Canaan parish, 1733-1933, being the story of the Congregational church of New Cannan, Connecticut, Part 23

Author: Congregational Church (New Canaan, Conn.); Hall, Clifford Watson, 1880-; Keeler, Stephen Edwards, 1887-; Hoyt, Stephen Benjamin
Publication date: 1935
Publisher: [New Canaan, Conn., New Canaan advertiser]
Number of Pages: 302


USA > Connecticut > Fairfield County > New Canaan > Canaan parish, 1733-1933, being the story of the Congregational church of New Cannan, Connecticut > Part 23


Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).


Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25


Since there was no settled minister for this first Church, services were held in it for only about a quarter of the Sundays of the year. During this time the more faithful of the "professors of the Church of England," in Canaan parish, attended services in Stamford and Norwalk. That meant a difficult journey of from seven to ten miles on horseback, in ox carts or in lumber box wagons with- out springs, over roads hardly more than cleared wood roads. Jonathan Abbott and his wife Jammia (Ruscoe) Abbott26 were known in Norwalk as the parish- ioners coming the longest distance to church. They attended St. Paul's journey- ing there on horseback, a good eight miles, from the Abbott homestead a half mile above Smith Ridge.27 In those days people took their Sabbath responsibili- ties very seriously. All of Sunday was spent at the Church and in a sense it was the only real community center.


You are the successors of these first "professors of the Church of England" in old Canaan parish and it is of great present interest that on next Sunday, May 20th, you are to hold a memorial service in this old church hill cemetery where 170 years ago this day our spiritual forebears erected the frame of their


21. Selleck's "Norwalk," p. 355 (footnote.)


22. Granted by proprietors of Norwalk, April 3, 1732.


23. The Noroton River was the line and whether the Hait land was on the Stamford or Norwalk side of Canaan parish depends on what can be determined to have been the source of the Noroton River, whether it was the marsh back of the present Rush Taggart place or an old marsh back of the Dr. Nathan Greene house. The latter source is now pretty thoroughly drained.


24. The dates of these three Episcopates are-Seabury, 1784-1796; Jarvis, 1797-1813; Brownell, 1819-1865. 25. Extract from Historical Sermon-June 2, 1839, by Rev. David Ogden.


26. Grandparents of the Rev. Charles R. Abbott who wrote the historical address, delivered Nov. 13, 1891.


27. Selleck's "Centennial of St. Paul's Church" and St. Paul's parish records:


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To all people to whom, these projects Shall come for tiny


Know ye that I James Host of Stamford in Fairfield Quety & Connecticut Glory in New England in Confideration


of the will & Reffect which I have. for this


Professors of the Quarts of artand Swelling in the Jeans


of stamford of Norwald & in Grance Parifl Of groß- Grant conergy & cortarin un tappfemme & Retien Gudzon


leeds of the Rett of The Relations of the Church of England Inhabiting in Said Cancam Parigh & those who Shall Joyn with theme & their Surcelions a contain


Tract or Parcel of Land Situate Lying & Bring in nor- walk in the aforefies County If (Colony of in Com) Canaan. Parich Containing fifty five Rods it being on the World is of a farm called stalls form, it is bounded northerly by an. Highway Eafterly, Southery, & wetterly by my own fandit Gang


the Land where the frame for a church now fland! track to be five voos in wirth from north to South & Eleven Kods in length from want to caft & the raft line to Run three- Row Caft of the East part of Said (Church frame)- Sai) tout I give for a church yard To have & to hold the about. Given &


Granted premifier unto the Professors of the church of England in said Canaan Savich & those who shall Jon with theals ton Succiflors for a church yard, free & clear of all Incumbrances what forver _ In witness & Confirmation whereos. I have bereuntos Set my hand of Seal this- 18th Day of July A. D. 1764


Signed Sealed & Delivered in presence of


Johne Giga Chide tains.


Faintich County Is


Ja Stamford on the day of the Date above- personally appeared Lieu- James Start Signery Scaler of the above written Intrement land acknowledged the Same to be his face ofto hear-


first church. That old church yard is hallowed by the dust of many worthy sons and daughters of the church-"witnesses of the faith once delivered to the Saints."


