USA > Connecticut > Contributions to the ecclesiastical history of Connecticut > Part 32
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During Mr. Brockway's ministry, the church and people were blessed with two revival seasons,-in 1781 and in 1801, as the fruits of which, sixty- five were added to the church. The subsequent periods of special religious interest have been, in 1816, when fifty were gathered into the church ; in 1821, 1823, 1825 and 1831, adding one hundred ; in 1841, seventeen ; in 1854 and 1858, forty-three. The first meeting-house was completed in 1727, the second in 1748, the third in 1832 .- Rel. Intel. 16, 126. Ev. Mag. 3. 368.
MINISTERS RAISED UP .- John Smalley, D. D., John Wheelock, Samson Oc- cum §, Daniel Crocker, Elijah Parish, D. D., Walter Harris, D. D. |, Ariel Par- ish, Ezra Woodworth, Joel West, Bezaleel Pinneo, Diodate Brockway, Alfred Wright, James D. Chapman, Daniel Hunt, Amasa Dewey, Charles Little.
* Sp. An. 1, 180. + Sp. An. 1, 397. Allen. # Sp. An. 1, 605. Allen. § Sp. An. 3, 192. Rel. Intel. 7, 380, 393. | Mendon As. 231.
THE CHURCH IN CORNWALL, ORG. 1740.
MINISTERS.
SETTLED.
DISMISSED.
DIED.
Solomon Palmer,
Aug. 1741
1754
Hezekiah Gold, Jr.,
Aug. 1755
1790
Hercules Weston,
June, 1792
Nov. 1803
1811
Timothy Stone,*
Nov. 1803
May, 1827
April, 1852
William Andrews, t
July, 1827
Jan. 1838
Nathaniel M. Urmston,
June, 1838
May, 1840
Hiram Day,
Feb. 1844
Sept. 1848
Ralph Smith,
Sept. 1851
1855
Ira Pettibone,
Sept. 1854
Sept. 1857
Stephen Fenn,
May, 1859
367
History of the Churches.
The organization of this church was at the same time and place of that of the town. Whole number of families at the time, twenty-five. The first vote, passed at this first town meeting, after the election of town officers, was " to provide for the preaching of the gospel among them." "Mr. Pal- mer continued with them in peace until March, 1754, when, on the sabbath, to the great surprise of the people, he declared himself an Episcopalian. He soon after went to England and obtained orders." There were three revi- vals somewhat extensive, during the ministry of Mr. Stone, by whom, over two hundred were received into the church by profession. During the min- istry also of Mr. Andrews, through the blessing of God on his labors, there were sixty or more added to the church. There were some indications of the divine presence and blessing during the labors of most, if not all those worthy men who have fulfilled their work among this church and people.
During the ministry of Mr. Stone, the Foreign Mission School was estab- lished here, for the education of heathen youth, of different nations and tribes, to prepare them to be missionaries of the gospel to their countrymen. It commenced in 1818, and was closed in 1826. Henry Obookiah, from the Sandwich Islands, died and was buried here; seemingly at that time, a dark providence for the cause of missions. See article on Foreign Mission School, p. 160.
MINISTERS RAISED UP .- William Bonney, Cornelius B. Everest, Thomas R. Gold, T. D. P. Stone, Lucius C. Rouse, William Jackson, D. D., # William W. Andrews, Samuel J. Andrews, Ebenezer B. Andrews, E. Warner An- drews.
* Sp. An. 1, 634, Allen. Litchf. Centen. 130. +Sp. An. 2, 237, Litchf. Centen. 120. # Mendon Assoc. 250, Sp. An. 2, 336.
THE FIRST CHURCH IN COVENTRY, (SOUTH, ) ORG. 1712.
MINISTERS.
SETTLED.
DISMISSED.
DIED.
