USA > Connecticut > Hartford County > Hartland > History of Hartland, the 69th town in the Colony of Connecticut > Part 5
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Summer of 1931-2-3
Wilfred J. Maclean
Summer of 1934-5
Ellwood T. Dyson
Summer of 1936-38
Daryl Kent
Summer of 1937
Rev. Edmund Smiley
Each winter (Oct. to May) 1938 to 1943
John Banks
Summer of 1939
Wm. J. Hamilton
Summer of 1940
David B. Parsons
Summer of 1941
Henry Hayden
Summer of 1942
Curtis Smith
Summer of 1943
Philip Andersen
Summer of 1944
David Stanfield
Summer of 1945
Rev. Frank M. Weiskel
Summer of 1946
Benjamin Bradford
Summer of 1947
Kenneth Coates
Summer of 1948
George Strong
November
1948
Oct.
1951
Rev. Lewis E. Purdum
Dec. 1,
1951
May 6. 1956
Dwight D. Snesrud
July 1,
1956
Feb. 22, 1959
Herbert O. Kelsey
May 24,
1959
Notes
# not on "True List" of D. N. Gaines; is included on other records. *died 1773 died 1825 lied 1850
died 1921
Jan.
1, 1843
June 1845
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History of Hartland
* died 1917
one record names Alfred White from Oct. 1, 1859 to April 24, 1860.
1Cady, Hoffman and Pearce, The Growth of American Literature, Vol. I p. 5 2Ibid
3George W. Strong First Church in Hartland, Congregational, Vol. I, p. 20 4 Hartland-First Ecclesiastical Records 1773-1864, Key #33
5Op. cit. Strong p. 18
6Op. cit. Hartland ... Records, Key #25
A HISTORY OF THE SECOND ECCLESIASTICAL SOCIETY and THE SECOND CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH OF HARTLAND, CONNECTICUT
(By Stanley A. Ransom)
The Second Ecclesiastical Society of Hartland was formed on May 4, 1780, in the words of the founders, for the following reasons:
"WE, whose names are hereunto annexed, having our habitation by divine providence in the western part of the Township of Hartland, being by law an incorporated civil Society, where by reason of too great a distance, we can not with convenience steadily enjoy Communion in the special ordinance of the gospel, with any regular organized Church of Christ, deeply sensible of the high importance of such communion and earnestly desirous of it, and to that end would be formed into a distinct and particular Church of Christ by ourselves and thereupon unitedly and cordially embrace as matter of our firm belief the several summary doctrinal articles contained in the following Confession of Faith, and fully consent to the Church Covenant thereunto subjoined." (The Confession of Faith and the Church Covenant being practically identical with that given in the History of the First Church and Society, is omitted here.)
The names of those signing for the Second Society are as follows:
Reuben Hale Abner Bushnell Prince Taylor, Jr.
James Hungerford John Wilder Samuel Crosby
Benoni Beach John Bates Daniel Ensign
Reuben Burnham Joseph Wilder
Jacob Cowdry
Hezekiah Atkins
Simeon Crosby Elezar Ensign
Elishama Porter Asa Sinith Israel Williams
Ephraim Wilder Abel Brace James Markham
It is interesting to note that all of those signing were males-it was a man's world in those days-but after thinking it over apparently it was considered that some of the women were also worthy of salvation and at a later meeting 23 of them were admitted to membership al- though their names are not given. (It was 107 years later before any
The Churches
41
-From drawing by Charles McDonough
Second Congregational Church of Hartland, West Hartland, Connecticut
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History of Hartland
woman held an office in the Second Society. In 1887, Miss Emma Gay- lord was chosen clerk.) Thus, on May 4, A.D., 1780, the Church of Christ in the Second Society was embodied by the Rev. Joseph Strong and Rev. Aaron Church, having a total membership of 44, legally constituted and ready for the settlement of a minister.
The first business meeting of the Society, however, was actually held on December 13, 1779, at which time it was voted to "Raise School Money, Set off School Districts and define boundaries." Samuel Borden and Eldad Shepard were appointed to lay the "flowers" (floors) of the New Meeting House. (Eldad Shepard was the first Inn keeper in West Hartland. His Inn was located on the east side of present Route 20 at a point about 300 feet north of the present residence of Pauline Crunden. The foundation and site are still recognizable. Samuel Borden lived on the corner of the old road leading to Colebrook River just north of where Mr. and Mrs. Elliot Peterson now live.)
