received a call from this church and society August 30, 1889, and was installed November 1, 1889. He has now been officiating for more than fourteen years. He has exercised a constant watchfulness over every de- partment of church work. His labors as Superintendent of the Sabbath School and in the Society of Christian Endeavor, have been very effective, and his intercourse with the people has always been marked with that sin- cerity and cordiality that indicates a deep interest in . their welfare.
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Confession of Faith.
Adopted May 1, IS85.
We believe in the Father, and in Jesus Christ, His Son, and in the Holy Ghost as the one living and true God.
We believe in the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments as the Word of God, and our only rule of faith and life.
We believe in the sinfulness of all mankind by nature and practice.
We believe in the salvation provided by God, and freely offered to all men in and through Christ Jesus, as the only way of deliverance from sin and its penalty.
We believe in the renewing and sanctifying work of the Holy Ghost as the only source of spiritual life and growth.
We believe in the Church of Christ, and in its Sacra- ments, Baptism and the Lord's Supper, as of Divine institution and authority.
We believe in the Resurrection, and in a general judgment, when a final separation shall be made between the righteous and the wicked ; the former to enter into everlasting life, and the latter to go away into everlasting punishment.
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Form of Admission.
[The Confession of Faith is read-the Candidates sitting. ]
Dearly Beloved :- As you are about to declare your faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, and enter His visible church, let your prayers go up with ours that you may, out of devout and honest hearts, witness a good confes- sion to the glory of Him by whom you are, as you hope, called and sanctified.
[The pastor offers a brief prayer, after which those who join on Confession will rise. ]
In the presence of this assembly, and before Him who knows the thoughts of all men, you do now humbly and sincerely confess your faith in the one only living and true God, namely, the Father Almighty, Maker of Heaven and Earth : Jesus Christ His Son, the Word made flesh : and the Holy Spirit the Comforter, evermore present in the church to regenerate and sanctify the soul. You acknowledge that you belong to a sinful and ruined race, and were yourselves dead in trespasses and sins : but that having been enlightened by the Holy Spirit and brought to repentance, you are now justified by faith and at peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ-Thus you confess ?
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[Candidates Assent-Those to be baptized kneel-The others sit. After the Baptism and praver, all will rise and those who have been baptized in infancy will be addressed thus. ]
When as yet you were little children you were con- secrated to God in the ordinance of Baptism by your christian parents, who solemnly promised in their fellow- ship with the church to bring you up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. Thankfully acknowledging your indebtedness to this faith and Christian nurture in which you have been trained, you accept today the Baptism then received as the symbol of your present faith?
[All are then addressed. ]
And now, dearly beloved, having given up your- selves, body, soul and spirit, with all that you have, to be the Lord's, you declare that it is your settled purpose to walk before Him in holiness all the days of your life. This you profess and promise to be and to do, relying not upon the strength of your own purpose, but upon the grace of God, which shall be sufficient for ,you by the Holy Spirit that dwelleth in you. And by His help, without which you can do nothing, you do now covenant to walk with this Church of Christ in brotherly love and meekness, attending its worship, heeding its teachings, partaking in its fellowship, upholding its government and promoting its purity, peace and prosperity. Thus you covenant, promise and engage.
[Here those received by letter rise and are addressed. ]
Holding still the faith in which you have already been united with those churches of Christ from which you have come to us with letters of recommendation, you declare your readiness to assume all the obligations in-
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volved in your becoming members of this church, promis- ing to sustain and submit to its fraternal discipline ; to promote its order, piety and harmony ; to assist in the maintenance of its ordinances ; and to endeavor to fulfill all the duties which may be incumbent on you in our communion ?
[The church members rise. ]
Confiding in the sincerity of your professions and promises, we cordially receive you into the communion of this Church. We welcome you to the labors and the joys-to the self-denials and the rewards of the Master's service : and we promise to watch over you and to bear you on our hearts in sympathy and prayer. May the God of peace sanctify you wholly : so shall our commun- ion on earth be for our inutual profit and joy, and an entrance shall be administered unto us abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ.
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[Then the pastor may give the right hand of welcome to each candidate, with a passage of Scripture and close with]
The Lord bless you and keep you ; the Lord make His face to shine upon you and be gracious unto you ; the Lord lift up His countenance upon you and give you peace. AMEN.
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Standing Rules. Adopted May 1, 1903.
I. The Annual Meeting of the church shall be held on the Friday following the first Sunday in January, at which the Pastor, or in case of his absence, the Senior Deacon present shall preside.
II. It shall be the duty of the Pastor, or in case of his absence, neglect, or refusal, of the Senior Deacon to call a special meeting of this church whenever a request therefor shall be made in writing by any five members of the church, the notice of which shall be given in public at least three days previous to said meeting.
III. The Pastor, Deacons, Clerk and Sunday School Superintendent, together with three other members, one of which shall be chosen each year for a term of three years, shall constitute a Standing Committee for the general oversight of the spiritual affairs of the church.