Joseph Meacham,*
Oct. 1714
Dec. 1752
Oliver Noble, t
1759 June, 1761 Dec. 1792
Joseph Huntington, #
June, 1763
Dec. 1794
Abiel Abbot, § Oct. 1795
April, 1811
Jan. 1859
Chauncey Booth,
Sept. 1815
Mar. 1844
May, 1851
Henry B. Blake,
Jan. 1845
Sept. 1848
Charles Hyde,
Oct. 1849
June, 1854
J. R. Arnold,
Dec. 1854
Of the early history of this church but little is known. The central pe- riod of its history furnishes proof that orthodoxy and vital godliness were safer in the keeping of the church, than in that of the ministry. See page 276. In the spring and summer of 1736, the Church was blessed with an interesting revival. But from the year 1736 to the year 1811, it is not known that there was a single revival of religion.
36S
History of the Churches.
Under the ministry of Mr. Booth, there were added to the church two hundred and ninety-two, mostly the fruits of five revivals ; under Mr. Hyde, forty-nine were added. The ministry of Mr. Booth would seem to have constituted the David-and-Solomon period of the church, in which it saw the days of its greatest prosperity. It is now but a fragment of what it might have been, on account of the loss of a pastor in whom they were hap- pily united ; and of near fifty members, who left to form the "village church" in consequence of a disagreement as to the site of the meeting-house.
MINISTERS RAISED UP .- Enoch Hale, | Samuel Buell, D. D., T David Hale. * Sp. An. 1. 217. Allen. + Sp. An. 1, 602. Allen. # Sp. An. 1, 602. Allen. § Sp. An. 2, 346. | Spr. An. 3, 102. T Spr. An. 2, 572.
THE VILLAGE CHURCH IN (SOUTH) COVENTRY, ORG. JAN. 10, 1849.
MINISTERS. SETTLED. DISMISSED. DIED.
Marvin Root, 1848
Henry B. Blake, May, 1850 March 1855
Louis E. Charpiot, May, 1858 Ord. May, 1859.
The Society was formed about a year before the Church, and had preach- ing in a private hall. This Church is a colony from the First Church in Coventry, organized (with fifty members,) to accommodate the inhabitants of that part of the town called "The Village." It has enjoyed several sea- sons of revival. During the three years after Mr. Blake's dismission, preaching was very irregular and mostly by the students from the Seminary at East Windsor.
THE CHURCH IN CROMWELL, ORG. JAN. 1705.
Joesph Smith,
Jan. 1705
Sept. 1736
Edward Eells,*
Sept. 1738
Oct. 1776
Gershom Bulkley,
June, 1778 July 1808 April, 1832
Joshua L. Williams, t June, 1809
Dec. 1832
Zebulon Crocker,
May, 1833
Nov. 1847
George A. Bryan,
June 1849
Oct. 1857
James A. Clark, 1858
Cromwell was formerly the second or North Ecclesiastical Society in Mid- dletown, called "Upper Houses " in Middletown. The Society was incor- porated May, 1703. Mr. Smith was born in Concord, Mass., and graduated at Harvard University. Mr. Eells was a son of Rev. Nathaniel Eells of Scituate, Mass., and graduated at Harvard University, in 1733. He published a pamphlet on the " Wallingford Case ;" and had three sons who became cler- gymen in Eastbury, North Branford, and Barkhamsted.
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History of the Churches.
Mr. Bulkley was born in Wethersfield, and graduated at Yale College in 1670. He died in his former parish, aged 84. Mr. Williams was born in Wethersfield, and graduated at Yale College in 1805.
MINISTERS RAISED UP .- Wm. W. Woodworth, Jairus Wilcox.
* Spr. An. 1, 383. Allen.
THE FIRST CHURCH IN DANBURY, ORG. 1696.
MINISTERS,
SETTLED.
DISMISSED.
DIED.
Seth Shove,*
1696
Oct. 1735
Ebenezer White, t
March 1736
March, 1764
1779
Noadiah Warner,
Feb. 1765
Feb.
1768
Ebenezer Baldwin,#
Sept. 1770
Oct. 1776
Ebenezer Bradford,
April, 1777
Nov. 1779
John Rodgers, D. D., &
1780
Jan. 1782
Timothy Langdon,
Aug. 1786
Feb. 1801
Israel Ward,
May, 1803
Aug. 1810
William Andrews, |
June, 1813
May,
1826
Jan. 1838
Anson Rood,
April, 1829
Dec.
