USA > Connecticut > Diocese of Connecticut : formative period, 1784-1791 > Part 6
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Upon his tombstone in the Grove Street Cemetery he is characterized as "well instructed, especially in his holy office, unremitting in his labours, charitable, patient, and of primitive meekness."
Stratford Nov. 8, 1784.
Dear Sir:
I suppose you know, I have consented to take the Care of this Church, which has been for many years, in a very broken, unsettled State. It was supposed, that it was necessary in order to collect this Church together, that an old man should undertake the Task. I am old enough, if that will do, and if I am not too old, I make no doubt, I shall accomplish it.
The Chh. at Norwalk, all wanted me to return there, but that Chh. is able to do without me. It would have been for my advantage to have gone there. But it was supposed that
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the general Good of the Chh. required me to take the Charge of this Chh.
I suppose you will take this, for a New England Cant: because you have lately lived, where the Enquiry is, Who will give the best Salary, not where can I do the most Good.
I understand it has been represented to the Society, that MT. Kneeland, was an Enemy to the British Constitution. This is certainly a very false report. And I hope you will rectify the Error.
You must send over a power of Attorney, or come yourself immediately, or you will be in danger of losing your fortune in this State, a word to the wise is Sufficient.
Joseph Peters, Daughter claims an £100 of your Estate; and says you had it, at your Brothers death; and she is about take your land and sell it, to pay the Debt. I am your sincere friend.
J. Leaming.
Society
P.S. I wonder the have not let me know,
that approve of my Endeavor to raise up Doc". Johnson, Chh-
We all join in Love to you and Hanah : MT. Birdseye is much better with whom Mrs. Leaming and I live at this time. Your Son is well and has recd. your Letter, July 20.
Leaming Revd. Nov. 8, 1784. recd. Jan. 25, 1785. Ansd. Feb. 17, 1785.
Stratford Feb. 15, 1785,
My dear Sir :
been
The Letters you have sent have answered. But many of them were a long time before they came to hand. The Letter 'till
you wrote Augt. 11th. did not arrive at New York the 19
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Jany. this is last I recd. altho I had recd. two before of a later date. I have recd. the Letter directed to M'. Jarvis and the committee, a few days before. That Letter is not answered. But if you have recª. the Letters we wrote before, you have all that you wish to know-If you have not, you may be assured that the Clergy will gladly receive you, in this State, in case you bring Episcopal Authority, from a valid Line. For the Clergy here are resolute to Support the Church, at all Events. And they are upon so good Terms, with the other Denominations, that we have their good wishes that we may succeed. You will think this is strange, but the case is thus, Infidelity is coming in like a flood, and they own that the Chh. is a Bulwark against Infidelity: and say further, that they (the Clergy) of this State will choose a mgr. for a Bp, he
that would be as agreeable to them, as would be to the Chh. That they can confide in the Clergy that will choose one that is Orthodox in his principles, and regular in his Conduct. This is what I have heard myself from some principal people. The truth is, they have laid down their Arms.
It is a very melancholy thing, to find that some Bps. have lost all their Influence, in matters of a religious Nature. But it will not be long, if this is the case, before they will find themselves in a worse Condition, than the despised Clergy of may
Connecticut. If they lose their immense Riches, they be glad to fly to America : But after all the slights they have cast upon us here, we must be very humble indeed to receive them. If
not act
they believe that Episcopacy is necessary, they do according to their faith .-
to
If they have Cond so wisely as live in friendship and Amity with Each other, and have the love of the Clergy and Laity, of whom they should be afraid, If they have not, every Blast of popular Commotion must frighten them.
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But enough of
You must not come over without the Episcopal Character. day
I have sent money to Miss Maria and I have this ordered some more, and shall take care of her. I have been cut short in my income by a set of people who went into N. York after the peace; took possession of my houses, lived in them till the Rent amounted to more than £400-and went out without they
a Copper: indeed nothing could be expected, for went into the City without any thing. And the City was forced to sup- port with fuel and Bread; and my houses has a tax £100- to support those that lived in them without any Rent, so you see, what is in the world. One third must maintain all the rest.
Adue-dearest heart-
J. Leaming.
The Revd. Doc". Seabury
To the Care of the) Revd. M. Peters ) Pimlico )
London. Recd. April 23 answerd .- 23 Ship Minton Capt. Nestrals .- 1
Dear Sir :
Stratford Feb. 15, 1785.
