USA > Connecticut > Middlesex County > Middletown > Centennial address and Historical sketches > Part 12
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170
SOCIETY AND CITY OF MIDDLETOWN.
On the 3d of January, 1788, the Church invited Ste- phen Parsons, a native of Middletown to be their pastor. He accepted their invitation, and was ordained on the 31st of the same month. He was dismissed on the 9th of August, 1795, having changed his sentiments on the mode and subjects of baptism.
Rev. David Huntington, a native of Lebanon, and graduate of Dartmouth College 1773, who had been pre- viously settled in Marlborough, was installed the pastor of this people, Nov. 8, 1797. Hc labored among them until Oct. 1800, and was afterwards settled in North Lymc. He was a man of ardent piety.
Rev. Horatio Thomas McGeorge, preached to the people from Oct. 27th, 1801, until Jan. 14th, 1802.
Rev. Benjamin Graves, a native of East Haddam, was ordained their pastor, Oct. 3d, 1803, and labored among them until the close of 1811, or beginning of 1812.
Not far from the time of his dismission, the church was dissolved "by consent of the brethren," and the prospects of this denomination were very gloomy. But on the 11th of January 1816, four males and nine fc- males, who had belonged to the old church, were formed into a new church, and the congregation was in some measure collected.
Soon after this, the Rev. Ahab Jinks was procured to preach to them, and on the 7th of August, 1816, was or- dlained by the Presbytery of Hudson, with which he was connected, with a view to his becoming their pastor. Under his ministry the church received large accessions. But having been appointed by the Connecticut Mission- ary Society, to labor in the States of Ohio and Indiana, he requested a dismission, November, 10th, 1819. The church consented to his fulfilling his appointment, and in case he should then " desire a dismission," they voted, "it shall be granted." He renewed his request May 17th, 1820, and was dismissed accordingly. He has since labored at the West.
On the 31st of May 1822, Rev. Thomas T. DeVerell, from North Stonington, became their pastor and remain- cd with them about a year.
171
SOCIETY AND CITY OF MIDDLETOWN.
Between his dismission and the settlement of the next pastor, Rev. Messrs. Dickinson, George Car- rington and others preached to the congregation. Rev. Horace Hooker of Hartford, supplied them regularly in 1826, and until September, 1827.
In the monthi last mentioned, Rev. Edward R. Tyler, native of Guilford, Ver., and graduate of Yale College, 1825, commenced preaching among them, and was or- dained and constituted their pastor on the 27thi of De - cember following. His influence as a candidate and pas- tor was very great among them. Many old members were gathered into the church, some united with it by letter, and more in consequence of a revival in 1831. Young and enterprising men joined the Society. But in consequence of ill health, he asked for a dismission, and was dismissed in April, 1832. He was afterwads pas- tor of the church in Colebrook, an agent, of the Ameri . can Antislavery Society, editor of the Connecticut Ob- server, and editor, proprietor and principal conductor of the New Englander. He died at New Haven, September 28th, 1848, aged 48, and his associates in the last men- tioned work, in the last number for that year, inserted a very interesting obituary notice of him.
Rev. William H. Beecher, son of Rev. Lyman Beech- er, D. D., was installed pastor, March 13th, 1833, and dismissed on the 16th of the succeeding September. He was afterwards pastor or stated supply for a time, of a church in Trumbull, Ohio, and is now preaching in some part of that State.
Rev. Robert McEwen, native of New London, gradu- ate of Yale, 1827, Tutor, studied theology at New Ha- ven, succeeded Mr. Beecher, May 7, 1835, and was dis- missed August 8th, 1838. He is now pastor of the church in Enfield, Mass., where he was installed Feb. 16th 1842.
Rev. Arthur Granger, native of Suffield, who studied theology at Princeton, and who had been pastor of the First Congregational Church in Meriden, followed Mr. McEwen, April 24th, 1839. He was dismissed in May, 1844, and immediately after became pastor of "High
172
SOCIETY AND CITY OF MIDDLETOWN.
Street Church," in Providence, R. I., where he died Aug. 2, 1845, aged 42.
