USA > Connecticut > New Haven County > East Haven > History of East Haven > Part 12
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Difficulties Settled.
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"Resolved by this Assembly, That the said inhabitants of said parish of East-Haven be, and they are hereby constituted a Town by the name of East-Haven. And the bounds of the said Town of East-Haven shall be the same as the bounds of the said Parish now are, and the said Town of East-Haven shall be entitled to, and have and enjoy all the rights, privileges and immunities that the other Towns in this State enjoy; and shall have liberty to elect and appoint all officers necessary and proper for a Town, to lay taxes and collect them as Towns in this State are allowed by law, and to do and transact all matters necessary and proper for a Town. And the said Town of East-Haven shall be entitled to receive of the said Town of New-Haven, their part and proportion of all the Town Stock of said Town of New-Haven; and said Town of East-Haven, shall pay their part and proportion of all the debts of said Town of New-Haven already incurred, in pro- portion to the sum of their list, in the list of the Town of New- Haven, and shall take upon them the charge and support of their part of the Town poor of said Town of New-Haven in proportion as aforesaid. And the taxes of said Town of New- Haven already laid, shall and may be collected and applied for the payment of the debts and expenses of said Town of New- Haven, already incurred, and the same being paid and dis- charged, said Town of East-Haven shall be entitled to their part and proportion of the overplus, if any be, to be ascer- tained as aforesaid. And the said Town of East-Haven, shall bear their part and proportion of supporting the bridges and highways within the bounds of the Town of New-Haven and East-Haven, in such part and proportion, as shall be judged just and reasonable, by William S. Johnson, Jonathan Sturgis, and John Chester, Esq. who are appointed a Com- mittee for that purpose, all the circumstances of the Town being duly considered; and said Committee shall appoint and set off, to the said Town of East-Haven, their part and proportion, of the poor of the said Town of New-Haven, and the stock and debts in proportion to their lists aforesaid.
"And the said Town of East-Haven shall hold their first Town meeting, at the meeting-house in said East-Haven,
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History of East Haven.
on the first Tuesday of July next, at 10 o'clock A. M. when they may choose such Town Officers as by law are required, who shall remain in office until another meeting shall be held in and for said Town, in the month of December next. And said meeting shall have power and authority to transact all matters necessary for a Town, and to adjourn, to a future period, if necessary, said inhabitants, legal voters, being warned three days before said ineeting by Isaac Chedsey, Stephen Smith and Joshua Austin of said Town of East- Haven, or any of them, to meet as aforesaid, and Stephen Smith shall preside at said meeting until a moderator of said meeting shall be chosen, and shall take and count the votes of said Town for their moderator; provided nothing shall be construed to hinder the inhabitants of the Town of New-Haven from catching fish, oysters, and clams within the bounds of said Town of East-Haven, under the same restric- tions, and regulations that the said inhabitants of said East- Haven shall be. Provided also that the said Town of East-Haven shall have the liberty to send one representative to the General Assembly of this State." (State and Toum Records.)
The first town meeting under this act was held in the meetinghouse on the first Tuesday of July, 1785. The meeting was opened with prayer by the Rev. Mr. Street, and a sermon adapted to the occasion from Psalms cxxii. 3, 7, 8, 9, and the necessary town officers were appointed.
Previous to these transactions, New Haven con- firmed the doings of the village respecting the divisions of land in East Haven, which had been the subject of much controversy ; and the people of East Haven, on their part, relinquished their claim to all the com- mon lands in the other parts of the town of New Haven. Thus all their controversies which had agi- tated the town for about eighty years were brought to a happy issue.
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Difficulties Settled.
When we read over all the struggles, refusals and disappointments of our early settlers, in their attempts to be an independent town, we can but admire the determination, fortitude, and unrelenting fixedness of purpose which characterized all their proceedings. It is just what we should expect of men who had braved all the dangers, privations and hardships of a pioneer settlement. Yet they had the same spirit as their own with which to contend which prolonged the battle. Their contentions exhibited that strength and firm- ness of mind which enabled them to encounter all the dangers of the wilderness with courage and coolness, and to bear trouble and adverse circumstances with- out depression and without despondency. They pos- sessed that resolution, that endurance and bravery, that never acknowledges defeat. This was the character of our Puritan fathers. Seven times they cited New Haven before the General Assembly and as many times were defeated. Nothing daunted, they persevered, until the eighth time they conquered-one hundred and six years after they had petitioned for their first privilege, and nearly eighty since their first charter had been granted, to which they clung with unflinch- ing grip.
