USA > Connecticut > Contributions to the ecclesiastical history of Connecticut > Part 30
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Until the year 1830, when Avon became a town, the parish, which was part of Farmington, was called Northington. In 1808 a difficulty arose in the society respecting the location of a new meeting house. It grew so seri- ous at length, that in 1818, when a vote was taken to erect the house of worship on its present site, the minority separated themselves and formed a new society, East Avon. During the excitement on this question, Decem- ber, 1817, the old house took fire and burned to the ground.
. A signal religious awakening occurred in this parish in the year 1800; as a fruit of which fifty were added to the church. There were two revivals under the ministry of Mr. Bushnell.+
MINISTERS RAISED UP .- Aaron J. Booge, Publius V. Bogue, Oswald L. Woodford.
Allen. + Evangelical Mag. 1-102.
THE CHURCH IN BARKHAMSTED, ORG. APRIL 20, 1781.
Ozias Eells,
Jan. 1787 May, 1813
Elihu Mason, *
Mar. 1814 1817
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History of the Churches.
MINISTERS.
SETTLED.
DISMISSED.
DIED.
Saul Clark,
Jan. 1819
1829
William R. Gould,
Sept. 1832
1838
Reuben S. Hazen,
May, 1843
1849
Aaron Gates,
Jan. 1850
April, 1850
Hugh Gibson,
1850
1852
A. B. Collins,
1852
1853
P. T. Hawley,
1853
1855
F. Norwood,
Jan. 1855
Mar. 1857
T. E. Roberts,
April, 1858
April, 1859
Since Mr. Hazen's dismission, the church has been in a very divided and broken condition, not having all the time even a stated supply, or missionary aid. There was a revival in 1840, which added thirty to the church, and another in 1848. The church needs sympathy as well as aid in the support of the gospel.
* Sp. An. 2, 3.
The Second Church in Barkhamsted.
William Goodwin, 1849 1850
Twenty members of the First Church were dismissed and organized as the Second Church. The division grew out of difficulties in regard to the location of a new church edifice. They occupied a house, then vacant, of another denomination, and were occasionally supplied till Nov., 1853, since which, they have had no preaching, and no public worship. Though not formally disbanded, the church cannot be revived.
THE CHURCH IN BERLIN, (WORTHINGTON SOCIETY,) NOW SECOND CHURCH IN BERLIN, ORG. FEB. 9, 1775.
Nathan Fenn,
May, 1780
April, 1799
Evans Johns,* June, 1802 Feb. 1811
May, 1849
Samuel Goodrich, t May, 1811 Nov. 1834 April, 1835
Ambrose Edson, June, 1831 Nov. 1834
Aug. 1836
James M. McDonald, April, 1835 Nov. 1837
Joseph Whittlesey, May, 1838 Aug. 1841
William W. Woodworth, July, 1842 April, 1852
William De Loss Love, Oct. 1853
Nov. 1857
Robert C. Learned, Dec. 1858
Worthington Society was included in Kensington Society, Berlin, until 1772. Their first meeting-house, (now used as a Town Hall,) was opened for worship Oct., 1774; the present one, Feb., 1851. The church, when formed, was the Third Church in Berlin, but since the separation of New Britain from Berlin, the Second. Mr. Johns was a native of Wales, educa-
45
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History of the Churches.
ted in England, where he was some time minister at Bury St. Edmonds, Suffolk ; he came to America in 1801. After leaving Berlin, he was pastor in Canandaigua, N. Y., and died aged eighty-six. There have been repeated revivals in this church, at least in ten different years, with marked and spe- cial interest, since 1812.
MINISTERS RAISED UP .- Hosea Beckley, ; George Dunham, Simeon North, Josiah W. North, Andrew Pratt, (f.)
* Sp. An. 4, 566. + Sp. An. 1, 512. Allen. # An. 2, 326.
-
THE CHURCH IN BETHANY, ORG. OCT. 12, 1763.
MINISTERS.
SETTLED.
DISMISSED.
