USA > Connecticut > New Haven County > Oxford > A history of Christ Church, Quaker Farms in Oxford, Connecticut > Part 13
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13
Nov. 14, 1851
Sep. 19, 1854
Date Uncertain
Dec. 15, 1822
Nov. 20, 1855
Mary H. Hine
June
1836
June 1854
Nov. 20, 1855
Preston Hinman Philo Wooster
In infancy by Dr. Mansfield
May 18, 1806
171
Date Uncertain
Feb. 12, 1814
Feb. 12, 1814
Chas. P. Edmonds Jennette Hine Sherman S. Hine
Jan. 29, 1805
Aug. 1829
Complete Parish Register, 1858 - Continued
Name
Births
Baptisms
Marriages
Burials
Sally Wooster
In infancy by
May 18, 1806
Dr. Mansfield
Adam Dietz Wooster
Mac R. Wooster
Feb. 27, 1824
George C. Tomlinson
In infancy
Oct. 18, 1835
Delia Tomlinson
In infancy
Oct. 18, 1835
Henry E. Bidwell
Julia A. Bidwell
Frederick Hawley Sybil Skeels Lucy Hendryx Albert A. Kimberly
In infancy Date Uncertain
Date Uncertain
Date Uncertain
Mch. 23, 1850
Mch. 23, 1850
May 8, 1845
May 8, 1845
Ellen Lucy Davis
May 27, 1849
July 14, 1850
Laura Booth Davis
Nov. 24, 1850
Sep. 21, 1851
Emma Eugenia Davis Charles Alling Davis John C. Hull
Aug. 11, 1854
July 15, 1855
June 13, 1858
Apr. 22, 1859 In infancy
Julia Sherman Hull John Hull
Jan. 1803 and Jan. 18, 1858 Jan. 18, 1858 Jan. 28, 1844
172
Abigail Kimberly Anson R. Davis Mary N. Davis Mary Eliza (? ) Davis Dec. 15, 1846
In infancy In infancy June 6, 1847
Complete Parish Register, 1858 - Continued
Name
Births
Baptisms
Marriages
Burials
Ann M. Hull
Date Uncertain
Jan. 28, 1844
Augusta Hull
Nov. 11, 1844
Albert Hull
Apr. 23, 1846
John Cyrus Hull Oct. 3, 1851
Ira Hyde
Date Uncertain
Jan. 1, 1821
Marcus E. Hyde
In infancy
Date Uncertain 1830 and 1842
Dec. 13, 1860
Ellen Tomlinson
1842
Geo. A. Tomlinson
Jan. 17, 1832
In infancy
Maria Antoinette Tomlinson
March 7, 1838
In infancy In infancy
Eliza Tomlinson
Feb. 28, 1843
Jane Caroline Tomlinson Mch. 16, 1845
Aug. 24, 1856 In infancy Date Uncertain
Marvin R. Sanford
Harriet E. Sanford
Date Uncertain
Date Uncertain
Henrietta E. Sanford Agur Curtis Betsy Curtis
In infancy
Feb. 4, 1815 (sic)
Wm. A. Curtis
Nov. 3, 1848
Caroline E. Curtis
June 16, 1850
Sarah M. Curtis John Smith
June 29, 1852
In infancy In infancy In infancy In infancy In childhood
Feb. 29, 1815
Lucy Smith George Smith
In childhood In infancy
Date Uncertain
Feb. 4, 1815 (sic)
Geo. A. Tomlinson
173
Complete Parish Register, 1858 - Continued
Name
Births
Baptisms
Marriages
Burials
Mary A. Smith
1848
Harriet Sanford
In infancy
Dec. 8, 1825
George P. Sanford
In infancy
S. P. Sanford
In infancy
Thirza Chatfield
Date Uncertain
Feb. 8, 1823
Albert Chatfield
In childhood
Wm. R. Tomlinson
In infancy
Mch. 27, 1841
Hannah Tomlinson
May 22, 1864
Mch. 27, 1841
Henrietta Tomlinson
May 22, 1864
Apr. 22, 1859
Phebe O. Tomlinson Ellen Tomlinson Sally Nichols
May 22, 1864
In infancy
Sep. 1826
Harriet O. Nichols
2 April 1838
In infancy
Mary E. Hendryx
March 1831
In infancy
Apr. 1852
Frank Hendryx
Nov. 1853
Òscar Hendryx
June 1858
March 16, 1774
Date Uncertain 1794 and about 1839
Date Uncertain about 1839
July 15, 1822
Wales Chatfield Nabbie Nichols
In childhood In infancy In infancy
about 1800
Dec. 15, 1862
In infancy Mch. 24, 1839
Benjamin Nichols Minerva Nichols
In childhood
Mch. 24, 1839
174
Elisha Oatman Damaris Oatman Mary Chatfield
March 25, 1782
Dec. 15, 1837
