History of Fairfield County, Connecticut : with illustrations and biographical sketches of its prominent men and pioneers, Part 56

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 56

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in order not to be seen," as he often afterwards con- fessed. Such a profound impression was, however, produced upon his mind by the new truths which he believed he had heard that he was no more ashamed, but proud, to be seen going to the Universalist meet- ings. Those were the days when good, pious, Chris- tian souls, not doubting that Universalists were infi- dels and were doing the work of Satan, prayed that the Lord would "uncover the bottomless pit and shake the Universalist minister over it until he re- pented of his errors." It was the retort of one of the Universalist pioneers that even in this prayer, seem- ingly so profane and merciless, there was, after all, a· recognition of divine goodness, in the admission that a pit without bottom should yet be provided with a cover.

After the organization of the Universalist Society it was for a year or two without a regular pastor. Visiting clergymen on preaching tours spent the Sunday here on frequent occasions, and preached, sometimes in the court-house, occasionally in other places. Sometimes a clergyman would arrive late Saturday evening, and messengers would be sent out notifying the little band that on the morrow they were to have a minister.

Some time in 1824 the Rev. Thomas F. King, father of Rev. T. Starr King, was engaged to preach a por- tion of the time in Danbury, preaching also at Nor- walk during his engagement, which continued about two years. In 1826 the Rev. Zelotus Fuller preached occasionally at Danbury, and was succeeded by the Rev. Daniel E. Morgan, who preached one sermon every Sunday for six months. Then, for a period of four years, occasional services were rendered by the. Revs. Geo. Rogers, Solomon Glover, Menzies Raynor (a convert from the Episcopal Church), T. J. Whit- comb, Theophilus Fiske, Gilman Noyes, and Nehe- mialı Dodge. Dec. 29, 1830, the Rev. John Boyden was called to become the pastor, and preached in Danbury about six months, when, finding his various duties more than he could longer undertake, and desiring that a pastor should be engaged who should give his entire time and attention to the Danbury congregation, he asked to be released from his en- gagement, and the request was granted. During the ministry of Mr. Boyden a choir was gathered under the leadership of the late Stephen A. Hurlburt, who served as chorister for many years with zeal and faith- fulness.

The subsequent pastors of this congregation have been as follows :

1831 .- Rev. G. W. Brooks, for two months only.

1831 .- Rev. L. F. W. Andrews, for about the same length of time. Mr. Andrews was subsequently en- gaged with Hon. P. T. Barnum, as editor of a paper which Mr. Barnum published. Mr. Barnum was for several years the clerk of the Universalist Society.

1831-32 .- Rev. G. W. Brooks, re-engaged.

1833 .-- In August, Rev. L. W. F. Andrews was

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called, and declined a re-engagement, Mr. Brooks' engagement having expired.

1834 .- Rev. Albert Casc. 1835 .- The church was without a pastor.

1836-38 .- Rev. S. C. Bulkley.

1838-40 .- Rev. James Cook.

1841-43 .- Rev. S. B. Brittau.

1843-45 .- Rev. J. K. Ingalls.

1847 .- Rev. Heman Burr.

1846 .- In the latter part of this year the pulpit was supplied for a time by Rev. R. P. Ambler.

1847 .- No settled pastor.

1848 .- Rev. Timothy Elliott.

1849-51 .- Rev. Geo. H. Dcere.

1852-56 .- Rev. S. C. Bulkley.

1856 .- Rev. Mr. Bulkley's engagement closed carly in the year. Rev. Edward Smiley was engaged early in June, ordained in July, but remained only till No- vember. For two years following the church was weakened by the general prostration of business, and during this time was shepherdless.

1859-60 .- Rev. Robert C. Brown.

1861 .- No settled pastor.

1862-65 .- Rev. J. H. Shepard.

1866-67 .- Rev. Abel C. Thomas supplicd the pulpit.

1868-70 .- Rev. William G. Haskell.

1870-80 .- Rev. D. M. Hodge, the present pastor.

