USA > Connecticut > Contributions to the ecclesiastical history of Connecticut > Part 43
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MINISTERS RAISED UP .- Benjamin Blackman, ## Hezekiah Gold, Jr., Chas. Chauncey,§§ Nathan Birdseye, Isaac Chauncey, ||||
* Allen. + Sp. An. 1. 114. Allen. # Allen. § Allen. | Allen. T Allen. ** Sp. An. 1. 439. Allen. tt Sp. An. 2. 592. Allen. ## Allen. §§ Sp. An. 1. 114. | Sp. An. 1. 114.
THE CHURCH IN SUFFIELD, ORG. APRIL 26, 1698.
John Younglove,
1680
June, 1690
George Philips,
1690
1692
Nathaniel Clapp,
1693 1695
487
History of the Churches.
MINISTERS.
SETTLED.
DISMISSED.
DIED.
Benjamin Ruggles, July, 1695, inst April, 1698
Sept. 1708
Ebenezer Devotion,* June, 1710
April, 1741
Ebenezer Gay, D. D., t Jan. 1742
Mar. 1796
Ebenezer Gay, Jr.+*
Mar. 1793
Jan. 1837
Joel Mann, Dec. 1826
Dec. 1829
Henry Robinson,
June, 1831 April, 1837
Asahel C. Washburn,
Jan. 1838
July, 1851
John R. Miller,
Dec. 1853
The grant for the settlement of this town from the General Court of the Massachusetts Colony, in 1670, required the maintainance of a gospel min- istry here ; and carly measures were taken for that purpose. Owing to the disturbance occasioned by the Indian war of 1675, known by the name of Philip's War, the proprietors were unable to carry this provision into ef- fect until 1680, when Mr. John Younglove came among them in the min- istry, and continued till his decease. None of Mr. Ruggles' predecessors were ordained here. The doings of the Court of Quarter Sessions of Hamp- shire County, Massachusetts, and the records of this town, show that a council of ministers was called April 26, 1698, (May 7, N. S.,) to consider upon and advise with respect to the settlement of Mr. Ruggles in the min- istry here ; and other circumstances, notices and facts point to that as the period when the First Church in Suffield was organized, and Rev. Benja- min Ruggles ordained its pastor. Mr. Devotion was pastor nearly thirty-one years, and received into the church 334 members. Of him it is inscribed, - " He was a man of sound judgment, great stability of mind, and singular modesty and humanity, a true friend and faithful minister, steady in his at- tendance upon the altar, close and pungent in his preaching, and very exem- plary in his life, a pattern of industry and resignation, and of all Christian graces." During the nine months after his decease, 176 individuals were ad- mitted to the communion of the church-97 by Rev. Jonathan Edwards, of Northampton, and 79 by Rev. Peter Reynolds, of Enfield. Within a year of his decease, 207 were received. In 1747, a number withdrew from the church, and formed a Separate church, a part of whom were ultimately formed into the Baptist Church. The third pastor received into the church 167 members; the 4th, 138; 5th, 25; 6th, 25; 7th, 211; and the 8th, in five years, 109, 65 of them in 1858.
MINISTERS RAISED UP .- John Trumbull, Benjamin Pomeroy, Jonathan Leavitt, # John Devotion, Cotton Mather Smith, Aratus Kent, Francis E. Butler, Seth Williston, D. D.§ Ebenezer Devotion, Elisha Kent, Ebenezer Gay, Jr., Arthur Granger.
* Allen. + Sp. An. 1. 537. Allen # Mendon. As. 197. § Sp. An. 4. 140.
The Church in Tariffville, Org. Oct. 29, 1832.
William Parsons,
1841
1842
Calvin Terry,
1842
1843
488
History of the Churches.
It is thought that this Church never had a pastor. It is set down as "va- cant" in the minutes, except as above. It received aid from the Home Missionary Society the most of the time from 1833 to 1845. It was com- posed to a considerable extent of members trained in Scotch Presbyterian- ism, and their influence availed to change its order. The last of its records is dated May, 1845, a Presbyterian Church having been organized in Octo- ber previous, which in its turn, after seven years pastorate, (though yet nom- inally alive,) gave place to an Episcopal Church.
