USA > Connecticut > Contributions to the ecclesiastical history of Connecticut > Part 33
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MINISTERS RAISED UP .- Jedediah Chapman, t Elihu Spencer, D. D., } George Hall, Epaphras Chapman, (f.) Robert D. Gardner, Henry M. Parsons, Stephen Fuller, (f.)
*Sp. An. 1. 607. Allen. +Sp. An. 3. 165. #Sp. An. 4. 95.
THE CHURCH IN EAST HAMPTON, IN CHATHAM, ORG. NOV. 30, 1748.
John Norton,* Nov. 1748
Mar. 1778
Samuel Parsons, Feb. 1779
Feb. 1791
Joel West, t Oct. 1792
Oct. 1825
Timothy Stone, } June, 1828 Feb. 1832
1852
Samuel J. Curtis,
Nov. 1832
Nov. 1837
* Allen. + Allen. # Sp. An. 1. 634, Allen. 49
378
History of the Churches.
MINISTERS. SETTLED.
DISMISSED. DIED.
Rufus Smith,
Sept. 1838
June, 1845
William Russell,
Oct. 1846 Oct. 1855
S. H. Pease,
1856
1858
Henry H. Russell,
Dec. 1859
The Society was incorporated May, 1746. Mr. Norton was settled in Ber- nardston, Mass., in 1741, but dismissed in 1748 by reason of disturbances in the French war. In the second French war he went as chaplain in the expedition to Crown Point, and his association, (Hartford South,) agreed to supply his pulpit in his absence, from October 12, 1755, to the next Febru- ary. Mr. Stone first studied the art of painting under the celebrated John Trumbull ; and afterwards studied theology under Dr. Dwight.
The old house of worship was torn down in 1854, having stood nearly 100 years, and a new one was erected on the same site.
* Allen. + Allen. + Sp. An. 1. 634. Allen.
- -
THE CHURCH IN EAST HARTFORD, ORG. 1695.
Samuel Woodbridge,*
1705
1746
Eliphalet Williams, D. D.t 1748
June, 1803
Andrew Yates, D. D. 1801
1813
1844
Joy H. Fairchild,
1816
1827 Feb. 1859
Asa Mead, 1830
1831
Samuel Spring, D. D.,
1833
This was known as the Third Church in Hartford, till the town of East Hartford was incorporated in 1784. Dr. Yates left to fill a professorship in Union College. Mr. Mead died after a ministry of 11 months.
Three houses of worship have been built by this congregation since the settlement of the town. The first was a small, low building, and stood about 45 years. The second was built in 1740, and taken down in 1835, having been occupied 95 years. The present house was dedicated January 20, 1836. There have been several marked seasons of revival since the formation of this church ; but as the present pastor's private papers, together with some of the most reliable and valuable records of the church, were de- stroyed by fire in 1858, no minute and correct account can be given of these. Six "times of refreshing" since 1833 are well remembered, during which nearly 300 have been added to the church.
MINISTERS RAISED UP .- Allen Olcott, Eliphalet Williams, Jr. (Bap.) Chas. 0. Reynolds, Frederick H. Pitkin (h.)
* Allen. + Sp. An. 1. 323. Allen.
THE CHURCH IN EAST HAVEN, ORG. OCT. 8, 1711.
Jacob Hemingway, 1704, ord. Oct. 1711
Oct. 174 Nicholas Street,* Oct. 1755
Oct. 1860
379
History of the Churches.
MINISTERS.
SETTLED. DISMISSED.
DIED.
Saul Clark,
Jan. 1808
May, 1817
Dec. 1846
Stephen Dodd, t
Dec. 1817
April, 1847 Feb. 1856
D. W. Havens,
June, 1847
Mr. Hemingway preached about seven years before the church was formed, the original members having belonged to the church in New Ha- ven. Mr. Street died on the 51st anniversary of his ordination. Added during his ministry, 230; in a revival in 1817, 118; under Mr. Dodd, 181; in 1852, 85, as the fruits of an extensive work of divine grace.
