USA > Connecticut > New London County > New London > Annals of St. James's Church, New London : for one hundred and fifty years > Part 5
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him, he may reënter the Church of St. James's, and offi- ciate as pastor thereof, he praying and conforming. to said vote."
The churchwardens fulfilled their duty, and made this report : "Agreeably to the above, we, the churchwardens, waited on the Rev. Mr. Graves, and acquainted him of the resolution of the parishioners, to which he replied, that he could not comply therewith." The churchwardens who signed this report were Thomas Allen and John Deshon, both stanch Whigs. The Sunday came, however, and Mr. Graves, perhaps encouraged or urged by injudicious friends, determined to brave the consequences, and read the service with the obnoxious prayers. The result was a painful and disgraceful scene, which put a speedy end to his ministry in New London, and, perhaps, expedited his death. The accounts, depending upon the testimony of aged persons who were eye-witnesses of the sad occurrence, are somewhat confused and contradictory; but certain facts may be extracted out of them about which there can be no reason- able doubt. A party of Whigs stationed themselves at the door, one in the porch, with the bell-rope in his hand. The service went on quietly till Mr. Graves began the offensive prayer. Then the bell was sounded, and the patriotic com- pany rushed in. Two brothers, Thomas and David Mum- ford, strong, athletic men, entered the desk. In the rage against Toryism, some outrage upon the minister's person might have been perpetrated; but two resolute women of the congregation came to the rescue. He escaped up Brad- ley street, and, tradition says, was received into the house of John Deshon, and sheltered from the violence of the mob. Among the faded reminiscences of a time now ancient, it is impossible to ascertain which are authentic. But it appears that Mr. Graves continued, after this unfortunate affair, in New London till the latter part of the following summer, 3*
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when he was sent, under a flag of truce, to New York, and died suddenly, April 5, 1780.
In September, 1779, the wardens were empowered to let the parsonage, which had been rendered vacant by the departure of Mr. Graves. On the 13th of January, 1780, the parish met, in order to answer the petition of the " Pres- byterians," requesting "leave for their pastor to officiate there "-that is, in St. James's Church-" on Sundays dur- ing the severe season of winter," and the following consent- ient reply was given : "Voted, that the Rev. Mr. Wm. Adams has leave to officiate in said church during the cold season and the pleasure of the Church." The Congrega- tionalists are here called Presbyterians, a usage very com- mon in familiar speech in former days. It is presumed that Mr. Adams and his people availed themselves of this per- mission, and so St. James's Church was the scene of Con- gregational. worship, perhaps till it was consumed by fire. The old Congregational meeting-house stood in a very bleak and exposed situation, and had become dilapidated. It had, at the time, no settled pastor. The Rev. William Adams, a son of their former minister, officiated as their stated supply. But the parish were not willing to be altogether deprived of the services of the sanctuary according to the worship of their own Church; for, on the 25th of January, only twelve days after thus acceding to the request of their neighbors, at another meeting it was "voted, that the churchwardens call on the Rev. Mr. Tyler, of Norwich, to officiate in the church, or any other gentleman that will officiate as he does, respecting the prayers,-as Mr. Lewis or Mr. Parker of Boston, or Mr. Freeman." And, April 16, 1781, it was " voted, that the Wardens call on some Revd gentleman to officiate in the Church of St. James-i.e .- as Rev. Mr. Jarvis or Mr. Hubbard does."
