USA > Connecticut > Fairfield County > Bridgeport > A History of the Old Town of Stratford and the City of Bridgeport, Connecticut, Part II > Part 33
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are mentioned, and in 1769 Tashua school is first noted and provided for with public money. From year to year for a considerable time Zechariah Coe was "appointed to bring the school money into the society and divide it to the several districts." This was the " country school money," which the colony had long furnished for education.
The inside of the North Stratford meeting house was unfinished for many years. In 1762 they voted "to pew the remaining part of the galleries that are unfinished." Also, " voted and agreed that the Rev. Mr. Beebee's Family should have the pew adjoining the pulpit stairs. The meeting house committee is chosen to make the steps at the meeting house doors." And in 1773 they "Voted to repair the meeting- house and color the outside and finish the inside of said meeting house."
" Dec. 1767. Voted that the money that was contributed to purchase a silver Christening Bason should be laid out to purchase a bloctin one for that use, and also to purchase cloth to cover the cousheon for the pulpit."
"Dec. 1769. Voted to give Mr. James Beebee y' old qushen y+ belongs to y' pulpitt."
" Dec. 1768. Voted to divide the six law books brought into the Society by Deacon Abraham Brinsmaid, one to Daniels Farm, one to Nichols Farm, one to White Plain, one to Ox-hill or lower part of Long hill, one to the upper part of Long Hill and one to Tashua."
" At a legal Society meeting held at the meeting house in North Stratford on the 22d day of November A. D. 1773, James Walker Esq'. was chosen moderator for said meeting.
" Voted that Ephraim Beach should be Society clark, and sworn for the year ensuing.
"Voted that Messrs. David Summers, Daniel Hawley and Sylvanus Starling be Society's Comtee to order the Prudentials of sd. Society for ye year ensuing.
"Voted that Messrs. John Bardslee, Leut. Zechariah Coe, Capt. Robert Hawley, and David Booth, Agur Beach, Daniel Hawley, and Edmund Curtis, John Whealor, Lt. Abijah Beach, and Ephraim Stearling, Stephen Middlebrook, Eliakim Walker, and William Nichols, William Burritt, Amos Hinman, and Daniel Shelton, Nathan Nichols, Jr., Ichabod Wakelee, and Thomas Porter, Matthew Mallitt, Samuel Gregory, and Jonathan Nichols, Jehiel French, Benja- min Sears, and David Edwards, William Edwards, Nehemiah Edwards should be a Comte for the several schools for ye year insuing.
" Voted that Leut. Zechariah Coe is appointed to bring the school money into the society and divide it to the several schools according to their districts.
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"Voted that the society will do something about the ecclesiastical difficulties in this society.
"Voted that they will not adjourn but procede to do business about the afore- said difficulties.
"Voted to choose a Come to go to the Counsel of ministers for advice to see if they can't come into some methods for our agreement.
"Voted that Messrs. Ephraim Beach, John Hinman, John Middlebrook, Capt. Joseph Burton and James Walker Esqr. be a Comte to go to sd. Counsel for advice about sd. difficulties in sd. Society.
"Voted that Capt. Nathan Hawley should take care of the meeting house, and sweep it once a fortnight, at least, and shut ye doors and windows the year insuing. and have fifteen shillings and six pence for his services.
"Voted that this meeting be adjourned without day and is hereby adjourned."
William Wayneright took the care of the meeting house several years, by vote of the society, from year to year.
The "ecclesiastical difficulties" referred to, were those which grew out of the receipt of a legacy from Thomas Sanford, one of the members of the church and society.
