USA > Connecticut > Hartford County > New Britain > Memorial. Genealogy, and ecclesiastical history [of First Church, New Britain, Conn.] To which is added an appendix, with explanatory notes, and a full index > Part 1
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Gc 974.602 N38a 1139017
M. L.
GENEALOGY COLLECTION
ALLEN COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY 3 1833 01149 1500
Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2015
https://archive.org/details/memorialgenealog00andr
mea 10-
Lucia Avenue Hellogy
Brought from Berlin august . 1896.
Ezt Woodruff.
Ray 1893
.
En Steel by John Martin. Hul
John Amely
MEMORIAL.
GENEALOGY,
AND
ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY.
FIRST CHURCH NEW BR
TO WHICH IS ADDED
CONN.
AN APPENDIX, WITH EXPLANATORY NOTES,
AND A FULL INDEX.
" The glory of Children are their Fathers."-Solomon.
" Those only deserve to be remembered by posterity, who treasure up the history of their Ances- tors."-Burke.
"There is a Moral and Philosophical respect for our Ancestors which elevates the character and improves the heart."- Webster.
BY ALFRED ANDREWS,
MEMBER OF CONNECTICUT AND WISCONSIN HISTORICAL SOCIETIES.
CHICAGO, ILL .: PUBLISHED BY A. H. ANDREWS. 1867.
PRINTED BY CASE, LOCKWOOD AND COMPANY, HARTFORD, CONN.
PREFACE.
1139017
WHEN a plain man, more used to the plough than the pen, turns author, and asks to be read, a preface may be used, either to justity, apologize, or explain. This can be taken for either of these pur- poses, as best suits the reader. I think it was during the Spring of 1850, that a gentleman from Ohio, by the name of Andrews, called on the writer, to inquire after the early settlers of that name, in the State. I could give him no information on the subject, having no history of my ancestors, back of my own grandfather. He passed on, leaving on my mind this reflection. What ! lived more than a half century, and know scarce a hundred years of your own family history ? I began by looking over old files of deeds and papers, searching family, church, town, and probate records, and the State archives, until I had gathered near four thousand names, and collect- ed several of the branches, into a regular chain of families, from the early settlement of the country, to the child now in the cradle. Some of my friends, knowing what I had done in this line of inquiry, pro- posed that I take up the subject of an Ecclesiastical History of the First Church and Society of New Britain. The subject was intro- duced at an annual meeting, by the motion that a committee be ap- pointed, and it was voted at the adjourned annual meeting of the church, held 28th January, 1859, that Alfred Andrews, Noah W. Stanley and Timothy W. Stanley, be a committee to secure, (if they deem it best,) a copy of the records of this church, set in order, and in a form fitted for preservation. This committee have reported progress annually, and been reappointed to carry out more fully the object.
iv
PREFACE.
Perhaps no individual then had a thought of doing more than trans- cribing our incomplete records, scattered in no less than six or seven small books, into one large manuscript volume, with such facts ap- pended, in the form of notes, as would explain and illustrate our his- tory. But after the committee had conferred, and sent a delegation to Goshen, to see an excellent manuscript history of the First Church there, by Deacon Lewis M. Norton, and especially after an examina- tion of a printed history of the First Church in Belchertown, Mass., by Hon. Mark Doolittle, it was thought best to make a book for the public, comprising family genealogy with church history, and what might be found respecting the early settlement of the place.
It was a favorable circumstance for the production of the following pages, that there was a continuous, (though imperfect,) record of the First Church in New Britain, from its first organization, to the pres- ent time. This can hardly be said of any other church in this vicin- ity, whose age exceeds a century. Almost every such church has a break or gap in its history. It is still a mooted question, whether a record voluntarily begun and continued at the pastor's own expense of time, care, and stationery, belongs to him and his heirs, or to the church and their successors. Hence in part the defective church records of Connecticut, and other States. Heirs-at-law have retained them as their property, and carried them to parts unknown. In all the years spent in gathering materials for this work, the compiler ac- knowledges with gratitude a kind Providence, who has favored him in every weary step. To say nothing of a few officials, who have been paid from one to three dollars for a single letter, it is with pleasure he remembers favors from Ex-Governor Pond, of Milford, Deacon Lewis M. Norton, of Goshen, Hon. Tracy Peck, of Bristol, and Rev. Abner Morse, of Boston, (all gone to their final rest during the progress of these researches ;) by Doctor D. W. Patterson, of West Winsted, Edwin Stearnes, Esq., of Middletown, A. S. Kellogg, Esq., of Vernon, Ali Andrews, Esq., Bridgeport, and not least, by Gad Andrews, Esq., of Southington. The author takes this opportu- nity to thank all the clergy in this vicinity, who have kindly given
PREFACE.
