USA > Connecticut > New London County > Groton > Historic Groton : comprising historic and descriptive sketches pertaining to Groton Heights, Center Groton, Poquonnoc Bridge, Noank, Mystic, and Old Mystic, Conn. > Part 10
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The early settlers of Connecticut and Rhode Island were exposed to the inveterate hostility of the Peqnot Indians and endured untold suf-
ferings. from their relentless warfare. In 1637 the Massachusetts, Plymouth, and Connecti- cut colonies joined their forces in an expedi- tion to exterminate them, and Capt. John Mason with eighty men and three hundred friendly Indians was sent into the Pequot country for that purpose.
The precise situation of the Pequot head- quarters was not known, but was believed to be in southeastern Connecticut. The forces assembled at Hartford and sailing down the Connecticut river, thence around into Narra- gansett bay, they anchored on the west side in the harbor at Wickford, and disembarking set out on their march westward in pursuit of the enemy. Crossing Rhode Island they ar- nived in the evening of the 25th of May at the Mystic river, which they forded at its head where Old Mystic is now situated. Here they learned that they were already in the vicinity of the savages whom they sought, and as the day was far spent they marched only a short distance further in a southerly direction, and took shelter for the night in a glen between high and precipitons rocks in the range of hills on the west, at a place known as Porter's Rocks. The tired and hungry troops remained through the night for rest and refreshment, intending the next morning at break of day to attack the Pequot stronghold, which was only about one and a half miles further south, on the highland known as Pequot Ilill west of the Mystic river. The sentinels heard the caronsing of the Pequots in their fort as they engaged in the war dance through the night. expecting on the next day to go ont and find and destroy the English, whose vessels they had seen pass, and they supposed the English dared not attack them in the fort.
At two o'clock on the morning of May 26th, the English went forth and quickly found the strongly fortified Pequot village. The story
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of the desperate fight that followed, and the almost complete destruction of the Pequots there assembled, has been oft told in histories of state and nation, and need not be here re- peated. An important chapter in the' carly history of Groton was enacted, and a great movement accomplished toward securing safe- ty for the white race. The place of this des- perate struggle is of historic interest and im- portance, as well as that of the camp at Por- ter's Rocks, and each is well worthy of some fitting monument by the State.
The hamlet formed by the first settlers was from its situation on the river familiarly called by its inhabitants and their neighbors, "Head of the River," a name given to many other villages similarly situated. The post office was early called "Mystic" and was established on the east side of the river.
The name remained the same until the year 1800, when by order of the post office depart- ment it was changed to "Old Mystic."
A greater number of people, finding places more advantageous for business or for dwell- ings, also located on the east side of the river. thus establishing a correspondingly greater part of the business of the village in the town of Stonington. An extended description of many important industries, that have contrib- uted largely to the prosperity of the whole vil- lage, is by this restriction to town boundaries placed without the limits of this article. Such is the case with the early ship-building indus- try at the Leeds shipyard, the making of cot- ton goods which flourished at John Hyde's factories at an early date, and later the man- ufacture of woolen goods by Amos B. Tay- lor, the banking business of the Mystic Na- tional bank, besides other lesser industries and mercantile interests.
The opening of the New London and Prov- idence turnpike about the year 1820 brought to the growing village communication with the outside world, as direct and immediate as any large cities dependent upon land travel en- joyed at that time. It was a part of an im- portant avenue of travel from New York to Boston, maintaining daily trains of three or more four-horse stage coaches. The passing of
these stages was an object of great interest to those living near the turnpike. The neces sary stopping of these trains of coaches at the taverns or hostelries along the route for relay of horses, and refreshment of travelers, brought a breeze from the outside world, and was an occasion of much bustle and comino- tion. All the idlers of the village and many others, too, drew near to see the passengers, lear the news, and take their fill of the ex- citement of the day. The stage drivers, in the opinion of that company, were men of vast importance, and the one who could pick a fly from the car of his leaders with his long whip or could round up his frisky team at the tav- ern with an extra flourish, was the greatest man of them all. There was such a turnpike tavern in Old Mystic fronting the triangular village green kept by Russel Williams. The house was built in 1754 and is still used as a dwelling. The separate part of the house, de-
OLD TURNPIKE TAVERN
signed as a barroom, and the extra cupboards and closets in hidden and out of the way places, signify to this day the kind of refresh- ment mostly provided for travelers.
