USA > Connecticut > Middlesex County > Middletown > Centennial address and Historical sketches > Part 17
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Some time before the death of Mr. Smith, the thoughts of the people were directed to the preparation of a second house for the worship of God, and as their pro- ceedings may throw some light on their circumstances, and on the customs of that period, it may be well to ad- vert to them for a moment. Nov. 21, 1734 " two thirds of the inhabitants of the North Society, declared that it was of necessity that a new Meeting-house should be built in said Society." Again on the 28th of the same month the "Society agreed to begin to cut timber for their Meeting-house at the end of January or beginning of February." But more than a year elapsed after the last mentioned date, before they were ready to raise the frame, and that was no small concern ; for the tim- bers were very large, and such machinery was not then used as is now employed in putting up frames. Accor-
* Foote Genealogy, by N. Goodwin, pp. 280.
* 20
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SKETCH OF UPPER MIDDLETOWN.
dingly on the 21st of March 1735-6, (1736 as we now date,) the Society appointed Serj. Shepherd, Hugh White and Capt. John Warner to order for the provid- ing of the dinners, for the raising of the Meeting-house, and the Society to be divided into three parts, each part to provide the dinner they are ordered to provide it."
" At the same meeting the Society agreed that what drinks are expended in raising the Meeting-house, shall be borne by the Society excepting what shall be drunk with their vituals."
This year the house was prepared for occupancy. It was 55 feet in length, and 36 in breadth, and was used as a sanctuary for more than a century.
Edward Eells, son of Rev. Edward Eells, pastor of the 2d church in Scituate, Mass., graduate of Harvard College 1733, was the successor of Mr. Smith. He was ordained Sept. 6. 1738, and died Oct. 12, 1776, aged 64. He acquired some celebrity from a pamphlet which he published respecting the "Wallingford case " in 1759. He preached at the State Election in 1767, and was trustec of Yale College from 1761 until his death.
One of his sons, Edward Eells, was a Continental Captain in the Revolutionary war. He died in his native place Dec. 8, 1787, aged 47. Three of his sons, James, Samuel and Ozias were educated at Yale, and became pastors of churches ; James in East Glasten- bury, Samuel in North Branford* and Ozias in Bark- hamsted.
* Concerning Rev. Samuel Eells a recent History of North Branford says : that " being a man of much versatility of talent, he practised to some extent among his own people as a physician for the body, as well as a watchman for souls. From one ineident in his life, which has been preserved in the memories of his people, it would seem that he was like- wise capable, as necessity required of wielding either carnal or spiritual weapons. His ministry embraced the trying and eventful period of our Revolutionary struggle. On one occasion in the early part of the year 1777, when Washington was in the vicinity of New York, his whole force not amounting to more than fifteen hundred men, he called upon the peo- ple of Connecticut to send down with all dispatch their quota of troops.
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SKETCH OF UPPER MIDDLETOWN.
Gershom Buckley, native of Rocky Hill, and gradu- ate of Yale College 1770, was the successor of Mr. Eells. He was ordained pastor June 17, 1778 and dis- missed, pursuant to an agreement between him and his people July 7, 1808. He died April 7, 1832, aged 84.
Joshua L. Williams, son of Rev. Joshua Williams, succeeded Mr. Buckley. He was born in Wethersfield, graduated at Yale in 1805, and ordained June 14, 1809. He was a judicious, devoted and useful minister, attend- ed faithfully to the Schools in his parish, and taught lads in his house. He died Dec. 29, 1832, aged 48.