DIED,
Stephen Hawley,*
Oct. 1763
Aug. 1804
Isaac Jones,
June, 1804
Nov. 1806
May, 1850
Nathaniel G. Huntington,
Oct. 1809
Mar. 1823
Feb. 1848
Abraham Alling,
Mar. 1823
Mar. 1827
July 1837
Tillotson Babbitt,
Mar. 1826
Mar. 1827
Ephraim G. Swift,t
Jan. 1828
Jan. 1830
Aug. 1858
B. C. Baldwin,
1830
George Goodyear,
1830-31
N. W. Taylor, D. D.,
1831-32
Jairus Wilcox,
Nov. 1832
June, 1834
Sept. 1851
John B. Kendall,
Aug. 1834
June, 1836
Erastus Colton,
1836
William H. Adams,
1838
Saul Clark,
Mar. 1840
Mar. 1842
Dec. 1849
Cyrus Brewster,
1842
George Thatcher,
1842-43
D. B. Butts,
May, 1843
Jan. 1848
W. W. Belden, (c)
1848
Augustus Smith,
1848
Fosdick Harrison, .
Mar. 1849
Dec. 1851
Feb. 1858
Alexander Leadbetter,
Dec. 1851
Sept. 1854
E. W. Robinson,
May, 1855
Bethany was the second church in Woodbridge until 1832. It was a long time after first petitioning, before they could be released to become an eccle- siastical society. Two very important suits, in which decisions were made by the courts with regard to the rights of societies, originated in Bethany, with regard to the exemption of church funds from taxation, in 1826; and re- specting the proper manner of warning meetings, and the rights of annual committees, 1832. See synopsis court decisions, page 286. Mr. Jones was deposed and became an Episcopalian, carrying off a large part of the people ; from that time the church has been small. Mr. Kendall was also depo- sed at South Wilbraham, Mass., shortly after his dismission, on complaint of New Haven West Association. There have been several seasons of special
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History of the Churches.
religious interest. This would have long been a missionary church, except for the donations and legacies of the fathers. The instability of frequent changes in the ministry and the employment of supplies have been unfavorable to its prosperity. A small house of worship, one mile south of the present church, was used till 1769; a very large house was then built half a mile south, which stood until 1831, when the third was built; the dedication ser- mon was by Dr. N. W. Taylor.
A. INISTERS RAISED UP .- Israel P. Warren.
* Allen's Biog. Dict. + Allen.
THE CHURCH IN BETHEL, ORG. NOV. 25, 1760.
MINISTERS.
SETTLED.
DISMISSED.
DIED.
Noah Wetmore,
Nov. 1760
Nov. 1784
John Ely,
Nov. 1791
June, 1804
Samuel Sturges,
April, 1806
Dec. 1811
John G. Lowe,
Jan. 1822
Jan. 1829
Erastus Cole,
Sept. 1830
Sept. 1837
John Greenwood,
April, 1838
April, 1842
James Knox,
1842
Lent S. Hough,
1846
Sylvanus Haight,
Nov. 1846
Feb. 1848
John S. Whittlesey,
Dec. 1849
Jan. 1852
W. Nye Harvey,
May, 1853
June, 1858
Newell A Prince,
April, 1859
There are few records before the settlement of Mr. Cole. His labors, and those of Mr. Greenwood, were greatly blessed. Mr. Cole took special pains to preach the distinguishing Calvinistic doctrines, as many of the older mem- bers, well established in the faith, gratefully remember. About 1840, dis- sensions arose, which increased until a final separation into two feeble churches was contemplated ; but the Lord rebuked this spirit, by the burn- ing of their church building, July 21, 1842. This brought them to reflec- tion, humiliation, and the renewal of their covenant with deep penitence, and there soon followed what is known as the great revival, as the fruit of which one hundred and nineteen entered into covenant with the church on the day of the dedication of their new church edifice, June, 1843. Cost $3000; enlarged 1856, cost $3000 more. Added to the church in 1858, sixty. The society received aid from the Home Missionary Society, until the great revival ; since then it is self-sustaining, with a great increase of salary, and making liberal benevolent contributions.