A church edifice was erected for this congregation on Main Street, corner of Wooster, in 1833, and dedi- cated in September of that year by the Rev. Matthew Hale Smith, assisted by other clergymen. This build- ing was afterwards sold to the Catholic Society, and is still owned by them. The cdifice on Liberty Street now occupied by this congregation was built in 1851- 52, and dedicated in the spring of the latter year.

The first deacons of the church were William Patch and Zadock Stevens.

Nearly all the members of the original church or- ganization are now dead or have removed from town. In fact, the church has been unusually subject to loss by these causes, especially the latter, notwithstanding which it has had a slow but steady growth ; during the ministry of the present pastor a goodly number have been added to the membership of the church, and many children have been baptized.

This church observes one Sunday in June of cach year as Rose Sunday, when the church audience-room is profusely decorated with flowers and children are christened or baptized.

The officers of this church at the present time arc: Pastor, Rev. D. M. Hodge; Deacons, Stephen Bates, N. B. Dibble, Timothy H. Foster, Luman L. Hubbell; Clerk and Collector, Foster Jarvis ; Treasurer, A. A. Heath; Executive Committee, Joseph T. Bates, T. H. Foster, Andrew J. Williams.

The church at the present time is united and pros- perous, and is doing a good work in the community. It strives to work in harmony and peace with all who love the Lord Jesus Christ.

THE SANDEMANIAN SOCIETY.

Barber, in his "Connecticut Historical Collections," published in 1836, says,-

"In 1764, Mr. Robert Sandeman, a native of Perth, in Scotland, a man of learning and superior abilities, who had some correspondence with Mr. Wlilte and some other unluisters in this country, came from his native land, landed at Boston, and came to Danbury near tho close of the year. After tarrying several weeks he returned to Boston, where he soon organ- ized a church. Ho returned to Danbury and gathered a church, July, 1765. The principal doctrines which he taught were similar to those of the Christian Church. His distinguishing tenet was, 'that faith is a mere intelloctual belief;' his favorite expression was, 'A bare belief of bare truth.' He maintained that his church was the only true church, then arisen from the ruins of Antichrist, his reign being near a close. The uso of means for mankind in a natural stato he pretty much exploded.

" Mr. Sandeman died in 1771. Tho next year his church moved to New Hlaven. Here it appears they woro in a flourishing condition for three or four years. The house in which they worshiped is still standing ou Groyson Strect.

"When the Revolutionary war broke out the Sandemanians, who wero royalists, became objects of suspicion. They wero brought up before the civil authority on several occasions, and at one time were imprisoned. These procoedings had the effect to break up their church in this place; nearly, if not quite, all their people moved away.

"In July, 1774, sevoral persons who had been mombers of that church, together with a number who belonged to the society at New Danbury, united and formed a new Sandemanian Church. That continued and in- creased for many years, till March, 1798, when they divided into two churches."

The following is from a more recent account given of the Sandemanians :

" They meet on the Sabbath and the Thursday afternoon of each week to exhort and to explain the sacred word. Their church is provided with a large circular table, which occupies nearly half the area of the build- ing, at which the several members seat themselves, each one provided with a copy of the Scriptures, and as they individually feel disposed they read and comment thereon, the females not partaking therein, being but indifferent spectators of the proceedings. They also add to their former exercises prayer and singing; and after which they assemble at one or the other of the brothers' or sisters' houses, where they partake of a feast. . . . There are probably at present about twenty primitive followers, of strict morals and chaste deportment, even to a proverb. It appears that none have joined thom latterly.

" This sect, like most others, have divisions among them, one party of which ge by the name of 'Osbornites,' from Mr. Levi Osborne, their present teacher. These aro very few in number, reduced by deaths, and from the circumstanco of none nniting with them. The other party go by the name of 'Baptist' Sandemanians, from their belief in, and practico of, baptism. The Osbornites appear to have been tho most numerous of the two classes, having had formerly a considerable number of members, consisting of some people of influence."

