USA > Connecticut > Hartford County > East Windsor > Some extracts from the records of the First Church of Christ, in East Windsor, Conn.; taken in Aug. 1843, with occasional remarks; a list of members; confession of faith and covenant > Part 1
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REYNOLDS HISTORICAL GENEALOGY COLLECTION
ALLEN COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY 3 1833 01148 6807
7478
SOME EXTRACTS
FROM THE
RECORDS OF THE FIRST CHURCH OF CHRIST, 1 1st IN
EAST WINDSOR, CONN.
Taken in August, 1843.
With occasional Remarks; a List of Members;
CONFESSION OF FAITH AND COVENANT.
HARTFORD.
PRESS OF ELIHU GEER, 26} STATE STREET. MDCCCXLIIL
1851396
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East Windsor, Conn. First church of Christ.
D 284625 .25 Some extracts from the records of the First church of Christ, in East Windsor, Conn., taken in August, 1843. With occasional remarks; a list of mem- bers; confession of faith and covenant. Hartford [ Conn. ]1843.
SKELF CARD
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B 14005
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EXTRACTS, &C.
THE first settlers of East Windsor came from Wind- sor, on the opposite of the river. Ancient Windsor contained within its bounds East Windsor and Ellington, on the East side of the river. Old Windsor, Hartford and Wethersfield were settled about the same time by sundry families who came from Massachsetts, (about Watertown and Cambridge,) in quest of new settlements, in the year 1635 and 6.
Some of the first settlers of East Windsor, removed from the West to the East side of the river, about the year 1675. Among whom were Nathaniel and Thomas Bissell, Capt. Thomas Stoughton, Israel Stoughton, John Porter, James Porter, Samuel Grant, and Capt. Joseph Fitch.
The first inhabitants for many years attended public worship on the West side of the river, and belonged to the church and congregation there. But finding it in- convenient to cross the river, and being grown sufficient- ly numerous and able to support public worship among themselves, they proceeded to build a meeting-house, which stood near the north burying yard, and invited Mr. Timothy Edwards son of Edwards, Esq., of Hart- ford, to preach to them, who was ordained in March, 1695. He studied under the Rev. Mr. Glover, of Spring- field ; and received the degrees of Bachelor and Master of Arts in one day at the College in Cambridge, Massa- chusetts, which was an uncommon mark of respect paid to his extraordinary proficiency in learning. He married the daughter of the Rev. Solomon Stoddard, of North-
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ampton, Mass., who was a divine of eminence in his day. By her he had ten daughters and one son - the Rev. Jonathan Edwards, President of New Jersey College, whose writings rank him high among the first geniuses and divines of that or any other age.
The second meeting-house was built in 1709, near the north burying yard. The new meeting-house was built in 1761 ; and in 1804, ground was purchased near it for a burying place.
This church early adopted the Cambridge Platform of church government and worship, and the Westminster Confession of Faith; as the church in West Windsor, from which they originated, had also done ; but has ever united in associations and ecclesiastical councils, with the neighboring churches, who are generally settled on what is called the Saybrook Platform. .
East Windsor partook with the neighboring towns and churches in the great and general revival of religion through New England and America, in the years 1741 and 2. Some of the aged still among us (1791) date their conversion from that memorable period, and have maintained a Christian life to their old age. . It began at Northampton under the ministry of the Rev. Jonathan Edwards.
Mr. Joseph Perry was settled at the age of 23, as colleague of the aged and venerable Edwards, who lived about three years afterwards. Mr. Perry was a native of Sherburne, Mass. - educated at Cambridge, and died at about the age of 50 years, distinguished for talents, learning and piety. The records of the church during the ministry of Messrs. Edwards and Perry are lost, as also, in great part during that of Mr. Whelpley. Watts' Psalms and Hymns are still in use in this church, and our seasons of communion are quarterly.
The practice of admitting persons into the church on what was called the half-way-covenant plan, continued
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here until March 27, 1808, when it was quietly abolished. A relation of Christian experience was required of all candidates for full communion from an early period. Members of other churches coming to reside among us are allowed occasional communion at four successive sacramental seasons, after which they are required, in order to continue communing at our table, to bring a letter and unite with us in form. This church have re- peatedly and solemnly adopted the Cambridge Platform and Westminster Confession, as the foundation, of their union in discipline and doctrine, because, in their view, most agreeable to the word of God.