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THE CHURCH IN TERRYVILLE, IN PLYMOUTH, ORG. JAN. 1838.
MINISTERS.
SETTLED.
DISMISSED.
DIED.
Nathaniel Richardson,
Aug. 1838
July, 1840
Merrill Richardson,
Oct. 1841 July, 1846
Judson A. Root, Oct. 1846 April, 1847
Merrill Richardson,
May, 1849 Jan. 1858
John Monteith, Jr ,
Oct. 1858
1860
Its original members numbered forty-nine persons, dismissed by letter from the Congregational church in Plymouth. The congregation is for the most part composed of manufacturers and mechanics. It meets in a neat and comfortable edifice, which seats about 500 persons. Sixty-four miem- bers were added by profession in the spring of 1858.
MINISTER RAISED UP .- Edwin Johnson.
THE CHURCH IN THOMPSON, (FORMERLY KILLINGLY 2D,) ORG. JAN. 38, 1730.
Marston Cabot, Feb. 1730
Apr, 1756
Noadiah Russell,* Nov. 1757 Oct. 1795
Daniel Dow, t D. D., April, 1796
July, 1849
Andrew Dunning, May, 1850
This church is a colony of what was " the First Church in Killingly,"- now " the First Church in Putnam." Its history has not been marked by any striking changes, whether adverse or prosperous. In common with most churches at that early day, it had to struggle through an infancy of weakness and poverty. But its early members trusted in God, and so were helped. Under his care and conduct, its progress has been steadily onward. The church was organized with twenty-seven members. The whole num- ber received to its communion is 1230, or nearly ten per year. It has never dismissed a pastor. This church has enjoyed several seasons of revival,- times of refreshing from the presence of the Lord. In 1858, it received a precious portion of the pentecostal blessings which so richly descended up- on our American Zion. A new house of worship, one of the finest in the State, was erected in 1856.
489
History of the Churches.
MINISTERS RAISED UP .- Joseph Russell, Stephen Crosby, Henry Gleason, William A. Larned, Joseph T. Holmes, David N. Coburn, John Bowers, Herbert A. Read, Charles Thayer, Joseph P. Bixby.
* Sp. An. 2. 237. + Sp. An. 2. 365.
THE CHURCH IN TOLLAND, ORG. 1717.
MINISTERS. SETTLED. DISMISSED. DIED.
Stephen Steel,*
Feb. 1722
1758
Nathan Williams, D. D.,
April, 1760
Apr. 1829
Ansel Nash,
Jan. 1813
May, 1831
Abram Marsh, Nov. 1831
Rev. Stephen Steel labored earnestly to promote the great revival of 1740, and also to save its character from the excesses that damaged it in other places. He was an able and faithful minister. Dr. Williams was a good minister, and a very pleasing man in his manners and conversation. There were revivals in 1790 and 1800. Mr. Nash was active, ready of speech, and one who used well his gifts and knowledge. There were two important revivals under his ministry,-in 1814 and 1822. In the latter, Dr. Nettleton aided him. Additions in all by the third pastor, 265 ; by the fourth, 212. Directly after Mr. Nash was dismissed, a revival commenced ; and at Mr. Marsh's installation, about 90 were indulging hope. A general revival in 1857 and 1858, added 34. From 1831 to 1857, three-fifths of all the male members of the church removed to churches in other towns ; and owing to changes in business, the population of the town decreased 300. Still the heart of the church in regard to the support of the gospel beats better than in 1831. Many a church is receiving missionary aid that could not be induced to tax itself as this church does for the support of the ministry.
The first house of worship was small, and was never finished; the second was built in 1784; the third in 1838 -- a neat and tasteful structure. The church has been blessed in having only four pastors. It lives because it has a living Redeemer.
MINISTERS RAISED UP .- Stephen West, D. D., t Gordon Hall, (f.)
