USA > Connecticut > New Haven County > Waterbury > A narrative and documentary history of St. John's Protestant Episcopal Church (formerly St. James) of Waterbury, Connecticut > Part 10
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Dec. 29, 1807-Voted to send Mr. Justus Warner to the town
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of Claremont (N. H.) to know the reason of Mr. Barber's not returning to this town.
Voted to give Mr. Warner for the journey above said, fourteen dollars.
Feb. 15, 1808-Voted to have the church painted in the course of this year.
April 15, 1808-Voted, that Rev. Mr. Barber shall have leave, if he please, to preach at Wolcott a proportionate part of the time until next annual meeting.
May 14, 1810-On petition of the town of Middlebury, pray- ing the Legislature to cause the several Societies in Waterbury to relinquish a certain part of the public ministerial and school monies belonging to the said Societies; a committee was appointed to resist the same.
Voted that the thanks of the Society be presented to Mr. David Taylor for his present of an elegant Bible, received by hand of Mr. Wm. K. Lamson. [Mr. Taylor had been a merchant in Waterbury, but afterward removed to New York. I do not think he had been an attendant at St. John's during his residence here.]
Dec. 7, 1812-[The records of this meeting are signed by Ashley Scott, Clerk, being the first time that a signature is affixed to records of meetings.]
April 18, 1814-John Cossett petitioned the parish to make a present of the old Bible belonging to this parish to the members of the Episcopal Church living in the towns of Columbia and Waterbury in the State of Ohio.
Voted-[This is the Bible elsewhere referred to as having been returned from Ohio and deposited in the church.]
June 1, 1814-[Mr. Barber's resignation.]
June 6, 1814-Voted to apply to the Episcopal Society at Gunntown respecting their uniting with this parish in employing Rev. Mr. Geer.
Sept. 27, 1814-Voted that a committee be appointed to confer with Rev. Mr. Geer for the purpose of settling him as a pastor or hiring him to preach one year at not exceeding $600, provided the
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church in Gunntown will unite with us and pay their proportion for one-quarter or one-third of the time.
Nov. 15, 1824-Voted to appoint a Committee to confer with J. M. L. Scovill and others relative to paying for the bell.
Monday, Nov. 24, 1828-Voted to pay Mr. Samuel Cook thirty dollars for singing the ensuing year. [This is meant for any expense connected with the choir, of which Mr. Cook was leader.]
August 27, 1825-Elijah F. Merrill signs the record of the meetings as clerk.
April 12, 1830-Voted to accept the resignation of Rev. Alpheus Geer as pastor of this parish.
July 19, 1830-Voted that it is the wish of this parish to give Rev. Mr. Barlow an invitation to settle with us. Committee ap- pointed with power to offer $500.
Aug. 2. Committee appointed to enter into permanent agree- ment with Mr. Barlow, providing it can be done by paying him a salary of $500 per year, furnishing him with suitable dwelling house free of rent and necessary fire wood, provided also that should it so happen that any of the neighboring parishes should wish to have him part of the time he should be under obligation to preach for them should this Society request it.
Monday, Oct. 8, 1832. Rev. Mr. Barlow addressed a letter to the Society saying that his wife's health obliged him to take her South, asking for leave of absence during the winter, he to supply the pulpit, and asking an advance of salary to Dec. 1. All of which was granted.
April 8, 1833-Voted that the Rev. Mr. Morgan be invited to officiate as clergyman on the following terms, viz: $500 a year sal- ary, with the privilege of leaving at any time on giving six months notice, the parish also to have the same privilege.
Feb. 20, 1833-Voted that a Committee be appointed to super- intend the proposed alterations (of the church edifice) and author- ized to contract for the said alterations and repairs to an amount not to exceed $700.
March 31, 1834-Voted that the Societies Committee be authorized to effect an insurance on the church not exceeding $3,000.
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HISTORY OF ST. JOHN'S CHURCH.
Aug. 25, 1834-Voted to rent the slips in the church for the purpose of raising money to defray the expenses of the Society for the ensuing year.
