USA > Connecticut > Fairfield County > Southport > Annals of an old parish : historical sketches of Trinity Church, Southport, Connecticut, 1725 to 1848 > Part 11
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RECTORSHIP OF REV. EDMUND GUILBERT.
the preceding chapter, was summoned to her eternal rest ; and it was subsequently discovered that her commodious homestead and grounds, situate on Pequot Avenue, almost directly opposite the parish Church, had been left to the Rector of Trinity, and his successors in office " for a residence, and for no other use or purpose, forever." This munificent gift, the culmina- tion of a devotion to the welfare of the parish that during its existence has never been surpassed, is now occupied
TRINITY CHURCH CHANCEL, 1898. ( SHOWING THE ROCKWELL MEMORIAL CANDELABRA.)
by the present incumbent, and places him, so far as a delightful residence can do so, in a position that leaves nothing to be desired. Trinity parish thus owns, in this year of grace, 1898, its fourth Rectory. The first was in Fairfield village, and was destroyed by fire in 1779. The second, and third, located in Southport, have been transferred to other owners. The fourth, " the Perry Rectory," let us hope, will
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TRINITY CHURCH, EASTER, 1890.
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RECTORSHIP OF REV. EDMUND GUILBERT.
stand, proof against fire and flood, and the onslaughts of time, and be the shelter, not only of the Rector of to-day, as long as he shall preside over the parish, but of those who shall follow him for generations to come.
The sale of the second Rectory was followed by a result. that is worthy of chronicling. A satisfactory sum having been offered for the property, the Vestry unanimously voted to. accept it. After the purchase had been consummated, at the request of the Rector, fifteen hundred dollars of the proceeds were appropriated for the purchase of a new organ for the parish Church, conditional upon the same amount being raised by subscription. As the want of a larger, and more modern instrument, had long been felt by all the parishioners, the necessary sum was soon pledged, and on the 1st of July, 1894, the Dedication of what has proved to be an exceptionally helpful and acceptable adjunct to Divine worship took place. For the present, the organ is located in the gallery, at the west end of the Church ; but plans for a chancel extension have been drawn, and the Rector hopes to live to see the day, when the organ, put in its proper place, shall, in unison with a vested choir of men and boys, do its part in a rich and stately rendering of the praises of Almighty God.
As has been stated, many years before the present Rector came to Southport, death had begun to make frequent and serious inroads upon the strength of the parish. And since his Rectorship began, there has been no abatement in this respect. In the brief space of seven years, he has officiated at the burial of no less than thirty-five adult members of his- flock. Edward Hawkins, junior-warden of the parish, and one of its most faithful upholders, died December 4th, 1891. Mr. Francis Jelliff, who was taken from us after a sudden illness, July 23rd, 1896, served as vestryman from 1854 to 1882, and senior-warden, from 1882, to the time of his death. He was also parish treasurer, 1879 to 1893. The parish dur- ing this decade, also suffers, in addition to the loss of Mrs.
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RECTORSHIP OF REV. EDMUND GUILBERT.
Francis D. Perry, that of other devoted women, whose efforts in its behalf, were untiring. Among them are Mrs. John H. Sherwood, Mrs. Lewis A. Curtis, Mrs. Zalmon P. Wakeman, Mrs. Mary J. Gallagher, and Miss Elizabeth D. Banks.
The "Crossing of the River" of one whose name has, so far, not been mentioned, has resulted in the gift to the Church of a beautiful memorial Font, executed in Dresden,
THE SECOND SOUTHPORT PARSONAGE
Saxony, and modelled after the famous original of the Swedish sculptor, Thorwalsden. The beautiful life itself, which it commemorates, needs no visible reminder to perpetuate its power and memory. That has left its abiding record upon the hearts of all who came within its influence. None the less, the memorial erected, will serve through many coming years, to point the lesson of faithfulness, by recalling one who, though fond of life, yet when she was called upon to relinquish it, willingly laid all its longings and hopes at the foot of the Cross, and entered into the joy of her Lord.
THE ROCKWELL MEMORIAL FONT,
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RECTORSHIP OF REV. EDMUND GUILBERT.
The inscription on the Rockwell Memorial Font is :
IN MEMORIAM.
ANNA ROBINSON ROCKWELL,
Born November 12th, 1849-Died February 13th, 1893.
" And the Angel said : I am alive forevermore."