* Allen. t Sp. An. 1. 287. Allen. #Sp. An. 1. 548. Allen,
THE CHURCH IN TORRINGFORD, IN TORRINGTON, ORG. ABOUT 1759.
Mr. Heaton,
1761
1764 ? 1767 9
Mr. Darenport, (c.)
Samuel J. Mills,*
June, 1769
· May, 1833
Epaphras Goodman,
Mar. 1822 Jan. 1836
Herman L. Vaill,
July, 1837
Sept. 1839
Brown Emerson,
July, 1841 Sept. 1844
William H. Moore,
Sept. 1846 63
Aug. 1854
490
History of the Churches.
MINISTERS.
SETTLED. DISMISSED. DIED.
Stephen Fenn,
Nov. 1854
Sept. 1857
Charles Newman,
May, 1858
In 1755, the town voted that their minister should preach on the east side of the town in proportion to the support that the people there afforded. In 1759, four and a half tiers of land were set off for an ecclesiastical society, and from that time public worship was generally maintained. Mr. Mills was a godly man, and as a preacher, plain, simple, and highly interesting. During his last years, he was left quite dependent ; yet he never complained. Every merey he recognized as "wonderful, wonderful goodness." Mr. Goodman removed to Dracut, Massachusetts, and since has preached in several places at the West.
Torringford has shared largely in those divine blessings-revivals. In 1773, 1793, and 1799 merey drops and the copious shower were granted; in 1816, 60 were added, and in 1821, 60 more. During Mr. Goodwin's minis- try, about 100 were received, and different numbers at various seasons of interest since. By these divine visitations, the Lord has granted prosperity. See Mr. McKinistry's History of Torrington. Ev. Mag. 1. 27.
MINISTERS RAISED UP .- Jonathan Miller, Harvey Loomis, Stanley Gris- wold, E. D. Moore, Samuel J. Mills, Jr., (f.)+ Lucius Curtis, Orange Lyman.
* Sp. An 1. 672. Litchf. Centen. 99. + Sp. An. 2. 566. Allen.
THE CHURCH IN TORRINGTON, ORG. OCT. 21, 1741.
Nathaniel Roberts,*
1741
Mar. 1776
Noah Merwin, t
Oct. 1776
Nov. 1783 1795
Lemuel Haynes, ;
1787
1789
Sept. 1834
Alexander Gillett,§
May, 1792
Jan. 1826
William R. Gould,
Feb. 1827
Feb. 1832
Milton Huxley,
1832
1842
John A. Mckinstry,
Oet. 1842
Sept. 1857
Charles B. Dye,
Oct. 1859
At the laying out of the town in 1737, 100 acres of land were reserved for a minister's lot. In 1737, the Torringford Society laid a claim to a portion of this land, and ultimately a little more than one-third of it was granted them. Mr. Roberts was one of the fourteen ministers present at the institu- tion of the original Consociation of Litchfield County, in 1752. He was an eccentric man, characterized by honesty, sincerity, and a humor peculiarly his own. Mr. Haynes was a colored man, of great shrewdness and wit, and was a useful minister of white congregations about fifty years ; he died in Granville, N. Y. Torrington has been the theater of frequent and precious revivals, 70 being added as the fruits in each of the years, 1799 and 1816, with goodly numbers at other times. Dr. Nettleton's Memoir, 89. Ev. Mag. 1. 131.
491
History of the Churches.
MINISTERS RAISED UP .- Timothy P. Gillett, James Beach, Luther Hart, Abel K. Hinsdale,|| (f.)
* Sp. An. 1. 410. Allen. Litchf. Centen. 79, 82. * Sp. An. 2. 351. Allen. ¿ Sp. An. 2. 176. Allen + Sp. An. 2, 68. Allen. Litchf. Centen. 79, 80. ¡ Allen.
THE CHURCH IN TRUMBULL, (FORMERLY UNITY, IN NORTH STRATFORD, ) ORG.
Nov. 18, 1730.
MINISTERS.
SETTLED.
DISMISSED.
DIED.