him access to church records, and otherwise aided and encouraged him in the work. He has received kindness and courtesy from soci- ety, town, and probate clerks, and especially from Messrs. Trumbull and Hoadley, in giving him access to the State archives, as Secretary of State and State Librarian. By the facilities of correspondence, he he has been aided in this enterprise, in the exchange of more than a thousand letters, some from the remote parts of the country, and some from England. He will never forget the patience of those, (both in this and other towns,) whom he has annoyed with a thousand and one questions. Especially is he under obligation to the old people of this vicinity, not so much for dates, as for connections and locations of the numerous families. It has been found that less than one-third of the families have any record of their children, respecting either births or marriages; and such as are found, are often made from memory, after the family has become so numerous as to trouble the parents in re- calling the several dates. It is found that some of the records thus made up do not agree with the public journals nor with the truth.
The compiler has spared no time nor pains to be correct, (for cor rectness is the chief excellence in all history,) yet where there is so much of uncertainty, some errors must be expected.
The most valuable part of this work, and that which will be most appreciated in future years, and which has cost the author the most labor, is its genealogical department. Few know the amount of time, patience, and labor expended on such researches. It has been shrewdly, (if not wisely,) said by a "pedigree hunter," that it was useless to tell antiquaries anything about the cost of such works, for they understood it; and it was equally useless to tell others, for they could not comprehend you. Is there not some danger that families and family religion will be lost sight of, in the shadow of congrega- tions, Sunday Schools, and churches? God, in the days of the Pa- triarchs, made families the depository of his church, and constituted the father the priest of the household, making a covenant with Abra- ham, which was to be an everlasting covenant to him, and his seed after him; which covenant was confirmed to Isaac and Jacob, and
vi
PREFACE.
under the new dispensation to all, even as many as the Lord our God should call, who should possess like precious faith with Abraham .*
Hence the author, in the following pages, and in the plan of the work, assumes that the Church of Christ is mainly drawn from fami- lies in which God is acknowledged. The fact that over eighty per cent. of the First Church in New Britain, were baptized in infancy, confirms this view of the subject as correct, and that God is far more mindful of his covenant, than his people. We prefer no claim that this work is either complete, or perfect ; indeed, from the condi- tion of the records, and other sources of information from which it is compiled, it could not be. If its perusal shall incite one pastor or church, to give greater attention to their own record; if it shall lead one follower of Christ to greater diligence in fulfilling his mission; if it shall inspire one child with more love of home and ancestors; or if it shall expand the contracted brow of a single antiquary in search of lore; just so far the hopes of the compiler will be realized. If, as a book of reference, (and this will be its chief use,) it shall afford those who consult it, a tithe of the satisfaction the author has enjoyed in its construction, he will be gratified. In commenting on the life and character of those who have passed away, the author has aimed in all cases to be impartial. So far as the record of the church extended, it was, of course, made the guide; but where there has been no written history, nor tradition, nor personal acquaintance, the dead are passed in silence. The compiler is very sensible of the delicacy of the subject in this respect, and the difficulty of doing justice to this part of the work, and has aimed to avoid offense on the one hand, and neglect on the other. Should the reader discover want of connection in the events related, or in the different parts of the work, he is reminded that such must necessarily be the case, where so many of the facts and incidents are entirely disconnected of themselves. In closing these prefatory remarks, the subscriber deems it proper to say that he is under great obligations to the committee with whom he is
* Acts 2, 39. "For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call. '
vii
PREFACE.
associated, and to the present pastor of the church, for aid and en- couragement in his labors, but not in any sense such as to make either of them responsible for any errors or defects that may appear in the work. The author hereby assumes all such responsibilities, and submits the whole to a discerning, yet indulgent public, hoping that generations to come may be benefited by this humble effort to perpetuate the memory of those worthy ancestors of ours, who first settled New Britain and its vicinity.
ALFRED ANDREWS.
NEW BRITAIN, 2d May, 1867.
1
INTRODUCTION.
