History of Fairfield County, Connecticut : with illustrations and biographical sketches of its prominent men and pioneers, Part 147

Author: Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton) comp. cn
Publication date: 1881
Publisher: Philadelphia, J. W. Lewis & co.
Number of Pages: 1572

USA > Connecticut > Fairfield County > History of Fairfield County, Connecticut : with illustrations and biographical sketches of its prominent men and pioneers > Part 147

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On the leaf of an old account-book kept in Read- ing in 1815-16 is a charge made by the selectmen against the State for boarding Eunice Warrups, as follows :

"To paid Lewis Deane for boarding her from Ist Nov. 1815, to 16th Jany, 1816, being 11 wks, $1.25, 13.75."

There is on another leaf the following :

"Eunice Warrups, an Indian woman, was born in this town; is up- wards of seventy years old : has been absent fifty years; came from New Milford, she says, 1st day of Nov .; came to this town; was warned to depart."

BOSTON SCHOOL DISTRICT.#

In the early part of the present century Boston School District was an important part of Redding. It was on the main road, the great thoroughfare be- tween Danbury and Norwalk, over which most of the travel and traffic between the two places passed. In those days the old Danbury turnpike was a road of consequence. It was nothing unusual for half a dozen heavily-loaded wagons to be seen at a time passing over it. A daily stage was run to convey passen-

gers to Norwalk, who went to and returned from New York by way of sloop, and afterwards by steamboat. The old lunbering stage-coach, with its four, and fre- quent six, horses, and good-natured, accommodating driver, has been superseded by the steam-cars and the equally good-natured conductor ; and the sound of the stage-horn, which, when blown by the strong-lunged driver, reverberated over the hill and through the valleys, has given way to the shriek of the steam- whistle, while rapid transit has made the old-fashioned taverns by the roadside no longer a necessity. The old turnpike-gates have also been set aside by modern innovation.

At the Corners, in Boston, was located the earliest post-office in town. There was an extensive hat- factory conducted by Billy Comstock, afterwards by his son Andrew, who was succeeded by the Shelton Brothers, N. H. Lindley, and others. In addition to the various trades necessary to a country hamlet was a ring cider-mill, owned by Daniel Mallory, where the farmers occupied a liberal portion of the time in autumn grinding their apples into cider, and storing their cellars with it. He also owned a distillery, where some of this cider was converted into whisky. There was a store where large quantities of goods were disposed of, and a hotel where in after-years the stage-horses were kept for relays. "Breakncek Hill," a mile above this tavern, was the dread of teamsters, who frequently had to be helped over it by the neigh- boring farmers. Subsequently a road was constructed farther west to avoid " Breakneck." By the liberality of S. Smith Gray, this formidable elevation was made quite passable by being cut down at the top and filled at the bottom, so that it is no longer a terror to the traveler.

In this district Joel Barlow, the poet and statesman, was born; here he attended the common school, re- ceived the rudiments of his education, and laid the. foundation of his knowledge, which afterwards made him famous. Elias Bennett, the veteran post-rider, resided in this district, and for a period of thirty- three years, in whatever state of the weather, made weekly trips to Bridgeport and delivered the news- papers to his patrons. Here also resided Jack Free- man, an aged colored man, better known as "Gov- ernor,"-a title which he received from the fact of hiis being the acknowledged governor of the colored inhabitants of the State. He every summer, on the recurrence of Saint Cuffee's day, called out his sub- jects for inspection and review. Jack had been a slave, and was mannmitted by the laws of the State when the act took effect.

In those days the merchants exchanged their goods for grain, flax, butter, eggs, and other produce, and teams were constantly on the road eonveying this produce to Norwalk and other seaport-towns and returning with merchandise. Among those engaged in the business between Boston District and the sea- board was Jack Sturges, an old colored man. He, on

* By A. B. Hull.

