USA > Connecticut > Hartford County > Newington > Early annals of Newington : comprising the first records of the Newington Ecclesiastical Society, and of the Congregational Church connected therewith : with documents and papers relating to the early history of the parish > Part 13
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And you do now, so far as in you lies, make choice of the living God for your God, your Sovereign Lord and portion forever ; of God the father for your father, of Christ the Son of God for your Saviour and Redeemer, and of the Holy Ghost for your Sanctifier and Comforter, and of the Word of God for the rule of your belief and practice.
*July 21, 1819. At a special meeting of the church in Newington, at the house of the pastor. Opened with prayer. After mature consideration it was voted,-
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And you do now openly and solemnly dedicate and give up yourself and yours to God, to be wholly and forever his, to be guided by his spirit, to be ruled by his laws, to be dis- posed of by his Providence, and to be eternally saved in the Gospel way; promising, by the assistance of the blessed Spirit, that you will live soberly, righteously, and Godly all the days of your life; and, as the ordinary way of God's conveying grace and the blessings of the Redemption to the souls of men, is in and by his word and ordinances, you will make it your care and study to walk by this rule, to attend upon God and draw near to him in all the ordinances of the Gospel and ways of His institution, herein joining yourself with this church so long as God, in his providence, shall give you opportunity, submitting yourself to the watch, discipline, and government of Christ, therein regularly administered, that so you may be edified and built up unto eternal life. Thus you profess and promise, giving your unfeigned assent and consent .;
We do then receive you into our Christian communion and fellowship, praying that both you and we may find grace to be faithful.
That the practice of demanding confessions of sins committed previously to a person's proposing to join the church be discontinued, and that instead of partic- ular confession of individual sins, there be a clause expressive of general repent- ance, introduced into the covenant of personal dedication to God, viz. :- " You do also make a solemn confession of all your past sins ; you profess repentance before God, and promise amendment of life." (This clause is inserted at this point in the covenant, as copied into the pulpit Bible by Dr. Brace. There is 110 record of any action of the church making other changes during Dr. Brace's ministry .- R. W.)
t In the copy in the pulpit Bible these last six words are omitted; also some other verbal alterations and omissions appear, among which may be mentioned the omission of the clause added to the covenant in which the church recognize new members. This omission was supplied by vote of the church passed Feb. 28, 1857, as follows :- " Voted, That the following words be added to the covenant, by which the church will recognize new members-' We, the members of this church, do now receive you into our fellowship, promising, through Divine hielp, to observe towards you all the duties which the Gospel enjoins upon us as mem- bers of the one body of the Lord.'" This vote was passed at tlie suggestion of Dr. Brace's successor in the pastoral office, Rev. William P. Aiken.
APPENDIX.
IMPORTANT DATES.
Dec. 20, 1708. Town meeting. Committee appointed to consider the petition of the West inhabitants to be a distinct parish.
Dec. 14, 1709. Town meeting. Power of committee continued.
Dec. 18, 1710. Town meeting. West inhabitants authorized to hold meetings among themselves four months in a year, released from a third of the minister's rates.
Dec. 24, 1712. Town meeting. Petition for a distinct parish granted by the town.
May 14, 1713. Petition to the General Assembly to confirm the grant.
May 15, 1713. Remonstrance of the Beckleys.
May -, 1713. 4
General Assembly grant the charter.
April 4, 1715. Society meeting. Committee appointed " to endeavor an exchange " of territory.
April 7, 1715. Farmington proprietors consent to the exchange.
April 11, 1715. First Society of Farmington also consent.
May -, 1715.
Petition to the General Assembly to confirm the ex- change.
May 13, 1715. Beckleys execute a bond, which is lodged in the Secre- tary's office.
May -, 1715. General Assembly appoint a committee " to go upon the place," consider the subject of an exchange, and report.
Oct. - , 1715. Committee report in favor of the exchange.
General Assembly accept the report and confirm the ex- change, annexing the Beckley quarter to the Great Swamp Society, and the Stanley quarter to New- ington.
April 5, 1716. First Society meeting recorded, Josiah Willard chosen clerk.
First meeting house raised that month.
Dec. 15, 1718. West Society first called Newington in the record of this meeting.
Jan. 15, 1719. Society vote to call a minister to preach till last of March, 1720.
Committee appointed to treat with Mr. Nathaniel, Burn- ham.
April 6, 1720. Society appoint a committee to treat with Mr. Elisha Williams.
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Aug. 5, 1720. Society make choice of Rev. Elisha Williams as their minister.
Dec. 21, 1720. Mr. Williams' settlement fixed at £170. Salary £50 a year.