On April 17, 1780, a committee consisting of Abel Brace, Eleazer Ensign and James Markham was appointed to sell the parsonage lot which had been held in reserve for the Second Society when the Town was laid out. The lot, as originally located, was too far to the south for their present purpose and a swap was consummated with Samuel Tal- cott who apparently was well pleased with the deal for he contributed an extra 10£ to help settle preaching. The Treasurer of the Society was authorized to accept Continental Money at the ratio of 20 to 1 for State Money. They were now ready to proceed with the organization of the Church body and the selection of a minister to settle with them.
Let us look for a moment at the conditions which prevailed in West Hartland or "The West Mountain" when the Second Society came into being. The land had not been cleared to any great extent and, although the roads had been laid out, they were in most cases little more than bridle paths between one farm and another. The only means of travel was on foot, by ox-cart, or horseback, and only one road led from one mountain to another. Spring floods sometimes washed away the bridge in Hartland Hollow adding to the uncertainties of getting from one side to the other of a town divided by nature. This condition was early rec- ognized by the inhabitants and when the First Society was formed in 1769, it was agreed that the parsonage lots reserved in West Hartland for ecclesiastical purposes should not be taken for the support of the first church, but that they be held in reserve for the possible formation of a Second Society on the West Mountain. Less than ten years after the formation of the First Society, it was considered expedient by the inhabitants of the West Mountain to have their own Society and they petitioned the General Court accordingly. Permission was granted in due course resulting in the actions previously reported.
The men and women who became the first members of the Second Society were for the most part descendants of the early settlers of Con- necticut and had come from Lyme, Haddam, Hartford and Windsor and other older Connecticut towns to seek their fortunes in places like Hart- land which were being newly settled and developed. The War of the
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The Churches
Revolution was still in progress and many members of the Second Soci- ty had taken an active part in it. Money was scarce and barter was the chief means of exchange. Their houses and barns were rough habita- tions made of logs or boards and heated only by open fireplaces. Their farming equipment consisted of a few rudimentary tools and the fur- nishings of their homes was spartan and limited to the bare necessities of life, most of which had been brought with them from their former places of abode.
It was in such a situation and under such conditions that the Sec- ond Society began looking for a minister to settle with them and become their permanent pastor. Rev. William Hayes supplied the "Desk" for the first few months until calls could be sent and answers received from various candidates. On August 29, 1781, The Second Society gave Mr. Nathaniel Gaylord a call and offered him 510£ with his taking the lot provided for the minister. The money was to be predicated at 5 Sh. per bushel upon wheat. Evidently this was not enough inducement for after somne consideration he refused. The call was renewed with further en- ticements on December 25, 1781, and this time Mr. Gaylord accepted and invitations were sent out to the ministers and Elders of the neigh- boring churches to assist in the Ordaining Ceremony.
On January 9, 1782, the Rev. Nathaniel Gaylord was ordained to the pastorate of the Second Church of Christ in Hartland; with the program and names of those participating as follows:
Rev. David Rowland of Windsor chosen Moderator
Rev. Aaron Church of East Hartland chosen Scribe
Parts in the service were performed in the following order:
Rev. Aaron Booge of Turkey Hills-First Prayer
Rev. Theodore Hinsdale of North Windsor-Sermon (2nd Cor .: 4:7 "But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us") Rev. Jonathan Marsh of New Hartford-Consecrating Prayer
Rev. David Rowland of Windsor-Charge
Rev. Aaron Church of East Hartland-Right Hand of fellow-ship
Rev. Rufus Hawley of Northington (Avon)-Concluding Prayer
In addition there were present Rev. Timothy Pitkin of Farmington and the Rev. Samuel Stebbins of Simsbury. The following delegates from other churches were also in attendance: Captain Noah Kellogg from New Hartford, Major Uriel Holmes from East Hartland, Captain Wood- ford of Northington (Avon) and Deacon Ashael Holmes of Turkey Hills.
The organization of the Second Church of Christ in Hartland was now complete with a settled pastor and Ecclesiastical Society which functioned until November, 1960, a total of 180 years.