A prosperous tannery business was estab- lished not far from the turnpike tavern about the year 1841, and conducted for many years by John S. Schoonover who acquired a hand. some competence in its pursuit. He employed several men and was noted for his careful at - tention to the details of business and for the superior quality of the leather he manufac-
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tured. By his liberality the village received a valuable tower clock which was placed in the steeple of the Baptist church.
No village could long exist without its black- smith. A shop for the pursuit of that calling stood just at the entrance of the tan-yard above mentioned, and many will recall the corpulent form and cheery countenance of the occupant, Stephen H. Wheeler, as he dili- gently engaged in work at his anvil. There was work, and there was also talk. It seemed to be the privilege if not the duty of the black- smith to acquire all the news the very earliest moment it came to town, and there was always a story to tell, while the roaring bellows and the ringing anvil furnished a vigorous accom- paniment. The farmer who came with horses or oxen to be shod, or tools to be repaired, could have his defective line of news improved and his stores of information greatly increased, while his real errand compelled him to wait. The sound of the blacksmith's anvil has passed with those who made it, and even the shop has been obliterated, and its place can be pointed out only by those who remember.
But the shoemaker's shop of old was the most homey place of all the trades, where one could sit at ease while being measured for a boot or shoe, or watch the piece of work grow under the shoemaker's skillful hands. Such a place was the shop of William Crumb, who for more than sixty years used as his place of work the former bar-room of the old turnpike tavern. Ilis business included re- pairing and making boots and shoes in the best style of the art known in those days, both for custom work and for the wholesale trade.
About the year 1850 the manufacture of ropes was an important industry in New England, though now but little pursued. Two rope walks were then in operation in Old Mys- tic; one conducted by Joseph A. Lamb was situated in the grove across the river from the main street of the village; the other man- aged by Barton Saunders was at the north end of the village on the Norwich road. Those were the days of the inveterate village joker. Three of that class were one day looking for a victim as Mr. Saunders came up the street,
with a heavy load of factory spools or rollers of coarse thread used in making ropes, and stopped for a few minutes at the hay scales. One of the watching trio quietly cut the long rope used in binding the load, nearly severing it, and when the load moved on, all followed at a short distance in the rear to see what would happen. As the team went up Brim- stone Hill at Crumb's corner, when near the top and at the steepest place, the binding rope parted, and the whole load was quickly dis- charged, rolling down to the foot of the hill. Mr. Saunders looked around with dismay, and after examination to find the cause, he soon discovered what had been done to the rope. The three men almost immediately appeared, and when they profusely offered their services to help replace the load, he was at once as- sured who were the authors of the disaster.
A water privilege with a corn and grain mill was established in 1853 on the stream flowing from the west near its junction with the river, at which milling is done the greater part of the year in addition to a large trade in grain and feed. The mill pond also furnishes the privilege from which a great part of the ice used in both Mystics is taken, and is of it- self an important industry. About one mile westerly up this stream stands the old Babcock grain mill, used as such a generation ago, that business having been superceded in later years by a line factory.
The hamlet known as Burnet's Corners is located at this point on the turnpike, and is so called from the residence of the Burnet family at one of the angles of the highway crossing. The house was built about the year 1840 by Capt. Richard Burnet and kept by him as the "Pequot Hotel" during the last days of passenger travel on the turnpike. Its spacious hall was at one time a noted resort for pleasure Parties, for dancing schools, balls and other gatherings. The house is now the private res- idence of members of the same family. The opposite angle of the highway is the site of the district school house.
