USA > Connecticut > New London County > Lisbon > Historical sketch of Lisbon, Conn., from 1786-1900 > Part 3
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Mr. Nelson's pastorate has been compared in review to a placid stream flowing smoothly for the most part. But later on the em- bargo act and the non-intercourse acts, followed soon by war with England, brought more or less suffering to all classes of the Ameri- can people. The cost of living was greatly increased, and Mr. Nel- son became much embarrassed, and it looked to the people of his church as if he might have to sever his relations. as it was impos- sible to live on his small salary unless supplemented. Consequently the Society took action in 1812, May 26th, to guard against losing their pastor. A bank of Eleven Hundred Dollars was made up for the express purpose of purchasing a parsonage for the use and sup- port of gospel ministers. To that agreement were signed sixty-one names of persons who severally gave sums varying from $2 to $50. One gave $66, two gave $60, etc., etc. So in 1812, October 16th, a committee was chosen and directed to purchase Rev. Mr. Nelson's farm and buildings to be kept by the Society for a parsonage. This contemplated design was carried out: Mr. Nelson continued to oc- cupy the premises, and succeeding ministers have lived there up to the present time. The house was one built by the Rev. David Hale in 1795. and still is the church parsonage. There was special in- terest in religion in ISto and more converts made to the church than usual up to 1820. In 1829 to 1831 many were hopefully converted. In 1843 occurred a gracious work, resulting as was estimated in near- ly one hundred conversions. The church so increased by additions embraced one hundred and fifty persons, a larger number than they had ever had before. Says Mr. Nelson in his half-century sermon.
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speaking of those great in-gatherings to the church, "Oh! it seems to me that, if angels have any specially favorite seasons and places on earth, they are when and where such scenes are transacted." In that discourse he also said: "The church grew not only in numbers, but in influence, which is not always seen in proportion to the addi- tion of members.
He further says : "My observations have been that revivals with the least excitement are the most strengthening to churches. . . . It is much better to trust in the Lord and wait upon Him than to de- pend upon signs either for or against revivals. Solomon's direction
THE PARSONAGE.
is always applicable to this subject, 'In the morning sow thy seed and in the evening withhold not thine hand: for thou knowest not whether shall prosper this, or that, or whether they shall be both alike good.'" In common with other ministers and with his own parishioners he bore affliction and gave, as well as found, precious sympathy.
Near the beginning of his pastoral connection Mr. Nelson lost his wife and companion. to whom he was married about a year after his ordination. This first wife was Miss Abigail Tyler, of Mendon, Mass., born 1781, died December 20. 1806, aged twenty-five years. They were married in 1805. She joined the Newent church October
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6th, 1805. She left a child born on the 29th of September, 1806, named Anna Tyler, who grew up to womanhood and married, the 29th of January, 1826, David S. Nelson, of Gloucester, Me., where she died in June 1826. Both the mother and the daughter had but short careers after they were married.
Mr. Nelson married the second time Mary Hale, August 31, 1809, then of Franklin. Conn. She was born 23d November, 1782; died May 2, 1851. She was a relative or niece of Rev. David Hale, who had been the fourth pastor at Newent. She was the third daughter of Joseph Hale, an officer in the American Revolutionary War, and of his wife Rebecca, a daughter of Judge Joseph Harris, of New London. Conn.
Mr. Nelson's first wife had with other qualities of excellency much amiability of character : the second wife was very intelligent, judicious and refined, most kind and popular with all with whom she came in contact.
Rev. Levi Nelson was born in Milford, Mass., the 8th of Au- gust, 1779. He died in Lisbon 18th December, 1855. universally lamented by the church of whom he was pastor, as well as all who knew him and his great worth. .
The Lisbon first church experienced a great loss not only in their pastor's death : but within a few weeks prior they had lost two principal officers of the church in the deaths of Deacon Tracy and Deacon Reuben Bishop.
Levi Nelson was the youngest of the eleven children of Mr. Seth and Mrs. Silence ( Cheney) Nelson. Seth, a brother of Levi, was the father of Rev. Henry Nelson, formerly of Albany, N. Y. Another nephew of Levi Nelson was Rev. John Nelson, D.D., grad- uate W. C. 1807. a trustee of W. C. 1826-33; ordained pastor at Leicester, Mass., 1812, and continued in that pastoral relation till his death. 1872.