Dec. 10, 1835-Voted to appoint a committee to purchase an organ and make the necessary change in the gallery.
Aug. 29, 1835-Mr. Morgan gave six months notice; committee empowered to offer Mr. Morgan $750 to remain. [It is worthy of note that there has been no increase of salary since 1807.]
Sept. 4, 1836-Committee appointed to secure the services of a clergyman. [Mr. Morgan had accepted the charge of Cheshire Academy.]
Jan. 28, 1837-Voted that the Societies Committee be author- ized to correspond with the Rev. Mr. Clark on the subject of becoming our rector and to offer him $750 per annum.
Voted to contract with John Rowley as organist and John Sandland as chorister.
Sept. 1, 1838-Voted to appoint two wardens and five vestry- man, including the treasurer and secretary.
Voted that the rector shall be chairman of the parish and vestry meetings. Voted that the vestry call on Rev. J. L. Clark and request him to be instituted as rector of St. John's Church at such time as may be convenient.
Jan. 12, 1839-Voted that an addition be made on each side of the church, provided the money can be raised by subscription.
Nothing appears on the record except the usual formal business until Feb. 23, 1846-Voted that it was expedient to build a church if funds can be raised by subscription.
1847, March 8-Voted that the parish give the use of the ground for building horse sheds to those persons who propose building provided they are built in a manner acceptable to the building committee.
Apr. 24, 1848-At any meeting of the vestry for transaction of business three shall constitute a quorum.
Letter of Consecration from Bishop Brownell, Jan. 12, 1848.
May 24, 1850-Report on Waterville Chapel that Mr. Hotch - kiss of Birmingham offered to build it for $1800. This being
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more than the subscription, a vote was passed authorizing an attempt to increase the amount.
June 9, 1851-St. Paul's, Waterville, consecrated by Bishop Brownell.
June 10, 1851-Convention held here.
June 11, 1851-Bishop Williams elected Associate Bishop.
April 9, 1855-Voted that the wardens and vestry make such arrangement for ministerial services for the year ensuing as circumstances may render expedient. (This action was taken on account of having given Dr. Clark a year's vacation but the fact does not appear on the Parish record.)
Jan. 18, 1857-Tower blown down.
Apr. 15, 1857-Committee of three appointed to rebuild the tower.
May 18-Voted to build of stone if $5000. can be raised, [but it could not].
1858, April 10-Voted increase number of vestry to sixteen.
Apr. 19, 1858-Voted to call Rev. J. M. Willey as assistant. June 8, 1858-Annual Convention held here.
March 5, 1859-Committee appointed to rebuild spire of wood; to proceed when $4000. shall have been subscribed.
June 27-Committee report that the spire will cost more than they supposed, but are directed to proceed.
March 8, 1862-Rev. John Eaton Smith assistant from Easter.
Oct. 17, 1864-Mr. Smith's resignation-Complimentary reso- lutions adopted.
1866, April 2-Rev. F. A. Steele appointed assistant minister. April 13, 1868-Rules for elections, etc., adopted.
Dec. 24, 1868-Church burnt.
Dec. 30, 1868-Mr. Buckingham offers us a lot for temporary chapel, rent free, which is accepted. Vote of thanks to Congre- gational and Methodist Societies for use of churches. March 8, 1869-Building Committee appointed.
Mar. 29, 1869-First service in temporary chapel.
Mar. 8, 1869-Committee appointed to build new church.
Mar. 16, 1869-A. Ives presents organ-$10,000. His letter recorded April 10, 1871.
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1870, May 23-Specification and Contract for new church.
Dec. 25, 1871-G. W. Burnham presents bust of Bishop Brownell and chime of 10 bells.
1872, Dec. 22-Votes as to new parish.
April 1-Votes complimentary to John H. Sandland after forty years service in the choir.
December 29-Complimentary resolutions to T. I. Driggs for service as organist.
1873, June 23-Requests for consecration.
June 24-Consecration.
1874, April 12-Rector's salary fixed at $1800 and house. (Assistants, $2200 without his house rent was afterward added.)
1875, May 29-Rules adopted for choosing vestry.