Zebulon Crocker, native of Willington, graduate of Yale 1827, studied theology at New Haven one year, became pastor of the church May 2, 1833, and died Nov. 14, 1847, aged 45. He stood high in his class when in College, and had the honor when he was gradu- ated of delivering the Greek oration. He was after- ward an important teacher in the "Ellington School." Thus he was happily. prepared to carry forward the education of the young in his parish, which had already been advanced beyond that of parishes generally in the
The intelligence of this requisition arrived in this place on the Sabbath, while the people were engaged in public worship. Considering this to be one of those works of necessity which might properly receive the atten- tion of his people on the Sabbath, Mr. Eells communicated the important intelligence from the pulpit, and requested at once that those who were willing and ready to go forth on this important mission, should parade on the Green, in front of the Meeting-house, immediately after service. The able bodied men of this Society made a ready response to this unexpected summons. At the conclusion of service a line was promptly formed on the Green, and principally through the agency and energy of Lieut. Samuel Baldwin, a company was organized. This company, includingits officers, consisted finally of 60 men, a portion of whom belonged to the societies of Branford and Northford. The command of it belonged of right to Lient. Baldwin, who with great expedition had succeeded in gathering it together in a short time. But Lient. B. courteously waved his right in favor of his own minister, and the Rev. Samuel Eells was ac- cordingly chosen to the captaincy, (not chaplaincy !) of the body." -- His commission as captain was signed by Gov. Trumbull, Jan. 14, 1777, and he took the command, and appears to have gone with his company to the aid of Washington. The pamphlet from which this account is quo- ted, states further ; " fortunately, he and his company had no occasion to proceed to the extremities of war, and he returned without having killed any body."
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vicinity, and of taking the lead in the establishment of an Academy. As a pastor and preacher the people greatly esteemed him.
A published work of Mr. Crocker of 300 large duo- decimo pages, should not be forgotten, entitled the " Catastrophe of the Presbyterian Church."
Having attended the General Assembly of the P. Church, as a delegate from the General Association of Connecticut in 1837, when the Plan of Union between the said Assembly and Association was abrogated on the part of the former, and four Synods, embracing five hundred ministers and sixty thousand communicants, were excluded from it; and deeming the exclusion un- justifiable, Mr. C. undertook to give a history of the Plan of Union and its operations, and to set aside the ground on which the Assembly acted. The work con- tains much matter, and is presented in a lucid style ..
George A. Bryan, native of Waterbury, graduate of Yale 1843, who studied theology at New Haven, suc . ceeded Mr. Crocker June 13, 1849.
The number of members admitted to the church by . Mr. Smith, was 62, by Mr. Eells 138, by Mr. Buck- ley 85, by Mr. Williams 218, Mr. Crocker 137, Mr. Bryan has admitted 15. These admissions, with the 23 members at the organization make a total of 665. The communicants Jan 1, 1852, were 164.
DEACONS IN THE CHURCH.
William Savage,
Elected. Feb. 10, 1716. do.
Deaths. Ages.
Samuel Hall,
Reelected in E.M
Samuel Stow,
Sept. 28, 1741.
John Wilcox,
May 12, 1751. March 18, 1748.
Samuel Gipson,
Samuel Shepherd,
Dec. 3, 1745. Jan. 15, 1749.
Isaac White, William Savage,
Thomas Johnson, Esq.,
Jan. 9, 1766.
Dec. 26, 1774.
Joseph Kirby,
Nov. 29, 1770.
Sept. 12, 1783. June 7, 1794.
Solomou Sage,
Timothy Gipson, Amos Sage, Jeremiah Hubbard,
Bani Parmelee,
Rufus Sage, Joseph R. Wilcox,
Isaac Sage, John Stevens,
Jan. 26, 1775. Jnn. 14, 1784. Feb 22, 1790. Dec. 14, 1807. March 23, 1810. July 1817. April 6, 1822. Oct. 29, 1826, Sept. 1, 1843.
Dro'd Apl 9, 1750, June 27, 1769. 1774
Jan. 8, 1814. Feb. 15, 1820. Aug. 23, 1808. Feb. 22, 1837. March 13, 1826. Jan. 25, 1852.
68. 76. 71. 74. 56. 64. 74. 70. 72. 63. 81. 49. 79.
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SKETCH OF UPPLR MIDDLETOWN.
