USA > Connecticut > New Haven County > Oxford > A history of Christ Church, Quaker Farms in Oxford, Connecticut > Part 8
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
"Christ Church, Quaker's Farms. Families 55, Sunday School- teachers 9, scholars 40. This parish was organized in 1811 and a very handsome church was erected in the year following. (Note. - His dates are incorrect). For several years it increased in numbers, zeal and piety, but they were unfortunate, and by death, by removals, and by a series of unforeseen events they have suffered as much, perhaps more than any other Parish in the Diocese.
"In 1829 (when Mr. Curtis was rector) they found them - selves in debt, their church out of repair, and their pros- pects more gloomy and foreboding, until the few male members were completely disheartened.
"But there were a few Phebes, of Conchrea, and Dorcases, who made coats and garments, whose hearts the Lord touched, and in 1835 they formed a society, under the title of the "Ladies Society of Christ's Church, Oxford"; which by continued labor, union, economy, and good management has earned and saved $325. At one time they paid for arrearages and old debts $140.36, for painting and re- pairing the inside of the church $114.36.
"There is evidently an awakened and primitive zeal arising in the Parish, that gives encouragement to hope the time is not far distant, when they will be enabled to support a Clergyman the whole of the time."
99
In 1840, Dr. Burhans reported to the Convention for Christ Church, Quakers Farms, - "The Female Society is still undim- inished in their benevolent exertions for the Church. I have officiated in this Parish 18 months. For the year past my in- creasing infirmities, (he was then 77) have prevented me from the discharge of any duties other than preaching about three Sundays in five. On Easter Sunday last, convinced of my in- ability to discharge the duties of my office, I closed my minis- terial labors, having performed them in the strength of the Lord 48 years."
The same Journal, 1840 records the Rev. John D. Smith as Rector of St. Peter's Church, Oxford, but makes no mention of his having any connection with Christ Church, so apparently in 1840 the two parishes were again separated, - with Mr. Smith at Oxford and Dr. Burhans at Quaker's Farms.
Dr. Burhans was probably one of the most interesting of the clergy who have served Christ Church.
THE REV. ABEL NICHOLS 1841 -1844
The Convention Journal for 1841 gives the Rev. Abel Nichols as Rector of Christ Church, Quaker Farms, and the lay dele- gates as Burke Tomlinson and Marcus Sanford. Mr. Nichols, name is also given in the pencil list of the clergy written on the front page of the 1845 Parish Register.
In 1842 Mr. Nichols became rector of St. Peter's Oxford also. In that year the lay delegates were Ira Hyde and Burke Tomlinson.
In 1843 Mr. Nichols continued in charge of both parishes and the delegates from Christ Church were Judson Candee and George A. Tomlinson.
In 1844 Mr. Nichols reported for Christ Church that "the congregation within the past year has nearly doubled in number". The delegates were Ira Hyde and George A. Tomlinson.
In the 1845 Journal, Mr. Nichols reported as "Late Rector" and says, "In November last I was compelled by sickness to suspend all parochial labor and in January succeeding I for - mally relinquished the charge of Christ Church, Quaker Farms and St. Peter's, having been connected with the former nearly five years and with the latter nearly four years". He had there- fore been called first to Christ Church and took over St. Peter's a year later.
100
CHAPTER XI FROM THE START OF THE NEW PARISH REGISTER IN 1845 TO THE CHANGES TO THE CHURCH BUILDING IN 1858
THE PARISH REGISTER OF CHRIST CHURCH, QUAKER FARMS FOR THE YEARS 1845 TO 1878
The register was a new and handsome half leather bound book with the name "Christ Church, Quaker's Farms" in gold letters on the cover. It gives a fairly full record of the clergy, either by direct record of tenure of office, or by entries, recorded in their handwriting of births, marriages, or burials. It has recently been turned over to the Connecticut State Library for file in the State Archives, and the Parish has received in return, a photo- static copy for its files.
THE REV. GEORGE B. EASTMAN 1845-1846
The new register was opened by Mr. Eastman, in a formal entry, written in ink in a clear and firm handwriting, - "Rev. Geo. B. Eastman entered upon the Rectorship of Christ Church Quakers Farms Aug. A.D. 1845". Evidently he had high hopes for a good life here in Quakers Farms.
