USA > Connecticut > A complete history of Connecticut, civil and ecclesiastical, from the emigration of its first planters, from England, in the year 1630, to the year 1764; and to the close of the Indian wars > Part 36
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Declara- tion and profes- sion.
CHẤP. XIV.
CONNECTICUT.
343
wherein the pastor and a number of the brethren with him, Book II. went off from the ancient foundation as aforesaid.
1742.
" And we, with all affection invite others, the members of said church, who do or may see just cause of grievance at the said innovations, to join with us in asserting our an- cient rightful powers and privileges broken in upon.
" We solemnly declare our belief of the christian reli- gion, as contained in the sacred scriptures, and with such a view thereof, as the confession of faith has exhibited, which is hereunto annexed, fully agreeing, in substance, with the confession of faith owned by said church, time out of mind, heartily resolving to conform our lives unto the rule thereof, that holy religion, as long as we live in this world.
"We solemnly renew a religious dedication of ourselves to the LORD JEHOVAH, who is the FATHER, the SON and the HOLY SPIRIT ; and avouch him this day to be our GOD, our FATHER, our SAVIOUR and LEADER ; and receive him as our portion forever.
" We give up ourselves anew unto the blessed JESUS, who is the LORD JEHOVAH, and adhere to him, as the head of his people in the covenant of grace, and rely on him as our prophet, priest and king, to bring us unto eternal bless- edness.
" We renewedly acknowledge our everlasting and indis- pensable obligations to glorify our GOD, in all the duties of a godly, sober and righteous life ; and very particularly in the duties of a church state, as a body of people asso- ciated for an obedience to Him, in all ordinances of the gospel ; and we thereupon depend on His gracious assist- ance for our faithful discharge of the duties thus incumbent on us.
"We desire and intend, and (with dependance on His promised and powerful grace) we engage anew to walk to- gether as a church of our LORD JESUS CHRIST, in the faith and order of the gospel, so far as we shall have the same revealed unto us, conscientiously attending the public worship of GOD, the sacraments of the New Testament, the discipline of His kingdom, and all His holy institutions in common with one another, and watchfully avoiding sin- ful stumbling blocks and contentions, as becometh a peo- ple, whom the LORD hath bound up together in the bundle of life. At the same time, we do also present our offspring with us unto the LORD, purposing, with His help, to do our part in the methods of religious education, that they may be the Lord's.
" And all this we do, flying to the blood of the everlasting
-
344
HISTORY OF
CHAP. XIV.
Book II. covenant for the pardon of our many errors, praying that the glorious Lord who is the great Shepherd, would prepare and 1742. strengthen us for every good work, to do His will, working in us that which will be well pleasing to Him, to whom be glory for ever and ever, Amen."
Upon these solemn transactions, the Rev. Mr. Cooke, in his own name, and in the name of the ministers and church- es composing the council, owned them as a true church of Christ, and declared his readiness, on the desire of said church, to assist them as such.
This council advised this newly formed church to make application to a convention of ministers, who were expect- ed to meet at Weathersfield the next week, for advice to some suitable person, to be improved by them as a preach- er; and for their further improvement, if they should desire it. The said convention advised them to the Rev. Mr. Wheelock as a suitable person to assist them in their min- isterial affairs.
The church accepted the advice, and voted to make ap- plication to him, that (on the consent of his church and con- gregation) he would make them a visit, and employ his ministerial labors among them for a time, and with some aspect to a future fixed improvement there, if providence should open the way for it. Upon this advice and appli- cation, Mr. Wheelock made them a visit the beginning of June, and continued with them about a month ; and, by the vote of the church, preached to them, presided in their meetings, examined and admitted members to full com- munion. But as he was peaceably settled, greatly esteem- ed and beloved among his own people, it did not appear to be his duty to remove from them. Such additions were made to the church that, in about two months from its for- mation, the number of members amounted to between sev- enty and eighty persons.