To all these noble women, whose departure from among us, Trinity parish constantly laments, and whose efforts, ever ex- erted in its behalf, are to-day so greatly missed as well as needed, the poet's words are most applicable :
" Besides,-what grieved us most-we knew They had no need of such as you In the place where you were going. On earth are angels all too few, While Heaven is overflowing."
"The ANNALS OF AN OLD PARISH" are here brought to a close. The great and good work done in the past, surely is an incentive to those upon whom Elijah's mantle has fallen, to so labor that the perpetuity and the efficiency of Trinity Church shall be assured for all time to come. It is true that its membership is constantly growing smaller. As those who are conversant with the situation well know, death, and re- movals from the village, are active factors in producing this result. But the writer believes the time is not far off, when this shrinkage will come to an end. Southport, and its outlying parts, are too admirably situated, not to advance, rather than retrograde, in the future. Some day, there will be an inflow of population that will change entirely the present aspect of things. In the interval, while waiting for the
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RECTORSHIP OF REV. EDMUND GUILBERT.
improvement that is sure to come, those upon whom the prosperity of Trinity Church now depends, must acquire a spirit of consecration, that will hesitate at no sacrifice in its behalf. A few possessed of unity, purpose, zeal, courage, can accom- plish far more than a multitude that is aimless and indifferent.
One, out of his own experience, has written a lesson con- cerning this :
" A craven hung along the battle's edge,
And thought, 'Had I a sword of keener steel,- That blue blade that the king's son bears,-but this Blunt thing! ' he snapt and flung it from his hand,
And, lowering, crept away and left the field. Then came the king's son, wounded, sore bestead,
And weaponless, and saw the broken sword, Hilt-buried in the dry and trodden sand,
And ran and snatched it, and, with battle-shout
Lifted afresh, he hewed his enemy down,
And saved a great cause that heroic day."
Even if the prospect were so desperate as that, the writer would still hope and believe that the spirit of heroism would inspire the members of Trinity parish to do their whole duty. But the matter wears another aspect. They are called to lead no forlorn hope, to commit themselves to no such doubtful enterprise. The Gospel of Jesus Christ is not a sentimental theory. It is based on human need. It alone meets the universal desire for pardon of sin, and acceptance with God. And the Church that faithfully preaches this Gospel can never fail. The Divine promise is, "the Gates of Hell shall not prevail against it." Only let them rise to the level of the nobility of the grand principles which they profess, and failure cannot ensue. Theirs, they claim, and believe is the Church of the Living God. Noblesse Oblige! Let them prove to those about them its superiority by asking them frankly, not boastingly, but simply, to judge them by their fruits. However grand the idea may be, though
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RECTORSHIP OF REV. EDMUND GUILBERT.
we may have all the motive forces of the world, if they do not actually result in a changed, renewed life, then we are proving ourselves infidel to our faith, and are preach- ing a word which the world will not hear, and a word which the world ought not to hear. If a man wants to build a new mill, he does not put in new machinery that simply looks well. He asks, Does it work well ? Have you tried it ? Until they see the actual result of the thing, that it is really better than what they have, men do not give up the old. Trinity Church must produce the highest types of Christian men and women, eminent for piety, for justice, for charity, for sympathy, if it hopes to continue to the end; for it is the fittest forever that survives. Unless a Church makes itself the fittest, it not only must, but it ought to go down.
The future of Trinity Church rests, then, the writer be- lieves, even in the light of the Divine promise concerning the perpetuity of the Church as a whole, largely upon the members themselves. To be certain that its doors shall be open to welcome the weary and heavy-laden for a far longer period in the time to come, than they have been in the past, its members are simply asked to rise to the grandeur of the Gospel their Church preaches ; to become, in deed, not merely in name, veritable disciples of Jesus Christ, and then to open their hearts, their minds, the treasures that they possess,- not merely of money, that is least of all,-for the benefit of the community that they love so well.
If they do that, there can be no uncertainty about the welfare of Trinity Church, so far as the present or future is concerned.
CITIZENS AND CHRISTIANS, CHURCHMEN AND NON-CHURCHMEN, one and all, of this old Town of Fairfield! Because this Trinity Church, which has flourished among you since 1725, A. D., is a Scriptural Church and not revolutionary; because its Book of Common Prayer is rich and venerable above all, save One, in the English tongue ; because its Ritual promotes
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RECTORSHIP OF REV. EDMUND GUILBERT.
decency, dignity, piety, reverence, and permanence; because its Historic Union through the Apostles comforts so many souls; because the Gospel preached in its pulpit is the old unchanged Glad-Tidings that Christ Himself proclaimed ; because it has for six generations spiritually begotten and trained the best types of Christian manhood and womanhood among you :- Therefore, from its own Psalter, let us take the words wherewith to bless it :--
"They shall prosper that love thee. Deace be within the walls, and plenteousness within the palaces. For my brethren and companions' sakes, I will wish thee pros= perity. Dea, because of the house of the Lord our God, T will seek to do thee Good."