The last year the people gave about 300 dollars to public objects of christian benevolence, which may be taken as a fair average for a number of years.
The third church edifice is of brick, 69 feet by 44. It was built in 1840, and cost $7,500.
The society has a parsonage worth $2,700. It has also some lands which rent for $50 per year.
BAPTISTS IN CROMWELL.
The Society was formed Jan. 2, 1801, and the church organized Feb. 2, 1802, consisting of 16 members .- Sixteen more were added in the course of that and the succeeding year. Revivals were enjoyed in 1805, '18, '31 and '43. The average number of members from 1805 may have a little exceeded 50. The number Jan. 1, 1852, was 70.
Their Meeting-house was built in 1803 in the West street, 46 feet by 36. Having been removed to the centre, it was re-opened for worship in Jan. 1833.
The people have enjoyed preaching generally, but not uniformly, and when destitute of stated preaching, unless an older came among them for a Sabbath, they relied upon the gifts of private members of the church. The following is a list of their preachers and elders.
Eber Moffott preached to them from about the time of the organization of the church, until the latter part of 1803, or beginning of 1804, about the time of his death.
Nehemiah Dodge preached to them a part of 1804. Daniel Wildman a portion of the time from March 1805 until July 1811, being called about this time to the oversight of the Baptist Church in Chester, and Frederic Wightman preached to them from 1817 until 1832.
Charles B. Keys preached to them from Dec. 3, 1832, until the Spring of 1833, George B. Atwell from April 1834 until April 1835 ; John R. Price of Meriden from Nov. 1836 until April 1837, when Frederic Wightman preached to them again from that time until April 1839.
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SKETCH OF UPPER MIDDLETOWN.
William Dickins, a licenciate from the Hamilton Literary Institution, preached to them from Sept. 1839 to April 1840; William Bentley from April 1840, about six years; James Hepburn commenced labors here in 1846 and continued them two years ; Joseph Bailey, a student in the Wesleyan University supplied them with preaching afterwards six months.
George W. Hervey, native of Durham N. Y., grad- uate of the College in the District of Columbia 1847, who studied theology in the Union Theological Seminary New York city, began to preach to the congregation in the Autumn of 1850, and labored among them until the beginning of April 1852. He is now in New York city.
Elder Charles W. Potter, a native of Norwich, who has preached several years, succeeds him.
For four or five years the people have received assis- tance from the Baptist State Convention. Towards the support of Mr. Hervey during his last years service they received $25, and from their sister church in the city of Middletown $50.
The contributions of the congregation to benevolent objects for some time have been small, about 15 dollars annually, given mostly for the support of Baptist Foreign Missions.
In 1683 the inhabitants of this place were allowed their proportion of a school rate in Middletown, for the maintenance of a school among themselves. For many years they have had five school districts. This is the number at the present time. These as they are now organized are called, the Central District, including the former Nooks District, the South District, the West, North and Plain districts. The children in these dis- tricts, between 4 and 16 years of age were 313.
The influence of Mr. Crocker in the cause of educa- tion has been already noticed. The people were pre- pared to appreciate and second his exertions. A num- ber of gentlemen in 1782 united together in an effort to build a new school house in the centre, and to sustain a teacher summer and winter. Their expressed design was to maintain a school which should be superior to
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SKETCII OF UPPER MIDDLETOWN.
schools generally which then existed, an object, which it is believed they in some good degree accomplished.
In 1808 a debating society was formed which was soon succeeded by the Friendly Association, organized on a more enlarged and efficient plan, and to which the property of the Debating Society was transferred. The objects of this association were, "the discussion of ques- tions on various subjeets, the recitation of dialogues and selected pieces, original composition and declamation, public lectures, together with a permanent library for the use of the members." The first meeting was held Feb. 20, 1810, with a prospect of success which has been fully realized. This has already existed more than forty years, and is still in vigorous operation .- Meetings are usually held weekly by the members, and a course of lectures during each winter. It has nearly 300 members and a library of between 4 and 500 vol- umes. The influence of the institution has been to create a taste for reading and inquiry, not only among the members, but in the families to which they belong, to elieit and strengthen talent and elevate society.