Rev. Andrew L. Stone, native of Oxford, graduate of Yale, 1837, was installed Sept. 3d, 1844, and dismissed in Jan., 1849, being then under a call to the Park Street Church in Boston, where he was installed soon after.
Rev .. John N. Dudley, native of Andover, N. H., graduate of Amherst College, who studied theology in Newport, R. I. and in Andover, Mass., was engaged to preach to the Congregation in Sept., 1849, and still sup- plies them.
The number of members of the Church, admitted by each of the successive pastors, cannot now probably be found, particularly those admitted by the earlier pastors.
Mr. Jinks admitted, 84 members. Mr. Tyler gathered in 43 old members, of the church, and by letter and profession 125 more, total, 168 66 - - Mr. Beecher, 4 66 - -
In the 18 months following, when there was no settled minister, there were admitted, - - -
- 16
Mr. McEwen admitted,
-
62
Mr. Granger,
173 66 Mr. Stone,
82
66
Since Mr. Stone's dismission, there have been admitted, - - - 11 66
Total from the commencement of Mr. Jinks' services, - - - - 600
Of those admitted since the beginning of Mr. Tyler's services, the following number are now resident mem- bers, viz :
Of the old ones gathered by Mr. Tyler, 9, and of the others admitted by him, 19, total, - 28 members. Of those admitted by Mr. Beecher, - 1
Of those admitted between his dismission and the settlement of Mr. McEwen, 4 66
Of those admitted by Mr. McEwen, - 10
by Mr. Granger, - 58 66
by Mr. Stone, - - 36
173
SOCIETY AND CITY OF MIDDLETOWN.
All admitted since Mr. Stone's dismission, 11
Total of resident members, Jan. 1,1852, 148 66
The number of absent members is not ascertained. The number of families connected with the Society, is 118.
The records do not show who were the earliest dea- cons. John Johnson and Ebenezer Bacon were deacons, Oct. 13, 1788. The following deacons have been elected at the times specified.
Samuel Spaulding, April 15, 1818.
Joseph Lewis, April, 9, 1825.
William Woodward, March, 19, 1829.
Josiah Danforth,
Joseph W. McKee, S Aug. 28, 1839.
When the Strict Congregationalists first arose, they held meetings in the dwelling house of their minister, Mr. Frothingham, on the north side of Mill Street. In 1774, they built a meeting house on the east side of Main Street, 56 feet by 46, now changed into dwellings for two families. The present church edifice was dedi- cated June, 1830. It is 72 feet by 55, the audience room 52 feet square, and cost $6,000. In 1839 a cu- pola and bell were added at an expense of $750 and in 1845, the galleries were lowered at an expense of $350 more ; the expense in the first instance being borne by subscription. In 1851, the interior of the house was painted in fresco by subscription, at an expense of $500, and $1400 were paid on an old debt.
No accurate accounts have been kept of the contribu- tions for public benevolent objects. They may have been annually for some time $150. The debt of the So- ciety may have diminished them.
Only one mode of worship was statedly observed in Middletown for about a century after the settlement was commenced. Now, besides the Congregationalists, sev- eral denominations have houses for their worship. We shall give sketches of them in the order in which they have arisen.
174
SOCIETY AND CITY OF MIDDLETOWN.
Sketch of the Episcopal Church.
That there was occasionally Episcopal worship before 1750 is altogether probable, aside from tradition. Rev. James Wetmore, a native of the town, the first Con- gregational minister of North Haven, became an Episco- pal minister about 1724, and it is very likely performed service sometimes in the dwellings of his friends. Jere- miah Leaming, a native of the town at a later period, an Episcopal clergyman, may have done the same be- fore 1750. Before that time some of the inhabitants had become so much attached to Episcopal forms, that they took some steps to secure a site on which to erect a house for public worship ; to the building of which Mr. Wetmore most carnestly advised them. Hence the town voted, April 29th, 1749, "that the professors of the Church of England, have liberty to erect their church in the highway, between Jaffries' corner, (so called,) John Foster's corner, and the dwelling house of Mr. Ephraim Doane, and the selectmen, or any three of them, are hereby empowered to stake out the place for the said building."
