USA > Connecticut > Hartford County > Hartford > Christ church, Hartford, Volume I > Part 20
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 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62
Voted, That the thanks of the Wardens and Vestry be presented to Mr. James M. Goodwin, for his indefatigable exertions in directing the Sunday School.
Nov. II, Though Bishop Brownell resigned as Rector of the Parish, Nov. 11, 1820, yet I do not find a copy of the resignation on the records ; it was, however, discovered among some old files of documents.
To the Wardens and Vestry of Christ Church, Hartford.
Gentlemen :- You are well acquainted with the circum- stances which have rendered necessary my removal from Hartford. The establishment of the general Theological Seminary in this Diocese, has called upon me, by the duty which I owe to the Church at large, to be near it during its infant state, that I may be better able to render it such sup- port and assistance as may not be incompatible with my par- amount duties to the Diocese.
Under these circumstances it becomes proper that I should resign the Rectorship of Christ Church to which I have been elected, that its duties may be more perfectly dis- charged by the present assistant. As however the arrange- ment made with the Parish of East Windsor does not expire till February next, I will continue my services to both con- gregations as heretofore, (either personally, or by a substitute,) until that time, unless some other more satisfactory arrange- ment should be made.
In thus tendering you my resignation, Gentlemen, I cannot forbear to acknowledge, (though I am unable adequately to
€
253
IMPORTANT VOTES AND COMMENTS.
express it) the deep and grateful sense which I entertain of the friendship and kindness which I have experienced from you individually, as well as from the Congregation at large. I can only return for your liberality, my heartfelt gratitude, and my most sincere prayers for your welfare.
With my earnest prayers for the temporal and spiritual prosperity and welfare of the Congregation, I remain, Gen- tlemen,
Your obliged Friend and Servant, T. C. BROWNELL.
Hartford, No' 11th, 1820.
PARISH LIBRARY.
The usefulness of a Parish Library was regarded as quite important, and the Vestry had voted Feb. 2, 1818, "that James M. Goodwin and Anson Hayden be a com- mittee to solicit donations in Books, etc., for the purpose of increasing the Library belonging to the Church," and the following Rules and Regulations were passed Dec. 4, IS20.
Dec'. 4, Rules and Regulations for the Library of Christ Church, Hartford.
Article 1. The Library shall be open every Sunday both before morning and after evening service, and the Librarian shall not be required to deliver books at any other time.
2. No book shall be kept out longer than 4 weeks on penalty of a fine of one cent per day, for each Vol. till such book is returned.
3. No family or individual shall be entitled to receive more than two books at a time.
4. If a book be lost, the person who drew it from the Library, shall make it good, by paying its value, or providing another, and if it was a volume belonging to a set, he shall take the whole set, and replace it with a new copy of the same work.
5. If a book be damaged, the person to whom it is charged shall pay such a fine as the Rector and Librarian shall im- pose or replace it with a new one at his own discretion.
254
CHRIST CHURCH, HARTFORD.
6. No person against whom a fine or fines, are charged, shall be entitled to receive books, till such fine has been paid.
7. No person shall take a volume from the Library with- out having it charged in the Librarian's book, on a penalty of fifty cents.
8. So much of the above regulations as relates to the number of Vols taken out at once, and the time of their de- tention, shall not apply to the Rector of the Parish, but with all the other provisions he shall comply.
9. All monies, collected from fines, shall be expended under the direction of the Wardens and Vestry in purchasing books for the Library.
Feb. 2, V. Voted, That James M. Goodwin, and Anson Hayden be a committee to solicit donations in Books, &c. for the purpose of increasing the Library belonging to the Church.
I have no hesitation in copying from the records the result of Messrs. Goodwin and Hayden's efforts in secur- ing books to increase the library. The list is not only in- teresting but suggestive, and might be considered at this day as rather dry and unprofitable. Our younger people, and perhaps the older ones also, would now permit them to remain upon their shelves unread, or not even ex- amined, since the magazines or the Sunday newspapers supply them with more palatable food. The fact that they were formerly read confirms the opinion expressed in the Report, that our fathers were better acquainted with church history, and more grounded in the faith, than are a majority of our people now.