1875, May 29-Complimentary resolutions to J. W. Smith for 25 years service in the choir.
1876, January 31, February 7-Dr. Bingham called as assistant.
1876, November 7-Horse and carriage presented St. Mar- garet's on condition that Dr. Russell look after service at St. Paul's, Waterville.
June 13,-Convention held here.
1877, January 26-Dr. Clark died.
April 2-Dr. Bingham elected rector.
1877, June 4-Victor Chateneuf Smith, assistant minister. $250. to widow and $150. to sister of Rev. Dr. Clark voted.
April 25-Offer of St. John's accepted by those proposing to form new parish.
Deed J. F. Bingham to St. John's accepted Dec. 25, 1877. [Church Home, etc.]
1878, April 22-Rev. V. C. Smith's time extended.
1878, May 13-Corporate Seal adopted, "St. John's Parish, Waterbury, Conn."
June 3-Rev. John H. White, assistant.
November 10-Rev. John H. White resigned.
1879, February 3-Testimonial of Frederick R. Sanford signed.
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1879, April 25-Rev. Rob Roy McGregor McNulty appointed assistant.
1880, March 29-Dr. Bingham requested to resign: salary continued and rent of house to July 1. Rev. R. R. McNulty employed to continue for the present.
1880, April 19-A vote was passed authorizing the agent of the Parish to submit its claim to James A. Hovey, a judge of the Superior Court, to $1000. under the will of Sally Ann Sharp, given by her to the "Old Ladies Home" and claimed by us on the ground that we have a trust fund for establishing a home for indigent females and there is no other similar trust, we are there- fore entitled to the bequest. (The case was submitted and decided against the parish.)
Voted to accept from Mrs. Palmyra Cotton $1000 on condition that we pay her interest on this amount during her life. (She lived to be 102.)
June 16-Dr. Bingham presented his terms of resignation which were accepted.
1880, July 3-Mr. McNulty's name is now Converse-employed at $1500 per annum, terminable on six months notice by either party.
July 4-Wardens and vestry sign testimonials to standing committee for Priests orders for Rev. R. R. Converse.
1881, May 15-Testimonials for Priests orders to Frederick R. Sanford.
1881, April 18-Rev. R. R. Converse unanimously elected rector, salary $2000 .- $700. appropriated for assistant.
1882, April 10-$1100. appropriated for music and $500. for Mr. Driggs salary and all musical matters left in his hands.
June 19-$1250. appropriated for music and management committed to T. I. Driggs.
1882, July 13-Treasurer authorized to execute releases of land mortgaged to secure Hall funds under direction of Board of Managers of said funds.
1883, April 30-M. K. Bailey employed as assistant at $600 a year and allowed to teach at St. Margaret's.
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Sept. 11-Rev. Mr. Converse resignation accepted.
December 18-Call extended to Rev. Edward R. Atwill, D.D., of Toledo, Ohio. He declined.
Voted to purchase lot on State Street adjoining church prop- erty (horse sheds).
Oct. 22-Voted to place the sidewalk on the north side of the church outside the line of trees, so as to obviate danger from snow slides in accordance with the order of Common Council.
J. C. Booth and Mrs. Olive M. Elton present lot to the parish, corner Church Street and Center Square.
1884, March 6-Dr. Atwill declines and Rev. J. W. Lee of Bristol, Pa., called.
Dr. Bingham requested to execute a release of his interest in parish lands.
1884, April 14-Rev. J. W. Lee declines. Rev. Edmund Rowland, D.D., invited. $1250 appropriated for music.
April 28-Dr. Bingham gave a quit claim of his interest in Church Home and property.
Committee on memorial to Dr. Clark report that they have caused to be erected a memorial in Riverside Cemetery at $550. Cost defrayed by subscriptions of St. John's and Trinity. Dr. Rowland accepted and entered on his duties June 1, 1884.
1885, February 28-Plans for rectory submitted and approved. Rev. M. K. Bailey resigns.
December 20-Permission granted descendants of Rev. James Scovil to place tablet to his memory under the north gallery.
1886, April 26-Rectory reported completed-cost $15,943.98.