MINISTERS RAISED UP .- Jacob Hemingway, Dana Goodsell, Owen Street. * Sp. An. 2. 202. Allen. t Allen. Cong. Y.B. 3, 95.
THE CHURCH IN EAST LYME, ORG. 1719.
Ebenezer Mack,
George Griswold,
1724
1761
George Osborn,
1816
1817
William Lockwood,
1817
Beriah Green,
1821
1822
John R. St. John,
1823
1827
1828
Herman L. Vaill,
1823
1836
Frederick Gridley,
1836
1856
Joseph Ayer',
1857
Mr. Griswold was an active promoter of the great awakening. He la- bored not only at home, but also in other parishes. The work continued nearly two years, and one hundred white persons, and thirteen Indians be- came members of the church. Tracy's Great Awakening, pp. 150. 156. From 1761, the church was able to have but little preaching, until 1793, when it had become virtually extinct. In that year it was re-organized. Henceforth it main- tained public worship constantly, by services of the brethren, in prayers and the reading of sermons, and by occasional preaching. In 1816, domestic mis- sionaries began their labors in this place ; under which the church and con- gregation increased, until the settlement of Mr. St. John, in 1823. Since that time it has been favored with constant preaching, and with occasional revivals of religion. It is still feeble ; but with some aid from the Domestic Missionary Society, it continues, and has a prospect of being perpetuated.
MINISTERS RAISED UP .- George Griswold, Daniel Smith, Samuel Griswold, Seth Lee (Bap.), Jason Lee (Bap.)
THE CHURCH IN EASTON (FORMERLY NORTH FAIRFIELD, ) ORG. DEC. 13, 1763.
James Johnson,*
Dec. 1763
Sept. 1810
Henry Sherman,
April, 1813 June, 1815
Nathaniel Freeman, t
Feb. 1819 April, 1832 June, 1854
380
History of the Churches.
MINISTERS.
SETTLED. DISMISSED. . DIED.
Geo. H. IIulin,
April, 1833 Oct. 1834
Chas. T. Prentice,
June, 1836
April, 1851
Martin Dudley,
Dec. 1851
This church at its organization embraced nine male members, of whom its first pastor was one. After the Council had "owned them" as a consociated church, " the church proceeded to invite Mr. Johnson to take the pastoral care and charge of them." Mr. Johnson accepted the invita- tion. " The council then proceeded to the ordination." During a part- if not the whole of Mr. Johnson's ministry-the practice of " owning the covenant" prevailed ; 33 being received to full communion-and 87 " own- ing the covenant," had their children baptized-295 in all. From being a beneficiary of the A. H. M. S., the church has become self-supporting, hav- ing a fu ndof $3,200.
* Allen. + Allen.
THE CHURCH IN EAST PUTNAM, (FORMERLY NORTH KILLINGLY, ) ORG. OCT. 1715.
John Fisk,*
Oct. 1715
Aug. 1741 May, 1773
Perley Howe,
1746
Mar. 1753
Aaron Brown,
Jan. 1754
Sept. 1775
Emerson Foster,
1788
1779
Elisha Atkins, f
June, 1784
June, 1839
William Bushnell,
Aug. 1832
Mar. 1835
Sidney Holman,
Mar. 1836
Apr. 1838
Henry Robinson,
Nov. 1838
1845
John D. Baldwin,
April, 1846
Sept. 1849
Norris G. Lippitt, (Meth.)
1850
1851
Benj. B. Hopkinson,
June, 1851
June, 1855
Edward F. Brooks,
April, 1856
1858
Hezekiah Ramsdell, (\'eth.)
1858
The church has enjoyed repeated seasons of revival, in which large num- bers were received into it. The whole number of members from the be- ginning is about 750 ; the number of baptisms, about 1600.
MINISTERS RAISED UP .- Perley Howe, Joseph Howe, Manasseh Cutler, D. D., LL. D., # Erastus Larned.
* Allen. + Allen. 1. Sp. An. 2. 14.
THE FIRST CHURCH IN EAST WINDSOR, ORG. JUNE, 1752.