Flowers of M. History; Hobart's Apology; Sherlock on Death ; Leslie's Method with the Deists & Jews; Potter on Church Government; Christian Observer, 5 vols .; Church- man's Magazine, 10 vols .; Chateaubrian's Martyrs ; Loyalist, 3 vols; Alison's Sermons; Young's Night Thoughts; Christian Sacrifice ; Clergyman's Advice; Seabury's Sermons, 2 vols .;
N. S. Wheaton
255
IMPORTANT VOTES AND COMMENTS.
Easy Method with Deists; Discourse on Episcopacy; Howe on the Psalms; Paley's Sermons; Taylor's Sermons; Porteus Lec- tures; Paley's Works, 5 vols .; Theological Magazine, 2 vols .; Sherlock's Sermons; Burnet on Schisms; Chandler's Vindica- tion; Delany's Works; Blair's Sermons, 2 vols .; Homilies of the Church; Obeirn's Sermons; Abercrombie's Mourner Com- forted; Dodd on Death; White's Sermons; Wilton's Sermons; Christian Duty; Christian Life by Scott; Chandler's Appeal; Lathrop's Sermons ; Theological Magazine ; Churchman's Magazine ; Heaven and Hell; Evans Sequel ; Porteus Life ; Wells Geography ; Paley's Evidence ; Doddridge's Rise and Progress; Watts on the Mind; Saybrook Platform; Jerusalem Destroyed; Stackhouse's Practical Duty; Hurd on the Prophe- cies ; Franklin's Works; Poor-man's Help; Mosheim's Ec- clesiastical History, 6 vols .; Compendium of the Bible; Mis- cellaneous Tracts, 2 vols .; Gregory's Christian Church; West on the Resurrection; Wollaston's Religions of Nature; Rol- lin's Ancient History, 4 vols .; Grove on the Supper; Minute Philosopher; Life of Eusebius ; Cooper's Sermons ; Porteus, Sermons; Willson's Sacramental Directions; Christian Jour- nal, No. I to 24; Lowth's Isaiah, with Notes; Colyer's Lec- tures; Foster's Essays; Massilon & Bourdaloue; Newton on Prophecies, 2 vols.
I821.
April 23, P. Voted, Unanimously, that the Rev. Nathaniel S. Wheaton be invited to accept of the Rectorship of this Parish, and that One Thousand Dollars be offered him per annum as salary.
Voted, That Michael Olcott, and Samuel Tudor be a com- mittee to wait on Revª. Mr. Wheaton, and communicate to him the foregoing vote of the Parish.
June 5. To the Wardens and Vestry of Christ Church Parish, Hartford,
Gentlemen :- I have received through the Clerk of your Parish, the vote of your body, inviting me to accept the Rec- torship of your Church, with a salary of One thousand dollars per annum.
Allow me to express to you my thanks for this mark of your
256
CHRIST CHURCH, HARTFORD.
confidence and esteem, and my acceptance of your offer to constitute me your Rector. That God of the fulness of his mercy may make me in some humble measure, worthy of the trust you reposed in me, is the sincere prayer of
Your friend & Servant in Christ,
NATHANIEL S. WHEATON.
Hartford, June 5, 1821.
I822.
Feb. 25, V. Voted, That the present pews and slips in Church be so altered as to make as much room as possible, by removing the inner partition &c.
Rev. N. S. Wheaton, M. Olcott, and S. Tudor, jr., were ap- pointed a committee to carry the above vote into effect, and to make the necessary contracts.
This change was rendered necessary by the increasing number of attendants, and a contract for the work was made with William Hayden, March 12th. It was to be completed by the first of April following, and he received for it two hundred and seventy-three dollars. The plan of the pews and slips in 1805 and in 1822, which is sub- mitted, will show the changes which were made.
April I. V. A letter from the young gentlemen of the Parish, thro' Charles Munn their agent, enclosing One hundred dol- lars subscribed by them for the purchase of Lamps, was laid before the meeting.
Thereupon, it was Voted, That the thanks of the Wardens and Vestry be presented to the young gentlemen of this Par- ish, for their liberal and handsome donation of one hundred dollars, to purchase Lamps.
Voted, That the names of the young gentlemen, who con- tributed to raise the above sum, be recorded in the book of parish records.