Complete Parish Register, 1858 - Continued
Name
Births
Baptisms Marriages
Burials
Nancy E. Nichols
June 12, 1843
In infancy
Horace Candee
In infancy
1816
Apr. 15, 1860
Sterne Candee
Date Uncertain
Sylvia E. Low
March (sic)
James A. Freeman
Dec. 8, 1852
Daniel Wooster
1835
John Wooster
Mary A. Wooster
Sep. 9, 1860
Harriet Wooster
May 22, 1864 1851
In infancy Feb. 13, 1848
Edwin E. Lewis
In infancy
Mch. 23, 1815
Maria T. Lewis
In infancy Mch. 23, 1815
Charles A. Tomlinson
In infancy
Oct. 15, 1843
Eliza Tomlinson
1841
Oct. 15, 1843
William E. Tomlinson
Sep. 15, 1845
Roswell Waters
In childhood July 1817 by Rev. Mr. Prindle
In childhood July 1817
by Rev. Dr. Mansfield 1818 June 14, 1820
Amy M. Downs George A. Flagg Aug. 20, 1811
In infancy
Jany. 21, 1835
175
Charles Wooster
George Bunnell Sarah Bunnell
Date Uncertain
Feb. 13, 1848
Harriette Waters
1
Complete Parish Register, 1858 - Continued
Name
Births
Baptisms
Marriages
Burials
Mariette C. Flagg
Mch. 15, 1812
1844
Jan. 21, 1835
Frances J. Flagg
Mch. 5, 1836
1844
Mary I. Flagg
Aug. 14, 1838
1844
Clark B. Flagg
Jany. 21, 1841
George A. Flagg
Good Friday 1859
Ann J. Jackson
Sep. 9, 1837
Samuel A. Jackson
July 31, 1840
July 22, 1859 Death
Leonora Jackson
Feb. 16, 1841
Good Friday 1859
Apr. 22
Carlos Jackson
Aug. 30, 1844
Good Friday 1859
Isabella Jackson
Nov. 30, 1846
Good Friday 1859
Adin Johnson
In childhood
Nov. 23, 1808
Mabel Johnson
In infancy
Nov. 23, 1808
Adeline Booth
In childhood
Frederick Booth
Samuel Candee
In infancy
Date Uncertain
Lucy Ann Candee Martha Candee Horace Oatman
In infancy Oct. 6 (sic)
In infancy
Oct. 6 (sic)
Chas. R. Oatman
In infancy Jany. 1, 1850
Orinda Oatman
In infancy
Jany. 1, 1850
176
In infancy Date Uncertain
Nov. 7, 1836
Polly Oatman
Complete Parish Register, 1858 - Continued
Name
Births
Baptisms Marriages
Burials
Lillie E. Oatman
May 29, 1854
John F. Ritchie
Dec. 3, 1846
Phebe Ritchie
Date Uncertain
Dec. 3, 1846
Chas. H. Ritchie
March 19, 1847
Sarah Ann Ritchie
Oct. 2, 1848
Phebe Elizabeth Ritchie May 2, 1850
Alice A. Ritchie
May 5, 1852
Emaline Ritchie
Feby. 2, 1854
Washington Franklin Ritchie Dec. 13, 1856
Harman A. Perry
Nov. 23, 1835
Emma J. Perry
Nov. 23, 1835
Horace B. Perry
Nov. 10, 1841
Henry A. Perry
Nov. 10, 1841
Fredk A. Perry
Sep. 10, 1844
George B. Oatman Frances Oatman
Nov. 25, 1851
Date Uncertain
Nov. 25, 1851
Edward L. Oatman William J. Oatman William Butler Rebecca Butler
July 4, 1853
Feby. 1857
In infancy Date Uncertain
March 1841
March 1841
Chas. Henry Butler Mary Butler
July 21, 1844 Sept. 1850
177
Complete Parish Register, 1858 - Continued
Name
Births
Baptisms Marriages
Burials
Inice Butler
Feb. 1854
David Oatman
In infancy
April 1816
Olive Oatman
In infancy
April 1816
John F. Brush
1841
Mary Ann Brush
Date Uncertain
1841
James Bradley x
Bradley x
Nancy E. Tomlinson X
June 12, 1843
In infancy Nov. 22, 1868)
Mary V. Parish X
Confirmed Apr. 29, 1869
Mr. Albert Treat x
Mrs. Albert Treat x
(Note. The last six names are added in the apparent handwriting of the Rev. Clayton Eddy who was rector 1869-1871.)
178
A map in an atlas published in 1868 shows the Quaker Farms dwellings and by whom occupied. The following list shows the names of the church members given by Mr. Clarke as of 1858, whose houses are shown on the 1868 map, and some of the occupants in 1951.
