USA > Connecticut > Fairfield County > Bridgeport > A history of the city of Bridgeport, Connecticut > Part 2
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 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50
In the case of the second society organized by law in Stratford village, to which Mr. Zachariah Walker ministered, it was in part under the officers and control of the first society, or the town, for so far as seen it had no officers elected by the town ; but the Stratfield society was granted several offices to be filled by its own election, in 1699. Pre- vious to this, a part of the time at least if not all, its recorder was that of the town of Fairfield ; and its own special officers, if it had any, had not civil authority.
7 Historical Notes, by Major W. B. Hincks, 35.
* See foot note on pages 302 and 303 of History of Old Stratford.
12
History of Bridgeport.
The boundaries of the Fairfield Village on the western side were not particularly specified as became necessary, and on petition the General Assembly in May, 1701, established them definitely, and changed the name from Fairfield Village to that of Stratfield," a name formed from the first part of the word Stratford and the last part of Fairfield.
In May, 1702, this society received its part of the State money for schools according to the following act :10
"Ordered by this Assembly, that the constable or con- stables of Fairfield and Stratford, or those to whom orders shall be sent annually for the payment of tlie schools there, shall pay to the schoolmaster of Stratfield, so much as ariseth upon their part of the list at forty shillings upon every thou- sand pounds, according to the late law for Schools."
The ecclesiastical Society being fully organized, it thereby became the territory for a military company, and hence in October, 1703, " David Sherman was appointed Ensign of the train band in Stratfield."11
The next spring the complement of officers was made more complete by the appointment of " Lieut. John Beards- ley to be Captain of the train band of Stratfield, and Lieut. James Bennet to be their Lieutenant.12 Capt. John Beardsley
9 " May 1701. This Assembly having heard and considered the petition or request of the inhabitants of Fairfield Village presented to them by Lieut. James Bennett, desiring that the Court would state and settle for them a line for the west boundary to their plantation, &c., do order and enact : That the line to be the west boundary of the said plantation shall run so that it may take in and in- clude within their bounds, one Moses Jackson, miller, his housing and lands, and run on the west side of old Jackson's lotts (viz) : pasture, building lot, and long let, upwards or northwards to the upward or northern end of the bounds of the town of Fairfield, and that all such person or persons as have built or shall build and inhabit on the east side of the abovesaid line, and on the west side of Poquan- ack River, shall pay to all public charges that shall arise in the said plantation his ratable part thereof.
" Provided always : That this act shall in no wise hinder or abridge the inhab- itants of said plantation, of using and holding the priviledge of feeding sheep to the westward of the abovesaid line, as it was granted to them formerly by the in- habitants of the town of Fairfield.
" And further it is enacted by the authority aforesaid : That the said planta- tion (formerly called Poquannuck and Fairfield village) shall for the future be called by the name of Stratfield."-Col. Rec., iv. 356.
10 Col. Rec., iv. 384.
11 Col. Rec., iv. 445.
12 Col. Rec., iv. 476.
I3
Stratfield Society.
had been lieutenant at Stratford many years, and James Bennett the same at Fairfield.
The following is a copy of the first page of the Stratfield earliest church record book.
" The Church of Christ in Stratfield (formerly called Poquannuck) was gathered, and Charles Chauncey was or- dained the Pastor thereof, June 13, 1695.
" The Names of those that at that time were embodied into Church estate were as followeth :
"CHARLES CHAUNCEY, Past".
" Richard Hubble, sen", Isaac Wheeler, sen', James Bennit, sen", Samu !! Beardsley, Samuel Gregory, sen',
Mathew Sherman, Richd Hubble, jun', David Sherman, Jnº Odill, jun".
" The Names of those that were afterwards received by vertue of Letters Dissmissory or Recommendatory from other Churches were as followeth :
From Fairfield Church.
Mary Sherwood, Anne Wheeler, Mary Odill, Rebecca Gregory, Ruth Tredwell, Mercy Wheeler, Abigaill Wells, Elizabeth Sherwood,
From Stratford Church.
Abigaill Hubble, Mary Bennit, Abigaill Beardsley, Abigaill Wakely, Temperance Hubble. Mercy Sherman, Their letter was read and accepted, July 10, 1695.
Sarah Odill. Their letter was read. and accepted Anno 1695.
"Concord. Joseph Wheeler and his wife. Their letter was read and accepted.
" From the Church of Christ, Norwalk; Mary Jackson, her letter was read December 20, 1697, and accepted.
"Stratford. Hannah Fairchild ; her letter was read and accepted by the Church September 10, 1699.