Voted, That there be paid to the Sexton of the Parish forty dollars per annum, for the performance of the following duties, viz .: ringing the Church bell whenever there is ser- vice- Sweeping the Church out and dusting it once a week,
257
IMPORTANT VOTES AND COMMENTS.
- blowing the bellows for the Organ whenever there is ser- vice,- clearing away the snow in the winter, making fires in the Stoves and taking care of the wood,-and washing the surplices 12 times a year. And that fifty cents in addition be paid the Sexton for every time he fills, trims, and lights the lamps for evening service, which it is expected he will always keep clean.
Voted, That James M. Goodwin communicate the above vote to the Sexton, and instruct him particularly in regard to the performance of his Duties.
COPY OF THE SUBSCRIPTION PAPER FOR PURCHASING LAMPS.
March 15. We, the young men, members of the Parish of Christ Church, Hartford, in testimony of our regard for and attachment to the Church, to which we profess to belong, voluntarily agree and promise to pay the sum affixed to our several names, to raise a sum of money to be presented to the Wardens and Vestry of said Church, as a donation from the Subscribers, for the purpose of purchasing a sufficient number of handsome and appropriate Lamps for lighting the Church.
Hartford, March 15, 1822.
Dudley Buck
SIO
Russell $2
Charles Munn
12
Wm. H. Hoadley
I
Dan H. Arnold
IO
Miles A. Tuttle
2
Josephus Granger
IO
James Church, Jr.
I
Wm. W. Tudor
5
A. S. Beckwith
I
Asa Farwell
5
Hervey H. Eliott .
1
Jeremiah Butler
3
Charles Benton
1
D. F. Manice
3
Elizur B. Clark
I
E. B. Stedman
3
James A. Canfield
I
Amos B. Ross
3
Edward Marsh
T. D. Stewart
3
N. J. Eliott
I
Joseph Church
?
Benjn. Bolles, Jr.
2
Chs. H. Northam
2
Henry Carter
I
Ww. T. Lee
O. E. Williams
John W. Bull
Harrington
I
Geº. Sumner
P. B. Goodsell
1
J. Basset
2922 2 2 2
Dollars
100.
May 18. At a meeting of the members of this Parish, convened in pursuance to previous legal notice this day at 4
17
258
CHRIST CHURCH, HARTFORD.
o'clock P. M. the Revd. N. S. Wheaton being moderator in conformity to the Canon.
The Constitution of the Episcopal Church in this Diocese as adopted in Convention June 7, 1821, was presented to the Parish for their consideration, and unanimously adopted.
1823.
There was established by the Convention of the Dio- cese in 1818, "The Connecticut Protestant Episcopal Society for the Promotion of Christian Knowledge." The objects were, "the employment of missionaries in the vacant parishes of the diocese, the gratuitous distribution of the Bible, the book of Common Prayer, and religious tracts." The Parish accepted it and appointed a com- mittee consisting of Messrs. Charles Sigourney, Samuel Tudor, and William McCrackan as their trustees, and secured quite a list of members.
In 1823 an Auxiliary Society of ladies was formed, which existed for some years, and it seems to be of suffi- cient interest to copy the constitution, together with a list of the members for five years, this being the only record which can be found. Mrs. Humphrey and Mrs. Potter were wives of professors in the college.
Constitution of the Ladies Society Auxiliary to the Society for the Promotion of Christian Knowledge in the Diocese of Con- necticut.
ART. I. This Society shall be known by the name of the FEMALE AUXILIARY SOCIETY FOR THE PROMOTION OF CHRIS- TIAN KNOWLEDGE.
ART. 2. The annual payment of fifty cents and upwards shall constitute a person a member, while she continues her subscription. No person shall withdraw from the Society without leaving a written notice of her intention, with the Secretary, and paying up all arrearages.
ART. 3. There shall be an annual meeting of the Society at 4 o'clock P. M. on Easter Monday, at which time a Presi- dent, Secretary, and Treasurer shall be chosen by ballot, and a Collector by nomination, each of whom shall hold her office during the year.
259
IMPORTANT VOTES AND COMMENTS.