THE Ecclesiastical history of that territory, or part of ancient Farm- ington, in Connecticut, lying east of Farmington mountain, bounded east by Wethersfield and Middletown, south by Wallingford, now Meriden, and extending north to what we now call ( Clark Hill,) is very difficult to understand. Previous to the year 1705, the inhabitants belonged to the parish of Farmington, and attended public worship, and paid their minis- terial taxes there only. Hence the early history of the few families that settled on this territory previous to that date, would be mingled with that of their brethren of the church in Farmington, and the parishioners there. A brief sketch of the settlement of that town, and the early history of that church is therefore deemed essential to the right understanding of subsequent events in their proper order. The first settlers in Farming- ton were from Hartford, being emigrants from Boston, Newtown, and Roxbury, Mass. They began the settlement in 1640, being four years only from the first in Hartford, and were probably attracted by the fine natural meadows on the (Tunxis) Farmington river. The town was in- corporated in 1645 .* The land was purchased of the Tunxis tribe of natives, a very numerous and warlike tribe, by a Comt. and in 1672 divided by eighty-four proprietors, to themselves and their heirs accord-
John Haynes Esqr., Gov. Edward Hopkins, Esqr., Dep. Capt. Mason Mr Wolcott Mr Webster Mr Whiting Mr Wells Mr Trott Mr Olliston James Boosey Jno Demon Mr Hull Mr Stoughton Mr Steel Mr Talcot
* CHARTER OF 1645. December ye first 1645, its ordered that ye plantation called Tunxis shall be called ffarmington, & that the bounds thereof shall be as followeth : The eastern Bounds shall meet with the western of these plantations which are to be five miles on this sid ye Great River, & the Northern Bounds shall be five miles from ye Hill in ye Great Meadow towards Massaco ; & the Southern Bounds from ye sd Hill shall be five miles; & they shall have liberty to improve ten miles further than ye sd five, and to hinder others from the like, until the Court see fitt otherwise to dispose of it, and ye s'd plantation are to attend the General Orders, formerly made by this Court, settled by ye Committee to whom the same was referred, & other ocasions, as the rest of ye Plantations upon the River do : & Mr Steel is entreated for the present to be Re- corder there, until ye Town have one fitt among themselves ; they allso are to have ye like Libertyes as ye other Towns upon ye River
10
FARMINGTON PARISH.
ing to their respective interests or tax lists. The township at the time of incorporation was about fifteen miles square. The early church records were burned,* but the committee subsequently appointed to gather facts say " they have good reason to believe it was organized about 1645, and that Rev Roger Newton was then installed its pastor.
A. D. 1654 he was dismissed, and removed to the church in Milford. Rev. Samuel Hooker, son of the venerable Thomas Hooker, of England, and Hartford, succeeded Mr. Newton, and was ordained probably in 1655. He died in 1695." It was during his ministry that the town voted at their annual meeting, 28th December, 1685, the following " to give £30 for a man to teach Schoole for one year, provided they can have a man that is so accomplished as to teach Children to read and wright, and teach the grammer, and also to step into the pulpet to be helpful their, in time of exegenti, and this Schoole to be a free Schoole for this toun." Such were the " accomplishments " required of common school teachers in that day, which shows that our ancestors had a regard for the educational interests of their children.t The town record shows a similar vote at a later date as follows, "18 Dec 1693 at the annual town meeting was chosen a com- mitty to agree with a man to teach Schoole the first 3 months, January, February and March, and also to treat with a man yt is in capacity to teach Lattin and English, and in time of Exogency to be helpfull to Mr
for making orders among themselves ; provided they alter not any fundamental agree- ments settled by ye s'd Committee hitherto attended.
A True copy of ye Record exam'd by Hez. Wyllys Secret'y
At a General Assembly held at Hartford May 11th 1671, This Court Confirme unto ffarmington theyer Bounds Ten miles towards ye South from ye Round Hill : provided Capt. Clark injoy his Grant, without those exceptions made in theyer former Grant.
A true copy of Record, exam'd by Hez. Wyllys Secret'y
* This is happily not true, as supposed, the original record is found, and it gives the date of the organization of the church at Farmington, the 13th of October, 1652.
t "At a meeting of the inhabitants of the town of Farmington held 27th Dec. 1687, it was voted by the town, that they would give 20£ for the maintenance of a Schoole for the year insuing for the instrocting of all such children as shall be sent to it, to learn to read, and wright the English tongue."