May 10, 1721. Society vote to petition the General Assembly for relief. May 25, General Assembly grant relief, and name the Society Newington.
Feb. 8, 1722. Society vote to build a pulpit, a deacon seat, and finish lower part of meeting house.
Sept. 5, 1722. Society vote to put in windows above as well as below in meeting house.
Oct. 3, 1722. Fast. Church organized, preliminary to ordination of Mr. Williams.
Oct. 17, 1722. Rev. Elisha Williams ordained.
Dec. 31, 1723. Drum to be purchased. First school committee ap- pointed.
May 22, 1724. The trustees of Yale College make conditional choice of Mr. Williams as rector.
Oct. - , 1725. The trustees report to the Assembly their unanimous choice of Mr. Williams as rector, and ask aid for the parish, which is granted.
May 4, 1726. Committees of the College and Society agree that New- ington should receive £200 16s. for the removal of Mr. Williams to the College.
May 12, 1726. Trustees petition Assembly for help again. Granted.
May 25, 1726. Rev. Simon Backus called to preach on probation.
June 1, 1726. Mr. Russel, jun., of Middletown, to be invited to preach on probation ; if he decline, then Mr. Backus to be invited.
Aug. 24, 1726. Rev. Simon Backus called to be the minister.
Sept. 7, He accepts the call. Settlement, £175. Salary, £70 to £90.
Nov. 4, 1726. Trustees of Yale College pay the Society's committee £200 16s.
Jan. 11, 1727. Fast, preliminary to ordination of Mr. Backus.
Jan. 25, Mr. Backus ordained.
May 16, 1732. The Society petition the Assembly for relief for their minister. Not granted.
Dec. 16, 1734. Oct. - , 1745.
The society vote to finish the meeting house.
The Governor and Council impowered to appoint a chap- lain to the forces in garrison at Louisburg. Mr. Backus appointed afterwards.
March 15, 1746. Mr. Backus dies at Louisburg, while at his post as chap- lain.
May 8, 1746.
Mrs. Eunice Backus petitions the Assembly for relief for the loss of her husband in the public service. Granted.
May 10, 1747. Rev. Joshua Belding began to preach for the society.
June 15, 1747. Society vote to call him as their minister.
Nov. - , 1747. Fast, a few days before Mr. Belding's ordination.
Nov. 11, Mr. Belding ordained.
May 12, 1748. Josiah Deming, as agent of the society, petitions the Assembly for relief for the loss of their minister in the public service. £150 granted, in bills of credit. May -, 1754. The Stanley quarter annexed to the new society of New Britain, and Beckley quarter confirmed to Kensing- ton for a consideration.
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Oct. - , 1757. Beckley quarter incorporated as a school district.
Oct. - , 1772. Worthington society organised, including Beckley quar- ter.
March 23, 1774. Society vote to lease the parsonage for 999 years.
April 6, 1774. Mr. Belding releases to the society his right to the par- sonage.
Marclı 10, 1783. Society vote to be divided into three school districts.
April 14, Society approve of the division of districts reported by committee.
April 29, « Society vote to build two school houses at the north and south ends.
Dec. 6, 1784. Society vote to petition town to buy land of Capt. Kel- logg, for a green.
May, 1794.
Certain territory adjoining Worthington, annexed to that society " for parochial purpose merely."
Oct. 3, 1796. Last votes of the society on the subject of schools.
Aug. 28, 1797. Final vote to erect and finish a meeting house on the green.
Nov. - , 1803. Mr. Belden ceases from pastoral duties.
Oct. 7, 1804. Mr. Joab Brace begins to preach.
Nov. 19, 1804. Society vote to call him as their minister.
Dec. 3, 1804.
Committee give him a formal call.
Dec. 17, «
He accepts in a formal answer.
Jan. 9, 1805. Fast, preliminary to his ordination.
Jan. 16, 1805. He is ordained.
THE FIRST SETTLERS OF NEWINGTON .*
Prior to the year 1700, an excellent tract of land lying west of the mountain, and known by the name of " Cowplain," was in the almost ex- clusive possession of the Indians. It was the residence of Sequin, the Sachem of the Wethersfield tribe, which at that time was numerous. The increase of population in the old town, and the consequent advance in the value of real estate, rendered removals necessary for a livelihood, and in- duced five men to commence the settlement of this part of the town. The names of three of these adventurous persons were Andrus, and the others Steel and Hun. The house of one of the Andruses stood a few rods south of the Congregational meeting house, that of Steel near the spot now occupied by the academy, and that of Hun in the north part of the parish. The house of Andrus was fortified and surrounded by a high wall, to guard against attacks of foreign Indians (those in the neighborhood being friendly disposed). To this fortress they, with their families, retired every night, and slept upon their arms. They were, however, never attacked by their savage enemies. The tract of land they settled being large and highly productive, they were soon joined by others, and in a few years grew into a considerable and prosperous settlement.