ART. 4. It shall be the duty of the President to preside at all the meetings. The Secretary shall keep a true record of the proceedings of the Society with a list of the names of all the members belonging to it. The Treasurer shall keep a faithful record of the receipts and expenses of the Society, a statement of which shall be exhibited at each annual meet- ing ; she shall also previous to the annual Convention, trans- mit to the Treasurer of the parent Society all the monies collected and paid over to her (after deducting incidental ex- penses whenever they occur), which monies shall be appro- priated to the objects named in the Constitution of the parent Society. It shall be the duty of the Collector annually to collect the subscriptions, and pay them over to the Treasurer, previous to the annual meeting ; it shall also be her duty to solicit new subscriptions as soon after the annual meeting as may be convenient.
ART. 5. The President shall call a special meeting of the Society whenever she shall be requested thereto by any three of its members.
ART. 6. This Constitution shall be unalterable, except by a vote of two thirds of the members present, at the regu- lar annual meeting.
The Society was organized the 23d of April, 1818: it was thought best by their Pastor, the Revª Mr. Wheaton, to have a Constitution, which was written by him, and the above is a true copy. The members of said Society met the first Monday of July, A. D. 1823, agreed to sign the Constitution, and made choice of Mrs. Eli Todd, President, Mrs. Jeremy Hoadley, Treasurer, Mrs. Anthony Jeffrey, Secretary and Collector.
Names of Subscribers to the Ladies' Auxiliary Society for the Promotion of Christian Knowledge.
Adams, Mrs. Chester Beach, Sarah B. Buck, Mrs. Dudley Bull, Elizabeth Bull, Sarah Bull, E. M.
Butler, Rebecca
Butler, Cornelia Brainard, Mrs. Chs. Brainard, Mrs. R.
Bartholomew, Mrs. R.
Baxter, Sarah
260
CHRIST CHURCH, HARTFORD.
Beach, Mrs. George
Killam, Mrs. James
Bruce, Fanny
Ledlie, Mrs. Samuel
Brownell, Mrs. T. C.
Lloyd, Mrs. Thomas
Barlow, Mrs. William
Lloyd, Caroline
Buckley, Mrs. Stephen
Lyman, Mrs. Justin
Benjamin, Mrs.
Lee, Mrs. Wm. T.
Belknap, Mrs. Thos.
Munn, Mrs. Elizabeth
Collins, Mrs. Ebenezer
Morgan, Mrs. Denison
Canfield, Betsy
Morgan, Mrs. Nathan
Clerc, Mrs. Eliza
Morgan, Mrs. Mary
Carter, Elizabeth
Merrill, Mary
Church, Mrs. Joseph
Meigs, Mrs. Wm. H.
Chamberlain, Mrs. James
Morgan, Mrs. John
Collins, Mary
Mills, Mrs. Chs. N.
Dodd, Mrs. Samuel
Nichols, Mrs. C.
Doane, Mrs. Mary H.
Nichols, S. S.
Doane, Ann M.
Olcott, Abbey
Ellsworth, Ann
Potter, Mrs. Horatio
Eaton, Frances
Powers, Mrs. Enoch
Eaton, Harriet
Phelps, Cynthia
Flower, Mrs. Ebenezer
Phelps, Mrs.
Farwell, Mrs. Asa
Pitkin, Ann H.
Griswold, Mrs. Lucretia
Pitkin, Mrs. Timothy
Gordon, L. H.
Pratt, Martha
Grosvenor, Mrs. H. W.
Perkins, Mrs. Isaac
Goodwin, Roxana
Peters, Mary
Gray, Mrs. Ann
Porter, Eliza
Goodwin, Mrs. Ralph
Pratt, Mrs. Lucy
Goodwin, Mrs. James M.
Philips, Emily
Goodwin, Mrs. Erastus
Pratt, Mrs.
Gourley, Mrs. Hugh
Phelps, Mrs. Walter
Goodsell, Mrs. P. B.
Richardson, Mrs. John
Gaines, Mrs.
Royce, Mrs. Lydia
Hoadley, Mrs. Jeremy
Ransom, Mrs.
Hoadley, Mrs. Wm. H.
Ransom, Penelope
Hatch, Mrs. L.
Ramsey, Mrs. Jonathan
Humphrey, Mrs. Mary
Ross, Mrs. Amos B.
Holt, Mrs. Alfred
Stedman, Frances
Humphrey, Mrs. Hector
Stedman, Mrs. Eliza L.