Mr. Levi Nelson, owing to a failure of his health when pursuing his college education, did not attain to graduation. But Williams College, where he had been enrolled, gave him in 1810 the honorary degree of A.M. He had obtained theological instruction from Rev. Nathaniel Emmons, D.D., of Franklin, Mass., and received a com- mission from a Massachusetts society to take up missionary work, which he did in New York for a part of the year 1803. Early in 1804 his labors in Lisbon commenced. They were dissolved by his death, as has been stated, 18th December, 1853. At his funeral a sermon was preached by Rev. Roswell Whitmore, of Dayville, and an address was made by Rev. John P. Gulliver, D.D., of Norwich. Both the sermon and the address were requested for publication, but were never published. Those persons who knew Mr. Nelson as their pastor will ever retain a high respect and regard for his habitual kindness and love and counsel to them, which will ever be held in high esteem as long as life and memory last. A memorial gift of a pulpit has been recently presented to Lisbon church in honor of Rev. Levi and Mary Nelson.
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REV. LEVI AND MARY NELSON.
A summary review of these five pastors in the Newent church, covering a little over one hundred years, appears as follows :
Rev. Mr. Kirkland. from 1723 to 1753
Rev. Mr. Peter Powers 1756 " 1770
Rev. Mr. Joel Benedict 1770 " 1782 Rev. Mr. David Hale. 1789 " 1803
Rev. Mr. Levi Nelson 1 80.4 1855
Of the four pastors that preceded Mr. Nelson in Newent, the historian of Norwich testifies, they were all men of more than com- mon attainments and each was distinguished by peculiar and prom- inent traits. A general statement might, with probable accuracy. present them briefly. thus :- Kirkland, ardent, earnest, sensitive, sin- cere :- Powers, with plainness of speech, shrewd, and strenuous, with robust energy :- Benedict. accurate, firm, substantial, well poised, well controlled, and controlling those about him :- Hale, with executive ability, planning well, scholarly and tasteful, followed by Nelson, affectionate. pure-minded, less showy than solid, but tenacious :- then Lee, of the Hanover church, Lisbon, had his strong influence, who was bold in. thinking, lenient towards others in opin- ion, resolute and vigorous in deeds, and with these six strong men add Dr. Perkins ( the elder), Lisbon's physician. a Deacon of the Newent church nearly forty years, who was enterprising, decisive. practical, and wise. Of these seven persons six were in the Newent church. The first was in public life here thirty years, the three next following respectively fourteen, twelve, and fourteen years, and the fifth, fifty-one years ; the sixth, sixty-four years, and the seventh.
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sixty-five or sixty-six years, and all before entering office had been trained at the ablest of the New England educational institutions, and were a great power in this community.
In the year next after Mr. Nelson's death, the Rev. Mr. David Breed supplied for a while, and near the close of 1856 he was invited and was installed the sixth pastor of the church, 17th February, 1857. Rev. Dr. Samuel Wolcott, father of ex-U. S. senator of Col- orado, and pastor of the High Street Church in Providence, R. I., preached the sermon on that occasion. Mr. Breed, in compliance with his request, was regularly dismissed from his pastorate in Lisbon November 30th, 1861. Subsequently Rev. Lewis Jessop ministered from 1862 to 1866.
Rev. Simon Waters from 1866-1867. His death closed his con- nection here in 1867.
Rev. John Haskell from 1867 to 1871.
Rev. Richard Manning Chipman from July, 1871, to March 3Ist, 1879.
Rev. Josiah Green Willis, 1880 to November 11th, 1882.
Rev. John B. Griswold, 1882 to April Ist, 1886.
Rev. Quincy M. Bosworth, July. 1886, to July 1898.
Rev. Edwin Bradford Robinson, November Ist, 1898, to March, 1901.
Rev. Tyler Eddy Gale has been engaged to supply since May 22, 1902.
SCHOOLHOUSE OF DISTRICT NO. I, ON THE CHURCH GREEN.
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THE CHURCH IN SUMMER.
One devoted family to the Newent Lisbon Church deserves a passing notice for their loyalty to its prosperity and maintenance, having been church- goers here for three or four generations. The Baldwins, although non- residents of Lisbon, living just over its border line in South Canterbury. have had some connection with the Newent Church ever since the Rev. Peter Powers on February 10. 1761, married their grandmother toher first hus- band. Reuben Bishop. Mrs. Bishop married a second time Capt. Benjamin Burnham, and their daughter, Hannah Burnham, married Dr. Elijah Bald- win, Sr. This family has had among its members a practicing physician for nearly a hundred years. Miss Helen Baldwin, M.D .. now practicing in New York City, is a great-grandchild of above Mrs. Burnham, and is held in high esteem by her professional brethren.
While no village or dwellings surrounded the Newent church, she has had immediately opposite ber frontage a pleasant old home- stead, which for a long period has extended a welcome to her wor- shippers, where at the intermission between services on Sundays the ladies were inclined to drop in and speak of town topics.
