USA > Connecticut > Contributions to the ecclesiastical history of Connecticut > Part 41
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Since then the Church has steadily increased and God has wonderfully blessed it in numerous revivals.
THE CHURCH IN PLYMOUTH, (FORMERLY NORTHBURY,) ORG. MAY, 1740.
Samuel Todd,*
May, 1740
Aug. 1764
June, 1789
Andrew Storrs, t
Nov. 1765
March, 1785
Joseph Badger, #
1786
1787 1846
Simon Waterman,
Ang. 1787
Nov. 1809
Nov. 1813
Luther Hart,§
Sept. 1810
April, 1834
Ephraim Lyman,
Oct. 1835
June, 1851
Israel P. Warren,
Oct. 1851
Feb. 1856
Erskine J. Hawes, Jan. 1858
July, 1860
The Ecclesiastical Society of Northbury, the third in Waterbury, (West- bury, now Watertown, being the second,) was formed Nov. 1739. It has had four houses of worship. The first stood in Plymouth Hollow village. The other two occupied nearly the same ground on the Hill as that occupied by the present edifice, which was erected about the time the Churches in the Hollow and Terryville were formed. The Church has enjoyed several seasons of religious awakening, eight of which were during Mr. Hart's ministry, and at his death ; adding from 19 to 92 members each, 344 in all ; and a good number at eight or ten other seasons. Ev. Mag. 2. 60.
In 1837, 49 persons were dismissed to constitute the Church in Terryville, and at the same time, 51 to form the Church in Plymouth Hollow.
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465
History of the Churches.
* Sp. An. 2, 288. + Sp. An. 1, 406. # Sp. An. 3. 473. $ Sp. An. 2, 523.
Allen. Litchf. Centen. 124.
THE CHURCH IN PLYMOUTH HOLLOW, ORG. DEC. 7, 1837.
MINISTERS. SETTLED. DISMISSED. DIED
Harvey D. Kitchell, D D., July, 1839 Sept. 1848
Joseph D. Hull, May, 1849
June, 1851
James Averill, Oct. 1852
This was a colony of 51 members from the first Church. The occasion of its organization was the springing up of the villages in the west part of the town, and especially that in Plymouth Hollow. This Church has enjoy- ed revivals in 1838-9, 1846-7, and 1858-9.
THE FIRST CHURCH IN POMFRET, ORG. OCT. 26, 1715.
Ebenezer Williams,*
1713 Oct. 1715 March, 1753
Aaron Putnam, t March, 1756
May, 1802
Asa King,# May, 1802 June, 1811 Dec. 1849
James Porter, $ Sept. 1814 April, 1830
Amzi Benedict, Oct. 1831 July, 1834
Daniel Hunt, April, 1835
Mr. Williams was a native of Roxbury, Mass , and a nephew of Rev. John Williams of Deerfield. Mr. King, afterwards of Killingworth and West- minster.
This Church has had periods of trial in its history. Sometimes the time between pastorates has been longer than was desirable on account of the difficulty of uniting upon a candidate. But the people have never had a stated supply, and have never been without the preaching of the gospel for any great length of time. They have always been self-supporting, and have done something to help the weak.
The first meeting house in Pomfret was built in the summer of 1734. The Churches in Brooklyn and Abington were subsequently formed from this.
MINISTERS RAISED UP .- Chester Williams, Ezra Weld, Joshua Paine, E Ebenezer Grosvenor, Ephraim Hyde, Holland Weeks, Joseph Pope, Joseph Sumner, D. D., T Joseph Dana, D. D, Eleazer Crofut, Abraham Salim, John Salim, Thomas Williams, Daniel Grosvenor, Aaron Putnam, William Morse. Henry Gleason, Nathan Grosvenor, George Payson, Joshua P. Payson, Ma- son Grosvenor, Charles P. Grosvenor, Job Hall, Elijah Wheeler, Nehemiah Williams, George N. Webber.
* Sp. An. 1, 823. Allen. 1 Sp. An 1, 358. Allen. ; Allen. $ Cong. Y. B. 1857. 128. | Allen. TSp. An. 4, 630.
60
466
History of the Churches.