In the 1846 Convention Journal he reported that he had entered on his duties the 11th Sunday after Trinity, Aug. 1845. During his ministry he recorded one baptism, a five-year-old child, and four confirmations, - Charlotte Roland Hyde, Mrs. Mariet Flagg, Jane Lewis, and Truman Tomlinson, were confirmed by the Rt. Rev. Thomas C. Brownell, Bishop of the Diocese in his visitation of the parish of Christ Church Quakers Farms, on the 22nd day of October in the year of our Redemption 1845. Christ Church, Quakers Farms, Conn. G. B. Eastman, Rector.
He records three marriages, -
"In Christ Church, Quakers Farms the 7th day of October A.D. 1845 I joined together in Holy Matrimony, Frederick A. Candee, and Louisa A. Hotchkiss, both of Oxford."
G. B. Eastman, Rector
"On the 19th Day of November A.D. 1845, I joined together in Holy Matrimony Milo Edmonds, and Lydia Maria Bunnell."
G. B. Eastman, Rector
101
"On the 9th day of April A.D. 1846 I joined together in Holy Matrimony Alson Hendryx and Mrs. Lucy Kimberly, both of Oxford, Conn."
These entries are very formal and indicate that Mr. Eastman looked forward to a permanent rectorate, but alas for fond hopes, immediately under his record of assuming the rectorship, is the following terse entry, - in his handwriting, - "Resigned, July A.D. 1846."
Mr. Eastman's chief contribution to the church records was a list of communicants in 1845, -
Nathaniel Wooster
Mrs. Hannah Meigs
Ina Hyde
Cynthia Hendryx
Arad Skeeles
Stephen S. Mallett
Mrs. Sally Hawkins
Sarah Tomlinson
Mrs. Grace Smith
Elizabeth Lewis
Harriet Waters
Anson R. Davis
Minerva Nichols
Margaret Eastman
Mary Ann Brush
Horace Tomlinson
Ruth Ann Candee
Margaretta Schuyler
Grade Hyde
Ira Hawkins
Mariet Flagg
Mrs. Mary Oatman
Alson Hendryx
The following names are added in the handwriting of Rev. Mr. Sanford who followed Mr. Eastman in 1847.
Ellen Tomlinson
Caroline Sanford
Benj. English
Mrs. Burr, Southford
Horace Porter
Mrs. Aden Johnson, Southford
Mrs. Hurlburt
Aden Johnson, Southford
Marcus Sanford
John Smith
Mrs. Horace Candee
Mrs. Wm. Dick
Prepared apparently at the same time (1848) though seemingly in a different handwriting is the following list of Families.
Ira Hyde
Anson R. Davis
Joseph Wilcoxon
Evart Hubbell
Arad Skeels
Beach Downs John C. Hull Clark B. Downs
Geo. Tomlinson
Timothy Bidwell
Amziah Downs John Hull
Henry E. Bidwell
Chas. Tomlinson
102
Mrs. Eben Fairchild
Jane Lewis
Wooster
Charlotte Roland Hyde
Philo Wooster Geo. A. Flagg Chas. A. Tomlinson Marvin Sanford David Oatman Erastus Wheeler Russel Nichols Benj. Nichols Horace Candee
Agur Curtis John Smith Marcus Sanford
Chatfield
Mrs. Nichols
David Chatfield
Stephen S. Mallett
Ebenezer Fairchild
Ira Hawkins
Samuel Meigs
Merritt Brown
Ephram Smith
Benj. English
Mrs. Bassett
Andrew Graham
John Sanford
Wm. Treat
S. D. Russell
John Lum
Erastus Burr Sheldon Beebe
Robert Treat Wheeler
Simeon Patterson
Thomas V. Wooster
William Ellis
Chas. Tomlinson
Horace Oatman
George Bunnell Clarke
Harman A. Perry
Fields
Mrs. S. M. Hawkins
Daniel Wooster
Nathaniel Wooster
Hurlburt
Geo. A. Tomlinson
Milo Edmonds
THE REV. DAVID P. SANFORD 1847-1848
In the Parish Register, under Baptisms appears the following entry, written in Mr. Sanford's handwriting, - "1846 Parish va- cant - No baptism". The 1847 and 1848 Convention Journals re- port him as rector of both parishes. In the Parish Register, Mr. Sanford wrote, - "Rev. David P. Sanford entered upon the Rectorship of Christ Church, Quaker's Farms on Easter Sunday Apr. 4, 1847". On June 6th of that year he baptized Mary Elvira, daughter of Anson R. Davis, and on Sept. 19th, ten children, all at the same service.