William C. Redfield, now of New York, residing here in early life, though engaged in mechanical labor mani- fested an ardent desire for knowledge, and sought it by every means within his reach. He was one of the most active and efficient members of the association, and while his own mind was quickened and expanded, he benefitted others. Thus he was preparing to become an accepta- ble contributor to the American Journal of Science and through that a benefactor to his countrymen and race. Fame has justly followed him, particularly for his de- velopment of the laws of storms, and his example is one additional proof how a youth of small means, by dili- gent application and good conduct, may rise to honorable distinction and eminent usefulness.
The community has felt the benefits of the Friendly Association ; I repeat the idea. Thus the people were prepared to appreciate and second the exertions of Mr. Crocker in the cause of education : particularly in es- tablishing and sustaining an academy.
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SKETCH OF UPPER MIDDLETOWN.
The Academy building was erected in 1834, and is 41 feet by 26; its cost about $1700.
Though the institution has. no permanent funds, it has hitherto been sustained mostly by the inhabitants, it has had much of the time on an average about fifty scholars, has accomplished much good and promises to accomplish much good hereafter. The resort for instructors has been to graduates of colleges, mostly to recent graduates and to such as had gone through with their classical course at Yale College ; to young men, who, while possessing competent literature and science, were pro- fessors of religion, and looking forward to the ministry of the gospel as their profession. This being the case, their services as instructors were secured in most in- stances, only for limited periods.
Names, birth-places &c., of the successive Instructors.
Sylvester Judd, a native of Northampton, graduate of Yale 1835, taught the Academy six months. He is now a Unitarian clergyman, and was for some time pas- tor of a church in Augusta, Maine.
John Lord Taylor, native of Warren, graduate of Yale 1836 : tutor. He taught the academy six months, and is now settled in the ministry at Andover, Mass.
Richard F. Searle, graduate of Union College 1835, taught one year. He is a Congregational clergyman.
Edgar Jared Doolittle, native of Wallingford, grad- uate of Yale 1836, taught one year and a half. He is now settled in the ministry in Hebron.
Israel Perkins Warren, native of Bethany, graduate of Yale 1838, taught a year and a half. Has been set- tled in the ministry at Granby and Hamden; is now in Plymouth.
James Hanmer Francis, native of Wethersfield, grad- uate of Yale 1826, taught the academy one year. (See clergymen of Westfield.)
George Thatcher, native of Hartford, graduate of Yale 1840, taught the academy one year. He was first settled in the ministry in Derby, then in Nantucket, Mass., is now pastor of the Allen street church in New York.
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SKETCH OF UPPER MIDDLETOWN.
Jared Owen Knapp, native of Greenwich, graduate of Yale 1840, taught the academy three years. He was first settled in Plainville, Conn., and is now settled in Hatfield, Mass.
Rollen D. H. Allen, native of Middlebury, Vt., grad- uate of Middlebury College 1841. He taught the academy one year. Is a clergyman, not settled, resides at Terryville.
William Sturges Wright, native of Glastenbury, graduate of Yale 1839, taught the academy five years. He is the stated supply of the Congregational church of Middle Haddam.
Joseph Bardwell Lyman, native of Northampton, Mass., graduate of Yale 1850, taught the academy six months.
Julius Yale Leonard, native of Berkshire, N. Y., graduate of Yale 1851, is the present instructor.
PHYSICIANS IN CROMWELL.
Aaron Roberts. It has been said that he was a na- tive of Portland ; but this is very much doubted. He began to practice in Cromwell in 1757, and was a sur- geon in the Revolutionary War. In 1783 he moved to New Britain in Berlin, to live with his son, where he dicd Nov. 21, 1792, in his 62d year.
Solomon Savage, practised from about 1762 until his death Jan. 29, 1783, aged 43.