Directly between this residence, owned by the late Tyler Brown, and the church can be seen the stone whipping-post, which serves more in these latter days to post town notices and society meetings than for holding criminals for punishment. Mr. Tyler Brown formerly kept a store, which later on was used as a conference house, and which now is Lisbon's Town House. This Mr. Brown was the father of George M. Brown, a prominent lawyer
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and well-known citizen of Boston, who spent about fifty years of his life there and was highly esteemed by those who knew him. His brother, the late Daniel M. Brown, was a life-long farmer in Lisbon, living at their old homestead, and he has left an only son, a physician now practising his profession successfully at Norwich. The mother, Mrs. Daniel M. Brown, dwelling at this old home, which has stood so intimately connected with Lisbon's center so many generations,' - still has a friendly interest in town affairs and in the church's welfare.
REMINISCENCE.
A little reminiscence connected with the writer's life he is tempted to give, showing that eighty years ago this present summer the schools of Lisbon were not wholly destitute of athletic contests to develop physical culture among her children.
In 1823 the brick schoolhouse of the second district was being built by Mr. Elijah Rathbun. Sr., and it was completed that fall, . when my father, Reuben Bishop, taught the first winter's school in that edifice in 1823 and 1824. While this brick schoolhouse was being erected and no suitable room to be had for a summer school. I was sent a mile and a half from home to the central district. This was no joke for a three-year-old kid, even if he was big enough to go barefooted. My recollection is very vivid of things that took place that summer in an athletic strife in which I endeavored to show the late Daniel M. Brown that I was the best man in physical culture, and got flogged. It didn't trouble me that he was a year older than myself, but I thought he took advantage of my long walk, and, being tired, in accepting the challenge. The teacher, Miss Lucy Stevens, tried to comfort and console me by telling me "Daniel was a bad boy, and I had better not play or fight with him any more." There was no further strife for the championship that summer. I followed the instruction of the schoolma'am and held athletic sports at a discount while I attended her school.
The first church was built as described and in the locality named while the Rev. Mr. Kirkland was pastor. about 1723. It was used a little less than fifty years. The second church was built under the supervision of Mr. Ebenezer Tracy, architect and builder, while the Rev. Joel Benedict was the pastor. It served almost ninety years, when it was taken down, much to the disappointment of many per- sons who had a great reverence for its sacred walls. Its high tower and bell, its pews and high pulpit, its sounding board, its broad aisle and deacon's seat, were all impressive and much revered. Had the old church been preserved Lisbon would now have had one of the most interesting churches in the State. When first built it had no
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steeple or tower, neither a bell to call its worshippers to service. It might have been the custom here, as in many other places at that early period. to assemble at the call of a drum, or a bugle, or horn blowing. First it was furnished only with benches, which after- wards were replaced with square pews. Large enclosures made of high wainscoted walls, against the sides of which seats were ranged and within which were frequently two or three chairs. At the base of the pulpit was a narrow pew called the deacon's seat. The pulpit of the oldest church of Newent had a cushion which when the second church was built temporarily was used to indicate their respect for it. For the last fifty years of this second church's use it had been made more comely by the building of a tower and steeple and by hanging a suitable bell which was given to the Society by Captain Andrew Clark. The sounding board above the pulpit always seem- ed to represent to me a gigantic turnip hung up by the tip of the root to the ceiling and was something like an umbrella over the head of the minister. There was a sacrament-table affixed to the deacon's seat which could readily be adjusted in its place for communion service.
I can well remember the toot from the chorister's pitch pipe, which gave the keynote for the tune to be sung, as well as after- wards the sound of the bass viol when it succeeded the pitch pipe. The front of the second church was towards the west. On its lowest
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THE CHURCH IN WINTER.
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floor in the corners northwest and southwest were flights of stairs to the galleries and all around were roomy side pews ( fourteen of thein) topped with a bobbin balustrade made over high panelled par- titions. The central space inside of the wall pews, after containing only benches for several years, was furnished with two blocks of body pews, in each block eight so arranged that between these blocks and the wall pews a passageway was left; and from the main entrance to the pulpit a wider passageway, distinctively termed the broad aisle. In this description it must not be forgotten that the galleries on the south side were for females, with a colored pew (so-called) over the stairs in the corner for colored females ; while in the north gallery were only men to be seen, with a corresponding pew for col- ored male in its corner. Who that ever saw the pulpit desk uphol- stered in a faded pink silk fabric, with long graceful tasselled fringe, can ever forget its rich and appropriate furnishings?
