A modern history of Windham county, Connecticut : a Windham county treasure book, Volume I, Part 75

Author: Lincoln, Allen B
Publication date: 1920
Publisher: Chicago : S. J. Clarke publ. co.
Number of Pages: 930

USA > Connecticut > Windham County > A modern history of Windham county, Connecticut : a Windham county treasure book, Volume I > Part 75

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).

At the present time Rev. G. C. S. Mackay is well serving the church and congregation, his pastorate beginning in June, 1918. He is a young man of promise, having been educated in the schools and colleges of bonnie Scotland.

In August, 1897, occurred the semi-centennial of the dedication of the first church organization. So stirring was the address by Secretary Rev. H. C. Mabie, D. D., of Boston, that Deacon George M. Morse pledged $1,000 as a golden jubilee offering to the Missionary Union.

The church edifice, damaged by lightening in 1891, and repaired in 1897, was burned April 4, 1904. In May it was voted, that year, to rebuild on the same site, and a fine stone edifice was completed and now stands a lasting me- morial, to the untiring zeal and energy of the five executive members of the large building committee which consisted of : Dr. J. B. Kent, chairman; Rev. J. R. Stubbert, H. O. Preston, Charles M. Fenner, and John A. Dady. The date of dedication was April 4, 1906.

It is well to note that this church has sent two pastors as chaplains in the army and navy-both "sweet singers in Israel,"-in response to the call of God and country. During the history of this church-seventy-two years- starting with twenty-four members, have been enumerated 1,100 names, the latest membership being 296.

The following have served this church as its worthy deacons: David Clark, Sr., Lenion Elliott Carpenter, James W. Manning, George W. Carver, George M. Morse, Frederick E. Lovering, Charles Arnold, Frank A. Hopkins, Thomas Finchan, Clarence E. Pierce, Henry L. Converse, Harry W. Thompson, C. W. Durfee, Moses L. Aldrich.

BAPTIST PASTORS 1848 TO DATE

1848-1849, Solomon Gale; 1849-1853, Allen Darrow ; 1854-1857, Charles Wil- lett; 1857-1864, William C. Walker; 1864-1872, Charles Willett; 1872-1881.

604

HISTORY OF WINDHAM COUNTY

B. F. Bronson ; 1882-1891, John R. Stubbert; 1891-1897, J. W. Ashworth; 1897-1902, A. W. Hand; 1901-1916, John R. Stubbert; 1916-1918, Albert E. Stone; 1918-, G. C. S. MacKay.

The editor is indebted for the foregoing record to Helen Manning Kent and Ida Kennedy.

THE BAPTIST CHURCH AT NORTH ASHFORD

By Rev. Harvey M. Lawson

The history of the church at North Ashford, as told by the Rev. E. N. Law- son and his son, Rev. Harvey M. Lawson, reveals many .names of unusual in- terest, and will be enjoyed by the general reader as well as by those of immediate connection. Among the earlier pastors was Rev. Erastus Andrews, father of E. Benjamin Andrews, at one time, president of Brown University, and of Charles B. Andrews, governor of Connecticut 1879-'81.

The Baptist Church at North Ashford had its origin in the work of Rev. Daniel Bolton, an earnest Baptist preacher and evangelist who had been or- dained June 27, 1792. A Baptist society was organized at "Northford" as the place was then called, November 11, 1793. In the winter following, as their records says, "the Lord put it into the hearts of his people to set up conference meetings and upon relating to each other the wonderful dealings of God with their souls, and discussing the rules, order and discipline of a church of Christ, they found such a good measure of harmony and agreement as to encourage them to organize a church." A council from neighboring Baptist churches was convened for this purpose November 5, 1794, when the church was organized. Those calling the council were Daniel Allen, Isaiah Bugbee, Timothy Allen, Daniel Boyton, Ephraim Hayward, Ezra Hayward, Jonathan Carpenter, John Hayward, Ebenezer Curtis, Jesse Bugbee, Marcus Bugbee, Huldah Bugbee, Lois Carpenter, Esther Keyes, Abigail Hayward, Elizabeth Carpenter, Rebecca Hayward, Esther Hayward, Ellice Bolton, Lucy Cheney and Avis Convis. Seven of these were embodied into a church by the council and the others joined when they obtained letters from other churches. Elder Bolton brought a letter from the church at Wilbraham, Mass., and was made pastor. Support was provided for him but he also wrought with his own hands (as many of his successors have done), that he might be less chargeable to the brethren.