Continuing westward up this same inconsid- erable but very' industrions stream, there was a small mill known as the "Stone Factory"
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built for the manufacture of cloth, but after- ward used for grinding corn and grain and other purposes. Above this was a mill some- times called "Blue Ruin" used as a carding mill in which woolen rolls were carded for spinning and weaving by hand in the homes throughout a wide section of territory. Half a mile north from Burnet's Corners was the machine shop and business of Watrous and Bacon, which employed several men and con- structed machines of value and importance. The Welles homestead is situated on the turnpike about half a mile west of the village near which is a steam mill used for sawing various kinds of lumber. The Welles family have from the earliest times been owners of large tracts of land in Groton, one of which includes the historic Porter's Rocks and their picturesque surroundings.
The school advantages in Old Mystic are now better than can be found in most towns outside the large cities. Formerly the north- /eastern section of the town including the vil- lage was a part of the Burnet's Corners dis- trict. In 1851 that section of Groton was incor- porated with the sixth school district of Ston- ington, having its school house already in the village of Old Mystic. By this change, all the village and the adjacent territory was joined in one district. The school has now three departments, but all the grades of the sched- ule of studies for the town of Stonington are represented. The high school is identical in rank and grade with the three other high schools in Stonington, all having the same schedule of studies, the same tests of schol- arship, and pupils in all may graduate and re- ceive a diploma on completion of the course of studies.
Oldest Baptist Church in the State
The history of this church reaches back to a date one year earlier than the organization of the town of Groton. In 1704, a few scattered Baptists residing east of the Thames river in New London petitioned the general court for a settlement as a dissenting congregation, and sent a request to Mr. Valentine Wightman, then a young Baptist minister of reputation in Rhode Island, to come and be their leader. Ile came without delay, and in 1705 gathered and organized the First Baptist Church in Groton, which small company was also the first forined Baptist church in Connecticut.
By the gift of William Stark, who was after- wards the first deacon of the church, the young pastor was presented with a house and twenty acres of land, which for several generations be- came the home of the Wightmans. This par- sonage was situated on Stark's Hill, as former- ly called, near which the New London and Providence turnpike was opened many years later. The house is still standing after the two hundredth anniversary of the church. The first meeting house of the Baptists was built in 1718, on land owned by Deacon Stark, about half a mile southeasterly from the parsonage,
on the traveled path known as the Post road, two miles west of the present house of wor- ship. It was a plain, square structure of small dimensions, without paint or embellishments of any kind and never had fireplace or stove for warmth or comfort. But it had a history and memories of gospel sermons and worship that greatly endeared it to the two or three generations by whom it was successively oc- cupied.
Mr. Wightman was of a race and family of preachers and was the great-grandson of Rev. Edward Wightman of Burton-on-Trent, who was the last martyr by fire in England. having been burnt at the stake at Litchfield. April 11. 1612. lle was well adapted to the work of pioneer in preaching the gospel, and sowed the seeds from which Baptist churches grew to advocate liberty of conscience. In the days when men, women and children could be thrown into prison for holding a Baptist meet- ing, he, with his faithful band, maintained the vital points of Christian liberty as well as Bap- tist faith.
The following statutes were enacted as late as 1723:
"Whatsoever persons shall presme on the Lord's Day to neglect the worship of God in some law ful
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congregation, and form themselves into separate com- panies in private houses; being convicted thereof shall each of them for every such offense forfeit the sum of twenty shillings."
"Whatsoever person not being a lawfully allowed minister of the gospel, shall presume to perform the holy sacraments by administering them to any per- son or persons whatsoever, and being thereof con- victed, shall incur the penalty of ten pounds for every such offense, and suffer corporal punishment by whip- ping not exceeding thirty lashes for each offense."
Many instances could be cited of those who suffered fines and imprisonment. In the years that have followed we can partially realize the great changes that have taken place in the minds of men. Intolerance has given way to liberality of thought, and independence of ac- tion is everywhere permitted, but it should be
mentioned as the first deacon, two others are known to have filled that office, Isaac Lamb and Joseph Culver. Mr. Wightman continued with the church until his death in 1747 closed lis long pastorate of forty-two years. A Wightman memorial, erected in 1890, marks his resting place in the Wightman Burial Ground which -adjoined the first two houses of worship.