MINISTERS RAISED UP .- Ebenezer Platt, Dennis Platt, Laurens P. Hickok, D. D., George Barnum, John S. Ambler, Samuel T. Seelye, Julius H. Seelye, Bennet F. Northrop, Theodore Benjamin, Laurens C. Seelye.
348
History of the Churches.
THE CHURCH IN BETHLEM, ORG. MARCH 27, 1739.
MINISTERS.
SETTLED.
DISMISSED.
DIED.
Joseph Bellamy, D. D., *
1738
1789
Azel Backus, D. D., t
1791
1813
1816
John Langdon, +
1816
1825
1830
Benjamin F. Stanton,
1825
1829
1843
Paul Couch,
1829
1834
Fosdic Harrison,
1835
1850
1858
Aretas G. Loomis,
1850
1860
Bethlem was the eastern part of the north purchase of Woodbury. Dr. Bellamy entered at large on the church records an account of the revivals during his ministry. In 1740-41, according to his account, "religion was revived greatly, and flourished wonderfully. In 1740 every man, woman and child, above five or six years old, were under religious concern more or less ; quarrels were ended, frolics flung up, praying meetings began, and matters of religion were all the talk. This universal concern about religion lasted about a year. In its hight many were seemingly converted, but there were false comforts and experiences among the rest, which laid a foundation for false religion to rise and prevail ; and when that was down, some fell into a melancholy sour frame of spirit, bordering on dispair; and others into carnal security, and the truly godly seemed to be very few. And now very trying times follow. 1. A number of them who are elderly people, being ambitious, and having a grudge at each other, are continually fermenting contention, strife and division about society affairs. 2. A number of the middle aged stand up for false religion, and plead for the Separatists. 3. A number of the younger sort, set themselves to set up frolicing, and serve the flesh ; true piety and serious godliness are almost banished." This is a summary of things from 1740 to 1750; and much so has it been in other places. "In the spring of 1750 there was a prevailing, malignant nervous fe- ver, of which thirty died. God sent his destroying angel and filled the place with the greatest distress, and in some things a reformation followed ; contentions, Separatism, and rude frolicing did not appear, and the people became in a good measure peaceable and orderly." Dr. Backus was dismiss- ed to become President of Hamilton College. See Dr. Bellamy's Life and Works.
MINISTERS RAISED UP .- Robert Crane, David Brown, Moses Raymond, Charles Prentice, Benjamin C. Meigs, (f) Julius Steel, Homer Prentice, Frederick Munson.
*Spr. An. 1, 404, Allen. Litchfield Centen., 18, 82. 1Sp. An. 2, 281. Allen. Litch- field Centen. 86. # Sp. An. 2, 410, Allen. Litchfield Centen., 117.
THE CHURCH OF BIRMINGHAM, (IN DERBY, ) ORG. FEB. 25, 1846.
Charles Dickinson,
Sept. 1846
April, 1854
Zachary Eddy, Dec. 1855 Feb. 1858
Charles Wiley, D.D,
Nov. 1858 July, 1859
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History of the Churches.
Fifty-nine members from the church in Derby were the original members of this church, which increased during the first year to 73. The church ed- ifice was enlarged in 1859 by the addition of sixteen fect to the length, with a recess of six feet for the pulpit. There were two or three seasons of re- freshing during Mr. Dickinson's pastorate, which furnished many additions to the church ; two hundred and thirty-two having united with it since its organization.
THE CHURCH OF BLACK ROCK, IN FAIRFIELD, ORG. SEPT. 11, 1849.
MINISTERS. SETTLED. DISMISSED. DIED.
William J. Jennings,
April, 1850
Oct. 1857
Marinus Willett,
May, 1858
The church was originally composed of twenty-four members from the first church in Fairfield, and the South church in Bridgeport ; increased in eight years to seventy-one.
THE CHURCH IN BLOOMFIELD, (WINTONBURY,) ORG. FEB. 14, 1738.