The Revolution and the Independence of the United
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States were becoming more and more fixed facts as time rolled on, and the clergy were driven to the necessity of seeking compromises-we use the word in no disrespectful or condemnatory sense-to reconcile the obligation of their ordination vows, and, no doubt, also their political predilec- tions, in many instances, with the exigencies of their posi- tion as citizens and as pastors. Some man who was ready to conform to some method of this sort, St. James's wanted, that the warring convictions and feelings that were strug- gling within its bosom might unite in a common service, and worship God in peace. Such a man does not seem to have been found; and the catastrophe that was then at hand, in which their temple was to perish, and leave them without a church, as they were already without a minister, put an end to the desire and the effort. That the questions of duty should have arisen and been so fiercely agitated, may seem to us, with St. Paul's dictum-" The powers that be are ordained of God "-before us, strange; but so thought not many conscientious and excellent men of that time, to whom the conflicting claims of allegiance and the obligation of vows, which a change of circumstances had made imprac- ticable, presented a practical difficulty of which they could find no easy solution. It was the question that had troubled the English non-jurors and the Scottish Epis- copalians after the downfall of the Stuarts, and that tortured the consciences of many worthy clergymen in our late lamentable civil war; men that wished to know their duty, and would do it at all hazards, if they did but know what it was. We cannot speak harshly of men who felt themselves bound by what we may regard as obsolete obli- gations, like Sancroft, Ken, and Seabury, Beach and Graves ; nor condemn, as time-serving trimmers, men like White, Jarvis, Parker, and Hubbard. No doubt, all deserve honor for their conscientiousness, and have it in the sight of God.
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It seems that either Miss Graves had not accompanied her brother to New York, or had returned; for, in the meeting of January 25, 1780, it was "voted, that Miss Joanna Graves has liberty to enter the Parsonage House after the 29th of August next, and enjoy one bedroom and one lower until a minister is called." Poor lady! before the time specified, an event had taken place which had de- stroyed her capacity to enjoy any place in New London much. Whether she ever availed herself of the privilege granted her, is unknown. Tradition tells us that she ulti- mately went to Providence, where her brother John was minister, and there ended her days. At any rate, in the meeting of April 16, 1781, it was " voted, that the Parson- age House be rented out, always giving the preference to one of the proprietors of the Church of St. James; " and, also, that Captain David Mumford has the preference to " hire the Parsonage, he giving equal rent to another per- son." On April 25, 1781, a meeting was held, the record of which is like the expiring sigh of our first church; for then there is a silence, till, in the fall, we hear of the gather- ing up and sale of the remnants that remained after the fire. At the same meeting, it was "voted, that the Church War- dens be directed to use the most speedy and legal means to get Mr. Guy Richards out of the Parsonage House, and to lease it to Captain David Mumford for one year, according to the former votes, always subjected to three months' warning." But now the great calamity came that laid waste her holy place, and left her forlorn and desolate · indeed. On the 6th of September, 1781, New London was burned by the British forces under the lead of Benedict Arnold,-the traitor Arnold, as he is commonly called ; and where could that name be applied to him more appropriately and feelingly than in New London? for he was born and reared in the county, was personally known to many of the
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citizens, and had often partaken of their hospitalities; and if, as is said, he sat calmly and at his dinner in a house on the elevated ground back of the town, from which he could look down and gloat over the devastation which his ruthless resentment was producing, he may well be paralleled with Nero, fiddling while Rome was in flames. To enter into the details of this invasion, would be aside from the purpose of this book; only so much may be said as is necessary to make it well understood. The British force, largely made up, it is said, of American loyalists, landed in two divisions, one on either side of the Thames. That on the eastern side attacked and conquered Fort Griswold, and put its defenders to the sword. The western detachment marched around the rear of the town, and entered it from the north. After firing a shot through my grandfather's front door, they marched through the town, following the course of the shore, and setting fire as they went. At the wharves con- nected with the beach, now Water street, then a sand-spit, within which the waters found their way at the north end, lay the shipping; and among the vessels, several prizes that had been taken from the enemy by privateers, and which were special objects of vengeance. At the upper end of the beach, the troops diverged from Main street, and passed along the wharves, burning as they went, to the foot of State street, where the parade was, and the church stood. In consequence, the space on Main street, between Hallam and State streets, escaped injury; and, as the parsonage was within these limits, it was not involved in the conflagra- tion, and remains a firm and comfortable dwelling. But the church was burned, whether by special design or accidental communication from other buildings is not known; at least, it does not appear that any effort was made to exempt or save it. It might be supposed that some effort would be made to secure an English church. Such was the case at
-
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Danbury, where the contents of the building (the American army had used it for a storehouse) were carefully removed and consumed on the green, and the church left unhurt. But St. James's was of doubtful loyalty. The predominant influence in it was with the country. Some of the foremost Whigs of the time were among its worshippers. Mr. Graves had been summarily ejected. There was no mercy for it; and if it had been possible to save it, there was no disposi- tion to exercise forbearance toward it. The destruction was complete. Not a shred or vestige of the edifice was left ; naught was there but smouldering ashes and the graves of the quiet slumberers, whom no din of assault or glare of flame could awake from their long last sleep. So perished the first St. James's, where men first in New London sought to worship the God of their fathers after a way which some called heresy. It never was consecrated ; for, in those days, there was none to exercise Episcopal functions on this side of the Atlantic; and the Bishop of London, to whom the jurisdiction nominally belonged, had little thought of crossing "the great and wide sea," to visit and care for his transatlantic wards. Like the other ante- revolutionary churches, it had no other consecration but that of sacred use. One brief, sad entry in the records finishes its history :
1781, Oct. Sold the old iron, nails, &c., left of the Church of St. James after it was burnt, at vendue, to Wm Stewart, for £13-2-1, credited on Mr. Stewart's book to the Church.