Richardson Miner,
1730
Mar. 1744
James Beebe,
May, 1747
Sept. 1785
Izrahiah Wetmore,*
1785
Aug. 1798
John Giles, t
May, 1802
Sept. 1802
Daniel C. Banks,
Aug. 1807
Feb. 1813
Reuben Taylor,
Sept. 1817
Feb. 1824
James Kent .*
Nov.
1825
Nov. 1835
Wlliam T. Bacon,
Dec. 1842
May, 1844
John L. Whittlesey,
Oct. 1844
Nov. 1849
David M. Elwood,
Feb. 1850
June, 1853
William T. Bacon,
Sept. 1853
Sept. 1854
Ralph Smith,
Dec. 1854
Dec. 1855
Stephen A. Loper,
June, 1856
June, 1858
Benjamin Swallow,
Jan. 1859
MINISTER RAISED UP .- Daniel Brinsmade.
* Allen. + Sp. An. 3. 437.
THE CHURCH IN UNION, ORG. DEC. 13, 1738.
Ebenezer Wyman,
Dec. 1738
Jan.
1745
Caleb Hitchcock,
Jan. 1749
1759
Ezra Horton,
June, 1759
June, 1783
David Avery,
April, 1797
Aug. 1799
1817
M. Chapin, (Meth.)
1803
1809
Nehemiah B. Beardsley, April, 1824
April, 1831
Elliot Palmer,
Jan. 1832 June, 1833
Alcan Underwood, June, 1833
June, 1834
April, 1858
Samuel J. Curtiss, Mar. '40, inst. Apr. '42
Mr. Hitchcock was deposed for intemperance. The Church has been 43 years out of 121, destitute of a pastor or stated supply. During this time, the ministration of the word was only occasional and generally there was no preaching during the winter, no minister spending a whole year with the people. The Church has long been dependent on home missionary aid.
492
History of the Churches.
THE CHURCH IN UNIONVILLE, IN FARMINGTON, ORG. MARCH 30, 1841.
MINISTERS. SETTLED.
DISMISSED. DIED.
John R. Keep,
1840
1841
Richard Woodruff, June, 1842
May, 1846
James O. Searl, Apr. '47, inst. Sept. 1848
April, 1851
Giles M. Porter, Oct. 1852
Oct. 1856
Hiram Slauson, Dec. 1857
Dec. 1858
James A. Smith, 1859
Previous to the organization of the Church, public worship had been maintained in a school house, with a good degree of regularity, for more than ten years ; preaching by ministers of different denominations. Society organized in 1839, from which time the ministers were Congregational, and missionary aid was granted till 1852. Revivals in 1846 and 1858. House of worship built in 1842, enlarged and remodeled in 1852.
THE CHURCH IN VERNON, (FORMERLY NORTH BOLTON, ) ORG. OCT. 1762.
Ebenezer Kellogg,
Nov. 1762
Sept. 1817
William Ely,* March, 1818
Feb. 1822
Nov. 1850
Amzi Benedict, t
June, 1824
Feb. 1830
Nov. 1856
David L. Hunn, Nov. 1830 March, 1832
Chester Humphrey,
Oct.
1832
April, 1843
Albert Smith,
May, 1845
Oct. 1854
Mark Tucker, D. D., April, 1857
The Society was organized Nov. 1760, and called North Bolton, contain- ing, probably, a little more than 400 inhabitants.
The Church formed with 35 members from Bolton ; the number doubled in seven years, and in 89 years since 1769, but two years have passed with- out additions being made to the Church ; in all 971. It is probable that more than two-thirds of those here first professing their faith in Christ, were the children of professed believers.
The early history of the Church was not marked by frequent revivals. The first pastor, in his half-century discourse, preached in 1812, notices four "seasons of uncommon awakening ; in and about the years 1772, 1782, 1800, and 1809." ITe was blessed with a still greater "awakening," in 1814- 15, when 40 united with the Church ; about 80 in 1830-31. Other princi- pal revivals in 1819, '30, '35, '41, '51, and '58. Rel. Intel. 16, 637.
