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 3
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The church treasures three beautiful mem- orial windows. A very large one represent- ing the parable of The Ten Talents, occupies the western end. This was presented by the Avery family, whose members have always occupied a very prominent position in the town and church. On the north side is a win- dow from the Tiffany studios representing Christ as the Shepherd of His Sheep, a fitting memorial to Rev. John A. Woodhull. The third, of conventional design, is a memorial to
tion exercises were held on October sixteenth, 1902, the two hundredth anniversary of the founding of the church, the dedicatory ser- mon being preached by Rev. S. H. Howe, D. D., of Norwich from the text, "What mean ye by these stones."
In June, 1908, Rev. James R. Danforth, D. D., was installed as our sixteenth pastor and we sincerely hope that for many years he may live among us "that good, diffused, may more abundant grow."
One can not study the history of this church without feeling that in many ways, it has been especially blest. It had a most noble ances- try of men and women who were children of the best early settlers upon the shores of Mass- achusetts bay, and in whose veins flowed the best blood of the mother country. Sturdy in body, keen in mind and fervent in spirit, they gave to this church a splendid birthright. It has been enriched by an educated ministry. Its pastors have all been graduates of col- leges; men of intellectuality and culture who have done much toward maintaining a high standard of living here in Groton. It has also noble descendants. From it have gone forth half a score of ministers, among them the first Episcopal bishop in this country; and many useful men and women in all walks of life have received their religious training from this church. With one of her pastors we say, "With a past so full of blessing and attain- ment, may the future. of this religious honse- hold be grand in holy nsefulness."
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HISTORIC GROTON
20)
Groton Heights Baptist Church
By REV. GEORGE R. ATHA
A CHURCH that was organized in 1843 cannot boast of "hoary walls and ancient halls," especially if it is worshipping in the second building it has occupied since that date. Yet the writer of this brief record being privileged from time to time to hold the cups and plates of the old pewter communion set, has thus been led to think of the brethren who partook of the elements of the sacrament therefrom, and he cannot but rejoice in their history.
The story is brief, covering but sixty-six years, and it begins thus: "A council called by certain brethren and sisters residing in the towns of Groton, New London and Jewett City, for the purpose of giving them fellow- ship as a church, to be called .The Baptist Church at Groton Bank,' convened at the house of Deacon Robert A. Avery on Thurs- day, March 16, 1843, and organized at 11 o'clock a. m. After due inquiry into the cir- cumstances under which the church came into existence, the council voted 'That when the church shall adopt the articles and the cove- nant, we extend to it the hand of fellowship as a church in Gospel order.' "
Following this action the council adjourned to meet in the meeting house for the public exercises, the Congregational church having kindly offered their house for the occasion. The church came together and in the presence of the congregation adopted their articles of faith and covenant, after which the services proceeded as folows :
Reading of Scriptures and prayer by Rev. B. F. Hedden : Sermon by Rev. B. Cook. text. Ephesians 2: 19-20; Prayer of Recognition by Rev. L. Covill ; Hand of Fellowship by Rev. H. R. Knapp : Charge to the Church by Rev. I. R. Stoward; concluding prayer by Rev. E.
Denison. Such is the story of the beginning of the church.
At the time of the organization there were 51 enrolled as members of the church. Ser- vices were held either at the North Lane school house or in the school house of District No. I. But temporary quarters did not long satisfy this little company, whose buoyant, optimistic and progressive spirit is borne wit- ness to in the following paragraphs taken ver- batim from the church records:
I. At a meeting held on March 25th, 1843 (nine days after the organization was effected) it was voted: "That we circulate a subscription to build a meeting house for the church."
2. On the 18th of July, 1844, it was voted: "That the building committee be instructed to accept proposal> and build a meeting house for the Groton Bank Baptist Church, according to their best judgment."
3. In May, 1845, it was voted: "That our meeting house be dedicated to the service of Almighty God on the 4th of June, 1845, and that Elder Jabez S. Swan be invited to preach the dedication sermon."
This first meeting house served the church as its place of worship from 1845 until 1872. It still stands on Thames St., just where you make the turn in going to the railroad station. It was remodelled and has been used for some years now as a dwelling.