The church was named "The Fourth Baptist Church of Ashford," the first being what is now the Warrenville Church, the second the one at Westford, and the third one that was organized near Eastford in 1792, but disbanded in 1803. Consequently the North Ashford Church was known thereafter as the Third Baptist Church of Ashford and now is called the Baptist Church of Eastford.

Two acres of land was given for the site of the meeting-house and a parson- age by Timothy Allen. In 1793, the meeting-house was built, although it was not completed for several years. It was thirty by forty feet in dimensions and was thereafter known as "the Bolton Meeting-house." It is said of the

605

HISTORY OF WINDHAM COUNTY

church in those early days, "though few in numbers and far remote from the busy world this church enjoyed uncommon grace and harmony and exercised a most beneficial influence on the community." Elder Bolton administered the pastorate until 1806 to the great acceptance of all. The church belonged at first to the Sturbridge Baptist Association until 1824, when the Ashford Bap- tist Association was formed.

The pastors which the church has had as nearly as can be ascertained are as follows :

1. Rev. Daniel Bolton, 1794-1806.

2. Rev. William Palmer of Hampton, about 1807-1810. His winning elo- quence attracted large congregations. During his pastorate the church was able to complete its meeting-house, adding fourteen pews to the galleries.

3. Rev. Biel Ledoit, 1811-1815. Elder Ledoit had been pastor of the Bap- tist Church at West Woodstock.

· 4. Rev. Stephen Haskel, 1815-1825. He came from the church at Stur- bridge (now Southbridge), and was ordained at North Ashford. He was a man of fine personal appearance and had a voice of great harmony and power. The early part of his ministry was quite successful. After he was dismissed from the pastoral charge in April, 1825, it is reported that he lapsed from the high standard of the Christian life and in 1835 the church withdrew fellowship from him.

5. Rev. Leonard Gage, 1829-1838. Elder Gage was one of the most useful pastors which the church ever had. At first he was also pastor at Stafford and resided there, so he supplied at North Ashford only a part of the time. The compensation received from both places was too small to meet the needs of a rising family, so he supplemented it by farming in summer and teaching in winter. While he was pastor at North Ashford a Sunday school was estab- lished for the first time and a singing school started which greatly helped the church singing. There were revivals of religion, especially in 1834, when there were thirty-four converts. One of the early ones was Isaiah C. Carpenter, who became a successful Baptist minister, and another was Thomas Holman, Jr., who also went into the ministry. About 1838, Elder Gage's health broke down, so he had to retire from the ministry. He afterwards lived in Woodstock to the advanced age of ninety-four. He was the father of Mrs. John Burley and Moses Gage of Woodstock.

6. Rev. Alfred E. Green from Monson, 1840-1841.

7. Rev. Alvin Bennett, 1842-1843-a particularly strong character, whose life and work have been commemorated in a published volume. The present church building was erected during his pastorate and dedicated in October, 1843.

8. Rev. Rensalaer O. Putney, 1844-1848.

9. Rev. George Mixter, 1848-1850.

10. Rev. Tubal Wakefield, 1851-1858. During his pastorate the parsonage was built.

11. Rev. Gilman Stone, 1858-1861. In 1860 there was a revival of great power and twenty-two were baptized.

12. Rev. Erastus Andrews, 1865-1869. He was the father of E. Benjamin Andrews, at one time president of Brown University and of Charles B. Andrews, governor of Connecticut, 1879-1881. Elder Andrews prepared a history of this church in 1867, which was printed in the Minutes of the Ashford Baptist As- sociation for that year.