1858 Parish List
Location on Map of 1868
Occupied in 1951 by
1. S. S. Mallett
2. David T. Meigs
3. Silas Hawkins
4. David T. Meigs
5. Mrs. Lucy Hendryx
6. Preston Hinman
7. George C. Tomlinson
8. Henry E. Bidwell
9. Anson R. Davis
10. John C. Hull
11. Marvin R. Sanford
12. George P. Sanford
13. Benj. Nichols
14. Charles A. Tomlinson
15. George A. Flagg
16. Daniel Wooster
17. Mrs. Lucy Ann Candee, store.
W. Side Q.F. St.
Mrs. Sadie C. Olsen
18. Albert Chatfield W. Side Q.F. St. opp. Governors Hill Rd.
19. Wm. R. Tomlinson
W. Side Q.F. St.
R. Harold Treat
N. of 6 Mi. Brook
N. Side Park Rd. just E. of Q. F. St.
A. Harger
Mrs. S. Nichols
21. Harman A. Perry
22. Jane C. Lum (H.A. Lum)
W. Side Q.F. St. opp, Chr. Ch.
Miss J. Mabel Lum
E. Side Q.F. St. Just So. Chr. Ch.
W. Side Q.F. St.
Robert Z. Hawkins
No. of Old Rd.
Just So. 7 Mile Brook
M. A. Slater
O'Neil Rd. (Pisgah) N. of Barry Rd.
J. W. Kurke?
Barry Rd. N. Side
Barry Rd. N. Side
Barry Rd. S. Side E. of 8 Mi. Brook
Bowers Hill Rd. East Side
J. G. L. Molloy's Turkey Farm
Barry Rd. S. Side
House gone
E. Side Q.F. St.
Stiles B. Twitchell Paul Belinsky
W. Side Q.F. St.
S. of Park Rd.
S. Side Barry Rd. W. of 8 Mi. Brook W. Side Q.F. St.
N. of Edmonds Rd. E. Side Q.F. St. opp. Punkup Rd.
Norman Litchfield (The Miller's House)
W. R. Dann
20. Miss Sally Nichols
E. Side Q.F. St. just
House gone.
S. Gov. Hill Rd.
E. Side Q.F. St.
Copper Mine Rd. Cor. Freeman Rd.
D. W. Abercrombie
S. W. Pomeroy LeRoy Barry Calvin Williams (Petticoat Farm)
There are other names on the parish list same as on the map but of different first names or initials making the identification uncertain.
179
THE CHURCH SCHOOL
It is said that the first Sunday Schools in this country were started about the year 1786, and that they had not become very general until 1816. Some time before 1830 the American Sunday School Union was formed to foster the formation of Sunday Schools.
The first record of a Sunday School in Christ Church, Quaker Farms is in 1830 when the Rev. William A. Curtis reported to the Diocesan Convention that "The church has received much benefit from the establishment of a Sunday School; as well from the religious knowledge acquired by the children, as by the sal- utary effect produced through their improvement and influence upon their parents. The books we have used have been those furnished for the "Protestant Episcopal Sunday School Union."
In 1836 the Rev. James Sunderland reported to the Convention, "I have re-organized a Sunday School which contains about thirty scholars and ten teachers. We have also a small library in con- nection with the Sunday School."
Whether a Sunday School was continued for the next forty years (1836-1876), we do not know, the next mention of one being in the historical address by the Rev. W. Sturtevant Rafter, who says "In the year 1875, a marked improvement took place in church life, and early in the year 1876, Mr. Cornelius Clark Ryder or- ganized a Sunday School, and was appointed Superintendent." The Rev. Mr. Douglas, in an historical sketch, says that "In the year 1876, the joint efforts of the Rev. Sheldon Davis and Mr. Cornelius C. Ryder resulted in services being established again," and undoubtedly Mr. Davis played his part in the reviving of the Sunday School.
Mr. Ryder continued as Church Warden until 1909 and it seems likely that he kept up his work as Superintendent also.
Since that time, the church has always attempted to have a Sunday School. As Miss Lum puts it, "We always had a Sunday School when there were any children to attend it. Sometimes we had to wait for the children to be born and grow old enough to attend."
In March of 1947, Mrs. Katherine H. Dann (Mrs. Walter R.) became superintendent of the Church School, starting with seven scholars. Since that time the school has grown greatly and sep- arate class rooms have been provided in Community Hall by the use of heavy curtains. A modern course of religious instruction is given, the school being divided into departments, - Nursery, Kindergarten, Primary, (1st., 2d., and 3d. grades), and Junior (4th., and 5th. grades).
180
As of Feb. 1st., 1954 the list of teachers and scholars was as follows, -
Nursery (3 years old)
Kenneth Boudreau George Hennessey
Teacher, - Mrs. Alice Boudreau
Paul Schreiber Ellen Thompson Blakeslee Williams LeRoy Williams Bruce Bennett (Moved to Woodbury Jan. 1st.)
Kindergarten (4 and 5 years old)
Linda Allen Robert Doolittle Irene Hennessey
Teacher, - Mrs. Elsie Stanton
Martin Schreiber Walter Smith
Bonnie Bennett (Moved to Woodbury Jan. 1st.)