Hezekiah Bissell,
Feb. 1738
Jan. 1783
Solomon Walcott,
May, 1786
1790
William F. Miller,
Nov. 1791
1811
John Bartlett,
Feb. 1815
1831
Ansell Nash, *
Sept. 1831
1835
Cornelius B. Everest,
June, 1836
1840
William W. Backus,
Mar. 1841
1844
John Gibbs,
Aug. 1844
Aug. 1845
Alfred C. Raymond,
Dec. 1845
1848
Francis Williams,
Dec. 1851
1858
The Church erected a house of worship during the past year, costing ten thousand dollars. The last revival was in 1858, when twenty members were added. It is thought that the Society, much more than the Church, has been the cause of the frequent dismission of ministers.
* Allen.
THE CHURCH IN BOLTON, ORG. OCT. 27, 1725.
Jonathan Edwards, (c.)
1722
Thomas White,*
Oct. 1725
Feb. 1763
George Colton, t
Nov. 1763
June, 1812
Philander Parmelee, #
Nov. 1815
Dec. 1822
Lavius Hyde,
Dec. 1823
Apr. 1830
April, 1830
James Ely,
Sept. 1830
1846
Lavius Hyde,
Dec. 1849
Jan. 1860
350
History of the Churches.
This town began to be settled in 1717 or 1718. Rev. Jonathan Edwards preached during some part of the year 1722, and received a call to settle .- The terms stated were £200 settlement, one fiftieth part of the real estate held by the proprietors of the town ; £80 annually after the second year, increasing by £5 till it reached £100, and that continued as the stated salary. Every male inhabitant over sixteen was to labor for him in clear- ing his land, fencing it, cultivating and securing the crops. December 10, 1722, he wrote : " I assure you, I have a great esteem of, and affection to the people of your town, so far as I am acquainted with them, and should count it a smile of Providence upon me, if ever I should be settled amongst such a people, as your Society seems at present, to me, to be." Nov. 11, 1723. The following record is entered in his hand writing up- on the town records : "Upon the terms that are here recorded, I do consent to be the settled pastor of this town of Bolton. JONATHAN EDWARDS.
On the following January, he was performing the duties of a Tutor in Yale College.
Mr. White's successor made the following record : "He was a sound or- thodox preacher, though never favored with any special out-pouring of the Divine Spirit, save what took place soon after 1740. He was a friend of peace and order. He admitted 310; baptized 914.
* Sp. An. 1. 528, Allen. t Sp. Au. 1. 180, Allen. # Sp. An. 2. 546. Allen. Relig. Intel. 7. 780.
THE CHURCH IN BRISTOL, ORG. AUGUST 12, 1747.
MINISTERS.
SETTLED.
DISMISSED.
DIED.
Samuel Newell,*
Aug. 1747
Feb. 1789
Giles II. Cowles, t Oct. 1792
May, 1810
Jonathan Cone, May, 1811
Mar. 1828
Abner J. Leavenworth,
Dec. 1829 Sept. 1831
David L. Parmelee,
Feb. 1832 Feb. 1841
Raymond H. Seeley,
July, 1843 Jan. 1849
William H. Goodrich,
Mar. 1850
Oct. 1854
Leverett Griggs, Feb, 1856
In October, 1742, liberty was granted by the General Assembly for the in- habitants residing on the lands now embraced within the limits of the town, to hire for six months, during the winter season, annually, an orthodox and well qualified person to preach among them. In May, 1774, the society was incorporated by the name of New Cambridge. The ministry of Mr. New- ell covered the periods of the old French and Revolutionary wars-periods of much absorbing interest; yet his ministry seems to have been blessed with several seasons of spiritual refreshing. Mr. Cowles's ministry was a valuable one. The refreshing showers of the Holy Spirit were enjoyed sev- eral times. The year 1799 was a season of great religious interest, and a
351
History of the Churches.
large number was added to the church. The first ten or twelve years of Mr. Cone's ministry were pleasant and profitable-many were added to the church. The five or six last years of his ministry were unpleasant and con- tentious, causing his dismission. In the year 1858 ninety-four were added to the church by profession.
MINISTERS RAISED UP. Ira Hart, Samuel Rich, Asahel Hooker, Cyrus By- ington, (f.) Swift Byington.