Rev. Daniel Fisk of Rhode Island was called to be his successor. During his minis- try began the "great awakening" under the preaching of Whitefield and Davenport, which deeply moved all the churches, and in many the impressions made resulted in divisions. In
VILLAGE GREEN AND CHURCH EDIFICE BUILT IN 1867
remembered that not a truth or principle taught by the early Baptists has been recanted, changed, or overthrown.
Mr. Wightman was greatly favored by hav- ing as neighboring ministers of the Standing Order, Ephraim Woodbridge and John Owen, whose liberality towards the Baptists was in marked contrast to the spirit of the times. Wightman and Owen ever labored side by side in accord and in mutual friendship until the death of the former.
Mr. Wightman was in advance of his day and of his own people. He introduced singing as a part of public worship, and to meet the strong opposition to this innovation he pub- lished a book advocating its practice. During his pastorate, besides William Stark, before
Baptist churches there were also divisions into open and strict communion, and after various efforts to reconcile these views, at length in 1754, the church was reorganized. adopting open communion.
From this time Timothy Wightman, son of the first pastor, became the leader of the church, and in 1756 was ordained pastor. With him were associated twenty-eight members, and their covenant dating June 28, 1754, is upon the church records which, from that time forward, have been fully preserved. About the year 1765. the First Baptist church of Groton, then the leading church of that faith in the state, as well as the first born, returned to its former practice of strict communion, in consequence of which some of the members
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withdrew and formed the Second Baptist church of Groton, sometimes called the Fort Hill church.
A historian tells us that Timothy Wightman was a "man of medium stature and erect form, affable manners, serious deportment and man- ly bearing, and was nigh a model man." As a preacher he was fearless and faithful. His ministry reached through two great upheavals in the history of our country; the "great awakening" in church life, before referred to, and the revolution that inaugurated our na- tional independence. He taught his people to honor the right, and his church furnished its quota of patriotic blood in defence, of liberty. On one occasion two members of his flock who were soldiers, having been allowed to visit their homes and finding a meeting in progress, came at once to the meeting in all their sol- cherly outfit. On entering they received from the pastor this scriptural greeting and wel- come: "And being let go they went to their own company."
Three deacons were ordained during his ministry, John Wightman and Peter Avery in 1757, and Thomas Northrop Niles in 1778. Deacon Peter Avery was a man of decided personality and a leader in church matters. He was loud and strong of speech, but of agree- able manner and reputed wealth. He gave the church one hundred pounds sterling and a sil- ver cup for communion service. He was dea- con for fifty years, until his death.
A glimpse of the old-time church singing is here given in the quaint language of the church record:
"Oct ye 3, 1778. Dea Nites moved that somebody should be chosen to set the Psalm, when the church . ยท made choice of Br Benadam Galtup, and in his ab- sense Br John Daboff to set the Psalm and likewise voted that they set as near the center of the meeting house as they conveniently can."
"April ye 3, 1779. Br Gallup moved that the church should reconsider a vote of theirs in October appoint- ing him and Br Daboll to tune the Psalm, as he found Br Daboll's gift to be superior to his. Accordingly at Br Gallup's desire they appointed Br Daboll to be first in tuning the Psalm and Br Galtup to assist him."
During Timothy Wightman's ministry there were large additions to the church, which numbered two hundred and fifteen members at the close of his pastorate. In 1790, a second
house of worship was built on the site of the former house. Mr. Wightman's death occurred in 1796 at the age of seventy-seven, in the forty-third year of his pastorate.
An interval of four years followed during which Rev. Reuben Palmer of Montville preached as supply a part of the time, and more than seventy were added to the church. Among others, John Gano Wightman, son of the late pastor, a young man of more than or- dinary ability, who had received a classical education at Plainfield Academy, was con- verted and baptized in 1798 at the age of thir- ty-one. Soon afterwards he accepted the call of the church to become its pastor and was ordained Ang. 13, 1800.
John Gano Wightman was a logical and fluent speaker, well versed in scripture and a successful minister of Christ. During his pas- torate not less than ten seasons of revival were experienced, greatly strengthening the church and repairing the losses by death and removal to cities and villages and to the far west.
A branch church was formed in 1831 as the Third Baptist church of Groton, afterwards known as the Mariner's church, located west of the river at Mystic, then called Portersville.