The church invited Mr. Graham and Mr. Bellamy to preach to them by turns. The church also voted that all orthodox and approved ministers and candidates should be invited to preach with them. But for about eight or nine years the church, and the congregation adhering to them, were under very depressed and difficult circumstances. Mr. Noyes and his church and congregation were opposed to them. This was the case with the president and corpo- ration of the college, and with the association of the county of New-Haven. No person, whether ordained minister or candidate, could preach to them without incurring their displeasure and frowns. There was at this time a very general and great opposition in the colony, to the people
345
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called new lights, a name generally given to zealous Book II. people, who appeared to love animated, heart-searching and experimental preachers. There were doubts in the minds of many as to the regularity of their proceedings ; whether they had sufficient cause for their separation, or whether they had taken all proper means, and waited with due patience for a redress of their grievances. Separa- tions in churches were dangerous, and very sinful, unless in cases of real necessity, where there were just grounds for them ; and after all proper means had been taken, and sufficient patience exercised to obtain redress without suc- cess. For these reasons they were unable to obtain any stated preaching, and the administration of the ordinances for many years. Sometimes they had preaching; at others they had none. This was their condition until the year 1751. At this time, receiving intelligence that the Rev. 1751, Mr. Bird, who had been minister at Dunstable, in the province of Massachusetts, had been dismissed from his pastoral labors at that place, and that he was a suitable person for a people in their circumstances, they made ap- plication to him, requesting his labors among them. Ac- cordingly he made them a visit in May, and after preach- ing with them about three months, received an unanimous invitation, both from the church and congregation, to settle with them in the work of the evangelical ministry. He gave them an encouraging answer, provided that the pre- sent difficulties could be removed.
For this purpose a council was chosen and called; who Council at convened at New-Haven in Sept. 1751. New-Ha-
The gentlemen present were the Rev. Messrs. Phile- ven, Sept. mon Robbins, Joseph Bellamy, Eleazer Wheelock, Sam- 3d, 1751. uel Hopkins, and Benjamin Pomeroy, with their churches.
Upon a full hearing of the aggrieved church, of the arti- Hearing cles of charge or grievance exhibited against Mr. Noyes, tions of the. and resolu- to him and the greater part of his church, and of the fre- council, quent proposals which they had made to Mr. Noyes, of re- Sept. 3d, ferring all their grievances to a mutual council, and of the 1751. great pains they had taken to obtain one ; and how Mr. Noyes had, in all instances, entirely refused, and of the long time they had been in their aggrieved and unhappy circumstances, and also of their declared willingness to make any reasonable confession of whatever mistakes or misconduct into which they had fallen, in their separation from the ministry of the Rev. Mr. Noyes, and from their brethren of the ancient church of New-Haven, the council resolved to this effect ; that as the articles of charge against Mr. Noyes were made known to him, and the greatest T º
-
346
HISTORY OF
CHAP. XIV
Book II. part of the first church in New-Haven, before they voted in the Saybrook platform, and as the aggrieved brethren were 1751. not allowed to vote in that case; and as they had abso- lutely refused all subjection to the Saybrook platform, and as the reasons of their separation, mentioned in said charge, yet remained unsettled, that their request of coun- sel and advice, was reasonable. They also professed their willingness to afford them their assistance. But, consider- ing the great importance of the case; especially in the town of New-Haven, and that so many of the churches applied to were, by the providence of God, prevented from attend- ing the council, it was their opinion, that it was expedient to adjourn, that an addition might be made to the council ; and the church were advised to apply to a number of suit- able churches, for that purpose. The council then ad- · journed to the 15th day of October.
In the mean time, probably by the advice of council, the following confession was exhibited to the Rev. Mr. Noyes, and the first church in New-Haven.
" To the Rev. Joseph Noyes, pastor of a church of Christ in New-Haven. To be communicated.
" Reverend and beloved,
"We the subscribers, who, some years since, withdrew from the public preaching of the word and ordinances in said church, for reasons which we then thought to be just, weighty, and reasonable, 'which we delivered in wri- ting to said pastor, to be communicated ; and which causes we do still think to be just, weighty, and reasonable. As to those of you who do not think as we do, we would en- deavour to entertain charitable thoughts of, notwithstand- ing, and desire the same candour from you ; remembering, that the great God alone is Lord of the conscience ; and that both you and we must stand or fall at his impartial tribunal. Nevertheless, considering the public relation we stood in with you, our brethren, we should have ex- hibited to the pastor, in writing, the articles of our griev- ances, to be published to you ; and, after waiting a reason- able time, he neglecting his duty, should have complained to some neighbouring church or churches, for relief, before withdrawing from your fellowship and communion; which conduct would have been our duty : neglect whereof we readily condemn ; together with all heat and bitterness of spirit, that has, at any time, appeared in any of us towards you, or any of you, as being offensive to God, and unbe- coming to christians : for which we ask your forgiveness ; begging an interest in the prayers of all God's children, that we may behave, for the future, as becometh the gospel
Declara- tion and confession of the ag- grieved.