606

HISTORY OF WINDHAM COUNTY

13. Rev. Gilman Stone (second pastorate); 1869-1870. He died here in 1870, aged sixty-six.

14. Rev. Joseph Perry, 1871-1872.

15. Rev. C. B. Rockwell, 1873-1875. Mr. Rockwell afterwards studied medi- cine and practiced in Chicago.

16. Rev. Thomas Atwood, 1876-1877.

17. Rev. Percival Mathewson, 1878-1881. He died in 1888, aged seventy-four.

18. Rev. Alvin E. Goff, 1882-1884.

19. Rev. A. A. Robinson, 1884-1886.

20. Rev. Asa Randlett, 1886-1894. Mr. Randlett was the father-in-law of Rev. J. R. Stubbert, for many years pastor of the Baptist Church at Putnam. North Ashford was Mr. Randlett's last pastorate. He did good work and greatly endeared himself to the people until failing health compelled him to resign in 1894. He continued to reside in North Ashford until his death, October 6, 1908.

21. Rev. T. P. Briggs, 1894-1901. Mr. Briggs also preached at Westford and the two churches have been united under one pastor since that time. He died at Cliftondale, Mass., September 3, 1919.

22. Rev. Charles Chamberlain, 1902-1904.

23. Rev. J. W. Higgins, 1904-1908. He is now pastor at Packer, Conn.

24. Rev. H. B. Goodsell, 1908-1911. He was ordained at North Ashford, September 29, 1908. Mr. Goodsell afterwards preached at the Congregational Church at South Killingly, Conn., and is now (1920) pastor of the Congre- gational Church at Andover, Conn.

25. Rev. Peter S. Collins, the present pastor, began his work here in 1911. He was a native of Maine, educated at the Newton Theological Seminary and had held pastorates in Maine, Litchfield, Conn., and elsewhere. During his pastorate he has received some twenty-five persons into church membership.

The deacons of the church have been: Ephraim Howard, Joseph Burley, John Burley, Benjamin Corbin, Jairus Chapman, Oliver Angell, Fred David- son, Pliny George, George W. Thayer, Charles Buell, Henry Buell.

During its history many persons have been baptized and received into mem- bership. Some of these have proved delinquent and, especially in the earlier days, there were meetings of the church to consider the cases of "those who have not travelled with the church for some time." But there has always been an inner circle of faithful, devout and godly members who have been deeply interested in the welfare of the church, such as Benjamin Corbin and his good wife, who was indeed "a mother in Isreal; John Burley always faithful and devoted to the church; Oliver Angell, who was always in his place in church and who enjoyed nothing better than a good prayer meeting; Silas Allen, Silas Simmons, Daniel Bartlett, for many years superintendent of the Sunday school, and many others.

Among those who have been baptized and joined this church, a number have gone into the ministry or done splendid work in other lines. The follow- ing is the list as nearly as can be ascertained :

Stephen Hiscock, who joined in 1807, became a "Christian" minister and preached locally.

Isaiah C. Carpenter, the first convert baptized by Elder Gaga in 1830, was ordained at Templeton, Mass. He had pastorates in Connecticut, New York and Vermont, and baptized over one hundred and sixty-seven persons.

607

HISTORY OF WINDHAM COUNTY

Johnson Howard, who was also received into the church in 1830, had pas- torates in New Hampshire, Massachusetts, and New York, and died in 1866, at Woodville, Mass., after abundant and fruitful labors.

Thomas Holman, who was baptized and joined the church in 1831, studied at Madison University, now Colgate, at Hamilton, N. Y., and was ordained at Southbridge, Mass., in 1840, and designated to preach the gospel in destitute portions of the West. He went to Illinois where he preached until 1848, when failing health compelled him to return East. He had pastorates in Tolland, Stafford, and West Woodstock, where he was very successful and greatly be- loved. In 1854, he went West again and labored in Wisconsin and Illinois as long as he was able and died at Rockford, Ill., October 4, 1883. He was a brother of Mrs. Calista Vinton, the missionary to the Karens.

Urijah Underwood was licensed by this church to preach October 27, 1838, and preached for a time in several places.

Darius H. Stoddard was baptized and united with the church August 11, 1850. He graduated from the Rochester Theological Seminary and held pas- torates in Massachusetts and New Hampshire.