The Difficult Period Between 1762 and 1791


There are only meagre records of the doings of "Churchmen" in Canaan parish between 1764 and 1791. They had a church building but no resident minister and no parochial organization. Depending upon which side of Canaan Parish they lived, the "professors" paid a rate for the support of the Norwalk and Stamford "Old Societies."28 It was the period of "The Revolution" during which the "professors" were not held in high esteem. Many of the clergy of the Church of England throughout the colonies were royalists. While the land given to the "professors" for church purposes came by grant from the town authorities, the clergy, ordained in England, were under the canonical authority of the Bishop of London. It is important, too, to remember that funds for the support of "the Church" in the colonies came from the greatest of mission- ary societies "The Society for the Propagation of the Gospel in Foreign Parts."29 Many of these Episcopal clergymen were heroic figures and underwent real suffering for the courage of their convictions. Deriving their economical au- thority as priests from the Bishop of London and their support as missionaries from the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel they were in a very difficult position.30 However, many ardent "lay professors of the Church of England" were loyal patriots of the colonial cause. Certainly two churchmen, Capt. Stephen Betts and Capt. Isaac Keeler played important roles as military leaders of local colonial forces. In 1791 and 1794 they were vigorous leaders in the formation of an independent "Episcopal Society" in Canaan parish. No one can question their patriotism in 1776 nor their churchmanship in 1791 and 1794.


With regard to clergy leadership in these early years of 1764-1791, it would seem that the Rev. Dr. Leaming, of Norwalk, officiated here occasionally before the Revolutionary War while after the war, the Rev. Dr. Bowden of Norwalk and the Rev. Dr. Dibble of Stamford were frequently here. Besides these men, the Rev. Dr. Smith, and the Rev. Messrs. Whitlock, Judd, Wheaton, Belden, Sherwood and Somers coming either from Norwalk, Stamford or Ridge- field officiated sometimes one fifth and sometimes one sixth of the year. "The Church thus deprived of a settled minister and having only occasional services barely retained its existence."3


The Episcopal Society in Canaan Parish Organized, Nov. 15, 1791


In November 15, 1791 a most significant step was taken by churchmen living in Canaan parish. They met and formed a separate parochial organiza-


28. Norwalk and Stamford parish records and Dr. St. John, p. 26.


29. Chartered in London, June 16, 1701 and known as the "S. P. G."


30. Their problem is clearly treated in Beardsley's "History of the Church in Connecticut," Vol. I, Chapter 24.


31. Ogden's-Sermon Extract of June 2, 1839.


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tion. I quote from Dr. Charles R. Abbott's "Historical Address," delivered Nov. 15, 1891 upon the occasion of the 100th anniversary of this historic meeting.32


"At a meeting of the Episcopal Protestant professors within the society of Canaan in Norwalk and Stamford and in the county of Fairfield legally warned and convened on the 15th day of November, 1791, the members of said meet- ing taking into consideration the great distances they live from places of publik worship in Norwalk and Stamford old societies, and the importance of having the Gospel preached and administered amongst themselves, did then agree to form themselves into a distinct society for the purpose aforesaid when they made choice of Stephen Betts for their moderator and Jonathan Tallmadge for their Society's Clerk who was accordingly sworn to a faithful performance of said office. As the same meeting the Society made choice of Abijah Seeley, Sylvanus Seeley, Dunlop Coggshall, Stephen Betts and John Raymond a com- mittee of said society as you will see orderly enrolled to this certificate and as we wish to cultivate harmony, peace and good agreement with our brethren in the old societies we take these carly measures to acquaint them with our pro- ceedings."