Before 1807, 136 were received on the "half-way covenant," 19 of them afterwards received to full communion. The first meeting house was erected in 1762, (Sabbath worship having been maintained at a dwelling . house a year or two,) though without pews till 1770, and unplastered till 1774. This was used until the present house of worship was completed in 1827.
Uutil 1852, the expenses of the Society were provided for by taxation. There are small funds for sacred music, and the Sabbath school library.
493
History of the Churches.
MINISTERS RAISED UP .- Salmon King, Francis King, Allen McLean, Eh- enezer Kellogg, Joel Talcott, Eliot Palmer, Jr., Cyril Pearl, Lavalette Per- rin, Martin Kellogg, Allyn S. Kellogg.
* Allen. t Cong. Y. B. 1857.
THE CHURCH IN VOLUNTOWN AND STERLING, ORG. OCT. 15, 1723.
MINISTERS. SETTLED.
DISMISSED.
DIED.
Samuel Dorrance,
Dec. 1723
1770
Nov. 1775
Micaiah Porter,
Nov. 1781
Aug. 1800
Elijah G. Welles,
June, 1811
June, 1812
Otis Lane,*
Oct. 1828
Sept. 1834
May, 1842
Jacob Allen, t
Oct. 1837
Nov. 1849
Jacob Allen,
April, 1851
March, 1856
Charles L. Ayer, Jan. 1859
For revivals and Dr. Wheelock's preaching at Voluntown, see Tracy's Great Awakening 201. The Church was originally Presbyterian : was re- organized as Congregational, Jure 30, 1779. In the year 1794 the town of Voluntown was divided and the north part called Sterling. Since then the Church has been called the Congregational Church in the First Ecclesiasti- cal Society in Voluntown and Sterling, and the meeting house is on the line between the towns. In 1858, the Society erected a neat and convenient meeting house at an expense of $2,500, with a good bell and other conven- iences for public worship, and in 1859, a parsonage. With the settlement of a pastor also, a new day of hope seems to have dawned on this old deso- lation.
MINISTER RAISED UP .- Gordon Dorrance. #
* Sp. An. 2, 243 t Cong. Y. Book, 1857, 1858. #Sp. An. 1, 549. Allen.
THE CHURCH IN WALLINGFORD, ORG. IN 1675.
Samuel Street,* 1675 Jan. 1717
Samuel Whittlesey, t Apr. 1709, ord. May, '10
April, 1752
James Dana, D. D., } Oct. 1758 Feb. 1789
Aug. 1812
James Noyes, §
May, 1785 June, 1832
Feb. 1844
Edwin R. Gilbert, Oct. 1832
The first settlers of Wallingford were from New Haven. The town was incorporated in 1670, and embraced what are now the towns of Wallingford, Meriden, Cheshire, and Prospect. The Church was organized in 1675. The first pastor was one of " the undertakers and committee," for the settlement of the town. "He was esteemed an heavenly man." It is said of Mr. Whittlesey that "he was one of the most eminent preachers in the colony in his day, a laborious, faithful minister of Christ, applying his whole time to his work, and that he shione with distinction in intellectual and moral at- tainments."
494
History of the Churches.
After the death of Mr. Whittlesey, the Church was without a pastor for about six years, and became somewhat divided into parties in consequence of hearing various candidates. They "called" at length Rev. James Dana, D. D., of Cambridge. In connection with his settlement arose what is his- torically known as "the Wallingford controversy," an account of which may be found in Trumbull's History of Connecticut, Bacon's Historical Dis- courses, and in a volume of pamphlets in the Library of the Connecticut Historical Society.
Dr. Dana, on the restoration of his health, was dismissed, and became pastor of the First Church in New Haven, April 29, 1789. He was noted for his discretion and dignified propriety of conduct, and the venerable beauty of all his public performances, particularly his prayers ; and his reputation for learning and wisdom was unquestionable.
Mr. Noyes belonged to a line of ministers, which at the time of his death had existed during two hundred years in uninterrupted succession. He was a lover of peace and harmony. In his public discourses he was always dis- creet, amiable and conciliating ; and his prayers, especially on peculiar oc- casions, such as domestic affliction, were remarkable for their elevation, spirituality and adaptation to the circumstances of every case. His pas- torate continued 47 years.
