USA > Connecticut > Contributions to the ecclesiastical history of Connecticut > Part 44
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* Allen. t Allen. ¿ Sp. An. 2. 288. Allen.
THE SECOND CHURCH IN WATERBURY, ORG. APRIL 4, 1852.
MINISTERS. SETTLED. DISMISSED. DIED. S. W. Magill, May, 1852
This church was formed to meet the necessities of a rapidly growing pop- ulation, and is steadily working its way to an independent and easily sus- tained position.
THE CHURCH IN WATERTOWN, (FORMERLY WESTBURY, ) ORG. 1738.
John Trumbull,*
1739
Dec. 1787
Uriel Gridley,+ 1784 Dec. 1820
Horace Hooker,
April, 1822 Oct. 1824
Darius O. Griswold, t Jan. 1825 Jan. 1835
Dec. 1841
William B. DeForest,
Jan. 1835 June, 1837
Philo R. Hurd,
July, 1840 Jan. 1849
Chauncey Goodrich,
Aug. 1849
Nov. 1856
George P. Prudden, Nov. 1856
Watertown was originally a part of Waterbury. In 1732, the inhabitants of this part of the town requested of the town what were called winter privileges. Their request being denied, in October of the same year they petitioned the General Assembly on the same subject. Their petition was granted, and the privilege allowed for four years.
In May, 1734, they petitioned to be made a separate society, but their pe- tition was successfully resisted by the town. In Oct. 1736, they petitioned again, and were again refused. Their winter privileges, however, were con- tinued, and extended to five months instead of four. In May, 1737, the at- tempt was renewed, but unsuccessfully. In October, however, of this year, a committee was appointed to visit them and investigate the circumstances.
64
498
History of the Churches.
This committee reported in May, 1738, in favor of the petitioners, and re- commended a division line. The town remonstrated, and so earnestly, that another committee was appointed, who reported in October, recommending the same line. Their report was adopted, and the society incorporated by the name of Westbury. See Bronson's History of Waterbury.
The first house of worship was erected in 1741 ; the second in 1772; and the third in 1839.
MINISTERS RAISED UP .- Stephen Fenn, Israel Beard Woodward, Aaron Dutton, Matthew Rice Dutton, Frederick Gridley, Anson S. Atwood, Jesse Guernsey, John L. Seymour.
* Litchf. Centen. 77, 78. +Sp. An. 2. 524. Allen. Litchf. Centen. 118.
THE CHURCH IN WAUREGAN, IN PLAINFIELD, ORG. JUNE 17, 1856.
MINISTERS. SETTLED. DISMISSED. DIED.
Charles L. Ayer, Dec. 1855
April, 1858
E. F. Brooks, May, 1858 April, 1859 S. II. Fellows, 1859
This enterprise was originated to give the means of grace to the popula- tion collected by a new manfacturing establishment erected on the Quine- baug River, and that the people might not be left in a state of destitution, or to the inroads of other sentiments and influences. The church is largely dependent on Home Missionary aid.
THE CHURCH IN WESTBROOK, ORG. JUNE 29, 1726.
William Worthington,* June, 1726
Nov. 1756
John Devotion, t Oct. 1757 Sept. 1802
Thomas Rich, June, 1804 Sept. 1810 Sept. 1836
Sylvester Selden,
June, 1812
Mar. 1834
Oct. 1841
Jeremiah Miller, Feb. 1835 Mar. 1837
William A. Hyde,
June, 1838 July, 1854
Henry T. Cheever, May, 1855
May, 1856
Stephen A. Loper, Sept. 1858
The settlement of this place commenced as early as 1664. The inhabi- tants attended public worship at Saybrook sixty years, until they became sufficiently numerous to form a separate society. Five of the six pastors began their ministry here. The early history of the church, extending through more than half a century, shows that there were additions to it al- most every year, varying in number from 2 or 3, up to 15 and 16. In 1809 and 1810, a revival extended through the society, and, as the fruits of it, more than sixty were added to the church. Since that time, there have been nine or ten other revivals, which have resulted in the addition of about five hundred.