I now sit down to give you some Advice concerning your Son. There is no Latin School in this Town; and I wished to do something to help him in the Knowledge of the Latin Tongue. But I was disappointed in my View; he does not love his Book, and having no one with him to Stimulate his Ambition, from a disrelish to Learning, he soon contracted
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is
an absolute hatred to it. There no such thing, as you know, as forcing a Child to learn. He is an Active, Sprightly Boy ; and if he were placed among a Number of other Lads, his pride would lead him to be one of the foremost of them; and him
his Abilities would Support in the Attempt. In this View of the Affair I sent him back to his Grandfather who is exces- sively fond of him; and wishes to do every thing in his power to make a man of him: but the old Gentleman, for the troubles he has had have made him old indeed. His Son went away after the Law was made, by which his whole Estate was con- fiscated. And this lay intermixed with his Fathers, in such the
manner, that old Gentleman was ruined, unless he bought help
it. And doing this in his old Age, and no one to him, he is embarrassed to a great Degree. If he had been able, he would have sent your Son where he might had the best Advan- tage. It is not want of good will to the Lad, but for want of money. He has expected you would have given a power of Atorney to some one, and that some of the availes of your Estate would have been ordered by you for the Education of your Son. You must see and know, that all MT. Birdseys hopes are centered in those two grandchildren that are with Gentlemans
him. You hurt the old feelings very much, in your last Letter to him, in which you desired him to send you the your Son Account of what Expense he had been at, in bringing up, and you would pay him. He says, he never gave you any Reason, by his Conduct to you, for you to treat him, in such a manner. And therefore was the more surprised to meet with it.
I have sent a Letter, to Dr. Seabury addressed to your care, supposing that the D'. may have left England before the Letter may reach thither. If that should be the case, make
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the Letter your own property, my best regards to your Dear Daughter.
Adue, my heart-
J. Leaming.
Leaming Recª. FebTy. 15-1785 Recª. April 23- Answd. 23-
EBENEZER DIBBLEE.
Ebenezer, a son of Wakefield Dibblee of Danbury, Connecticut, was born about 1715. He graduated from Yale College in 1734. The death in his senior year threw him entirely upon his own exertions for a living. He studied theology and on March 4, 1734-5, the Fairfield East Association licensed him to preach. For ten years he occupied the pulpit of vacant Congregational Churches in Fairfield County, but apparently had no call to settle.
In 1745 he conformed to the Church of England and became lay reader at Stamford. He went to England for ordination in April, 1748, partly at the expense of the parish. He was made deacon and ordained priest in September of that year by the Bishop of London.
In addition to his duties in Stamford and Greenwich he went into Litchi- field County and the destitute portion of Westchester County. His min- istration at Sharon led to the building of a Church in that town in 1758. He was instrumental in fostering the Church in Danbury and officiated at the opening of a new Church building there in 1763. His work was of the most arduous character but was always done with cheerful content. He had the warm regard of the whole community in which he lived. He remained at his post during the Revolution, and so great was the esteem in which he was held that he was practically undisturbed by mobs or patriot violence. He suffered, however, greatly from the necessary with- holding of his stipend from the Venerable Society and the inability of the congregations he served to give him a comfortable support. After the declaration of peace the distress which was everywhere affected him. He, however, continued his ministrations without murmur or complaint until the end of earth came in the eighty-fourth year of his age and the fifty-first of his ministry.
Upon his monument is this eulogium: "He became endeared to all by his unwavering devotion to their best interests, his holy life, and unre- mitted zeal in the name of Christ and His Church."
Mr. Dibblee married in 1736, Joanna, daughter of Jonathan and Joanna (Selleck) Bates of Stamford.
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His son Frederick was for many years a highly honored clergyman in New Brunswick.
It is to be noted that the name is spelled both Dibble and Dibblee. Usually the Rector of Stamford employed two ee's.
State of Connecticut Stamford Augst. 1, 1788.
Reverend and dear
Sir-
I have yours of the 24th of March before me, and note the contents.
The forsaken Miss Sally Thorp, with your approbation, hath this day in my presence, drawn a set of bills upon you for £25 Sterling, payable at ten days sight, in favour of M. Moses Rogers merchant in New York. Uppon your honoring the bill, he promises to her the money, with interest, at 5 or 6 př cent above par.
Miss Sally wishes me to give you this advice, with her tribute of gratitude.