Mellen Howard was also baptized and joined the church in 1850. He did not have the advantages of an early education but was a very earnest Christian and felt called to the ministry. He soon took a letter from this church and joined the Methodists. He began preaching at schoolhouses and camp meet- ings and gradually gained power and strength so that he became a very suc- cessful evangelist and pastor. His first pastorate was at East Woodstock in 1866, and afterwards he was stationed at East Hampton, South Glastonbury, Wapping, South Coventry and Norwich, Conn. In 1877, he was transferred to the New Hampshire Conference, where he labored very successfully in many different places the rest of his life. For a person with so few advantages he did a remarkable work and was a man filled with the Spirit of God.

David P. Corbin, though not a minister, was one of the best and most useful men who have gone out from this church. He was educated at Brown Uni- versity and chose teaching as his vocation. Intensely patriotic, he helped raise a company of volunteers during the Civil war, of which he later became cap- tain. After his discharge he taught in Willimantic and Hartford where he exercised a great influence for good. He died March 15, 1880. He was always devoted to this church and his widow has given a permanent fund to the church in his memory.

His brother, John W. Corbin, was always deeply interested in the church at North Ashford and always planned to attend it and visit its older members on his trips to Union.

Elisha Benjamin Andrews, son of Elder Andrews, was baptized and united with the church May 6, 1866. He was approbated by the church to preach the gospel wherever God in his providence should call him. October 7th of that year, he was dismissed and recommended to the Brown Street Baptist Church of Providence, R. I. He graduated from Brown University and after- wards became its president. His brother Charles Andrews studied law, be- came a judge and governor of Connecticut from 1879 to 1881.

Bertram Bugbee, who joined the church September 9, 1900, was ordained at the Baptist Church of Warrenville in November, 1909, and is now pastor there.

Harold George, who joined the church in 1909, is studying for the ministry at the Gordon Bible College in Boston.

608

HISTORY OF WINDHAM COUNTY

That the church has done a good work during its history and awakened the deep love and devotion of many persons is proved by the fact that in recent years many of the old members and friends have given sums of money to a permanent fund for the maintenance of preaching here in the years to come.

The donors and amounts given are as follows :

Mrs. Jane Leonard Lyon (former wife of Elder Mathewson) $ 500.00

Polly Corbin Lawson (widow of David Lawson) 100.00

Maria P. Sheldon (sister of Mrs. D. P. Corbin) 100.00

John Holman 500.00

Deacon John Burley 400.00

Mrs. Sarah Simmons, for the Silas Simmons fund.

500.00

Mrs. Florence D. Merrick, in memory of Jane Leonard and Olive Leon- ard Dean 300.00

Mrs. Mary S. Corbin, in memory of David P. Corbin 1,000.00

Mrs. Sarah Simmons, additional 1,000.00

Albert Lyon 600.00

The pulpit chairs were given in memory of Olive Leonard Dean by members of her family. Two deacon's chairs were given by John W. Corbin, in memory of Mr. and Mrs. Benjamin Corbin.

These persons who have thus given generously to insure the future life and work of the church, should be held in grateful memory and the present and future members of the church should feel a great responsibility to see that the spiritual life and power of the church is maintained and that it shall be the great power for bringing in the kingdom of God in this place. "They being dead, yet speak."

In 1907, the church was incorporated under the laws of Connecticut and took over the property from the old Baptist Society which became extinct.

In 1903, the chapel was built in the rear of the church which has been most useful for evening meetings and socials, and the entertainment of guests at special gatherings. Many well attended and pleasant social gatherings have been held here in recent years as well as several farmers' institutes for the general good of the community.

The church has charge of the cemetery at North Ashford and holds funds for the care of lots.

The meetings of the Ashford Baptist Association have been held with this church in the years 1847, 1853, 1879, 1908 and 1919.