" Thomas Hawley, his letter was read and accepted.
" Fairfield Church; Mary Beardsley, Jno's wife; her letter was read and accepted, July 26, 1702.
" Woodbury ; Abegaill Tredwell's letter was read and accepted, Nov. 24, 1704.
14
History of Bridgeport.
" Concord ; Sarah Whitacus, her letter was read and accepted June 17, 1705.
" Charlestown ; Zachariah Ferris, sent, his letter was read 7 and accepted, Sept. 9, 1705."
Besides the above there were added to this Church by profession, in full communion, during Mr. Chauncey's labors, to the end of the year 1714, the time of his death, 64 persons, making 97 in all.
During the same time there were 133 who united under the Halfway Covenant.
As to the meaning of this latter relation, Mr. Chauncey says, in heading the list with a prefatory statement :
"The Names of those who have renewed their Covenant, and personally subjected themselves to the government of Christ in his Church, and particularly in this Church, to- gether with the time of their doing it."
This indicates that the relationship of the Halfway Cove- nant church members, was not regarded as of less seriousness or solemn obligation than that of full membership. The re- quirements in the Covenant itself were nearly the same as those of full communion ; and it was not a trifling matter as it has so often been represented. Many persons at the present day are received to full membership in evangelical Churches without placing themselves under anything like the solemn promises that the Halfway Covenant imposed,13 in those days of strict religious principle.
13 The following is a copy of the Halfway Covenant which stands upon the records of the Church of Ripton at the date of 1773, the use of which was discon- tinued in 1817 :
" You do now, before God and these witnesses, avouch the Lord Jehovah to be your covenant God and Father, viewing yourself under solemn bonds and obli- gations to be the Lord's by your baptismal vows. You do, so far as you know your own heart, make choice of Jesus Christ to be your only Saviour and Redeemer, and the Holy Ghost to be your Sanctifier, solemnly engaging to serve the Lord and him only, as he shall by his grace enable you ; that you will deny all ungodliness and worldly lusts ; that you will be careful to keep a conscience void of offence, so as to do honor to God and the religion you profess ; that you will endeavor by strength from God to walk in all his commandments and ordi- nances blameless, desiring to put yourself under the watch and care of this Church, to be trained up in the school of Christ for his heavenly kingdom ; prom- ising also that you will give up your children to God in baptism, and to bring
**
15
Stratfield Society.
The part which this Church had in the establishment of the Saybrook Platform is seen in the resolution and action recorded :
" July 27, 1708. Voted on the Sabbath that Leut. Bennet or Ensigne Sherman or both, be the messengers of this Church at the meeting of the elders at Fairfield on the 28th of the same month by the appointment of the General Assembly at Hartford in May last, the end of which meeting of elders and messengers to Consider the matter of Church discipline."
When the result of the Saybrook convention had been confirmed by the General Assembly, Mr. Chauncey made the following entry in the Church book :
"February 16, 1708-9. I published the Confession of Faith, the Articles of union between the united Presbyte- rians and Congregational men in England, also read the regu- lations for Church discipline agreed upon by said Colony, and confirmed by authority ; None among the brethren ob- jecting.""
The Rev. Charles Chauncey" was the first pastor of the Stratfield Congregational Church. He was a son of the Rev. Israel Chauncey, of Stratford, and grandson of President Chauncey of Harvard College, and was born at Stratford, September 3, 1668. He was graduated at Harvard in 1686, and married at Pequonnock, June 29, 1692, Sarah, daughter of Major John Burr, and great-granddaughter of Mr. Jehu Burr, one of the original settlers of Fairfield.
Mr. Chauncey was made freeman in Fairfield, March 18,
them up in the fear of the Lord ; and to attend upon all the ordinances of Christ as administered in this place ; also that it is your full purpose to obey God in the ordinance of the Holy Supper as God shall give you light, and show you his will herein. And you covenant, and you promise, relying for help, strength and abil- ity on the blood of the everlasting covenant, to perform all and every duty to the praise and glory of God."-See Ecclesiastical Contributions, 411.
14 This account of the action of this Church, as to the Saybrook platform, and the record of the meeting of the first Consociation of Fairfield County, printed on pages 310 to 313 of History of Old Stratford, in foot note, are taken from the Stratfield Church Record book.
15 See sermon by the Rev. Charles Ray Palmer, pub. 1876.
16
History of Bridgeport.