Thomas Potwine, *
Nov. 1802
May, 1754 Shubael Bartlett, t Feb. 1804
June, 1854
Samuel J. Andrews, Oct. 1848
May, 1855
Frederick Munson,
Sept. 1856
381
History of the Churches.
This church, at its foundation, was the sixth in the ancient town of Wind- sor. When East Windsor was incorporated as a town in 1768, this church was the third in that town ; when Ellington was set off in 1786, it became the second; and when Windsor became a distinct town, it became the first church in East Windsor. It has been blessed with stability in the pasto- rate.
In 1827, an addition to the society funds was made, which became available in 1849. They then amounted to $4,000, and were held on the following con- ditions : " That the Society shall maintain a decent meeting-house for public worship; that the meeting-house shall be entirely the property of the Soci- ty ; that the Society shall not at any time be destitute of an ordained minis- ter more than two years, which minister shall be a learned man of true orthodox principles, according to the sense in which our fathers maintained the same."
MINISTERS RAISED UP .- Henry Bissell, (h. ) Sanford Bissell, (h.) Lemnel Bissell, (f.) Eldad Barber, I. N. Tarbox, Thomas S. Potwin, Lemuel S. Pot- win.
* Sp. An. 2. 9. Allen. t Sp. An. 2: 192. Allen.
THE CHURCH IN THE THEOLOGICAL INSTITUTE, EAST WINDSOR HILL, ORG. NOV.
18, 1835.
MINISTERS.
SETTLED. DISMISSED. DIED.
Bennet Tyler, D. D .*
Nov. 1835 May, 1858
The church was organized for the accommodation of the professors of the Theological Institute, together with their families and the students-the nearest place of worship being about two miles distant. Their worship is conducted in the chapel of the Institute, and some of the families in the im- mediate neighborhood attend with them. Rev. Asahel Nettleton, D. D., re- sided near the Seminary, from 1834 to 1844, made donations to its funds, and gave the students familiar lectures on revivals and kindred topics. See notice of him in Dr. Sprague's Annals, Vol. 2. 542 ; also, Memoir by Dr. Tyler, 1844.
MINISTER RAISED UP .- Josiah Tyler (f.)
* New Englander, 1859, p. 746.
THE CHURCH IN EAST WOODSTOCK, ORG. 1759.
Abel Stiles, *
1759
July, 1738
Joshua Johnson,
Dec. 1780
Sept. 1790
Wm. Graves, t
Aug. 1791
Aug. 1813
Samuel Backus,
Jan. 1815
June, 1830
Ezekiel Rich,
1830
1831
3S2
History of the Churches.
DIED.
MINISTERS.
SETTLED.
DISMISSED.
Wm. M. Cornell,
1831
1832
Orson Cowles,
April, 1832
Sept. 1837
Thos. Boutelle,
Dec. 1837
Mar. 1849
Jas. A. Clark,
1850
Michael Burdett,
April, 1852
Jan. 1854
Jas. A. Roberts,
Mar. 1854
1855
Edward HI. Pratt,
Dec. 1855
About the year 1759, a part of the First Congregational Church of Wood- stock (South), removed from South Woodstock, to the then North Wood- stock, comprising the present Societies of East and North Woodstock. It seems hardly probable that this church was ever regularly organized ; but taking the original records, and the pastor of the old church, it proceeded without a new organization after the removal. It has been blessed with fre- quent revival seasons. Some of these occurred in the years 1815, '31, '32, '39, '42, '55, and '58. In 1831, a difficulty concerning the site of the meeting- house, led to the formation-by a part of the church-of a new church in North Woodstock; and this church, which, in some sense, appears to be the orig- inal church, removed again, taking once more a new name, and leaving the secession to form anew, at the location of the first removal.
MINISTERS RAISED UP .- Willard Child, D. D., Albert Paine, Charles Walker, D. D.
* Sp. An. 1. 470. Allen. + Sp. An. 2. 10. Allen.
-
THE CHURCH IN ELLINGTON, ORG. 1730.
John Mckinstry,*
1730
1749
Jan. 1753
Nathaniel Huntington,
Oct. 1749
April, 1856
Seth Norton,
1756 ?