THE END.
THE FRANCIS D. PERRY RECTORY.
APPENDICES.
APPENDICES.
What an attic-room is to the thrifty housewife, an Appendix is to the maker of a book. Some things that do not seem to be in place in the parlor, or sitting-room, are yet useful, and altogether too good to be thrown away, so they are put into the garret, where they will be accessible at all times, and ready for any unexpected use that may be made of them. In a book there are matters that the writer thinks ought to interest many of his readers ; things that will be greatly missed if they are not found somewhere between the covers of the volume ; and yet the place, or need, is wanting to incorporate these odd pieces in the orderly chapters of the book. This is the writer's only reason for giving in this place, several long lists, and some interesting historical documents.
CONTENTS.
A. Bishops of the Diocese of Connecticut.
B. Clergymen who officiated in Fairfield before 1727.
C. Rectors of Trinity Parish.
D. Church-Wardens and Vestrymen of Trinity Parish.
E Baptisms recorded previous to 1779.
F. Curious facts in the Life of Dr. James Laborie.
G. Statement concerning Trinity Parish, written in the Parish Record, by the Rev. Nathaniel E. Cornwall, September 5th, 1851.
H. Sketch of the Church at Fairfield, by the Rev. Philo Shelton, written in the year 1804.
I. Private Parochial Register of the Rev. Philo Shelton.
( Containing over 4,000 names of persons Baptized, Confirmed, Admitted to the Communion, Married, and Buried, during the Rev. Philo Shelton's Rectorship.)
J. Obituary Notices of the Rev. Philo Shelton, and Lucy Shelton, his wife, by the Rev. Dr. Jarvis, 1827.
K. The Bible and Prayer Book Society of Trinity Parish.
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APPENDIX A.
APPENDIX A.
BISHOPS OF THE DIOCESE OF CONNECTICUT.
1. The Right Rev. William Seabury, D. D., Nov. 14th 1784, to Feb. 25th, 1796.
2. The Right Rev. Abraham Jarvis, D. D., Oct. 18th, 1797, to May 13th, 1815.
3. The Right Rev. John Henry Hobart, D. D., June 1st, 1816, to June 1st, 1819.
( In charge during vacancy in the Episcopate.)
4. The Right Rev. Thomas C. Brownell, D. D., Oct. 27th, 1819, to Jan. 13th, 1865.
5. The Right Rev. John Williams, D. D., D. C. L., Oct. 29th, 1851 -.
6. The Right Rev. Chauncey B. Brewster, D. D., Oct. 28th, 1897 -.
( Bishop Coadjutor.)
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APPENDIX B.
APPENDIX B.
CLERGYMEN WHO OFFICIATED IN, BUT WERE NOT LOCATED IN THE TOWN OF FAIRFIELD, PREVIOUS TO THE ORGANIZATION OF TRINITY PARISH.
1. The Rev. George Muirson, 1707.
2. The Rev. Evan Evans, 1707.
3. The Rev. John Talbot, 1709.
4. The Rev. Mr. Sharpe, 1710.
5. The Rev. Mr. Bridge, 1712.
6. The Rev. George Pigot, 1722-3.
7. The Rev. Samuel Johnson, 1723-7.
The first House of Worship, erected by Trinity parish, on Mill Plain, was Dedicated to the service of Almighty God, by Rev. Mr. Johnson, Thanksgiving Day, Nov. 10th, 1825. Dr. Johnson, at the time, was Rector of Christ Church, Stratford. Trinity parish as an organization, dates from 1724.
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APPENDIX C.
APPENDIX C.
RECTORS OF TRINITY PARISH.