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* These extracts are taken, by permission of Dr. Trumbull, from a manuscript history of Wethersfield, written by Hezekiah Belden, Esq., and deposited Nov. 8, 1855, (after his death,) in the rooms of the Historical Society, at Hartford. I was not aware of the existence of the manuscript till after the preceding pages were in press. R. W.
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THE FIRST MINISTER OF NEWINGTON.
Mr. Williams was the son of the Rev. William Williams of Hatfield- brother of the Hon. Israel Williams and the Rev. Solomon Williams, D. D. His mother was the daughter of the Rev. Solomon Stoddard o. Northamp- ton. He was educated at Harvard College, graduating in 1711. From this time until his settlement at Newington, it is probable he resided on his estate in Wethersfield. He married Eunice, daughter of Mr. Thomas Chester, February 23d, 1714, by whom he had six children, Ennice, Eli- sha, Samuel, William, Mary, and Anne,-two of whom only, Elisha and Mary, survived their father. * ** *
His administration of the government of Yale College is spoken of as highly creditable to himself, and beneficial to the institution. Prudent and energetic in government, "he suppressed the vice and disorder that had long prevailed-introduced many salutary and beneficial rules, and culti- vated, among the graver studies that had before almost exclusively ocen- pied the attention of the students, a taste for useful and polite literature." Among the distinguished graduates during his presidency, were President Wheelock, President Burr, Dr. Bellamy, Chief Justice Dyer, and Philip and William Livingston. It was in the same time that Bishop Berkley, pleased with the character of the College, and having ascertained by cor- respondence with Rector Williams, what was most necessary for its improvement, made several donations to it, among which were a thousand volumes of books, " the finest collection that ever came together, at one time, into America."
President Williams retained his office for thirteen years, when he re- signed on account of ill health, with undiminished (luster ?) and the "hearty thanks of the trustees for his good service." The office which he relinquished was one of high distinction, and gave him a station in soci- ety, above which, few in the country, not of royal appointment, were more elevated. *
In 1745 we find him attending the chivalric expedition against Cape Bre- ton, in the capacity of chaplain. The following year he was appointed a Lieut. Colonel in Col. Joseph Dwight's Regiment, raised for the proposed expedition against Canada. The pious and faithful pastor, the accom- plished College President, the speaker of a popular assembly, the learned judge, the itinerant army chaplain, is hereafter known under his new designation of Colonel. At Louisburg his counsel was valued. " If you find any difficulty," writes Thomas Cushing to a friend having business there, " take advice of Col. Choate and Rector Williams." In his regi- ment, he was efficient and popular. When the Canada expedition was abandoned, there was delay in the payment of the officers and men, and in December, 1749, Col. Williams for the purpose of procuring a settle- ment was sent to England and effected the object of his mission.
While in England he formed an acquaintance with a lady of superior accomplishments, Miss Scott, daughter of the Rev. Timothy Scott of Nor- wich, and sister of the Rev. Thomas Scott, the well-known writer of com- mentaries on the Bible, who married and accompanied him to America. In England he also became known to many persons of distinction. Dr. Doddridge, with whom he formed an intimate acquaintance, describes him as possessing " an ardent sense of religion, solid learning, consummate prudence, great candor and sweetness of temper, and a certain nobleness of soul, capable of conceiving and acting the greatest things without seeming to be conscious of having done them." After his return from England the remainder of his life was spent in the enjoyment of well earned repose at Wethersfield. He died July 24th, 1755, in the 61st year of his age. Mrs. Williams afterwards became the wife of the Hon. William Smith, historian of New York, and died in Wethersfield, June 13th, 1776.
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It has been truly said that " so great a variety of honorable occupa- tions successively discharged is rarely recorded," as in the case of Elisha Williams.
On a tablet inscribed to his memory is the following memorial of him :
" The Hon. Col. Elisha Williams shined in excelling gifts of nature, learning and grace. In benevolence universal. Firm in friendship; in conversation pleasant and instructive ; in Religion sincere, unaffected, cheerful, truly humble, patient ; fearless in the cause of God and truth ; a pattern of conjugal and parental affection and humanity, a wise, great, and good man; 5 years he was an honor to the ministry in Newington, 13 years Yale College flourished under his pious, learned, faithful instruction and government, the glory of the College and ornament of his Country. He, after, filled and adorned several civil and military characters. Heaven claimed what was immortal that glad obeyed and dropped here the dust till Jesus comes. Obiit, 24 July, 1755. AEtatis 61 mo."