* Allen. + Sp. An. 2. 330.
-
THE CHURCH IN BROAD BROOK, ORG. MAY 4, 1851.
MINISTERS. SETTLED. DISMISSED. DIED.
Charles N. Seymour, May, 1851
May, 1853
William M. Brichard, Sept. 1854 Dec. 1858
The church was formed with twenty members. It is in a manufacturing village, with a floating population, which renders it difficult to support the gospel. A house of public worship was opened Jan. 1, 1854. In 1858 there was unusual interest in the subject of religion, and ten were added to the church.
THE CHURCH IN BROOKFIELD, (NEWBURY,) ORG. SEPT. 28, 1757.
Thomas Brooks,
Sept. 1757
Sept. 1799
Erastus Ripley,* Mar. 1800 Nov. 1801 Nov. 1843
Richard Williams, June, 1807
April, 1811
Bela Kellogg, Jan. 1813
Oct. 1816 1831
A. B. Hull,
Oct, 1819 Oct. 1820
Abner Brundage,
May, 1821 Oct. 1839
Dan. C. Curtiss,
Oct. 1843
Oct. 1855
Thomas N. Benedict, April, 1859
There have been several seasons of special religious interest since 1807, adding a goodly number to the church. The present neat and commodious house of worship was built in 1853.
MINISTERS RAISED UP .- O. S. St. John, Oliver S. Taylor.
* Allen.
THE CHURCH IN BROOKLYN, (POMFRET, ) ORG. NOVEMBER 21, 1734.
Ephraim Avery, Sept. 1735
Josiah Whitney, D. D.,* Feb. 1756
Oct. 1754 Sept. 1824
Luther Wilson, June, 1813
Feb. 1817 (Deposed.)
Ambrose Edson,
April, 1824
Dec. 1830 Aug. 1836 George J. Tillotson,
May, 1831 Mar. 1858
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History of the Churches.
MINISTERS.
SETTLED. DISMISSED. DIED.
Edward C. Miles,
Oet. 1858 Oct. 1859
C. N. Seymour,
Dec. 1859
Unitarianism was introduced into Brooklyn, in consequence of the settle- ment of Mr. Lnther Wilson, as colleague pastor with Rev. Dr. Whitney, in 1813. At the time of his ordination he was, by some of the council, re- garded as of somewhat doubtful orthodoxy ; and he soon revealed himself to be an Arian, and increasingly bold and decided in his errors. The better portion of the church and society, after making long continued efforts in vain to get rid of him, left the old house of worship and set up worship by themselves in 1817 ; thus cutting themselves off from further influence in the old society for the removing of the offending pastor. Had they still more patiently and perseveringly continued with their former associates in ecele- siastieal affairs, it is most probable, that ere long, orthodox preaching might have been reinstated, and a Unitarian church prevented. Yet the orthodox church steadily grew and prospered; and has been signally blessed with re- vivals ; six of which were enjoyed during the pastorate of Mr. Tillotson, which continued for twenty-seven years. The church has been unusually liberal in the way of contributions to benevolent objects, in proportion to its ability. With the exception of the first two years of Mr. Tillotson's min- istry, the contributions to charitable objects amounted to just about as much as his aggregate salary, ranging annually from about $450 to $700.
MINISTERS RAISED UP .- John Brown, D. D., t William R. Weeks, D. D., } John Dorrance, George Clark, Harvey Hyde. (h.)
* Sp. An. 1. 529. Allen. + Sp. An. 2. 589. #Sp. An. 4. 473.
THE CHURCH IN BURLINGTON, ORG. JULY 3, 1783.
Jonathan Miller,* Nov. 1783 1831
Erastus Clapp, (Colleague,)
Jan. 1823
Dec. 1828
Erastus Seranton, do.