May 3-Treasurer reports Rectory paid for and parish out of debt.
1887, April 11-Brownell Monument reported moved-ex- pense $1468.20 including redecoration of chancel.
THE CENTENARY, APRIL 30, 1889.
In pursuance of proclamations issued by Benjamin Harrison, President of the United States, and Morgan G. Bulkeley, Governor of the State of Connecticut, and in accordance with the recom- mendation of the Right Rev. John Williams, D.D., LL.D., Bishop
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of the Diocese of Connecticut, commemorative exercises were held in St. John's Church, at 9 o'clock A.M., April 30, 1889, the one hundredth annivesrary of the inauguration of George Washington as first president of the United States. After appropriate and impressive religious services, Rev. Edmund Rowland, D.D., Rector of St. John's, Rev. W. R. Micou, rector of Trinity, and Rev. F. T. Russell, D.D., Rector of St. Margaret's School, offici- ating, brief but comprehensive addresses were made by the pastors of the Protestant churches of the City, and by several citizens. The church was filled to its utmost capacity by an attentive and intensely interested audience.
The following is the order of exercises.
Hymn 397-My Hope and My Fortress, My Castle.
Special Devotional Service.
Hymn 301.
Remarks by the Rector,
Address-The Epoch of 1789,
Address-Washington as a Statesman,
Hymn 326.
Address-Washington in his Domestic Life,, Address-Washington as a Soldier,
Address-Washington's Religious Character, Hymn 307.
The Rev. J. G. Davenport. . The Rev. W. P. Elsdon. . The Rev. A. C. Eggleston.
. Nathan Dikeman, Esq. . The Rev. F. T. Russell.
. The Rev. R. W. Micou.
Concluding Prayers and Benediction, . . Rector of St. John's. N. J. Welton, Parish Clerk.
. 1889, May 3-Resolutions in memory of Scovill M. Bucking- ham, 32 years senior warden.
May 13-Agreement with Mrs. Eunice T. Booth concerning passway.
May 4-Charles F. Mitchell elected clerk.
Church Home Fund purchase Mrs. Buel's lot.
May 13-N. J. Welton elected senior warden, vice S. M. Buck- ingham, deceased. E. D. Welton elected vestryman.
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The Rev. Dr. Edmund Rowland. The Hon. F. J. Kingsbury. . The Hon. S. W. Kellogg.
Address-Washington as a Mason
Address-Washington as a Churchman,
Address-Washington as a Chief Magistrate, Hymn 309.
HISTORY OF ST. JOHN'S CHURCH.
May 13-Agreement as to passways with Mrs. Eunice T. Booth. 1890, April 7-Voted to rescind all license to erect horse sheds. Parish House authorized.
1891, July 11-Dr. Rowland reports having agreed with Rev. J. H. McCrackan to act as assistant.
1894, July 11-Treasurer authorized to receive legacy of $5000 from Charles Scott. (Mr. Scott was a son of Daniel Scott, a member of St. John's, and spent his early life here. His business life was mostly in Boston, but he had lived for some years in Washington, D. C., where he died.)
1894, March 26-Installing of chancel organ reported. Cost $4274.20. Candelabra presented by H. H. Peck.
1895, April 15-F. J. Kingsbury elected Junior Warden.
1897, April 10-Vote to sell Willow Street land. Act of Legis- lature authorizing same.
1897, April 19-Vestry authorized to convey Church property at Waterville to St. Paul's Parish. Report of sale under vote of General Assembly of one and one-quarter acres to Geo. H. Clowes and five and one-half acres to Frederick B. Rice of Glebe land (being the land given by John Judd, April 19, 1745). Con- vention held here. Rev. March C. Mayo's engagements Easter 1897-98-99.
1900, April 16-J. S. Elton and F. J. Kingsbury having offered to erect a reredos and decorate the Chancel, voted to accept the same if $4000. can be raised to do other necessary repairs.
1900, April 16-Mr. Mayo employed another year. Permis- sion given N. J. Welton to place a memorial window to George L. Welton under the south gallery, he being at the time of his death a vestryman.