1. Rev. Henry Caner, 1727-47.
2. Rev. Joseph Lamson, 1747-74.
3. Rev. John Sayre, 1774-79.
4. Rev. Philo Shelton, 1785-1825.
5. Rev. William Shelton, 1825-29.
6. Rev. Charles Smith, 1829-34.
7. Rev. Nathaniel E. Cornwall, 1834-53.
8. Rev. James E. Purdy, 1853-58.
9. Rev. Rufus Emery, 1858-70.
10. Rev. Edward L. Wells, 1870-77.
11. Rev. Taliaffero P. Caskey, 1877-79.
12. Rev. Charles G. Adams, 1879-90.
13. Rev. Edmund Guilbert, 1891-
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APPENDIX D.
APPENDIX D.
CHURCH WARDENS AND VESTRYMEN.
There are no Records of Trinity Church, so far as is known, that reach further back than the year 1779, A. D. With the exception of a few names that have been preserved, those who served the parish in an official capacity, previous to that date are unknown. The figures appended to the lists given below, indicate the time when the election took place. For some years there were no wardens elected. A committee, varying in number from year to year, together with the clerk and the treasurer, was appointed to administer the affairs of the parish.
Wardens and Vestrymen, previous to the burning of Fair- field, 1779 :
WARDENS.
Moses Ward, 1727,
David Lyon, 1727,
Isaac Jennings, 1730, Abraham Puling, 1730.
VESTRYMEN.
Dr. James Laborie, 1725, Samuel Lyon, 1730,
Abraham Adams, 1725,
Isaac Brown, 1730,
Dougal Mackenzie, 1727,
Benjamin Burt, 1730,
John Lockwood, 1727,
Henry James, 1730,
Nathan Adams, 1727,
Moses Knapp, 1730.
Benjamen Sturges, 1727,
Wardens and Vestrymen from the burning of Fairfield, 1779 to 1898.
WARDENS.
Abraham Bulkley, 1804-25, Daniel Meeker, 1804-9,
Reuben Sherwood, 1809-13
Walter Sherwood, 1813-36,
Judson Nichols, 1836-37,
Hull Sherwood, 1837-64,
Jesse Banks, 1838-39,
Timothy Williams, 1839-42,
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APPENDIX D.
Hull Sherwood, 1825-26, David B. Perry, 1826-28, Stephen Beers, 1828-29, Abel Beers, 1829-30, Hull Sherwood, 1830-33, Abel Beers, 1833-36, William Bulkley, 1836-38,
David Banks, 1842-69, Jonathan Godfrey, 1864-83, Francis Jelliff, 1883-96, Edward Hawkins, 1889-92, Lewis A. Curtis, 1892-, Oliver Bulkley, 1896 -.
VESTRYMEN.
John Sherwood, 1779, Ezra Katlin, 1779,
Peter Bulkley, 1779, Daniel Wheeler, 1779, Henry Bulkley, 1784,
Jonathan Bulkley, 1784, Rowland Spalding, 1784, Thomas Holbertson, 1784, Seth Sturges, 1784, William Bulkley, 1784, Thomas Tread well, 1785, Ozia Burr, 1785,
Stephen Adams, 1785, David Beers, 1785,
Ichabod Burr, 1785,
Joshua Jennings, 1785, Seth Sturges, 1785, Reuben Beers, 1785, Thomas Elwood, 1785, Ebenezer Nichols, 1785, David Jennings, 1785, John Perry, 1785, Hezekiah Sturges, 1785, Nathan T. Nichols, 1787, Samuel Cannon, 1790, Gershom Bulkley, 1790,
William Sherwood, 1838, Walter Bulkley, 1838,
David B. Sturges, 1838,
Henry Sturges, 1842, George Peck, 1843, Augustus Jennings, 1844,
Henry Perry, 1846, Lot Bulkley, 1846, Moses Bulkley, 1847,
Charles Bulkley, 1847, Charles Cartlidge, 1847, Allen Nichols, 1847, Edward Ogden, 1848, S. P. V. R. Tenbroeck, 1848, Julius Pike, 1850, Zalmon Wakeman, 1851, Francis Jelliff, 1851, Benjamin Pomeroy, 1853, John H. Sherwood, 1853, George M. Hawkins, 1854, Andrew Bulkley, 1855, Samuel Pike,1856, Abel Beers, 1856, George B. Kissam, 1856, Edgar Burroughs, 1856, Isaac Milbank, 1858,
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APPENDIX D.