Jan. 1762
John Bliss,
Oct. 1764
Dec. 1780
Feb. 1790
Joshua Leonard,
Sept. 1791
Oct. 1798
Diodate Brockway,t
Sept. 1799
Jan. 1849
Lavius Hyde,
Nov. 1830
Feb. 1834
Ezekiel Marsh,
April, 1835
April. 1844
Aug. 1844
Nathaniel H. Eggleston,
Feb. 1845
Mar. 1850
George I. Wood,
June, 1850
June, 1854
Thomas K. Fessenden,
Jan. 1855
The first settlement of Ellington was made in 1720 ; though the town was not incorporated till 1786. In 1730 there were eleven families in the place, at which time Mr. Mckinstry, a native of Scotland, purchased land there ; though he was not installed till three years after. Mr. Huntington, born in Windham, died at the age of 31, much beloved. Mr. Norton, born in Farmington, died at the early age of 30.
MINISTERS RAISED UP .- Wm. Andrews, Horace Belknap, Otis Saxton,
383
History of the Churches.
(Meth.), J. M. Willey, (Ep.), Darius Morris, Roswell Shurtleff, John Ells- worth, Norman Nash, J. Addison Saxton, S. D. Pitkin.
* Sp. An. 1. 357. Allen. + Sp. An. 1. 605. Allen.
THE CHURCH IN ELLSWORTH, IN SHARON, ORG. MARCH, 15, 1802.
MINISTERS,
SETTLED.
DISMISSED.
DIED.
Daniel Parker,
May, 1802
Nov. 1812
1832
Orange Lyman,
Aug. 1813
Sept. 1816
July, 1851
Frederick Gridley,
June, 1820
Mar. 1836
John W. Beecher,
Dec. 1841
Sept. 1847
Jan. 1858
William W. Baldwin,
1849
1851
William J. Alger,
Feb.
1852
Dec. 1853
Porter B. Parry,
1853
Aug. 1857
Robert D. Gardner, June, 1858
A boarding school was established by the Rev. Daniel Parker, which at- tained to considerable celebrity, and was continued by him for some time af- ter his dismission. Several men who have risen to eminence, arc said to have been members of this school. A fund was raised by subscription about the time of the organization of the church, amounting to one thousand pounds (to which was added $2,500 in 1813,) the subscription payable in farmer's produce, or bar iron, at the market price, with provision that it should be loaned on mortgage for double the amount, and in case of any loss, it was to be made good by the society, under the penalty of the income's re- verting to the subscribers, or to their heirs, until the conditions are complied with. A similar penalty is annexed to a failure to provide preaching for the term of a year, either by a pastor or candidates for settlement.
MINISTERS RAISED UP .- Gad Smith, (Meth.) Gad Smith, 2d, (Meth.) Edwin Baily, (Bap.) Seymour Landon, (Meth.) Walter Chamberlain, Alvin Somers, Charles Y. Chase, Thomas Beebe, (Bap.) Milo N. Miles, (h.) Elisha Frink, (Meth.)
THE FIRST CHURCH IN ENFIELD, ORG. 1683.
Mr. Welch,
Nathaniel Collins, *
1699
1724
1856
Peter Raynolds, t
1725
1768
Elam Potter,
1769
1776
Nehemiah Prudden, #
1782
1815
Francis L. Robbins, §
1816
1850
Charles A. G. Brigham,
1851
1855
Abraham L. Bloodgood,
1855
When Mr. Prudden was settled, the church was in a very divided state. He was a peace-maker, a wise and judicious man, and Calvinistic in his
384
History of the Churches.
views, and under his ministry the church was built up. Mr. Robbins was a Calvinist ; his preaching was more practical and experimental than his pre- decessor. Under his ministry there were several revivals ; in 1821 more than 100 were added to the church ; also in 1830 and 1841, large additions, and he died in the midst of a revival. When Mr. Brigham was settled, the church and society were harmonious; but soon discord and contention sprang up, on account of the sentiments he advanced, which ended in his dismission, and the division of the church, and his settlement over the se- cession.