June 14-Rev. John Franklin Carter invited to the assistant rectorship, but declined.
July 31-H. H. Peck having offered to repair and connect the two organs electrically, voted to accept the offer provided $7500 can be raised to do other necessary work. [The necessary amount was raised and the work done, including reredos and chancel mentioned above.]
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July 31-Rev. John N. Lewis, Jr., invited as assistant rector; salary $2000.
August 21-Accepted.
December 7-At the suggestion of assistant-Voted that the clergy and senior warden be authorized to keep the church open daily during such hours as they may think best.
1901, January 18-Committee on envelope system reported favorably.
1901, April 8-Resignation of Dr. Rowland accepted and he is elected rector emeritus. Rev. John N. Lewis elected rector.
1902, Jan. 25-Rev. Taliaferro D. Caskey hired for three months.
1902, March 3-$2500 appropriated for music.
May 6-Authorized rector to secure Rev. Morton A. Barnes as assistant.
May 12-J. S. Elton authorized to convey land in Brooklyn district to City of Waterbury. 60 x 150 feet.
1903, January 18-Changes ordered in chancel to accommodate boy choir.
1903, April 13-Parish Agent authorized to convey St. Paul's, Waterville, to that parish.
Voted that the Vestry shall be sixteen [Treasurer and parish clerk to be ex-officio members] and that five shall be a quorum if a warden is present, otherwise a majority. Rector's salary made $3000 and rectory.
1905, Feb. 8-Rev. Mr. Barnes resigns.
July-Rev. Mr. Miller appointed.
1906, Jan .- Rev. Mr. Miller resigns.
March 10,-Voted to pay Rev. Mr. Bennett $140 per month for services during Easter.
April 4-$50 presented to Mr. Dallas for assistance.
VESTRY RECORDS.
1849, Jan. 27-Vote to furnish house for Dr. Clark. Minute of cost of church land and fixtures, $35,060.43.
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1850, March 1-Consent to chapel at Waterville. Rector to employ assistant; employed Rev. G. W. Horne. Dec. 9. Horne resigns.
1851 .- Rev. E. Jessup appointed.
1853-Rev. C. G. Acly assistant at Waterville.
1854, Aug. 8-Dr. Clark resigns, but vestry offers a vacation.
1856, Feb. 15-Mr. Acly resigns, to take effect at Easter.
1858, March 19-Thos. G. Carver elected assistant. Mr. Willey appears to have been employed by a committee and first appears in a notice in the record Apr., 1859.
1861, Dec. 14-Mr. Willey's resignation accepted.
1868, Jan. 4-Rev. A. F. Steele resigns-no notice of his ap- pointment. Dec. 24. Church burned. At a meeting of Wardens and Vestry, voted thanks to First and Second Congregational, Methodist and Baptist Churches for sympathy and kind offers of their churches for holding Christmas and other services. Dec. 30. Meeting held in lecture room of Methodist Church.
1872, Jan. 9' Meneely bells received. Dec. 29. Driggs re- signs organ after 24 years.
1873-Front seats in gallery rented. [The seats on the main floor were all sold and more needed.]
1875, July 25-Voted not to interpose any obstacles in case Mr. Russell sees fit to accept the principalship of St. Margaret's School.
Easter Monday, April 22, 1878, the following communication from the rector was read:
To the Parishioners of St. John's Parish in Annual Meeting Assembled:
Gentlemen :- I transmit herewith my annual abstract of the various charitable accounts which are kept under my hand, and also the approximate inventory of the moneys and property held by me and by the parish, in trust for the St. John's Church Home and Charity Foundation.
During the year, acting on my best judgment, and with the advice and concurrence of the Trustees named in the 27th clause of the will of the late lamented Mr. S. W. Hall and of the Wardens and Vestrymen of St. John's Parish, and with the approbation of the Bishop of the Diocese, I have selected, purchased and conveyed to the parish, in trust, a very eligible site on South Leonard Street (west side) for the future buildings of the Home and Charity Foundation of the congregations belonging to this parish.