It is amusing to count the number of men whom they placed upon their committees. One would think such a drove of men intended to take things by storm. They believed that "in a multitude of councillors there is safety." Then their town meetings were almost as numerous as the frequent gatherings at the village store. These were their schools of parliamentary tactics. All this primitive labor was the seed sowing, of which this great nation is to-day reaping the harvest.
CHAPTER VI.
FORMATION OF THE EPISCOPAL SOCIETY.
PISCOPACY in East Haven had its beginning March 17, 1788, when a meeting was held, and the fol- lowing preamble and articles of incorporation were adopted and signed by those present :
"Whereas it is become necessary and expedient on account of the apparent increase of the Brethren in the Episcopal Church that we should Incorporate ourselves into a Religious Society for the encouragement and support of true Religion, and piety and worship God agreeable to our consciences &c. *
We the subscribers therefore incorporate ourselves into a Society at East Haven aforesaid. And do mutually agree to support and maintain a Clerk, Reader, or Minister, to officiate agreeable to the Rites, forms and ceremonies of the Church by law established. Witness our hands and year above established.
Henry F. Huse, Samuel Barnes,
John Bird, John Hunt,
Samuel Tuttle, Stephen Thompson, jun.
James Pardee, Dan Goodsell, jun.
Stephen Pardee, Jehiel Forbes,
Mabel Bishop, Levi Forbes.
"At the above meeting holden at the dwelling house of Samuel Tuttle, in said East Haven, a Moderator and Clerk being legally chosen, proceeded to business, Samuel Tuttle Moderator, John Bird Clerk. At said meeting appointed a Committee Samuel Tuttle & John Bird to transact such business as may be required by a society, and Ichabod Bishop to go to John Russell of Branford, to procure a
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Formation of the Episcopal Society.
copy of the recording of the formation of the Episcopal Society there. Adjourned to Thursday Eve next at Samuel Tuttle's at 4 P. M.
"Thursday, March 20th, 1788.
"Met according to adjournment. Finding it necessary a meeting was warned by John Hunt, by a summons, or warrant signed by Charles Chauncey, Esq. Justice of the Peace, Samuel Thompson, Samuel Tuttle, Samuel Barnes, to meet at the house of Samuel Tuttle in East Haven on Monday the 31st day of March inst at 2 o'clock P. M. Voted that the Clerk should procure a summons, to be delivered by an officer to warn the subscribers of this Society, to appear at the house of Mr. Samuel Tuttle in East Haven Monday the 31st day of March 1788, at two o'clock P. M. to choose officers &c. also to invite the Rev. Bela Hubbard to attend said meeting at the same time and place.
"Met accordingly and voted as above. To the First Society in East Haven Greeting."
Attested John Bird, Clerk.
"East-Haven, 31st March, 1788. At a meeting of the Episcopal Society of the Church of England, so called, legally warned, at the house of Mr. Samuel Tuttle, in said East-Haven, at 2 o'clock P. M. on Monday, 31st March, 1788; the subscribers, members of said Church or Society, under the kind patronage of the Rev. Bela Hubbard, Rector of Trinity Church, of New Haven, being present, who willingly and cheerfully accepted us under his care and patronage, proceeded to the usual and necessary business of choosing the needful and customary parish officers in said Society of East-Haven. Accordingly, voted John Bird to be Clerk of said Society; and being duly sworn, upon the oath of fidelity and oath of office, according to law-[By Josiah Bradley, Justice of Peace] also voted, Capt. Samuel Barnes, Modera- tor, John Bird, Clerk, Samuel Tuttle, James Pardee, Church Wardens ;- Jehiel Forbes, Capt. Samuel Barnes, Samuel Thompson, Capt. Stephen Thompson, jun. Ichabod Bishop, Vestrymen. At the same time voted for five Vestrymen, but that only three shall be a quorum, with full power and authority, as the five by vote elected."
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"Let this certify all whom it may concern, that I was present at the above-mentioned meeting, and that the above- mentioned persons were approved of in their several respec- tive offices to which they were appointed.
Witness my hand, 31st day of March, 1788.