·
The Church in Poquonnock, Org. about 1720.
MINISTERS.
SETTLED. DISMISSED. DIED.
John Woodbridge,
1731 ?
1736
Samuel Tudor,
1737 ? 1758 ?
Dan Foster,
1774
1784
This church had no minister for many years after the dismission of Mr. Tudor, and was in a very sad condition. Mr. Foster became a Universalist, and left the people in a worse condition than he found them. There was no minister after him. The church perished by the decrease of its members, and their house of worship passed into the hands of the Universalists. The present church at Poquonnock is a new organization, formed in 1841.
-
THE CHURCH IN POQUONNOCK, IN WINDSOR, ORG. JUNE 2, 1841.
Cornelius B. Everest, 1843 1852
Thomas H. Rouse, 1852, ord. July, 1854
Oct. 1856
Henry J. Lamb, May, 1857 1859
Ogden Hall, (c.)
May, 1859 ?
The church worshiped in a hall till 1854, when they completed their house of worship.
THE FIRST CHURCH IN PORTLAND, ORG. OCT. 25, 1721.
Daniel Newell, Oct. 1721 Sept. 1731
Moses Bartlett, June, 1733 Dec. 1766
Cyprian Strong, D. D., * Aug. 1767 Nov. 1811
Eber L. Clark,
Sept. 1812
Aug. 1815
Hervey Talcott, Oct. 1816
The first settlers of the place were from Middletown. The society was or- ganized in 1714, and the first meeting-house was built in 1716, the second in 1750, and the third in 1850. In 1851, 38 members of the church were dismissed, and formed into what is called the Central Church. The great- est religious revivals were in 1823 and 1831. In several other years there have been smaller revivals. The church at first had 29 members. The several pastors have admitted to the church 50, 114, 193, 24 and 228,-to- tal, 638.
MINISTER RAISED UP .- Samuel Shepard, D. D. t
* Sp. An. 1. 651. Allen. + Sp. An. 2. 364. -
THE CENTRAL CHURCH, PORTLAND, ORG. JAN. 27, 1851.
Samuel G. W. Rankin, (c.) Jan. 1851 ?
A colony from the First Church, occasioned by the removal of the old ineeting-house. There is room enough for two churches, but many do not
467
History of the Churches.
avail themselves of the benefit of either. This Church has a very comfort- able house of worship, which cost $4,500; it has enjoyed two revivals with good results.
THE CHURCH IN PRESTON, ORG. NOV. 16, 1698.
MINISTERS.
SETTLED.
DISMISSED.
DIED.
Salmon Treat,*
Nov. 1698
1744
1762
Asher Rosseter, t
1744
1781
Jonathan Fuller,
1784
1786
Lemuel Tyler,
1789
1808
John Hyde,
1812
1827
Aug. 1848
Augustus B. Collins,
1828
1847
Nathan S. Hunt,
1847
1858
Elijah W. Tucker,
1858
The church was very small for forty or fifty years, having become reduced during the ministry of Mr. Rosseter to 17, and numbering only 28 at the death of Mr. Tyler. In the next fifty years it increased to more than 100, being nearly as large as at any time in its history. A large fund renders the support of the gospel very easy. The house of worship was repaired and remodeled in 1849.
MINISTER RAISED UP .- Alexander Yerrington.
* Allen. + Allen.
The Church in Long Society, in Preston, (Norwich 5th,) Org. about 1726.
Jabez Wight,*
1726 1782
Roswell Whitmore,
1848 ?
1849 ?
.Jacob Allen,
1850
1851
Dr. Benjamin Lord, of Norwich Town, preached Mr. Wight's ordination sermon, in 1726, which was published. The records speak in 1758 of a meeting-house, and a minister, then settled in the "East Society of Nor- wich." None has been settled since his death. After that the meeting- house was open to all denominations who chose to occupy it. The second house was built in 1817, and several years since was sold to the town for a town-house. At one time it was voted that any one in the society might in- vite a minister of any denomination to preach, and a collection would be ta- ken up to pay him. The records often speak of unsuccessful efforts to raise money to support preaching for six months at a time. An attempt was made to resuscitate this waning church in Oct. 1837, but paucity of members and inefficiency finally prevailed, and it was disbanded in 1857.