1837
Rollin S. Stone,
Jan. 1838
Feb. 1850
Samuel G. Coe,
Dec. 1850
The early records of the Church being lost, if any were ever kept, little is known of its origin.
Mr. White, after officiating acceptably for nearly thirty years, withdrew and formed a separate society under the name of "New Danbury," which finally coalesced with the sect of the Sandemanians, followers of one Rob- ert Sandeman, a Scotchman. This breach is the only one in the history of the Church occasioned by theological controversy. The heretical offshoot has nearly run out, while the original stock is yet firm and vigorous.
The Church has enjoyed several seasons of religious awakening, and most of the additions within the last forty years have been the fruits of revivals. The years 1815, 1824, 1831, 1855, and 1858, were specially years of ingath- ering. Seventy-five years ago the number of communicants was 63; now it is 300. In 1851, eighteen persons went off harmoniously from the Church and formed a second Church. In the same year, the same number of persons took letters and formed themselves into a Church at Mill Plain.
The Church has worshiped in four successive Church edifices; the last one, a new and commodious structure, being occupied within the last year.
MINISTERS RAISED UP .-- Caleb Barnum, T James Beebee, Nathaniel Tay- lor, Ebenezer White, Benjamin Wildman, Noah Benedict, John Langdon Samuel Cooke, (Ep.) Henry Lobdell, ** (f.)
* Sp. An. 1, 116. Allen. +Sp. An. 1, 315. #Sp. An. 1, 635. Allen. §Sp. An. 3, 154. | Sp. An. 2, 237. Litchfield Centen. 120. T Mendon Assoc. p. 100. ** Men- don Assoc. p. 332.
48
370
History of the Churches.
THE SECOND CHURCH IN DANBURY, ORG. JULY, 1851.
MINISTERS. SETTLED. DISMISSED. DIED.
William C. Scofield, July, 1851 April, 1854
E. S. Huntington, Sept. 1854 Sept. 1856
Richard Hooker, Nov. 1856
April, 1857
Samuel N. Howell,
Nov. 1857 April, 1820
David Peck, June, 1858
Twenty-five or thirty years ago some members of the First Congregational Church had their attention called to the formation of a colony, for the pur- pose of extending the influence of religion. Other denominations however sprang up in the vicinity, and supplied for a period the spiritual wants of an increasing population.
About 1850 it was again thought that there was a demand for a Second Con- gregational Church. Accordingly in May, 1851, sixteen individuals received the consent of the First Church to hold separate religious services, on con- dition that they were to be held responsible "neither for the success nor support " of the enterprise.
The house belonging to the Universalist Society was rented, and divine services commenced June 1st. Such was the encouragement which a gra- cious Providence afforded, that the brethren resolved, June 17, to proceed to the formation of a Church.
During the subsequent Fall and Winter there was a revival of re- ligion, as the result of which about 15 souls were added to the Church on confession of their faith. Within a year after the commencement of religious services, the Church erected a house of worship at an expense of $2500.
In the early part of 1858 this Church enjoyed another revival, as the fruit of which about 35 persons, most of whom were young men, were added to its membership. A revival also in 1859.
THE CHURCH IN DARIEN, (FORMERLY MIDDLESEX, ) ORG. JUNE, 1744.
Moses Mather, D. D.
June, 1744
Sept. 1806
William Fisher, July, 1807 March, 1819
1823 ? John Noyes, 1820?
Ebenezer Platt, Sept. 1825 Aug. 1833
B. Y. Messenger,
1834 1835
Ulrie Maynard,
June, 1835 April, 1838
Ezra D. Kinney, Aug. 1838
May, 1859
Jonathan E. Barnes, Aug. 1860
The town of Darien formerly belonged to Stamford. This Society was in- corporated under the name of Middlesex, which name it retained till Nov. 1858, when it was voted that it should be called Darien. There have been frequent revivals in this Church, which have kept it from becoming extinct.