He wrote with a very fine pen, using the decorative flourishes of the old Spencerian handwriting. His entries of marriages are also formal, -
"On the 11th day of October, 1847, I joined in Holy Matrimony, Charles L. Dick of Newtown and Sarah E. Meigs of Oxford."
D. P. Sanford
103
Philene Bunnell Roswell Waters Alson Hendryx Chester Bunnell
John Stoddard
1848 "On the 24th day of January, Enos Ben Lum of Woodbury to Miss Betsy Ann Waters of Oxford."
D. P. Sanford, Rector.
"On the 13th day of February, A. D. 1848, George Bunnell and Sarah A. Tomlinson, both of Oxford."
D. P. Sanford, Rector.
Another marriage record appears to be in a different hand- writing, but not that of the succeeding rector, - "1848 On the 27th day of June, Wm. Pendleton of Westville and Ruth Ann Candee of Oxford".
THE REV. GEO. L. FOOTE 1849
In the 1849 Convention Journal, Mr. Foote is recorded as "Minister", Christ Church Quaker Farms. He reported to the Convention, "I desire to record the grateful remembrance in which the labors of their late rector (Mr. Sanford) are held by this people."
THE REV. CHARLES JARVIS TODD 1850-1854
In the Journals for 1851 to 1854 Mr. Todd is recorded as Rector of both parishes. His first entry in the Parish Register reads, - "Rev. Charles Jarvis Todd commenced services in Christ Church, Quakers Farms April 21st, 3rd Sunday after Easter 1850". His handwriting is less regular than those of his predecessors, and gives the impression of age. In his four years in Christ Church he had five baptisms and 10 persons were confirmed by Bishop Brownell, and in June 1853, three persons by Bishop Williams, (Bishop Brownell having died.)
He performed a number of marriages. He has dropped the formality of his predecessors and to give us an added interest has included the fees he received in each instance, -
1850
"Marriages during the Ministry of the Rev. Charles J. Todd.
Fee
July 21st 8th Sunday after Trin.
Edwin Tomlinson of Seymour
to Charlotte R. Hyde of Oxford $10.00
Daughter of Ira Hyde
1851 March 23 3d Sunday
Albert Kimberly son of Julius Kimberly to Abigail Kimberly, both of Oxford 2.50
in Lent
104
Monday April 14th Russel Waters of Oxford
to Mary Ann Essida of Plymouth $2.00
Sunday evening July 20
John Roberts of Southbury to Orry Wheeler of Derby 1.00
Friday evening
Oliver Downs to Julia A. Bissell, both of Oxford 3.00
1852
Sunday March 7th 3ª Sunday in Lent
Francis James Lewis of Newtown
to Nancy Aurelia Williams of Prospect 0.00
3ª Sunday in Lent March 14
Nicholas Hinman of Oxford
to Susan A. Peck of Birmingham 2.50
1853
Monday morning Jan. 3d
John Smith 2nd to Sarah Lucinda Treat, both of Oxford
5.00
Sunday evening Feb. 6th
Richard H. Dorson
to Elizabeth Bryan, both of Oxford 2.00
Monday March 7
Philander Sharp
to Almina Lewis both of Monroe 1.00
Friday evening June 17
Leonard Hotchkiss
to Elizabeth Hubbell, both of Oxford 3.00
1854
Sunday evening May 7th
Isaac Riley Cornwall of Milford to Eunice Abigail Brockett of North Haven
5.00
In 1853, June 3ª Confirmed by the Rt. Rev. J. Williams Amaziah Downs, Mrs. Mary Newton Davis, Mrs. Flora Maria Mallett."
After the 1845 list of Families given on pages 55, 56, and 57 of the Quaker Farms Record book is the following, -
Added 1852 Charles J. Todd, Rector
Austin Holbrook James Beardsley John Lum Henry Lum
William Griffin
Isaiah Chatfield
Mitty Wooster
Nicholas Hinman
1853 Divine Chatfield
Under the entry in the Parish Register made by Mr. Todd of his commencing services in 1850 is written in his handwriting, -
105
"Rev. Charles (Todd, omitted) closed services in Christ Church, Quaker Farms, March 19th, third Sunday in Lent, 1854."
THE REV. D. W. C. LOOP, DEACON 1854
Mr. Loop's first entry in the Parish register reads, - "Rev. D. W. C. Loop, Deacon, commenced services in Christ Church, Quaker Farms, Aug. 27th, 1854". He is not mentioned in the Diocesan Convention Journal.
The only entry of his activities noted in the Parish Register is of one burial.
