Commemorative biographical record of Middlesex County, Connecticut : containing biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens, and of many of the early settled families, Part 85

Author: Beers (J.H.) & Co., Chicago, pub
Publication date: 1903
Publisher: Chicago : Beers
Number of Pages: 1502

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For the purpose of healing the difficulties at pres- ent existing in the Congregational Society in Durham,. those North would propose to those South of the bridge, that on receiving the insurance money, and availing themselves of the stone foundation and any other ma- terials and furniture that may remain of the late church, to build a church for the society on the land of Mr. Dennis Camp, commonly called the Bates place. tak- ing the contract of Isaac Hull for the church previously entered into by those south of the bridge, saving them harmless from the same, also the expenses incurred in repairing the foundation :

It is proposed in addition to the above that the. North will pay to those now living in Durham south of the bridge the full amount which each and every of them paid for the old church recently burned down on demand, provided the same is called for within one year from date.

Dated at Durham the 12th day of Oct., 1846.

W. P. Stone, Tim D. Camp. Sherman I. Stone. Saml G. Stevens, John Parmelee, Horace Parmelee. Augustus Howd. Alfred Camp, Miles Merwin, Jr .. Saml. Newton, Gaylord Newton, Elah Camp. Eli S. Camp, Abram Camp, Merrick R. Coe, Wm. H. Malt- by, Dennis Camp, 1. P. Camp, Wm. Sonthmayd. Par- sons Coc, Noah Merwin, Saml. Parsons, Horace Howd. Joel lves, F. T. Elliott, Saml. Hart. Enos S. Camp, Asahiel Harvey, Miles Merwin, Daniel Bates, Phs. Par- mielee, Isaac Parmalee, W. G. Chauncey.

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COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

To Miles Merwin, Jr., and Others:

The undersigned hereby agree to accept of the proposal made by you in regard to building a church on the land of Mr. Dennis Camp, and paying the money that was paid for the church that was consumed by fire, to those now living south of the bridge.

Durham, Oct. 12th, 1846.

Signed :

ISAAC PARMELEE, W. P. STONE, AUGUSTUS HOWD, ALFRED CAMP, W. G. CHAUNCEY.

NOW, THEREFORE, to carry the same into effect, it is Voted: That the treasurer of this Society be directed to pay to those individuals now residing in Durham south of the Mill bridge, so called, from the insurance money, the several sums they respectively paid for building the church recently burned down, and that all votes in relation to locating or building a church meeting-house or house of public worship for the First Ecclesiastical Society of said Durham and any meas- ures consequent thereon passed by this society since the burning of the church in Nov., 1844, be and they are hereby rescinded and annulled; and that all the powers conferred upon any committee or committees by such votes be and the same are hereby revoked, and this society do now locate and build said church meet- ing-house or house of public worship on the Main Street in sd. Durham, on the land of Mr. Dennis Camp commonly known as the Guernsey Bates place and for the purpose of carrying the same into effect, that Miles Merwin, Jr., Saml. Parsons, Alfred Camp, Parsons Coe, Isaac Parmalee, Saml. Newton and Phs. Parmelee be a building committee to cause sd. build- ing to be erected under the provisions of the agree- ment alluded to in the preamble to this vote.

Passed: 37 for, 13 against.

Resignation of the office of treasurer by W. G. Chauncey accepted and Dennis Camp appointed treas- urer.

Voted: That any vote or votes which may at any time heretofore have been passed bv this society direct- ing the Societies Committee to take measures to re- cover from Dennis Camp the monies, securities, papers and property of this society and place them in the hands of W. G. Chauncey be and the same are hereby rescinded and annulled.

Voted: To dismiss.

W. P. STONE, CIk.

The above mentioned church was dedicated in June, 1847. This act of the First Ecclesi- astical Society divided the town, and was con- sidered by one portion of the people, a desecra- tion of the acts of the fathers who, in 1707, by a vote of the town, set apart this site for a place of worship, and, as such, had main- tained it for 150 years. It was looked upon by many as so gross a violation of the long estab- lished custom of the people, so great an in- fringement upon the rights of the church mem- bers and families in the southern portion of the town, that a movement was soon inaugurated to form another church and society. After