* Sp. An. 1. 299. Allen.
468
History of the Churches.
THE CHURCH IN PROSPECT, (FORMERLY COLUMBIA,) ORG. MAY 14, 1798.
MINISTERS. SETTLED.
DISMISSED. DIED.
Reuben Hitchcock,
1790
1794
Oliver Hitchcock,
Sept. 1798
Jan. 1812
David Bacon,
April, 1813
1814
Abraham Fowler,
Jan. 1815 Jan. 1816
Gideon Burt,
Jan. 1816
Jan. 1817
John Marsh,
1817
1818
Samuel Rich,
May, 1818
May, 1824
John E. Bray, July, 1825, ord. May, 1827
Sept. 1832
James D. Chapman,
Sept. 1832
Sept. 1833
Sylvester Selden,
1834
1836
Zephaniah Smith,
1836
1837
1848
Ammi Linsley,
May, 1837
1839
Edward Bull,
May, 1840
May, 1843
Reuben Torrey,
June, 1843
April, 1848
John L. Ambler,
Jan. 1849
Feb. 1851
James Kilbourn,
Oct. 1851
Mar. 1854
Asa M. Train,
Mar. 1855
Mar. 1856
Joseph H. Payne,
April, 1856
Jan. 1858
Asa M. Train,
Feb. 1858
1860
William W. Atwater,
1860
The Columbia Society was formed from portions of the towns of Water- bury and Cheshire, giving 17 members of those societies liberty of retaining their former connection. The society, with original bounds, became the town of Prospect, in 1827. An old Separate meeting-house was at first oc- cupied, being repaired in 1801. The present house was built, with some aid out of town, in 1841. Sermons were delivered at the dedication, and instal- lation of Mr. Torrey by Mr. Bull. The church has long been dependent on home missionary aid. There have been interesting revivals of religion.
THE CHURCH IN PUTNAM VILLAGE, ORG. JULY 9, 1848.
E. B. Huntington, Nov. 1848 Feb. 1851
.J. Leonard Corning, June, 1852 Jan. 1853
Sidney L. Dean, (Meth.)
April, 1853 Nov. 1854
J. R. Johnson, Mar. 1855 April, 1856
Eliakim Phelps, D. D., May, 1856 Jan. 1858
George J. Tillotson, (c.) Mar. 1858
This church has grown up in the large and thriving village which has arisen around the Putnam depot of the Norwich and Worcester Railroad. The attention of the association of Windham County was turned to the de- sirableness of establishing a church here in 1846, by whose direction and aid the present minister left his charge several weeks to labor here. Preach- ing continued from that time. Though the church has had some trials, yet
469
History of the Churches.
it has been generally making progress. Within the last two or three years especially, it has greatly advanced in numbers and efficiency, and now has the prospect of becoming a strong and useful member of our fraternity of Puritanical churches.
THE CHURCH IN REDDING, ORG. 1733.
MINISTERS.
SETTLED.
DISMISSED.
DIED.
Nathaniel HIunn,*
1733
1749
Nathaniel Bartlett, +
May, 1775
1810
Jonathan Bartlett,
Feb. 1796
June, 1809
Mar. 1858
Daniel Crocker,
Oct. 1809
Oct. 1824
1831
William C. Kniffin,
June, 1825
Dee. 1828
1858
William L. Strong,
June, 1830
Feb. 1835
Jeremiah Miller,
July, 1837
July, 1839
David C. Comstock,
Mar
1840
April, 1845
Daniel D. Frost,
Dec.
1846
Oct.
1856
Enoch S. Huntington,
1858
1859
William D. Herrick, Jan. 1860
Jonathan Bartlett, son of Rev. Nathaniel Bartlett, was a pupil of Pres- ident Dwight, and was converted under his ministry. He was ordained as a colleague with his father, and was dismissed on account of ill health. In the latter part of his pastorate, there was a powerful revival of religion among the people of his charge. After his health was restored, he used to preach to destitute congregations in the vicinity, as well as to his own peo- ple when they were without a pastor. He was a good preacher, and mighty in the scriptures ; being so familiar with them, that he could recite several entire epistles from memory : and it is supposed that he could repeat more of the New Testament in Greek, than any other minister in the land. He always loved the flock over whom he had been settled, and gave them at va- rious times more money than they paid him during his pastorate. Ile left them, in addition, a legacy of $3,000 at his death. At the time of his de- cease, he was the oldest Congregational minister in Connecticut, being in the 62d year of his ministry, and in the 24th year of his age. 1Ie lived and died in the house where he was born, and his end was peace.