IV. All persons desiring to unite with this church on confession of faith, shall be examined by the Standing Committee, in regard to their evidences of personal piety and if their examination shall be deemed satisfactory, they may, after having been propounded one Sabbath, be
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admitted by vote of the church at the preparatory lecture, to membership in this church upon the public confession of their faith.
V. Members of other evangelical churches present- ing letters, may by vote of the church, at the preparatory lecture, be admitted to membership, provided this church shall be well satisfied with regard to their christian char- acter, and notice having been given at least one Sabbath previously.
VI. No member shall be dismissed from this church by letter until a week's previous notice shall have been given by reading the request on the Sabbath.
VII. Members of this church changing their resi- dences to other places, will it is supposed, call for letters of dismission from this church and of recommendation to some evangelical church in their vicinity. In case this course is not followed within one year after removal, the Clerk of the church shall by correspondence inquire the cause of the delay, and report to the church, who shall take such action as seems to them expedient.
VIII. This church adopts as the basis of its disci- pline the words of the Master in Matt. IS: 15-17.
All complaints against members of the church shall be made in writing to the Standing Committee, who, if unable to effect a reconciliation may bring the matter before the church. Immoral conduct, breach of express covenant vows, inexcusable neglect of the ordinances of the church, and avowed disbelief in the Confession of Faith, are offences calling for the attention of the Stand- ing Committee.
IX. The Lord's Supper shall be administered on the first Sabbath of each alternate month beginning with January, preceded by the preparatory lecture on the previous Friday afternoon.
Special meetings for business may be called by giving
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notice on the Sabbath next preceding, but the appoint- ment of delegates to ecclesiastical bodies may be made at any meeting.
X. The Standing Rules of this Church may be amended at any business meeting, notice of the proposed amendment having been given at least two weeks previous, and two-thirds of the members present being in favor thereof.
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Officers of the Church.
Pastors.
Rev. Robert Sturgeon, 1726-1732
Rev. William Gaylord, 1733-1766
Rev. Isaac Lewis, 1768-1786
Rev. Aaron Woodward, 1794-1800
Rev. John I. Carle,
1801-1804
Rev. Samuel Fisher,
1805-1809
Rev. Silvanus Haight,
1810-1831
Rev. Samuel Merwin,
1832-1838
Rev John Smith, 1839-1848
Rev. Gordon Hall,
1848-1852
Rev. Thomas S. Bradley,
1853-1857
Rev. Charles B. Ball, 1858-1859
Rev. Samuel R. Dimock, 1859-1861
Rev. Wheelock N. Harvey, 1862-1867
Rev. Samuel J. M. Merwin, 1868-1880
Rev. Frank Thompson, 1881-1883
Rev. Charles E. Upson,
1884-1886
Rev. Dwight M. Seward,
1886-1889
Rev. William D. Hart, 1889-
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Deacons.
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Ordained.
Died.
Benjamin Hickok,
1726,
1745
Jonathan Elmer,
1726,
James Trowbridge,
1726,
David Keeler,
1749,
Matthew Gregory,
1752,
1777
James Olmstead,
1767,
1777
Nathan Comstock,
1786,
I794
Nathan Hubbell,
1786,
1801
Daniel Gregory,
1794,
I821
John Chapman,
1810,
1816
Jesse St. John,
ISIO,
1846
Matthew Marvin,
1 808,
/842
Zadock Raymond,
-,
1841
Jonathan Middlebrook,
1832
Lewis St. John,
1841,
1867
Charles Marvin,
IS41,
1883
James Betts,
1841,
Dis. to Stamford
Giles Gregory,
I849,
1859
Benajah Gilbert,
1860,
1897
Wakeman Hubbell,
IS60,
1863
Edward Olmstead,
IS70,
1898
Robert T. B. Easton,
IS70,
Dis. to Norwalk
Frederic D. Benedict,
I 896,
Thomas Frank Gilbert,
IS96,
Josiah Gilbert,
1902,
Strong Comstock,
1902,
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Members.
Commencing with the pastorate of Rev. William Gaylord.
All persons joining the Church previous to 1840, are deceased.
Deceased members after that date to Jan. Ist, 1904, are indi- cated by a # placed before their names.
l Received by letter. All others by profession.
d Dismissed.
The name of a woman in Parenthesis ( ) is her maiden name ; and a name following in Brackets [ ] is her name received in marriage after uniting with the church.
I733.