the burning of the church, services were held for three years in the upper room of the acade- ny on the green, which room is now used for a public library. The mother church, which had moved from the ancient home-site, refused letters to seventy-two of its members in good and regular standing, who desired to form a new church and society, in which event the Consociation of the eastern district of New Haven county was petitioned, and the petition- ers met May 2, 1847, at which meeting Will- iam A. Hart acted as chairman, W. P. Stone as clerk; articles of faith and covenant were adopted, to be further presented to the Conso- ciation by a committee appointed by that or- ganization. It was voted to observe Tuesday, May 4th, as a day of special fasting and prayer, and to hold public service at 10 A. M., seeking the blessing of God on the great enterprise in which they were engaged. At this meet- ing the report of the committee of the Con- sociation was received through its chairman, Rev. Burdet Hart, who reported that the pe- tition for letters was not granted, but that the clerk of the church certified to the regular standing of the applicants, and authority was granted to form the South Congregational Church in Durham. Sixty-two brethren and. sisters were present, and after religious services were held the church was organized. W. P. Stone was chosen clerk.

On October 10, 1847, the South Congrega- tional Ecclesiastical Society was formed, nine- teen members associating themselves together, for united action in supporting the Gospel ministry. as follows: Worthington G. Chaun- cey, Joseph Tuttle, Enos S. Camp, Augustus Howd, John S. Camp, Isaac Parmelee, Will- iam A. Hart, Elias B. Meigs, Abram Camp, Nathan S. Camp, Phineas Meigs, Knowles Stevens, William W. Chittenden, W. P. Stone, Frederick T. Elliott, Joel Ives, John Parmalee, Selden Hall, William Wadsworth.

William A. Hart and Phineas Meigs were appointed a committee to supply the pulpit. On September 14, 1847, a costly silver flagon for the communion service was presented the church by E. Goodrich Smith, Washington, D. C., with the condition that "should the church at any future period remove from the spot where for more than a century our fathers have worshiped, or depart from their faith and doctrines, it shall revert to the donor or heirs." The communion set was made com-

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plete 'by a gift of six silver goblets and two plates and a baptismal basin, by Elizur Good- rich, of Hartford.

, On November 6, 1847, a committee con- sisting of W. P. Stone, William A. Hart and Augustus Howd, the same being the repre- sentatives of the church, were authorized to call Rev. James R. Mershon to become the pastor of the church, and he accepted, at a sal- ary of $450 per annum. His pastorate ter- minated on April 1, 1850, on account of failing health.

The new church building erected on a por- tion of the ancient site granted for church pur- poses in 1707, being completed, action was taken on the part of the church and society, December 10, 1847, to dedicate the church and ordain its first pastor, which event took place April 27, 1848. M'r. Hart was the active mem- ber of the supply committee from this time, and during his active life attended to its duties, and was well known by the professors of Yale Divinity School, where he sought for pulpit supply among the theologues.

At the annual meeting of the society held September 19, 1855, action was taken for the building of a parsonage, a lot having been given by Rev. David Smith, D. D. The par- sonage was completed in 1858, through the efforts of Mr. Hart. On November 26, 1853, William A. Hart was appointed deacon, W. P. Stone having resigned. On February 25, 1854, he was elected a life member of the Bible Society. He was ordained as deacon, April 30, 1854; prayer by Rev. C. A. Goodrich, D. D., of New Haven, with imposition of hands by him and the pastor, Rev. Robert G. Will- iams. At a meeting of the society held in the academy on the green April 20, 1860, a com- mittee was appointed to try to effect a union of the two societies; Deacon Hart was chair- mian of same.

During a severe storm, Saturday night, November 3, 1860, the spire of the church was blown down. At a meeting of the society held November 12, 1860, a communication was received from the North Congregational Soci- ety, inviting them to worship with them dur- ing their pleasure, "as long as may be desira- ble," which invitation was kindly received.

· At a meeting of the society held September 10, 1862, it was voted to appoint a committee, with power to convey, to sell the property of the society, and pay its debts.

On April 15, 1878, Ward W. Bailey was elected deacon.