There arc said to be but four hundred persons of this denomination in the world, forty of whom are in the United States. Those of this belief in Great Brit- ain are known by the name of "Glassites."

The following is copied from the monument of Mr. Sandeman, in the burying-ground opposite the court- house :

" Here lies, until tho resurrection, the body of ROBERT SANDEMAN, & native of Perth, North Britain, who, in tho faco of continued opposition from all sorts of men, long boldly coutended for the ancient Faith, that tho bare work of Jesus Christ, without a deed or thought on the part of man, is sufficient to present the chief of sinners spotless before God. To declare this blessed Truth, as testifiod iu tho Holy Scriptures, ho left his country, ho left his friends, and after much patieut suffering finished his labors at Danbury, April 2, 1771, JE. 53 years.

"Deign'd Christ to como so nigh to us As not to count it shame To call us Brethren, should wo blush At aught that bears His name ?

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HISTORY OF FAIRFIELD COUNTY, CONNECTICUT.

"Nay, let us boast in His reproach, And glory in His Cross : When He appears, one smile from Him, Will far o'erpay our loss."

Rev. Nathaniel West, in his " Analysis of the Bible," says,- .

"SANDEMANIANS,-Followers of Mr. Sandeman, who was himself a dis- ciple of Mr. John Glass. The Sandemanians now usually include the Glassites, or followers of Mr. Glass. Place, chiefly Scotland, there being a few in England, the United States, and British North America. Numbers in all, about 2000."

"GLASSITES .- A body of dissenters from the Scotch Church, named after their founder, Mr. John Glass or Glas. Mostly in Scotland, where they number 2136."

We went to what is now called the Wooster Street Cemetery, and after a long search through the sadly- neglected ground found the grave of Mr. Sandeman in a good state of preservation, located west of the jail and near the fence which incloses it. From the appearance of the stone we should judge that it must have replaced an older one. The inscription thereon is not, in some respects, correctly quoted in Barber's "History." We give it verbatim.

As near as we can ascertain, after the death of Mr. Sandeman, the church was presided over by Elder Nathaniel Bishop, who died in 1857. After the death of Elder Bishop, Mr. William B. Ely, an esteemed citizen of Danbury, filled the position until his death, which occurred in 1869. Mr. Ely was an active mem- ber of the church for upwards of fifty years. Since his death the church has had no regularly-appointed elder. Although the members do not number as many as formerly, the services are kept up with the old-time regularity.

THE CATHOLIC CHURCH.

The first mass said in Danbury was at the house of James Doyle, in Grassy Plain, by the Rev. Father Smith, of New Haven, in the year 1838, and services were held at irregular intervals from that date until the years 1845 and 1846. The next mass said was by the Rev. Father Brady, then in charge of the mission of Norwalk and Stamford, at the house of John Hart, on Franklin Strect, in the years 1847 and 1848.

At the next mission, in 1849, mass was said at the house of John Spain, then living in South Street. At the next mission, in 1850, mass was said at the house of James Croal, on Deer Hill. The same year mass was celebrated by Father Ryan in the court-house. The services in the court-house were disturbed by some American people. The academy owned by Rev. John Irwin, Second Congregational Society, was ob- tained for the use of the Catholics for the rest of the year. The next mission was in 1851. Rev. Father Ryan purchased the Universalist church, corner of Morris and Wooster Streets, at a cost of three thou- sand dollars. Some improvements were made the same year. The Catholic Cemetery was purchased in 1853, at a cost of two hundred dollars.

In 1857 a lot was purchased at the corner of Main and Centre Streets, and a parsonage erected thereon.

In 1858 or 1859 a piece of land on the west side of Main Street was purchased for two thousand dollars. In 1861 some improvements were made on the old church, now known as St. Peter's Hall. In 1862 the present church was purchased of the Congregation- alists for two hundred dollars, and remodeled at a cost of two thousand dollars. In the following year im- provements were made on St. Peter's Hall.