The first house of worship was built in 1726; the second in 1828 ; re-
499
History of the Churches.
built and re-modeled in 1859. The church has a small fund to assist its needy members ; another for the support of the communion table ; and an- other for the support of the ministry, besides a valuable parsonage. There is here a " Ministerial and Parish Library," the foundation of which was laid a few years since by the Rev. James Murdock, D. D., who gave for this pur- pose 78 volumes of valuable books; and $200, to which Mrs. Nancy Lay, a member of the church, added $200, the interest of which is to be expended for new books.
MINISTERS RAISED UP .- Jonathan Murdock, James Murdock, James Mur- dock, D. D.,# Jedediah Bushnell, Calvin Bushnell, John Whittlesey, Na- than F. Chapman, William Bushnell, Charles Murdock, William H. Moore. * Sp. An. 1. 501. Allen. +Sp. An. 1. 262. Allen. # Allen. Cong. Y. B. 1857, 119.
-
THE CHURCH IN WESTCHESTER, IN COLCHESTER, ORG. DEC. 1729.
MINISTERS.
SETTLED.
DISMISSED.
DIED.
Judah Lewis,
Dec. 1729
Apr. 1739
Thomas Skinner,
April, 1740
Oct. 1762
Robert Robbins,
Oct. 1764
Jan. 1804
Ezra S. Ely, D. D.
Oct. 1806
April, 1800
Nathaniel Dwight,*
Jan. 1812
Aug. 1820 1831
Jacob Scales,
Dec. 1820
May, 1826
Joseph Harvey,
Jan. 1827
Dec. 1835
Daniel G. Sprague,
July,
1839
Jan. 1844
Spofford D. Jewett,
May, 1844
May, 1858
A. C. Denison,
1858
The Westchester Society was set off from Colchester in the year 1729. Original members, 16; added by Mr. Lewis, 182; by Mr. Skinner, 60, dis- missed, 80, baptized, 400 ; by Mr. Robbins, 87, dismissed 29, baptized, 207.
At Mr. Ely's settlement, the church was reduced to 10 males and 20 fe- males. It has a fund of about $8000, pays a liberal salary, and its ministry has generally been able, faithful and devoted. It has enjoyed occasional seasons of the outpouring of the Spirit, and has thus been enlarged; 32 were added in 1857.
MINISTERS RAISED UP .- Judah Lewis, John Niles, Chauncey Robbins, Jonathan Cone, George Champion, (f.) William Olmsted, Jeremiah Day.
* Allen.
THE CHURCH IN WESTFIELD, IN MIDDLETOWN, ORG. DEC. 28, 1773.
Thomas Miner,
Dec. 1773
Apr. 1826
Stephen Hayes,
May, 1820
June, 1827
Stephen Topliff,
May, 1829
Sept. 1838
James H. Francis,
Dec. 1840 June, 1845
Lent S. Hough,
Feb. 1847
500
History of the Churches.
The Fourth Church in Middletown is in Westfield Society, which was in- corporated in 1766, about 46 years from the time of the first settlement.
Mr. Hayes, from Newark, N. J., was pastor of the churches in Westfield and Middlefield, giving two-thirds of his time to Westfield. During Mr. Hough's ministry, thus far, a new school-house, with modern improvements, has been built in each of the four school districts, a new church edifice has been erected, and a building has been purchased and fitted up very con- veniently for a lecture room. To the praise of the people, it may be said, " They have had a mind to work."
The society raised, in 1818, a fund, so guarded that it cannot be destroyed by a majority vote of the society, and that none but a Congregational min- ister can have the avails of it, in which they were encouraged by Prof. C. A. Goodrich, D. D., by a handsome donation from the first money of his own earning. Added to the church in the several pastorates, 88, 21, 62, 31, and 130.
MINISTER RAISED UP .- Samuel Lee.
THE CHURCH IN WESTFORD, IN ASHFORD, ORG. FEB. 11, 1768.
MINISTERS.
SETTLED. DISMISSED.
DIED.