For an account of the revival in 1740, and President Edwards' noted Enfield sermon, see Tracy's Great Awak. 276, and Trumbull's Hist. 2. 145.
MINISTERS RAISED UP .- Origen Morrison, James P. Terry, Nehemiah P. Pierce, Joseph Meacham, William Dixon, Calvin Terry.
* Sp. An. 1. 183. Allen. + Sp. An. 1. 180, Allen. Sp. An. 1. 585. Allen. § Sp. An. 1. 370.
THE NORTH CHURCH IN ENFIELD, ORG. MARCH 7, 1855.
MINISTERS. SETTLED. DISMISSED. DIED.
Charles A. G. Brigham, Mar. 1855
This church separated from the First Church in consequence of the dis- missal of their pastor, Mr. Brigham, by the Consociation, in disregard of the protest of both the pastor and the church. They did this on grounds of expediency, in view of the divided state, and deep feeling of the church, on account of the extreme Calvinistic views of the pastor advanced in his preaching. A majority of the church took letters of dismission, and orga- nized a new church, leaving a majority of the society, and the remainder of the church to retain their old organization, with all the ecclesiastical prop- erty. The house of worship of the new society was built the same year.
THE CHURCH IN ESSEX, ORG. SEPT. 1, 1852.
E. W. Tucker, Aug. 1852 Aug. 1853
James A. Gallup, May, 1854
The church in Essex is a branch from the church at Center Brook, formed with 52 members; since added ninety-two. Efforts were immedi- ately made to erect a house of worship, and the society have now, free from debt, a very tasteful and commodious house, built at a cost of $8,000 ; and also a very fine and capacious lecture room. The entire current expenses are raised promptly from the income of pew rents and subscriptions, and about $200 are contributed annually to benevolent objects abroad. Several seasons of spiritual refreshing have been enjoyed, but none of such power as during the winter and spring of 1858. The chief characteristics of the church and society have been from the beginning an entire unity of feeling
385
History of the Churches.
and action-a self-denying liberality, and a deeply felt dependence on the divine presence and aid to give success to all plans and labors.
THE CHURCH IN EXETER, IN LEBANON, ORG. 1773.
MINISTERS.
SETTLED. DISMISSED.
DIED.
John Gurley,*
May, 1775
Feb. 1812
John H. Fowler,
Oct. 1813
Mar. 1821
1829
Daniel Waldo,
Sept. 1823
Sept. 1834
Lyman Strong,
1835 July, 1841
Stephen Hayes,
July, 1841
April, 1846
John Avery,
June, 1848
The church in Exeter is a branch of the church in Goshen. The separa- tion was occasioned principally by the fact that the people could not unite on a position for a church edifice. There have been several revivals since 1809 ; adding 67 in 1821 ; 26 in 1845 ; and 55 since 1848. The first church edifice was erected in 1773; the second in 1844. The church received aid from the Home Missionary Society in former years; but since 1852, it has been self-sustaining.
MINISTERS RAISED UP .- Shubael Bartlett, John Bartlett, Ralph R. Gurley, Flavel Bascom, Hobart Bartlett.
* Sp. An. 2. 192. Allen.
THE FIRST CHURCH IN FAIRFIELD, ORG. 1650.
John Jones, *
1639
1664
Samuel Wakeman,
Sept. 1665
Mar. 1692
Joseph Webb,
Aug. 1694
Sept. 1732
Noah Hobart, t
Feb. 1733
Dec. 1773
Andrew Eliot, # June, 1774
Sept. 1805
Heman Humphrey, D. D.,
April, 1807
May, 1817
Nathaniel Hewit, D. D.,
Jan. 1818
Dec. 1827
John Hunter,
Dec. 1828 1834
Lyman Atwater, D. D.,
July, 1835
Sept. 1854
Willis Lord,
Nov. 1854
1856
Alexander McLean, Jr., Jan. 1857
Mr Hobart, in consequence of the springing up of Episcopacy around him, undertook the vindication of ordination other than prelatical ; whence arose a controversy which continued several years. The opponents of Mr. Ho- bart were Dr. Johnson, and Messrs. Beach, Wetmore, and Caner, who had swerved from Congregationalism. He had few equals in this country for acuteness and learning. He published two addresses to the members of the Episcopal separation in New England. Mr. Eliot was the son of Rev. An- drew Eliot, of the North Church, Boston, and his son, of the same name,
50
386
History of the Churches.