Rev. Nathaniel Gaylord accepted the Lot provided for the minister consisting of 481/2 acres and with his settlement money of 510€ proceeded to build his house and other outbuildings after paying £ 121 S 5 P 8 to
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History of Hartland
John Wilder and John Bates, Committee of the Second Society, for the land. This deed is dated November 11, 1782, about 11 months after Rev. Gaylord's ordination. It was expected that a pastor should pursue the avocation of husbandry in addition to his ministerial duties and obtain a portion of his earthly subsistence from the soil. For the succeeding fifty-nine years, Rev. Gaylord fulfilled this expectation.
The Lot was situated about one-half mile north of the location finally selected for the Meeting House. Rev. Gaylord's house was three years in building and was completed in 1785. It was a large one with a frame of huge hewed beams and clapboards which never received a coat of paint. Many still remember it with its weather- beaten look and in later years askew on its foundation with the central chimney leaning toward the south-a target of the north wind for over a century-and here and there broken panes of glass in the small case- ments. The house burned to the ground on Thanksgiving Day, 1917. In the early 1900's it became known as the "Honeymoon House" be- cause of the many young married couples of West Hartland who began housekeeping within its leaning walls but-as Honeymoons go-never stayed for more than a few months. (The exact location of the house may be identified by the fact that it stood on the site of the house now owned and occupied by Pauline E. Crunden and family 1960.)
-Courtesy Gertrude Shelley Osborn
House built in 1782 by Rev. Nathaniel Gaylord, first settled pastor of Second Ecclesiastical Society, as it appeared in 1910. House burned Thanksgiving Day, 1917. Site on exact location of home now owned and occupied by Mrs. Pauline E. Crunden.
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The Churches
Rev. Nathaniel Gaylord deserves more than passing mention in his pastorate of the Second Church of Christ in Hartland, which continued for 42 years without assistance and did not end until his death on May 9, 1841, in the 59th year of his ministry in this place and at the age of 90 years. What kind of man was he? Tradition tells us that he was a man of fine personality and cultivated mind. Just before coming to Hart- land he had graduated from Yale as valedictorian of his class. He was living in Windsor, Connecticut, when he accepted the call of the Second Society and it is presumed that he was born in that place. The Hartland Historical Society has in its possession several sermons written by him. These are in manuscript form and in his own hand-writing. Notes on some of them indicate that they were delivered in various other pulpits as well as West Hartland. A reading of them leaves no question con- cerning Rev. Gaylord's orthodoxy. He was the preachers' preacher of his day and was much sought after to preach at ordinations and other special services held in neighboring towns and at the Consociation of Churches which assembled yearly. Rev. Dr. Robbins in his diary, under date of September 29, 1812, records: "Went to Windsor on foot (from Hartford) and met with the Consociation. Mr. Gaylord of (West) Hart- land preached very well" and again, under date of June 15, 1813, "Rode carly from Litchfield to Watertown to attend the General Association as a delegate. Mr. Gaylord of (West) Hartland preached. We had good beer, but no spirits."
It is doubtful if anyone today would be much impressed by Mr. Gaylord's sermons. Now the accent is on LIFE, but in that day it was on DEATH. The Grim Reaper was paraded up and down the "broad alley", as they called the center aisle, in all his morbid trappings. The hand of Providence, for good or evil, was seen in every happening or event. While we acknowledge all of this to be as true today as it was then, yet, over the years, it has lost for us the meaning that inspired the hearts and minds of Rev. Gaylord's flock and converted some of them, at least, into souls as rugged and steadfast as their native granite boulders.
The first forty years of Rev. Nathaniel Gaylord's pastorate appear to have been a period of great harmony between pastor and congrega- tion. Music seems to have had an important place in religious services for in 1784, we find that Dan Canfield, Abiathiar Newton, Rufus Hall and Cepheas Beach were selected as choristers. And on October 6, 1794, the Society voted to hire a "Singing Master" and hired a Mr. Taintor at a salary of 3 f.
Today we speak of Salvation as being "free". This was not the case in the carly days of the Second Society. Not, that is, unless you were willing to stand through the long service or take a seat in the gallery. Beginning in 1783 and occuring regularly for many years there- after a committee was appointed at each annual meeting to "Seat" the congregation and Dignify the Pews of the Meeting-House." The Pews were usually sold at auction to the highest bidder with the understand- ing that if the sale did not bring in a certain amount-the whole affair
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History of Hartland
would be declared null and void. In Dignifying the Meeting House the committee tried its best to seat members according to age, amount of subscription and civic standing in the community. Pride is one of the things the Rev. Nathaniel Gaylord continually preached against, but it is evident that when it came to the "seating" his congregation had it in abundance. No other phase of Society activity seems to have caused as much hard feeling among the members as the sale and dignification of the pews. Ownership of individual pews had certain disadvantages, too. One of them was the conspicuousness of an empty pew at a Sunday service. If it was empty for three successive Sundays without explan- ation-some one came knocking at your door. The records of the Second Society contain many admonitions to members for "absenting them- selves" from divine worship. As late as May 15, 1846, Pew No. 31 was reserved for the use of "maiden ladies."
