USA > Connecticut > Middlesex County > East Hampton > The One hundred and fiftieth anniversary, 1748-1898, of the Congregational Church of East Hampton (Chatham), Conn. : November 30, 1898 > Part 1
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MIL.
GENEALOGY COLLECTION
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ALLEN COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY
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Charles & A Camp Complements of M & Roberts
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PRESENT CHURCH EDIFICE.
THE ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTIETH ANNIVERSARY 1748-1898
OF
The Congregational Church of East Hampton, (Chatham,) Conn.
November 30, 1898.
1
PELTON
MIDDLETOWN CONN,
PROGRAMME.
MORNING SERVICE BEGINNING AT 10 O'CLOCK.
Organ Voluntary,
MISS LOLA BARTON.
authem-"Send out Thy Light," Gounod. Scripture Reading and Prayer, - - REV. C. W. COLLIER.
Solo-" He shall feed His flock," Handel.
MISS LOIS J. BARTON.
Welcome by the Pastor,
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- REV. WILLIAM SLADE.
Duett-"Love Divine,"
Stainer. MISS MAY BOUTELLE and MR. NEWTON CURTIS.
historical address, - REV. JOEL S. IVES. hymn 651-" How firm a foundation."
a Sketch of the Life of Rep. John Lorton, first Pastor of the Church, - MR. MARTIN L. ROBERTS. hymn 781-" For all thy saints who from their labors rest."
Benediction. Postlude. 1140703
Collation at Siebert's Hall at 12:30 o'clock.
AFTERNOON SERVICE AT 2:30 O'CLOCK.
Organ Voluntary.
anthem-" Praise ye the Father," - Gounod.
Reading of Letters from former Pastors.
Solo-"Come unto Him," - Handel.
MISS BOUTELLE.
address,
KEV. H. E. HART.
hymn 770" Blest be the tie."
address, -
REV. C. W. COLLIER. - Buck.
Solo-" Fear not ye, O Israel," - MR. CURTIS.
Words of Congratulation and Reminiscence, - # REV. E. E. LEWIS. # REV. A. W. HAZEN, D. D.
Prayer, - - BY THE PASTOR. REV. JOEL S. IVES.
hymn, written for the occasion by
Benediction. Postinde.
* Not present. Account of the Inside of the Old Church introduced.
ANNIVERSARY HYMN.
TUNE: STOCKWELL. Bells are ringing! Bells are ringing! Everywhere the world around, Calls to duty, calls to danger, Peals of praise, or sadder sound.
Toil and skill have wrought the music, Willing hands and earnest thought; Year to year has told the secret Closely kept and dearly bought.
Hearken! What is now the message ? " Holiness unto the Lord!" Hear, Our Father, while we praise Thee, With Thy blessing speed The Word.
As the Lake pours out its treasure, Failing not from year to year, So Thy saints have brought their worship, Sire and son, in holy fear.
Witnesses are 'round about us; Holy mem'ries stir within. Comforter, Divine Redeemer, Cheer our hearts, forgive our sin.
Heavenly blessings, never lacking, Thou hast given in the Past: Blessings more abundant ever Grant us, even to the last!
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REV. WILLIAM SLADE, Acting Pastor, IS97.
INTRODUCTION.
SENDING out this record of our Anniversary, it seems fitting that there should be a word of introduction. For several years the people of the church had been looking forward to their one hundred and fiftieth birthday, hoping to celebrate it in some becoming manner. At the annual church meeting on January 13, IS98, the following resolution was proposed by Deacon H. D. Chapman, and passed:
Resolved, That this church observe the one hundred and fiftieth anniversary of its organization with services appropriate to the occasion, and that a com- mittee be appointed to act with a committee of the society, to make all suitable arrangements and provisions for the proper carrying out of this resolution.
The committees were appointed, whose names will be found in this volume. They all worked with enthusiasm and fidelity. These committees together formed a general committee, which appointed sub-committees. A. A. Bevin was chosen chairman of the general committee; S. Mills Bevin served as clerk, and H. D. Chapman as treasurer. If one were to single out a committee for special praise among all who did so well, it would be the collation committee. They prepared in Siebert's Hall a repast most abundant and attractive for a multitude of friends who could not come, and then these hard working women did outwit the weather, carrying through the feast without financial loss.