was pastor at New Milford. Mr Eliot is highly extolled by Dr. Dana in Sprague's Annals. When Gen. Tryon burnt the town of Fairfield in 1779, his house, with a large and choice library, was burnt; the latter was re- stored by contributions of his friends in Boston. Hon. Roger M. Sherman left to the society a parsonage valued at $10,000, and $2,500 as a fund to keep it perpetually in repair. The ministerial fund of the society is also $5,700.
MINISTERS RAISED UP .- Eliphalet Jones, § Andrew Eliot, Jonathan Row- land, Oliver Dimon, Richard Woodhull, Ebenezer P. Rogers, Benjamin Par- sons, Isaac M. Ely, E. P. Humphrey, D. D., John Humphrey, |
* Allen. +Sp. An. 1. 375. Allen. # Sp. An. 1. 420. § Sp. An. 3. 31. | Sp. An. 4, 821.
FIRST CHURCH IN FAIR HAVEN, (IN NEW HAVEN, ) ORG. JUNE 23, 1830.
MINISTERS.
SETTLED.
DISMISSED. DIED.
John Mitchell,
Dec. 1830
Nov. 1836
B. L. Swan,
Nov. 1836
June, 1845
Burdett Hart, Sept. 1846 Aug. 1860
On the same day that this church was organized, a commodious house of worship was dedicated. The number of original members was fifty-three ; thirty of whom were from the East Haven church, and twenty-three from the North Church in New Haven ; eighteen more were soon after added from the North Church. This church was founded with no sectarian or par- tisan intent, nor to carry any points of theological difference : but to meet the actual want of the community for the means and agencies of worship, and to secure here the great ends of religion, the observance of Christian or- dinances, and the preaching of the free and blessed gospel of Christ. Soon after it was formed it was favored with successive revivals. The year 1848 was also peculiarly distinguished in its history as a season of refreshing from the Lord. On the 20th day of April, 1854, the new edifice of the First Society was publicly set apart for the uses of divine worship. It is a large, substantial and attractive church, seating fourteen hundred persons. It be- longs to the society, and its slips are annually rented to defray the current expenses. Under the first pastorate there were added to the church one hundred and nineteen ; under the second, seventy-three; under the third, thus far, three hundred and eighty. A colony of one hundred and nineteen members from the First Church was organized as the "Second Congrega- tional Church in Fair Haven," on the 31st day of March, 1852 .- Rel. In- tel. 17, 250.
SECOND CHURCH IN FAIR HAVEN, (IN EAST HAVEN, ) ORG. MARCH 31, 1852.
Nathaniel J. Burton,
July, 1853 Sept. 1857
Timothy Dwight,
Sept. 1853 Aug. 1859
387
History of the Churches.
MINISTERS.
SETTLED.
DISMISSED. DIED.
C. D. Murray, lic.
1860
Edwin Dimock, lic.
1860
To furnish needed church accommodations, a house of worship, costing, with organ, $16,000, was erected on the east side of the river, and completed March, 1852. The church was formed with ninety-three members from the First Church, and twenty-six more soon after. In March, 1853, forty-one members were dismissed, to form the Third Church. The revival of 1858 added sixteen.
THE CENTER CHURCH IN FAIR HAVEN, (IN NEW HAVEN, ) ORG. MAY 3, 1853. W. B Lee, Aug, 1853 Mar. 1860
There were thirty-eight members in this church at the time of its organ- ization, who had taken letters, in regular form, from the Second Congrega- tional Church in Fair Haven. They met in Walworth Ilall, on Grand street, until their church edifice was completed and dedicated, Sept. 6th, 1854.
THE CHURCH IN FALLS VILLAGE, (IN CANAAN, ) ORG. OCT. 27, 1858.