347
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CHAP. XIV.
of Christ. Upon the whole, we think, that, afterwards, Book II. we used all possible endeavours to bring matters to a pro- per issue; but not succeeding, we thought it to be for the 1751. glory of God, the peace of our own souls, and for our edi- fication, to be, with others, a distinct society.
" We conclude, wishing you all needed blessings."
On the 15th of October, the council convened, at New- Haven, according to adjournment. It consisted of the el- ders following, with their churches.
John Graham, Jedediah Mills, Philemon Robbins, Dan- iel Humphreys, Ebenezer White, Eleazer Wheelock, Benja- min Pomeroy, Benajah Case, Joseph Bellamy, Samuel Hopkins, James Sprout, Jonathan Lee, and John Searle.
The council was large and respectable. Some of the churches sent two messengers.
When the council had chosen the Rev. Mr. Mills their" moderator, and opened with prayer, they immediately wrote a letter to Mr. Noyes, acquainting him with their convention, and that if he had any communication to make, they were ready to receive it. Messrs. Bellamy and Hopkins were appointed to wait on Mr. Noyes, with said letter.
October 16th, the council proceeded to a formal hearing of the proceedings and state of the congregational church and society ; the papers containing their transactions were laid before them; and the committee were fully heard re- Jative to them. At the same time, the General Assembly held their session in New-Haven, and the governor and council judged the affair of such importance to the town of New-Haven, and to the colony, that it ought to be heard by a mutual council. While, therefore, the council were employed in hearing, they received a copy of a vote of the General Assembly, advising that the affair before them should be heard by a mutual council.
In consequence of this advice, the Rev. Messrs. Mills, Wheelock, and Bellamy, with several of the messengers, were chosen a committee to wait on their honours, the governor, deputy governor, and council, and to represent how repeated proposals of that nature had been made to Mr. Noyes, and what great pains had been taken, for a number of years, to obtain a hearing before a mutual coun- cil, and how Mr. Noyes, in all instances, had refused. They made a full representation of the facts. The gov- ernor and council, nevertheless, advised that one offer more should be made him, and that one would be sufficient.
The council then voted, that the same committee, with the addition of Mr. Graham, should confer with Mr. Noyes,
348
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CHAP. XIV.
Book II. to know whether he would comply with the advice of the honourable General Assembly, or not. The committee 1751. reported, that Mr. Noyes said, he had a great regard to the fifth commandment, but he did not thank the assembly for what they had done. That he looked upon them as infallible as the pope. He said such a council was incon- sistent with the constitution and the light of nature; and, directing himself to one of the committee, said, What if you and I had a controversy, and you should choose three men, and I should choose three, and they should strip and fight it out, what good would that do us ? He liked gov- ernment, he said, but he did not like arbitration. What ground, said he, do you find in scripture for it ?
The committee reported it as their opinion, that Mr. Noyes would not comply with the advice of the assembly, and that he had given sufficient intimations of it. The next morning, however, while the council were hearing the report of their committee, a letter was received from Mr. Noyes, purporting, that he would call his church together, and consult the matter advised to by the General Assem- bly ; and that he would discourse with the committee of the parish, and prosecute the affair as fast as Providence would allow.
As it was judged that this letter gave no certain evi- dence that Mr. Noyes would comply with the advice of the assembly, the committee of the church and society, in company with two members of the council, Mr. Bellamy and Mr. Lee, waited on him, with the following letter.