One Sabbath, during the Revolution, the Church was suddenly surround- ed by Tories and the British, and forty men, (nearly all who were in Church,
371
History of the Churches.
including Dr. Mather,) and as many horses, were carried off to Long Island. Many of them never returned.
MINISTERS RAISED UP .- Charles G. Selleck, (h.) Charles Richards. (h.)
THE CHURCH IN DAYVILLE, ( IN KILLINGLY, ) ORG. MAY, 1849.
MINISTERS. SETTLED. DISMISSED. DIED.
Roswell Whitmore, (c.)
April, 1849
Oct. 1857
D. C. Frost,
G. F. R. Bacheller, (c.) John D. Potter, William W. Belden,
1859
There was a revival in 1858-9, under the preaching of Mr. Potter. This is one of the manufacturing villages that have sprung up in Connecticut within a few years, which have felt the need of a Church and the ministra- tions of the gospel for their own convenience.
THE CHURCH IN DEEP RIVER, (IN SAYBROOK, ) ORG. APRIL, 1834.
Darius Mead,
May, 1835
Oct. 1837
Zabdiel R. Ely, Dec. 1837
May, 1839
Nov. 1839
Frederick W. Chapman,
May, 1839 Oct. 1850
James A Clark, Dec. 1850 Nov. 1853
George W. Connitt,
Dec. 1854
July, 1856
N. A. Hyde,
1857
D. Mead,
1858
Henry Wickes, Dec. 1858
The members of the Churches of Saybrook 2d, and Chester, residing in Deep River, feeling that the religious welfare of themselves and their children re- quired the erection of a house of worship, and the organization of a Church and congregation within their limits, adopted measures to carry their desires into effect. The house of worship was completed in December, 1833, and a Congregational Society was formed the same month.
Members in 1834, 68; added by Mr. Mead, 90; by Mr. Chapman, 148. During the next two years after Mr. Connitt's dismission, the Church was in a distracted state, and was at length divided, and a Presbyterian Church formed, but the Church was blessed with a revival in which 36 were added.
MINISTER RAISED UP .- Jackson J. Bushnell.
372
History of the Churches.
THE CHURCH IN DERBY, ORG. 1677.
MINISTERS.
SETTLED.
DISMISSED.
DIED. 1688
John Bowers,
1677
Mr. Webb,
1688
1700
John James,
1700
Joseph Moss,
1706
1731
1732
Daniel Humphreys,*
1733
1787
Martin Tuller,
1783
1796
1813
Amasa Porter,
1797
1805
Thomas Ruggles,
1809
1812
Zephaniah Swift,
1813
1848
Lewis D. Howell,
1836
1838
Hollis Read,
1838
1843
George Thacher,
1844
1848
Jesse Guernsey,
1849
1852
R. P. Stanton,
1853
1856
C. C. Tiffany,
.1857
The Church has had three houses of worship ; the first was destroyed more than one hundred years since, the second gave place to the present, 45 years since, which was refitted very tastefully 15 years ago, and is beauti- fully situated in a grove.
There have been several revivals of religion, when quite a large number have been received into the church. The most extensive was in 1812, when there was no pastor; nearly 100 were then added; in 1852, 34; and in 1858, 49.
It was the custom, some years since, under the ministry of Mr. Swift, to hold protracted and three-days meetings, when several ministers would as- semble and occupy the time in preaching and devotional exercises. These meetings were almost always the occasion of the awakening and conversion of many. The Churches in Birmingham and Ansonia were formed by mem- bers from this Church They are in a flourishing condition.
MINISTERS RAISED UP .- Amos Bassett, D. D., Daniel Tomlinson, Charles Nichols, Isaac Jennings, Diniel S. Dickinson, Archibald Bassett, John L. Tomlinson, Truman Coe, Wales Coe, William E. Bassett.
* Sp. An. 1, 315. Allen.
THE FIRST CHURCH IN DURHAM, ORG. FEB. 11, 1711.