REMINISCENCES*

E. N. Lawson Tells Interesting Facts about the "Old Bolton Meeting-house" at North Ashford

As there are so few now living who remember the old "Bolton Meeting- house" at North Ashford, which was usually called Northford in those days, it may be interesting to the present generation who never saw the meeting- house to hear some account of it. The Bolton meeting-house was named thus from Rev. Mr. Bolton, an earnest Baptist preacher, who came there about 1783, and who by his zeal and efforts formed a church and was largely instrumental in building a meeting-house, giving freely of his own means and labor.

* From Windham County Observer.

609

HISTORY OF WINDHAM COUNTY

The writer, who has a vivid recollection of attending church there when Rev. Leonard Gage was pastor, will describe it. It was a tall edifice with two rows of windows, no steeple, and guiltless of paint, inside or out, and with two outside doors, one on the east and one on the south side, with a wide flight of stairs near the south door. It stood on nearly the same spot where the present church stands. There were galleries on three sides, with a high pulpit and square pews, both on the floor below and in the galleries.

The writer remembers standing at the corner of the meeting-house and listening to a conversation of three as portly, fine-looking old gentlemen as one often sees, men of more than ordinary ability. They were Eleazer Bugbee, John Holman, Sr., and "Squire" Marcus Taft. They were lamenting the invention of friction matches as a sad cause of fires. (There had recently been a fire somewhere about ignited by matches.) They thought the world would have been better off without such an invention.

On Squire Taft's gravestone is this inscription which no more than does justice to his fine character. "He was a man, take him all in all, the like of which we shall not see again." I remember a singing school in the old meeting- house taught by a Mr. Spalding. The writer was permitted to attend the clos- ing session, being too young to go regularly. The singers occupied the galleries, a fine looking company of young men and women. They sang from the "Carmina Sacra," then a new book published by Lowell Mason. Among the singers were Clinton Howard, Elisha Carpenter and his brothers, Palmer Carpenter's sons, Silas P. Allen, Zachariah Allen's family, the Howards, Bugbees, Kieses and many others. Amid the singing some boys gathered around the stove, managed to knock the pipe down and the smoke which arose was anything but agreeable to the vocalists above.

The first deacons of the church were Joseph Burley and Ephraim Howard. Deacon Howard used to stand before the pulpit and line out the hymns, two lines at a time. Other deacons were Benjamin Corbin, Jairus Chapman, John Burley and Oliver M. Angell.

Among the first preachers was Elder Haskell who lived many years on the east side of Mashapaug lake in Union, and who used to ride horseback through the Breakneck woods to the Bolton meeting-house. He was said to have been a fervid preacher, who would say in his exhortation, with tears runnings down his cheeks, "Young men, if I am at last a castaway, and go to everlasting punish- ment, I don't want your company."

Among the preachers which the writer remembers were Elders Gage, Ben- nett (a most jovial man), Mixter, Munger, Osborn R. Putney, a very pleasant man, Stone, who died there, Andrews, a very able man and father of Governor Andrews of Connecticut, and of E. B. Andrews, once president of Brown Uni- versity, followed by many others well remembered at the present time. There have been many precious seasons of revival when numbers were added to the church, many of whom have proved to be earnest steadfast Christians.

The new meeting-house, which is the present one, was built early in the '40s. The contract was taken by Lyman Sessions, who hired a Mr. Smith as master workman. Among the singers in the new church were Clinton Howard, who for many years led the singing, Silas P. Allen, who loved dearly to sing, Mrs. Benjamin Corbin, Erastus and Bennett Burley, Gilbert Bugbee, John Howard and wife, Danforth Howard and wife, and many others.

The writer has very pleasant recollections of his old neighbors, the Corbins. Vol. 1-39

610

HISTORY OF WINDHAM COUNTY

Mrs. Benjamin Corbin of sainted memory, her son, David P. Corbin, the Burleys, the two Leonard families, the Howards and many others.

May God bless the dear old church and may it long continue to be a light and a blessing to the community.

Union, Conn., April 18, 1908.