"At a meeting of the inhabitants of the town of Farmington held 12th Jany, 1687-8 Whereas the town at a Meeting held 27 Dec 1687 agreed to give twentie pounds, as is their expresst, to teach all such as shall be sent, by vote, the town declare, that "all such as shall be sent " is to be understood only Male Children that are throw their korn- ing book." (Meaning probably to con syllables. Ed.) "At the same Meeting the towne voted that they would have a town hous to keep Schoole in, built this yeare, of 18 foot square, besides the Chimney space, with a suitable height for that servis, which hous is to be built by the touns Charg."
11
INTRODUCTION.
Hooker in the Ministry-and to make return to the select-men of what is attainable in yt matter, yt they may speedily acquaint the town with the same & also in case such a man be not attainable-then to agree with a man to teach Schoole the other 3 months of October, November, and De- cember, which committy is Left Thos Heart, Sargt Saml Wadsworth, & Capt John Hart." It also further appears from the same record of like date, that our forefathers took due care of the manners and morals of the young people. "At the same meeting, to take care, and have inspection over the youth, in ye meeting-house, on the Sabbaths, and other days of publique Exorcises their was chosen John Norton junr Stephen Lee, & Thos Bird of James. The following about Indian children in Farmington is from the State archives. "Oct 1733 On a report made by the Rev. Saml Whitman of Farmington, relating to the Indians in sd town. This Assembly do appoint Capt Wm Wadsworth & Capt Josiah Hart of sd town to provide for the Dieting of the Indian lads at 4 Shillings pr week for the time they attend the Schoole in sd town, until the session of the Assembly in May next, and they then make report thereof. Concurred in the Upper House Test Geo. Wyllys, Sec. passed in the lower house Test Jno Russell Clerk."
(Also May 1734) " Whereas this Assembly in Oct. last did order that the charges of subsisting certain Indian Children at the Schoole at Far. should be paid out of the public Treas. Whereupon Capt Wm Wads- worth hath laid before this Assembly an acc of the charges which amount to the sum of £33, 6. s. which shall be paid out of the public Treas, unto the sd Wadsworth, who shall answer & pay the several sums to the re- spective persons mentioned in the acc passed in the Upper House Test. Geo. Wyllys Sec.
Concurred with in the lower house Test. Jno Russell Clerk."
(Also 1736) "The Colony of Connecticut indebted to sundry persons in ffarmington for bording Indian boys when at Schoole in Winter seson 1735-1736 to Robert porter 2 boys 18, weaks & 2 days at 4, s. per weak 7-6-0 to Ephraim Smith sen for keeping one boie 13 weaks & a half at 4, s. per weak £2, 14, s. 0, d. To John Wadsworth for bording 2 boise, 18 weaks at 4, s. pr weak £7, 4, s. 0, d. To Thos Cowles for keeping 2 boies 27 weaks each of them at 4, s. per weak £10, 16, 0 .- £28, 0 .- 0-
" Whereas this Assembly in Oct. last did order that the charges of sub- sisting certain Indian Children at the Schoole at Far. should be paid out of the public Treas. Whereupon Capt Wm Wadsworth hath laid before this Assembly an acc of sd Charges which amount to the sum of £28- which is hereby ordered to be paid out of the public Treas. unto the said Capt Wadsworth, who shall pay the several sums, to the respective per- sons mentioned with sd acc." passed in the Upper house Test. Geo.
12
FARMINGTON PARISH.
Wyllys Secy May 1736. Concurred in the lower house Test. Jno Buck- ley Clerk.
The above shows that the good people of Farmington were anxious to substitute Puritan civilization for Paganism among the aborigines of the town, and that the General Court of the Colony was willing to aid them. The following farther shows the wise and provident forethought for the children in general. "An Act for the encouragement and better support- ing the schools that by Law ought to be kept in the several towns and parishes in the colony, (May 1733.) Be it enacted &c that the seven towns lately laid out in the western lands (as commonly called) shall be disposed of & settled according to such time & regulations as this Assem- bly shall order, and that the money that shall be given by those that may be allowed to settle in sd towns for the land there, shall be improved for the support of the aforesaid Schooles (viz) those schooles as ought to be kept in those towns that are now settled, and that did make, & complete Lists of their Polls & Estates in the year last past, and such towns shall receive sd monies, every town according to the proportion of sd Lists given in as aforesaid the last year, all which money shall be let out & the interest thereof improved for the support of the respective Schooles afore- said forever, & for no other use, & the committee of each parish (or
. town where there is but one parish) shall receive the proportion of money arising as aforesaid, & give a receipt, that they have received such a sum of money, to be let out and improved for the support of a school in such town or parish where they are a committee as aforesaid, & that if at any time the sd money, or interest thereof shall be by order of such town or parish, or the committee chosen by them, put to or employed by them for any other use, than for the support of a school there, that then such sum shall be returned into the Treas. of the Colony, & the Treas. of the Col- ony shall upon refusal thereof, recover the same sum of such town or par- ish, that have misemployed such money shall forever lose the benefit thereof." past by the upper house Test Hez. Wyllys Sec'y. Concurred in the lower house Test Jno Russell, Clerk. The above is introduced here because in order of time, and will be referred to hereafter.