Jan. 1830
May, 1840
Lumas Peuse,
1840 Nov. 1841
James Noyes,
Aug. 1843
Nov. 1846
William Goodwin,
Jan. 1847
1848
James L. Wright,
Mar. 1849
Dee. 1854
Asa M. Train,
Jan. 1855
1856
Henry Clark,
Jan. 1857
Nov. 1859
George A. Miller, Nov. 1859
The Church in this place has done much for the evangelization of the country. It has sent out many excellent men to colonize the Western coun- try, and to settle in neighboring towns. Indeed this church has at times been almost depleted by emigration. The consequence has been that to sus- tain the preaching of the gospel here, aid has been afforded by the Connee- ticut Missionary Society.
MINISTERS RAISED UP .- Heman Humphrey, D. D., Luther Humphrey, Lu- cas Hart.
* Sp. An. 1, 690. Allen.
/
3
History of the Churches.
THE CHURCH IN BOZRAH, ORG. JAN. 3, 1739.
MINISTERS.
SETTLED,
DISMISSED.
DIED.
Benjamin Throop,*
Jan. 1739
Sept. 1788
Jonathan Murdock, t
Oct. 1786
Jan. 1813
David Austin, #
May, 1815
Feb. 1831
Jared Andrus,
April, 1831
April, 1832
Nov. 1832
John W. Salter,
Sept. 1832
Mar. 1835
John Hyde,
April, 1835
April, 1837
1849
Thos. L. Shipman,
Oct. 1837
May, 1841
John W. Salter,
May, 1841
April, 1842
William M. Birchard,
April, 1842
Oct. 1848
Edward Eells,
June, 1849
April, 1850
William P. Avery,
April, 1850
May, 1855
T. D. P. Stone,
April, 1856
April, 1857
N. S. Hunt,
April, 1858
Added to the Church during the pastorate of the first minister, 277; 2d, 46; 3d, 208 ; 4th, 44.
Two colonies went from this Church ; to Bozrahville in 1828, and Fitch- ville in 1854.
MINISTERS RAISED UP .- David Smith, D. D., Charles Gager, Simon Wa- terman, Elijah Huntington, John C. Downer, (h.) Elijah Waterman, Jede- niah L. Stark.
*Sp. An. 1. 669. Allen. +Sp. An. 2. 41. Allen. #Sp. An. 2. 195. Allen.
THE CHURCH IN BOZRAHVILLE, ORG. APRIL 10, 1828.
David Sanford,
1825
Erastus Ripley,
1828
Nathaniel Minor,
1829
1831
Mr. Read,
1831
1832
Rodolphus Lamphear,
1832
1834
Oliver Brown,
1834
1840
George Perkins,
1840
1845
Stephen Hayes,
1845
1849
D. C. Sterry,
April, 1851
April, 1852
George Cryer,
April, 1852
1853
D. C. Sterry,
1853
1855
J. C. Nichols,
April, 1855
1856
Phineas Crandall,
April, 1856
Dec. 1856
George Cryer,
Jan. 1857
Jan. 1860
The village came into the possession of the Thames Manufacturing Com- pany in 1825, by whose aid and influence the interests of the Church have been greatly promoted. Before the Church was formed, an extensive revi- val, under the ministry of Mr. Sanford, added seventy at one time to the
46
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History of the Churches.
Bozrah Church ; and another under Mr. Minor, which commenced after the sudden death of a young woman who had agreed with another, at the close of a solemn meeting, that they should need true religion if they were aged, or about to die, but that they did not then. Before the week was out, she was giving a dying warning to her family, not to do as she had done, and she concluded by saying, "I am lost." Revivals since have been frequent, with considerable additions. The monthly concert has been generally held, and a Sabbath School sustained with prayer meetings, and liberal contribu- tions made to benevolent objects, although the Church has never had a settled pastor.
THE CHURCH IN BRANFORD, ORG. 1647.
MINISTERS,
SETTLED.
DISMISSED.
DIED.
John Sherman,
1644
1646
1685
Abraham Pierson, *
1647
1667
1678
John Bowers,
1671
1678
Samuel Mather,
1680
1684
Samuel Russell, t
1687
June, 1731
Philemon Robbins, +
Feb.
1733
Aug. 1781
Jason Atwater,
Mar.