In 1778 the school committees are mentioned in connec- tion with the districts : "Timothy Fairchild, Andrew Nichols and David Lake for Nichols Farm; John Uffoot, Elnathan Beers, Jr. and Capt. Solomon Booth for White Plain; Eph- raim Thompson, Abel Beach and Andrew Beach at Daniel's Farm; Capt. John French, Benjamin Burton and John Wheeler at the Lower end of Long Hill; Gideon Peet, David Turney and Eliakim Walker at the upper end of Long Hill; Lt. Samuel Bangs, John Edwards, 3ª and Elnathan Edwards at Chestnut Hill; Samuel Gregory, Abijah Seeley and Joseph Mallett at Tashua; Jehiel French, Jonathan Nichols and Lt. Judson Curtiss at Stepney; Capt. David Nichols, James Nichols and Nathan Nichols at Booth's Hill." Probably some few changes occurred during the next seventeen years, and then a new survey and the fixing of boundaries occurred as recorded.
" We the subscribers being appointed a committee by the society of North Stratford in legal society meeting held at the meeting house in said society on the 2ª day of December 1795, to set off the several school districts in this society, and to meet for said purpose at the house of Mr. Lewis Burton in said society on Tuesday the 8th of instant December and to make out proper minutes of our doings and exhibet the same to the society clerk, and that the same be recorded ; having met according to our appointment at said place and formed by choosing Mr. David Beardslee, Junr. chairman and Judson Curtiss, Junr. scribe, proceeded to set off the several school districts as follows, viz :
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"The District of Nichols's Farm School to begin at the monument at the southwest corner of the town of Huntington, near Bears Den so called, thence running east with said town line to the line of the old society in Stratford, thence southwardly with said line to the southeast corner of this society, thence west- wardly with the line between this and the old society to 60 rods west of the bridge where said line crosses Nichols's Farm road, thence northwardly a straight line to the place where the house of Lieut. Brinsmade, deceased, formerly stood, thence a straight line to Mesha Hill sawmill, thence a straight to the place begun at.
" The District of White Plain school, to begin at Hedge Hog Brook where it crosses Daniels Farm Road, thence a straight line to Meshee Hill sawmill, thence with the line of Nichols Farm school district to the south line of this society, thence westwardly with said line to where it crosses the highway next west of James Daskom's, thence a straight line to the highway in the center between the house of the Widow Starling and the house of the widow Mary Beebee, thence a straight line to the mouth of the cross road at the foot of Luff's hill, so called, thence a straight line to the place begun at.
"The District of Daniel's Farm School to begin at Meshee Hill sawmill, thence running a straight line to Booth's Hill Brook where it crosses the road east of Mr. Joseph Nichols, thence northwardly a straight line to the monument on Huntington line on the east of Mr. Edward Waylon's, thence with said town line westward to the center between Porter's Hill road and Shagnawamps road, thence southwardly a straight line to a large rock by the road between the house of Mr. Joshua Curtiss and the house of Mr. Daniel Foot, thence a straight line to the mouth of Shagnawamps Brook, thence southward with the river to the line of White Plain school district, thence eastward with the line of said district to the place begun at.
"The district of Booth's Hill school to begin at the monument at the south- west corner of the town of Huntington running with the line of Nichols Farm school district to Meshee Hill sawmill, thence northwardly with the line of Dan- iel's Farm school district to Booth's Hill brook where it crosses the road east of Mr. Joseph Nichols, thence with said line to the monument on Huntington line in the road east of Mr. Edward Waylon's together with all that part of this society there lying within the town of Huntington.
"The District of Long Hill south school to begin at the mouth of the cross road at the foot of Luffs Hill, so called, thence westward with said road to New- town road, thence to the bridge across Canoe Brook westward of Mr. Daniel Salmon's so as to leave the house of Mr. Seeley Burroughs in the north district, thence a straight line to the monument on Weston line at the mouth of the road east of Mr. Benjamin Beardslee's, thence southwardly with said Weston town line to Stratfield parish line, thence eastward with said parish line to the southwest corner of White Plain school district, thence northward with the line of said school district to the place begun at.