It is gratifying to know that the Churchmen of New London were not disposed to sit supinely under their loss, and waste their time in barren lamentations over their mis- fortunes, and unprofitable despair in regard to the future. It is pleasant to see them bestirring themselves, at the earliest moment, with manly energy and determination to
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repair their loss, setting themselves about the work of erect- ing a house of God in place of that which the dire fortune of war had taken from them. " Cast down, but not de- stroyed," was practically their motto. On Easter Monday, April 25, 1783, just as soon as the independence of the country was established and peace restored, their usual annual meeting was holden. Wm. Stewart, son of that Matthew whose remains lay beneath the relics of their former church, and Jonathan Starr, Jun., the second of that name, were chosen wardens, and it was "voted, that Capt. John Deshon, Nichol Fosdick, Roswell Saltonstall, Giles Mumford, Joseph Packwood, Thomas Allen, James Penni- man, Ebenezer Goddard, Henry Truman, Dr. Samuel Brown, and Jesse Edgecomb, be a committee to join the churchwardens to solicit donations for building a new church, to treat with the selectmen of the town to see if the ground where the old church stood can be disposed of or exchanged for other ground suitable to erect the building on, and to get the plan of a church procured, and make re- port of their doings as soon as may be. "It was also voted, that the Church Wardens rent the Parsonage House for the highest rent it will fetch, always giving the preference to one of the parishioners, and that the house be repaired by the Wardens in the most frugal manner, and that all back rent be immediately collected, and the residue be appropri- ated as the Church shall direct." The following year, an offer of the Rev. John Graves, of Providence, brother of their late minister, to supply them with a clergyman, was declined, on the ground that they were destitute of a build- ing in which to celebrate the worship of Almighty God. The effort to provide such a building seems, meanwhile, though not relinquished, to have gone on slowly. Poverty, and the disheartenment that not unnaturally resulted from great losses that had fallen upon almost all by the fire, must
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have sadly impeded their efforts, and rendered their task slow and difficult. That the work dragged, is not so much to be wondered at as that, under the circumstances, it was projected. In 1784, a committee was appointed to ascer- tain on what terms a lot could be purchased from Mr. Edgecomb, or some other proprietor, on which to erect a church. It might seem, from this mention of Mr. Edge- comb, that their attention had begun to be directed to the lot which was finally settled on as the site of the church. In 1785, a subscription paper was drawn up and circulated, but with what result the records do not inform us. They also bethought themselves of looking for aid from abroad, and the following is a petition sent to Boston for help :
The Episcopal Society of New London, being unfortunately deprived of their house of Divine Worship in the general conflagration of said town, in September, 1781, are earnestly desirous of erecting a new House, howe'er sensible of their own feeble efforts, yet impressed with the neces- sity of the work, and trusting to the friendly assistance of their brethren abroad they are induced to make the attempt: not doubting but their laudable design will meet the kind patronage of all ranks of people, and thereby enable them once more to assemble and celebrate their Maker's praise in a House of Divine Worship, amidst which the effusions of a grateful heart will not be unmindful of the donor's tribute in promoting the reestablishment of their Sacred Dwelling.