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HISTORY OF FAIRFIELD COUNTY, CONNECTICUT.

his way from Norwalk on that day, fell asleep in the cart, and his team, which consisted of a yoke of oxen and one of steers, stopped at the foot of "Steep Pitch," in the woods just below Georgetown. Some waggish persons, happening along, unhitched the steers, drove them into the woods, and secreted themselves under the cart. A few well-directed thrusts from a sharp stick soon awakened Jack, who raised himself up, and, seeing the steers gone, thus soliloquized : " Am I Jack, or am I not Jack ? If I'm Jack, I've lost a pair of steers ; and if I'm not Jack, I've found a pair of oxen and a cart."

Many stories are told of Hiram Barnes, the old stage-proprietor of Danbury, and an inveterate joker. It was not uncommon, in the hot days of summer, for the stage-horses to become exhausted, and some- times they died in the harness. On a certain occasion one of the horses fell, and was removed to the road- side, where he soon died. The driver proceeded to Danbury with three horses. Barnes inquired about the missing horse, and was told that he fell in the harness and died. "You fool," said Barnes ; " why did you stop ? Why didn't you keep him going? He would have came through all right if you hadn't stopped."

During the time the horses were changed here an acquaintance of Barnes from Danbury, who was re- turning from his wedding-tour with his wife in a car- riage, stopped at tle tavern. Barnes soon got into an animated conversation with him about the speed of their horscs. After driving about for some time Barnes offered to bet that he could drive to Danbury the quickest. The gentleman had become oblivious to everything but horsc-racing, and at once fell in with the proposition. After going about two-thirds of the distance Barnes said to him, "Didn't you have a woman with you when you was at the tavern ?" -"O Lord, yes," said the gentleman, and immediately drove back for the lady.

At one time a sleighing-party stopped at the tavern and called for refreshments, which consisted in part of cider and doughnuts, for which the landlord made repeated visits to the cellar, and on each return put down the amount on a sheet of paper, which for con- venience he put into a Bible near at hand. When about to leave the party called for the bill, and, on seeing the amount, were dissatisfied, and declared they would not pay it. An appeal was made to Barnes. "Pay it, boys," said he. "Don't you see it's in the Bible ? and it must be true." The bill was paid without further dispute.

CHAPTER LIX ..

REDDING (Continued).

ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY.#

The Congregational Church - Christ Church - Methodist Episcopal Church-Methodist Episcopal Church of Long Ridge-Baptist Church, Georgetown-The Congregational Church, Georgetown.

THE CONGREGATIONAL CHURCHI.

"THE Congregational Church was the first religious body organized in the town. As early as August, 1729, but three months after they had wrung a reluc- tant consent from the mother-town to assume parish privileges, we find them providing for the settlement of a minister among them in the following manner :

"' At a Society Meeting held in the Society of Redding, Deacon George Hull chosen Moderator. It was voited that s'd Society would give for the settlement of a minister in s'd society the sum of seventy pounds, and a honse, and his wood, and bring it up, and the next year eighty pounds, and raise five pounds a year till it comes to one hundred pounds a year. It was voted, that Edmond Luis, esquire, shall decide the matter as to seting the meeting hous, it was voited that s'd Mr. Luis should come the first week in October to decide the matter afores'd.'

"No minister was settled, however, until 1733; the first church edifice was erected early in 1732. It stood a few yards west of the present Methodist churchi, and nearly in the centre of the public square or common.t It was two stories high, lathed and plastered, and furnished with galleries, and windows of imported glass. All that is to be found in the church records concerning the building is contained in the following extracts :

"' November 12th, 1730. It was Voted, That we will build a meting- honse in said society for the worship of God in the Presbyterian way. Voted, That the meting-hous shall be thirty feet long, twenty-eigli't feet wide, and two stories high. Voted, That Lemuel Sanford, Thomas Wil- liams, and Daniel Lion, (be) chosen committee for (building) s'd meting- hous.

"'Feb. 23d, 1730-31. You that are of the minds that all those persons that do, or hereafter may inhabit in this parish, which profess themselfs to be of the Church of England, shall have free liberty to come into this meting-hous that is now in building, and attend the Publick worship of God there, according to the articles of faith agreed upon by the assembly of Divines at Seabrook, and established by the laws of this Government, and be seated in s'd hous according to their estats.