Many years since the writer was assured, that at the close of 1749, there were sixteen Episcopal families in the town, though measures in due form do not appear to have been taken to organize a parish till Easter Monday, April 16th, 1750. A church was erected on the site, designated in the vote of the town in 1752, fifty feet long and thirty-six wide, with a towering steeple, though not finished for two or three years. This was used as a sanctuary more than eighty years ; when the proffer of a thousand dollars from the Ladies of the As- sistant Society, prompted the gentlemen to the work of erecting their present church edifice. This was com- pleted in 1834. It is of Portland stone, seventy-eight feet by sixty, twelve feet porch, and cost $14,000.
A bell for the first Episcopal Church was procured in 1759, and a second was given by Mr. John Alsop, a wealthy merchant of New York, brother of Richard Al- sop of this place, in 1785. This is now in use in the present church.
175
SOCIETY AND CITY OF MIDDLETOWN.
For many years the people were aided in the support of their ministers, by the Society in England for the propagation of the gospel in Foreign Parts. Rev. Dr. Leaming, already spoken of, and Dr. Richard Mansfield, performed at least occasional services for them.
Rev. Ichabod Camp, a native of Durham, graduate of Yale 1743, divided his labors between the Episcopa- lians here and in Wallingford, from 1752 until 1760. He removed to Louisburgh, Vir., where he was murder- ed by a son-in-law. In the triennial catalogue, his death is represented as having occurred in the last mentioned year, but it has been supposed that it occurred at a later period.
Rev. Abraham Jarvis, native of Norwalk, and gradu- ate of Yale, 1761, was reader for the congregation from 1761, until he sailed to England, for orders, in the au- tumn of 1763. His people advanced forty pounds ster- ling to pay the expense of his voyage. Upon his re- turn he entered on the duties of his ministry, on a sala- ry of ninety pounds, twenty of it being given by the Society for propagating the gospel. He continued rec- tor until 1799, two years after he was elected Bishop of Connecticut, and then removed to Cheshire, afterwards to New Haven, where he died May 3d, 1813, aged 75.
Rev. Calvin White, a native of this town, graduate of Yale 1786, was invited in Sept., 1799, to become rec- tor, and performed services until July 27th, 1800. A like invitation was given to Rev. Joseph Warren, in Oct., 1800, who was rector until Aug., 1803. Rev. Clement Merriam, was rector from April, 1804, till April, 1806. For some six months afterwards, Mr. Samuel Birge was employed as a lay-reader, and then the church was sup- plied by preachers employed from sabbath to sabbath, or by visiting clergymen.
On the 3d of April, 1109, Rev. John Kewley, M. D., an Englishman, educated at Eton College, Cambridge, who had practised medicine in the West Indies, and in Pennsylvania, but who had taken orders and been minis- ter in Chester, in Maryland, was called to the rectorship and soon after instituted. His ministry was both very acceptable and very profitable to his parishioners. But
15
176
SOCIETY AND CITY OF MIDDLETOWN.
unhappily for the parties, though with their consent, the connection was dissolved by the Bishop in March, 1813. In the same year he was duly installed rector, in St. George's Church, in the city of New York, and the Rev. John Brady assistant rector. Both resigned their charge in 1816, and Dr. Kewley soon after returned to England. It is generally understood that he afterward went to Rome and became connected with the Catholic Church. A curious fact, confirmatory of this is given in the "Life of Dr. Milnor," * his successor in St. George's Church.
Birdsey Glover Noble, native of New Milford, gradu- ate of Yale 1810, succeeded Dr. Kewley, in 1813, though then in deacon's orders, and officiated until Sept., 1828, when he resigned. He was elected rector of the church in Elizabethtown, N. J. in, March, 1829, and re- signed in 1833. He engaged subsequently in teaching in Bridgeport, and then in Brooklyn, N. Y., where lie was assistant minister in the church of the Holy Trini- ty. In 1849, he died in Bridgeport, aged, it is believed, about 58.