Nathaniel Chauncey,* Feb. 1706, ord. Feb. 1711
Feb. 1756
Elizur Goodrich, D. D., + Dec. 1756 Nov. 1797
David Smith, D. D., Aug. 1799 Jan. 1832
Ilenry Gleason, Aug. 1832
Sept. 1839
Charles L. Mills, April, 1841 Sept. 1845
Merrill Richardson, Jan. 1847 Jan. 1849
373
History of the Churches.
MINISTERS.
SETTLED. DISMISSED. DIED.
L. H. Pease,
Jan. 1849
Jan. 1851
J. B. Cleaveland,
Jan. 1852 1853
B. S. J. Page,
Oct. 1853 Oct. 1856
A. C. Baldwin, Oct. 1857
The first permanent white settler in Durham removed to that place in 1698. In 1708, the male adult population had increased to thirty-four. In that year they took measures to secure a permanent settled ministry. The town proposed to give Mr. Chauncey a salary of £60 " in grain at country price," also a settlement of fos "in grain at country price," to- gether with a house, and certain lands which had previously been set apart for the first minister, which he was to hold in his own right ; provided he continued their pastor during his natural life. Mr. Chauncey accepted their invitation, but was not ordained until February, 1711, after preaching there five years. The ordaining council consisted of Revs. Timothy Woodbridge of Hartford, Noadiah Russell of Middletown, Thomas Ruggles of Guil- ford, and Samuel Russell of Branford. The following year, the town voted to build a meeting-house 40 feet square. In 1735 larger accommodations being necessary, a second house of worship was commenced and finished in 1737. This house continued just one century. In 1835, the third house was erected on the site of the first. This building was consumed by fire in 1844. The fourth church edifice was located half a mile north of the place where the others had stood, and was dedicated June, 1847. During this year a second church and society were organized, who erected a house of worship on the old site; the dedication sermon by Professor W. C. Fowler, contains much historical matter. Mr. Chauncey, born September 26, 1681, was grandson of Rev. Charles, second President of Harvard College, and son of Rev. Nathaniel, of Windsor, and Hatfield, Mass. He was a member of the first class that graduated at Yale College, 1702. Dr. Goodrich, born at Rocky Hill, October 26, 1734 was, in 1777, a candidate for the Presidency of Yale, in connection with Dr. Stiles. On counting the votes of the Corpo- ration, they were found to be equally divided; whereupon Dr. Goodrich in- sisted upon his right to vote as a member, and gave the Presidency to Dr. Stiles.
MINISTERS RAISED UP .- William Seward, Elnathan Chauncey, Ichabod Camp, (Ep.) Roger Newton, D. D., Ebenezer Guernsey, Samuel Johnson, Noah Merwin, Lemuel Parsons, Samuel Goodrich, Joseph E. Camp, Noah Coe, Timothy Tuttle, David Marsh Smith, William C. Fowler, Elizur G. Smith, Talcott Bates, Henry B. Camp, Dwight M. Seward, Collins Stone. * Allen. + Sp. An. 1, 506. Allen.
THE CHURCH IN DURHAM CENTER, ORG. MAY 4, 1817.
James R. Mershon,
April, 1848 April, 1850
George E Hill,
July, 1850 July, 1851
L. H. Pease,
July, 1851 July, 1852
374
History of the Churches.
MINISTERS.
SETTLED. DISMISSED. DIE D.
R. G. Williams,
Oct. 1853
April, 1855
Richard Hooker,
Dec. 1857
Dec. 1858
Irem W. Smith,
Aug. 1858
On the 16th of November, 1844, the house of worship belonging to the Congregational Church in Durham, took fire and was burned to the ground. In making arrangements for the erection of a new building, the members of the church and society were unable to agree upon a location. After many months spent in unavailing efforts to attain unity of feeling and action, it seemed to the members of the church residing in the south part of the town that their duty clearly directed them to the formation of a new church and society ; accordingly a church was organized by a committee of the Con- sociation. In 1858, forty-four united with this church, as the result of a revival .- Prof. Fowler's Dedication Sermon.
THE CHURCH IN EAST AVON, ORG. MARCH 17, 1819.