" To the Rev. Joseph Noyes, of New-Haven. ":Reverend Sir,
"We the subscribers, a committee of those who have taken benefit by the act of toleration, and their adherents, having had a sight of your letter to the Rev. Mr. Mills, of this 17th of October, wherein you give general hints of a compliance with the advice of the honourable assembly to a mutual council, &c. ; but observing you do not expressly declare your own compliance, nor propose immediately to call your church together, nor fix any time for that pur- pose, we cannot receive it as a proper compliance with 'said advice ; and considering what fair prospects of this nature, in times 'past, have been frustrated, and a large ecclesiastical council is waiting for your answer, out of whose hands we are utterly unwilling to take the affair, un- til we see, at least, a proper security that said advice shall take effect, and the members of said: mutual council be agreed upon, and the time and place of their convention fixed. As we, therefore, and our party, fully comply with
349
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CHAP. XIV.
said advice, we desire you would, without delay, call your BOOK II. church together, for said purpose. Short of this, we can- not look upon as a compliance. Expecting an express 1751. and plain answer, we subscribe," &c.
" October 17th, 1.751."
To this Mr. Noyes replied,
" Gentlemen,
I have read your paper of this day ; and in answer, say, the advice of the honorable assembly, is to the society and church in this place, whose minds I do not know. So far as it concerns me, I propose to prosecute it, and to lay it before my church as soon as providence will allow me, and confer with the society's committee on the affair.
Gentlemen, I am, &c. JOSEPH NOYES."
With the letter above, was brought the following testi- mony into the council, attested by Mr. Bellamy, Mr. Lee and the committee, amounting to the number of seven per- sons.
"We the subscribers, desired Mr. Noyes expressly to say for himself, whether he would, on his part, comply with the advice of the honorable assembly, and expressly prom- ise to lay it before his church, because the above answer seemed to leave that matter in doubt, and we wanted a certain information. We put the question to him near ten times, will you comply or not ? He used several evasions, and finally declared, I will not say that I will comply : and he refused to promise to lay it before the church."
:On this testimony, the council unanimously voted, that Mr. Noyes' answers, comparing his letters and conversa- tion with the committee, were evasive.
The next day, October 18th, the council, after a long conference, considering how long and how often they had attempted to obtain a direct answer from Mr. Noyes, and could obtain none, voted to proceed to the business for which they had been more immediately called.
They also voted, that according to the best light they could obtain, the first church in New-Haven was a con- gregational church until Mr. Noyes, in 1742, led a great part of it to vote in Saybrook platform. They also voted, that according to what light they had obtained, the confes- sion made to Mr. Noyes and his church was satisfactory.
The Rev. Mr. Bird then presented himself for examina- tion, and having given full satisfaction, as to his princi- ples and ministerial qualifications, was installed, Octo- ber 18th, 1751.
Just as the council were going to the installation of Mr. Bird, the following letter was presented by the Rev, Mr, Noyes,
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BOOK II. To the Rev. Mr. MILLS, &c. Gentlemen,
1751. Perceiving that what I have wrote is not rightly under- stood, I again say, I have no mental reserves. I look upon it my duty to prosecute the advice of the honorable assembly. Shall do it to my utmost : propose to call a church meeting the beginning of the week. I have sent for the society's committee to speak with them this eve- ning. Let there be no misunderstanding. In great haste, I am, gentlemen, yours, &c. JOSEPH NOYES.
P. S. I hope you will do nothing to defeat the advice. J. N.
The council determined, that this letter was unseasona- ble, and proceeded to the installation. They advised however, that the aggrieved church, though Mr. Noyes had for so many years refused to comply with their request for a mutual council, and had treated the advice of the honorable assembly no better, yet that they should always stand ready to join Mr. Noyes and his church in calling a mutual council.
Soon after the installation of Mr. Bird, Mr. Noyes' church appointed a committee to prosecute the affair of a mutual council ; and in consequence of it, a committee was appointed by Mr. Bird's people. The committees met and agreed on the men for a council, but they could not agree on the articles which should be laid before them. So nothing further was ever acted in the affair.
Mr. Bird was a popular man, made a manly appear- ance, spoke well, and had a very great talent, especially in speaking at the grave, on funeral occasions. The society had peace and flourished under his administration. In the session of the assembly, at New-Haven, October, 1759, it was made a distinct ecclesiastical society, by the name of White-Haven, seventeen years from the separation from Mr. Noyes, and eight from the installation of Mr. Bird.