"The District of Long Hill North school to begin at the bridge on Canoe brook west of Mr. Daniel Salmon's running up with said brook to the bridge west of Mr. Enoch Gregory's, thence a straight line northwardly to a white oak tree a little west of the house of Mr. John Jones's, thence a straight line eastward to Newtown road ten rods south of the house of Mr. John Fitch's, thence northwardly a straight line to Huntington line fifty rods west of where said line crosses Shag- nawamps road, thence eastwardly with said town line to the northwest corner of
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Daniel's Farm school district, thence southward with the line of said district to the line of White Plain school district, thence westward with the line of said district to the mouth of the cross road at the foot of Luffs Hill, so called, thence with the line of Long Hill south school district westward to the place begun at.
"The District of Tashua school to begin at the bridge on Canoe Brook a little west of the house of Mr. Daniel Salmon's, thence running northward with the line of Long Hill North school district to a white oak tree west of Mr. John Jones's, thence a straight line northwardly to a large rock in the highway a little west of the house of Mr. Zachariah Mallett, Jr's, thence a straight line north to Hunting- ton line, thence west with said town line to Weston line, thence southwardly with said town line to the monument eastward of the house of Mr. Benjamin Beards- lee's, thence eastward with the line of Long Hill South school district to the place begun at.
"The District of Mount Moria school to begin at a white oak tree a little west of the house of Mr. John Jones's, thence running northward with the line of Tashua school district to Huntington line, thence eastward with said town line to the line of Long Hill North school district, thence southwardly with the line of said district to Newtown road ten rods south of the house of Mr. John Fitch's, thence westward with said line to the place begun at.
"The above and foregoing work done and completed by us the subscribers in North Stratford this 8th day of December A. D. 1795.
"Judson Curtiss, Jun", David Beardslee, Jur, Zachariah Curtiss, Samuel Hall, Daniel Beach, John Middlebrook, Ephraim Beach, Committee."
Christ Church (Episcopal) at Tashua in the town of Trumbull was organized, probably, about the year 1760. Services may have been conducted there some years before, by neighboring ministers. No records of this church at that date are known to be in existence, but the burying ground was there, for the remains of Mrs. Eleanor Barrow, who died November 24, 1766, were buried there, but it may not repre- sent the first burial there. There is a receipt given by the Rev. Christopher Newton, missionary at Ripton, for money received from North Stratford, March 30, 1761, recorded on the records of the old North Stratford Society, which indi- cates that he then held regular services within that society. Mr. Newton wrote a letter to the Venerable Society in Eng- land, dated June 25, 1760, in which he says, speaking of preaching at the place : " I have reason to think it has had a good effect on a number of families about eight or ten miles from Ripton, to whom I have often preached, and of late they have been more ready to hear than formerly, and some to be religiously disposed and sensible of the importance of attend- ing public worship. They have accordingly built a church 36 feet long and 26 feet wide, and in about six weeks so far
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finished it that we meet in it for public worship. A large congregation attend, it was thought upwards of three hundred people."11
"The church stood within the present church yard near the north gate. In 1762 the Rev. Mr. Newton writes to the Venerable Society in England that 'he has reason to bless God that seriousness, peace, and charity appear to prevail in his parishes ; that he has at North Stratford and Stratfield about thirty communicants and about one hundred at Ripton; that he had baptized in the last half-year twenty-one children.'
"July, 1762, the members of Tashua parish sent to the Society a letter of thanks for their gift of a folio Bible and prayer-book for the use of the church, and also for small Bibles and prayer-books and catechisms, and for the frequent and very acceptable ministrations of Mr. Newton, who . . . had been very constant for several years in administering the Lord's Supper to them once in two months, and performing divine service once in four Sundays, and in catechising and instructing the children."
In the old North Stratford Ecclesiastical Society book are recorded a dozen or more receipts, given by the Rev. Christopher Newton, for money received for services within that parish. Apparently all his receipts were not recorded, but sufficient are, to give some idea of his income from per- . sons dwelling within that society, although most of the receipts, being from school districts, name small sums. He states that for the year 1766 he received £26-1-9, lawful money ; and for 1767 he received £23. His last receipt here recorded was dated in 1782. He is said to have died in or before the year 1787. From these receipts it is evident that the Tashua people were neither as poor, nor asnear heathen- ism, when Mr. Newton found them, as they have sometimes been represented.