It is a seasonable favour to Miss, a promising young woman for her years, and manner of Education .- Her parental through
neglect hath been surprising, as it is reported, her father, your kind influence, hath a pension and is not under needy circumstances. Her friend's here, are ill able to support her without her own industry. I say no more, in this case, as in many others there is a whele within a whele.
Morice
I received your advice that Doctor had paid you my bill of £25, and advised you that I had drawn a bill upon you for £20 in favour of MT. Moses Rogers of New York, wishing £5 worth of books might be sent to his care for me; as I have heretofore mentioned; of which, & concerning my son and his prospects, I trust you must have received advice .- Bishop Inglis was expected this month at New Brunswick, and expect soon to hear if Frederick goes into Orders or not.
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I am not too much prejudiced in the Bishops fav', I have no reason to be, from the character he sustains in many respects, especially from his unpolite treatment of me just before his departure from New York .- Nevertheless since he is honor'd with the Mitre, I sincerely wish and pray he may do honor to religion, the Church of God, and the dignity of the office he sustains. The hearts of Bishops as well as Kings are in the hand of God, and he can turn them as the rivers of water are turned-
Our English Jesuits, I think equal, if not exceed, any in France & Spain-
Great are the expectations, pompous are the representations of the same, of the increasing, flourishing state of the Epis- copal Church in genal, in the united States; in New England in particular. Would to God it may be true. The prevailing influence of honor, Power, Reputation, Interest, are against us. Under the present load of public taxes, the unsettled state be
of our Government I fear not likely to betterd, by the or constitution
new revolution which will undoubtedly take place; together, with the incapacity of the Chh to support it self and their dignified Clergy ; I can se no such happy & glorious prospect .-
My Church rises but slowly out of its ruins, labours under uncommon obstructions, insufficient for my support, clogged the third time with an expensive law suit, with my good old friend M'. John Lloyd, demanding Hundreds, for what he expended upon it from its infancy to its maturity and to the baneful Independency of the United States-at which period he renounced all connection with me and concern for the Chb, and seemingly with as much zeal endeavors to demolish it, he it
as in a laudible manner
endeavoured to raise up.
The adverse dispensations of providence are great to me and mine. (Gods will be done) Doctor Morice's neglect to answer my last letter to him, and address to the venerable Society,
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and your Silence, prognosticates; I am in future, in the winter of life, to end my days in want and its constant attendant, contempt.
It is my dear friend, with reluctance I repeat my grievan- ces-I know the goodness of your heart; can no method be devised for my relief, in consequence of my declining, in the winter of life, and cold climate of adversity, to remove to Nova Scotia. Necessity not choice prevents. Heaven forbids it, by my great age & M's. Dibble's, now in her 80th year; want of
and in the health in the family, the effects of my persevering in that line of duty allotted me during the late Rebellion; out to
of Loyalty to my Sovereign, and confirm & preserve his Subjects, and members of my Church in dutiful Obedience to Church and State; at the hazard of all that is dear in life.
I mean not to arraign the conduct of the Venerable Society ; but I sincerely thank them for their past favours, and pray God to prosper, & succeed, & reward all their most pious & ta
charible designs, but I see no more merit in fleeing from the storm, than abiding it; nor any more inconsistency, in con- u
tinuing their vanted charity to such as 'remain unable to flee under Royal protection, after the winds & rains abates, but having suffered shipwreck; then in granting their favours to such, as being in the Noon of the life can flee under their Shadow or for the State to continue their Pensions to their Chaplains, residing and officiating as ministers of religion in the United States. Neither can I see why such Loyalists suffered
have the loss of all things, for their Loyalty to their Sovereign, constitution
and attachment to the british in Cha & State, are not equally favour
entitled to Royal and recompense, as well as those that fled,
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not having taken an active part against Government; but were Serving the interests of it effectually, by encouraging persevering Loyalty, amidst the most fiery trials. God bless you my dear Sir, for your past attention to my unhappy do
Situation, readiness to good to the suffering State of your countrimen in general, & your brethren in particular .-
I I
But if am forsaken in my old age, and while am grey headed, by my best friends and Benefactors, mine integrity I will hold fast, my heart shall not reproach me so long as I live; and the uncommon share of health, I am personally favour'd with, shall be employed in promoting the interest of the best religion, and best constituted Chh in the World .-
My time is now short, the fashion of this world will soon pass away ; I am sick of this world; were it not for my tender, connexions, am so worn out with trouble, that I could wish to sing good old Simeons nunc dimittis.