On May 18, 1878, at a special meeting of the society, action was taken to repair the church and secure a bell. The largest part of the contribution toward the bell was made by Professor Fowler and Miss Patty Rogers, of Middletown, and the enterprise was made successful by the loyal, faithful, loving hearts of an earnest, devoted band of worshipers. Mr. Hart, in his enthusiasm to locate it, personally climbed up the tower, to be assured of its safe- ty, and the expressed anxiety and labor attend- ing this work may be attributed the cause of his sickness and death. That bell yet speaks, like the old bell in the old church tower on the same site, seven decades past. When its clarion tones ring out, sending its sweet notes echoing over the hills and through the valleys, from Haddam Quarter to Reed's Gap, from Pisgah to Bluffhead, re-echoing over Totoket and Paug, reverberating back from North Mountain along Coginchaug, it speaks, to the valley and river, and the intelligent, progres- sive, reflecting mind, of a once united and pros- perous people, of twelve hundred and ten souls gathering at one common center for religious, social, political, and business purposes, all working under one banner, inscribed Durham, with the motto, Unity! Fellowship! Fidelity! Mr. Hart's last public service was to assist in raising funds to secure this bell for the church he so much loved, and he saw it placed, ready to send forth its sweet ringing tones down through the valley, resounding its beautiful echo from Paug to Totoket, as did the old church bell of his boyhood days. But alas! its first public use was to toll his death knell, its unruffled notes tolling the age of seventy-two as Deacon Hart's remains were laid in the churchyard. His record in connection with the society closes with a meeting in which he acted as moderator. September 18, 1878.

On November 19, 1886, the society voted to accept the offer of $600 for the church build- ing for a town hall; on December 4, 1886, to sell the movable property of the church at pub- lic auction, the communion service being given to a frontier church in the lumber camps of Northern Minnesota ; and off December 27. 1890, it was voted to accept an offer of $1,000 for the parsonage. On September 5. 1899, the net proceeds of all the property of the South Congregational Ecclesiastical Society were

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given, by a vote of the nine surviving members, to a public library for the town of Durham, to be located on a portion of the land given by the town for church purposes in 1707.

Devoted to the organization, building and maintenance of the South Congregational Church, Mr. Hart gave the best efforts of his Christian manhood; by his zealous efforts he inspired hearts to worship and liberality to give, and lived to see the fruits of his labors blessed in the large ingathering into its fold, and the un'broken membership therewith of his own family of nine children.

Born to be ploughed with years, and sown with cares, And reaped by Death, lord of the human soul.

Living the life of total abstinence, a tee- totaler in practice, the growing habit of intem- perance early excited Mr. Hart's fears and en- listed his desires and efforts to work reform among his fellow-townsmen. The evolution of the temperance movement in the State, from its initiatory, in 1789, in Litchfield county, or- ganized by 200 farmers who resolved not to furnish distilled liquors to their farm hands, developing into a stronger, more determined effort to stay the progress of the evil which was devastating the country, found him an earnest advocate and worker. The movement became general in the State, and the first tem- perance organization in Durham was formed June 30, 1828, with the following pledge:

"We agree that we will abstain from the use of distilled spirits except as a medicine in case of bodily infirmity ; that we will not allow the use of them in our families nor provide them for the entertainment of our friends or for persons in our employment; and that in all suitable ways we will discountenance the use of them in the community."

Mr. Hart was the fifth of twenty-two men of the town to sign this pledge, and, with strong convictions of the necessity for earnest work, spoke publicly and labored individually for the cause. The movement well inaugur- ated, its growth was gradual and effective until the society, in less than eight years, numbered 377 members. As a result of this movement the First National Temperance Convention, at which twenty-one States were represented, was held in Philadelphia May 24, 1833, in the Hall of Independence. The aggressive action of temperance societies and public men in the good work received a new impetus in the

exodus of the Washingtonian movement, in- augurated in a drinking club of six men in Baltimore, who pledged themselves to abstain from all intoxicating liquors, malt liquors, wine or cider, forming themselves into the Washingtonian Temperance Society. John Hay Willis Hawkins, a confirmed drunkard, was the great advocate of this movement, and became its chief apostle. John B. Gough was saved through its instrumentality, and over 100,000 took the pledge in 1841. The Sons of Temperance, instituted in New York City September 29, 1842, was an offspring of this movement. Abraham Lincoln was a strong ad- vocate of this cause, making many speeches in its favor in Illinois in 1842. In 1852 he joined the Sons of Temperance in Springfield, Illinois.

The children of Sunday-schools all over the land were enrolled in cold-water armies. This army had its organization in Durham, and on July 4, 1842, the members paraded with banner, badge and song, pledged to a life of temperance and total abstinence. In this work Mr. Hart enlisted the children, took by the hand the habitual drunkard, pointed the way to a life of sobriety and usefulness, brought him to realize his condition, placed him upon the firm foundation of the pledge, and brought him to the platform to plead for his fellow in the depths. The writer well re- members hin bringing to the house a drunken man found by the wayside helpless, with his team. The night was dark and stormy. Man and teamt were protected until sleep had brought consciousness, when he went his way.