E. N. Lawson,

CALVARY BAPTIST CHURCH, WILLIMANTIC

In 1912, some of the members of the African M. E. Zion Church with- drew and formed the Calvary Mission at Willimantic. In 1916, in response to an invitation from this mission to a number of Baptist churches of Con- necticut to send their pastors and one delegate to sit with them in council to consider the advisability of organizing the above mentioned mission into a regular Baptist Church and to ordain the Rev. S. Grimstead as a regular Bap- tist minister, a number of ministers and laymen met at 3 P. M. on July 7, 1916, in the room of the mission. The meeting was called to order by the Rev. W. H. Morton of Bridgeport, Conn., and on account of the absence of Dr. D. S. Klugh due to illness, Dr. A. B. Coats was chosen moderator and Rev. I. W. Reed was chosen secretary. Devotion service was held; "I love Thy Kingdom, Lord," was sung; prayer was given by Rev. R. B. Harris; and a brief statement was made by the pastor. Letters of admission of the future members were presented to the council and the articles of faith and the church covenant were accepted by pastor and church, and adopted as the rule of con- duct. The church was regularly organized, recognized, and set aside as a reg- ular Baptist Church. The Rev. S. Grimstead was examined as to his Christian experience, his call to the ministry, and views of Christian doctrine, in all of which he proved himself to be sound and highly satisfactory to the brethren. He was ordained and set apart to the work by prayers and laying on of the hands of Presbytry. Rev. W. F. Rowley gave the ordination prayer. The services were concluded by a public service of preaching by Rev. W. O. Harris, II Kings, 4:38-42, charge to the church by the Rev. I. W. Reed, charge to the pastor and hand of fellowship by Rev. R. B. Harris, benediction by the pastor. The moderator was Rev. A. B. Coats, Secretary Rev. I. W. Reed.

CATHOLIC PARISHES ALL HALLOW'S PARISH, MOOSUP

About sixty-six years ago (1833), the first little band of Catholics settled in Moosup in the persons of Michael Smith, Sr., Andrew Smith, James Mc- Caffrey, and James Meehan. Like their fellow-countrymen of those trying days, whom immigration brought to our shores, they yearned for the presence of those who could administer to them the consolations of religion and dispense the graces of the sacraments. Though deprived of priestly ministrations for some years, they, nevertheless, held fast to the faith once delivered to the saints and rejoiced when, about 1848, the first Mass in Moosup was offered up in the house of Michael Smith, Sr., now occupied by Terrence Coughlin. The cele- brant of this historic Mass was the Rev. William Logan, S. J., of Holy Cross College, Worcester, who about this time had charge of New London, Norwich,

611

HISTORY OF WINDHAM COUNTY

and several adjoining stations. On his way from Worcester, he may have heard of the presence here of some Catholics and sojourned amongst them to offer up the Holy Sacrifice. About this time there were between twenty and thirty Irish Catholics in Moosup. Following Father Logan, Moosup was attended at intervals of three months by the Rev. Peter Blenkinsop, also of Worcester, until the appointment of Rev. Michael McCabe to the pastorate of Danielson. Father McCabe's visits were made at intervals of two or three months, and on these occasions he said Mass in private houses. His services continued until the appointment of Rev. Philip Daly, whose pastorate terminated in June, 1861, when the Rev. James Quinn succeeded him. Father Quinn served until the appointment of Rev. J. J. McCabe in October, 1869. The next pastor was the Rev. Ferdinand Belanger, who came in April, 1870. His next successor was the Rev. John Quinn, who received his appointment in November, 1872. Rev. Denis Desmond then followed in July, 1874, and remained until October, 1876, when Rev. P. M. Kennedy took up the reins of government. His pastorate terminated in October, 1878, and the Rev. John A. Creedon became pastor of All Hallow's. Upon the translation of Father Creedon to Windsor Locks, in January, 1896, the present incumbent, Rev. John H. Broderick became his successor.

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.

A modern history of Windham county, Connecticut : a Windham county treasure book, Volume I, Part 75

Author: Lincoln, Allen B Publication date: 1920 Publisher: Chicago : S. J. Clarke publ. co. Number of Pages: 930

Author: Lincoln, Allen B
Publication date: 1920
Publisher: Chicago : S. J. Clarke publ. co.
Number of Pages: 930