In 1871, during the second pastorate of El- der Allen, the church building was found too small to accommodate the congregation, so the subscription list was again circulated with the result that $4,500 was raised, which with the value of the church property made a work- ing capital of over $6,000. A building commit- tee was appointed and the work pushed for- ward vigorously so that on the nith of July. 1872, the building was finished and dedicated. the sermon on this occasion being preached Ly Rev. John Davies of Norwich. The church edifice has been well kept and is in a good state of preservation. In 1874 it was freed
-
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from debt so far as the building fund was . in frame and in heart he gave a splendid proof concerned, and during that year also a bell of his ministry. Two hundred and forty-three were added to the church during his pastorates and his name will ever be honored in this com- munity. was placed in the tower by eight of the breth -. ren of the church. To-day the growth of firei Bible school and the desire for a more conven- ient arrangement for classes is leading the trustees and other officers to think seriously as to how they can best rearrange the ves- trys to facilitate and make more efficient this vigorous department of the church's work.
Counting the present incumbent, it may be interesting to note that the church has had during these sixty-six years thirteen pastors, while on three different occasions there have
Rev. E. T. Miller's pastorate was next in length, covering a period of eight years and seven months, and next again in point of time was the pastorate of Rev. L. B. Sears, who rounded out six years with this people. Elder Ballentine would come next with four and a third years of splendid achievement in both material and spiritual things. While many of the pastorates were brief. God's blessing was
GROTON HEIGHTS BAPTIST CHURCH
been so-called supply pastors. The pastors were, in order, as follows: Reverends Ruther- ford Russell, N. T. Allen, (first pastorate), Isaac Cheeseborough, Edgar Hewitt, George Matthews, Elihu Dewhurst, N. T. Allen (sec- ond pastorate), Noyes W. Miner, D. D., George R. Darrow, George N. Ballentine, E. T. Miller, 1 .. B. Sears and George R. Atha. The supply pastors were E. Andrews, M. M. llaven, and William A. Smith.
Of this group none can compare, of course, either in length of service, or in their grip upon the church and community, with Elder Allen, who for a period of almost twenty years guided the affairs of the church. Large
not wanting in them as the records attest. Es- pecially is this to be noted in the brief minis- tries of Revs. Rutherford Russell, Elihu Dew- hurst and Dr. N. W. Miner, who though here for but brief periods, respectively, saw eighty- four, thirty-two and sixty-one added to the church. Rev. W. A. Smith who served as sup- ply-pastor, gratuitously, too, be it said, had his service of love honored by twenty-eight being added to the church while it was under his care. God has indeed honored his servants here, in that over six hundred altogether dur- ing these years have been brought into the fel- lowship of the church, and all have been privi- leged to share, not only in the sowing of the
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seed, but also in the reaping of the harvest. The years 1845, 1848, 1872-73 and 1882 were years marked by special manifestations of spiritual power in the conversion of men.
It would be a difficult thing to determine just where one ought to stop if he attempted to make mention of the men and women, who during these sixty-six years have sought by ; to be marked incomplete.
loving and painstaking service in this church te honor God and advance the interests of His kingdom. But there are two names that no one writing of the church would be able to omit, so indelibly have they been written in the church's history. The first of these names is that of Deacon Robert Austin 'Avery, through "whose untiring and self-denying ef- forts this church had its birth." For nineteen years he served as senior deacon, seldom be- ing absent from the services though he lived some distance from the church. He died De- cember 20, 1862. The church records during those nineteen years indicate that the heart and hand of Deacon Avery were ever mindful of the church, and that he abounded in every good word and work. Besides him was. Dea- con Charles 11. Starr, who also was with the church at the beginning even though his name does not appear as a constituent member. Ile was elected deacon in November, 1845, and- served the church in that office for a period of sixty-two years. A quiet, simple, straight-
forward, good man, his sincerity and virtue impressed his brethren in the church and also his neighbors and fellow townsmen. This record is all too brief to indicate what the car- nest faith and piety of these brethren meant in the way of blessing to the church, but without such mention of them any record would have
Of the allied and auxiliary organizations to the church, the Sunday school of course stands first in the hearts of the people. It has an en- rolled membership of about two hundred and fifty, with an average attendance of one hun- dred and forty. Its nineteen classes give op- portunity for students of all ages to share in Bible-study, and it manifests an active inter- est in all the varied missionary and philan- thropic enterprises esponsed by the church.
Other organizations are the Ladies' Mis- sionary Society, the Ladies' Benevolent So- ciety, and the Baptist Young People's Union. These give ample opportunity for expression and participation in the varied lines of work, and all are proving helpful to the work of the church at large in practical ways and in pray- erful ways, in studious paths and in paths where time and talent must be sacrificed that the church may be sustained, and the blessed gospel preached both here at home and yonder across the sea.