Ebenezer Martin,
June, 1768
1777
Sept. 1795
Elisha Hutchinson,
Mar. 1778
Sept. 1783 Apr. 1833
William Storrs,
Nov. 1790
Nov. 1824
Luke Wood,*
Dec. 18:26
Sept. 1831 Aug. 1851
Alcan Underwood,
April, 1858
Charles S. Adams, Sept. 1844, inst. Jan. 1846. April, 1858
Mr. Hutchinson became a Baptist after leaving Westford. See Am. Bap. Mag., Dec. 1833. During Mr. Storrs' ministry there were several revivals, especially in 1799, 1809, and 1819, the last being a powerful work, adding more than 50 to the church. Mr. Wood was eminently successful as a pas- tor, and did much to heal the wounds in Christ's church, and build up her waste places. See a notice of him in Cong. Journal, Feb. 4, 1852; also no- tice of Westford pastors in Cong. Quarterly, July, 1859, p. 268.
* Allen,
THE CHURCH IN WEST HARTFORD, ORG. FEB. 24, 1713.
Benjamin Colton,
Feb. 1713
Mar. 1759
Nathaniel Hooker,*
Dec. 1757
June, 1770
Nathan Perkins, D. D .* Oct. 1772
Jan. 1838
Caleb S. Henry, June, 1333 Mar. 1835
Edward W. Andrews,
Nov. 1837 Dec 1840
George I. Wood,
Nov. 1841 June, 1844
Dwight M. Seward,
Jan. 1845 Dec. 1850
Myron N. Morris,
July, 1852
501
History of the Churches.
The following may serve to illustrate the fact that divisions among a peo- ple do not necessarily involve the dissolution of the church and society, nor preclude the possibility of their enjoying a permanent and highly useful ministry. It also suggests how a certain kind of divisions may be avoided ; and on what ground-when they exist-harmony may be restored.
Dr. Perkins, in his Half-Century Sermon, preached Oct. 13, 1822, refer- ring to the condition of the people at the time he came-a youth and stran_ ger-among them, remarked: "The church and parish were vacant two and a half a years before my ordination to the pastoral office, in which time you had sixteen candidates on trial for settlement, each of whom, as was to be expected, would have some fast friends. In consequence of a measure of this nature, the church and society were miserably rent and divided. They were greatly distracted,-so much so, that neighboring ministers, whom they consulted, advised them to dismiss all thoughts of settling any of the nu- merous candidates whom they had already employed, and apply to one whom they had never seen nor heard, as the most likely means to accom- plish a union, if possibly a union might be accomplished." Mr. Perkins was sent for; he came, and was settled, and thus commenced a pasto- rate which continued to the day of his death, a period of more than sixty- fire years. "But," he remarks, "it was several years before individuals could wholly forget their past bitter contentions and divisions."
MINISTERS RAISED UP .- Eli Colton, George Colton, Eliphalet Steele, Marsh- field Steele, (h.) Nathan Perkins, George Colton, (h.) Chester Colton, (lı.) Harry Croswell, D. D., (Ep.) Joab Brace, D. D., Epaphras Goodman, Evelyn Sedgwick, Seymour M. Spencer, (f.) Richard Woodruff, (h.) Amzi Francis, Chester Isham, Austin Isham, Hiram Elmer.
* Sp. An. 2. 1. Allen.
THE CHURCH IN WEST HARTLAND, ORG. MAY 4, 1780.
MINIST ERS.
SETTLED.
DISMISSED.
DIED.
Nathaniel Gaylord,*
Jan. 1782 1823
1824
1850
Adolphus Terry,
Nov. 1824
Apr. 1832
John A. Hempsted,
Oct. 1833
Sept. 1835 185-
Luke Wood,
Oct. 1838
May, 1842
Aug. 1851
Aaron Gutes,
May, 1843
Apr. 1846
Apr. 1850
Pearl S. Cossitt,
June, 1847
Nov. 1848
Charles G. Goddard,
June, 1850
Feb. 1854
Henry A. Austin,
May, 1854
1855
Charles G. Goddard,
June, 1856
Apr. 1841
William Ely,
Rev. Nathaniel Gaylord, the first pastor, died in the 90th year of his age, and the 59th year of his ministry.
MINISTERS RAISED UP .- Flavel S. Gaylord, -- Taylor. * Allen.