MINISTERS RAISED UP .- Jonathan Bartlett, Thomas F. Davies.
* Allen. + Sp. An. 1. 638.
- -
THE CHURCH IN RIDGEBURY, IN RIDGEFIELD, ORG. JAN. 18, 1769.
Samuel Camp, Jan. 1769 Nov. 1804 Oct. 1813
Nathan Burton, Nov. 1821 June, 1841
Aug. 1859
Zalmon B. Burr,
June, 1843 May, 1850
Philo Canfield,
Sept. 1852 April, 1856
470
History of the Churches.
MINISTERS.
SETTLED. DISMISSED. DIED.
William W. Page,
Aug. 1856 Oct. 1859
Aug. 1859
Enoch S. Huntington,
This church ever has been, and must of necessity be, small in numbers, being located on a narrow ridge of land, and having to suffer embarrassment from a Baptist church located in their midst, and more particularly from be- ing so near to Danbury. Ridgebury being a farming community exclu- sively, and Danbury a large manufacturing town, the tendency is to make farming unpopular, particularly with the young men, so that as soon as they get to years of majority, they move away, greatly to the embarrass- ment of the church.
MINISTERS RAISED UP .- Nathan Burton, Oliver St. John, Jacob St. John.
* Sp. An. 1. 664.
THE CHURCH IN RIDGEFIELD, ORG. 1712.
Thomas Hawley,*
1712
Nov. 1738
Jonathan Ingersol, t
July, 1740
Oct. 1778
Justus Mitchell,
1779 ?
1782 ?
Samuel Goodrich, #
July, 1786 Jan. 1811 1814 ? Mar. 1858
John Noyes,
1814
1817 May, 1846
Samuel M. Phelps,
June, 1817
Dec. 1829
Dec. 1841
Charles G. Selleck,
May, 1831
Sept. 1837
Joseph Fuller,
Feb. 1838
May, 1842
James A. Hawley,
Oct. 1843
Nov. 1849
Clinton Clark, June, 1850
The township of Ridgefield was purchased of the Indians by a company of twenty-nine individuals from Norwalk and Milford. The deed bears date 1707-8. In Oct. 1712, the General Assembly, upon the petition of the in- habitants of Ridgefield, passed an order "that all the lands lying in the town of Ridgefield, be taxed in proportion for four years, towards the set- tling and maintaining of the ministry in the said town of Ridgefield." Rel. Intel. 16. 540.
* Sp. An. 1. 438. Allen. + Allen. 1 Sp. An. 1. 512. Allen.
THE FIRST CHURCH IN ROCKVILLE, IN VERNON, ORG. OCT. 26, 1837. -Ansel Nash, Jan. 1839 July, 1841 Augustus Pomroy, Sept. 1841 Sept. 1844 Horace Winslow, Oct. 1845 Nov. 1852 John W. Ray, Dec. 1853 Feb. 1854 Thomas O. Rice, .
April, 1856 April, 1857 Smith B. Goodenow, Nov. 1858 May, 1860
April, 1835
.Jonathan Bartlett,
1811
471
History of the Churches.
Rockville is a manufacturing village in the northern part of Vernon, on the Hockanum River. The first factory was erceted in 1821, at which time there were thirteen families within the present limits of Rockville. Since that time the population has been regularly increasing, and is now (1859) about 2500. The people here attended church at Vernon Center till 1836, at which time the population was 444. The time had now arrived when it seemed necessary that the ministrations of the gospel should be enjoyed by the people, without being obliged to travel the distance of three miles. Ac- cordingly, a petition was drafted and signed by fourteen petitioners, which was presented to the Congregational church in Vernon, asking permission to hold meetings in a room already provided, and to make an effort to sustain the gospel ministrations in this place, with a view, if they were prosperous, of eventually asking that their special relations with the church in Vernon might be dissolved, and they be organized into a church of the same order. The petition was readily granted. The first preaching on the Sabbath in this place, was Dec. 18, 1836, by Rev. Bennet Tyler, D. D., of East Windsor.