Primary, (Grade 1)
Michael Allen Laurence Edmonds
Teacher, - Mrs. Constance Bennett (after Jan. 1st. Mrs. Pauline Tomlinson
Gay Fisher James Olson
Fay Schreiber (Ettie Frances)
Norman Litchfield von Wettberg
Frances Williams
Lorraine Williams
Primary (2d. and 3d. grades)
Carrie Lou Boudreau Bill Caulford James Doolittle Arthur Gray
Teacher, - Mrs. Dann
Linda Hall James Hennessey Ole Kinney Lawrence Smith
Theresa Williams
Junior (4th. and 5th. Grades)
Michael Bawlick Marilyn Boudreau
181
Linda Fisher Bruce Flood Sharon Flood
Teacher, - Mrs. Calvin Williams
Nancy Hall Fred Jacusco
Peter Mitchell
David Schreiber
Calvin Williams
Junior High (6th. and 7th. Grades)
Frederick Boudreau
Edward Edmonds
George Edmonds
June Ann Fisher
Teacher, - Miss Beatrice J. Wesley
Betty Jacusco
Lee Mitchell
John Schreiber
Dorothy Williams
(Spring and Fall) Mr. Edward P. Stanton
182
· PROBABLE LIST OF CLERGY OF CHRIST CHURCH, QUAKER FARMS AND ST. PETER'S CHURCH, OXFORD
The Founder of St. Peter's Church, the Rev. Dr. Richard Mansfield, was Rector from its start in 1764 to 1807, at which date he was eighty-three years old. All this time he was Rector of St. James Church, Derby, and he never lived in Oxford. The first settled minister in Oxford was the Rev. Chaucey Prindle, who came in 1807 and resigned Dec. 23, 1811. It was not until the following Feb. 10th that "the Chapel" in Quaker Farms was authorized, and the parish was apparently vacant when the Chapel was built and opened.
Year
Christ Church
St. Peter's Church
Authority
1812-1813
Tillotson Bronson ?
Church Vacant
: Pencil list in Chr. Ch. Register
183
1814-1815
Aaron Humphrey
Aaron Humphrey ?
1816-1820
Aaron Humphrey
Aaron Humphrey
1821-1823
Beardsley Northrup
Convention Journals
1823
Vacant
Convention Journals
1824
John M. Garfield
John M. Garfield
(Officiated) Conv. Journals
1824-1825
Ashbel Baldwin
Ashbel Baldwin Vacant ?
Convention Journals S.G. 1/6 time. Minutes of Organizing Meeting Convention Journals
1828-1829
William A. Curtis
William A. Curtis Vacant
1830
Vacant
Convention Journals
1831-1834
Ashbel Baldwin
Ashbel Baldwin
Convention Journals
1834-1835
Charles Smith
Charles Smith
Convention Journals
1836-1837
James Sunderland
?
Convention Journals
1826-1827
Sturges Gilbert
Beardsley Northrup Vacant
: of 1845, - T.B.'s Name Convention Journals Convention Journals
: History of Old Town of Derby and
List of Clergy - Continued
Year
Christ Church
St. Peter's Church
Daniel Burhans
(Officiated) Conv. Journals
1838
?
Daniel Burhans
Convention Journals
1839
Daniel Burhans
Daniel Burhans
Convention Journals
1840
Daniel Burhans
John D. Smith
Convention Journals
1841-1844
Abel Nichols
1841 J.D.S. ?
Convention Journals
1845-1846
Geo. B. Eastman
Geo. B. Eastman
1846
Vacant
Vacant
1847-1848
David P. Sanford
184
1849
Geo. L. Foote
1850-1854
Charles J. Todd
Charles J. Todd
Convention Journals Convention Journals Apr. 21, 1850 - Mar. 19, 1854
C. C. Parish Register Aug. - Dec. 1854
Convention Journals
1855-1856 1857
D. W. C. Loop (Deacon) John N. Marvin Vacant
John N. Marvin ?
1858
C. T. Woodruff and
Sylvester Clarke
1858-1862
J. R. Davis, Deacon Sylvester Clarke (Minister) A. R. van Antwerp (Supplied)
Sylvester Clarke (Minister) A. R. van Antwerp
1862-1863
1863-1865
John T. Pearce
1866
John T. Pearce Vacant
John T. Pearce
Authority
Convention Journals Resigned July 1846
David P. Sanford ?
1854
?