It would seem that this determination for an "Episcopal Society" inde- pendent of the Old Societies of Norwalk and Stamford was none too well re- ceived by the mother organizations. The seventy-nine family heads33 then living in Canaan parish paid a rate, as established by law,34 in support of the old societies and this declaration of independence meant loss of income to Norwalk and Stamford.35


Apparently the answer to the declaration of Nov. 15th required further and drastic action and so under date of Dec. 13, 1791 the following record of a vote occurs-"Passed by a vote of a majority at the annual meeting of the Episcopal Society at the Church in Canaan that if any one member or members of this Society should be attacked by the old societies of Stamford or Norwalk for any rate raised after the first day of December A. D. 1791 they shall apply to the committee of this Society for relief and they are to direct matters for his or her relief."


A Brief Historical Survey of Lawful Rates for Church Support


To understand the resentment of the old societies of Stamford and Nor- walk referred to in the resolution just quoted we should pause a moment and examine the relationship of Church and State in these olden times. There was a Church established by law in both the New Haven and the Connecticut


32. Recorded in Vol. II of parish minutes.


33. These 79 names are included in Society lists of 1791-1794 and 1797 and indicate the strength of the carly society.


34. That of 1727 (later explained in this paper.)


35. Stamford was the real objector. There was no such advocate in the Stamford Old Society as Capt. Stephen Betts was in the case of Norwalk. He was a vestrymen in Norwalk until April 25, 1791. Stamford also opposed the organization of "Canaan parish" by negative vote Dec. 8, 1730 (St. John, p. 18) and in 1801 opposed the incorporation of New Canaan by sending a delegation to the Assembly in Hartford.


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colonies. The first code of laws enacted in Connecticut in 165036 provided for the support of the Church as well as the State, and the Church was after the independent Congregational pattern. Each congregation exercised its own authority, after its own fashion, without respect to any other. It is said that one congregation "chose their minister, ordained him, quarrelled with him, silenced him, and cast him out of the church and delivered him up to Satan -- all in one year.37 From 1650 until 1708 every settler, quite irrespective of his religious convictions or credal professions, was taxed to support this Con- gregational Church and this, too, in a land governed by those who fled from England that they might have opportunity for freedom to worship God as they chose.


In 1708 the General Assembly passed what is known as the Toleration Act whereby persons were no longer to be punished for non-conformity but they were not exempt from taxation for the support of the Congregational Church. Persons could declare their "sober dissent" and proceed to worship God in their own way and in their own assemblies but they must support the State Church. This was in reality a double burden, for the "professors," though permitted to support their own church, were also taxed for the State church.


The Law of 1727 Removed the Necessity of Churchmen Supporting Congregational Church


In 1727, Churchmen, "professors," were relieved from paying a tax for the support of the State church but they were required by law to join some con- gregation, Episcopal or some other and pay a tax there. It was this relief from the burden of a double taxation that promoted the organization of Societies of the professors of the Church of England.38 Moreover the law of 1827 required the support of "Episcopal Societies" by a tax laid on the property of the members. The language of the law was Congregational-"Society not Church;" "Society's Committee-not wardens and vestrymen." The clergy- man was a hired minister and as such entirely subject to the "Society's Com- mittee." He had the right to preach the gospel and to administer the Sacra- ments and to offer his advice but he had none of the rights given today by canon law to Rectors.


So from 1737 St. Paul's, Norwalk, and from 1742 St. John's Stamford, acting under the law of the land, collected taxes from "professors" living within Canaan parish for the support of Norwalk and Stamford "old Societies."39 One of the regularly elected officers of each Church Society was "the collector."


This collecting of church taxes continued in Canaan parish quite lawfully until 1791 when our spiritual forebears meteing Nov. 15, 1791 organized "the


36. This first code or Constitution was completed by Mr. Roger Ludlow (purchaser of Norwalk 1640) Mr. Ludlow was a very able lawyer, magistrate of the first court in Connecticut "holden in Hartford April 26, 1636." He had been a noted magistrate in England-a settler of Windsor, Conn., in 1636, coming from Dorchester, Mass., where he had been lieutenant-governor of Mass. Bay Colony.