THE SECOND CHURCH OF ROCKVILLE, IN VERNON, ORG. FEB. 22, 1849.
MINISTERS. SETTLED. DISMISSED. DIED.
Andrew Sharp,
Sept. 1849 Dec. 1851
C. H. Bullard, Nov. 1853
Jan. 1857
C. W. Clapp, May, 1857
In eleven years after the formation of the First Church, it had increased to such an extent, as to vote that " the time had come for the formation of a second church." The society was formed in February, 1848. The church adopted a rule for a "triennial deaconship." The prevailing Christian influ- enee in the village, from the first, has been Congregational. The church has enjoyed frequent tokens of Divine favor in outpourings of the Spirit, espe- cially in 1850, '52, '54 and '58. The Sabbath school contains children of many foreign families, who can scarely be reached in any other way. The church is steadfast in devotion to the principles of liberty, temperance and Christian enterprise at home and abroad.
MINISTER RAISED UP .- E. C. Bissell.
THE CHURCH IN ROCKY HILL, (FORMERLY STEPNEY, ) ORG. JUNE 7, 1727.
Daniel Russell,* Jan. 1727 Sept. 1764
Burrage Merriam, Feb. 1765 Nov. 1776
John Lewis, + Jan. 1781 April, 1792
Calvin Chapin, D. D.,+ April, 1794
Mar. 1551
L. B. Rockwood, July, 1850 Jan. 1859 George M. Smith, Oct. 1859
This church has had but six pastors since its organization. The first four died as pastors, and were buried in Rocky Hill. The church has had a
472
History of the Churches.
good degree of prosperity from its first formation. The year 1858 was one of unusual religious interest. Dr. Nettleton labored here in 1818, with happy results. Memoir, 97.
MINISTER RAISED UP .- Nathaniel G. Huntington.
* Allen. + Sp. An. 2. 324. Allen. # Sp An. 2. 323. Allen.
THE CHURCH IN ROXBURY, ORG. JUNE 1744.
MINISTERS.
SETTLED.
DISMISSED.
DIED.
Thomas Canfield,
1744
1795
Zephaniah Swift,
1795
1812
1848
Fosdic Harrison,
1813
1835
Feb. 1858
Austin Isham,
1839
The Church in Roxbury, like many other churches, began with few in number and at times seemed struggling between life and death. But the Great Head of the Church has in a wonderful manner fulfilled to His peo- ple here His gracious promises, so that they may truly say "hitherto hath the Lord helped us."
Our fathers, who now "rest from their labors," established a permanent fund, now amounting to between five and six thousand dollars, the interest of which goes to sustain a preached gospel. From time to time, the Holy Spirit has been signally manifested, greatly refreshing the hearts of believers and bringing numbers, especially of baptized children and youth, into the fold of the blessed Redeemer.
THE CHURCH IN SALEM, (FORMERLY COLCHESTER, 2d,) ORG. 1719 .- RE-OR-
GANIZED, 1793.
Joseph Lovett,
1719
1745
David Huntington,
1775
1796
April, 1812
Amasa Loomis, Jr.,
May, 1813 Jan. 1817
Royal Tyler,*
Jan. 1818 Dec. 1821 April, 1826
Eli Hyde, t
Nov. 1822
April, 1831
Oct. 1856
Charles Thompson, +
Oct. 1833
March, 1855
B. B. Hopkinson,
May, 1855
May, 1857
Nathaniel Miner, May, 1857
There are traditions extant concerning Mr. Lovett, and some living who recollect Mr. Huntington, who went to Hamburg in Lyme. Almost nothing is known of the Church before its re-organization. After that, they had preaching but seldom, and being reduced in numbers by death and removals, they ceased to meet as a Church until May 5th, 1813, when the prospect of enjoying the ministry regularly settled among them, and the application of several persons for admission into covenant with them, induced them to meet.