During the pastorate of Rev. P. Sheridan he in- stituted two Catholic schools,-one for boys and one for girls,-and the attendance was about two hundred. He also purchased a piece of land and added it to the cemetery, and also improved it materially.

In the fall of 1864, the debt of the church having reached about six thousand dollars, Father Sheridan resolved to liquidate at least a portion of it, and con- sequently inaugurated a grand fair at Concert Hall, from which the net proceeds were three thousand dol- lars. He then commenced collecting funds for build- ing a new church. The church was commenced in 1869, and in September, 1871, the corner-stone was laid by the bishop, Right Rev. F. P. McFarland. The sermon on the occasion was preached by the Rev. Father Hewitt, of the Paulist Fathers, Fifty-ninth Street, New York. It is a singular fact that the walls were built before the laying of the corner-stone, in consequence of the absence of Bishop McFarland at the ŒEcumenical Council at Rome. The church is a massive structure, and pleasantly located on Main Street, near the park.

. The following is a list of the pastors from 1851, when Father Ryan was here, to the present time: Rev. Father O'Farrell, 1852-53; Rev. John Smith, 1853-57; Rev. Peter Kelly, 1858; Rev. Thomas Drea, 1858-61; Rev. Ambrose Manahan, D.D., 1861-62; Rev. P. Sheridan, 1863-July, 1874; Rev. John Quinn, 1874.

The present officers are the following : Rev. M. P. Lawlor, pastor; Rev. Michael J. Burns, associate pas- tor; Michael Darragan, Thomas Moran, trustees, elected annually.

The St. Patrick's Library Association was estab- lished in 1858.

The St. Peter's Catholic Benevolent Society was organized in July, 1865. Thomas Johnson, Presi -. dent; Thomas McCue, Vice-President.

St. Vincent De Paul Total Abstinence and Benev- olent Society was organized August 6, 1866, with twenty charter members. The present membership is seventy-five. Charles Doran is the president, and Michael J. Griffin the vice-president.

The Young Men's Father Mathew Temperance Society was organized in 1878 with about sixty mem- bers present.

THE DISCIPLES OF CHRIST.

This church dates its origin back to 1817, when Levi Osborne and wife and Uz Wildman and wife left the Sandemanian Society, in consequence of some differ-

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DANBURY.

ence of religious opinion, of which they had been honored members, and formed the nucleus of the present society.

Mr. Osborne, hearing of a society in New York called the Disciples, visited their church and was bap- tized by Henry Errett. Returning to Danbury, he baptized his wife and Uz Wildman and wife, and their serviees were held in Mr. Osborne's house. Mr. Osborne officiated as elder from this time until his death, in 1851. He was the leading spirit of the en- terprise, and for many years the members of the church were called "Osbornites."

The society soon began to increase in numbers, and a room over Mr. Osborne's weaver-shop was fitted up for a place of worship. In 1840 a church building was erected on White Street. In 1853 the church belonging to the Methodist Society on Liberty Street was purchased, and occupied in January of the follow- ing year.

The following ministers of this faith have preached here: Porter Thomas, A. G. Comings, Matthew S. Clapp, William Tiehenar, Ephraim A. Smith, Francis M. Craig, E. B. Osborne, J. M. Yearnshaw, W. W. Belding, N. W. Eaton, Theodore Brooks, Alfred N. Gil- bert, Joel A. Headington, W. L. Hayden, W. R. Spind- ler, W. B. Craig, and J. L. Darsie, present pastor.

The elders have been as follows: Levi Osborne, John Benedict, Edward B. Osborne, Starr Benedict, John Abbott, Abel Foote, E. A. Mallory, Lewis B. Stevens, Edgar S. Morris.

In 1854 a division occurred in the church, and thirty-five members withdrew and met in a hall on Main Street, known as Christian chapel, ealling Leslie R. Gault as pastor. The congregations were, however, reunited in 1869. The church is now in a prosperous condition, and has a membership of over two hundred.