Under the entry of his commencing services in August, is written in his handwriting, - "He left at the close of Dec. 1854 on account of disability".
THE REV. JOHN N. MARVIN 1855-1856
The Convention Journal for 1855 reports Mr. Marvin as Rec- tor of both parishes. His first entry in the Parish Register reads, - "Rev. J. N. Marvin commenced services in Christ chh Quaker Farms Apr. 22d 1855."
Mr. Marvin records one baptism and two confirmations by Bishop Williams, (date not given), - Miss Harriet Augusta San- ford, Miss Henrietta Eliza Sanford. No marriages.
In 1855, Mr. Marvin reported to the Convention, - "St. Peter's is at present connected with Quaker Farms. It is small and fee- ble, having lost a great number of its most influential and zealous members by death and removal. The mass of the population are not attendant upon its worship." He makes no comment on condi- tions in Quaker Farms.
In 1856 he reported, - "It, (St. Peter's) is now open for regu- lar service every Sunday, the connection with Quaker Farms having ceased at Easter." This would seem to indicate that for a while the St. Peter's people worshipped in Christ Church.
His last entry in the Christ Church Parish Register reads, - "Left the same during Passion Week March 1856".
In the 1857 Convention Journal, Mr. Marvin is recorded as Rector of St. Peter's Church only.
THE REV. GEORGE L. FOOT 1856
The only record we have about Mr. Foot is that his name is given in the pencil list of clergy written on the front page of the 1845 Parish Register. There is no record signed by him, and he is not mentioned in the Convention Journal.
106
There is record of one baptism Aug. 24, 1856, but it is unsigned.
THE YEAR 1857
Apparently Christ Church was vacant in 1857 for had Mr. Foot continued on into 1857 he would have been recorded in the Con- vention Journal for that year.
THE REV. C. T. WOODRUFF, REV. GEORGE R. DAVIS. DEACON. 1858
The Convention Journal records the following, -
St. Peter's Church, Oxford, Rev. Sylvester Clark (Deacon), Minister.
Christ Church, Quaker Farms, Rev. C. T. Woodruff, Rector, The Rev. George R. Davis, Deacon. Mr. Woodruff reports, - "My connection with the parish commenced the 1st of Nov. last (1857), - at Easter, my services were discontinued".
Apparently, Mr. Woodruff was Rector of St. Michael's Church, Naugatuck, and had charge of Christ Church, Quaker Farms for a few months, handling the work chiefly through his assistant, Deacon Davis. (It is to be noted that Mr. Davis' first name was George and not Joseph, as given in the pencil list of clergy in the Parish Register). Mr. Woodruff superintended the changes made in the Christ Church building as will be seen by the com- ments of The Rev. Mr. Clarke who succeeded him.
THE REV. SYLVESTER CLARKE 1859-1860
The Convention Journals for 1859 and 1860 record Mr. Clarke as rector of both parishes in 1859 and of Christ Church only in 1860. He seems to have taken charge of Christ Church in Septem- ber 1858, for in the Parish Register, under date of Sept. 6th, the following item appears, written in Mr. Clarke's handwriting, - "By direction of Bishop Williams, I have carried forward these records to new places".
He reports five infant baptisms all on Good Friday April 22, 1859.
Sarah Minerva Hawkins
Sarah Elizabeth Radcliffe
Mary Louise Hawkins
Charles Alling Davis
Charles Nathan Hawkins
He also reports six adult baptisms the same day as above,
107
Charles Hawkins Phobe Augusta Tomlinson Lottie Joy Hull
Leonora Jackson Carlos Jackson Isabella Jackson
The latest entry made by Mr. Clarke is of Confirmation by Bishop Williams, May 6, 1862.
Interesting records made by Mr. Clarke include a list of families and a "Complete Parish Register", commenced in Ad- vent 1858. These are given in the appendix to this history.
108
CHAPTER XII
CHANGES TO CHRIST CHURCH BUILDING MADE IN 1858
In the pencil list of Clergy written on the front page of the 1845 Parish Register, under date 1858 is the name Rev. C. T. Woodruff with this following comment, - "Changes made in the church by Mr. Woodruff."
In the Convention Journal for 1859 the Rev. Mr. Clarke re- ported for Christ Church, "Improvements of the Church Building $160.00"and in 1860 he reported, - "To the Rev. C. T. Woodruff of St. Michael's Church, Naugatuck, this parish, and the parish of St. Peter's are very largely indebted for willing and valuable assistance in improving their churches. It is owing entirely to his rare ingenuity and taste that changes have been made in them, which for their desirableness and the money they cost, will more than bear comparison with any in the Diocese."