502
History of the Churches.
THE CHURCH IN WEST HAVEN, IN ORANGE, ORG. 1719.
MINISTERS.
SETTLED.
DISMISSED.
DIED.
Samuel Johnson,
1720
1722
1772
Jonathan Arnold,
1725
1734
Timothy Allen ;*
1738
1742
1806
Nathan Birdseye, t
1742
1758
Jan.
1818
Noah Williston, #
1760
Nov. 1811
Stephen W. Stebbens, §
1815
Aug. 1843
Edward Wright,
1843
Oct.
1852
Hubbard Beebe,
1854
1856
Erastus Colton,
June, 1856
Jan. 1858
George Andrew Bryan,
Sept. 1858
Mr. Johnson, with Rector Cutler, and Mr. Wetmore of North Haven, de- clared for Episcopacy, and opened the advance movement in dissent, when the churches of the State had almost with one consent belonged to the " stand- ing order" for nearly one hundred years. Mr. Arnold also followed in the steps of his predecessor. Mr. Allen was summarily dismissed as a New Light, but long labored as a faithful minister. It is remarkable that except Mr. Arnold, the first five pastors were in the ministry, respectively, 52, 68, 72, 51 and 57 years,-300 in all, or an average of 60 years. West Haven was taken from New Haven in 1822, and united with the society of North Milford to form the town of Orange. This society had its neat and valuable house of worship burnt in 1859, and with great effort opened a new house-larger and much better, with a Conference room attached, in July, 1860.
MINISTERS RAISED UP .- Payson Williston, | Seth Williston, D. D., T Richard S. Storrs, D. D., William T. Reynolds, John Bunnel.
* Tracy's Great Awak. 314, 368. + Sp. An. 1. 436. Allen. ¿ Sp. An. 1. 586. Al- len. § Sp. An. 1. 439. Allen. [Cong. Y.Book, 3. 125. T Sp. An. 4. 140.
THE CHURCH IN WEST KILLINGLY, DANIELSONVILLE, (FORMERLY WESTFIELD,)
ORG. AUG. 1801.
Gordon Johnson, Dec. 1804 Jan. 1809
Roswell Whitmore, Jan. 1813 May, 1843
Thomas O. Rice,
Jan. 1845
March, 1856
Thomas T. Waterman, Jan. 1858
The Church has been repeatedly and richly blessed with the outpourings of the Holy Spirit, some 800 persons having been connected with it by letter and profession. Some 570 of these were added during the long and effective ministry of Rev. Mr. Whitmore.
The Church and Society have one of the largest and most beautiful church edifices in Connecticut, built in 1853, on a new site, which was re- quired by the change of population in the growth of the village.
MINISTERS RAISED UP .- Zolva Whitmore, N. E. Johnson, Herbert A. Reid, (h.) Ezra G. Johnson, (h.) George I. Stearns, (h.) Henry Kies, (h.) Isaac N. Cundall, (h.)
503
History of the Churches.
THE CHURCH IN WESTMINSTER, IN CANTERBURY, ORG. DEC. 20, 1770.
MINISTERS. SETTLED. DISMISSED. DIED.
John Staples,
April, 1772
Feb. 1804
Erastus Learned,*
Feb. 1805
June, 1824
Israel G. Rose,
Mar. 1825
Oct. 1831
Asa King,*
Jan. 1833
Dec. 1849
Reuben S. Hazen, Sept. 1849
The Church in Westminster was originally formed of members belonging for the most part to the Church in Canterbury ; embracing most or all those residing in the western part of the town, now called Westminster. The Church and Society in Westminster have almost constantly enjoyed the stated means of grace, and have been generally united and prosperous from the first. Seasons of revival have been enjoyed from time to time, the last of which was during the year 1858, as the fruits of which about 30 have been added to the Church.
MINISTERS RAISED UP .- William Bradford, James Bradford, Josiah Brad- ford, Archibald Burgess, Zedekiah Barstow, D. D., Samuel Backus, Jason Park, Hiram Dyer, Seth Waldo. * Allen.