During his pastorate the following were or- dained deacons : Benadam Gallup in 1800. Samuel Lamb and Sands Fish in 18to, Stanton P. Babcock in 1828, and Coddington Colver and James C. Lamb in 1838.
The church was blessed with faithful lay- men as well as officers. Joseph Colver, a lineal descendant of Gov. Winthrop of Connecticut, was a judicious and trusted helper, and a tower of strength to the church in his day, and in faithful attendance his record is without a parallel. He carefully kept a diary and accord- ing to its pages he was absent from Lord's day service only twice in forty years. Two of his grandsons have filled important positions in the Baptist ministry, Rev. Palmer G. Wight- man whose name appears later as pastor of this church, and Rev. Joseph C. Wightman an eminent scholar and divine.
Another valuable contributor to the spirit. ual life of the church was "Old Qnash," as he was commonly called. Quash Williams was a
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slave in early life and never learned to read, but he was mighty in the Scriptures and knew them better than many who teach them as their sacred calling. He could say with David, "Thy word have I hid in my heart." Ilis gift of exhortation was wonderful. llis appeals were full of the lively imagery and fervid emo- tion peculiar to his race combined with such feeling and sensible application of divine truth, and expressed in voice and manner so effec- tive that his audience could rarely refrain from tears. Ilis counsels were a valuable help to many, and in after years the memory of his services prompted the erection of a monn- ment at his grave.
PRESENT BAPTIST CHURCH
The first Sunday school connected with the church was organized in- 1827. Though not having means of conducting that work in the manner of the present day, it had in view the fundamental object of gaining and imparting a knowledge of the Holy Scriptures, in which it was eminently successful.
Mr. Wightman died in 1841, having served the church as pastor forty-one years. With his death closed a remarkable series of pastorates by father, son, and grandson, covering a pe- riod of one hundred and twenty-six years. It is impossible to justly review the history of this church without carefully considering the
lives of these men and their influence upon the people of their day. To them, with their unfeigned love of the truth, their piety, their sturdy maintenance of Baptist principles in face of all opposition, and to their wise and diligent leadership is due the impressions which made all this wide section of country become special Baptist ground. That such is the fact, the five flourishing Baptist churches in the town of Groton, and five more in the ad- joining towns of Stonington and North Ston- ington are continual witnesses.
After the death of John Gano Wightman. Mr. B. F. Hedden, a member of the Fort Hill church, was called to the pastorate, and was ordained in April, 1842. During his short stay of about one year the church seems to have been unusually active, and a change of the lo- cation of the meeting house was advocated.
On the twenty-second of February, 1843, a vote was passed to remove to Mystic, as Old Mystic was then called, whenever a suitable house of worship should be erected at that place. In the same month a branch church which had been maintained for a time at Led- yard was constituted an independent church. Also on the sixteenth of March a delegation from this church assisted in a council at Gro- ton lleights in establishing the present Groton lleights church. In April, 1842, Stephen Peckham, Avery Gallup and Daniel Chipman were ordained deacons.
Mr. Hledden was succeeded in 1843 by Rev. Charles C. Lewis who remained with the church less than one year. In the meantime the site for a new house of worship was se- cured, located still within the town of Groton, where the present house stands, and a new church was built, which was dedicated Feb- ruary 22, 1844.
The old house in Groton remained standing for a time and some were unwilling to give it up as a place of worship, and meetings were frequently held within its hallowed walls. Like its predecessor it made no outward pretension to architectural beauty, but was a square, barn- like structure without spire or steeple or even a chimney. The pipe from its one stove after crossing the room horizontally found its way
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ont through a window, where a pane of glass once had been. It had the square family pews of those times, each one completely walled in by a high board partition in which the older occupants sat where they could see the preach- er, but the children were placed with backs to- ward the pulpit, and their view was mostly confined to the inside walls of their prison, re- lieved only by the stern countenances of their elders. Vivid recollections now come of ser- vices in that house when the sound of the preaching seemed something wonderful; and when the hymn was sung by singers in the gal- lery, wholly out of sight from the children's place in the cavernous pew, after vainly trying to find where that sound came from, the inev- itable conclusion was reached that it came from heaven. Sometimes during service a bright-eyed squirrel would come a little way out from his hiding place and all unmoved by his surroundings, listen for a short time to the profound preaching, then with a scamper re- tire to his own haunts.