BELA HUBBARD, Rector of Trinity Church, New-Haven."
When a grant of £20, additional, was made to Mr. Street's salary a few men were extremely displeased, and some having been displeased on some other account they united with a few Episcopalians then in town and formed an Episcopal society.
Probably it was not so much the rise in Mr. Street's salary as the occasion it offered to give vent to a grow- ing unrest all over Connecticut against taxation for ministerial support. Hitherto church and state were undivided, and everyone of taxable age and condition was taxed to support the Congregational church, which was the only "approved" church recognized by law and supported by taxation. As other denomina- tions crept into New England, the separation of church and state became a disputable point.
Of course, by reason of their superior numbers, the Congregationalists held the balance of power, and according to their puritanical ideas and teaching were loth to accede to the growing popular opinion of church and state separation. Therefore, in order to compromise the matter, "dissenters" were obliged to go through a form called "swearing off," which the following extract from the East Haven Town Records may explain :
"Mr. Edmund Bradley reported difficulty in collecting Mr. Streets rate, Some refusing to pay." Town Meeting Feb
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Formation of the Episcopal Society.
1789 "Voted we were willing to hear some proposal that the Churchmen would wish to lay before said meeting. Voted we will appoint a Committee to treat with the Churchmen, relative to a settlement, on account of their dissenting.
Voted that Esq. Davenport, Esq. Bradley and Deacon Smith be a Committee to meet with the Churchmen, in order to try to fix something that may be likely to complete a settlement relative to ministerial matters, and to make returns to this meeting.
Whereas Mr. James Pardee and a number of the members of the Church Society in East Haven have appeared in the Town meeting, now open in the said East Haven and there agreed to make a settlement with said Town relative to their dissenting, and to settle all disputes, that have happened on account of said Pardee being taken by the Collector and committed &c. * * * upon the meeting's allowing a cer- tificate for said members, that formed said Society, to bear date, at the time of their formation. They paying all the rates that was then laid.
Voted that Mr. James Pardee shall have his expenses, that was on account of his being committed paid to him, and that the old Churchmen should not be liable to pay the rate, that is collected by Mr. Edmund Bradley, and that upon Mr. Daniel Clark, Eli Forbes, Samuel Forbes, Capt. Charles Wedmore, Jared Thompson, Moses Thompson, Jun. & Chandler Robinson, producing certificate of their joining said Church Society in the year 1788 they shall be exempt from paying the Minister's rate in 1789. We, the subscribers, being present at the meeting, when the foregoing proposals and votes were passed and agree to the same. Certified by us.
JAMES PARDEE, ICHABOD BISHOP, JEHIEL FORBES,
Members of Church Society."
After the independence of the country, Connecticut did not follow the example of many other states, and adopt a written constitution, because she had never, like the other states, surrendered her charter, granted by King Charles II, in 1662, thanks to daring William
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History of East Haven.
Wadsworth and the hollow oak tree. After the banishment of Sir Edmond Andros, whom the English government sent over as a royal governor of New England, resplendent in red broadcloth and gold lace, the Connecticut charter was brought out from its hiding place, and the government continued under the ancient form and provisions of the old charter, amid all the changes, until 1818. In that year a convention was held at Hartford, composed of dele- gates from the towns of the state, elected by the people. They framed a constitution by the people for the civil government of the state, which was ratified by the people on the first Monday of October, 1818, and on the twelfth day of October the same year, Gov. Oliver Wolcott issued his proclamation, declar- ing the constitution was henceforth to be observed by all persons as the supreme law of the state.
The fourth section of the Declaration of rights decrees that no preference shall be given by law to any Christian sect, or mode of worship. Previous to this date, the Congregational churches were sup- ported by a tax upon all property within the church society, and all persons who desired to escape such payment were obliged to file a sworn statement that they were attached to the worship of some other Christian denomination. It is extremely doubtful, if any of the twelve men who signed the call for the organization of the Episcopal Church in East Haven were rocked in an Episcopal cradle, excepting Henry F. Huse,* who was not of Puritan descent. He was
*Neither did he come to America by his own will. At this time it was the custom in England, sanctioned by law, to impress men into the navy, as well as by enlistment. A
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THE EPISCOPAL CHURCH.
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Formation of the Episcopal Society.
a Welsh Episcopalian, coming to America in 1748. He always attended Trinity Church, New Haven, where all his children and some of his grandchildren were baptized.