Benjamin Hickok,
Sarah, his wife,
Joseph Burchard,
Elizabeth (Lambert) his wife, David Keeler,
Mary, his wife,
Matthew St. John,
Anne, his wife,
John Dunning,
Sarah (Lambert) his wife,
William Belden,
Margaret (Arms) his wife, Jachin Gregory, Wait, his wife,
James Betts, Senior,
Hannah, his wife,
John Stuart, Abia, his wife,
John Taylor,
Mary, his wife,
Samuel Cole, Mary, his wife,
d Nathaniel Slosson,
Jonathan Wood,
d Margaret, his wife,
Elizabeth, his wife,
John St. John,
Eunice (Hayes) his wife, John Westcott, Roses, his wife, Eben Jackson,
Esther, his wife, Jeremiah Mead, Hannah, his wife, David Lambert,
Stephen Betts, Ruth, his wife,
Daniel Betts, Sarah ( Comstock ) his wife, James Betts, Jr., Martha, his wife, Benjamen Betts, Rebecca, his wife,
d Stephen Buckingham, Samuel Stuart, Elizabeth, his wife,
d James Stuart,
d Elenor, his wife, John Marvin, Abigail, his wife, James Olmstead, Hannah, his wife, Solomon Noble, Hepzibah, his wife, Daniel Cole, Elizabeth, his wife, Daniel Trowbridge, Sarah, his wife,
d Joseplı Monroe, Susannah, his wife, Joseph Pachin, Mary, his wife, Moses Comstock, Abigail ( Brinsmade ) his wife,
d Sarah, wife of Capt. Ketchum Dorothy, wife of Ensign Betts Mary, wife of William Parker Wife of Jos. Allen,
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Elizabeth, wife of David Whelpley, Abigail wife of Asahel Ray- mond, / Elizabeth (Davenport) wife of Rev. Mr. Gaylord,
d Ralph Keeler,
d Jemima, his wife,
Samuel Betts,
Abigail, his wife,
Jacob Patchen. Abigail, his wife,
Caleb Trowbridge, Jemima, his wife,
Daniel Abbot,
Eben Abbot,
Anne, his wife,
William Fountain, Esther, his wife,
d John Fountain, Samuel Abbot, Anne, his wife, Lurany ( Bill) wife of David Lambert, l David DeForest,
l Wife of David DeForest.
1734.
Ezra Hickok,
Elizabeth, his wife,
Richard Dunning,
Abigail ( Betts) his wife,
Grace, ye wife of William Williams, Jemima Abbot,
John Dunning,
Hannah, his wife,
Stephen Morehouse, Sarah, his wife,
1735.
Charles Sloan,
Betty, his wife,
Matthew Marvin,
Elizabetlı ( Clark) his wife,
d Mary, daughter Deacon Elmer Judith, wife of Samuel Betts, l Josiah Marvin, ( Wife of Josialı Marvin.
1736.
John Stuart, ye 3rd,
Wife of John Stuart, Asahel Raymond, Jonathan Jackson. Solomon, (erased ) Margaret, wife of (erased. )
1737.
d Matthew St. John,
d Mark St. John and wife, Theophilus Mead, Abigail ( Westcott) his wife, Mary, wife Gideon Kimberly, Hannah, daughter Moses Comstock,
l Nathan Marvin,
l Hannah, his wife, Wife of Jacob Patchen,
d Nathaniel Ketchum,
d. Eliakim Elmer,
d Lydia, his wife,
d Martin Elmer, Silas Hickok, Ruth, his wife, Daniel Holybert, Esther (Belden ) his wife,
l Matthew Gregory,
l Hannah, his wife, Rebecca Abbot,
d Jacob Phillips,
l Samuel Weed, Samuel Stuart, Hannah, wife Samuel Stuart.
1738. l Bethia( Strong) wife of Nathan Comstock.
I739.
Samuel Cole, Elizabeth, his wife, Joseph Nichols and wife,
, l Abraham Nash,
l Rhoda ( Keeler ) his wife, d Elizabeth ( Sherwood ) wife of Stephen Buckinghamn.
1740.
Nathan Comstock, Thomas Bennett, / Ebenezer Bennett, ¿ Jemima, his wife,
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( Sarah, daughter Matthew Gregory, l Rebecca, wife of John Green.
1741.
d Grace (Burchard) wife John Egelstone, Simeon Stuart,
Abigial (Smith) his wife,
Nathan Clark,
Ebenezer Holybert,
Mary, daughter of J. Marvin, Samuel Gregory,
l Samuel Belden,
l Judith Belden, d Samuel Keeler, Elizabeth (Burchard), wife, Sarah Ketchum,
Rachael St. John,
Cesar, negro servant to Moses Comstock, Ephraim Ketchum, Timothy Street, David Whelpley.
1742.
John Hughstone and wife, d Joseph Chard and wife. Jemima, wife of Samuel Westcott, Sarah, daughter Samuel Cole David Monroe and wife,
John Trusdale,
Simeon Spenser,
Jemima Hall,
Abigail Marvin,
Jemima, daughter Lieut. Gregory,
Nathan Stuart, Mary Spenser, Ebenezer Keeler,
Titus Wood,
Abigail, his wife,
David Westcott, Mary (Slauson ) his wife, d Samuel Elmer,
d Jonathan Elmer, Benjamen Stuart, John Keeler, son of David, Elias Betts, Nehemiah Grumınan, John Keeler,
Lydia (Lockwood ) his wife, d Elizabeth and Abigail Elmer daughters of Deacon Elmer Samuel Jackson, Hannah, his wife.
1743.
Matthew Dunning, Abigail, his wife, Widow Dorothy Rockwell.
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