From the year 1786 to 1827, a period of 41 years, (during the ministry of Dr. McClure and Mr. Robbins,) a record has been kept by them, in the church book, of all the deaths that have occurred within the bounds of this society, with the ages and diseases of the deceased, which gives decisive proof of the remarkable salubrity of the place.
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MINISTERS.
REV. TIMOTHY EDWARDS, settled March, 1695, died Jan. 27, 1758 JOSEPH PERRY,
April, 1755, " April21, 1783
DAVID MCCLURE, D.D. " June, 1796, " June 25, 1820 THOMAS ROBBINS, May 3, 1809, dis'd Sept. 27, 1827
SAMUEL W. WHELPLEY, "
April 17, 1828 " Dec. 6, 1830
CHAUNCEY G. LEE,
Ang. 8, 1832 " Mar. 30, 1836
LEVI SMITH,
May 6, 1840.
The following persons are all that our records name as having filled the office of Deacon in this church, but the time in which they were appointed is specified only in three cases.
JOSEPH SKINNER.
MATHEW ROCKWELL. DANIEL ROCKWELL.
BENONI OLCOTT.
AMASA LOOMIS.
THOMAS SADD.
AMASA LOOMIS, Jr. appointed Sept. 27, 1793.
ABNER REED,
appointed May 22, 1799.
DANIEL ROCKWELL, S
ERASTUS ELLSWORTH, appointed April 4, 1834.
LIST OF MEMBERS.
Lemuel Bissell
Alice Gillett
Charles Rockwell
Lucy Gillett
Almira Wolcott
Sarah Rockwell Abner Reed
Julius Birge
Elizabeth W. Reed
Deborah Cook John Bissell
Edwin Birge Mary Stoughton Sally Rockwell Abigail Rockwell
Miriam Cook
Jerusha Wolcott
Mary Allen, (deranged)
Jesse Charlton
Lucy Newberry
Benjamin Cook
Sarah Burnham
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Harvey Elmer Epaphras Grant Lydia Grant Sally Bancroft Joseph Williams Naomi Williams Sally Birge Amelia Loomis Oliver Tudor Clarinda Goodwin Chloe Terry Mary Williams Ilorace Filley Ralph R. Rollo Lucy Ann Rollo Abigail Olcott Tirzah Filley
Eveline Drake
Almena Grant
Eunice Pelton
Nancy Anderson
Abigail Cook Mary Cook Frances Cook Ann O. Verstille Ann Grant Emeline Birge Laura Bowe Eli B. Haskell. John Pelton Oliver M. Cook Aaron Williams Susan Haskell Abigail Tudor Jemima Rockwell Dimmis Bissell
Dimmis Bissell, Jr. Mary Cahoon Clarissa Williams Maria Bissell Lucy Strong Mary Gillett
Increase Clapp
Edward Hayden
Polly Bower
Phila Bissell
Charles Willey Anna Willey
Horace C. Gillett
Harriett Tucker Hill
Edward Haskell
John S. Clapp
Erastus Ellsworth
Elizabeth Ellsworth
Clarissa Elmer.
Caroline Willey Elijah Loomis
Harriet Loomis
Augustus Thompson Lucy Rockwell
Mary Strong
Delia Payne Elizabeth Baker
Abby M. Rollo
Sarah Clapp
Sarah Ann Gillett
Sarah Bliss Maria Bliss . Allen Drake Margaret Drake John Allen Cynthia Allen
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Julia Filley Eliakim M. Olcott Ann Olcott Eliza Ann Olcott Frances L. Olcott Julia Clapp
Lydia W. Smith Elam Pearl Lavina Pearl Ann E. Grant
Mary P. McNall
CONFESSION OF FAITH
OF THE
FIRST CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH IN EAST WINDSOR.
ARTICLE I. You believe there is only one living and true God ; existing from Eternity, Self-existant, Inde- dependant, Infinite in wisdom, power, holiness, justice, goodness, and truth. - Deut. 6 : 4. Mark 12 : 29.
ART. II. You believe the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments are the Word of God, and are the only rule of faith and practice. - 2d. Peter 1: 21. 2d. Tim. 3 : 16.