The interior work of the house was more highly finished, with hand wrought panels and mouldings, and the front of the lofty pulpit with much carved work, on all of which no paint was ever used, but it remained in the natural color and finish of the wood. But the most striking feature of that room was its huge pear-shaped sounding board, hanging by a single rod of iron directly over the minister as he stood up to preach. A childish fear amount- ing almost to torture was continuously present that at some dreadful moment that mighty thing would drop and utterly extinguish the poor preacher. Whether the sounding board greatly increased the volume of the speaker's voice is a matter of doubt, but in this case it was sure evidence of the regard a loving peo- ple had for a fatherly pastor, for in building that house in the later years of Timothy Wightman's pastorate, when his speech had lost some of the strength and vigor of youth, this device was added to increase the sound, that all might be able to hear his voice. No thought entered their true hearts of exchang- ing his counsels for those of another, even
though the marks of time and weight of years were apparent in waning strength and voice. Little wonder that those who had been wor- shippers in that house were unwilling to give it up, for they had memories that stirred their hearts, and had an abiding affection for that house in its beautiful retired place by the fra- grant forest, and for the quiet church yard where their loved and lost were laid to their long rest. There often indeed
"The sounding aisles of the dim woods rang To the anthem of the free."
Rev. Cyrus Miner was the first pastor to oc- cupy the new house, beginning his services in April following the dedication. He remained only one year and was succeeded by William C. Walker, who was called by this church to his first pastorate in April, 1845. Though young, his loving disposition, genuine good will, and zeal for his Master soon won to him the hearts of his people. He was ordained in June at the session of the Stonington Union Association, which was held with the church that year.
During his pastorate of five years, the first additions were made to the church on its new ground. The Sunday school received special attention from him, and from that time was made more attractive and important as a part of church work. Il-health, which prevented continned effort in public speaking, led to his resignation. The minister's support in those days does not now seem to have been a gilded attraction, as the records show the amount to have been but three hundred dollars per an- mmm, and even this sum was with difficulty raised and not always promptly paid.
Rev. James Squier was the next pastor for about one year. During his stay an increase of interest was manifest and extra meetings were held. Among others who assisted in the services was Rev. Erastus Miner whose preaching greatly interested many, and who was eventually called to be the next pastor The church gained in numbers during the car lier part of his ministry, but later there was dissatisfaction and it grew so great that the church was divided and separate meetings
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were held. This state of things continued for a time after Mr. Miner had severed his con- nection with the church.
Rev. John E. Wood was next called and came to his duties with a plan for laying aside' all differences and reuniting the church on common ground, which under his discreet leadership as pastor was happily effected. His active career and efforts awakened renewed interest in all church work. The Sunday school was reinvigorated and by his planning, the Sunday School Convention to the Stoning-
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BAPTIST PARSONAGE, OLDEST IN AMERICA
ton Union Association was established, and the first meeting was held with this church in 1858. He resigned in November, 1860, and was followed by Rev. Edgar \. Hewitt, who continued with the church three years. By a bequest of Mrs. Sally Gallup the church re- ceived a fund of about fourteen hundred dol- lars.
Soon after the resignation of Mr. Hewitt, Rev. Palmer G. Wightman, grandson of Rev. John Gano Wightman, accepted a call to the pastorate and commenced his labors upon the field of his fathers in June, 1864. He was well fitted for the position, and began his pastoral work with unwavering faith, active zeal and untiring effort. The church responded to the spirit and carnestness manifested by him, and there began a harvest of accessions to the church. During the winter of 1865 and 1866, meetings were continued nearly every even- ing for more than three months, and within that time eighty-eight were baptised. In the
extra work of that winter Mr. Wightman was greatly assisted by Elder Jabez Swan of evan- gelistic renown, the two working in perfect accord with each other and with the church. Though no other revival of like power was experienced, many more were afterward add- ed to the church. During the twelve years of his pastorate two hundred and twenty-four new members were received, and the mem- bership of the church reached the highest point in its history, having been two hundred and ninety-six in 1875.