Mr. Hart's kindness and persuasion saved many a weak, misguided brother, and the world was truly benefited by this ardent tem- perance advocate. He was a lifelong, consist- ent and zealous temperance worker. At sixty he was a teetotaler, and only in his last years did he use an occasional cup of tea or coffee.

Temperate in every place, abroad, at home, Hence will applause, and hence will profit come; And health from either-he in time prepares For sickness, age, and their attendant cares.

Yet hold it more humane, more heavenly first, By winning words, to conquer willing hearts, And make persuasion do the work of fear.

Descended from a long line of law makers, and patriots in a time when men of mind and character were active in the governmental af- fairs of town and country, Mr. Hart took an ac-

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tive part in the political progress of his day. His first vote for President of the United States was cast for John Quincy Adams, in 1828. In the campaign of 1832 he voted for Henry Clay, and was associated with the Whig party of this country. In 1840 he voted for William Henry Harrison, the Whig can- didate, who was elected, this being the first vic- tory for the party. President Harrison died after holding office one month, and John Tyler became President. In the campaign of 1844 he was enthusiastic for the nominees, Clay and Frelinghuysen, the head of the ticket being his ideal in 1832. But his party was met again with defeat, Polk being elected. During this admin- istration the questions of free or slave terri- tory agitated the country and divided the par- ties of the North. In 1848 the Free-Soil party made a formidable show among the voters of the country, with Martin VanBuren as a can- didate for President, thus cradling the child which in maturer years became the Republican party. The Whig party nominated Zachary Taylor for President and Millard Fillmore for Vice-President, and Mr. Hart voted for them. During this administration the Missouri Com- promise was virtually abrogated, and stringent laws were made for the return of fugitive slaves. In 1852 Mr. Hart supported the Whig party nominees, Scott and King, who were defeated. In 1856, in the disruption of parties caused by the Kansas-Nebraska trouble, the Whig party was divided, the remaining portion joining the American party. He tarried a few months with the Know-Nothings, so-called, but rallied to the standard of the Republican party, and cast his vote for John C. Fremont in 1856. Under its banner he fought the battles of the great Civil war under the great leader Abra- ham Lincoln, gave one son to the struggle on the prairies of Kansas, during its fight for Statehood and freedom, and three sons to the four-years war which followed. To the objects of the freedom of the slave, the protective tar- iff and specie payments, he gave his influence and his vote. In town affairs his vote was for taxation for schools, and he voted with his par- ty for members of the General Assembly, using his influence for the best men to fill the re- spective offices in town affairs. Until late in life he was found in caucus and committee, urging intelligent progressive action to his par- ty. He was independent and outspoken in his political views, always voting an open ballot,

known and read of all men. He sought not of- fice nor political honors, but voted with his party for those principles which he judged would best subserve the interests of humanity in the exercise of equal and exact justice to all men.

Established in his home, desirous of keep- ing in touch with the best thought, men, and progress of the times, he became a subscriber to the New Haven Palladium, a weekly paper first issued November 7, 1828, edited by Charles Adams, a well-known Whig. Its edi- torial announcement embodied his views, viz. : "We shall always advocate those measures which seem best calculated to promote the in- terests of the community. Is he honest-is he capable? Is he faithful to the constitution? are questions vastly more important than par- ty." Its motto appealed to his mind and heart as an exponent of those principles of life which should be taught in the family, school, church and State. Let it be impressed upon your minds, "Let it be instilled into the hearts of your children, that the liberty of the Press is the Palladium of all your rights." In 1830 James F. Babcock became the editor, and for thirty-two years was a power in the State po- litically. In June, 1856, the Palladium took its position, squarely for the National Republi- can party, with John C. Fremont as its stand- ard-bearer for President. Abraham Lincoln in 1860, when visiting New Haven, was the guest of its editor, James F. Babcock. In 1862 it was edited by Cyrus Northrop, of Yale, since president of the University of Min- nesota. This paper was a regular . weekly household visitor to the Hart family for a lifetime, and under its able management its potent influence as an educator in the family, in public affairs, in civil life, in loyalty and patriotism to State and Nation, marked the future of all its members. The best books. periodicals and papers within Mr. Hart's limited means were supplied for his children.