W. STEWART, JONA. STARR, Ch. Wardens.
Whether a similar petition was presented in other quar- ters, what was the effect of this, or whether external assist- ance came from any place, are questions for which the records supply no answer. At the same time, a subscrip- tion was circulated among the people themselves, "that all piously-disposed people may have an opportunity to contri- bute to the accomplishment of so commendable an under- taking." What amount was finally obtained from all sources
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does not appear. The records of this period, so important in the history of the parish, are, unfortunately, meagre and disconnected. We cannot ascertain from them where the lot for the new church was situated, or from whom it was purchased. But we know from the town records, however, that the land was part of that same Edgecomb property on which the parsonage was erected, and was bought of Samuel Edgecomb, the donor of the parsonage lot, then of the advanced age of ninety-three. It was but a scanty lot, lying now at the corner of Main and Church streets, to the latter of which it gave its name, running back into what was then but a quagmire, and had little to recommend it, but that it was central and accessible. But it had no advantage of prospect, and was too limited in extent to admit of much embellishment. By whom this second edifice was built, or precisely how long it was in building, is not known. But in an entry dated November 21, 1786, it is spoken of as the " church now building," from which it is evident that it was not then completed; yet the work must have been pretty far advanced, for, eight days after, Roswell Saltonstall and John Hertell are "added to the committee for laying out and valuing the pews." March 12, 1787, the committee for building the church of St. James are now authorized to agree with a proper person to finish the same, steeple excepted. John Bloyd, who had been sexton before the war, was continued in office. Preparations were evidently being made for the occupation of the church, and some time between April and August the happy consummation was reached, for, on the 17th September, the wardens were directed to execute a deed of dedication of the Church of St. James, in the following words, viz. :
As Almighty God has been pleased to put it into their hearts to build a new Church for the Celebration of His worship according to the liturgy of the Church of England, accommodated to the civil constitution of the
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State, and has, in the course of His providence, enabled them to com- plete it according to the best of their ability, it is their full purpose and earnest desire that the new Church, to be called St. James's Church, be dedicated to the worship and service of Almighty God, according to the liturgy of the Church of England aforesaid.
We, therefore, the Church Wardens, Vestrymen, and Parishioners of the said Church, do, for us and our successors, dedicate, appropriate, give and grant the said Church by us erected, unto Almighty God our Heavenly Father, to be consecrated and used to His worship and service according to the liturgy aforesaid, divesting ourselves of all right and title, and disclaiming all authority to employ it hereafter to any common or profane use. And we, the Church Wardens, Vestrymen, and Parishioners afore- said, further resolve and vote that the two Church Wardens, Messrs. Jona- than Starr and Roswell Saltonstall, do, in our name and behalf, sign and seal this instrument of dedication, and do acquaint the Right Rev. Dr. Seabury, our Diocesan Bishop, therewith, and request that he would con- secrate the said new Church to Almighty God, and set it apart to be for- ever hereafter employed in His worship and service; Promising, so far as in us lies, to take care of the affairs of said Church, that it be kept, together with its furniture, sacred utensils and books, in a decent state for the celebration of Divine service. And also that we will, as God shall enable us, endeavor always to procure and keep a man in Priest's Orders, to celebrate God's holy worship according to the liturgy aforesaid.
In witness whereof we, the said Church Wardens, hereunto set our hands and seals the day and year above mentioned.
JONATHAN STARR, JR., ROSWELL SALTONSTALL, Wardens.
Signed, sealed, and delivered in the presence of
GABRIEL SISTARE, ROSWELL SALTONSTALL, JR.
The date of the consecration was September 20, 1787. Bishop Seabury performed the act of consecration. His sentence of consecration is here inserted :
Be it known to all whom it may concern, that, on the 20th day of September, 1787, the above instrument of dedication was presented to us, the Bishop of Connecticut, at the Holy Table, by Mr. Jonathan Starr, the
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. Senior Church Warden, and openly read before the congregation there assembled; and that, in consequence thereof, the said new Church, called St. James's Church, was on that day duly consecrated and set apart for the celebration of the worship and service of Almighty God forever.