In 1789 the Episcopalians commenced to build their church, which was raised April 23, 1789. Through some mismanagement the frame fell and killed Jere- miah Bradley, aged 22 years, a son of Josiah Bradley, Esq., and very seriously injured Capt. Collins Hughes, and some others less dangerously.
The church was under the care of Rev. Bela Hub- bard, most of the time, until the consecration of the church, which did not take place until July 25, 1810. Services were not held oftener than once in two weeks, and frequently only once in three or four.
The land where the church stands was given by Mr. Samuel Forbes, by a deed of gift recorded in the Church records, but the lines were not defined, till August 21, 1837, when his son, Samuel Forbes, 2d (father of the late Albert Forbes), staked off the present dimensions, three rods front by four rods rear, making twelve square rods surface. They employed a clergyman for short periods, until their
naval officer with a gang of men would seize any able-bodied young men, and there was no redress. His ship was sent to the Atlantic coast. Obtaining shore leave at Newburyport, Mass., he ran away, and made his way to New Haven, calling himself Henry Freeman, by way of self-protection. In the first deed to him in 1752 the reading is to Henry Freemanhuse, joining the true name to the assumed. H-u-s-e was the soft or Welsh pronounciation, which he retained through his life. After the independence of the country his family took the original spelling Hughes, which is very prevalent in the north of Wales.
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History of East Haven.
first resident rector, Rev. Elijah G. Plumb, came in 1811. Mr. Plumb also taught a private school in his house for advanced scholars. In 1819 he was succeeded by Mr. Perry, who preached one-third of the time. This arrangement ran on until 1826; then Mr. Edward Ives came on half time to 1839, when Rev. Henry Townsend came, also on half time. In 1843 an addition to the church was built. In 1845 Rev. George Nichols came, and the same year another addition to the church was made and a tower built. December 2d, 1847, the first bell was placed in the tower, and on February 21, 1848, this was exchanged for the one now there. Mr. Townsend now returned to them, but the infirmities of age were creeping upon him, so half time was all he was able to serve. He was greatly beloved by the people, and if his residence had been in the town, no doubt very much good would have resulted from his labors; as it was, the parish was in a better condition than many times before. The people now realized the benefit a resident minister would be to them, and with their accustomed zeal and energy, proceeded to buy a rectory in 1865 on High street, and with that aid to secure a resident rector.
June 1, 1866, Mr. O. Evans Shannon was called- the first resident rector since 1839. He immediately won the hearts of the people to him. He was aided and seconded in his work by his most estimable wife, who was a woman of rare qualities. Their efforts were appreciated by their people, who in turn rendered every possible aid, and for eleven years this pleasant association of rector and people continued. On September 20, 1877, death called the faithful servant
Formation of the Episcopal Society.
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of the Lord to his eternal rest, much beloved, and greatly lamented.
About three months before Mr. Shannon's death, probably realizing his condition, he sent in his resigna- tion, which his people refused to accept, expressing their hope of his recovery, and good wishes for his continuance in his ministry to them.
Rev. John Gray came in 1878, and resigned in August, 1880. Rev. Mr. Eddy was resident rector until 1885.
Since that time, there have been many changes, and rectorates of short duration. Many of the older people have died, and left no one to take their places until there is but a meager handful left.
Great credit is due the East Haven Episcopalians- they have kept the vital spark alive. Many times it would flicker and flicker, until it seemed it must cease, when some fortunate circumstance would revive the flame, and it would burn until another period of depression. No people have shown greater zeal, love and devotion to church principles than they have, and if many other church societies of far greater numbers possessed their earnestness of purpose, flourishing churches would be the result. It is astonishing how well they have preserved their church buildings and property. True they have from time to time been the recipients of small legacies, one of which was from their townsman, John Woodward Thompson (not an Episcopalian) of $250, for which a vote of thanks stands on their church records. It is not for lack of interest in church affairs, but for lack of numbers. No church can be run without people, and formerly the population of East Haven remained stationary. But a
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new era seems to be in sight. For the past two years regular Sunday afternoon services with Sunday School have been kept up, which is the best arrangement that could be made, without a resident rector, which it is hoped the parish will ere long be able to support.
CHAPTER VII. THE GREEN.