With increased membership and larger con- gregations the house of worship was found too small for the needs of the church, and it was at length decided to build a new house, which was erected on the site of the old one and ded- icated in October, 1867. The Sunday school was at this period under the superintendence of Amos B. Taylor and continued to be for nearly twenty years, and was larger than at any time since its formation, numbering over two hundred scholars. By the bequest of Zer- viah Wightman, daughter of Rev. John Gano Wightman, the church came into possession of its present parsonage and a considerable sum of money as a fund for the support of gospel preaching. In 1867, Thomas 11. Vincent was appointed deacon, and in 1872. Allan Steven- son, Nehemiah M. Gallup and Benjamin B. lewitt were also appointed to that office. Mr. Wightman resigned his pastorate in 1876, hav- ing been greatly instrumental in building up the church in numbers, influence and efficien- cy.
Rev. Eli Dewhurst succeeded to the pastor- ate the same year in which Mr. Wightman re- signed, and continued with the church five years. During that time an effort was made to clear the church of indebtedness upon its house of worship, and by the sacrifices of many who contributed large sums for that purpose the whole amount was raised and paid. Mr. Dewhurst was followed by Mr. John Richard- son who was ordained by the church, and re- mained a little more than a year. During his pastoral term a number were received into the church. Rev. Homer A. King became pas- tor in July, 1883. remaining also a little more
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than a year, and was in turn followed, Jan- uary, 1885, by Rev. A. J. Wilcox who remained only a few months.
In September of the latter year Rev. A. J. Chandler was called to the pastorate. With him an important revival season was experi- enced, in which additions were made to the church, and it was greatly quickened in spirit- ual thought and life. In 1894 some changes were made in the interior of the house of wor- ship, rendering the whole much better adapted to all the needs of church work. Three dea- cons were chosen in 1887, Simeon Gallup, Wil- liam H. Lamphere, and Amos D. Turner. Mr. Chandler resigned in 1895, closing ten years of pastoral labor, and was succeeded in Novem- ber of that year by Rev. Dryden W. Phelps, who continued pastor about three and one-half years.
A legacy of one thousand dollars, the gift of Mrs. Julia .A. Langworthy, was received by the church in 1899. In December of that year Rev. Henry W. Wilson accepted a call to the church, and began a pastorate full of encour- agement and promise, which, however, was brought to a sudden close by his untimely death June 5th, 1902. About forty were re- ceived into the church during his labors.
Mr. Wilson was followed by Rev. Herbert B. Hutchins, who began his pastoral work in November of the same year.
In June, 1904, the Stonington Union Asso- ciation held its one hundred and thirty-second anniversary with the church. At that session the association presented the church a bronze memorial tablet "commemorating the found-
ing of this, the first Baptist church of Connec- ticut in 1705, and the maintenance by it of the standard of Religious Liberty, and the self- sacrificing devotion of Valentine Wightman, its founder, Timothy Wightman, his son, and John Gano Wightman, his grandson, succes- sively its ministers for one hundred and twenty- six years."
The year 1905 closed the second century of the existence of the church. In August of that year exercises were held commemorating that event, beginning on Sunday, August 6th, and continuing until Aug. 9th. At the public ser- vices held each day, addresses were delivered by prominent speakers from abroad in con- nection with other appropriate exercises. Af- ter the address on Wednesday. Ang. 9th, the bi-centennial exercises were concluded with a banquet and social reunion.
At the close of the second century of church life the number of members is two hundred and two. Since 1754, the earliest date from which a continuons record of membership can now be traced, to the present time, twelve hun- dred and eighty-seven members have been en- rolled. Twenty-eight ministers of the gospel have gone out from this membership to their work in all parts of the land. If imbued with the spirit of the Divine Master, and the cour- age and devotion of some of the early fathers whose career has been here reviewed, another century may show a powerful influence for good from their labors also.
Mr. Hutchins closed his pastorate in March, 1907, and was succeeded by Rev. J. M. Olm- stead, in November of the same year.
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