* Mendon As. 240. +Cong. Y. B. 3. 120.
473
History of the Churches.
THE CHURCH IN SALISBURY, ORG. NOV. 22, 1744.
MINISTERS. SETTLED. DISMISSED.
DIED.
Jonathan Lee,* Nov. 1743, ord. Nov. '44
Oct. 1788
William F. Miller, (c.) 1790
John Eliot, (c.) 1791
James Glassbrook, 1792
1793
Oct. 1793
Ebenezer Porter, D. D., (c.)
1795
April, 1834
T. M. Cooley, D. D., (c.)
1795
Dec. 1859
Joseph W. Crossman, June, 1796, ord. June, 1797
Dec. 1812
John B. Whittlesey, (c.)
Dec. 1812
Aug. 1813
William R. Weeks, D. D., (c.)
1814
1815
1848
Chauncey A. Goodrich, D. D., (c.) 1815
Feb. 1860
Asahel Nettleton, D. D.,
1815
1816
May, 1844
Federal Burt, (c.)
1816
Lavius Hyde, Mar. 1817, ord. Mar. 1818
Aug. 1822
William C. Fowler, (c.)
1823
Amzi Benediet, 1823
L. E. Lathrop, D. D., Jan. '24, inst. Feb. 1825 Oct. 1836 1857
Adamı Reid, Nov. 1836, ord. Sept. 1837
The town transacted ecclesiastical business till the Society was organized in 1804. Public worship was attended for several months in three dwelling houses, and then in a log house built for the purpose, and for the use of the minister's family, till 1749, when a meeting house was built; the second house in 1800. The Church and first pastor favored the Great Awakening. The Association of New Haven County reprimanded the Church for adopt- ing the Cambridge Platform, and suspended Rev. Messrs. Humphreys of Derby, Leavenworth of Waterbury, and Todd of Northbury, for ordaining Mr. Lee. He was a man fitted for the exigencies of the times, and to his in- fluence is to be attributed much of the manly, independent spirit, intelli- gence, sagacity, breadth and weight of character by which the town has ever been characterized. He received to the Church 252. There was a very extensive revival under Dr. Nettleton's labors ; (Memoir, 81,) and an- other under Dr. Lathrop. See Centennial Address of Judge Church ; and Historical Address of Mr. Reid, 1844. Rel. Intel. 12, 795.
MINISTERS RAISED UP .- James Hutchinson, Samuel Camp, Chauncey Lee, D. D., Henry P. Strong, Horace Holley, D. D., William L. Strong, Isaac Bird, (f.) Jonathan Lee, George A Calhoun, D. D., Edward Hollister, (h.) Edwin Holmes, Edmund Janes, Edwin Janes, Joseph Pettee, Josiah Turner, Eliphalet Whittlesey, (f.) Elisha Whittlesey, Henry Pratt.
* Sp. An. 2, 288. Allen. Litchf. Centen. 115.
THE CHURCH IN SCOTLAND, ORG. OCT. 22, 1735.
Ebenezer Devetion,* Oct. 1735
James Cogswell, D. D., t Feb. 1772
Dec. 1804 Jan. 1807
61 July, 1771
· 474
History of the Churches.
MINISTERS.
SETTLED.
DISMISSED.
DIED.
Cornelius Adams,
Dec. 1805
Nov. 1806
Elijah G. Welles, Jan. 1808 May, 1810 1855
Jesse Fisher, } Mar. 1811
Sept. 1836
Otis C. Whiton,
June, 1837
April, 1841 Oct. 1845
Thomas Tallman, Mar. 1844
The third Society in Windham, (now Scotland,) was incorporated May 11, 1732; the town, July 4, 1857. Eighty-nine were dismissed from the First Church in Windham, to constitute the Church.
The whole number who have joined the Church in Scotland is 746. The Church has not been visited by very frequent revivals. The most powerful was in 1832, when 54 were added. The Church has been destitute of a pas- tor only about seven years in all.
The Society is now occupying its third meeting house. See Brunswick Separate Church.