1689, which indicates his residence there either as a school teacher-which is probable-or serving as a minister under his father in lectures on week day evenings. It is evident that he served as a preacher, soon after, from the fact that in 1692, the town of Fairfield gave him land to descend to his heirs "if he shall die in the work of his ministry at Poquonnock."
The privileges of a society were granted in 1691, and the Church was organized and Mr. Chauncey ordained, as seen above, June 13, 1695.
On the corner of Major Burr's farm, in what has since been known as Cooke's Lane, a house was built, and in it, in 1693, Mr. Chauncey and his wife took up their abode, and he commenced his regular ministerial labors.
In 1697, his wife Sarah died, and he married 2d, Sarah, daughter of Henry Wolcott, of Windsor, March 16, 1698. She died Jan. 5, 1702, and he married, 3d, Elizabeth Sherwood, March 14, 1710.
Mr. Chauncey was a member of the Council at Saybrook, and one of the founders of the Fairfield Consociation. Under his ministry both the church and the settlement steadily in- creased in numbers. His salary was at first £60 per annum, payable in produce at market rates, but afterwards it was in- creased to £80. He had, independently of his support, prop- erty in Stratford and in England, and left an estate valued at £743.
Mr. Chauncey died December 31, 1714, leaving a widow and several children.
The first Deacon of Mr. Chauncey's Church was David Sherman, a large farmer, and one of the first settlers in Pequonnock. He was born in Stratford in 1665; was a man of good abilities, gifted in prayer, and much esteemed. In the absence of the minister he took the lead of religious ser- vices.
The Second Meeting-house in Stratfield.
Mr. Samuel Cooke commenced preaching for this people soon after July 11, 1715, and was ordained pastor February 14, 1715-16.
-
£
£
17
Stratfield Society.
In December, 1715, the Society proceeded to the election of officers in which they called their most prominent officers "Selectmen," it being probable that they intended by that term simply the society's committee. They also voted, " that the drum shall bee beaten round the meeting house on Sab- bath days;" and Richard Hubbell, Thomas Hawley, James Seeley, were chosen a committee to consult some carpenters about the enlargement of the meeting-house.
In July, 1716, further action was taken : "Voted, that they will inlarge and repair the meeting-house ;" and a large committee was appointed to have the work done as soon as convenient, at the charge of the society."
In the progress of events, the work being delayed, another plan seems to have come under discussion, and probably was brought up at the next annual meeting, which meeting was adjourned several days, and when they came together in December, 1716, they voted, "that the place for the setting of the new meeting-house, if they shall afterward agree to build one, shall be near the corner of Joseph Trowbridge's orchard, late deceased, on the norwest side of the road be- tween that and the widow Sharman's, deceased. Also voted at the same time, that they will build a new meeting-house, of these following dimensions: twenty-four feet between joints ; forty-eight feet long : thirty-eight feet wide and a long roof. Major John Burr, Capt. David Sharman, Left. Richard Hubbell, Jr., Samuel Sherwood, Mr. Benjamin Fayerweather, were chosen a committee to build the above said house, on the charge of the abovesaid inhabitants; and what the major part of the committee agree to, shall be binding, not exceed- ing four hundred and fifty pounds, besides the charge of rais- ing said house."
At another meeting, on December 31, 1716, they "granted by a major vote a Rate of one hundred pounds money to be raised on them according to their lists the last year, to be laid out towards the building of the new meeting-house."
In March, 1736 the following request was received by the meeting of the society: "Your petitioner requests your favour so far as to grant me the liberty of making a pew for my wife and children at my own charge in the new meeting-
3
18
History of Bridgeport.
house, on the women's side up by the pulpit. Pray be so kind as to gratify me in this instance, both with respect to the thing itself and the situation of it. I remain your s. in all things I may. SAMLL COOKE.
Passed in the affirmative at the abovesaid meeting."
" May 23d, 1717, then voted and agreed that the com- mittee shall hire men to raise the meeting-house and give ·them 38 per day, they finding themselves."
STRATFIELD SECOND MEETING-HOUSE ERECTED IN 1717.
On December 30, 1717, they proceeded to make the rules for seating the meeting-house: " Voted that the meeting- house shall be seated by dignity, age, and estate by the pres- ent list ; and also that David Sharman, Richard Hubbell, John Odell, Samuel Sherwood and John Burr be a committee to seat the meeting-house, and have power to seat from time to time as they see occasion.
" At a meeting of the society, March 7, 1743, then voted that Major John Burr sit with his family in the pew that he
19
Stratfield Society.
has built in the meetinghouse during the pleasure of the society."