"'November 3d, 1732. Stephen Burr hath undertaken to cart stones and clay for the underpinning the meting hons for lib. 10s. 00d. Daniel Lion hath undertaken to underpin the meeting hous and tend himself for 2 lbs. 4s. Od. Daniel Lion hath undertaken to get the lath and lay them on for 3fb. Os. Od. Stephen Burr and Theophilus Hull are chosen committee to take care of the parsonage' (probably to secure a parsonage for the expected preacher, as it is not likely that one was then built).

" It was as yet, however, a church without a pastor. Mr. Elisha Kent had been called in October, 1730, but had declined, as we infer from the silence of the records on the subject. A society-meeting held May 8, 1732, extended a similar call to the Rev. Timothy Mix, and deputed Deacon George Hull 'to go to the Association at Stamford to ask advice concerning the settlement of Mr. Mix ;' but this call, as in the case

* The following history of the churches was compiled by Mr. Charles Burr Todd, and published in his " History of Redding," issued in 1880. t The corner-stone of the old church may still be seen on the common, a little south of a line drawn from Deacon Abbott's to the store lately occupied by Mr. Mandeville.

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of Mr. Kent, seems to have been declined. At length a unanimous call was made to the Rev. Nathaniel Hunn, as follows:

"' Jan. 31, 1732-33. At a society meeting held in the parish (of) Read- ing, Georgo IIull chosen Moderator for s'd meting, Mr. Nathaniel Hunn by a voit nemine contradicente was made chois of for tho minister of s'd parish, furthermore it was voited at s'd meting to settlo npon the s'd Mr. Ilunn's yearly sallery as followeth, that is, for the first year of his ad- ministration, seventy pounds current money or bills of Public Credit in New England, the second year, seventy-five pounds, for the third year, eighty pounds, for the fourth year, eighty-five pounds, the fifth year, ninety pounds, the sixth year, ninety-five pounds, the seventh year, a Imdred pounds, all in currant money as afores'd, and so on a hundred pounds a year during the term of his continuance in the ministry in s'd parish, and also to give the s'd Mr. Ilnnn the whole and sole privilege of all the parsonage land belonging to s'd parish, and to provide him his firewood, during the term aboves'd, also to find him a convenient dwell- ing-hous for the first five years, also to give the s'd Mr. Hunn, a hundred acres of land on or before the day of his ordination.'

" Feb. 20, 1732-33, 'it was voted that the ordina- tion of Mr. Hunn shall be on the 21st day of March next,' and John Read and George Hull were chosen a committee 'to represent the parish concerning the ordination of Mr. Hunn.'

"The Rev. Sidney G. Law, in his Centennial Ser- mon, delivered at Redding, July 6, 1876, thus speaks of Mr. Hunn's pastorate :

"' His first record is very brief for so important a matter,-viz., " March 21st, 1733, I was separated to the work of the ministry by prayer and fasting, and the laying on of the hands of the Presbytery." The next record gives the choice of deacons, viz. : " At a church meeting, March 29, 1733, we made choice of Stephen Burr for a deacon, and some time after we chose Theo. Hall to the same service. . . . " The next records relate to the adoption of Tate and Brady's version of the Psalms, first for one month, and then for the indefinite futuro.

"' The first members of the church ennmerated by Mr. Hunn were as follows: Col. Jolm Read and wife, Theophilus Hall and wife, George Hull and wife, Peter Burr and wife, Daniel Lion and wife, Daniel Brad- ley and wife, Stephen Burr and wife, Ebenezer Hull and wife, John Griffeu, Nathaniel Sanford, Thomas Fairchild, Lemmel Sanford, Benjamin Lion and wife, Mary wife of Richard Lion, Isaac Hull, Esther wife of Thomas Williams, Esther wife of Benjamin Hamilton. Thus it appears that the church was organized with twenty-six members, including the two deacons, about the timo that Mr. Hunn was ordained,-viz., the 21st of March, 1733.