Rev. Smith Pyne, who had been rector in Elizabeth- town from June 1st, 1826, till December, 1828, was in the course of the month or year last mentioned, elect- ed rector in Middletown, and entered upon his services the following month, but in August, 1830 resigned ; though in the autumn of 1831, he resumed services here and continued them until August, 1836. He is now set- tled in Washington, D. C.
In the interval between the two periods of Mr. Pyne's services, Rev. George Jones was invited to become rec- tor, and consented to serve the congregation a few months. He had been chaplain in the United States Navy several years, and then two years tutor in Yale College, where he was graduated in 1823. His services in Middletown were highly valuable and productive of much good. But his health not allowing him to dis- charge steadily the duties of a parish, he again accept- ed a chaplaincy in the Navy, in which service he is now acting.
* P.
177
SOCIETY AND CITY OF MIDDLETOWN.
Rev. Dr. Samuel Farmer Jarvis, son of Bishop Jar- vis, born in Middletown and graduated at Yale 1805, was elected rector April 11th, 1837, and the Rev. Dr. John Williams, native of Deerfield, Mass., and graduate of Trinity College, assistant rector; but Dr. Williams was afterwards called to the rectorship of the Episcopal church in Schenectady, where he officiated until called in 1849, to the Presidency of Trinity College; which of- fice he still holds, though recently elected and consecrat- ed assistant Bishop of Connecticut.
Dr. Jarvis resided in Middletown until his death, March 29th, 1851, aged 64. He was rector of the church in Bloomingdale, near New York city, and of St. Paul's in Boston, before settling in Middletown, and also a professor in Trinity College. Dr. Williams preached at his funeral, and it is understood, is preparing a me- moir of him, which will of course give an account of his writings.
Rev. H. B. Sherman, supplied the congregation in Middletown for a time after the call of Dr. Williams to Schenectady, but was not rector. He has now the charge of the church in Bellevue, N. J.
Rev. Edson Wilson Wiltbank, began to officiate in Middletown, April 11th, 1842, and was succeeded by Rev. Horace Hills, February 11th, 1844.
The present incumbent, Rev. F. J. Goodwin, is a na- tive of South Berwick, Maine, graduate of Bowdoin Col- lege 1832. He entered upon his services here, August 17th, 1845.
This church has passed through various scenes. It was generally on the advance until the Revolutionary war, when it was involved in difficulties, as Episcopal churches were elsewhere, by the connection of such churches with the state in England. The rectors gen- crally held that they were bound to pray in public as- semblies, for the king and royal family, as they had done aforetime, in a manner, which the great body of the Americans deemed to be wrong under existing circum- stances, and which after the declaration of independence, was deemed an act of hostility to the government of the
178
SOCIETY AND CITY OF MIDDLETOWN.
United States. Most rectors in the northern and middle States, after this declaration, closed their churches. The venerable Dr. William White of Philadelphia, did not follow their example, and in his Memoirs of the Prot- estant Episcopal Churches in the United States, (p. 77) he undertakes to show that the obligation then, to pray openly, and by name for the king and royal family, was not as strong as most of the rectors thought it to be. Whether right in his reasoning or not, it is certain Epis- copal churches were in great trouble in the Revolution. But after the war was over the Episcopal church in Mid- dletown revived. The people connected with it had not been confirmed, there being no bishop in America to per- form that service, until Rev. Samuel Seabury was con- secrated Bishop of Connecticut, in Scotland in 1784. On the 17th of September, 1786, this Bishop confirmed one hundred and twenty-seven persons in this town, a few of whom, were perhaps from neighboring places.
The number of communicants in the Church, in 1799, was 47 ; in 1810, 50; in 1812, 84; in 1814, 85; in 1831, 90. The present number of communicants is about 180.
Within the last four years, Mrs. Martha Mortimer Starr, now deceased, gave $3,000 to Domestic Missions and $3,000 more to Foreign. Within the same period, the congregation separately from her, have given $972- 87 to the first of these objects, and $463 50 to the sec- ond ; to other public benevolent objects, $3,685 78 : total $5,122 15.
Sketch of the Baptist Church.