The law of 1786 allowed persons, upon giving a certifi- cate, to be released from paying taxes in the legal ecclesi- astical society and to pay to any church they might prefer, as seen in the following from the Trumbull records :
" Stratford, August, 1789. This may certify to all it may concern that David Sherman has conformed to the Episcopal Church and has annually paid his rate to said Church for two years past, as witness my hand, Abraham Lyman, Clercke ; Curate of St. Paul's Church and Tashua."
"The following is the list of the persons who withdrew from the Congrega-
11 Extracts from a sketch of this church in the "Fairfield County History," written by the Rev. William H. Buckley, rector of the church.
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tional Society of North Stratford and of Trumbull and united with the Episcopal Church, with the dates, and the places to which they went.
Benjamin and Abel Fairchild, Mar. 20, 1788, to Ripton ; Eli Seeley, Nov. 2, 1790, to Ripton ; Nero Hawley, a free Negro man, Mar. 14, 1791, to Ripton ; Mitchel Curtiss, Dec. 15, 1791, to Stratford ; Eliakim Walker, Mar. 31. 1794 [Tashua] ; David Walker, Feb. 16, 1793, to " North Stratford " [Tashua] : James Ross, Mar. 12, 1795, to North Stratford [Tashua] : Isaac Curtiss, Sept. 27, 1794, to Stratford ; Hezekiah B. Nichols, June 4, 1799; David Wheeler, July 1, 1799; James Beach, Nov. 15, 1800, to Trumbull [Tashua] ; David Edwards, Jr., Jan. 10, 1801, to Trumbull [Tashua] ; John Burton, Oct. 15, 1801, to Trumbull ; David Wheeler, July 1, 1799, to Trumbull ; Eliakim Hawley, Jan. 1, 1801, to Trumbull ; Jabez Beach, Jr., Apr. 21, 1802, 10 Trumbull ; Abigail Peet, March 24, 1804, to . Trumbull ; Robert Turney, Feb. 20, 1800, to Trumbull ; Amos H. Wheeler, Mar. 1, 1810, to Trumbull ; Robert Middlebrook, Mar. 1, 1810, to Trumbull ; Abel G. Northrop, Mar. 4, 1811, to Trumbull ; John M. Wheeler, Mar. 6, 1811, to Trum- bull ; Lewis B. Beach, April 2, 1811, to Trumbull ; Joseph Hamlin, May 1, 1811, and David Hamlin, May 2, 1811, to Trumbull ; David Beebee, April 28, 1811, to Trumbull ; Samuel Edwards, Jan. 18, 1812, to Trumbull ; Eben Beach, Jr., Sept. 25, 1816.
"The Rev. Abraham L. Clarke," who was ordained by Bishop Seabury in 1786, became the minister of the parish at Tashua soon after Mr. Newton's decease. In October, 1787, a committee was appointed by the parish to secure his ser- vices one-third part of the time, and the next year it was . voted to settle Mr. Clark one-third part of the time for life.
" In 1788, December I, it was voted to build a new church by subscription, and on Christmas day, in the same year, Capt. Abel Hall, Nathan Summers and David Mallett were appointed to oversee and carry on the building of the new church; and that Abraham Van Nostrand proportion the house, not to exceed 50 feet in length, and 34 in breadth, and 24 in height. Also to be 24 windows in said church, of six- by-eight glass, thirty panes in each window, exclusive of the arch. This edifice was located, apparently, on the north side of the highway, where it remained until the present one was erected. The same year it was voted to call the parish Trinity Church; and by that name it was known in the records for many years. In June, 1790, the church was so far advanced that by vote of the parish the pew spots were sold at public veendue, the buyers being obligated to pay the prices bid and build the pews in one year from the time of purchase. The pews were to be in uniform style, as they
1ª Manuscript of the Rev. William H. Bulkley.