All things continue in much in Statu quo.
Doctor Seabury continues to conduct with propriety. No alterations in Ecclesiastical Polity hath taken place .-
Please to make my compliments acceptable to Doctor Morice. No Coalition with B- Seabury takes place. Bishops Provost and White refuse to unite with him in constituting a Bishop for Virginia. Brother Hubberd is meditating a Removal to St. Johns N- Brunswick. Bowdon to West Indies .-
My Prayers & best wishes attend you. Affectionate regards to M'. Jarvis & his Lady. His friends well. His Sister Levina is addressed by MT. Todd in Deacons Orders. A likely young Gentleman, a good Speaker. I prophesy a Match.
Revd. Sir
Yours most Affectionately,
Ebenezre Dibblee.
Revd. Doctor Peters.
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Stamford, State of Connecticut Octobre 22. 1789.
Reverend, Dear Doctor.
The 17th instant M". Bates delivered your favor of the 4th of August. I sincerely thank you for the advice you give me, and that the venerable Society in their charity pay any attention to the unhappy incumstanies of your aged brother in Christ, and your most affectionate friend, almost worn out with the troubles of life.
Last May I wrote you a long letter, as soon as I got the affair of Miss Thorps bill setled; with an acknowledgement of the receipt of the books you sent. I have neglected no letter I ever received from you, without a return of my most grateful acknowledgements. I am happy to hear the candle of the Lord Shines bright upon your tabernacle. May the best of heavens blessings always attend you and yours &c.
I am chained down here, to suffer the inflictions of an angry God. Your letter found my family in the greatest adversity. never
My Daughter Polly, who had fully recovered the steadiness and tranquility of her mind, since by the terrour of our Sovereign Lords the Mob in the begining of our late troubles, of
she was thrown into a state insanity; hath a third time, gradually relapsed into it; for 3 months past I have been confined to close attention to her, scarcely can go out but to attend public duty. She is reduced to the lowest state, her days
life not expected many; we thot her expiring this morning; but she revived; but still as discomposed. Gods will be done- In this time of life, and scenes of adversity, how could it be that possible for me to remove ?
I envy not MT. Moore, Beach, good M'. Leaming, their deserved honors. The honour which comes from God, my highest ambition is to obtain.
I can only advert a little to the concerns of the Ch". Bishop Seabury an ornament to the Episcopal character, is gone to
.
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an
Philadelphia, accompanied with Hubbard & Jarvis to adjourned Convention of the Southern States; who have in ample man- ner recognized his ecclesiastical dignity, a happy Condition we hope will succeed; Unity, Uniformity, in doctrine worship & government be established, without any mutilated Service. But unhappy, Bishop Provost I hear refused to attend P Con- vention, and treated Bishop Seabury at New York with entire neglect .- I lay down my pen to attend my distressed child.
Mª. Bowden sailed last Saturday week, with his family, of so
for St. Croix, West Indies, we lament the loss worthy and good a man. Public annimadversions begin to appear, upon the doings of our new Sovereigns the Congress. They treat religion, and the publick support and encouragement of it with neglect. The Chh. must stand upon its own ground: and for the want of a better establishment and support will rise but slowly to a high degree of estimation. Sectaries of every denomination, abound.
Mr. Bates cannot he says furnish me with proper information concerning the power of appointing you my Agent &c. I shall soon forward it.
Our prayers & best wishes attend you. Your ever most affect. Brother In adversity. Ebenezer Dibblee.
Kind compliments wait upon MT. Jarvis and his Lady. Reverend Doctor Peters.
Stamford State of Connecticut. November 6, 1789.
My dear, and Worthy Friend :
Agreeable to the intimation in my last, I have it now in my power to send you my power of Attorney, hoping it may be of service. The kind offices you render me, meets with, and merits, my most grateful acknowledgements.
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The melancholy distressed state of my family, in consequence of my Daughter Polly's Insanity, into which she hath relapsed, and continued in ever since, last June, engrosses all my attention, scarce leaves room for parochial duty.
to remove
How could the Venerable Society think it practicable in this time of life, encumbered with a family, ruined by the late Rebellion; and reduced by oppression, for persevering in a line of duty appointed me; or cruelly desert me in this day of adversity and winter of life ?