Hickock, Jane
Sigourney, Mrs. Charles
Huntington, Mrs. S. H.
Spencer, Mrs. Charles
Huntington, Mrs. S. M.
Sumner, Mrs. George
Imlay, Mrs. Wm. H.
Todd, Rachel
Jeffrey, Mrs. Anthony Kirby, Mrs. Lucy
Tuttle, Mrs. Samuel
Tudor, Mrs. Samuel
261
IMPORTANT VOTES AND COMMENTS.
Terry, Mrs. Edward P. Wolcott, Mrs. Talcott Taylor, Mrs. William Ward, Mrs. James
Wadsworth, Mrs. William
Warner, Mrs. Betsy
Woodbridge, Harriet
Wolcott, Laura
Aug1 26. P. The Bishop of this Diocese in behalf of the Trustees of Washington College, having requested the Revª Nathaniel S. Wheaton (rector of this Parish) to go to Great Britain to solicit the donation of Books and Philosophi- cal apparatus for that College, it was
Voted, That this Parish consent to the departure of their Rector, the Revª N. S. Wheaton, for Great Britain to fulfill the duties assigned him, by the Trustees of Washington College.
Voted, That the Revª Edward Rutledge of South Carolina be requested to officiate in this Parish during the absence of their Rector and that the Vestry be requested to make arrangements for that purpose.
Voted, That until this Parish can obtain the services of the Revª Mr. Rutledge, the Vestry be authorized to engage some Clergyman to officiate in this Church during the absence of their Rector.
1825.
A committee appointed by the Vestry April 4, con- cerning the building of a new Church, having reported, it was
Sept. 26. P. Voted, " That this Committee be discharged from further duty. After considerable discussion by the members of the Parish on the subject of the expediency of building a new Church, it was,
Voted, That a Committee be appointed to enquire into and report to an adjourned meeting of this Parish the ways and means within its power to purchase a building lot and to erect a Church thereon, together with the probable ex- pense of the Lot and building.
Wm. H. Imlay, George Beach, and Nathan Morgan were appointed as this committee, and reported Oct. 10th, which gave rise, the clerk says, "to considerable debate,"
262
CHRIST CHURCH, HARTFORD.
and was laid upon the table, for consideration at an ad- journed meeting Oct. 24th, when two-thirds of the mem- bers present not voting for it, "it was negatived."
Although the seating capacity of the church had been increased by the alterations made in 1822, yet more room was needed. The prosperity which was attending other religious bodies had extended to the Episcopalians; the old building was not sufficient for their wants. Churchmen were increasing in numbers and in wealth, and were already considering an application for a college: they were now, more than ever before, becoming conscious not of their strength merely, but of their needs and obligations. The charter of Washington College having been obtained, it became a stimulus for further work in Hartford in the erection of a new church. So one duty fulfilled leads to the accomplishment of another, and work which was thought to be impossible before, becomes easy of execution afterwards. Men find that the development of a new enterprise leads to another, often different and unex- pected.
So in 1825 there began agitation for a new church. The story has been told by Mr. Hoadly in the Annals, and partially also in the Report of the Committee on the Funds. It is therefore only necessary to state here, that, after much discussion and considerable excitement, a lot was purchased, and a church built, which was consecrated in December, 1829. It seems as if it was almost necessary that the erection of a building for public religious worship, or the location of a schoolhouse, should be attended with such diverse opinions, as to become not a wrangle merely, but a bitter quarrel.
There is no reason to suppose that the latter occurred in the case of our Parish. But there were differences of opinion as to the selection of a lot. A number of locations had been proposed, and one was purchased, the one of all least suited for the purpose, as now appears to us. The Spencer and Gilman lot was the one, upon which the old
263
IMPORTANT VOTES AND COMMENTS.
City Hall now stands in Market street. It was very soon evident that this location was not satisfactory, and by a vote of the Parish it was ordered to be sold. About this time there was an agitation for a public hall, and for a public market. With an unsatisfactory piece of property on hand, the Episcopalians were ready to sell to the city their recent purchase, and more of them attended the city meeting probably than ever before, very ready to be- lieve that the Spencer and Gilman lot was just the place for the city's use. At any rate, the city bought it, and erected upon it the large building which is now stand- ing. The part which we took in this transfer is a matter of unwritten history, as far as I know, but there are often parts of unwritten history as true as that which is written. The building served its purpose well for a long time, and if all which occurred in it afterwards should ever be recorded by a faithful chronicler, it would be called " very interesting reading." The significance of the word " un- loading," is comparatively of recent origin, and should not be too severely applied to the members of our Parish.