The Convention Journals show that the changes made to St. Peter's at this time were chiefly the addition of a chancel. At Christ Church, it seems probable that "Mr. Woodruff's ingenu- ity" consisted in providing a chancel by the following means, -
1st. Removing the old "staircase" pulpit.
2d. Building a platform on which stand the present lectern and pulpit, and on top of this another platform for the sanctuary and altar.
3d. Building low side walls enclosing the chancel.
4th. Making all the panelling used in building the altar and enclosing the chancel, from the old box pews which were removed at the same time.
The Rev. Mr. Douglas in his Historical Address already quoted, says "It is thought that during the improving of the church in 1878 (under the Rev. Sheldon Davis) the old stair pulpit was taken down and demolished. No one living seems to know how it looked or what became of it." He continues, - "It may have gone much earlier in the history of the building, perhaps at the time when the old box pews were taken out." This latter surmise seems to be the more probable one when one considers that Mr. Douglas wrote in 1935, and if the work had been done in 1878, only 57 years before, there would have been a fair chance that some one of the older parishioners would have remembered the old pulpit. Miss Lum says that her father, (Mr. Charles A. Davis) told her that the box pews and the high pulpit were removed when
109
he was a small child. As he was born in 1858, he would have been 21 years old in 1878 and would have of course known these features if they had only been removed in that year.
Furthermore, it is certain that a chancel was added to St. Peter's in 1858, which adds to the likelihood that Mr. Woodruff made a chancel in Christ Church the same year, and he could not have made a chancel without removing the high pulpit which stood right in the middle of the east wall.
So it seems likely that the changes made by Mr. Woodruff in 1858 included the removal of the box pews and of the staircase pulpit, and the provision of a chancel with an altar and communion rail.
The removal of central high pulpits, the building of chancels and the substitution of slips in place of box pews in our churches had been fairly common for some time, as part of the general move to depart from the old meeting house type of structure so as to make it more church-like. Like all changes, these did not always meet with approval. Fennimore Cooper, telling of the removal of box pews from one church, says, "Those who were against the change, (and they were said to be the principal in the town), declared 'that they would oppose the renovation as irrev- erent in appearance, unsuited to the retirement and self-abase- ment that best comported with prayer and opposed to the delicacy of their own habits."
One wonders whether the people of Quaker Farms were as much stirred up about the change as Cooper's people were !
110
CHAPTER XIII
THE CIVIL WAR. 1861-1865
The 1861 Convention Journal gives no record of any minister, but it reports Ira and Marcus Hyde as Lay Delegates from Christ Church. The Rev. Sylvester Clarke seems not to have been in charge after 1860, but he recorded a confirmation in May 1862. During 1862 and 1863 the Journals report the Rev. A. P. Van Antwerp as Rector of St. Peter's only, but he appears to have supplied at Christ Church, as he records a wedding on Oct. 1, 1862 and two infant baptisms, one of which was that of Miss Evaline Amelia Davis, who died only recently. She was the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Anson Riley Davis, and sister of Mr. Charles A. Davis. Mr. Van Antwerp's last entry is that of a baptism Jan. 8, 1863.
THE REV. JOHN T. PEARCE 1863-1865
Mr. Pearce reported in the 1864 Convention Journal that "On Oct. 1, 1863, I took charge of St. Peter's as its rector, in union with Christ Church, Quaker Farms." In the 1865 Journal, he re- ported for St. Peter's, "At Easter I resigned the charge of Christ Church, Quaker Farms, in which parish I divided half my time and attention between the parochial reports of 1864 and the date of my resignation April 16th 1865." He continued on at St. Peter's for several years.
OXFORD SOLDIERS
Fort Sumter was fired on April 21, 1861 and Lee surrendered Apr. 9, 1865, thus making the duration of the Civil War fall dur- ing the ministries of Messrs. Van Antwerp and Pearce. We have no direct record of members of Christ Church who served in the war, but the History of Derby lists the soldiers from Oxford. From this list, we have selected the following familiar names, -
Seventh Regiment Infantry C. V. Hawkins, John, Private Sept. 1861 Discharged Sep. 12, 1864, term expired.
Tenth Reg. Infantry C. V.
Tomlinson, Edmund B. Private, Company A, Oct. 2, 1861, died Nov. 2, 1862 Newbern, N.C.