"' Mr. Hann married Ruth, a sister of Col. Read.# Ile was pastor of the church sixteen years. During this time he received about ninety- two members into the church, the most of them by letter of recommen- dation from neighboring churches. He performed thirty-five marriages and one hundred and ninety-two baptisms. Ile died while on a journey, and was buried in Boston in 1749. His widow, Ruth Hunn, died in 1766, and was buried near her brother, Col. John Read, in the cemetery west of the parsonage.'

" Mr. Hunn's administration seems to have been a happy and prosperous one, and few events of im- portance occurred during its continuance.

"In 1738 it was voted ' to finish glassing the meting hous, and to finish seating the meting hous as is be- gun, and do something to the pulpit.' In 1739, ' Voted, That Sergt. Joseph Lee shall get Mr. Hun's wood, and have seven pounds for it.' 'Voted, That the place for putting up warnings for society meet-

ings be changed from Umpawang to the mill door.' In 1740, 'Voted, To rectifie the meting hous in the following articles,-viz., to put in new glass where it is wanting, and to mend the old. To lay some beams in the gallery and double floor. To fasten the met- ing hous doors; to make stairs up the gallery ; to put a rail on the foreside of the gallery,' and ' that the place for parish mceting shall be at the school house, by the meting hous for the future.' In 1741, ' Voted, To scat the meting hous in the lower part with plain strong seats.' In 1742, ' Voted, To impower the parish committee to agree withi a person to beat the drum as a signal to call the people together on the sabbatlı.' Again Feb. 15, 1743-44, it was 'Voted, That the timber and boards provided for seating the meeting- house shall be improved to that end for the use of the Parish.'

" Mr. Hunn dicd in the summer or fall of 1749, and for the fonr following years the church was without a pastor. A call was extended to Mr. Solo- mon Mcad in March, 1751, without success, and in November of the same year to the Rev. Izrahialı Wetmore, with a like result. The interim was in- proved by the people, however, in building a new church, which stood nearly on the site of the present edificc.

" It was probably completed and ready for usc early in the summer of 1752, as on the 22d of June of that year a call was extended to the Rev. Mr. Tammage to be their preacher, and the old meeting-house was sold to Jehu Burr for thirty-four pounds. The copy is from the records of a society-meeting held at Widow Sanford's, June 23, 1763 :

"' Pnt to voto whether the meeting-house of s'd society shall be seated in ye form following viz. a com'te being appointed to Dignify ye pews and other seats in s'd Meeting Ilouse the Respective members of s'd so- ciety shall sit in s'd pews and seats according to their Rank and Degree to be computed by their several lists and age, viz. upon ye two last years lists, and to allow three pound per year to be added to a person's List for lis advancement in a seat, and all at ye discresion of s'd com'te who shall bo appointed to Dignify s'd pews and seats, and to inspect the Respec- tive lists and ages of s'd members.'

"The committee appointed was Joseph Sanford, Ebenezer Couch, and Stephen Burr; but, Messrs. Sanford and Burr declining to act, Ephraim Jackson and Joseph Banks were chosen in their place. This committee was unable to settle the question satisfac- torily, and a meeting was held Aug. 11, 1763, at which the following action was taken :

"' It was put to vote whether the Dignity of ye pews and seats in ye meeting-house should be in the following manner viz, ye pew aljoin- ing yo pulpit stairs first in Dignity : ye Pew adjoining the grait doors, west side, second in dignity : the fore seat third in Dignity, the second pew west of ye pulpit, fourth, the second seat, fifth: the second pew north from the west door sixth : the fifth pew north of ye west door, seventh : the third pew north of tho west door, eighth : the second pew west of ye grait doors, ninth: the first pew south of ye west door, tenth : tho third seat, eleventh: the second pew south of the west door, twelfth : the fourth seat, thirteenth : the front seat in ye gallery, fourteenth: the fore seat on ye side of the gallery, fifteenth : the pews und seats upon ye east end of ye meeting-house of Equal Dignity with those upon the west sido in the same manner aud order as they are above mentioned. Passed in the negative.'