In 1718, an appropriation of sixteen pound and six shill- ings was made by the society for building a gallery in the meeting-house, and Capt. David Sherman, Thomas Hawley, and Samuel Gregory, were appointed the committee to build it.
This meeting-house was considerably altered, as shown by the vote, December 17, 1765: " Liberty was granted to the following persons, each, to build a pew at the east end of the meetinghouse where the short seats are, they building at their own cost and paying the several sums affixed to each of their names, to the treasurer of this society in three months from this time ; for them and to be for their benefit during their pleasure to sit in :
Nehemiah Smith Odell, 138 2ª --
Seth Gregory, 138 2ª
Hezekiah Hubbell, 128 1ª Benjamin Hubbell, Jr., 128 6ª
Edward Rowland, 138 3ª Jabez Hubbell, 128 2ª
Wolcott Hawley, 138 od Gideon Hubbell, 12º 1ª Aaron Hawley, 128 8ª Thomas Hawley, 12º od
Isaac Hunt, 138 1ª Elnathan Sherman, II8 4ª
" December 20, 1769. Voted that the society are willing to build a steeple at the west end of the Presbyterian meeting house."
The committee to do the work consisted of " John Burr, Esq., Lieut. Benjamin Faverweather, Lieut. Abel Seelye, Mr. Stephen Starling, and Mr. Benjamin Wheeler," and they were to do the work by subscription.
The subscription, however, was not sufficient to complete the work, for on September 19, 1770, the society voted that they were " willing to tax themselves to finish the steeple ;" but changing their minds somewhat, they voted to make fur- ther efforts with the subscription, and it is probable that it was finished without a tax.
The steeple was not finished, when on the 28th of July, 1771, it was struck with lightning while the people were wor- shiping in the house, but was not greatly injured, although two men, John Burr, Esq., and Mr. David Sherman, being in
20
History of Bridgeport.
the house at worship, were killed. No other persons were seriously injured by the shock.
On August 5th, 1771, they voted to repair and finish the steeple ; and the next April they voted " that there may be an iron rod put up at the steple by subscription."
Another improvement was secured by the following so- ciety act : " Mar. 8, 1774. Voted that they will have a bell ; also that the society will get a bell by subscription, and Joseph Strong, Gideon Hubbell, and Edward Boroughs shall be the committee to get the bell."
"September 12, 1774. Voted that ye Society are willing to have the bell ringed at ye usual time on Sabbath days, and other days at 12 of ye clock in ye day and at 9 o'clock at night, and also on lecture day ; and whereas Mr. Wolcott Hawley offers to ring ye Bell at ye rate of £4 109 by ye year for ye first three months, it was agreed to by ye meeting."
There seems to have been some failure in the bell, for in November the society voted that they were " willing to run the bell over again and pay for it by subscription." This was probably done, since they continued afterwards to appoint a person to ring the bell from year to year.
Rev. Samuel Cooke,18 son of Thomas Cooke, Jr., and Sarah (Mason) Cook, of Guilford, Conn., was born in Guil- ford, November 22, 1687. His father died suddenly in 1701, before the son entered college, and the General Court granted, in May, 1703, a petition from the boy and his guardian (John Parmelee) for the sale of a house and lot to gain funds to carry out " the great desire of Thomas Cooke, deceased, to bring up this his son in learning." He graduated at Yale College in 1705.
He perhaps studied divinity immediately after gradua- tion. In January, 1707, he became the rector of the Hopkins Grammar School in New Haven, and held that position at a salary of £60 a year, also occasionally preaching, until the close of the year 1715. He was also a deputy to the General Assembly from New Haven, for the six sessions from October,
16 This sketch is taken from "Biographical Sketches of the Graduates of Yale College," by F. B. Dexter, M.A. .
1
21
Stratfield Society.
1712, to May, 1715, serving as Clerk of the House for the last five. He married, November 30, 1708, Anne, only daughter of John Trowbridge, of New Haven, and granddaughter of Governor Leete, of Guilford.
In 1714, the Church in Stratfield lost by death its first pastor, the Rev. Charles Chauncey ; and on June 16, 1715, a call was extended to Mr. Cooke to become his successor. The church in New Haven was also pastorless, owing to the death of the Rev. James Pierpont; and on July 1, 1715, this society met " to nominate a man to carry on the work of the ministry on probation." Mr. Cooke was put in nomination, and the place was probably more attractive to him than was Stratfield ; but the vote stood 86 for Mr. Joseph Noyes to 45 for Mr. Cooke.