37. Quoted by Abbott in his centennial address of Nov. 15, 1891.


38. St. Paul's, Norwalk, in 1737. St. John's, Stamford, 1742.


39. Norwalk and Stamford parish records.


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Episopal Society of the Church in Canaan." It was a notice served on the old societies and their reaction brought the interesting and drastic resolution of Dec. 13, 1791 "that if any one member or members of this society should be attacked by the old societies of Stamford or Norwalk for any rate raised after the first day of December A. D. 1791 they shall apply to the committee of this Society for relief and they are to direct matters for his or her relief."


The Episcopal Society in Canaan Parish as Determined By the Lists of 1791-1797


In addition to the names of the Wardens and Committee of the new Society as formed Nov. 15, 1791 and previously quoted there are names at- tached to the Society's acts and resolutions through 1794 and 1797 which definitely establish the early membership of the Episcopal Society in Canaan parish. On those who signed the acts of the Society a rate was levied to main- tain the services of the minister and that constituted membership in the Society.


This roll of early membership really constitutes the founders of this parish and should be given here in full.


Capt. Stephen Betts-Warden


Jonathan Tallmadge-Society's Clerk


Bertha Tallmadge (widow) Seymour Tallmadge John Raymond


Dunlap Coggshall


Sam'l Hanford, Jr.


Abijah Seeley


Joseph Smith


Luke Raymond


Nathanael Crissey


Ebenezer Raymond


Nathanael Crissey, Jr.


Timothy Raymond


Abram Dann


Elnathan Lockwood


Ebenezer Hanford, Jr.


Nathan Raymond


Sam'l Hanford, Jr.


Sylvanus Seely, Jr.


Lydia Leeds


William Reed


Titus Finch


Theophilus Hanford


David Webb, jr.


Reuben Allen


Eliphalet Hanford


Samuel Seely


Abijah Comstock


Samuel Crissey


Levi Tuttle


Abijah Seely


Peter Weed


Nathan Seely


William Bolt


Abraham Crissey


John Jarvis


Seymour Tallmadge William Tucker


Timothy Hanford


David Bouton


Society's Committee


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A Second List of Members is Dated Nov. 4, 1794


Elisha Waters


Seymour Tallmadge, Jr.


Jonathan Stevens, Jr.


Mary Gregory (widow)


Solomon Burtis


Squire Raymond


Aaron Comstock


Abigail Tuttle (widow) .


James Rusco


Isaac Camp


Jonathan Abbott, Jr.


Bushnal Fitch


Joseph Smith, Jr.


Stephen Craft


Isaac Tucker


The List of 1797 Follows With These New Names


Isaiah Tiffany


Stephen Bouton


Henry Seely


Austin Hanford


Peter Studwell


Stephen Hanford


Reuben Fancher


Samuel Bolt


Abijah Scofield


Simeon Seely


John Stevens


Jonathan Abbott


Amos Stevens


Jonathan Tallmadge .


Isaac Keeler


Seth Hamilton


Daniel Waring


Joseph Crawford


Eli Tuttle


Isaac Lockwood


Phineas Tuttle


Timothy Finch


Jacob Selleck


In these three lists there are forty-one different family names and the names of seventy-nine family heads. Just by way of indicating the strength and stability of these families let me say that I have known personally or known descendants of all but seven of them. The names are familiar ones all through the history of this town and parish. I can account for descendants of all but the Leeds, Allens, Bolts, Crafts, Studwells and Tiffanys.


The Society's Committee and Other Early Action


The December 13, 1791 meeting of the Society adjourned to meet Jan. 2, 1792 and at the time a committee of five was elected consisting of Dunlap Coggshall, Sam'l Hanford, Jr., Abijah Seeley, Seymour Tallmadge and John Raymond. This seems to have been the Society's new committee. This Jan- uary meeting adjourned to meet March 26, 1792. At this March meeting "they proceeded and made choice of Capt. Stephen Betts and Luke Raymond for a committee in addition to the committee chosen Jan, 2nd, last." These last were in all probability intended for wardens. So in this action of 1791- 1792 you have the formation of the parish or society and its official governing body constituted as "Wardens and Committee."