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were in the North Fairfield meeting house. The purchase money was applied towards the expense of building the church. The pew spots, except two, were sold for $310.66. The square pews were sixteen in number, being the wall pews round the building. The chancel was on the north side, and there was a door in the opposite side and one also at the east and west ends. In the body of church there were long, open seats free to all. A tower and spire were built at the west entrance in 1823. The names of the original purchasers of pew spots were Henry Beardsley, Josiah Sanford, Isaac Wakelee, Zechariah Mallett, Nathan Summers, Andrew Lyon, William Prince, George Chambers, Zechariah Beach, Joseph Mallett, John Edwards, Capt. Abel Hall, William Osborne, and Agur Edwards. The church was consecrated by Bishop Seabury on June 5, 1795. -
The Rev. Abraham L. Clarke, son of James Clarke, M.D., of Milford, Conn., was graduated at Yale College in 1785, ordained deacon and priest by Bishop Seabury, June 9, 1786, and after officiating a time at Milford he began his services with the churches at Huntington and Tashua in 1787. On Novem- ber 14, 1790, he married Sarah, daughter of Philip Nichols, of Stratfield, and sister of the wife of the Rev. Philo Shelton ; the portraits of these two persons, Mr. Clarke and his wife, are preserved in the old home of the Rev. Philo Shelton. Mr. Clarke accepted a call from St. John's Church, Provi- dence, R. I., where he began his labors at Easter, 1793. He resigned that parish in 1800, and after assisting the Rev. Mr. Usper at Bristol, R. I., for a time, he accepted the rectorship of St. George's Church, Flushing, and St. James's Church of Newtown, Long Island, serving both parishes until 1809, and after that time until his decease in 1811, he confined his labors to Newtown. Bishop Seabury described him as "a gentle- man of good understanding and character, of easy and polite manners, and of diligence in his profession.""
" In 1792 the first convention of this diocese was held, and Tashua parish was represented by Capt. Abel Hall. On April 1, 1793, this parish joined with Christ Church at Stratford, in settling the Rev. Ashbel Baldwin, who officiated here every
18 Manuscript of the Rev. George Huntington Nicholls.
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third Sunday for many years. He was ordained by Bishop Seabury in 1785, at the first Episcopal ordination in America. He was small of stature, quick action, both of mind and body, fine talents, and powerful voice. In his prime he was very popular as a preacher and orator, being called upon often to preach and speak before public bodies on important occasions. Probably no man was more instrumental than he, since the Revolution, in laying the foundations of the church in this diocese. He continued to officiate in Tashua in connection with Stratford until 1815, and at intervals when the parish became vacant by the removal of other clergymen, until 1828, although his connection with Stratford ceased in 1824. He afterwards served other parishes in this diocese until 1832. He died at Rochester, N. Y., in 1846, aged 89 years, full of honors.“
"The Rev. Joseph D. Welton supplied this parish one- half of the time in connection with the old church in Weston, from 1817 until 1819, when he removed to Waterbury, where he died in 1825. From 1819 until 1823 the parish was again supplied a part of the time by Mr. Baldwin, and following him were Rev. Henry R. Judah, Rev. Beardsley Northrop, and Rev. E. J. Ives, supplying at various lengths of time with Mr. Baldwin again, until nearly 1829, when the Rev. Rodney Rossiter was settled here in connection with St. Peter's Church of Monroe, supplying each one-half the time until 1834.
" In 1837 the Rev. D. G. Tomlinson was called to Tashua, and officiated three-fourths of the time for two years, giving the other fourth to the church in Weston; after that he devoted all his services to Tashua, until his resignation in 1843. The chancel-window is a memorial of his earnest zeal and devoted labors for the good of the parish.
"The Rev. William W. Bronson served the cure from July, 1843, to November, 1847, when he accepted a call to St. James' Church at Danbury. In the following spring the Rev. Henry V. Gardner succeeded him, serving Tashua and Grace Church at Long Hill for one year. Grace Church had
14 On page 369 his death is erroneously given as having occurred at Stratford in 1825. It was his wife, Clarissa Baldwin, died, and was buried at Stratford.