The ancient church in Farmington was noted for piety, wealth, and in- fluence, and since no list, or catalogue of the original members (to the compiler's knowledge,) has ever appeared in print, he takes the liberty to quote from the original record the following historical facts, only premis- ing that the church, as well as the town records were kept at that early date, by that noted man and recorder, Mr. John Steele.
13
INTRODUCTION.
" CHURCH MEMBERS
ANNO DOM 1652 UPON THE 13TH OF OCTOBER.
Mr Roger Newton
Stephen Hart Thomas Judd John Bronson
John Coll Thomas Thompson, and
Robert Porter joined in covenant in Farmington,
About one month after, myself, (meaning John Steele. Ed.) joined with them About one month after,
Mrs Newton, the
Wife of Stephen Hart, the
Wife of Thomas Judd, the
Wife of John Cole, and the
Wife of Thomas Thompson, did also join with them. A little before this
John Loomis was joined to this church. About the 30th of January 1652 (3)
Nathaniel Kellogg and his wife John Steel John Standley
Thomas Newell, and
Thomas Barnes were also joined to the congregation. Upon February the 7th
John Lankton was joined to the congregation. July the 12th 1653
Thomas Newell's wife, and
John Standley's wife, and
Robert Porter's wife, were joined to the congregation. On July 19, 1653
Thomas Porter and his wife, and
Richard Bronson's wife, were joined to the congregation, and
Moses Ventres was joined with them the said 19 July 1653.
Joseph Kellogg and his wife, and
Simon Wrotham, and the
Wife of John Hart, and the
Wife of John Wyatt were joined to the Church October the 9th, 1653. Upon April the 2d 1654
Richard Bronson, and
John Hart were joined to the church. On that day
Samuel Steele, and his daughter Mary Steele about the age of 16 months were joined to the Church. And on that day
Hannah Woodruff the wife of Matthew Woodruff, and his daughters
Hannah Woodruff age about 5 years, and
Elizabeth Woodruff about the age of 2 years 5 months, were also joined to the Church.
And on that day
Mary Andrews, the wife of John Andrews, and her son
Abraham Andrews, about the age of 6 years, 3 months, and
Daniel Andrews, about the age of 3 years, 10 months, and
Joseph Andrews, about the age of 2 years, 3 months, were joined to the church .
14
FARMINGTON PARISH.
Thomas Orton, and his wife were joined to the Church Dec the 22d, 1656.
John Warner, and
William Smith, and the
Widow Stans, and the
Wife of William Lewis, and the
Wife of John North and the
Wife of Samuel Loomis, were joined to the Ch. 15 Mar 1656-7. On January the 22d 1657-8.
Anthony Howkins, and
William Lewis, were joined to the Church. On the 9th May 1658
John Andrews, joined the Church in the covenant.
John Lee, and
William Judd, were joined to the Ch. July the 15th 1660."
Here follows on the record a list of families with children from seven- teen years to one day old called " Children of the Church" with dates of baptisms.
We pass over these lists and dates, and come down in the record to 1st March, 1679-80, when we find a full roll of church members in "full communion " * in the church in Farmington. This roll or list seems to be numbered and graded according to rank, standing, or dignity, in the community, beginning with 1, down to 42 heads of families. It is thought our fathers in these nice distinctions took for a basis, "age, list, titles, and whatever else makes a man honorable." Let not the reader be surprised at this practice in the olden time. It was only a necessary preparation for the assignment of seats in the meeting house. If you say such com- parisons would not be tolerated in this age, it might be replied, we have no such necessity, for our seats are rented to the highest bidder.
1 Deacon Hart
2 Deacon Judd
3 Thos Newel & his wife
4 Capt Standley & his wife
23 Stephen Hart jun
5 Robert Porter
24 Samuel Coales & his wife
35 John Root sen & his wife
26 John Judd & his wife
27 Thomas Hart & his wife
28 John Thompson & his wife
29 John Standley jun & his wife
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