ARDLY any records can be found giving anything definite respecting the Green, which is called the "market place," or when it was laid out for a public purpose; but reference is made to it, in locating lands and places near it, as "the Green," for instance, the first meetinghouse was to. be set on side of the Green. The northern boundary seems to have been more definite than any other, and the tract was much larger than at present, particularly east and west. At another place the following is found :
"It was also ordered that Matthew Moulthrop and John Potter doe set out five acres of the land upon the Green, formerly granted, the one half for the Ministry, and one half for the first Minister that shall settle with us, and they are to leave the spring clear, for a watering place for cattle."
This "watering place" is now the hollow enclosed within the Old Cemetery. This land was laid out as follows: five acres on the southeast corner of the Green, on which Mr. Hemingway's house was built (now occupied as East Lawn Cemetery). It would appear the Green extended much beyond its present limits on the west. We are dependent upon tradition for this idea, from this circumstance, viz .: "The first meeting-house should be built across the east end of the school house." "Tradition says the school house
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History of East Haven.
stood in the rear of the ground occupied by the resi- dence of Geo. Talmadge and a considerable distance back from the highway. The meeting house was erected in front and adjoining it." [Havens' Cent. Dis.]
The last division of land was made March 28, 1715, as it is stated that the land had now all been taken up; but no mention is made of appropriating the Green for public purposes.
"At a Proprietor's Meeting held in East-Haven, 12th May, 1720, Mr. Jacob Heminway petitioned for a part of the Green west to the spring where the burying place is. Sergt. John Heminway [his brother] protested against any part of the Green being taken up or disposed of for any other use than to lye common as it now lies. Voted that Mr. Heminway shall not have any part of the land .- Voted that the Green shall not be disposed of except it be for some public use, that it may be beneficial to the whole of the Proprietors." (E. H. and N. H. Record.)
Probably Mr. Hemingway thought as this land had never been disposed of by a town vote, he had a right to petition for a share of it.
The next movement concerning the Green must be taken as a stroke of policy, by the town, to secure the Green absolutely and forever to the town by laying out the following roads of extraordinary width in all directions over its surface, which would more than occupy the whole space and thus establish it as town property for all time.
"We the subscribers being appointed by the proprietors of East-Haven to lay out highways in East Haven, where it may be judged needful, we have therefore, now laid out these highways upon the Green or Common in East-Haven, follow-
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The Green.
ing, viz .: One road from the house of Gideon Potter, 10 rods wide, eastward, untill it come to the upper end of the New-Lane and Samuel Bradley's house lot. Another from that, Northward, 10 rods wide, until it comes to the country road. And another 10 rod road from the meeting-house, running about Southeast, untill it comes to the head of the said New-Lane. And another road, 10 rods wide, from the house of Abraham Chedsey, Southward, down to the swamp of John Heminway: And another road from the said Ched- sey's house down to John Heminway's swamp, by John Heminway's and Moses Thompson's house lot, 10 rods wide. Also, another road from Moses Thompson's Barn, eastward down to the Spring from Thompson's home lot to the swamp of John Heminway about 8 rods." (E. H. Rec.)'
In 1777 East Haven Green became a memorable place in the annals of the Revolution. When the army under General Sullivan in Rhode Island was trans- ferred to New Jersey to strengthen Washington in his operations against the British under General Howe. Lafayette with his regiment encamped on the Green and river bank for a few days. Rev. Nicholas Street, the East Haven minister, a firm patriot, invited the marquis to enjoy the hospitalities of his home during his stay, which he very willingly accepted.
In consequence of a forced march across the country, the general had been obliged to leave his bag- gage behind. One night after he had retired, his servant came down stairs and asked for hot water, remarking, "the General has but one shirt with him, and we have to wash that while he sleeps." On learn- ing of Lafayette's need, Mr. Street kindly supplied him from his own store. This kindness Lafayette did not forget when he made his visit to the United States nearly fifty years after.
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History of East Haven.
We find nothing on record again until March 13, 1797, when a large part of the Green on the south was "voted an enlargement of the burying ground. The north line to run straight from the northwest corner of Moses Thompson's house, running westward in a straight line and course, leaving Nehemiah Smith's house 57 feet to the south of said line." Then "Voted that we do give up to the town of East- Haven all the propriety right which we now have to the common and undivided lands and highways within said Town." Of course this last vote secured to the town the Green as the town's property.
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