GERMAN METHODIST CHURCHI.

This church was first established, under the leader- ship of Henry Stapleburg and Henry Grabert, in the year 1875, in Benedict & Nichols' block, corner ot Main and Liberty Streets. The need of a German church society had long been felt by the Protestant Germans of Danbury, that they might hear the gospel expounded in their own tongue, as many of them were unable to understand and fully comprehend the word in the English tongue, and the English church was the only church they were inclined to attend. By the efforts of the above-named leaders, about thirty Protestant Germans were brought together and organized a society at the above place in 1875, and Mr. Grabert was appointed by the pastor of the nearest German church (then located at New Haven) as a local preacher, and filled the pulpit three Sun- days in each month, the fourth being the visit of the pastor, Rev. Mr. Hendiges, and who as often as pos- sible sent ministers and tried to supply the pulpit every other Sunday. The society flourished in in- terest, although not rapidly in numbers, for the first

year, the expenses being paid by the liberal donations of its members. A Sabbath-school was established at the same time of the church opening, and num- bered about twenty-five scholars.

The pressure of the times and expense of sustaining the church caused the society to give up their un- dertaking in the year 1877. Its members then re- sumed their places again in the English churches, principally the Methodist.

In the spring of 1878, Henry Stapleburg built a small two-story dwelling-house on the rear of his lot and residence, corner of Rose Hill and Heury Street, the lower part occupied by a German family and the upper story to be used as a church. The dimensions were about twenty by twenty-five feet, and the room was comfortably fitted up for a chapel. This was a new opening for the society, as Mr. Stapleburg gave them the use of the room for the purpose of worship, which expense was quite an item to the little band, who were trying to worship under their own vine and fig- tree in their own tongue.

Early in the fall of 1878 the room was completed, and once more an effort was made to establish a church on a firmer footing. Other Methodist Ger- man families were induced to come to Danbury to work at hatting, and so increase the membership of the church society. Mr. Grabert filled the pulpit every other week, and other ministers from abroad were sent by the pastor at New Haven, Conn., to fill it at other times, he coming once a month and ad- ministering the sacrament.

Signs were evident that the growth of this church was more rapid than at any period since its formation, in 1875, and the little room was too small to accom- modate them longer than through the winter of 1878-79, and on the first Sunday in April, 1879, the society again occupied their old rooms, corner of Main and Liberty Streets.

Mr. Grabert, in the winter of 1879-80, found his labors through the week in the factory and in the pulpit on Sunday were too arduous. He called a meeting of the society in the beginning of the month of March, and submitted to the pastor and people the necessity of a regularly established church with a permanent pastor. Application to the German Con- ference held at New York in the second week of April was made for a permanent minister and organ- ized society, and the Conference, hearing the reports from this mission and its pastor, appointed to the German Church of Danbury the Rev. Jacob Kindler, then residing in Mount Vernon, N. Y., where his family still resides. Mr. Kindler was a ehaplain in a New York regiment during the early part of the war, and is an old cavalry officer. At the battle of Bull Run he sustained injuries through the falling of his horse, breaking the chaplain's hip-bone.

The church is now regularly ordained, and has a membership of about fifty and a Sunday-school of about the same number.

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HISTORY OF FAIRFIELD COUNTY, CONNECTICUT.

CHAPTER XXI.

DANBURY (Continued).

Organization of this Town-Paquiage-Swampfield-Rocords of 1777- First Town-Meeting after the Revolution-First Officers Elected after the Revolution - The Borough of Danbury - Organization - First Officers-Wardens from Organization to 1880-Extracts from Records, etc .- Ear-Marks.

THE town of Danbury was constituted at a General Court held Oct. 13, 1687. The following is an extract from the records :

" This Court named the new towne at Paquiage* Danbury, and granted them a freedom from county rates for fower yeares from this date ; and tlris Court grants that the bownds of the said towne of Danbury shall be six miles square, provided it doe not prejudice any former grant to any particular person made by this Court.