* Sho was a daughter of the Ilon, John Read, who settled at Lonetown in 1714. Both Mr. Law and Mr. Barber aro in error in supposing that the original John Read lived and died in Redding. Ile removed to Bos- ton in 1722, and his son John succeeded to his title and to the manor nt Lonetown. The latter is the one mentioned in theso records.

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HISTORY OF FAIRFIELD COUNTY, CONNECTICUT.

"Three months later another meeting was called, and adopted the following plan :

"' The respective members of the society shall sit in yo pews and seats of the meeting house of s'd society according to their rank or degree, to be computed by their respective lists and ages, viz. upon the lists given in npon the years 1751 and 1761 and 1762, and to allow three pounds per year to be added to a person's list for his advancement in a seat or pew the Respective lists and ages of s'd members are to be inspected, also to give the committee chosen at this meeting power to seat those that are new comers, and have not . . . in s'd society, to seat them at said committee's discresion.

"' Likewise to seat ye Widows iu s'd Society at the best of ye Commit- tee's judgment, which method of seating s'd meeting house shall eon- tinue until s'd Society at their meeting shall order otherwise.

"' Also voted, That s'd com'te shall seat those women whoso husbauds belong to the Church of England at their discresion.'

"The Rev. Nathaniel Bartlett, the second pastor of the church, was ordained May 23, 1753, the next year after the church was built.

" Mr. Bartlett came to Redding when a young man, and continued pastor of the church for fifty-seven years. In the War of Independence Mr. Bartlett's sympathies were entirely with the patriot cause; two of his sons entered the army, munitions of war were stored in his honse, and he himself frequently offici- ated as chaplain during the encampment of Putnam's division in the town in the winter of 1779. Mr. Bart- lett died Jan. 11, 1810, and was buried in the old cemetery west of the church. The inscription upon his tombstone reads as follows :

"'THE REV. NATHANIEL BARTLETT. "' Died January 11, 1810, aged 83 years.

"' I am the resurrection and the life ; he that believethi in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live .- JESUS CHRIST.'

"During the entire period of Mr. Bartlett's minis- try we have in the church records but one entry of importance, and that is of interest as marking the organization of the Episcopal Society in the town. This entry is as follows :

"'To Seth S. Smith of Redding, in Fairfield Co. Greeting, Whereas by law the Episcopal Church in said Redding is become a distinct society whereby the members of the Presbyterian church in said Redding have become the first society in said town. These are therefore by authority of the State of Connecticut to eommand you to warn and give notice to all the members of said first society, and all others who by law are obliged to contribute towards the support, and the worship, and the min- istry with the same, to meet at the meeting-house in said Redding on Monday the 20th of December at 12 in order to choose a moderator and necessary offieers.

"' REDDING, December 14, 1785.'

" The Rev. Jonathan Bartlett, third minister of the church, was ordained as colleague with his father, Rev. Nathaniel Bartlett, in 1796. The first of the church records in his handwriting is as follows :

""Feb. 3, 1796. I was separated to the work of the ministry and or- dained as eolleague with my father Nathaniel Bartlett over the Congre- gational Church in Redding in Gospel order and form. The ministers who performed the work were as follows, viz ,-the Rev. Israliiel Wet- more chosen Moderator, Robert Ross made the ordaining prayer, Elisha Rexford made the introductory prayer, David Ely preached the sermon. Imposition of hands by N. Bartlett, R. Ross, and Rexford. John Ely gave the right hand of fellowship, Samuel W. Stebbius made the con- cluding prayer.'

" Rev. Daniel Crocker, of Bedford, N. Y., was called in August, 1809, as colleague with Rev. Na-