MINISTERS RAISED UP .- Joseph Huntington, D. D., Enoch Huntington, Da- vid Ripley, Hezekiah Ripley, D D., John Palmer, David Palmer, Daniel Waldo, Ralph Robinson, Lucien Farnham, (h.) Ebenezer Jennings, Asa A. Robinson, (Bapt.)
* Allen. +Sp. An. 1, 445. Allen. ¿ Sp. An. 1. 538.
THE CHURCH IN SEYMOUR, (FORMERLY HUMPHREYSVILLE, ) ORG. MAR. 12, 1817.
Ephraim G. Swift,
1825
1827
Aug. 1858
Chas. Thompson, June,'28, ord. Apr. 1830
June, 1833
March, 1855
John E. Bray,
Sept. 1834
April, 1842
William B. Curtis,
Aug. 1843 Oct. 1849
E. B. Chamberlain,
April, 1850
April, 1852
James L. Willard, (lic.)
Sept. 1852 April, 1855
H. D. Northrop, (lic.) Aug. 1857 March, 1859
E. C. Baldwin, (lic.)
May, 1859 May, 1860
The first house of worship was built about the time of the organization of the Church ; the second in 1846. There were revivals under the ministry of Mr. Bray and Mr. Northrop. The failure of an extensive branch of man- ufacture, in 1855, removing about 30 families from the congregation, greatly reduced the resources of the society, and made the Church, after several years of self-support, again dependent on home missionary aid.
MINISTERS RAISED UP .- Ira Smith, (h.) H. A. DeForest, (f.)
THE CHURCH IN SHARON, ORG. 1740.
Peter Pratt,*
April, 1740
Oct. 1747 1780
John Searl,*
Ang. 1749 June, 1754 1787
475.
History of the Churches.
MINISTERS.
SETTLED,
DISMISSED.
DIED.
Cotton Mather Smith, t
Aug. 1755
1806
David L. Perry, June, 1804
1835
Mason Grosvenor,
Sept. 1836
June, 1839
Grove L. Brownell,
May, 1840
Aug. 1848
Charles Rockwell,
April, 1850
June, 1851
Thomas G. Carver,
Oct. 1851
1853
L. E Lathrop, D. D.#
July, 1854
Aug. 1857
D. D. McLaughlin, Jan. 1859
The town was incorporated Oct. 1739, and as appears from the records, the Church was organized about the time of Mr. Pratt's settlement. In 1822 a general revival of religion was experienced throughout the Society and large accessions made to the Church, also general revivals in 1806 and 1839, and less extensive at several other times. In 1824, the present church edifice was built with great unanimity. Within a few years past their num- bers have been diminishing by deaths and removals.
MINISTERS RAISED UP .- Jeremiah Day, Daniel Smith, Vinson Gould, Da- vid R. Gould, Charles Y. Chase, Alvin Somers, William Jewell, Hiram White, (Meth.) John M. S. Perry,* (f.) David C. Perry, Gilbert L. Smith, Charles H. Read, James Cleaveland, George I. Kaercher, Jesse W. Guern- sey.
* Allen. + Sp. An. 1. 500, Litehf. Centen. 96. # Cong. Y. Book, 5. 108.
THE CHURCH IN SHERMAN, (FORMERLY NORTH NEW FAIRFIELD, ) ORG. 1751.
Thomas Lewis,
Mar. 1744 . Oct. 1746
Elijah Sill, Oct. 1751 Oct. 1779
Oliver D. Cook,
May, 1792 Nov. 1793
Maltby Gelston,
April, 1797
Dec. 1856
N. M. Urmston, May, 1841 May, 1843
Elijah Whitney,
Nov. 1843 Nov. 1844
Judson B. Stoddard, Oct. 1845 Oct. 1854
Rerillo J. Cone, Jan. 1856
July, 1858
William Russell, 1859
This Church and Society have always been small, being originally called North New Fairfield, and set off from New Fairfield, as the town of Sher- man, in 1803. The only deacon died in 1810, and Mr. Gelston officiated both as pastor and deacon till 1813; and for several years, there were but three male members. The first house of worship was small, much like a common school house ; the second was built in 1785-9 ; the third in 1836. See Mr. Gelston's Funeral Sermon, 1857. Cong. Y. B. 1857, 108.
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