The Church has existed 183 years, and has had but five pastors. Such an instance of pastoral permanence and longevity may not be unworthy of record in grateful remembrance of the mercy of God.
MINISTERS RAISED UP .- Samuel Whittlesey, Chauncey Whittlesey, James Noyes, Lent S. Hough, Edgar J. Doolittle, Ogden Hall, Andrew Bartholo- mew, Joseph Bellamy, Matthew Merriam, | Thomas Yale, Comfort Williams, David Brooks.
V
* Sp. An. 1, 104. Allen. +Sp. An. 1, 268. Allen #Sp. An. 1, 565. Allen. § Sp. An. 1, 362. Allen. | Sp. An. 2, 689.
The Second Church in Wallingford, Org. April 3, 1759.
MINISTERS.
SETTLED.
DISMISSED.
DIED.
Simon Waterman,
Oct. 1761 June, 1787 Nov. 1813
This Church originated in what is known as the Wallingford controversy. A minority of the First Church who were opposed to the settlement of Dr. Dana, were owned and acknowledged to be the first consociated church in Wallingford, by the united council of the Consociations of New Haven County and Hartford South. They were incorporated, with others associa- ted with them, into the "Wells Ecclesiastical Society " in 1763, having opened their meeting house Dec. 8, 1762. The Church and Society each by separate vote, declared themselves unable longer to support Mr. Waterman, May 3, 1787. Nov. 1788, they voted unanimously that they were " desirous of holding Christian fellowship and communion with the church under the
495
History of the Churches.
care of Rev. James Noyes, notwithstanding the sentence of non-communion passed some years since by a consociated council against said Church." Some of them returned to the old church, and others went to other ecclesi- astical organizations ; and their church edifice passed into the hands of the Episcopalians about 1831.
THE CHURCH IN WARREN, (FORMERLY EAST GREENWICH, ) ORG. SEPT. 1756.
MINISTERS. SETTLED.
DISMISSED.
DIED.
Silvanus Osborn,*
June, 1757
May, 1771
Peter Starr, t
Mar. 1772
July, 1829
Hart Talcott, #
May, 1825
March, 1836
Harley Goodwin, June, 1838
Dec. 1843
Jan. 1855
John R. Keep,
May, 1844
Nov. 1852
M. M. Wakeman, Sept. 1853
June, 1856
Francis Lobdell, Nov. 1859
Universal harmony has prevailed from the formation of the Church to the present time. During the ministry of Mr. Osborn there was no general revival of religion, but a constant attention to the things of another world, which resulted in numbers being added to the Church every year. Since which God has been pleased to pour out His Spirit from time to time during each successive ministry. The most powerful work was in 1799 and 1800, when it seems almost the whole town was brought under the influ- ence of the Gospel. Ev. Mag. 1, 100.
MINISTERS RAISED UP .- Reuben Taylor, Urban Palmer, Alanson Sanders, Josiah Hawes, Charles G. Finney, Seth Sackett, Prince Hawes, Charles Everitt, John Smith Griffin, Nathaniel Swift, Jr., Lucius C. Rouse, Tertius Reynolds, John L. Taylor, Julian M. Sturtevant, Myron N. Morris.
* Sp. An. 1. 690. Allen. + Sp. An. 1. 692. Allen. Litchf. Centen. 78. t Litchf. Centen. 119. Allen.
THE CHURCH IN WASHINGTON, (FORMERLY JUDEA SOCIETY, ) ORG. SEPT. 1, 1742.
Reuben Judd, Sept. 1742
May, 1747
Daniel Brinsmade, * Mar. 1749
April, 1793
Noah Merwin, t
Mar. 1785
April, 1795
Ebenezer Porter, D. D.,+ Sept. 1796 Dec. 1811
April, 1834
Cyrus W. Gray, April, 1813 Aug. 1815
Stephen Mason, Feb. 1818 Dec. 1828 Gordon Hayes, Oct. 1829 Dec. 1851
Ephraim Lyman, June, 1852
There have been several revivals, in which large additions have been made to the church. Besides scasons of less importance, three or four have been specially remarkable in extent, viz : in 1804, in which 54 were added,
496
History of the Churches.