H. A. Russell,
Oct. 1858
Oct. 1859
John Edgar,
Oct. 1859
Formed by Consociation with twelve members. Twenty-seven persons were added in the year following. A house of worship has been erected thirty- four feet by forty-eight, at a total cost with the land on which it stands, of $2,400. Expenses and benevolent contributions for the year $902.
THE CHURCH IN FARMINGTON, ORG. OCT. 13, 1652.
Roger Newton,*
1652
1657
June, 1683
Samuel Hooker, t
1661
1697
Samuel Whitman,
1706
1751
Timothy Pitkin, §
1752
1785
1811
Allen Olcott, Il
1787
1791
1811
Edward D. Griffin, D. D. T June, 1793
1794
Joseph Washburn, **
1795
1805
Noah Porter, D. D.
1806
The church in Farmington was constituted with seven male members, inclu- ding the pastor. The half-way covenant was adopted under Mr. Whitman's ministry, and discontinued after much debate and difficulty under his suc- cessor, Mr. Pitkin. The present meeting house was built in 1771, in the best manner, and of the choicest materials-an evidence of which is, that
388
History of the Churches.
the outside covering, first put on, (including the shingles,) is yet sound and good. The steeple, above the belfry, was raised entire, where it has stood unimpaired, to the present day. The present town, till 1825, when a Meth- odist church was formed, was one Ecclesiastical Society or Parish, with no house of worship, church or religious teacher, besides the Congregational. Nov. 4, 1840, a historical discourse was delivered before the citizens of Far- mington, in commemoration of the original settlement of the ancient town, in 1650, by Noah Porter, Jr., now Professor in Yale College. The discourse, together with valuable historical and biographical notes, was published. There have been revivals of religion in the Congregational church of this town from its first organization to this time ; and more frequently since 1793. Memoir of Dr. Nettleton, 140. Ev. Muy. 1. 378, 420.
MINISTERS RAISED UP .- Daniel Hooker, Elnathan Whitman, John Hart, Lathrop Thomson, Edward Porter, Giles HI. Cowles, D. D., Isaac Porter, Robert Porter, Hezekiah N. Woodruff; Asahel Hooker, Ephraim T. Wood- ruff, Noah Porter, D. D, Elnathan Gridley (f.), John Richards, D. D.,tt James Wilcox, Horace Woodruff, George J. Tillotson, William S. Porter, Noah Porter, Jr., D. D., Walter Clarke, D. D., Giles M. Porter, Chauncey D. Cowles, Lewis Bodwell, (h.)
* Sp. An. _. 37. Allen. + Sp. An. 1. 37. Allen. # Sp. An. 1. 315. Allen. § Sp. An. 1. 347. Allen. | Allen. 1 Sp. 4. 26. Allen. ** Allen. tt Cong. Quar. 1. vol. 1. Allen.
THE CHURCH IN FRANKLIN, ORG. JAN. 4, 1718.
Henry Willes, * Oct. 1718
Sept. 1758
John Ellis, t
Sept. 1753 1779 Oct. 1805
Samuel Nott, D. D.t
Mar. 1782
May, 1852
George Justus Harrison, Mar. 1849 Oct. 1851
Jared Reid Avery, Dec. 1851, installed Mar. 1854
This church was organized with eight members, all males. The Ecclesi- astical Society was in existence more than a year before this. Provision for religious worship was made during the winter of 1716-17, in private houses : and the following summer, the people worshiped in a barn. At this time, there was in the neighborhood an old meeting house, in ruins, whose "pulpit, and seats, and canopee" the society agreed to take at five pounds, ten shillings, money, or as money. By vote of society, Nov. 22, 1716, the new meeting house was located " at the place commonly known by the name of Arnold's barn, or about 12 rods southward therefrom :" house to be "forty foot long, thirty-five feet wide, and eighteen foot between joints." It was finally left with the carpenter to decide whether the house should " stand at the place where the timber lies, or down at the walnut bush where the path comes up the hill." The meeting-house was seated by a committee, according to age and estate.
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