Bela Kellogg,*
Nov. 1819
Sept. 1829 April, 1831
Francis H. Case,
Dec. 1830 April, 1840
Stephen Hubbell, Dec. 1840 May, 1853
J. S. Whittlesey, July, 1853
Oct. 1854
H. M. Colton, Feb. 1855 April, 1857
E. D. Murphy, April, 1858, inst. June, 1859.
Some unhappy divisions having existed in the society of Northington, for a number of years, relative to the most convenient place for erecting a new meeting-house, the former one having been consumed by fire in 1817, and the society continuing unable to unite on any place for the erection of a house of worship, in 1818 they erected two, about two and a half miles from each other. The proprietors of this place petitioned the General As- sembly in October, 1818, for an act of incorporation, which was granted. The old church declining to give letters of dismission for the organization of a new church, even after the incorporation of the society, the Consociation, being called, judged it best that there should be another formed, and so consti- tuted the petitioners a church. This church, from its commencement, has had a steady and permanent growth; has ever contributed to the various benev- olent societies, and has been blessed with several interesting revivals of reli- gion. It has ever been prompt to the day in paying the minister's salary. It has not been destitute altogether of troubles and divisions, yet the bless- ing of the Lord has been upon it; and during the year 1858 it shared richly in the precious outpouring of the Spirit.
* Allen.
.
375
History of the Churches.
THE CHURCH IN EASTFORD, ORG. SEPT. 23, 1778.
MINISTERS.
SETTLED.
DISMISSED.
DIED.
Andrew Judson,*
Dec. 1778
June, 1808
John Judson,
1807 ?
1809 ?
Hollis Sampson,
Dec. 1809
1815
John Nichols,
1816
1818
Reuben Torrey,
May, 1820 April, 1840
Francis Williams,
Sept.
1841
Nov. 1851
William M. Birchard,
1853
1854
Henry Hanmer,
1854
1855
Sumner Clark,
1856
1857
Charles Chamberlin, April, 1858
Mr. Sampson came from the Methodists ; had gifts, but little education. His ministerial character suffered from habits of drinking, till at length he was carried home intoxicated. He made confessions, but it was feared never wholly reformed. His truthfulness was often very seriously questioned. A member commenced discipline with him, whereupon he disciplined the mem- ber, and had him excommunicated. On an appeal, the Consociation, without deciding the case, advised both parties to make confession, with which Mr. Sampson complied. He was afterwards dismissed without complaint ; but finally silenced by Consociation; after which, he went into Vermont, and preached Universalism many years. Mr. Nichols was unstable, anti-Calvin- istic, and led inany away from the truth. In the fall of 1818, Dr. Nettleton came and preached here and at Ashford alternately, through the winter, and a most glorious revival was experienced. Almost all the youth, all the choir but one, who were not previously professors, and many of our most substan- tial men and women were the subjects, and the church was greatly strength- ened. There were several revivals during the ministry of Mr. Torrey and Mr. Williams.
MINISTERS RAISED UP .- John Judson, Chester Carpenter.
Allen.
THE CHURCH IN EAST GLASTENBURY, (FORMERLY EASTBURY,) ORG. 1727.
Ebenezer Wright, (c.)
Jonathan Hubbard, (c.)
John Williams, (c.)
Daniel Blish, (c.)
William Gager, c.)
Chiliab Brainard, Jan. 1736
Jan. 1739
Nehemiah Brainard,
Jan. 1740
Nov. 1742
Isaac Chalker, Oct. 1744
May, 1765
Samuel Woodbridge,
June, 1766
June, 1768 ?
1797
James Eells, Aug. 1769
Jan, 1805
Joseph Strong, Jr .*
April, 1806
1817 1823
1
376
History of the Churches.
MINISTERS.
SETTLED.
DIED.