THE SECOND MINISTER.
Mr. Backus graduated at Yale College in 1724. Oct 1, 1729, he mar- ried Euniec, daughter of Rev. Timothy Edwards of East Windsor, and sister of the first President Edwards, by whom he had seven children, Clorinda, Euniee, Elizabeth-married Danicl Bissell of East Windsor ; Esther, married Benjamin Ely of West Springfield, Simon married Rachel Mosley of East Haddam, and was settled in the ministry at Granby, Mass., and then at North M-, where he died a pauper, Jeru- sha, married Smith Bailey, Mary died unmarried as did the two eldest daughters.
THE THIRD MINISTER.
The Rev. Joshua Belden was the second son of Mr. Silas Belden, and born in Wethersfield, July 19, 1724. His mother Abigail was the daugh- ter of Mr. Joshua Robbins of Wethersfield. He was educated at Yale College, graduating in 1743. He was a plain practical preacher of Evan- gelieal truth and " shunned not to declare the whole counsel of God." A man serupulously conscientious, of deep humility, and of devoted and ardent piety. He was married twice. First to Mrs. Anne Belden of Wethersfield, by whom he had ten children, nine daughters and one son. Four of the daughters died in early life, Abigail born Aug. 10, 1754, mar- ried Mr. James Lusk of Newington. Mary born Dee. 9, 1755, married Mr. Justus Francis of Newington. Anne, a mute, born July 7, 1759. Martha born July 24, 1761, married Doet. Joseph Lynde of Hartford. Octavia born Oct. 27, 1763, married Rev. Nathaniel Gaylord of Hartland. Rhoda born May 29, 1766, married Rev. Silas Churchill of New Lebanon, N. Y. Joshua born March 29, 1768, married Dorothy, daughter of Mr. Lemuel Whittlesey of Newington.
For his second wife, Mr. Belden on the 14th Nov., 1774, married Mrs. Honor Whiting, widow of Capt. Charles Whiting of Norwich, and daughter of Mr. Hezekiah Goodrich of Wethersfield, by whom he had one son, Heze- kiah, born Feb. 17, 1778, married Harriet Halsted Lyon, daughter of Underhill Lyon, Esq., of Rye, N. Y. Of the numerous family of Mr. Bel- den, five only survived him, four of his youngest daughters, and his second son. He was a man of sorrows, but he bore them like a Christian, his faith was triumphant. On the death of his second wife, standing over her lifeless body and gazing in silent grief for a short time in her placid countenance, he exclaimed, raising his hands and eyes to heaven, " I am dumb-I open not my mouth, for the Lord hath done it," then knceling with his weeping family around him he poured forth his soul in prayer for resignation and support, and in thanksgiving that the object of his affection had been so long spared to him, as the solace of his life, and of assured hope in her death.
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PART II.
MODERN ANNALS OF NEWINGTON, COMPRISING RECORDS OF THE ECCLESIASTICAL SOCIETY AND CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH OF NEWINGTON
IN THE
SECOND CENTURY OF THEIR EXISTENCE.
FIRST PERIOD, 1805-1857.
Dr. Brace, in his published half-century discourse, has given the history of the parish during the time of his administra- tion of the pastoral office. During the first century of its existence there was great turmoil, strife, and controversy, not only with its neighbors on the West and South, but intestine war within its own limited borders. Continual recourse was had to the General Assembly, to settle boundaries, to settle the locations of the two meeting-houses that were built and to assist the parish for the loss of the first and second minis- ters. The town also and the Courts were frequently applied to for help, and intervention. These vexed questions were happily all disposed of before the settlement of Dr. Brace. During the time of his ministry peace reigned without and within unbroken save by a few cases of discipline. No peti- tion was presented to the Legislature, and but one to the town, and no recourse was had to the courts. It is unneces- sary to go over the ground covered by Dr. Brace's discourse. His ministry was not only a time of peace, but it was also a time of great improvement in the material interests and wel- fare of the people. One of these improvements is alluded to by him as follows. "Fifty years ago there was no road from this place to Hartford, and the little intercourse with the city was carried on, either by going over the mountain to Wethers-
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field, or by passing round through West Hartford." The present road to Hartford by the house of Charles K. Atwood, Esq., was laid out in 1807, its southern terminus being near the meeting-house, throwing open a space for a green north of the road running east to Wethersfield, while its western terminus was near the north school house, the two roads forming a junction near the house of Robert Francis, thence running towards Hartford, to and along the base of Cedar mountain .*
Not only were great improvements made in the roads and bridges of Newington and vicinity, but in 1833 was incorpor-
*As this road is a main thoroughfare, and as it is important to preserve the aneient land marks, the deeree of the court laying out the road is worthy of an insertion at this place. It is as follows :