It was the general custom of the period to have a tithing man. legally appointed, to look after disorderly boys and to be a terror to evil doers. The writer well remembers his great embarrassment and mortification, now more than seventy years since, when frol- icking and laughing, with some of his youthful companions, in a large corner pew. of the gallery; whereupon Squire Levi Corning, a magistrate and tithing man, stood up, with his tall imposing figure. using his clenched fist to pound upon the top of his pew and then stretching out his long index finger, he pointed to us, saying, "Those boys must not disturb these services."
The third church, which is now standing, was built in 1858 on the site of the second church. The first step taken towards erecting it was on April the 8th, 1853. After considering all the matters involved it was decided to build. And this resolution was adopted January the 9th, 1858: That committee should be appointed to pre- pare for and to superintend the construction of a church.
The committee consisted of Edmund F. Tracy, Daniel M. Brown, and William A. Johnson, and they were "instructed to build a new meeting-house. the proportion and cost to be determined by themselves," and Mr. Eleazer Bushnell, who had "taken unwearied pains to obtain subscription of funds for building." and who had been (unexpectedly) successful "in the endeavor," received the So- ciety's "unanimous thanks for his persevering and meritorious ser- vice." On January 16th, 1858, a resolution was adopted "that the front of the new meeting-house should stand where the front of the old one now stands." In prosecuting the work assigned the build- · ing committee made much dispatch. and they reported the work con- pleted and received honorable discharge September 9th, 1858. and the society "voted to obtain funds to complete the payment of the expenses incurred."
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The congregation, while the edifice was in process of construc- tion, assembled for their worship in the conference-house which the society had owned since 1847-and which by a purchase from the society had been the town-house of Lisbon since 1867. An assem- blage of Christian worshippers was gathered in the new structure for the first service September 15, 1858, and by an appropriate religious service it was dedicated to God.
LIST OF DEACONS OF THE CHURCH OF NEWENT, WITH THE DATES OF THEIR SERVICES.
Joseph Perkins. from 1723 to 1726
Samuel Lothrop.
..
1723
1755
Jabez Perkins.
1726
1742
Isaac Lawrence.
1742 1756
Jacob Perkins.
1756
66 1776
Joseph Perkins.
66
1756
1794
Andrew Tracy.
1756 1807
Ebenezer Tracy.
1795
1803
Jedediah Safford.
..
1804
1822
William Adams.
1809
1835
Levy Crosby.
1822
1831
Freeman Tracy.
1834
1855
Reuben Bishop.
1835
1855
Elisha Paine Potter
1851
1858
Elias Bishop.
1855
1868
Resigned 1869.
66
1861
Jeremiah K. Adams.
1887
1893
George Robinson.
1887
1898
Henry P. Bushnell.
..
1893
Edward C. Strong.
..
189S
Jedediah Lovett.
Before the Newent Society was divided more than one effort was made for its division. A memorial was made and addressed to the General Assembly and signed by sixteen inhabitants of Newent, with fourteen signers of the second church, and ten of the first so- ciety of Norwich. in May, 1745, making complaints of the distance and other extraordinary difficulties which rendered a division de- sirable. Newent Society presented by its agent a remonstrance to this request, and the Assembly did not grant the privilege.
Fifteen years afterwards another petition, made by forty-three persons. was presented to the General Assembly on May, 1760, stat- ing that too great a distance was inconvenient, and the increased numbers at Newent rendered the meeting-house too small to accom- modate the people that might wish to attend worship there. Again Newent parish voted to oppose the petition of Capt. Jolm Perkins and others for a new ecclesiastical society, and voted to choose an
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agent to attend the General Assembly to oppose their petition there ; and the prayer of the petitioners was not granted until the following year, May, 1761, when the seventh Society of Norwich was estab- lished and denominated "Hanover." as a compliment to George Guelph, who in 1760 became George the Third, King of Great Britain, as well as the Electoral Prince of Hanover, Germany. This new Hanover Society, before it was incorporated, raised by sub- scription £1,400 for the support of the gospel ministry. Its first edifice for public worship was ready as early as 1766 and the church was constituted with a membership of fourteen, and with one excep- tion all had been members of the Newent church.
1740373
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CHAPTER II.
HANOVER PARISH.
Established in 1761-1766.