The conditions of the commonwealth were such that the strong arm of the law was cen- tered in its militia. Its deeds of heroism and valor history had recorded in the struggle for independence, from Bunker Hill to Yorktown, and such an important support to civil author- ity called all the young men of the time into this necessary branch of the service. In his carly manhood Mr. Hart joined the State militia, joining the Eiglith Company of the

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Sixth Regiment, Second Division, as a private, in 1829; he was elected ensign in 1830, lieu- tenant in 1831, captain in 1832 and 1833, fill- ing the positions with such credit to himself, and such efficiency in the service, that he was unanimously re-elected, a rare compliment to a person holding such office in those days. In peace, in civil or military life, his heart was full of love for his country.

Sail on, O ship of State! Sail on, O Union, strong and great! Humanity with all its fears, With all the hopes of future years, Is hanging breathless on thy fate!

About 1860 he retired from business, worn in body, but strong in mind, having made an unsuccessful struggle to acquire a competence, and spent his remaining years on his little homestead, in the enjoyment of its quiet rest- fulness, of participation in promoting the growth of those institutions he had helped to plant and foster, and in the reunions in the old home of his children, grandchildren and nu- merous friends. Thanksgiving never passed in those latter years without an assembling of three generations, fifteen to twenty-five gather- ing in observance of the oldtime festival.

The most memorable event of these family reunions was the celebration of Mr. and Mrs. Hart's Golden Wedding, June 24th, 1878. A large tent was erected on the green lawn be- neath the overshadowing maples of the old home, and on this beautiful June day about 150 -family, kin, friends and neighbors-met to congratulate the aged couple, in commemora- tion of the nuptial ceremony that moonlight night fifty years before, and of their happy prosperous life.

But happy they! the happiest of their kind ! Whom gentle stars unite, and in one fate Their hearts, their fortunes, and their beings blend !

The event of the occasion was the assem- bling in the tent, and the exercises, addresses, poems, songs and impromptu remarks, which occupied most of the afternoon. The pro- gram, toasts and assignments had been ably and carefully prepared by Mrs. Ellen M. Hall, who had been for a long time a sufferer from spinal trouble, and was carried on a bed from the New Haven Hospital to attend the exer- cises of this eventful day. The party being assembled around the sumptuous table, an ad- dress of welcome was delivered by the bride-

groom. The blessing was invoked by Rev. A. C. Dennison, of Middlefield. Dinner finished, all joined in the old song, "Home, Sweet Home," followed by a poem, "Golden Wedding Greeting," by May E. Hart :

Within this quiet vale to-day we meet, Kindred with kindred, friend with friend to greet; To speak our joy, our gratitude express, For the eventful hour of happiness Which dawns upon us in this anniversary day, To bring which fifty years have rolled away. With deeply thankful hearts we hail its light, And joyful view the scenes it grants our sight.

Our greeting first is for the aged pair Whose wedded lives of half a century bear The ripened fruits of years of toil and love, Rich benedictions from the Hand above. The vows they took, the promises they spoke, Have ne'er by thought or act of theirs been broke. So strongly bound to each when life begun, The after years but made the two more one, Through all the fifty; that have gently borne Them down life's stream, to this propitious morn. All honor to their time-besilvered hairs, And brows o'er furrowed now with many cares ; All reverence to their firm. integrity, And deeply rooted, earnest piety, Outshining with its fervent, steady light, Riches of earth and gems of ocean bright; Preparing for them, on the other shore, More dazzling robes than ever monarchs wore. From all our hearts congratulations rise, That He who overrules our destinies Has brought us on together until now To celebrate, anew, their marriage vow; And every heart will send to Heaven the prayer That in their coming years of life dull care May touch them lightly in his onward way, Until they reach the realms of perfect day. We ask for them still many years of life, With freedom from its business, cares and strife ; In pastures green, and by the waters still Of calm old age, to wait the Master's will; And when tired nature falls asleep at last, Without a struggle may the stream be passed.

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Commemorative biographical record of Middlesex County, Connecticut : containing biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens, and of many of the early settled families, Part 85

Author: Beers (J.H.) & Co., Chicago, pub Publication date: 1903 Publisher: Chicago : Beers Number of Pages: 1502

Author: Beers (J.H.) & Co., Chicago, pub
Publication date: 1903
Publisher: Chicago : Beers
Number of Pages: 1502