" On the Petition of Joshua Belden and others praying for highways in New- ington society in Wethersfield, leading to Hartford, by petition on file, dated February 28, 1807, the ease was continued to this term, the committee in the ease laid before the court their report in these words. "To the honorable County Court to be holden at Hartford, within and for the county of Hartford, on the second Tuesday of August, 1807. The subseribers appointed by your honors a Committee on the petition of Joshua Belden, Jr., Esq., and others, inhabitants of the parish of Newington in the town of Wethersfield, to view, and, if judged by said Committee expedient, lay out a highway from near the dwelling house of said Joshua Belden, Jr., to the south line of the town of Hartford, in such direc- tion as would best accommodate the travel from said Newington to the eity of Hartford, or to alter the present traveled roads in a manner most convenient to the publie, and least injurious to private property, and report make to the then or some future session of said eourt, beg leave to report-That having given legal notice of the time, place, and purpose of our meeting we met at the house of deaeon Wells in said Newington on the 25th day of June last and from thenee proceeded to view the several roads leading from near the house of said Joshua Belden, Jr., Esq., mentioned in the bill in form appointing said Committee, with the intermediate ground from the west street in said Newington to the mountain ; and upon a full view and hearing of those concerned your Committee were clearly of opinion that by altering and widening the present highway from near the house of said Belden and running by said deacon Wells's, and by laying a road from the junction of the road running easterly from the North school house in the west street in said Newington aeross the lands of Unni Robbins and Martin Kellogg in a Northeastward direction to the old road, and from thenee widening the present road to the road running under the mountain to said Hartford would best accommodate the publie travel from said Newington to Hartford, and be the least damage to private property. We therefore began at a stake and stones in the old road at the north line of Jemima Welles's land near the house of Joshua Belden, Jr., Esq., and run northerly in said road 22 chains 57 links to the south line of Fitch Andrus's land, thenee in said old road and widening the same on said Andrus, by a line from the southeast corner of his lot to a stake and stones near the brook 6 chains 35 links thenee running in said old road 12 chains 10 links to Elijah Wells's land to a stake and stones in the fence east of old road, thence N. 7º E. 5 chains 37 links on said Wells's land, thenee the sam'e point 4 ehains 97 links on Jemima Welles's land, thence in the old road 1 ehain 56 links to a stake and stones, thenee N. 1º E. 8 chains 10 links to Unni Robbins's land, thenee the same point on said Robbins 10 chains 78 links, thenee N. 53º E. 10 ehains on said Robbins, thence running the same point on Martin Kellogg's land 34 chains 41 links to the old road, thenee the same point 50 links aeross said road,
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ated the Hartford and New Haven Railroad Company who laid their iron track through Newington, bringing it within ten minutes of Hartford, afterwards the Hartford, Providence, and Fishkill Railroad gave another avenue to Hartford, so that no town in the County of Hartford, outside of the city,
thence in the old road opening the same two rods on the north side on Ezekiel Atwood's land 6 chains 50 links, thence in the old road opening the same two rods in width on Benjamin Water's land 7 chains 50 links to the turn of the road leading to Hartford, the old highway above described is opened to four rods in width, and that part of the road which we have laid on new ground is laid the same width, and the line above described is in the centre of said road. The Com- mittee then proceeded to lay out a piece of a road to accommodate the travel passing from the north school house in the west street in said Newington, and began at a stake and stones at the cast fence of the present traveled road running northwardly from deacon Wells's at a point making the line directly strait with the centre line of said road leading to said north school house, and from theuce continued a strait line eastwardly ou the lands of Unui Robbins about two chains and meeting the road above described.
And your honors' Committee beg leave further to report that in reviewing the road south of the point of departure above described between that and the meet- ing house they were of opinion that the public would be greatly accommodated by cutting off the east end of a lot of land belonging to the said Jemima Welles, and laying it open for a highway, which lot projects cast so as to intersect the whole width of the road north and south of said lot, destroying the beauty of the situa- tion and causing much extra travel, they therefore proceeded, submitting the question of its being within their commission to the honorable Court, to run a line beginning at a stake and stones in a line of the west fence of the road north of said lot, and from thence running S. 3º 30" E. 5 chains 69 links across said Jemima Welles's land, which line will strike the northwest corner of the meeting house, laying the whole land lying cast of said line open for a public highway, taking from said lot one acre and 34 rods of land.
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