It was at first proposed to have the celebration on the 28th of September, before the boisterous weather of late fall. It was found, however, that our historians wished more time for their work, and especially desired the Anniversary to occur on
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CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH OF EAST HAMPTON.
the actual date, November 30th, when the church would com- plete its century and a half. This date was therefore chosen, and more time given for preparation and investigation. Indeed, the thorough work represented in this book could hardly have been done by busy people except by extending the time.
At last tlie day came, and what a day! The Sabbatlı before had warned us of what might be, for as the pastor looked front his study window he could not see the beautiful church spire till near 12 o'clock, so thick was the air with drifting snow. Even the sexton staid at home from church that day. There was a little pleasant weather, then came Wednesday, thie 30th, with another blizzard. The streets were filled with drifts. The trains were blocked and several hours late. Some brave descendants of brave John Norton reached us from Willimantic and Portland. These, with those who had come to town the night before, represented the outside world of all the friends who had planned to rejoice with us. The people were disap- pointed, but decided to go on with the exercises. We shall not forget the generosity of those who with their horses and sleighs brought the stranded ones to the church. Nor will some forget the ride on an ox sled from Barton Hill to the church. But all regretted especially the disappointment of those whose health or years prevented a ride over the drifts and in the storm to a service they had been looking forward to with so much pleasure. This day was probably an "old- fashioned winter," come back to make more vivid the days of long ago, a specimen of the environment in which our fathers struggled for existence, but a day in which we had a service of inspiring memories, music, and devotion.
The exercises proceeded as the programme indicates, with the exception of the words of reminiscence and congratulation. These were omitted, Rev. A. W. Hazen, of the North Church, Middletown, being ill, and Rev. E. E. Lewis, of Haddam, being kept at home by the storm. In place of these addresses the pastor introduced an interesting description of the inside of the old church, given him by Miss Julia A. West, granddaughter of Rev. Joel West. It would be quite impossible to reproduce the impromptu speeches at the table. They were made by the Rev. F. W. Coleman, of the Methodist Church; Rev. C. W. Collier, a former pastor; David Strong, a former resident of
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CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH OF EAST HAMPTON.
the town, and Rev. Joel S. Ives, pastor from 1874 to 1883, and were a fine combination of laughable and sober thoughts, with some very remarkable stories effectively told.
There was in the vestry a fine collection of relics and memen- toes, of which a full catalogue was made, and a sermon by the Rev. John Norton was printed from an ancient manuscript and served as a souvenir of the day.
There is an appendix added to the record of the Anniversary which we trust will be especially valuable, since it gathers as far as possible the. names of those whose lives and devotion have made the spiritual substance of this venerable church. It gathers, too, the petitions and old papers that record the begin- nings of church and town life, and there are short sketches of deacons whose faithful lives have kept the faith steady and strong. But it remains for some future chronicler to write more fully the story of this church and town, for church and town grew on together. The business meetings of the church were the business meetings of the town. In those meetings they provided for the first public schools as well as for the preaching of the gospel. This volume is therefore only a beginning towards a fuller knowledge of those days of first things, of hard work, and faith in God, of which the present town of Chatham reaps the fruits.
Special appreciation and thanks should here be extended to Martin L. Roberts and S. Mills Bevin for their continuous and faithful work in gathering the materials that make the appen- dix such a valuable store of history for those who have this town as their home or their birthplace.
EAST HAMPTON, August 1, 1899.
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CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH OF EAST HAMPTON.
PRAYER.
ORD, thou hast been our dwelling-place in all generations; before the mountains were brought forth or ever thou hadst formed the earth or the world, even from everlast- ing to everlasting, thou art God. We feel like crying with thy servant of old: What is man that thou art mindful of him, or the son of man that thou visitest him! We are but of yes- terday, but thou dost endure throughout all generations. Our little systems have their day; they have their day and cease to be, and thou, O Lord, art more than they! Into this refuge of thy power, thy care, thy love, at this time we would retreat.
For we remember at this time that the kingdom is thine; not ours, but thine; for thine is the kingdom, the power, and the glory, forever and ever. The church is thine; it was born not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. Thou didst redeem it with the precious blood of Christ. And we would thank thee, not only that thou didst bring thy church to pass, but that thou hast preserved it also through the tempests of the ages, that thou hast brought to naught the wrath of man that stormed against it, and hast prevailed, too, over the weakness and frailty of thy people. As thou didst feed thine ancient people with manna, and as thou didst open fountains for them in the wilderness, so hast thou nourished thy people unto this day with manna from on high that has sustained their souls.