THE CHURCH IN WESTON, (FORMERLY NORFIELD, ) ORG. AUG. 17, 1757.
Samuel Sherwood, Aug. 1757
May, 1783
John Noyes,* May, 1786
May, 1807
John Noyes, April, 1823 1836 May, 1846
George Hall, Jan. 1837 March, 1841
Mark Mead, July, 1841 Jan. 1844
Lewis Pennell, Aug. 1844
Oct. 1849
Z. B. Burr, June, 1850
The Rev. J. Noyes, who resided in Weston after his dismissal, supplied the pulpit a portion of the time from 1808 till 1823, (being the regular sup- ply in Greenwich First 1810 to'24,) during which period there was no settled minister or stated supply. See Rev. J. Noyes's Half Century Sermon, 1836.
MINISTER RAISED UP .- Daniel Banks.
* Sp. An. 1. 362. Allen.
-
THE CHURCH IN WESTPORT, ORG. JULY 5, 1832.
Charles Boardman, Feb. 1833 Dec. 1836
Henry Benedict, Jan. 1840 March, 1852
Joseph D. Strong, April, 1853 Feb. 1855
Timothy Atkinson, Jan. 1856
In 1831, measures were adopted for the building of a meeting house,
504
History of the Churches.
which was opened on the 5th of July, 1832. The Church in the village of Saugatuck was constituted with 36 members dismissed from Green's Farms, and in 1835, the village with adjoining territory was incorporated as the town of Westport.
Mr. Boardman was dismissed to become Secretary and General Agent of the Western Reserve Branch of the Presbyterian Education Society.
Mr. Strong was dismissed to take the pastoral charge of the Second For- eign Church in the Sandwich Islands. The meeting house was enlarged and repaired in 1857.
THE CHURCH IN WEST STAFFORD, ORG. OCT. 31, 1764.
MINISTERS.
SETTLED.
DISMISSED.
DIED.
Isaac Foster, *
Oct. 1764
Deposed, 1781
Calvin Ingals,
Dec. 1796
March, 1803
Sept. 1830
Joseph Knight,
Nov. 1816 Dec. 1829
Stephen Ellis, (c.)
Sept. 1831 ?
Dec. 1833 ?
Elliot Palmer,
May,
1834
April, 1847
Augustus B. Collins,
May,
1848
April, 1852
Charles Galpin,
1852 1853
Alvah Page,
Jan. . 1854?
April, 1856 ?
Frederick W. Chapman, Oet. 1856 ?
For a number of years Mr. Foster and his people were on good terms, be- ing mutually agreed and happy. But at length difficulties arose on account of certain doctrines advanced by Mr. Foster, whereby several of the members of the Church were aggrieved; and having labored with Mr. Foster to no purpose, they complained of him to the North Association of the county of Hartford. The Association convened, and becoming satis- fied of Mr. Foster's departure from some of the fundamental doctrines of the Gospel, deposed him from the ministry. A large minority, however, still ad- hered to him. The majority therefore called a council of the Association for advice, and were declared by said council to be the Church of Christ in West Stafford, on their subscription to certain articles of Faith, similar to those of sister Congregational Churches. Said articles were subscribed to by 25 members, April 17, 1781. The seeds of Universalism and Infidelity, sown by Mr. Foster, produced an abundant harvest. As the result, the Church has had difficulties to contend with, and has been too feeble most of the time to sustain the preaching of the gospel without foreign aid.
The Church was destitute of a pastor for 15 years before, and 13 years after Mr. Ingals's pastorate, having only occasional preaching. Mr. Ingals, after being absent from Stafford for a few years, returned again, and admin- istered the ordinances of the Church occasionally until the settlement of Mr. Knight. He was chosen a deacon of the Church, March 3, 1820, in which capacity he served until his death.
* Sp. An. 2. 142.
505
History of the Churches.
THE CHURCH IN WEST SUFFIELD, ORG. 1744.
MINISTERS.
SETTLED.
DISMISSED. DIED.