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As will appear from the appendix to the enclosed inventory, I have in sub- scriptions conditional and otherwise (besides the subscription of the residuary legatees of Mr. Hall, based upon the 27th clause of his will, which subscription will be presented and read to the meeting by the Executors of that will) a con- siderable amount given especially for the erection on the above mentioned lots of a suitable chapel, as the first in a series of future erections to include besides the Home proper with its chapel for the accommodation of both sexes, also in time, an orphanage for both sexes, and a creche or day-nursery, with the attendant church schools and a general church hospital. Besides the ground, (which we have) this will eventually involve, in the cost of the buildings and in funds invested for its support, not less than $100,000-which I hope and believe will be realized, though we may not see the day.
The amount of property already in the trust of the parish; the invested funds now in hand; the subscriptions for the chapel lying on call; the condi- tional subscriptions on Mr. Hall's legacy; and at least two considerable legacies still future, of which the Rector has been notified, and which are liable at any time to fall in; constitute together a charge so important, that I recommend and request the appointment by the parish at the present annual meeting, of a committeee of two or three to carry forward in conjunction with the Rector, the necessary subscriptions and the general management of the whole trust.
Respectfully and faithfully yours,
J. F. BINGHAM, Rector.
Easter Monday, A. D., 1878.
Voted-That F. J. Kingsbury, Jas. S. Elton and John C. Booth be appointed a committee to take into consideration the propriety of the parish accepting a deed of certain property in trust as conveyed by the Rev. J. F. Bingham, D. D., by deed dated Dec. 18, 1877, and report to the parish some proper action in the premises. Also that said committee advise with the rector as to the propriety and necessity of spending any considerable amount of money in buildings as indicated by the rector's report to the Parish.
The following preamble and resolutions were presented and adopted:
WHEREAS, the late Samuel W. Hall, by his last will made several bequests to this parish.
Be it Resolved-That the clerk of this parish be directed to enter at length upon the records of the parish the several clauses of the will relating to said bequests.
Resolved-That the funds bequeathed be known as "The Hall Repair Fund," "The Hall Library Fund," and "The Hall Fund for the benefit and
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relief of the poor of the parish," and that a separate account be kept with each of said funds, so to be known and designated.
Resolved-That for the proper management and safe keeping of said funds, a Board of managers shall be appointed; to consist of the senior warden, the treasurer and the agent of the parish and two other persons, to be appointed at the annual parish meeting, and to hold office until their successors are appointed; who shall have the care and management of said funds and may authorize one or more of their number to draw orders on the treasurer for all or any portion of the principal or interest of said funds, under such regulations as they may prescribe, except where otherwise provided in said will.
And said board may deposit any portion of said funds in any incorporated bank in the town of Waterbury, or in any savings bank in this State, or may loan the same on unincumbered real estate of double the value of said loan, or may invest the same in bonds of the United States, or any of the New England States or of the State of New York, or of any incorporated city or town in this State.
All moneys not loaned shall be in the care and custody of the treasurer, who shall give a bond to the acceptance of the board of managers in the sum of ten thousand dollars.
Resolved-That all mortgages be taken in the name of the parish, and that the treasurer of the parish be and is hereby authorized to execute in the name and under the seal of the parish, releases of any such mortgages, when paid in full.
Resolved-That said board shall keep a record of their doings and shall report the condition and accounts of the funds annually to the annual parish meeting.
In accordance with the precedings resolutions, F. J. Kingsbury and Jas. S. Elton were chosen members of the Board of Manage- ment.
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CHAPTER IX.
REAL ESTATE.
T HE first deed of land for the church was the church lot, dated April 20, 1743. John Judd gives the deed but John Richardson seems to have had some interest as he signs the deed with Judd. This lot, at the northeast corner of West Main and North Willow Streets, now included in property be- longing to Mrs. Charles M. Mitchell, was subsequently enlarged by a release of the land within five feet of the church building on the north and east, made by Joseph Hopkins, then owner. Novem- ber 23, 1797, a committee was appointed to sell the property to Jesse Hopkins, son of Joseph, and the church's interest in this tract was closed. The deeds showing these transactions are given-A. A1. A. 2.
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