Let us pause to name once again the first Wardens and Committee elected through three successive meetings of 1791-1792 for in these names you have


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virtually the first vestry of the society. Wardens-Capt. Stephen Betts, Luke Raymond. Committeemen-Dunlap Coggshall, Sam'l Hanford, Jr., Abijah Seeley, Seymour Tallmadge and John Raymond.40


One other important item of business was transacted on March 26, 1792. A committee was chosen to attend the Easter Monday meetings at Stamford and Norwalk Old Societies to look after the interests of Canaan parish.


On Sept. 9, 1792 it was voted that the Constitution of the Convention of the Bishop, the Clergy and Laity meeting at New Haven June 6, 1792 should be adopted. This significant action brought Canaan parish under the juris- diction of the Rt. Rev. Sam'l Seabury, first Bishop of Connecticut and first Bishop of the Protestant Episcopal Church in U. S. of America.


The First Choir of the Society


We have noted the names of early ministers and of early lay officials of the Society. Likewise we have listed the first seventy-nine family heads. Since music is so important a part of the service of the Church I must list the choir which led the worship with Venite, Te Deum and Magnificat in the first Church. They were the Misses Abbie and Laurie Pennoyer (sisters), Sarah Tuttle, Mr. John Jarvis, Jared Seymour, Samuel Raymond, Alfred Raymond and Luke Keeler.41 The leader of this choir was Mr. Reuben Allen who was also a leader of singing in social circles.42


The Home Sites of Some of the Early Founders


Of great interest are the locations of the first homes in which the founders dwelt. Here we are helped in part by Mr. DesBrisay's Record to which I have added other information in order to locate the old homes by the names of their present owners. DesBrisay's words are in quotation while my own follow. "Mr. Stephen Betts resided on the ridge near Mr. Alfred Raymonds. The property is now in the possession of Mr. Joseph Crawford." The Betts house, standing during the Revolution was on Oenoke Ridge and was torn down in 1857 to make way for the home of the late Mr. and Mrs. John E. Selleck built in 1859 and now rebuilt as the summer home of Mr. Augustus Houghton. Mr. John Raymond a first committeeman lived on Oenoke Ridge, a little above Capt. Betts and just north of the rise of ground opposite the present residence of Mrs. Wm. H. Good. "Mr. Jonathan and Seymour Talmadge resided in the old homestead near the present residence of Mr. Sherman Smith," later the home of Mr. Homer Crofoot, then the Minot Kellogg's, then Miss Lorena Taylor's and now the residence of Mr. George Jelliff in Talmadge Hill. "Mr. Solomon War-


40. These early acts and resolutions are quoted from Abbott's "Centennial Address of Nov. 15, 1891." It is evident that he had access to source authorities now lost. It is my belief that this source was Vol. I of the parish minutes, since only Vol. II and III are now in possession of the vestry. Dr. St. John in his "Historical Address" on p. 26 refers to "regular records kept from 1791 on." Apparently he, too, had known of these records.


41. Historical Record by the Rev. Wm. H. DesBrisay, Rector of St. Mark's 1864-1874. He probably had access to the early records as did Dr. Abbott. This record in his own handwriting is in Vol. II of the Parish Register.