ABOUT AN OLD WELL.
April 4. V. Voted, That Isaac Toucey, Griffin Sted- man, and Nathan Morgan, be a committee to confer with the committee appointed by the Common Council of this city, relating to the well on the corner of the church lot.
There was a controversy between the city and the Parish as to the rightful owner of this well. In May, 1823, the Court of Common Council " Voted, That Mess. Joseph Pratt, and Jacob Sergeant, be a committee to ascer- tain whether the ground through which the well by the Episcopal Church is sunk, is parish ground, or otherwise, as the case is, and make report to some future meeting of this Court." 1825, March 7, this committee reported,
" That there is no record of the Episcopal Society on the subject. That there is a report of a committee of the Com-
264
CHRIST CHURCH, HARTFORD.
mon Council in 1796, a copy of which is hereto subjoined, marked A, but the members of which committee are either dead, or unable to communicate any facts respecting the right to the soil.
" Your committee, from an examination of the subject, are of the opinion, that the land where the well now stands was originally a highway, and the right and title to the same, if not vested in the city, must be claimed by possession ; when, or how long since the property was enclosed, your committee cannot ascertain. In construction of the Report of the com- mittee of 1796, your committee infer that permission was granted by the Episcopal Church, to affix spouts and conduct- ors from said Church to the well, but whether any permission was obtained or asked, relative to the Soil, does not appear; and indeed nothing more appears than from said Report itself, respecting said permission.
" Your committee therefore are of opinion, that no facts have yet been discovered to justify the committee in recom- mending to the Court of Common Council to relinquish a right so long and uninteruptedly enjoyed by the citizens to said well."
The further consideration of the Report was post- poned, but was resumed March 24th, when it was " referred back to the committee for further investigation, and his Honor the Mayor, and Enoch Perkins, Esq., were added to the aforesaid committee."
The Parish doubtless became impatient at the delay in the settlement of the question, for it had been commenced in 1823 ; so it was
March 24, 1826. V. Voted, That it be recommended to the Parish to canse the whole land in front of the church, be- longing to the parish, to be inclosed within the limits of the Church fence. The Parish Voted, March 27, That George Beach, Samuel Tudor, and Nathan Morgan, be a committee to enclose the yard in front of the Church, including the well and other land belonging to the Church.
265
IMPORTANT VOTES AND COMMENTS.
The Council returned to the subject again April 4, 1826, when "the Memorial of the Engineer relating to the well near the Episcopal Church was read, and referred to the committee appointed on that subject," and this is the last that we hear about it, on either side. Joseph Pratt was quite familiar with public matters in the town, and was not deficient in pertinacity : it may be said with confidence that this last qualification was not lost in Isaac Toucey.
No one living appears to know anything about this little contest, which hardly warrants the time spent in in- vestigating it. We may judge that the fence was erected and the well enclosed by it. A few years afterwards the fence was still in place, but as to the well I have no recollection.
After the present Church was built, the lot on which the old Church stood was sold to Oliver D. Cooke for six thousand dollars, and he erected upon it the present brick block, which contained two tenements, as dwellings. The south one was occupied by his son-in-law, Dr. Richard S. Kissam, a very respectable physician, who after a few years of residence moved to New York. A flight of stone steps led into a hall, and his office was in the basement ; the floor has since been lowered nearly to a level with the street, and the parlors have been changed into a store. If one looks closely at the front of the building he will see that the southeast corner is a few feet back of the street line, and undoubtedly back of the fence which formerly enclosed the Church in front. I never knew why this was done, but a reasonable supposition is, that this secured rooms in the house which would be square. Mr. Hoadly says that "the lots on Main street were not originally laid out at right angles with the street," so that if Mr. Cooke had erected his house upon the building line, his rooms would have had a diagonal frontage, which a gentleman of his good taste would not readily put up with. The well very likely was located on this vacated
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.