The first Meeting House (the word Church was never used in early Congregational circles as pertaining to a building) must have been a barn-like structure and was without a steeple from 1782 to 1835. In 1797 the Society voted to pay E. Gilman $30. to finish the building, so it must have been used in an unfinished state during the first fifteen years. (In 1797, the medium of exchange was changed from fs to dollars. This is the first reference to the new medium in the Society records.) No picture or drawing of the first structure is now extant. In imagina- tion we see it as a crude box-like building without architectural design, without heat and with an interior in keeping with the times and the limited means of the congregation. The Pewter Communion Set used at that time is now in the possession of the Connecticut State Library and must have been the pride and joy of The Society's early members. In 1818, the building was painted white; the money being raised by subscription-if there was more than enough it was to be used for painting the roof.
Some of the more interesting votes taken at Annual meetings of the Society in its earlier days are as follows:
May 1, 1799-Voted that warnings of Meetings be posted on the sign-post and in addition on Bates Mill west and on the Guide Post in the Hollow.
April 15, 1822-Voted Treasurer to notify collectors to settle their bills in 60 days or proceed as the law directs in such cases.
Same Date-Voted to request the Selectmen to erect a sign- post opposite front door of Meeting House. If they refuse, to enter complaint to proper authorities.
Same Date-Voted to accept deed to Burying Ground from Joel Ensign and Arnold Oatman and give notice to inhab- itants of appointed day to clear the ground.
Same Date-Voted Committee draw up a Subscription Paper for money to purchase a Pall for use of people on West Mountain.
April 18. 1823-Voted to refund Mr. Adkins money and interest he paid as a fine for refusing to collect.
October 30, 1823-Voted Society's Committee to ascertain who belongs to Second Society.
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The Churches
In other respects the Annual Meetings followed a more or less set pat- tern with votes taken to establish the Society's Committee for the year, define School districts and levy the necessary taxes for support of Schools and other routine matters. Up to this point there seems to have been no great difficulty in raising the money necessary to pay the Society's expenses and the pastor's salary but the collection of subscrip- tions was as much a problem then as it is today.
In 1823, after 41 years of service, Rev. Nathaniel Gaylord's health began to fail in the 72nd year of his age, and it was voted to hire a col- league to supply the desk with him. And now comes a sad note indicat- ing that Committees of the Second Society did not mingle sentiment with business. A committee was appointed "to notify Rev. N. Gaylord that he is requested to attend this meeting" and at the meeting "that Mr. Gaylord be requested to commit to writing the proposition he has made to this meeting respecting relinquishing provided they will hire a candidate." Mr. Gaylord continued to be called pastor and apparently preached and participated in the activities of the Second Society, when- ever his health would permit, until his death in 1841; but there was no "Golden Jubilee" held to celebrate his 50th year of ministry in West Hartland and at the Annual Meeting of the Second Society held on November 8, 1841 no appropriate resolutions were recorded in connec- tion with his long and faithful service. He continued to occupy the house which he had built and maintain the farm acquired as the Min- ister's Lot at the time of his settlement. He is buried in the first tier of graves in the cemetery immediately in back of the Church building- just a few feet from the pulpit he supplied for so many years.
The Probate Records show his estate was valued at $2,769.00, that about 26 books comprised his entire library; and 3 cows and 20 sheep being listed as live stock. The records also show his funeral costs amounted to $14. itemized as "To coffin for deceased $8.00; To opening and filling grave $2.00; To grave clothes $4.00."
So it was that in 1823 the Society's Committee engaged Rev. Wil- liam Ely to assist on a short term basis but apparently Rev. Gaylord's health did not improve and it was evident that a full time assistant would be necessary. Consequently, on July 1, 1824, Rev. Adolphus Ferry was given a call to settle with them and the following terms were offered "$700. for 7 years at $100. per year. If he stays 7 years he retains the whole. Given 4 weeks to consider." Rev. Ferry accepted the call and terms and served the Congregation for eight years, his death occuring in April, 1832.