John Graham,*
Oct. 1746
April, 1796
Daniel Waldo,
May, 1792
Dec. 1809
Joseph Mix,
Dec. 1814
Nov. 1829
Erastus Clapp, five years,
Benjamin J. Lane, two years,
Joseph W. Sessions,
Jan. 1843
Nov. 1852
Henry J. Lamb, June, 1853
March, 1857
Henry Cooley, June, 1857, inst. Mar. 1860
Apparently this Church has not been in a more favorable and promising condition than at present, for half a century.
MINISTER RAISED UP .- Sylvester Graham. t
* Sp. An. 1, 315. t Mendon As. 309.
THE CHURCH IN WESTVILLE, IN NEW HAVEN, ORG. DEC. 25, 1832.
John E. Bray, Sept. 1832
Sept. 1834
Judson A. Root, April, 1842 Sept. 1846
Samuel II. Elliot, Dec. 1849 May, 1855 J. L. Willard, Oct. 1855
The rising of the thrifty and growing village where this Church is loca- ted demanded its existence, though the number of Congregationalists here was for several years insufficient for self-support. Aid was afforded by the Home Missionary Society, till 1855, which has proved a very wise and profit- able expenditure. Preaching was supplied for several years from the The- ological Seminary, New Haven.
From a small beginning, this Church and Society are now in a flourishing condition. The house of worship was enlarged to meet the demands of a growing congregation, in 1859.
THE CHURCH IN WEST WINSTED, IN WINCHESTER, ORG. JAN. 18, 1854. C. H. A. Buckley, Dec. 1854 May, 1859
Arthur T. Pierson, 1859
A Church having existed in the thriving village of Winsted nearly 65 years, a division was amicably effected, local circumstances and the increase of population seeming to demand it, and both Churches are vigorously sus- tained. The benevolent contributions, for the year ending May, 1860, amount- ed to $700, besides paying a liberal salary.
65
506
History of the Churches.
THE CHURCH IN WEST WOODSTOCK, ORG. 1747.
DIED.
MINISTERS.
SETTLED. DISMISSED.
Stephen Williams,* June, 1747
Alvan Underwood, t May, 1801
March, 1833
John D. Baldwin, Sept. 1834 July, 1837
Benjamin Ober, Dec. 1839 March, 1846
Edward F. Brooks,
April, 1846 April, 1850
William Allen,
April, 1850 ?
Nov. 1852
Alran Underwood, Nov. 1852
April, 1854
Joseph W. Sessions, June, 1854
This Church was formed chiefly of members, who were dismissed for the purpose, from the Church in South Woodstock, then under the care of Rev. Abel Stiles. This Church and Society have never been large, though once much larger than at present. Within the bounds of the parish there are now three other religious societies,-one Baptist, one Methodist, and one Universalist, all having places of worship and regular services on the Sab- bath. This Church and Society have always lived in peace among them- selves, and with others around them.
MINISTERS RAISED UP .- Stephen Williams, Jr., Alvan Underwood. * Sp. An. 1, 287. + Cong. Y. Book, 6, 146.
THE CHURCH IN WETHERSFIELD, ORG. 1641.
Henry Smith,
1636
1639
1648
Richard Denton,*
1636
1639
1663
Peter Prudden,t
1639
April, 1640
July,
1656
Henry Smith,
1641
1648
John Russell, t
1650
1659
John Cotton, Jr.,
1659 ?
Joseph Ilaynes,
Thomas Buckingham,
Jonathan Willoughby, Jr.,
1667 ?
Gershom Bulkley,
1667
1677
Dec. 1713
Samuel Stone,
1667
June, 1669
Joseph Rowlandson, t
1677
1678
John Woodbridge,t
1679
1691
Stephen Mix, §
1694
Aug.
1738
James Lockwood, Il
Feb. 1739
July,
1772
Caleb J. Tenney, D. D., **
Mar. 1816
Jan. 1841
Sept.
1847
Charles J. Warren, tt
July, 1835
Feb.
1837
Robert Southgate,
Feb. 1838
Nov. 1843
Mark Tucker, D. D.,
Oct. 1845
April, 1856
Willis S. Colton,
Sept. 1856
Wethersfield was one of the three first settled towns of Connecticut.