We thank thee for the unspeakable heritage that has come to us through thy church; for apostles, prophets, martyrs; for holy men of old who spoke as they were moved by the Holy Ghost, for the revelation of thyself made to men through them; we thank thee for the services of thy house, for the place of worship, that our faith is not of yesterday, but has been hal- lowed by holy men through ages; we thank thee that we, too, can join therein, can unite our voice with that of thy church universal in its unbroken anthem of gratitude and praise.
*
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CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH OF EAST HAMPTON.
We thank thee for this particular church, that thou didst call it to take its place in thy great church universal. Through it thou hast greatly blessed this community; thou hast minis- tered to it the water of life, thou hast greatly enriched it with the river of God; thou hast blessed all these homes through it; thou hast blessed the bridal hour and made it sacred: thou hast comforted thy people in the hour of death. We thank thee for all thou liast done in this very house. Wert thou to make these walls to speak they would tell of rich ministrations of thy grace: for here thou hast again and again met with men far from thee; thou hast melted the stony heart, thou hast wrought penitence, thou hast forgiven sin, thou hast broken tlie bonds of sin, thou hast sent them away with a new song in their mouth. O that men would praise the Lord for all his wonderful works! How often, O thou comforter of thy people, hast thou comforted thy people here! They have come to thy house with strength exhausted, with courage almost gone, but thou didst renew their strength, thou didst make them to run and not be weary and to walk and not faint, thou didst make their hearts to mount up like eagles, thou didst restore their souls. Thou hast hallowed this place, not with holy oil as of old, but through the abundant ministration of thy grace, through which thou hast endeared it to thy people as 110 stranger could tell.
And now we pray for the continuance of thy blessing. Tlou dost call us to-day to thanksgiving and praise for what thou hast wrought in the past, yet thou wilt hear our petitions. Thou hast carried this thy church lo these many years, carry thou it for the days to come! Let there be underneath the everlasting arms! Manifest thyself here that thou hast not changed, that thine arm is not shortened that it can not save! Repeat the days of old, and show that thy blessings are indeed new every evening and fresh every morning! Fulfill in the days to come that which thou hast begun, those intimations thou hast given in what thou hast already done, and may this church be as a field which the Lord has blessed, like a tree planted by the rivers of water, like a branch of the true vine of which thou thyself art the husbandman!
In particular we pray that sound wisdom and the Spirit of God may ever dwell with thy people. May the love of God
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CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH OF EAST HAMPTON.
continually be shed abroad in their hearts by the Holy Ghost. Guide thou its pastor; may he live, move, and have his being in God and in the love and confidence of his people. Working together in the fellowship of thy Gospel, may they bring forth much fruit. May there be born into thy kingdom continually such as shall be saved, reclaim to thyself those who fall, fill all this thy church with the spirit of Christian service, and may they count it their chief privilege to walk with Christ and serve thee. So through the years to come, as thou dost per- fect the lives of thy servants and minister to them of thy grace, may they in turn minister to thy church of such as thou hast given them, that through thy church there may flow here rivers of living water, of which men shall drink unto eternal life. Hear thou our prayer: yet not according to our words alone, but according to thy church's needs. We ask in faith. For thy church is dearer to thee than to thy servants, dear as the apple of thine eye and graven on thy hands. In Christ's name we pray. Amen.
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REV. JOEL S. IVES, Pastor, 1874-1883.
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CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH OF EAST HAMPTON.
HISTORICAL ADDRESS.
The One Hundred and Fiftieth Anniversary of the First Con- gregational Church, East Hampton, Conn., November 30, 1898.
E who does not take an interest in his ancestors does not deserve to be remembered by his posterity." Every Christian takes an added interest in recount- ing the mercies of a covenant keeping God during the days of old. And while clouds of witnesses are around about us, we will listen to the story-the trials and the triumphs of this century and a half, while this church has maintained among these hills and valleys the ordinances of the Gospel in accord- ance with the Pilgrim faith and form. We are fortunate in being able to celebrate this anniversary upon the very date when this church was organized one hundred and fifty years ago.
It was then the Town of Middletown and the County of Hartford. On this east side of the Connecticut river there was already a church, called East Middletown Parish-now Portland-the church having been organized October 25, 1721. But the excellence of the water privilege caused by the over- flow of our beautiful Pocotopaug pond, with its deep and never failing springs, attracted settlers hither, who built a forge for the smelting of iron ore brought from West Point, N. Y., and as iron was in much demand for ship building a considerable business was done. In 1825 a new forge was built, and also a scythe factory.