In witness whereof we have hereunto affixed our Episcopal seal, the day and year above written, and in the fourth year of our Consecration.
[SEAL.]
There is no signature nor any reference to one in the instrument. Probably the episcopal seal was accounted a sufficient attestation. That seal, brought by the Bishop from England, is still in being, and used in the Diocese of Con- necticut. This was one of the earliest consecrations in the country ; I know of none earlier. The churches built before the Revolution were never consecrated. The proper officer to discharge that function was wanting, and it was not thought necessary to subject them to that ceremony when one was obtained. Sacred use had given them all the sacredness that was deemed necessary. The site of the old church had been sold to the city,-New London had just attained the dignity of a city. At first an effort was made to secure protection for the remains of the dead that lay there, but they have ever since lain there unmarked and uncared for in one of the busiest haunts and thoroughfares of the city. It matters little to them, indeed. They sleep as soundly and will wake as quickly "at the last trumpet's sounding," as though they lay in some minster vault, or filled a narrow house on some breezy hillside. Yet it is unseemly, and the necessity for it cannot be but a subject of regret. The action of the parish on the subject we give below :
April 25, 1783. Voted, that the Church Wardens be a Committee to treat with the Mayor and Aldermen of the city, relative to the sale or exchange of the ground on which the Church stood; under this restric- tion, that the ground be not dug up on any pretence whatever, so as to disturb the ashes of the dead thereunder.
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But, at a meeting held the 6th of November, 1786, it was voted that "such part of the vote passed November 21, 1785, restraining the Wardens to sell the lot on which the late church stood, with the condition that the ground shall not be broken up, be rescinded." So the city bought the land without the condition, probably from the conviction that compliance with it must become impracticable, and the ground became highway. Thus of these old sleepers it is true that " their memorial has perished with them," and that " their remembrances are ashes, as well as their bodies bodies of dust." What the city paid for the vacated site nowhere appears.
While the parish was passing through this what may not improperly be called the transition period of its being-its passage from the first church to the second, and from its colonial to its independent-from its royal to its republican state, two or three names have come prominently into view, that may fairly claim a passing notice. No one appears more prominent in its affairs at this time than John Deshon, who was for years its warden, and always active and influen- tial in its concerns. John Deshon was of Huguenot de- scent. Daniel Deshon came to this country when a boy, with René Grignon, soon after the revocation of the Edict of Nantes. He settled in New London, and married Ruth Christophers, of an ancient, widely-ramified, and respect- able family. John, his second son, was a sea-captain, and influential and distinguished as a citizen, an ardent Whig, and an active Churchman. The Rev. Dr. Deshon, of this diocese, and the late Rev. Dr. Brandegee, of Utica, were grandsons of one of his brothers. It is said that the name was originally written Des Champs, but always in our ancient records, and on the tombstone of the first ancestor, it is spelled as it is now.
Roswell Saltonstall, also for many years a warden, was a
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descendant of Gurdon Saltonstall, some time the Congrega- tional minister, and afterward Governor of Connecticut. The first American ancestor of the family was Sir Richard Sal- tonstall, who was one of the company that came over with John Winthrop,-a company composed of the more moderate and tolerant class of Puritans, who had not so definitely and abso- lutely separated themselves from the Church of England. He was one of those who signed the parting address to the Church of England on leaving their native country. We may suppose that his descendants were free, to a great extent, from the rancor that so generally characterized their party. Gurdon Saltonstall, we have seen, "courteously entreated " Keith and Talbot on their missionary tour, invit- ing them to preach for him, and expressed his good affection for the Church of England. Roswell Saltonstall married a daughter of Matthew Stewart, so prominent a Churchman in his day, and one of his daughters was the wife of the Rev. Charles Seabury, the Bishop's son, and his successor in- the parish. Quite a number of Governor Saltonstall's descendants are or have been ministers of the Church.
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