Their charitable interposition and application to Government for the relief of my necessities; which if not successful and the encouragement you give of the renewal of their charity, will merit, and meet with the most grateful resentments.
If there is in your hands or MT. Jarvis's any money granted by Government, or shall be granted, for the relief of the Widow and children of my unhappy son, I wish it might be stopped and retained for the discharge of a Debt of his to a consider- able amount; to the payment of which, I am unexpectedly liable and exposed.
His Widow inherits all the Lands destined to her husband and his effects, &c. &c. &c.
The grand Convention at Philadelphia is broke up, we are to have a federal Chh. as well as State. I have received no particular authentic account of their doings; am only told, mutilations, omissions and alterations in our Service, are inconsiderable & of no importance. As they judged in their superour wisdom. Poor Athanasius is beheaded, his Creed condemned as heretical. Areans Socinians &c. may now fill our Churches.
Bishop Seabury did himself honour, but returned with the loss of a fifth part of his dignity; as four fifths of the lower house of Convocation, made up with lay delegates, will carry any point against the House of Bishops. I suspect this State will not adopt the doings of the general Convention.
The Convocation here, has agreed and unanimously voted, and adopted the Chb. of England, as the Standard of Orthodoxy,
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her form of Government & worship, as the rule of their faith and practice, unconnected with the State.
I may be able, perhaps, in my next to advise you more minutely of the doings of the late council of Trent.
I cannot see how Episcopacy & Republicanism can well coalesce. Bowdon, truly wrote well, as you observed in his a
first and 2ª. Letter to Stiles; and the Weaver was just and good rod of correction to the pedantick M'. Sherman. But I cannot see the wisdom of reviving those religious controversies, in our present unsettled state; unless with an evil design to prejudice Government here against the Chh. as unfriendly to the united States- I impatiently wait for your next.
The best of heavens blessings attend you, and yours; is the sincere wish and fervent prayer of,
Reverend Sir
Your humble Servant and most affectionate Brother in Christ.
Reverend Doctor Peters.
Ebenezer Dibblee.
Dibblee Revd.
6 Nov. 1789 :
recd. March 9-1790.
ansd. June 5-90.
Stamford State of Connecticut Sembr 27, 1790.
My Revd. dear Sir:
Your favour of the 5th of June 1790, I received the 25th Instant. In which I have the melancholy advice, that nothing as yet was done for me, either by the Commissioners of American claims, or the Venerable Society-
I am full of anxiety to know my fate. Have you received my power of Atorney &c. &c. ? If there be no prospect of relief, I must, at least I can see no other way, to avoid con-
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tempt but throw my self upon the Societies Charity, & ask for a living in Nova Scotia, or New Brunswick rather.
Your letter found me, still in the greatest family trouble, Polly is no better, but remains insane, a miserable unhappy object, engaging our whole attention.
The Church slowly & gradually rises out of its ruinous State, but incapable of affording me & dependents an adequate sup- port, & in character, and in this evening of life, & cold climate of adversity to think of removing, it is impossible-Heaven forbids it-I must have my distressed family-The Chh under my care will crumble to pieces-No-I hope still, & will cast my burden upon the Lord.
I pray God to still the tumults among the Nations, & prevent the calamities of a general War.
Our Civil & Ecclesiastical Policy is upon no permanent no
foundation. The bond of peace is broken, and cement to Christian Union-Our new form of Chh Government & puri- fication of the Liturgy will take place-but not to the satis- faction of the old English Churchmen-They court BP. Seabury, but will never coalesce with him in a Consecration of a Bishop. Sectaries abound-Error is multiplied upon Error- Division upon Subdivision-The Chh. I fear will become a scene of confusion, discordant forms of worship-Inconsistent systems of faith-The Lord have mercy upon us,-Make my Compliments acceptable to Harry Lloyd Esq. & his Lady- Mr. Jarvis & his agreeable Consort; his Connexions are well- May you be honord with a Mitre-I hope to meet you in the undisturbed delight of Paradise-My prayers & best wishes attend you-I am with sentiments of unfeigned esteem
Revª. Sir
Your aged, afflicted Affect. Bro.
Ebenezer Dibblee.
N.B. I have wrote to the Society & Doctor Morice, Doctor Chandler is gone, for heaven-Doctor Leaming returns to private life-
Sundry of BP. Seabury's Disciples cannot find Cures.
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