A petition, dated "Midleton, April 29th, 1743," signed by twenty-five names, states that the "nearest of us" were "five mile distent " and "most of us seven mile" from the "place of publick worship," and that they had hired "by the appro- bation of the society's committee " a person "approved to preach amongst us for more than six months the last year,"
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CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH OF EAST HAMPTON.
and therefore ask relief from one-half the taxes imposed by the society. The twenty-five names are as follows:
John Clark,
Thomas Lewis,
Hezekiah Russ,
Samuel Wadsworth,
Stephen Griffith,
David Bailey,
John Bevin, Junr.,
Jonathan Baley,
Ebenezer Clark,
Jabez Clark,
Joseph Parke,
Shubal Lewis,
Josiah Cook,
William Clark,
William Norket,
William Norket, Junr.,
Isaac Smith,
Ezra Andrews,
James Johnson,
Daniel Young,
William Bevin,
Seth Knowles,
Caleb Johnson,
John Markham.
Isaac Williams,
A second petition was sent to "the Honourable Assembly of liis Majestyes Colony of Connecticut to be held in New Haven," signed by thirty-six names, and dated October 8, 1744. This states that the former petition was granted, and that some of the petitioners are ten miles distant from a place of worship, "and the Rhoads we are to travel in are very Rough and Bad to Travel in," and while mindful of their "poor circumstances" they are still hopeful of being able to support a minister, and therefore petition that they be set off as a society-the definite bounds being stated-with all the powers of such ecclesiastical societies. The following names appear on the second petition, but not on the first:
John Clark, Junr ..
Aaron Clark,
Samuel Eggleston,
Zaccheus Cooke,
David Cerby (?),
Elisha Cornwell,
Solomon -(?),
James Cady,
David Anderson,
Giles Hall, Hamlin John Hall,
George Hubbard,
Isaac Thompson,
Mary Johnson, Hezekiah Russ, Junr.
A third petition, presented by Benjamin Stillman as agent, dated April 29, 1746, declares that certain rights were given in answer to the petition of 1744, that they had employed a minister for eleven months each year, that they had increased in strength, and that as "the Society" was about to build a new meeting house, and their taxes would be increased, they "humbly request " that they may be " sett off from said society and be a distinct ecclesiastical society," and to this end that a committee be appointed to view the circumstances and report to the assembly.
At the October session the right was given to lay a tax of fourpence an acre on all laid-out lands for the next three years for the settlement of a minister and the building of a meeting
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CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH OF EAST HAMPTON.
house, full rights of a society having been given and the name East Hampton having been decided upon, probably because some of the settlers were from Easthanı, Barnstable County, Massachusetts. At the October session of 1748, on petition of the society "now about to settle the Rev. Mr. Norton in the work of the ministry among them, and asking liberty of this assembly to embody into church estate," it was "Resolved, that they have liberty, and are hereby granted liberty to embody into church estate with the approbation of the neigli- boring churchies." The 30th of November, 1748, marks the date of the consummation of that purpose, which had thus been ripening since the spring of 1743; and even earlier, for the first petition shows that there had been regular preaching here in the year 1742.
This was then the Third* Society of East Middletown, the second being the Middle Haddam Society, organized September 24, 1740. In 1767 this part of Middletown, east of the river, was incorporated as a separate town and named Chatham, from Chatham, England, because of the importance of the ship- building. In 1842 the town of Portland was incorporated. It would have been a great improvement if at that time East Hampton had appropriated the name Chatham. I wonder if it is too late for that improvement now!
While the building of the forge at the outlet of the lake was the reason for a settlement in this part of the then town of Middletown, it is the bell business which has given distinction to the place and has been the cause of its prosperity, although every one must regret that the skill and toil of many years have not brought larger wealth to the community.
It appears from the records that Williani Barton was in Colonel Flower's regiment of Artillery Artificers during the War of the Revolution, with the rank of Captain, and also that his son Willian served as an assistant to his father. The son later worked in the Springfield Armory, and in ISos moved to East Hampton and commenced the manufacture of hand and sleigh bells. He first conceived the idea of hollow castings, which enters now so largely into many branches of trade; but it was never patented, although there were "millions in it." It is a remarkable fact that for many years all tlie cast sleigh
* Middletown sixth.