The next assistant pastor of the Society was the Rev. John A. Hemp- sted, who served from October 1833 to September 1835. During that short period his first wife died and remarrying a few months later his second wife died in child-birth together with the infant child. The simple headstones close to the Church building tell the tragic story.
It was at this time that the brick house immediately north of the Church building came into use as a parsonage for the assistant pastors. These three signed the records as "Junior Pastors" and it must be borne in mind that the Rev. Gaylord was still considered the Senior Pastor as
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History of Hartland
-Courtesy Connecticut State Library
Pewter Communion Service used by members of Second Congregational Church beginning in 1780. Now in possession of Connecticut State Library.
he had refused to "relinquish" when it was suggested he do so in 1823. Rev. John A. Hempsted was dismissed at his own request in 1835 but evidently he filled in on some occasions when Rev. Gaylord was indis- posed.
The early 1830's were difficult years for the Society. The reasons for this were two-fold. First-The collection of subscriptions and taxes had reached the point where it was almost impossible to pay the pastor's salary, raise money for support of schools or meet other Society expense. For those who complain of today's high taxes, please note to following rates as voted :
October 29, 1827-Voted tax of 9c on each dollar of Grand List
November 8, 1829-Voted tax of 10c on each dollar of Grand List
January 2, 1831-Voted tax of 12c on each dollar of Grand List
Not mills but cents. Conditions at this stage had reached the point where a man had to be wealthy in order to belong to the Second Society and
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The Churches
pay for his pew. Some of the members began to look for a way out. That was one of their troubles.
The Second-and probably more grevious one is that in 1833 the resident Methodists, who had had a Class for some years but no regular place of worship, built a Meeting House on the corner diagonally across the road from Rideout Moore's Tavern. In fact, Rideout Moore donated the land and as the expense of being a Methodist was much less than belonging to the Second Society, it appealed to many for reasons other than spiritual. True, many considered these shouting Methodists as being too noisey in their devotions, but, nevertheless, there were some who experienced a change of heart "threw in their certificates and sought dismission from the Second Society." Something had to be done!
The Rev. Luke Wood was called and settled as pastor in 1838 con- tinuing until May 1842. Rev. Nathaniel Gaylord's death occured in 1841 and Mr. Wood became the second full time pastor of the Second Society. The records of this period show that their efforts to collect the neces- sary money to pay the pastor's salary were not meeting with much suc- cess. On November 8, 1841, it was voted "To try once again to collect old subscription bills and if not paid leave them with a suitable Officer for collection." But, in spite of all the trouble in connection with fin- ances, some of the membership began a campaign to do something about fixing up the Meeting House. Perhaps this was due to a certain amount of vexation when they considered the new building being built by the Methodists down on the corner.
Up to this time the old Meeting House had no steeple but it did have a chimney for on November 11, 1832, they voted "To give Arnold Oatman $1.00 when he tops out the chimney to Meeting House." On September 14, 1835, they voted "to appoint a committee to ascertain expense of building steeple to Meeting House" with Benson Coe as chair- man. (Benson Coe was long active in the affairs of the Society serving at various times as Deacon, Moderator, Collector and in other official ca- pacities. He was also a master builder of his day. It was he who built the steeple of the old Meeting House and hewed most of the timber for the present Church building. In 1840, he built the West Parish School House at a total cost of $200.50. It was he who by vote of the Society under date of January 2, 1831, was given the dubious title of "Dog Clearer for Sundays.") The steeple was built on the old building and there is no statement as to how the money was raised to defray this expense, but no doubt much of it was by volunteer labor and subscrip- tions. At this time, Mr. Stephen Goodyear, a deacon at one time, pre- sented the Society with a bell for the steeple-something they had never had before. (Stephen Goodyear lived on Center Hill near the place where Mrs. Dorothy Day now resides. He was known as the "Hart- land Banker" and left an estate of over $10,000. when he died on Sep- tember 6, 1845, at the age of 84. As an interesting side light-on Novem- ber 9, 1835, it was "Voted the thanks of this Society to Mr. Stephen Goodyear for his present of a Bell for the Meeting House.", and a com- mittee consisting of Abiather Newton and John M. Case appointed for
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History of Hartland
that purpose. The committee accordingly sent Mr. Goodyear a formal note of appreciation as follows:
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