CHAP. XV.
CONNECTICUT.
$51
BOOK IIG
CHAPTER XV.
French war in 1755. Reasons of it. Colonel Washington's expedition. Convention at Albany. Expeditions against Nova-Scotia, fort du Quesne, Crown Point and Niagara. Exertions of the Northern colonies, especially of Connec- ticut. Success in Nova-Scotia. Defeat of general Brad- dock. General Johnson defeats Baron Dieskau and takes him prisoner.
S UCH was the restless spirit, intrigue and deceit of the French court and nation, that the colonies had but short intervals of peace, while their great enemy had any settlements in this country. Even in these intervals, how fair soever they spake, they were constantly encroaching on their territories, giving new occasions, and making preparations for war. Though the whole country of Aca- dia, or Nova-Scotia, had been expressly ceded to Great- French Britain, by the twelfth article of the treaty of Utrecht, and encroach- that cession had been confirmed by all subsequent treaties, ments. yet the French renewed their claim to a considerable part of that country, and in several places were erecting fortifi- cations and placing garrisons. While the colonists were vigorously pursuing the arts of peace, and exerting them- selves, by industry, economy and the extension of their settlements, to recover themselves from the losses and im- poverishment which they had sustained in the former war, the French were encroaching no less on their northern and western, than on their eastern frontiers. They were at- tempting to compass them with a line of posts and fortifica- tions, in such a manner, as would enable them, with their Indian allies, to harass and alarm the country, on their frontiers, for an extent of a thousand miles ør morc. At the same time, it would establish an easy and constant communication between their settlements in Canada, and on the Mississippi, and command the trade of all the wes- tern Indians. At the northward, they had encroached far on the English, by their settlements and fortifications at 1749. Crown Point, and they were advancing to Ticonderoga. At the westward, they were not only attempting to com- plete a line of forts from the head of the St. Lawrence to the Mississippi, but were encroaching far on Virginia.
While under the auspices of peace, agriculture and com- Reasons of merce flourished in the colonies, the Indian trade drew the war, many of the wandering traders, from Virginia, far into the
$59
HISTORY OF
CHAP. XV:
Book II. inland country beyond the great mountains. Here they found themselves in a very pleasing climate, fruitful, and 1751. watered with many navigable rivers. It was conceived that these advantages, in conjunction with the Indian trade, would amply compensate for its distance from the sea. A settlement was therefore immediately contemplated on the Ohio. A number of noblemen, merchants and planters, of Westminster, London and Virginia, named the Ohio com- pany, obtained a charter grant of six hundred thousand acres, on and near the Ohio river. In pursuance of the terms of their patent, the lands were surveyed, about two years after the grant, and settlements were soon made.
The governor of Canada had early intelligence of the transactions of the company, and was alarmed with the ap- prehension, that they were prosecuting a plan, which would effectually deprive the French of the advantages which they derived from their trade with the Twightwees, and, what was much worse, would cut off the communica- tion between Canada and Louisiana. The French claim- ed all the country from the Mississippi, as far in upon Vir- gina, as the Alleghany mountains. This claim was found- ed on the pretence, that they were the first discoverers of the river. To secure their claims and preserve the commu- nication between their two colonies, Canada and Louisia- nia, they had not only erected a fort on the south side of lake Erie, but one about fifteen miles south of that, on a branch of the Ohio ; and another at the conflux of the Ohio and the Wabash. Nothing could be more directly calcu- lated to dash the favorite plan of France than the settlement of the Ohio company.
The governor of Canada therefore wrote to the govern- ors of New-York and Pennsylvania, complaining, that the English traders had encroached on the French, by trading with the Indians, and threatening, if they should not desist, that he would seize them wherever they should be found.
The Indian trade had been managed principally by the Pennsylvanians ; but the Ohio company were now about to divert it to a different channel. They contemplated the opening of a road to Will's creek, and the conducting of it, by the Potomac, directly to Virginia. The Penn- sylvanians, under the influence of selfishness, gave infor- mation, from time to time, both to the French and Indians, of the transaction's and designs of the Ohio company. The governor of Canada, therefore, put his menaces into exe- cution. The French and Indians seized the British trad- ers among the Twightwees, and carried them to their fort
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