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been erected during Mr. Tomlinson's service, as a chapel ot Christ Church. During the rectorship of the Rev. Mr. Bronson the erection of the present church edifice at Tashua, the third at that place, was accomplished. It was begun in 1846 and consecrated on the 28th of May following.
In 1849 the Rev. John W. Hoffman was called to Tashua, serving that church only. He was succeeded by the Rev. J. G. Downing, who served the whole time until the beginning of the year 1852. After a vacancy of nine months the Rev. De Witt C. Loop served the parish, in connection with Long Hill, the greater portion of 1853. After this several ministers served the parish for short periods : the Rev. W. L. Bostwick nearly two years, until February, 1856; the Rev. William T. Early a few months, until July, 1858; the Rev. D. P. Sanford from March 20, 1859. He was absent from the parish from September 20, 1862, until April 1, 1863, as chaplain of the 20th Regiment, Connecticut Volunteers, his place in Tashua being supplied by the Rev. William H. Williams. Mr. Sanford resigned on Easter Monday, 1864, and was followed by the Rev. William Warland in 1865, who served at Tashua and Long Hill until late in 1867, when he resigned. The Rev. C. C. Adams served as rector from February, 1869, about a year and a half, during which time the present rectory was purchased. The Rev. William J. Pigott succeeded him in October, 1870, for two years, he being followed in 1874 by the Rev. A. P. Brush, who served the united cures of Tashua and Long Hill until late in the year 1878. The present rector, the Rev. William H. Bulkley, took charge of the Tashua Church and parish June 13, 1880, serving in connection with Christ Church at Easton.
The officers of this church are: Rev. William Howard Bulkley, Rector; Charles Osborne, Aaron B. Mallett, War- dens; Stephen G. Nichols, Morse D. Mallett, William A. Mallett, Doct. Seth Hill, Benjamin H. French, S. Mallett Sanford, Joseph A. Treadwell, Vestrymen ; Joseph A. Tread- well, Clerk; William A. Mallett, Chorister; George D. Mal- lett, Librarian ; Rev. William H. Bulkley, Sunday School Superintendent."
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Tashua Burying-place in Trumbull.
Juliette S. Daughter of Francis & Marietta Austin, died Nov. 29, 1862, Æ. 11 yrs. II mo.
Marietta, wife of Francis Austin, Died Feb. 1, 1854, 2. 31.
Charity Elizabeth, Daughter of Isaac & Polly Beach, Died May 25. 1860, Æ. 19 Yrs. & 6 mo. She no longer needs A parents tender care For she now dwells on high With one who never will forsake her.
In memory of
Frederick W. Son of Nelson B. & Ellen M. Beach, Who Died Mar. 16, 1864, Æ. 6 mo.
Henry Jasper, son of Nelson B. & Ellen M. Beach, Died Feb. 24. 1871, Æ. 5 Yrs. & 8 mos.
In memory of
Mr. Henry Beardslee, who died Aug. 29th 1809, Aged 48 years.
In memory of Anna, the widow of Henry Beardslee, who departed this life Nov. 7, 1812, aged 50 years.
Mrs. Anne Bennitt, wife of Mr. James Bennitt, died Sept. 13, 1826, in her 77 year.
In memory of
Daniel H. Bennett, who died Aug. 27, 1857, Aged 76.
In memory of
Phebe, wife of Daniel H. Bennett, who died Nov. 4, 1823, in the 32 year of her age.
James Z., son of Aaron & Ammarillis Bennitt, Died Jan. 16, 1861, Æ. 26 yrs. 6 mo. & 23 days. This tablet to a brother's love Is reared by kindred left His soul is now above His friends on earth bereft. In memory of Phebe Bostwick, who died July 11, 1805, in the 27th, year of her age. Behold and see as you pass by As you are now so once was I As I am now soon you must be Prepare for death and follow me.
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