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CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH OF EAST HAMPTON.
bells of North America were made in East Hampton or by East Hampton men. The trade seems to be indigenous.
William Barton, son of Capt. William and Sarah (Sage) Barton, was born November 26, 1763, in Kensington, Conn. He married, February 14, 1790, Clarissa, daughter of Ezekiel and Betsy (Penoyer) Betts, born in Sharon, Conn., February 10, 1768. He was probably the first manufacturer of sleigh bells, making them then in two parts and soldering them together. It is said he would make a small quantity and take them to the markets, carrying them on his person, jingling through the streets, and dispose of them. He died July 15, 1849, universally respected and lamented. She died October 4, 1858.
Coffin trimmings were manufactured here in considerable quantities for several years, and for the last twenty years the thread and silk industries have been important. The railroad, although a necessity, has laid a heavy burden of taxation, and doubtless retarded growth, which in spite of hindrances has been considerable.
As a special paper is to be given upon the life and work of the first pastor, the Rev. John Norton, I pass at once to the history of the second pastorate.
After the death of Mr. Norton a committee, consisting of Deacon Isaac Smith, Deacon John Clark, and Captain Silas Dunham, were instructed at a society meeting held "Sept. ye 24th, A. D. 1778," to apply to Mr. Parsons "to preach with us on probation;" and a receipt is on record, signed "Received in full of ye above account, Lemuel Parsons," of seventy-six pounds, fifteen shillings, for preaching thirteen "Sabbaths and one Thanksgiving day." On January 5th, 1779, the society voted to call Mr. Parsons to "settle with them in the Gospel Ministry," upon a "settlement " of two hundred pounds to be paid in four years, by equal installments; his salary during these four years to be seventy pounds, and after the payment of the settlement, eighty pounds a year. This salary and set- tlement were to be paid in country produce at prices defined in the call; as, for example, rye at three shillings and sixpence per bushel, cheese at fourpence per pound, sheep's wool at one shilling and fourpence per pound, flax at eightpence per pound. There was also added to the salary twenty cords of wood annually.
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CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH OF EAST HAMPTON.
This was the unsettled and most trying period of the Revo- lution, and Mr. Parsons, with commendable foresight, being himself a Connecticut Yankee, replied as follows:
" BELOVED :- I have taken into serious consideration your call and invitation to settle with you in the work of the ministry, and take this method to grate- fully acknowledge your kind and generous offer, and whereas in the proposals of the society no method of ascertaining what shall from time to time be esteemed an equivalency in current money respecting either settlement or salary, to prevent all difficulty in that respect it is proposed that this shall be fixed by agreement between me and a committee of the society for that purpose chosen from year to year." [The method of choosing this committee here follows:] "Provided the parish should consent hereto and nothing discouraging should hereafter arise, I hereby signify my consent to settle with you and take the pastoral charge of you. That grace, mercy and peace may be multiplied unto you and yours, through the knowledge of God and Jesus Christ, is the desire and hearty prayer of, gentlemen,
Your humble servant, LEMUEL PARSONS."
These terms were accepted, for his marriage took place the same month and his ordination the following month. The house in which he lived was near the site of the present par- sonage. After a pastorate of twelve years he died in office, and was buried in Lakeview Cemetery, where, near the north- ern entrance, may be found two red sandstone slabs with winged heads, upon one of which may be read this inscription:
In memory of THE REV. MR. LEMUEL PARSONS, PASTOR OF THIS CHURCH.
His temper was cheerful, manners kind, and heart benevolent. Hle lived beloved by relatives, dear to his people, in friendship and esteem with his brethren, and respected by his acquaintance.
lle was born in Durham, May 2d, 1753; educated at Yale College, 1773; ordained over this flock Feb. roth, 1779, and after a short but useful course, he departed in the hope of Christian Salvation, Feb. 14th, 1791, in the 3Sth year of his age.
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Upon the other stone may be read, doubtless in Mr. Parsons' own words:
The memory of an amiable and virtuous consort, MRS. KATHERINE PARSONS, who died April 9th, A. D. 1780, in the 26th year of her age, By an affectionate husband, THE REVEREND LEMUEL PARSONS,
God adoring and in flesh mourning his own and new born son's AFFECTING LOSS ON THIS MONUMENT IS INSCRIBED.
Virtuous bands of Hymen's yoke, By death's rough hands can ne'er be broke, Each kindred mind by grief refined, With Angels joined, its mate shall find.
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