Elnathan Smith, 1793, Thomas Nash, 1793, Benjamin Sturges, 1793, Abraham Bulkley, 1793, Daniel Meeker, 1797, Aaron Beers, 1798, Jeremiah Sturges, 1801, David Beers, 1803,
David Hubbell, 1805,
David Nichols, 1808, Alexander S. Nichols, 1808, Nathaniel Perry, 1813,
Moses Jennings, Jr., 1813, Abel Ogden, 1814, Abel Beers, 1815,
Thaniel P. Beers, 1816, Hull Sherwood, 1818, John Banks, 1818,
David Jennings, 1818, William Robinson, 1819, Jesse Banks, 1821, David B. Perry, 1823, Joel B. Bulkley, 1826, Samuel Beers, 1826,
Joseph W. Davis, 1830,
George Ogden, 1831, Jonathan Godfrey, Jr., 1832, John G. Allen, 1833, James Bulkley, 1833, Stephen Miller, 1836, David Banks, 1836,
William Bulkley, 1858, Alva D. Wood, 1858, David B. Sturges, 1858, Justus Sherwood, M. D., 1859, John H. Wood, 1859, Jesup B. Wakeman, 1860, William H. Thorp, 1860, R. DePeyster, 1864, Oliver Bulkley, 1868, Franklin Bulkley, 1868,
Lewis A. Curtis, 1873,
George B. Bunnell, 1874, Charles Rockwell, 1875,
John Hawkins, 1877, Howard N. Wakeman, 1879, Edward Hawkins, 1880, Edward M. Bulkley, 1881, Charles F. Bulkley, 1881, Francis D. Perry, 1885,
Abram B. Sturges, 1888, E. Livingston Wells, 1888, Roderick P. Curtis, 1889, Arthur O. Jennings, 1891, E. Cornelius Sherwood, 1891, Moses Bulkley, 1891, Lewis B. Curtis, 1891, Oliver T. Sherwood, 1891, Nellis H. Sherwood, 1894, John Hawkins, 1897, ( Second election). Wilbur C. Jennings, 1898.
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APPENDIX E. APPENDIX E.
BAPTISM'S RECORDED PREVIOUS TO 1799.
1722. May 27th, Mary and Richard Livesay ; Abraham Adams.
Baptized by Rev. George Pigot, at Stratford, although belonging to the Town of Fairfield.
November 30th, John Partridge (Adult).
This is the first baptism recorded by Rev. George Pigot, as administered in Fairfield.
1723. June 30th, Ruth Knapp.
1724. April 19th, Elizabeth Hill.
This child was baptized by the Rev. Samuel Johnson. June 24th, Mary Patrick, (Adult).
Baptized in Norwalk by Rev. Samuel Johnson, and properly included in Fairfield, which at that time, embraced the whole of Fairfield County except Strat- · ford, and Newtown.
July 19th, Sara Livesay.
September 2nd, John, Nathaniel, and Jonathan Whit- lock.
November 8th, William Wardell.
1725. March 14th, Mary Patrick.
July 1st, Rebekah Moor, ( Adult ); Phebe Crowfoot. August 8th, Mary Ward. November 10th, Elizabeth, Moses, and Daniel Knapp. These three were baptized on the day of the annual Thanksgiving, when the Rev. Samuel Johnson opened and dedicated the first Church built on Mill Plain.
1726. February 15th, Isaac Browne.
September 29th, Daniel Ketchum. November 5th, John Thompson.
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APPENDIX E.
1727. January 30th, Ephraim, Abigail, and Hester Nichols ; Lydia Stevens.
May 5th, Benjamin Franklin, ( Adult ) ; Benjamin Franklin, ( son of the preceding ) ; Keziah Crowfoot. May 23rd, Abigail, Benjamin, and Eliphalet Turney. May 24th, Eliphalet Hill, and Adams Whitlock. November 12th, William Livesay.
November 16th, Daniel Sherwood, ( Adult ) ; Joseph Browne, John Saunders and Mehitabel Patrick.
These are the last Baptisms recorded as administered by Rev. Samuel Johnson. About this time Rev. Henry Caner returned from England, in Holy Orders, and took charge of the Church in the town of Fairfield. The above names and facts were obtained from the private registers kept by Messrs. Pigot and Johnson. After Rev. Mr. Caner began his ministry, the record of his official acts was kept in a volume belonging to the parish. This was the plan also adopted by his successors. This record full, we may not doubt, of most interesting notitia, was in the possession of the Rev. John Sayre at the time of the burning of the village of Fairfield, and was consumed with the parsonage and its contents.
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APPENDIX F.
APPENDIX F.
SOME CURIOUS FACTS IN THE LIFE OF DR. JAMES LABORIE.