thaniel Bartlett. He was a good man and a success- ful pastor, and served the church fifteen years, being dismissed in 1824. The Rev. Charles De Witt Tap- pen was called, but not settled. The next pastor chosen was Mr. William C. Kniffen, in 1825; he was dismissed in 1828. The Rev. Burr Baldwin was next called, but not settled. The next pastor was the Rev. William L. Strong, formerly pastor at Somers, Tol- land Co., Conn .; he was installed June 23, 1830, and dismissed Feb. 26, 1835. In September, 1835, follow- ing Mr. Strong's dismissal, a subscription was com- menced for the erection of the present church edifice, which was built in 1836. The expense was not to ex- ceed two thousand five hundred dollars, with the old meeting-honse. In December of the same year a unanimous call was extended to the Rev. David C. Comstock, but was not accepted at that time. In March, 1837, Rev. Daniel E. Manton was called, but not settled. In June of the same year the Rev. Jere- miah Miller was called, and was installed July 12, 1837; Mr. Miller was dismissed in 1839. In the fol- lowing year, 1840, Mr. David C. Comstock was or- dained and installed pastor of the church; he was dismissed in 1845. After him Daniel D. Frost, after preaching as stated supply for eighteen months, was ordained Dec. 30, 1845; he continued pastor ten years, being dismissed Oct. 13, 1856. In 1857 the pulpit was supplied by the Rev. Mr. Root. In 1858 the Rev. Enoch S. Huntington supplied the pulpit one year ; he presented the communion-service to the church, for which he received its thanks. In 1859 the church was remodeled and painted, receiving the beautiful fresco which still adorns it. In 1860, Rev. WV. D. Herrick became pastor, and so continued until 1864. After him Rev. E. B. Huntington, and also Rev. Mr. Barnum, preached for a short time. Rev. S. F. Farmer supplied in 1865. Rev. K. B. Glidden was installed Sept. 12, 1866; resigned December, 1868. In 1869 the Rev. Charles Chamberlain became acting pastor. He resigned in September, 1871.

"Rev. Sidney G. Law, acting pastor, June 1, 1872, and after a prosperous ministry of six years resigned in 1878.

"Rev. W. J. Jennings, the present pastor, was in- stalled Dec. 17, 1879.

"The complete list of those who have served it as pastors, with the date of their ordination and dis- missal, is as follows: Nathaniel Hunn, settled March 21, 1733, died 1749; Nathaniel Bartlett, settled May 23, 1753, died Jan. 11, 1810; Jonathan Bartlett, set- tled Feb. 3, 1796, dismissed June 7, 1809, died March 22, 1858; Daniel Crocker, settled Oct. 4, 1809, dis- missed Oct. 24, 1824; William C. Kniffen, settled June 8, 1825, dismissed Dec. 17, 1828; William L. Strong, settled June 23, 1830, dismissed Feb. 26, 1835 ; Jeremiah Miller, settled July 12, 1837, dismissed July 23, 1839; David C. Comstock, settled March 4, 1840, dismissed April 8, 1845 ; Daniel D. Frost, settled Dec. 30, 1846, dismissed Oct. 15, 1856 ; Enoch S. Hunting-

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ton, settled 1858, dismissed 1859; W. D. Herrick, set- tled 1860, dismissed 1864; K. B. Glidden, settled Sept. 12, 1866, dismissed December, 1868; Charles Cham- berlain, settled 1869, dismissed September, 1871 ; Sid- ney G. Law, settled June 1, 1872, dismissed June 1, 1878.

" Deacons : Stephen Burr, appointed 1733; The- ophilus Hull, appointed 1733; Lemuel Sanford, ap- pointed 1740; Daniel Mallory, appointed 1740; Jo- seph Banks, appointed 1776 ; Simon Couch, appointed 1776; Lemuel Sanford, appointed 1785; Stephen Betts, appointed 1785; Lemuel Sanford, appointed 1808; Aaron Read, appointed 1808; Joel Foster, appointed 1820; Lemuel Hawley, appointed 1832; Samuel Read, appointed 1832; Charles D. Smith, appointed 1854; Rufus Meade, appointed 1854; Thaddeus M. Abbott, appointed 1854.

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History of Fairfield County, Connecticut : with illustrations and biographical sketches of its prominent men and pioneers, Part 147

Author: Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton) comp. cn Publication date: 1881 Publisher: Philadelphia, J. W. Lewis & co. Number of Pages: 1572

Author: Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton) comp. cn
Publication date: 1881
Publisher: Philadelphia, J. W. Lewis & co.
Number of Pages: 1572