111
Twentieth Reg. Infantry C. V.
McEwen, Wooster B. Private, Company B. Aug. 4, 1862 mustered out June 13, 1865 Washington, D.C. Hubbell, John P. Private Company A, Aug. 15, 1862. Discharged, disability, Dec. 20, 1862 Harpers Ferry.
OXFORD SELECTMAN DURING THE WAR
The "Commemorative Biographical Record of New Haven County" says that Benjamin Nichols, (active in Christ Church as we have seen) was first selectman during the war, and had control of the funds for hiring substitutes.
112
CHAPTER XIV
1865-1876
The 1865 Convention Journal reports no minister and the Parish Register contains no entries between the baptism on Apr. 9, 1865 and the year 1867. The 1867 Journal speaks of "The Rev. Henry Townsend (late) missionary in charge, and he may there- fore have served Chrust Church in 1866.
THE REV. H. C. STOWELL 1867
In his address to the 1867 Convention, the Bishop reported that "The Rev. H. C. Stowell soon after Easter became minister in charge of Christ Church, Quaker Farms, and there remains".
Mr. Stowell's first entry in the Parish Register is the adult baptism of Mr. Cornelius Clark Rider and his wife Sarah, the witnesses being Mr. Charles Meigs and Mr. and Mrs. Marcus Hyde. For Christ Church, this was a much more important event than anyone probably realized at the time, for Mr. Rider was destined to have a strong influence on church life in Quaker Farms. He had purchased the farm on the Quaker Farms - Southbury Road later owned by the present Senior Warden Emer- itus Thomas Schreiber and now operated by his son David T. Schreiber.
THE YEAR 1868
The Convention Journal reports the parish vacant. The war- dens were Ira Hyde and S. S. Mallett. There is no entry in the Parish Register between that of Mr. Stowell July 14, 1867 and 1869.
THE REV. CLAYTON EDDY 1869-1870
The Journals for 1869 and 1870 report Mr. Eddy as rector of Christ Church, and Mr. Pearce as rector of St. Peter's.
On April 29th 1869 Mr. Eddy records the confirmation by Bishop Williams of the following persons, apparently all adults, -
Mr. Cornelius C. Rider
Mr. Clark B. Flagg Mr. Wm. R. Tomlinson
Mrs. Nancy E. Tomlinson Miss Laura Davis Mr. Bennett A. Treat
113
Miss Henrietta Tomlinson Mrs. Ellen A. Treat Mary Virginia Parish (col'd) We here see Mr. Rider taking his next step as a churchman. Mr. Eddy's last entry is July 30th, 1870, the baptism of the infant Mary Lorena Meigs, daughter of Charles and Bernice Meigs.
THE YEARS FROM 1834 TO 1871
The History of Derby says "Between 1834 and 1871 the parish was supplied by several clergymen, sometimes alone, and some- times in connection with St. Peters; the difficulty being always the same, - the want of adequate support". This was probably a true statement. The parish was vacant in 1871.
Mr. Douglas says, "Following the Civil War, there were times when church going was more or less neglected, services were held occasionally, and the church building fell more or less into a state of bad repair".
THE REV. H. ALANSON WELTON 1872
The Convention Journal for 1872 records Mr. Welton as Rec- tor of Christ Church with salary of $225.00. Some records seem to give his name as H. Manson Welton, but his signature in the Parish Register is perfectly clear, - H. Alanson Welton. His last entry in the Register was of the marriage Sept. 5, 1872 of William Treat Andrew and Miss Mary E. Davis at the residence of Anson R. Davis, Quaker Farms.
THE REV. J. ANKETEL, (Supplying) 1873-1875
Here comes a long gap of two years and more without any record of Christ Church, and apparently it was vacant during that time. It was the period of the great business panic of 1873, from which the country did not recover for some five years. In the Convention Journal for 1875, the Rev. John Anketel reported, "That since his recent transfer to this diocese he has been rec- tor of St. Peter's Church, Oxford, until May 3d., when he re- signed." He must have supplied to some extent at Quaker Farms, for the Parish Register contains the record of the baptism by him of Charles Edward Meigs, the three-year-old son of Charles and Bernice Meigs. In a historical sketch written in 1878, (in the new parish register of that year) the Rev. Sheldon Davis says that in 1875 a formal proposition was made by the Parish of St. Peter's, Oxford, through Mr. Anketel to merge the church in the Farms, in that of Oxford, which was summarily rejected.
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.