The Protestant Episcopal Church in the Town of Fairfield, owes a debt beyond human compensation, to Dr. James Laborie. He was, so far as we know, practically its founder. The earliest services of which we have any record, were held by him. As early as 1723, he officiated as lay-reader, according to the usage of the Church of England, in his own house in Fairfield, on those Sundays on which the Rev. Mr. Pigot preached in Stratford, or some other place. It appears that he came to this country at the close of the 17th Century, as a teacher, under the patronage of the Bishop of London, and being disturbed by the Indians, in the vicinity of Boston, where he first resided, he came to the Colony and County of Fairfield, and began by an introductory discourse, to act as a missionary to the English and native inhabitants, but was interrupted immediately by one of the magistrates. This commencement of his efforts in Connecticut was at Stratford, where he seems to have resided from 1703 to 1717. In the year 1718, he is mentioned as an inhabitant of Fairfield, and there he continued to sojourn until the time of his death. Dr. Laborie, in addition to his qualifications as teacher, and missionary, was also a physician of considerable eminence. William C. Wile, A. M., M. D., in the Centennial Record of the Fairfield County Medical Association, page 22, is responsible for the following information concerning him; and as every- thing that can be gleaned from the past concerning Dr. Laborie is worth preserving, it is given a place in this appendix :
" On one occasion, while he lived at Stratford, Dr. Laborie was summoned over the river to Milford by Mr. Lyon, the merchant of that place, whose wife was suffering from hysteri-
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APPENDIX F.
cal paroxysms, or some nervous affliction. The Doctor promptly obeyed the summons and with three men to row him over the river and through the ice, repaired to the house of the patient. That he attended the case with fidelity is apparent from the fact that in a few weeks he sent his employer a bill for charges exceeding fifty pounds. Mr. Lyon insisted on having the items of what he probably con- sidered a large account, and as the case was brought to Court for judgment, the Doctor was required to make out the bill in detail. From that account I have taken the liberty of making a few extracts : 'Lewis Lyon, Dr., to James Laborie of Strat- ford, the 18th day of December, 1706, for his wife, my journey through the ice in a canoe with three men to put me over, 12 shillings ; same night administered to his wife hysteric cordial, comp. diuretic and hysterick drink, one pound and six shillings.' For several days the hysteric cordial was used freely and several pounds were charged for the same. In about ten days the remedy was changed and four doses of 'my Polycrestis,' were administered at an expense of one pound. The Doctor also charged his friend for 'my Pills Royal,' and 'my Polycrestis,' and ' the Elixir Vitæ of mine,' enough to show that he held them in high estimation. For bleeding the arm the charge was only one shilling, for bleed- ing the foot, two shillings, and for a blister to the shoulder, nine shillings. The whole amount of the Doctor's bill was fifty-nine pounds and two shillings, and to recover the sum, an action was brought into Court. In this action, states the Record, the jury find for the plaintiff, 'ye defendant to pay 62 pounds, 18 shillings, and 6 pence, and the cost of the Court. The Court accepts the jury's verdict and gives judg- ment accordingly. Bill of cost allowed 1 pound, 3 shillings, 10 pence. The defendant appeals to the Court of Assistants, at Hartford, in May next, and the defendant and Colonel Mather Sherwood acknowledge themselves bound to the County in a recognizance of 70 pounds cash, that defendant
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APPENDIX F.
shall prosecute his appeal to effect and answer to all damages if he may not make his plea good.'
"Mr. Lyon, to strengthen his case, sought the opinion of Dr. John Fisk and several Boston physicians, who gave it as their opinion, that he had been extravagantly over-charged. It is possible that the knowledge of this fact is what led Dr. Laborie to compromise with his debtor, as the following document indicates. To the Honorable Court of Assistants, now sitting at New Haven : For-as-much as we have agreed upon the case before your Court, we pray you would please not to call the action to a hearing.
Your most obedient servants,
James Laborie, Lewis Lyon.
October, 1708.
"Dr. Laborie died about the year 1730. He bestowed upon his son James, 'all my instruments of Chirurgery, and my French writings.' Concerning James Laborie, Jr., but little is known. It is probable that he received a license from the General Court about the beginning of the last Century, for his application states that he had been in practice for many years, under the direction of his father, whom he refers to as a man of wide reputation and acknowledged ability. He seems to have sustained the reputation of his teacher, and to have become well known in the Colony for his personal attri- butes, as well as for professional skill."
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