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The Bishop Seabury Memorial Church
By REV. C. S. M. STEWART .
T HE Rev. R. M. Duff of St. James' Church, New London, held the first Episcopalian services on Wednesday evenings in Lent, 1874, which resulted in the found- ing of the Mission in Groton. A Sunday af-
SEABURY MEMORIAL CHAPEL
ternoon service was conducted by him during the following June and continued until Oc- tober of that year, when the Rev. Millidge
Walker, the regular appointed missionary, assumed charge of the work. Success crowned the labor of the missionary and soon sufficient funds had been obtained for the construction of the present church edifice. The Rev. Mr. Walker submitted plans drawn by himself to a committee appointed by the board of directors of the the missionary society of the diocese which were found to be satisfactory and ground was broken on the 20th of July, 1875. The first service held in the church was on Christmas evening of the same year, and there the congregation continued to worship until the following Whitsunday, June 4th, 1876. The church building being still in an unfinished condition, the services were held for a brief period of time in Mechanics' Hall, where previously the congregation had met for worship.
A completed and churchly structure awaited the return of the congregation on Sunday, Au- gust 13th, 1876, and the Rev. J. F. Taunt was the officiating clergyman. The Rev. Mr. Taunt having been appointed priest-in-charge by the bishop of the diocese, entered upon his duties September 3d, 1876. The last mentioned clergyman was followed by the Rev. Il. T. Gregory whose ministration began March 6th, 1878. The Rev. Mr. Gregory rendered the important service of lifting a debt of $1.750.00 which had prevented the consecration of the church. On Tuesday, September 13th, 1881. the church was consecrated and set apart for- over for holy worship under the title of Sca- bury Memorial Church, in reverential respect to the memory of the Right Reverend Samuel Seabury. D. D. the first bishop of the Ameri- can church and of the diocese of Connecticut. who was born in Groton. November 30th, 1720.
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The Missionaries in charge have been :
1. The Rev. R. M. Duff-Lent, 1874, to 18th Sunday after Trinity.
2. The Rev. Millidge Walker-18th Sunday . 7. after Trinity to Lent. 1876.
(The Rev. C. II. B. Tremaine-Ash Wednes- day, 1876, to Whitsunday.)
3. The Rev. J. Ferdinand Taunt-12th Sun- day after Trinity. 1876, to Lent, 1878.
4. The Rev. Henry T. Gregory-Ash Wed- nesday, 1878, to Holy Innocents, 1882.
5. Rev. Orlando P. Starkey-Easter Day, 1883, to Lent, 1885.
(The Rev. Peter L. Shepard-Lent, 1885, to with Sunday after Trinity.)
6. The Rev. James O. Ticknor-( In connec- tion with St. Mark's Parish, Mystic)- lith Sunday after Trinity, 1885, to Stu Sunday after Trinity, 1886.
The Rev. William L. Peck-17th Sunday after Trinity, 1886, to 6th Sunday after Trinity, 1894.
8. The Rev. X. Alanson Welton-1894 to 1896.
9. The Rev. Theodore M. Peck-1896 to 1898.
10. The Rev. Paul F. Hoffman-ist Sunday after Trinity, 1898 to 1902.
1902-1904-The Rev. Millidge Walker.
1904-1906-Supplies.
1906-1907-The Rev. F. HI. Stedman.
1907-1908-The Rev. Adelbert McGinnis. 1908-The Rev. C. S. M. Stewart.
-C.
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The Work of the Anna Warner Bailey Chapter, D. A. R. of Groton and Stonington
By GRACE D. WHEELER
BOUT fifty years ago, there lived on the old Gershom Lambert estate, near the borough of Stonington, Conn., a family by the name of Day. Some years before they had left their home in New London, Conn., for New Orleans, La., where Mr. Day accumulated in business a handsome fortune and upon returning north, for a summer home, saw and purchased this beauti- ful estate, later known as Walnut Grove or the Day Place. It is situated off the public road. but reached by passing through the gate at the lodge, where wending your way in a green meadow, under arching trees and over bridges, you reach at last, the handsome mansion built there by Mr. James 1. Day and beautified during his ownership, through the summer months and later, when he occupied it for the season. Here his family lived in luxury, entertaining friends and bringing not a little social distinction to Stonington.