Hosea Hurlburt, a native of Kensington, practised here from 1783 until 1790, moved to the town of Kil- lingworth.
Daniel Lee, whose birth place we cannot state, prac- tised here from 1784 until 1787, when he moved to New London.
Gideon Noble, a native of Coventry probably, prac- tised here from 1791 to 1802, when he moved to South Glastenbury. He had a good education, pleasing man- ners, and acquired a respectable practice in both places. He died in 1807.
21
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SKETCH OF UPPER MIDDLETOWN.
Titus Morgan, was born in Westfield, Mass. He practised here, excepting a few months spent in Guil- ford, from 1802 until his death, Nov. 22, 1811, aged 35. He was a gentleman of refined and poetic taste, and agrecable manners ; an intelligent and respectable phy- sician.
William Meigs Hand, born in Madison, was gradua- ted M. D., at Dartmouth College in 1812, and proba- bly came immediately to Cromwell. In 1816 he moved to Worthington in Berlin. He was amiable and well in- formed, interesting in conversation, and happy in writing sketches and essays, a successful practitioner and a man of good moral character. He published a pamphlet, entitled, " A Trip to Ohio," and a Manual of Medicine and Surgery for the family." He died in 1822, aged 32. William Tulley. (See physicians in Middletown.)
David B. Brooks, son of Dr. David Brooks of North Guilford, Yale College M. D., commenced practice here in 1819 and remained about one year, when he settled in the city of New York, where he died July 22, 1830, aged 32. Hle is said to have been a popular man.
Sylvester Buckley, born in Rocky Hill, graduated at Yale 1810, was graduated M. D. at Dartmouth in 1812. He began practice in Haddam Town in 1813, and some years afterwards practised in Chester and Higganum ; in Cromwell from 1821 to 1830; in Worthington from 1830 until within a recent period. He is now in prac- tice in his native place.
Richard Warner, born in that part of Hadlyme So- ciety, which belongs to the town of Lyme, graduate of Yale College 1817, M. D., began practice in East Had- dam in 1823, moved to Cromwell in 1830, where he has constantly practiced until the present time.
NOTE. The " virtuous remains of Samuel Hurlburt Jr., M. D." rest in the old burial ground in this town, but no tradition is preserved that he ever praetieed his profession, or ever lived in this place. This state" ment is given as received.
Russell Stow, native of Cromwell, entered Yale Col- lege in 1798, and left that institution at the close of his Freshman year : studied medicine with Dr. Ebenezer Traey, commeneed practice in Ellisburgh, Jefferson Co.
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SKETCH OF UPPER MIDDLETOWN.
N. Y., where he continued several years : he then mov- ed to Adams in the same county, where he still lives : he has had considerable practice in both places.
Robert Hubbard M. D., of Cromwell, entered Yale College, but left in consequence of ill-health. He after- wards studied medicine and settled as a practitioner in Bridgeport.
GRADUATES FROM CROMWELL AT YALE COLLEGE.
Stephen White, son of John, grandson of Daniel and great grandson of Nathaniel White, repeatedly men- tioned as an carly settler, and an highly honored inhabi- tant of Middletown, in the part which is now Cromwell, was born June 8, 1718, about two years before his father's family moved to New Haven, where he was graduated in 1736. He was ordained pastor of the first church in Windham, Dec. 24, 1740, and remained there in the pastoral office until his death Jau. 9, 1794.
His wife was Mary Dyer, sister of Eliphalet Dyer, a member of the Revolutionary Congress and presiding judge of the Superior Court of Connecticut. He had 13 children, the youngest of whom was the late Dyer White Esq., of New Haven, Judge of Probate.
Daniel Stocking 1748. Did not enter upon any pro- fession, but was so much occupied in teaching school, that he acquired the title of Master Stocking. He died Dec. 23, 1800, aged 73.