Sir
April, 1795 April, 1858
John Marsh, D. D., T
Jan. 1774
Sept. 1821
507
History of the Churches.
Richard Saltonstall with his company settled at Watertown, Mass, but on account of the great number of immigrants from England, some of the people at Watertown left and settled Wethersfield; likewise from Dor- chester and Newtown or Cambridge, settlers came to Windsor and Hartford. Those who first came to submit again to the hardships of a new settlement, were men of character and high standing both in Church and State. Weth- ersfield was more unfortunate than the other two churches, in not having at first a permanent, unchanging ministry. Trumbull's Hist. 1, 22, 23, 59 and 63. Account of revivals in Memoir of Dr. Nettleton, 135. Rel. Intel. 6, 730 ; 11, 123, 140.
Mr. Mix was one of the Scribes of Saybrook Synod, 1708.
The Church is now in a flourishing condition as to wealth, numbers and general unanimity among the members in feeling and action. More than 70 were added by profession in 1857-8.
MINISTERS RAISED UP .- Gershom Bulkley, Joshua L. Williams, John Marsh, Jr., D. D., Jonathan Russell,t Daniel Boardman, Samuel P. Wil- liams, ## John Chester, D. D., §§ William Williams.
* Mather's Mag. 1, 360. + Allen. # Am. Qr. Reg. 9, 366. § Sp. An. 1. 281. | Sp. An. 1. 413. Allen. T Sp. An. 1. 619. Allen. ** Sp. An. 2. 472. tt Mendon As. 182. ## Sp. An. 4. 370. §§ Sp. An. 4, 401.
THE CHURCH IN WILLINGTON, ORG. SEPT. 11, 1726.
MINISTERS.
SETTLED.
DISMISSED. DIED.
- Fuller,
Sept. 1728
Dec. 1758
Gideon Noble, *
1759
1790
Abishai Alden,
1791
1802
Hubbell Loomis,
Aug.
1804
Sept. 1828
Francis Wood,
Dec.
1829
July,
1838
David Bancroft,
Oct.
1839
Jan. 1858
Charles Bentley,
Oct. 1858
By the town records we learn that Mr. Fuller was ordained at the house of Mr. John Merick. No records of any honse of worship being erected till 1798. The one then built is now occupied by the Church, although exten- sive alterations were made in it in 1840.
In the early part of this century, the Church and Congregation, by sub- scription, raised a fund, the amount of which is now $5000, (a part of it having been lost by failure of a Bank.)
There were revivals in the Church during the ministry of Messrs. Loomis, Wood and Bancroft, and also, soon after the dismission of Mr. Bancroft, as fruits of which 30 were added to the church. Mr. Noble was dismissed for in- temperance. Mr. Loomis, during his pastorate, became a Baptist, and as a consequence, a large portion of the churchi seceded when he was dismissed, and formed the present Baptist Church, which weakened and discouraged this Church. Rel. Intel. 14, 550; 18, 715.
MINISTERS RAISED UP .- Zebulon Crocker, Stephen Topliff, Benjamin Sharp.
* Allen.
508
History of the Churches.
THE CHURCH IN WILLIMANTIC, IN WINDHAM, ORG. JAN. 22, 1828.
MINISTERS.
SETTLED. DISMISSED. DIED.
Dennis Platt,
Aug. 1827
Oct. 1829
Ralph S. Crampton,
April, 1830 ?
April, 1832
Philo Judson,
Dec. 1834
March, 1839
Andrew Sharpe,
Sept. 1840
June, 1849
Samuel G. Willard,
Nov. 1849
Previous to 1821, what is now Willimantic contained only about 20 fam- ilies. Soon after, several factories were crected, and the population in 1827 was perhaps 1000. Up to 1827 there was no church or stated preaching -- except in a school house-nearer than Windham Center, three miles dis- tant. In August, 1827, on application of a few persons in Willimantic, made with the hearty approbation of Rev. C. B. Everest of Windham, the Direc- tors of the Domestic Missionary Society sent Mr. Dennis Platt to labor for twelve weeks in the new Village. Mr. Platt states that they designed this as an experiment "to test the question whether an Evangelical Church could be established in a manufacturing village."
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