Among this family of several beautiful daugh- ters, was Abby, who married Cuthbert Harrison Slocomb, the wedding occurring amid much hap- piness in this house and later they went to live in New Orleans. After travelling much abroad and at home and experiencing many eventful epi- sodes in social life, bearing with fortitude the loss of her husband and with equal equanimity, the happy marriage of her daughter, to Count Di. Brazza Savorgnan of Italy, Mrs. Slocomb came back in later years, to her early home in Stonington and visited friends, while seeking a beautiful location for a home, which she found at Groton, Conn., where, after combining two or- dinary houses into the one modern and unique design, which stands there today, on Monument street, she named it "Daisy Crest over Groton."
Perhaps living in the very shadow of Groton Heights' towering granite monument and conse-
quently nearby Old Fort Griswold, with its glo- rious and patriotic, but ghastly historic memory of Revolutionary days, was the cause of imbuing Mrs. Slocomb with zeal in the service of those Revolutionary descendants, who formed October 11th, 1890, in Washington, D. C., the National Society of The Daughters of the American Rev- olution. Certain it was, that she responded promptly to the call for help, which came to her from Mrs. 11. V. Boynton, Vice-President Gen- eral, in charge of the organization of chapters, who desired that daughters of the heroes of the Revolution should assist in forming chapters in every city, town and county of Connecticut, which should foster patriotism and education in the principles of our government and also preserve the unwritten history of the struggle for inde- pendence that our ancestors endured.
Mrs. Slocomb came at once to Stonington seek- ing members for this new society and called at my home to secure help in tracing those eligible to membership. Thus my name stands first after the Regent, as the second charter member. In August, 1803. Mrs. Slocomb sent out letters of invitation to ladies to form a chapter in Groton and Stonington, and later in the month held an informal meeting at her house, of those eligi- ble and desirous of forming a chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution, which or- ganization was later named Anna Warner Bailey, in honor of Groton's most distinguished patriotic woman of Revolutionary days.
The first regular meeting of this chapter was held September 13th, 1893, at Mrs. Slocomb's home, she having been appointed Regent by the National Board at Washington. There were fourteen ladies present and other officers were chosen, viz .: Mrs. Engene Baker, registrar ; Miss Grace D .. Wheeler, vice-registrar; Miss Julia Avery, secretary ; and Miss Sarah 11. Mor-
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MRS. ANNA WARNER BAIL.EV Known as " Mother Bailey "
Stoddard, Mrs. Elisha Thomas, Mrs. Frederic Bill, Miss Mary J. Avery, Mrs. Belton A. Copp, Mrs. Daniel Morgan, Miss Julia O. Avery, Miss Cora Avery, Miss Beulah Star- key, Mrs. N. S. Fish.
In April, 1894, the first meeting in Stonington was held at Mrs. F. B. Noyes' home. The Re- gent used a gavel, presented to her by the chap- ter, and made of oak from a rafter in Mother Bailey's house highly polished and with an in- scription on a silver plate. There were twenty- five present. Within the year, there were 103 . members, making with one exception the largest chapter in the state. Three years later there were 150 members and seven real daughters of Revo- lutionary heroes had been found and presented with the gold spoon from the national society at Washington. About this time Mrs, Slocomb was requested to allow her name to be used for State Regent, but declined the honor, saying, she "felt convinced that the Daughters of Connecti- cut would be best served by remaining where she was." We see now how wise her decision, as we glance along the various lines of work, car.
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gan, treasurer. The Board of Management was ried successfully to a grand finish, for in less than three months after her appointment as Regent, she had begun consulting with Congressman Charles Russell as approaching the United States Mrs. Daniel Morgan, Mrs. Frederic Bill, since deceased, and Mrs. Belton A. Copp, while the sixteen charter members were Mrs. C. H. Slo- comb, Miss Grace D. Wheeler, Mrs. Isaac P. < authorities in regard to the wall and grounds of Bouse, Miss Sarah Il. Morgan, Mrs. J. O. Spi- cer, Mrs. Eugene L. Baker, Mrs. Henry H.
Fort Griswold and the Monument House, so that it should be a fitting reception hall for the patri- otic public, who visit it in such multitudes every year, 1,200 names being inscribed on the visi- tors' book in two months. She was successful in her good work and the General Assembly made us custodians of the house, later granting three hundred dollars a year for care and repaus.
Right upon this, the chapter sent those num- erous petitions, 150 or 160, to Congress, asking for the consecrated soil which rightfully be- longed to Fort Griswold's battle ground, lying directly east, which was later incorporated into the grounds of the old redoubt by the United States government. These printed words can scarcely convey the amount of thought, work and time needed to accomplish this purchase, but the sincere thanks of all patriotic people are given this chapter for preventing the building of houses, which was fast encroaching upon this historic ground.