C. T. W. Nov. '57 - Easter '58 C. C. Parish Register Convention Journals
Con. Jnl. for St. P. Parish Reg. for Chr. Ch. Convention Journals Convention Journals
1837
1842 A. Nichols
List of Clergy - Continued
Year
Christ Church
St. Peter's Church
Authority
John T. Pearce
Convention Journals
Convention Journals
1868
Vacant
John T. Pearce
Convention Journals
1869-1870
Clayton Eddy
John T. Pearce
Convention Journals
1871
Vacant
John T. Pearce
Convention Journals
1872
H. Alanson Welton
John T. Pearce
Convention Journals
1873-1875
Vacant
Vacant
Convention Journals
1875
John Anketel (Supplied)
John Anketel
Convention Journals
1876
George Buck
George Buck
Convention Journals
("Six months temporary charge")
1877
Sheldon Davis Sheldon Davis
Convention Journals
("Officiated at both churches")
1878
Sheldon Davis ("Officiating")
Geo. P. Torrence
Convention Journals
1879
Sheldon Davis
Convention Journals
1880
Sheldon Davis ("Officiating when not otherwise occupied") Lay Reader, Senior Warden C. C. Ryder.
H. T. Widdemer ("Temporary) H. T. Widdemer Vacant after Easter
Convention Journals
1867 Henry Townsend (Missionary in charge) H. C. Stowell, (Minister in charge)
185
List of Clergy - Continued
Year
Christ Church
S .. Peter's Church
Authority
1881 Sheldon Davis "In temporary charge")
Convention Journals
1682
Sheldon Davis
Convention Journals
(Rendering frequent service")
1882-1885
S. R. Bailey Vacant
S. R. Bailey Vacant
Convention Journals
1886-1887
(Sheldon Davis officiated at Chr. Ch. Sunday afternoon services ten times and Rev. D. S. Pardee from Seymour six times) Lewis F. Morris Lewis F. Morris
1888-1897 1898
A. Balsey
Convention Journals Parish Register
(Supplied)
1898-1899 Edward T. Mathison
Parish Register and Convention Journals
Wm. A. Woodford, Asst.
1899-1900 Wm. A. Woodford
Wm. A. Woodford
Ch. Ch. Vestry Minutes
1900-1902
W. S. Rafter
W. S. Rafter
Conv. Journ. and Ves. Min.
1902-1905 Theodore M. Peck T. M. Peck
Conv. Journ. and Ves. Min.
1906-1914 Geo. J. Sutherland
G. J. Sutherland
Conv. Journ. and Ves. Min.
For the years 1915 through 1927 there was no settled minister at Christ Church; part of the time the Rev. John Lewis came over from St. John's Waterbury, and in 1921-1922 the Rev. H. S. Habersham from Monroe, was Priest-in-charge, and in 1926 the Venerable Geo. H. Buck from Derby, and in 1927 the Ven- erable Floyd S. Kenyon from West Haven served as priest in charge. During all this period the following divinity students served as lay readers, -
186
Lay R. - C. C. Ryder
List of Clergy - Continued
Year
Christ Church St. Peter's Church
1915-1916
Samuel Hart
1916
Sidney H. Wallace
1917 Loyal Y. Graham, 3d. (In spring of '17) 1917 David and John Clark (During war)
1918-1921
1923-1925
Loyal Y. Graham, 3d. F. Percy Goddard Frank Westervelt Christ Church
Resident Priests
in charge
187
1928-1929 1930 1931
James B. Sill (Resided in Quaker Farms) Parish vacant ·
Harold Edwards, from Seymour (non resident)
Henry S. Douglas, Lay Reader
1932-1948 Henry S. Douglas (Resided in Oxford) 1948 to date William Emery Soule (Resides in Oxford)
Authority
Chr. Ch. Parish Register Chr. Ch. Parish Register Dr. Graham's Reminiscences Miss Lum Miss Lum
Convention Journals
1
1926-1927
Convention Journals
Chr. Ch. Vestry Minutes
Chr. Ch. Vestry Minutes Chr. Ch. Vestry Minutes
MUSIC
As we have already pointed out, in the early days of St. Peter's a "chorister set the psalms and selected and pitched the tunes," no organ being used. Reuben Bunnell was "correster" in 1788, so the old system of singing was in use at that time. Whether the same system was still in use in 1814 when services began to be held in Christ Church, we do not know, but probably it was not, for by this time, hymns had begun to be popular, sup- plementing the old metrical version of the psalms. The prayer book of 1789 contained twenty-seven hymns in addition to the metrical psalms, and people had begun to sing in church, guided by written music. The combined prayer book, metrical psalms and hymns continued in use until 1871 when the first separate hymnal was issued. Wd do not know who was the first organist of Christ Church to use this book.
The first actual record that we have of an organ in Christ Church is given in the "History" written by the Rev. Sheldon Davis, which says, - "June 1879, A new Sterling organ, cost $ 90, was presented by Mrs. Benjamin Nichols." The Sterling organs were made in Derby and were of the so-called "Parlor" organ type, with several stops and with bellows worked by two pedals. There is no record of who played this organ.
The earliest organist of whom we have record was Mrs. Celestia Hawkins, mother of Miss Clara Hawkins, now of Derby, who lived in the house which stood on Bowers Hill Road, just across from what is now Molloy's Turkey Farm. Mrs. Hawkins started playing in Christ Church about 1890 and continued until a short time before the death of her husband in 1908.