Joseph Kirby 1765. Was licensed to preach, but being excessively diffident and very singular, he did not succeed at all as a candidate; at times his appearance and conduct were such that he was deemed by some to be partially deranged .. He however married and had several children ; lived some years in Granville, Mass., and then in Dorset, Vt., where he died in Sept. 1823, aged 78.
Isaac Gridley 1773. Was born in Kensington in Berlin, but lived during most of his childhood in New Haven. He came to Cromwell to teach school, and
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SKETCH OF UPPER MIDDLETOWN.
was much employed in this service in subsequent life. He was also a justice of the peace. He died Nov. 15, 1836, aged 82.
Timothy Jones Gridley 1808. Studied medicine with Dr. Nathan Smith at Dartmouth College, where he was graduated M. D .; settled as a physician in Amherst, Mass., where he held a high standing. Died March 11, 1852, aged 64.
Chauncey Wilcox 1824. Studied theology at New Haven, and was ordained pastor of the North Church in Greenwich June 25, 1828, where " he labored with great fidelity and success for eighteen years, and raised up an infant church of eighteen members among a scattered population, to number more than a hundred. Three of those converted under his ministry entered the field of Foreign Missions, and two still live to labor there ; another is a useful pastor in New England. After the spring of 1847 he was 'highly useful and respected as a teacher of youth and a promoter of every good work" in Ridgefield, where he died Jan. 31, 1852, aged 55. He was a man without guile. He loved the ministry, and loved every thing pertaining to the cause of Christ.
He attended the funeral of his father, Dea. Joseph R. Wilcox in his native town, the Wednesday preced- ing his own death, and afterwards returned home. But though removed thus suddenly, his faith did not fail him nor waver in the least. His end was peace .*
Thomas Staughton Savage 1825, M. D. Studied at the Theological (Episcopal) School, near Alexandria, D. C., became an Episcopal clergyman ; was missionary at Cape Palmas in Africa; is now rector of a church at Pass Christian, Miss.
William Kirby 1827. Studied theology in New Ha- ven, was a Home Missionary in Illinois ; has recently died in Jacksonville.
George Slocum Folger Savage, 1814. Studied The- ology in Andover and in New Haven, was ordained as a Home Missionary, (in his native place,) went to St.
* N. Y. Observer, Feb. 12, 1852.
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SKETCH OF UPPER MIDDLETOWN.
Charles, Kane County, Illinois, where he is now settled as pastor of a Church.
Josiah Savage, 1846. Studied law in New Haven and New York, went to California, and died at Trinity River, in Nov. 1849, aged 25.
Ebenezer Beckwith, 1847. Is teacher of an Acade- my at Granada, Miss.
Thomas Scranton Hubbard, 1849. Is a manufactur- er in Durham.
WESLEYAN UNIVERSITY.
William A. M. Hand, 1836. Only child of Dr. William M. Hand, was a man of good talents, natural and acquired, of ardent piety and great promise ; had commenced the study of theology, but was removed by death, May 16, 1839, aged 32.
Two individuals, natives of Cromwell, though not graduates of Colleges, Jairus Wilcox, and William Red- field Stocking, may be properly named in this connection.
Mr. Wilcox was engaged in secular business, beyond the usual period of preparation for the ministry before he resolved upon entering the sacred office. He was sometime member of the Bangor Seminary, and then went through with a three years course in the Theologi- cal Department of Yale College, where his studies closed in 1830. The next year he was settled in Bethany in Woodbridge, where he remained a few years. He then went to Bergen, N. Y., and thence to Victor, preaching a year or two in each place. In 1838, he went as pas- tor with a Church, formed in one or other of those places, to Geneseo, in Illinois, under the patronage of the Home Missionary Society. Here his health failed him, and in 1845 he removed to Chicago and became pastor of the Bethel Church, with which he was connect- ed a considerable time. Here he was attacked by the cholera, in Sept. 1851, which produced indescribable suf- ferings, which closed his life on earth in twelve hours. But in these trying circumstances he was sustained by the grace of God.
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