Individuals had been attached to the sentiments of the Baptists for some time. The First Church was formed in the city, Oct. 19th, 1795, consisting of eleven mem- bers, five males and six females. This has enjoyed the instruction of the following elders :
Joshua Bradley, a native of Kingston, Mass., gradu- ate of Brown University, preached to them for a time.
179
SOCIETY AND CITY OF MIDDLETOWN.
George Phippen, native of Salem, Mass., and gradu- ate of the same institution, preached to them more or less, from June 11th, 1812, to July 1816.
Jeremiah F. Bridges, a native of Colchester, suc- ceeded Mr. Phippen, and preached to them till Oct. 3d, 1818.
Eli Ball, preached to them from Nov. 6th, 1818, to May 4th, 1823 ; James A. Boswell, from June 25th, 1823, to the close of the year ; Daniel Wildman, from sometime in 1824, till April 1st, 1825; John R. Dodge, from May 1825, to Nov. 1827.
John Cookson, an Englishman, preached to them from some time in the winter of 1828-9, until 1839 ; Thomas Wilks, from 1839, to sometime in 1840, and D. C. Haynes from May 1840, till Nov. 1841.
William G. Howard, a native of Newburyport, Mass., preached to them from some time in 1843, to Feb. 28th, 1847. He has since been pastor of the Baptist Church in Essex, and of a Baptist Church in the city of Alba- ny. He is now preaching in Rochester.
Beriah N. Leach, a native of Middletown, Ver., ed- ucated at Madison University, N. Y., commenced servi- ces in Middletown, September 1st, 1848, became pastor March 2d, 1849, and ministered to the congregation un- til Aug., 1851, when he resigned.
Meriwether Winston, accepted the pastoral charge in October, 1851.
How many communicants were admitted to the Church by the first two of the foregoing elders, is not ascertained.
Elder Bridges, admitted
31
66 Ball, 66
-
11
Boswell, -
2
Wildman, -
66
8
Dodge, -
22
Cookson, -
- 168
Wilks, -
15
66
Haynes,
-
33
Howard,
66
39
66
Leach,
66
, 74
The number of Members Jan. 1st, 1852, was 339.
* 15.
180
SOCIETY AND CITY OF MIDDLETOWN.
The Baptists built their first meeting-house in 1809, fifty-three by thirty-eight feet. Their present house was built in 1842. It is of brick, seventy-six feet by fifty-six, and cost $12,500. Towards this, Mr. Robert Paddock, a brother in the Church, and his wife, Mrs. Martha Paddock, paid more than five thousand dollars. Since her husbands death in May, 1845, she has also given $1,000 for a permanent fund, the interest of which is to be applied towards the support of the ministry.
Regular contributions are made by the people to the American and Foreign Bible Society, to Foreign and Home Missions, and for Ministerial Education. Contri- butions too are occasionally taken up for other public be- nevolent objects.
Sketch of the Methodist E. Church.
Although Methodist preaching was begun in Middle- town in 1789, it is understood first in Middlefield ; al- though a circuit, to be called Middletown circuit, was in contemplation in 1790, and two preachers were sent to form and travel the circuit, yet the Society in the city takes its date from December, 1791. The circuit was formed, and continued a circuit until 1816, when Mid- dletown became a station, or separate charge. It has been attached to several Districts, as New York, New London, Rhinebeck, New Haven and Hartford, which has made the change of presiding elders greater in pro- portion to the time allowed for services, than the circuit and stationed preachers.
The Congregation increased rather rapidly before the establishment of the Wesleyan University in the city. It has increased more rapidly since, not only as the Fac- ulty, their families and the students generally are con- nected with it, but as families in a considerable number of instances have moved into the city for the sake of helping their sons the more conveniently through their classical course. This is evident among other proofs, from the increase of communicants in the church. In 1816, the number was 112; in 1826, 172; in 1846,
181
SOCIETY AND CITY OF MIDDLETOWN.
when the University had become quite prosperous 515. It should be stated, however, that at the last mentioned date, the number was unusually large, and that members in Middlefield then belonged to the Church, as well as members from the families of officers in the University and such students as had joined the church by letter and profession. Ever since 1840, about sixty students have been communicants, rather more than half being profes- sors of religion. The number of communicants, Jan. 1 1052 was 430.