ART. III. You believe there are three persons in the Godhead ; the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost ; and that these three are one God, the same in substance, equal in power and glory. - Mat. 28: 19. 2d. Cor. 13: 14. 1st. John 5: 7.
ART. IV. You believe that by nature you are a child of wrath, and justly condemned by God's Holy Law. - Eph. 2: 3. Is. 48: 8. 1st John 3: 4.
ART. V. You believe in the necessity of being born again to a holy and divine life, through faith in the blood
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of Christ, and that this is the gift of God and the work of the Holy Spirit ; and that those who are renewed by the Spirit of God, and kept by his Almighty power through faith unto salvation. - John 3 : 3-6. John 1 : 13. 1st. Peter 1 : 5. John 10 : 27, 28.
ART. VI. You believe that the Lord Jesus Christ, who died for our offences, and rose for our justification, in the only Mediator between God and man; and you hope for salvation through his merits and mediation alone. - 1st Cor. 15 : 3. 1st Peter 2 : 24. 1st Tim. 2 : 5. Acts 4: 12.
ART. VII. You believe it to be your duty to give up yourself, or selves, to God in an everlasting covenant ; and to wait on him in all the ways of his appointment to obtain the saving benefits of his grace. - 2d. Cor. 6 : 17, 18. Ps. 27: 14. James 1: 17.
ART. VIII. You believe that Christ has a church in the world, and that this is a church of Christ ; and that he hath appointed ordinances for worship and discipline in his church to be observed to the end of the world ; that the sacraments of the New Testament are Baptism and the Lord's Supper ; and are to be administered to visible saints, and that it is the privilege of believing parents to dedicate their children to God in Baptism. - Eph. 1 : 22. Luke 22 : 19, 20. Ist. Cor. 11: 24. Acts 6: 15, 33. 1st. Cor. 1 16. :
ART. IX. You believe in a future state, beyond the grave, the immortality of the soul, the resurrection of the body, and a general judgment at the last day by Jesus Christ, who will assign you and all mankind to an endless state of happiness or misery according to their works .- 2d. Cor. 5 : 10. Mat. 25 : 46.
Thus you believe.
BAPTISM ADMINISTERED.
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THE COVENANT.
You will now enter publicly into covenant with God and this church.
Deeply impressed with your sinfulness and unworthi- ness - your entire dependence on God, and your obliga- tions to love and obey him - humbly hoping that you have been renewed by the Holy Spirit, - You do now, in the presence of God and these witnesses, solemnly avouch the Lord Jehovah, Father Son and Holy Ghost, to be your God. You acknowledge the Lord Jesus Christ your only Saviour, and the Holy Spirit your sanctifier, comforter and guide.
Covenant with this Church.
You also covenant with this church -to walk in fellowship and communion with it -you engage to attend on the public worship of God and the ordinances of his house - habitually to discharge the secret and social duties of religion, to support church discipline according to the rules prescribed by Christ - to guard carefully in heart and life against every thing which will dishonor the cause of Christ, and to labor and pray for the promotion of his kingdom through the earth. You engage, in a particular manner, to seek the prosperity of this branch of his visible church - to submit to its dis- cipline, and avoid whatever is prejudicial to its interests - and, with a spirit of meekness and love, to administer . to its members such advice and reproof as duty may require.
Thus you convenant with God and this church ?
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I do then, in the presence of God and these witnesses, and in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, declare you a member [or members] of this church, entitled to its privileges and ordinances, communion and fellowship, watch and care.
[The members of the Church will rise. ]
And now do we, the members of this church, cordially receive you to our fellowship and communion. We engage, on our part, by divine assistance, to manifest towards you the spirit of the Gospel - to watch over you in love, and should you fall into sin, to restore you in the spirit of meekness.
Beloved in the Lord, let it never be forgotten that you are in covenant with God and his people. Hereafter, the eyes of the world will be upon you - according as you live, the cause of Christ will be honored or dishonor- ed. If you live worthy of your profession, religion will be honored, if not, it will be an occasion of grief and reproach. But, beloved, we are persuaded better things of you, and things which accompany salvation, though we thus speak. May the Lord guide and preserve you till death, and at last receive you and us to that blessed world, where our love and joy shall be forever perfect. Amen.
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1 284625. 25
MAY 75
N. MANCHESTER. INDIANA
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