Messrs. Timothy Stone, Theodore Hinsdale, Panderson Aus- tin, and others, supplied the preaching, and two of those mentioned received and declined calls to settle as pastors. In 1768, August 31st, the church voted to invite Mr. Andrew Lee to settle with them as their minister. Mr. Lee on October Ist, 1768, having re- plied affirmatively, was taken into the church as a member on the 25th of October, 1768, and on the following day was ordained as their pastor, which relation was not dissolved till his death on the 23d of August, 1832. This long pastorate of Dr. Lee in Hanover extended almost sixty-four years. In a confession of faith of this church on May 2d, 1787, they adopted nearly the same as that of the Newent church, although there had been all along some divergent views in regard to covenants, which were binding in holding persons baptized in infancy on church rolls, etc., etc. Whether Dr. Lee was at first (as some suspected) lax in respect to theology, Rev. Levi Nelson, with good reason, said of him, 18419: "He left behind him, when he had finished his labors, a united orthodox church."
During the four or five years preceding Dr. Lee's decease minis- terial aid was afforded him by Rev. Henry Perkins, Rev. Daniel Hemingway, Mr. James Anderson, and Rev. Jonathan Cone. The said Mr. Perkins and Mr. Anderson received each, in 1828. a call to become colleague pastors, but neither became such. Mr. Cone, in 1829, was called with like result.
Mr. Barnabas Phiney, in compliance with an invitation which the church had unanimously given him, became by regular ordination associate-pastor in February, 1830. And he retired November. 1832.
Rev. Philo Judson was installed pastor June, 1833, and retired July. 1834. Rev. Joseph Aver was pastor from September. 1837. to June, 1848, and the Rev. James A. Hazen from December, 1852. until he died on the 29th October, 1862. Between the pastorate of Mr. Judson and that of Mr. Aver, Rev. Daniel Waldo and Edward Cleveland supplied the service, and between Mr. Aver's and Mr. Hazen's terms the Rev. Ebenezer W. Robinson officiated.
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LIST OF CHURCH DEACONS OF HANOVER.
Before Hanover was separated from Lisbon the Deacon's names and terms were as follows :
. Joseph Bushnell. from 1769 to 1791
Nathan Bushnell.
1769 " 1791
Reuben Peck.
1791 .. 1806 .
Asa Witter. ..
1791 1793
David Knight, Jr.
1793 1796
Nathan Lord.
1796 66
1819
Barnabas Huntington
1806
1830
Ebenezer Allen
1819
William Lee
1830
AN HISTORICAL ADDRESS
Of 125th Anniversary of the Hanover Church, 1891.
An address before the Hanover Congregational Church cover- ing a period of a hundred and twenty-five years from its beginning in 1766 to 1891, has been pubished by the Bulletin Company of Norwich, Conn.
Of this interesting and full historical account by the Rev. L. H. Higgins (the pastor, in 1891, when the celebration took place), I cannot speak too highly. Its completeness for the Hanover Church-History is so well established that no historical scholar need expect to add much to, or improve upon it. It is the best record to be found in print, not only of the church, but of the town's history.
In the year 1843 two Methodist Societies were gathered within the boundaries of Lisbon. Those Societies were not of long duration and did not make a very marked history in the town, and not many facts concerning them are now obtainable.
After Hanover was divided from Newent these two Methodist Societies and six other parishes remained parochially within Nor- wich, and territorially were constituted parts of its township twen- ty-five years longer, and thus Norwich. as to municipal concerns, continued so much longer a unit. Had her attempt made in 1745 to divide Newent been successful she could not have so long main- tained so broad a territory. The inhabitants of Norwich had gained great advantages by partitioning its township into eight parishes, and keeping them under her own supervision for a long while. The civil interests and obligations of these parishes were still inconven- ient to them in distances to travel to the town centre, where increas- ing population had demanded and obtained more frequent town- meetings, to meet the urgent necessities of the people, and had to be borne for twenty years or more. The colonial Legislature repeatedly
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denied all requests for division into different townships, till Norwich with one dissenting voice agreed that three of the parishes lying north and east might be made into one new town, and with one dissenting voice only, agreed that two of the parishes, with part of another, lying north and east, might be made into another new town. Two memorials were presented to the General Assem- bly asking it to carry into effect that design, and the result was that the Assembly in 1786, instead of making from Norwich two new towns, made three-namely, Bozrah, Franklin, and Lisbon (except that part of Preston, which afterwards became Griswold, was not included in the act incorporating Lisbon). The joint petition of Newent and Hanover was granted, and these two parishes remained together, each forming a part of Lisbon's township seventy-five years --- till 1861 -- when Lisbon, in turn, itself was divided. At this time Norwich had been in existence as a town two hundred years, Newent as a parish nearly one hundred and fifty years. Hanover just about one hundred years after it had been made a parish became in 1861 a portion of a new town called Sprague, and from that date ( 1861) we do not connect its history longer as properly belonging to the town of Lisbon : although the social bond was not severed, the people cherished kindly a great interest in each other's welfare, and they really feel that they are yet, as one people, not separated, though represented in two townships.
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