In 1907 Mr. Wm. R. Palmer became organist and choirmaster. He arranged for the acquisition of the Mason and Hamlin reed organ which had two banks of keys and a full pedal key board. He developed a choir of some thirty adult voices. He was the father of Mrs. Joan Mangold and Mr. Edgar Palmer.
After Mr. Palmer, several people played until 1929, when Mrs. Leila Treat, (Mrs. R. Harold) commenced, and continued until 1946 when she was succeeded by her daughter Alice, (Mrs. Joseph Gray), the present incumbent.
In 1948 the Rev. Mr. Soule took charge of the music and there is now a small choir of boys and girls. Mr. Soule has developed congregational singing to a high degree. In 1951 the present pipe organ was installed, of which we have already given a full account.
188
THE LADIES SOCIETY
The first record we have of the activities of women in Christ Church is in the list of persons subscribing to the building of Christ Church in 1812, in which are the names of the following, - Lois Wooster, Sarah Finch, Fanny Wooster, and Eunice Hyde. It is known also that Lorena Tomlinson was a generous contribu- tor.
Next, in the list of those signing the petition requesting the setting off of Christ Church as a separate parish, appear the names of Lorena Tomlinson, Sally Nichols and Lois Nichols.
A Sunday School was started in 1830, and undoubtedly some, if not all, of the teachers were women.
We have already told how the Ladies of Christ Church banded together in 1835 to form the "Ladies Society," when the Rev. Charles Smith was rector. Whether there was any formal or- ganization of the ladies before that date we do not know.
In 1837, the Rev. James Sutherland reported to the Diocesan Convention, "We have a Ladies Society here which is exercising a good influence throughout the parish." In 1838, we have given herein a list of those who "renewed their pledges as members of the Ladies Society." In 1839, Dr. Burhans reported having a Sunday School with nine teachers and says that when in 1829 the parish found itself in debt and the few male members were com- pletely disheartened, that "there were a few Phebes of Conchrea (Romans XVI - 1), and Dorcases (Acts X - 36), who made coats and garments, whose hearts the Lord touched, and in 1835 they formed a society, under the title of the "Ladies Society," which by continued labor, union and economy, and good management, has earned and saved $325. At one time they paid for arrearages and old debts, $ 140.36, for painting and repairing the inside of the church $114.36." In 1840 Dr. Burhans reported "The Female Society is still undiminished in their benevolent exertions for the church."
Another bad period came, prior to 1876, when the Rev. Sheldon Davis noted in his history that "A Ladies Society was organized"; apparently the previous organization had lapsed. In 1878 he re- ported that the church was thoroughly repaired and painted out- side at the expense of the Ladies Society.
We have a record of the repainting of the church in 1896. It does not say whether this was the outside or the inside nor whether the Ladies Society had a hand in it, - probably they did.
In 1938 the Ladies Society had the interior of the church re- painted and placed double doors at the rear of the church.
189
At the 1949 Annual Church Meeting, the Ladies Society report- ed that they had had the interior of Community Hall redecorated.
In recent years they have been very active and have sub- scribed generously to the repairs and care of the church, includ- ing reshingling of the roof and installation of the oil burning furnace, repainting the exterior and interior.
The present officers (elected for one year) are, - Mrs. Stiles B. Twitchell, Pres.
Mrs. Oscar J. Thompson, Sr. Vice Pres.
Mrs. George J. Scott, Sec.
Mrs. George H. Kuss, Treas.
190
THE TRADITION OF THE PART RUM PLAYED IN THE STARTING OF THE CHURCH
An unidentified clipping from a newspaper, (probably the Seymour Record) reads as follows, -
"It is remembered by the older inhabitants when trade cen- tered here, and a great number of immense and clearly written ledgers of the Hon. David Tomlinson, deceased, show that Dan- bury, Litchfield and Waterbury people and merchants were no small buyers of life's luxuries and necessities. Here they sold their horses, cattle, corn and wine, which were largely shipped from hence (through Derby) to foreign ports in exchange for foreign commodities, not excepting the brandy and rum, which figured largely and had a power then as now. For it is tradi- tional that at a parish meeting, in which it was voted to build Christ Church at Quaker Farms, the presiding officer promised five gallons of the best St. Croix rum to the man who got the first main stick of timber on the ground. It is needless to say that the same night saw the timber coming for the church."
It will be noted that in Chapter VII it is related that in the diary of Cyrus Perry, he writes, "I, Cyrus Perry, Drew the first stick of timber 64 ft. long". He neglected to state whether he got the five gallons of rum.
191
1
INDEX
Page
A
Altar Cross
136
Altar Paintings
148, 160
Altar Rebuilt
156
Anniversary, 125th. Christ Church
147
Anniversary, 135th. Christ Church
152
Architect, Christ Church Archway in lobby
57
B
"Babbles from the Rectory Brook"
155
Bell, church, 1st.
65
Bell, church, 2d.
96
Bell, church, 3d.