Our meetings were generally held at the Bill Library, but as the Fairie Masque, a charming play, written by Mrs. Slocomb and held in the
THE MOTHER BAILEY HOUSE
New London Theatre, by our society in June. 1805, proved so successful, the proceeds, four hundred dollars, were used to fit up the little stone monument house, which had been voted by the Monument Association for their use and granted to use by the State, so that on the sixth of September, 1894, the 113th anniversary of
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the massacre at Groton Heights, the keys were given over to the Regent and the house was formally opened to the public. The chapter was present with their invited guests, repre- senting church, state, army, navy, art, literature, wealth and fashion, who all listened attentively to a speech by Hon. C. A. Russell, and a poem written by our life poetess, Rose Hawthorne Lathrop, was read by Mrs. Clara B. Whitman, which with music and refreshments filled the programme.
At sunset, Chinese lanterns flashed out from the monument and house, while fireworks and
Ledyard, where he paid tribute money of a York shilling to a tidy, little woman, living in the stone building, from whom he received the key to the monument, and so this house has been occupied by different people till the Anna War- ner Bailey Chapter took charge in 1894.
The next meeting after the formal opening was held at Mrs. Slocomb's and the society, through the treasurer, Miss Morgan, presented our Regent with a jewelled badge, representing the symbolical spinning wheel, made of blue en- amel with a diamond in the center and in the end of each of the thirteen spokes. It is need-
MONUMENT AND MONUMENT HOUSE
bonfires lighted the old fort. This was indeed a gala day long to be remembered. We scarcely thought the day was so near when this house would be enlarged and rededicated to accom- modate the growth and gifts of the patriotic public. The early history of this stone house is interesting as we note it was built from stone um- fit for the moment and has been used as a janitor's home since 1831, first by John Benham, who later purchased the large Benham farm of today. In 1848, the historian Lossing, relates, "That he crossed the Thames and visited Mt.
less to say that Mrs. Slocomb responded feel- ingly and fittingly and then mentioned in her yearly report that she had secured seven nation- al members for a Louisiana chapter and nominat- ed a friend as Regem, to represent them in Congress.
In the glorious month of October our Regent. at her home, gave a reception to the State Re- gent, Mrs. DeB. Randolph Keim. She was as- sisted in receiving by our officers and members. Sherry of New York catered, serving refresh- ments emblematic of the occasion. Ices in the
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HISTORIC GROTON
form of cannon and bombs, and cakes and tiny United States flags were in abundance. A short time after Mrs. William D. Moss entertained onr Kegent at her home in Westerly, where she met a number of Rhode Island ladies, who later be- came members of our chapter, and ever since, one meeting yearly is held at Westerly and Stonington, always well sustained by the mem- bers at home and from Groton.
In June, 1895, Mrs. Slocomb was chosen chairman of the chapter committee and pro- moter of the national society of the Children of the American Revolution and formed six local societies in New London County, and one in Louisiana, viz. : Thomas Stari at East- ern Point, Thomas Avery at Poquonnock, Jonathan Brooks at New London, Col. Led- yard at Groton, William Latham (or Powder Monkey) at Stonington, Samuel Ward at Westerly, and Old Glory at New Orleans. It would require pages to tell of all the work done by these children and their leaders, of tablets placed upon historic houses and ob- jects, one upon the Whitefield tree in Stoning- ton in front of the home of Mr. and Mrs. Fer- nando Wheeler, and again honoring White- field by placing another tablet on the old brown Barber house at Center Groton, now owned by Percy Colver, where Whitefield preached in 1764. Tablets on the Ebenezer Avery and Anna Warner Bailey houses in Groton, a stone placed with ceremonies at the grave of Ilulda Hlall and a boulder erected at Daniel Stanton's grave in Stonington, testify to their patriotic ardor.
But to return to our work in the Anna War- ner Bailey chapter, of which there is enough "to fill a good-sized book. We find at the regu- lar meetings, much business concerning by- laws and amendments, committees named for souvenir china, armorial shields, and souvenir silver bells, representing the flannel petticoat which Mother Bailey gave to our patriotic an- cestors to make wadding for their guns to fire npon the English. The numerous meetings of the Groton Tea Club and New London Reading Club are often mentioned. Clothing and money are reported sent to Mrs. Rose Hawthorne Lathrop for her hospital work
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