"This Court grants the Danbury brand shall be two eyes as followeth II." (Col .. Rec.)

The early town recordst were destroyed when the town was burned by the British, hence we are unable to give anything of a documentary character prior to that time.

RECORDS OF 1777.

The following is the first record which appears in the old town-book after the destruction of the town :

"At a town-meeting legally named, held in Danbury, Oct. 1, 1777, Cap. Daniel Taylor chosen moderator. Sd meeting was by vote adjourned to the 6th instant at four of the Clock in the afternoon.

" MAJOR TAYLOR, Clerk."

The next entry is as follows :

"TO THE INHABITANTS OF THE TOWN OF DANBURY :

"GENTLEMEN,-It being represented to the General Assembly of this State at their Sessions in May last that the public Records of your Town were consumed by Fire, and said Assembly appointed us the Subscribers to look into the Matter and Ascertain the right of every individual own- ing Lands in said Town, to facilitate its matter, beg leave to recom- mend to you, Gentlemen, to call a Town-meeting aud appoint a Com. in the several parts of your Town, who shall as soon as may be collect all the necessary Deeds and Surveys and other Conveyauces of Lands in said Town, and where any Deeds or other Conveyances are lost or con- sumed by fire, so that the title cannot be otherwise ascertained, then the Committee, with thio assistance of those whoso title is thus lost, do bound out said Lands, mentioning who it adjoins upon; also to notify the persons on wliom such lands do adjoin to bo present at the Time of bounding out the same, and to adjourn your Town-meeting to the 29th day of December, and when said doings of said committee shall be pub- lickly read in their cases where there is any Dispute, at which time and place we will attond.

" DANIEL SHERMAN, "I. MOSELY,

"NEHEMIAH BEARDSLEY,

" LEMUEL SANFORD,

" CALEB BALDWIN, JR.,

" Committee.

"DANBURY, Nov. 12, 1777."

* A petition was presented "in behalf of the plantation of Paquiage that the same may be constituted to be a towne and to be named Swamp- field," their soutli bounds to be " by the north bounds of Fairfield and Norwalk, the north bounds Halfeway to Weantinucke, the east bounds, half way to Stratford river, the west bounds by York line." The petition, dated October 6th, is signed by Thomas Fitch, Jehu Burr, John Burr, and Thomas Bennydick. They state that " there are twentie families in- habiting at Paquiage, and more desirable persons a comming." Samuel Hayes, of Norwalk, was deputed to present the petition to the court. The name substituted by the court for that proposed by the petition was probably adopted from Danbury, a village in Essex, five miles from Chelmsford. (C. J. Hoadley.)

¡ The Probate records were saved.

At a town-mccting "legally namcd," held Nov. 18, 1777, the following were appointed a committee, as recommended by the General Assembly, to assist per- sons in collecting the necessary conveyances, etc. : Daniel Taylor, Comfort Hoyt, Benjamin Sperry, Na- than Gregory, David Boughton, Joseph Wildman, Benjamin Boughton, Jr., David Wildman, Samuel Nichols, Alexander Stuart, John Starr, David Hoyt, Jr., John Dunning, Benjamin Stevens, John Gregory, Richard Shute, Noah Hoyt, Ezra Stevens, Jos. Bar- num, Matthew Linley, Richard Barnum, Samuel Ben- edict, David Perce, Samuel Weed, Thomas Stevens, Thomas Starr, Eli Segar, Benjamin Shove, Lemucl Benedict, Danicl Wildman, Daniel Wood, Thaddeus Brownson, Daniel Wood, Jr., Thomas Taylor, John Benedict, Isaac Benedict, Joseph Starr, Ephraim Barnum, Nathaniel Hoyt, Jos. Becbc, Nathaniel Benedict, Thomas Benedict, Benjamin Benedict, James Seely, and Nathan Taylor.

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History of Fairfield County, Connecticut : with illustrations and biographical sketches of its prominent men and pioneers, Part 56

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