1784
June, 1794
Lynde Huntington,
Oct. 1795
Sept. 1804
Timothy Phelps Gillett,
June, 1808
Jacob G. Miller,
Oct. 1859
The tract of land constituting the town of Branford was purchased of the town of New Haven in 1644, by immigrants from Wethersfield. The set- thers of New Haven had purchased it of the Indian Sachems in 1638. The Indian name was Totoket. The tract included North Branford, and most of Northford, and constituted but one Ecclesiastical Society. The original records of the church, if any existed, were carried away in 1667. It is, therefore, uncertain, when and where it was organized, but it was certainly as early as 1647-when Mr. Pierson, with part of his church, came from South Hampton, L. I. He removed with a majority of the church, and set- tled in Newark, N. J. A new church was organized in Branford , March 7, 1688. A colony from this church in 1725, was regularly organized into a church in the North Farms, and named the church in North Branford. At an early period, though at different times, the Society purchased lands of the Indians, and appropriated the rent of them to the support of the min- istry. The annual rent is at present about $500.
Since the organization of 1688, all the pastors previous to the present one have died in office. There have been no dismissals up to the date of Jan- uary, 1859. See Mr. Gillett's Half Century Sermon, 1858, and Mr. Wood's Historical Discourse, North Branford, 1850.
MINISTERS RAISED UP .- Samuel Russell, Roger Harrison, § Chandler Rob-
355
History of the Churches.
bins, | Ammi Robbins, Levi Frisbie, T Joseph Barber, Joel T. Benedict, Sol- omon Palmer, Jared Harrison, John Foot.
* Sp. An. 1. 116. Allen. Math. Mag. 1. 357. + Sp. An. 1. 175, 261. Allen. #Sp. An. 1. 367. Allen. §Sp. An. 2. 531. | Sp. An. 1. 573. TSp. An. 1. 402.
THE CHURCH IN BRIDGEWATER, ORG. 1809.
MINISTERS.
SETTLED.
DISMISSED.
DIED.
Reuben Taylor,
Jan. 1810
April, 1.815
F. Harrison,
1824
1829
Maltby Gelston,
1831
1832
Albert B. Camp,
Dec. 1834
May, 1843
James Kilbourn,
Aug. 1843
July, 1850
Dillon Williams,
Sept. 1850
Dec. 1853
F. Harrison,
Nov. 1854
Feb. 1858
The Society was formed from a part of New Milford in 1803. The church has been favored with several revivals, one in 1816, under the preaching of Rev. Dr. Nettleton. Church edifice built in 1807 ; re-built in 1842 ; again re-built in 1855. From 1824 to 1859, Mr Harrison supplied the pulpit one third of the time.
MINISTERS RAISED UP .- Joseph Treat, Wm. A. Hawley, Levi Smith, Isaac C. Beach, Julius O. Beardsley, (f.), Philo R. Hurd.
THE FIRST CHURCH IN BRIDGEPORT, (FORMERLY CALLED STRATFIELD, ) ORG. JUNE 13, 1695.
Charles Chauncey,*
June, 1695
Dec. 1714
Samuel Cooke,
July, 1715
1747
Lyman Hall,
Sept. 1749
June, 1751
1791
Robert Ross, t
Nov. 1753
Aug. 1799
Samuel Blatchford, D. D.#
Nov. 1797
Mar. 1804
Elijah Waterman,
Jan. 1806
Oct.
1825
Franklin Y. Vail,
Oct. 1826
July, 1828
John Blatchford, §
Mar. 1830
1836
April, 1855
John Woodbridge, D. D.,
June, 1837
Nov. 1838
John H. Hunter,
Mar. 1839
1845
Benjamin S. J. Page,
Feb. 1847
Aug. 1853
Joseph H. Towne,
June, 1854
June, 1858
Matson M. Smith,
Jan. 1859
Mr. Chauncey made the following record : "In May, 1708, the Legislature of Connecticut, it will be remembered, passed an act requiring the ministers and churches to meet and form an ecclesiastical constitution. It was or- dained and required, in the words of the act, 'that the ministers of the
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