122
Bishops, feeling against
28
Bishop, first American
28
Bishop, first American, Oxford supports
29
Blinds applied to windows
120
Blinds opened
121, 157
Boult, George, Architect of church
55
Bunnell, Wm. and Benjamin
20
Bunnell, Reuben
21
Business conditions, 1800-1810
32
Business conditions, 1826
86
Butler, Dr. John, of Stratford
9
C
Candle sticks, eucharistic
136
Cemeteries
168
Centennial Celebration of 1876
115
Chancel wall, with Lord's Prayer etc.
120
Chancel alterations, in 1858
109
Chancel window, stained glass, installed
56,121
193
55
C (Continued)
Checking account authorized
155
Christ Church, Start of
36
Christ Church, Approval by St. Peter's Church
37
Christ Church, Building Committee
37
Christ Church, Subscription list
37
Christ Church, Men who undertook building
44
Christ Church, Start of the building
51
Christ Church, The raising
51
Christ Church, Description of building
53
Christ Church, The architect and builder
55
Christ Church, Character of the building
55
Christ Church, As the "chapel"
60
Christ Church, Unheated
58
Christ Church, Consecration
64
Christ Church, Received in union with the Convention
83
Christ Church, A separate parish
70
Christ Church, Proposed merger in St. Peter's Church
114
Church Building, Changes made in 1858
109
Church Building, Changes made in 1876
120
Church Building, Changes made in 1938
148
Church Building, Changes made in 1954
158
Church Building, Interior painted, 1878
120
Church Building, Interior painted, 1938
149
Church Building, Interior redecorated, 1954
158
Church Building, Repainted
130
Church of England people
24
Church and State, Separation in Connecticut
65
Church "News"
155
Church membership
163
Chandelier, crystal, given
56,122
Chandelier, crystal, restored in 1954
160
Civil War
111
Clergy, List of, with terms of service
183
Communion service, old, at Great Hill
6
Communicants, list of in 1845
102
Community Hall
135, 165
Connecticut Tercentenary
145
Clerk made member of vestry
154
Congregational Society, Oxford
12
Convention at house of Rev. Bela Hubbard
24
Correster (Chorister)
21
Cross, Altar
136
Cross, Processional
141
194
Clergy, see below
C (Continued)
Clergy, - Anketel, J. 114; Baldwin, A. 68, 91; Bailey, S. R. 126; Balsey, A. 131; Bronson, T. 61; Buck, G. 115; Buck, G. H. 141; Burhans, D. 98; Curtis, W. A. 90; Clarke, S. 107; Davis, S. 118; Douglas, H. S. 142, 146; Davis, G. R. 107; Eastman, G. B. 101; Eddy, C. 122; Edwards, H. S. 142; Foote, G. L. 104, 106; Garfield, J. M. 68; Gilbert, S. 90; Graham, L. Y. 3d. 139; Habersham, H. S. 140; Hobart, J. H. 35; Humphrey, A. 63; Kenyon, F. S. 141; Loop, D. W. C. 106; Mansfield, R. 18, 19; Marvin, J. N. 106; Mathison, E. T. 130;
Morris, L. F. 126; Nichols, A. 100;
Pardee, J. D. S. 126; Pearce, J. T. 111;
Peck, T. M. 134; Prindle, C. 32;
Rafter, W. S. 133; Sanford, D. P. 103;
Seabury, S. 27; Sill, J. B. 142; Stowell, H. C. 122; Smith, C. 9;
Soule, W. E. 154; Sunderland, J. 96;
Sutherland, G. R. 135; Todd, C. J. 104;
Van Antwerp, A. P. 111; Welton, H. A. 114;
Woodruff, C. T. 107; Woodford, W. A. 130, 132
D
Davis, Joseph
20
Davis, The family
128
Davis, Charles Alling
132-136
Davis, Charles
142-147
Davis, Rev. Sheldon Davis, Historical sketch by
123
Davis-Mallett Fund
119
Declaration of Separation 1826
76
Deeds, Five principal, to Oxford
8
Derby, Trade with West Indies
32
Derby - Woodbury Road
4
Delegates to Convention, basis for each parish
31
Delegates to Convention, basis for each parish, revised
62
Delegates to Convention, basis for each parish, revised Documents, Original
69
72
Douglas, Rev. H. S., Historical Sketch by
146
195
E
Electricity, For lighting church Envelope system adopted Episcopal families in Oxford before Revolution Episcopal Society members in 1795 Events, Local in 1894
149
144
19
29
128
F
Families, List of in 1845
102
Families, List of in 1858
170
Fees, Marriage, in 1845
104
G
Gifts in 1878
121
Goddard, Percy
141
Governor's Hill, origin of name
21
Graham, Dr. Loyal 3d., Reminiscences
139
Great Hill Section
4
Gunn, Abel
20
H
Hawkins, The family
45
Hawkins, Charles
133
Hawkins, Silas
9, 43, 45, 85
Hawkins, Capt. Zachariah, Pass in Revolution
25
Hawkins, Capt. Zachariah, Grave stone
48
Hawkins, Robert Z.