Accordingly, the call to Stratfield was accepted July II, and Mr. Cooke appears to have begun his ministry there at once, though fulfilling his engagement with the New Haven Grammar School, until the end of the year 1715. His ordi- nation is said to have taken place February 14, 1715-16. The salary was £100 a year, with firewood.17
He retained this pastorate until his death, December 2, 1747, at the age of 60. His latter years were troubled by an alleged backwardness on the part of his people to make good the salary promised him; and after his death his executors brought suit for the sum of $3000 arrears due his estate.18
In 1717, at the very beginning of his ministry, a new meeting-house was erected, which was used until the present century. In the events which followed the great revival of 1740, Mr. Cooke was a zealous advocate of what were known
11 Specimen of Mr. Cooke's Receipts.
" Stratfield, July ye 14. 1716. Received of henry Wakely and Sam11 Wells, Jn', Collectors of the Minister's Rate or accepted as Received the sum of one hun- dred pounds six shillings and fore pence as money in full of the Rate that by agreement was to have been paid me on or Before the first day of March last passed and acordingly acquit the Society of Stratfield of one full years Rate and one myself endebted to the s Society ye sum of six shillings and fore pence. Witness my hand, SAMLL COOKE.
18 A considerable part of this sum, probably, grew out of claims, in conse- quence of the depreciation of the currency.
£
22
History of Bridgeport.
as " New Light " measures ; and particularly, in May, 1742, he took an active part in. the organization of a new church in New Haven. He had been since September, 1732, one of the Trustees of Yale College, but the predominant "Old Light " convictions of the other trustees led finally to the following vote, found in the original records of the Corporation for September, 1745: " Whereas, this board have at this and for- mer meetings signified to Mr. Cook their dissatisfaction with sundry things in his conduct, and he could not conveniently tarry to make any distinct answer thereunto at this time by reason of sickness in his family, Voted, that the President, with the rest of the standing Committee of this Board be desired to signifie to Mr. Cooke the reasons of their dissatis- faction in writing and desire his answer thereto."
It is but fair to read between the lines, and bearing in mind that this was the first meeting convened after the new charter of 1745 had passed the legislature, which gave power (not in the former charter) to six of the Trustees to remove a Trustee from his place, we may conclude that the writing sent to Mr. Cooke forced upon him the resignation of his trusteeship, which was announced to the Corporation at their next meeting, in April, 1746.
The New Haven County Association of Ministers had previously, September 25, 1744, sent a letter to Mr. Cooke signifying their uneasiness with, and offense at the proceed- ings of said Mr. Cooke, etc., in pretendedly gathering a Church among the Separatists at New Haven in opposition to the pastor and Ist church there. His letter in reply was voted " not satisfactory," September 24, 1745.
On the other hand the Fairfield Eastern Association of Ministers, in which Mr. Cooke was a leading member, passed, April 15, 1746, a series of resolutions, evidently bearing ref- erence to his citation before the Trustees, and to this effect : in view of the Assembly's having granted "a new College Charter with large privileges and a new form of government, and particularly by investing the newly incorporated body with powers of taking away as well as giving College honors, as the said Corporation see just cause; Therefore,
" I. Voted and Agreed, That no person or future mem-
1
23
Stratfield Society.
ber of this Association shall be looked upon by us obliged to answer before sd. authority for any such fact or facts as were committed by such member before sd. Corporation's Investi- ture with such new authority.
" 2. Voted and Agreed that no member of this Associa- tion is obliged to answer to sd. Corporation for any of their Doctrines or Conduct as ministers of the gospel. ... . "
"He was," says his present successor, "a man whose personal dignity was long remembered in the parish, and was held in the highest respect-somewhat in fear. He was par- ticularly careful in his personal appearance. This comprised a heavy curled wig, black coat and small clothes, shoes with silver buckles, and over all a black gown or cloak."
His first wife was born July 22, 1688, and died August II, 1721 ; and he married, May 3, 1722, Esther, daughter of Nathaniel Burr, and widow of John Stoss, both of Fairfield ; she died in less than a year. He married, thirdly, Elizabeth, daughter of Joseph Platt, of Norwalk, Conn., born December 2, 1701, and died May 16, 1732, "of an apoplexy ;" and fourthly, Aug. 6, 1733, Abigail, daughter of the Rev. Samuel Russell, of Branford, and widow of the Rev. Joseph Moss, of Derby, Conn., who survived him. His children were, three sons and four daughters by his first wife, and three sons by his third wife. Three of his sons, Samuel, William, and Joseph Platt, graduated at Yale College in 1730, 1747, and 1750, respectively. One of his daughters married the Rev. Robert Silliman.
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.