The following account of the preachers to this church and of the presiding elders, has been kindly furnished by Rev. Mr. Reid, the present officiating minister.
Rev. Jesse Lee first preached in Middletown, 1789.
1790. He sent two preachers to form and travel the circuit, and Daniel Smith formed the first class in Middletown ..
1791. John Allen & Dan'l Smith travelled the circuit, Jesse Lee, P. Elder
1792. Richard Swain, Aaron Hunt, circuit preacher, Jacob Brush, "
1793. Joshua Taylor, Benj. Frisbe,
Geo. Roberts, "
1794. Menzes Raynor, Daniel Ostrander,
1795. Evans Rogers, Joel Ketchum,
1796. Joshua Tayler, Lawrenco MeCombs, "
1797. Michael Coats, Peter Jayne,
66
1793. Ebenezer Stevens,
1800. James Coleman, Roger Scarles,
F. Garretson, "
1801. Elijah Batchelor, Luman Andrews,
66
1802. Abner Wood, James Annis,
1803. Abner Wood, Nathan Emory,
66
D. Ostrander,
66
1804. Ebenezer Washburn, N. Emory, 1805. Ebe. Washburn, Luman Andrus,
66
Wm.Thatcher, "
1806. Luman Andrus, Zalmon Lyon, 1807. W. Thatcher, R. Harris, O Sykes, 66
Jos. Crawford, "
ISOS. James M. Smith, Phineas Rice, 66 1809. Nobel W. Thomas, Coles Carpenter, " 1810. Oliver Sykes, Johnathan Lyon, 1811. Zalmon Lyon, Jesse Hunt, 60
66
66 Wm. Anson,
1812. Aaron IIunt, Arnold Scholfields,
Elijah Woolsey, " Nathan Bangs, "
1813. Elijah Woolsey, Arnold Scholfields,
1814. Wm. Jewett, Peter Bussing,
1815. Wm. Jewett, Jonathan Lyon,
66
1816. Middletown a Station, Tho's Thorpe, S. Prea. 66 E. Washburn, "
1817-18 Marvin Richardson,
IS19-20. William Jewett, 66
1821-22. Phinehas Cook,
Sam'l Merwin, "
Jesse Lee, P. Elder. S. Hutchinson, "
1798. Augustus Jocelyn,
182
SOCIETY AND CITY OF MIDDLETOWN.
1823.
Josiah Bowen,
Sam'l Merwin, "
1824.
Sam'l Lucky, "
1825-26. Ebenezer Washburn,
66
1827.
Ileman Bangs,
D. Ostrander, Laban Clark, 66
1828.
1829-30. Thomas Burch,
1831. Fitch Read,
1832.
Heman Bangs, "
1833-34. Bartholomew Creagh,
1835.
Jolın C. Green,
1836.
Charles K. True,
1837. Elisha Andrews,
John Lindsey, Fitch Read,
1839. Francis Hodgson,
66
H. Bangs,
C.W.Carpenter,“
1841.
Abiather M. Osbon,
66
S. D. Furgerson, " Barth. Creagh, "
1843-44. Edwin E. Griswold,
1845.
John L. Gilder,
1846. James Floy, 66
1847. 66
1848.
Zepheniah N. Lewis,
. 6
E.E.Griswold, " S. Landon,
1849-50. Moses L. Sendder,.
6.6.
1851. John M. Reid,
J. B. Stratton, "
The late excellent President Olin, was in the habit of giving $100 annually for Foreign Missions, and the So- ciety, separately from him, were in the habit of giving about $200 more. Collections are taken up for the Colonization and Seamen's Friend Societies, and for general educational purposes.
The society built their first Church edifice of brick, in 1805, 42 feet by 32, on the north side of the South Green. They built their second church on the same site, and of the same material in 1828, 75 feet by 55,. height of wall 30; audience room 63 by 52 : cost, in- cluding steeple, $7,500. A lecture room in the rear of this, also of brick was built in 1851, 56 feet by 40, audience room 38 by 34 feet, cost $1600. Immediately by these buildings the Society have a parsonage.
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