58 in 1824, 131 in 1831, and 43 in 1843. Ev. Mag. 7. 143. Rel. Intel. 16. 331. Dr. Porter was eminent both as a minister and an instructor in Ando- ver Theological Seminary, whither he removed. He labored for many years under the embarrassment and trial of ill health, but accomplished much, notwithstanding.
MINISTERS RAISED UP .- John Clark, John Clark, -- Davies, Thomas Knapp, Danicl Parker, George A. Calhoun, Elisha Mitchell, Henry Calhoun, Bennitt B. Burgess, William Sidney Smith, Samuel Pond, (f.) Gideon H. Pond, (f.) Lewis Gunn.
* Sp. An. 1. 631. Allen. +Sp. An. 2. 351. Allen. #Sp. An. 2. 351. Allen. Litchf. Centen. 106. Am. Qu. Reg. 9. 9.
THE FIRST CHURCH IN A TERBURY, ORG. AUG. 26, 1683.
MINISTERS.
SETTLED.
DISMISSED.
DIED.
Jeremiah Peck, *
Aug. 1689
June, 1709
John Southinayd, t 1700, ord. June, 1715
1739
Nov. 1755
Mark Leavenworth, #
Mar. 1740
Aug. 1797
Edward Porter,
Nov. 1795
Jan.
1798
1828
Holland Weeks,
Nov. 1799
Dec. 1806
Aug. 1842
Luke Wood,
Nov.
1808
Nov. 1817
Aug. 1851
Asahel Nettleton, D. D.,
1815
1816
Daniel Crane,
July,
1821
April, 1825
Henry Benedict,
1826
1827
Jason Atwater,
Mar.
1829
June, 1830
April, 1860
Joel R. Arnold,
Jan.
1831
June, 1836
Henry N. Day,
Nov. 1836
Oct. 1840
David Root,
July,
1841
1844
Henry B. Elliott,
Dec.
1845
April, 1851
William W. Woodworth,
Sept. 1852
May, 1858
George Bushnell,
Sept. 1858
This church was formed eleven years after the first settlement was made in the town by a small colony from Farmington. Like many of the churches which were formed during the early period of its history, this church con- sisted at first of seven male members, who were the " seven pillars of the church." For a long time the church was small; for in 1705 there were only twelve male members. The territory occupied by the early members of this church was large. The church in Westbury (now Watertown, ) was formed mostly by members from this church, in 1738 ; the church in North- bury (now Plymouth,) in 1740; the church in Middlebury about 1790; the church in Salem (now Naugatuck,) in 1781; the church in Wolcott in 1773; the Second Church in Waterbury in 1852; and the original members of the church in Prospect were also partly from this church.
Mr. Southmayd, a native of Middletown, commenced preaching here soon after the death of Mr. Peck, but owing to the poverty and distress of the town, occasioned by its exposure to attacks from the Indians, and by de-
497
History of the Churches.
structive floods, was not ordained till June 20, 1715. He was dismissed, at his own request, in 1739, and continued to reside in the place till his deatlı, at the age of 79. The weakness of the church 50 years ago, is also shown in the fact that Mr. Weeks was dismissed for want of support. The old, uninteresting village, with one feeble church, has become the thriving city with half a dozen strong and vigorous churches.
The church has shared frequently in revivals. Mr. Leavenworth was an active promoter of the Great Awakening. Dr. Nettleton labored here with great success. Memoir 90.
MINISTERS RAISED UP .- Samuel Hopkins, Samuel Hopkins, D. D., Daniel Hopkins, D. D., Jonathan Judd, Benoni Upson, D. D., Benjamin Wooster, Ebenezer Cook, Thomas Bronson, Abner J. Leavenworth, Eli B. Clark, Ira H. Smith, George A. Bryan.
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