128, 134
History, by Rev. Sheldon Davis
123
Hell House
6
Hell Lane
6
Hobart, Rt. Rev. John Henry
35
Humphreys, Genl.
61
J
Johnson, Ebenezer, Grant in Quaker's Farm
8
Judson, Wells
49
Judson, Ruth
50
K
Kelly, J. Frederick, "Early Connecticut Meeting Houses" 55
196
L
Ladies Society Lectern Lum, Miss J. Mabel
94, 97, 99,189 56
134, 135
139, 140
146, 147
149, 151
Lyman, Rev. Jonathan, First Congregational Minister 16
M
Mallett, Stephen S.
102, 119, 120
Mansfield, Rev. Richard, Flees to Long Island
24
Mansfield, Rev. Richard, Salary
29
Manufactures in Quaker Farms
86, 87, 89
Marriages in 1845
101
Martin, Mrs. Catherine J.
143, 146
Meeting to organize Christ Church 1826
78
Meeting, Minutes, Nov. 13, 1826
82
Meeting Houses, "Early", by J. Frederick Kelly
55
Meeting Houses, Changes to New England
110
Meigs, The family
84, 85
Meigs, Samuel
72, 84
Meigs, Charles A.
132
Meigs, Miss Mary L.
120, 132
Membership, Church
163
Mills on Eight Mile Brook
61,87
Military Line of Oxford
70
Minute Book, Vestry
132
Music 188
N
Nichols, Benjamin, 1st. Selectman in Civil War
112
Nichols, Benj. and Minerva
131
Nichols, Russel
48
Norway, Families from
144
O
Organ, Sterling
122
Organ, Mason and Hamlin, reed
135
Organ, Pipe
164
Oxford, Five Principal deeds
8
197
O (Continued)
Oxford, 250th Anniversary of Town
143
Oxford Congregational Society set apart 12
Oxford Congregational Society, bounds 12
Oxford Congregational Society, meeting house
15
Oxford Congregational Society, first meeting
13
Oxford, First mention of in Episcopal Convention
31
Oxford, Episcopal services in houses
18
Oxford, Episcopal families in
19
Oxford, Episcopal Society members in 1795
29
Oxford, Episcopal Society supports bishop
29
Oxford, men in Civil War 111
P
Paintings, Altar
148, 160
Park Road, Origin of name
22
Petition to St. Peter's Church, 1826
75
Pews, Box, or Square
109
Pews, "Slips", installed
109
Pulpit, Old staircase
109
Q
Quaker's Farm, First mention of name
8
Quaker's Farm, Inhabitants in 1790
30
Quaker's Farm, Industries in 1826
86
Quaker's Farm, Purchase, Proprietors of
9
Quaker's Farm, Settlements near
3
R
Rector, First settled
90
Redecoration of church in 1954
158
Register, Parish, in 1845
101
Register, Parish, in 1858
171
Register, Parish, in 1878
122
Revolution, During the
24
Rum, offered for first stick of timber
191
Ryder (or Rider), Cornelius C.
113, 119
S
School, Church 180
School, Sunday, Entertainment in 1894 129
198
S (Continued)
Securities, Custodians of Schreiber, Thomas Seabury, Rev. Samuel Service form which dispensed with Book of Common Prayer
151
142-144, 156 28
24
Service book, The old
58
Services, Early morning
155
Sheep, Merino
61
St. Peter's Church, Founding of
(19
St. Peter's Church, First record
20
St. Peter's Church, Members in Quaker Farms in 1823
67
St. Peter's Church, Moved to its present location
96
St. Peter's Church, Chancel added
110
Subscription list, building Christ Church
37
Supper, Church, first recorded
146
T
Tercentenary, Connecticut
145
Tomlinson, The family
45
Tomlinson, David
44
Tomlinson, Letters during the Revolution
25
Tomlinson, Capt. Isaac before the Council of Safety
27
Tomlinson, Russel, House on Great Hill
5
Treasurer, Made member of vestry
154
Twitchell, The family
13
Train bands
72
Transportation
167
V
Vestry, Minute book
132
Voting members, List
157
W
Wall, Rear party, not original
57
War of 1812
60
War of 1812, Changes after
34
Washington, George, Colored evangelist
130
Westervelt, Frank
141
Weathervane
55
Window, Chancel stained glass
56, 121
Window, Palladian
59
199
W (Continued)
Windows, Side
58
Window blinds, Applied
120
Window blinds, Opened
121, 157
Wirth, Mrs. Nancy Nichols
131
Wooster, The family
22
Wooster, John's deer park
22
Wooster, Abraham
22
Wooster, Capt. Nathaniel
9,48
Wooster, Charles B., Fund
136
Woman vestryman, First
143
World War I, Christ Church men
138
World War II, Christ Church men
150
Wren, Sir Christopher, English architect
55
200
5
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.