Jacob Allen,
July, 1822
DISMISSED. 1835
Mar. 1856
Thomas Williams,
1839
1840
Aaron Snow, April, 1841
The society was formed 1731, and a meeting-house was soon built. Rev. N. Brainard was a brother of David Brainard. Mr. Woodbridge lost his reason about a year after his settlement, owing to unremitting study, as he allowed but four hours daily for sleep. After rccovering his reason, he preached in Virginia and Georgia, and was a chaplain in the army ; at length he located in W. Hartland. Mr. Eells found his salary too small. His prop- erty passed into the hands of trustees, of whom it was rented for the nom- inal sum of £5 per annum. During the last two years of his life, the soci- ety provided him with a home, board, clothing, and $50 a year. Some of the votes respecting the matter may interest the curious. Oct. 11, 1803, "Voted that Capt. - take care of Mr. Eells the ensuing year. Voted that Capt. - shall procure clothing for Mr. Eells, as shall be necessary, the ensuing year. Nov. 4, 1804, Voted that the committee dispose of Mr. Eells as they shall think best." After his death, March, 1805, " Voted that Deacon G- go among the neighboring priests to see if they will give us assistance. Voted S- C- take care of the priests, Sundays." Mr. Williams has preached in various places in Conn. for short periods ; in all, five or six years, during fifty seven years ministry. There have been frequent revivals during the last two pastorates. The society received Home Missionary aid till 1858.
Allen.
THE CHURCH IN EAST GRANBY, (FORMERLY TURKEY HILLS, ) ORG. 1737.
Ebenezer Mills,
1742
1755
1799
Nehemiah Strong,*
Jan. 1761
1767
Aug. 1807
Abel Forward,
Jan. 1773
Jan. 1774
Aaron J. Booge,
Nov. 1776
Dec. 1785
Whitfield Cowles,
May, 1794
Nov. 1808
Nov. 1840
John Taylor,
1810 ?
1815 ?
Eber L. Clark,
July, 1816
July, 1820 1857
Erastus Ripley,
1820
1822
Chester Chapin,
1822
1823
Ebenezer Holping,
1824
1826
Stephen Crosby,
Nov. 1826
Jan. 1832
Daniel Hemenway,
July
1832
June, 1842
J. Bowen Clarke,
Nov. 1842
Aug. 1845
Pliny F. Sanborne,
April, 1846
Feb. 1853
Sidney Bryant,
Oct. 1855
April, 1860
Rev. Mr. Wolcott was the preacher here in 1737, and during that year the ecclesiastical society was formed, but there are no records of the church
377
History of the Churches.
previous to 1776. The Rev. Whitfield Cowles became, during his ministry, an open believer in universal salvation, and was silenced Nov. 1808, but his influence for evil long continued.
MINISTERS RAISED UP .- Alexander Gillet, Newton Skinner.
* Sp. An. 1, 481.
THE FIRST CHURCH IN EAST HADDAM, ORG. MAY 3, 1704.
MINISTERS.
SETTLED.
DISMISSED. DIED.
Stephen Hosmer,
May, 1704
June, 1749
Joseph Fowler, May, 1751
June, 1771
Elijah Parsons,* Oct. 1772
Jan. 1827
Isaac Parsons,
Oct. 1816
April, 1856
Silas W. Robbins, Oct. 1856
The town of East Haddam was originally included in the town of Had- dam, and the inhabitants on the east side of Connecticut river, previous to the year 1700, went over the river to attend public worship, and to transact town business. The Ecclesiastical Society, formed in 1700, at first embra- ced the entire town of East Haddam ; the church was organized of members detached from the Church in Haddam. Their first house of worship was occupied twenty-three years; the second, sixty-six; their third, built in 1794, at an expense of $4000, having been remodeled and improved, in ac- cordance with the taste of the age, is still a commodious, tasteful and desirable church edifice. Added to the church in the first pastorate, of forty-five years, two hundred and fifty-four ; second pastorate, of twenty-one years, one hun- dred and thirty-two; third pastorate, of forty-four years, one hundred and sixty-two ; fourth pastorate, of forty years, four hundred and fifty-two ; fifth pastorate, to Jan. 1859, ninety-four. There were eight revivals of religion during the ministry of Mr. Isaac Parsons, and the additions to the church were for the most part, fruits of these revivals; though in every year, with only one or two exceptions, one or more were added by letter or profession.
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