42. Dr. DesBrisay's Record.


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ing (Warren) lived in the home now occupied by his daughter Miss Julia A. Waring," since then the home of Mr. Fladd and now the remodeled residence of Mr. William C. Esty on upper Oenoke Ridge. "The house formerly occu- pied by Mr. Levi Tuttle below the residence of Mr. Samuel Tuttle43 has long been removed." Eli Tuttle lived in a house later occupied by St. John's# and standing very near the site of the present Country Club. "Mr. Ebenezer Han- ford resided on the property now in the possession of Mr. Herman Selleck" and in 1934 owned by Mr. Louis H. Hall. Another Hanford founder (either Samuel, Jr., or Eliphalet ) built one of the earliest homes in Canaan parish near what was later the residence of Mr. Jackson Raymond, still later Mr. Pegram's and now the property of Mrs. A. B. Walker. "Mr. William Bolt and Mr. John Jarvis were residents of White Oak Shade." Mr. Peter Weed, the youngest son of Mr. Abraham Weed,45 was a soldier in the Revolution serving for the full duration of the war. Returning to his family in 1781 he built the house later owned by his son Mr. Henry R. Weed later the John Bliss property and now belonging to Dr. Jerome Selinger. "Mr. Reuben Allen was a resident of Ponus St." "Mr. Abijah Seely occupied the Seely homestead on Ponus St.," the old house standing at the corner of Frogtown Road opposite the late William Y. Davenport place. "Mrs. Lydia Leeds lived in the old house which formerly stood on the present site of the newly enlarged dwelling of Mr. Wm. Y. Daven- port on Ponus St.," later Grace House in the Fields46 and now St. Luke's School property. "Mr. Abijah Comstock II lived in the house near the residence of Mr. Van Houser in the Lockwood district." Capt. Isaac Keeler lived on upper Smith Ridge in an old house just south of the southern entrance of the home of Mrs. Stephen E. Keeler, now the residence of Mr. Mason Wadsworth. The Jonathan Abbott home was on upper Smith Ridge on the Ridgefield Road. It is now owned by Mr. Harold B. Clark who removed the second of the Abbott homes, the hearthstone bearing the date of 1809. Mr. Stephen Craft lived on what is now Seminary St., in a house about a quarter of a mile west of the late Misses Ayres' home. He was a clever cabinet maker and made many of the spinning wheels used in Canaan parish.


Further Negotiations With the "Old Societies"


The early records evidence the directness, firmness and also the tact of the early founders of the Episcopal Society in Canaan parish. Determined upon their independence of the "old Societies" of Norwalk and Stamford, they would resist any attempt at taxation for the support of the old societies and yet they courteously and tactfully suggest the cultivation of "harmony and good agree- men." The following quotation is of interest as they seek a business agreement


43. Senior warden 100 years ago in 1834 when the present St. Mark's was built and cunsecrated and grand- father of the present senior warden (1934) Mr. Samuel H. Tuttle.


44. Father of Catherine Tuttle, wife of Capt. Isaac Keeler.


45. Mr. Abraham Weed the founder of the Weed family in Canaan parish bequeathed the Weed burying ground on the Frogtown Road to his descendants. Stamford town records of 1756 or 1757.


46. For many years the "Fresh Air Home" of children from New York tenements and sent here by Grace Church, New York.


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with Norwalk and Stamford-contracting for the services of a minister, as much of his time as 25 pounds lawful money will secure.


"It being the universal wish of the members of this Church to continue their connection with their brethren in the old societies in the towns of Stam- ford and Norwalk, with the Rev. Mr. Dibble (Stamford) and the Rev. Mr. Ogilvie (Norwalk), they are determined to cultivate harmony and good agreement so far as in them lays and to remove if possible every obstacle con- trary and notwithstanding, we have separated and fixed ourselves upon the firm basis of an ecclesiastical Society founded upon several statutes of this State, yet we by no means wish to dispense with the performances of the Rev. Mr. Dibble and the Rev. Mr. Ogilvie, but pray those gentlemen to consider our spiritual wants, and with the approbation of their people and the bishop, to afford us a certain part of their services, we making them sufficient compensation there- fore, and for the purpose of contracting with our brethren in the old societies for the same, we do hereby appoint and fully empower Abijah Seeley, Dunlap Coggshall, Silvanus Seeley, Sam'l Hanford, Jr., Seymour Tallmadge and Stephen Betts (these were the wardens and committee) members of our church and communion, or either two of them, to fix upon and agree with our brethren in the old societies of Stamford and Norwalk for so much of the services of the Rev. Mr. Dibble and the Rev. Mr. Ogilvie, and in case they decline the connec- tion, with any other clergyman) as the tax we have laid upon ourselves of 3d on the pound amounting to upwards of 25 pounds lawful money will be equal to and to agree for the term of one year to commence on Easter Monday 1792 and to expire on Easter Monday 1793, and we do hereby determine to ratify and confirm whatever shall be agreed to by our brethren above said on the side of the Episcopal Church in Canaan with our brethren in the old Socie- ties of Stamford and Norwalk."47




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