USA > Connecticut > Litchfield County > History of Litchfield county, Connecticut > Part 140
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Theophilus Smith was a brother of the preceding, and first lived near where Dr. Deming now lives. In 1749 he bought of Mica Mudge the grist-mill known as Gay's mill, which stood near Merrills McLean's present residence.
Samuel Smith was from the Great Nine Partners, N. Y., and came to Sharon in 1754. He was a black- smith by trade, and lived on the Burr place, in the valley. He was a selectman for several years.
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HISTORY OF LITCHFIELD COUNTY, CONNECTICUT.
Dr. Simeon Smith was a younger brother of the Rev. Cotton Mather Smith. He came to Sharon about 1756, and was a physician of extensive practice. He kept a large store of drugs and medicines, import- ing his articles direct from London. In 1776 he com- manded a company of six months' men, and was on service in the vicinity of New York. He was a large land-holder, and built the largestone house now known as the Governor's house. He represented the town in the Legislature at several sessions. He went to West Haven, Vt., in 1787, and there resided till his death, February, 1804. He left no children. He was a man of great activity and enterprise.
Paul Smith was the youngest brother of Rev. Cot- ton M. Smith, and came to Sharon in 1770. He lived in the house originally built by Job Gibbs, next north of Jay S. Canfield's, now demolished. He was a con- stable of the town for a great number of years. He died March 28, 1825, at the age of ninety.
Dr. Phineas Smith was a son of Dan Smith, an elder brother of Rev. Cotton M. Smith. He came to Sharon when young, and resided with his uncle, Dr. Simeon Smith, by whom he was educated as a physi- cian. He relinquished the practice, and engaged in mercantile pursuits. He built the house owned by the late Cyrus Swan, Esq. He died June 4, 1794, at the age of forty.
Apollos Smith was a younger brother of Phineas Smith, who came to Sharon in early life, and resided with his uncle, Dr. Smith, by whom he was assisted in establishing an extensive pottery before the Revo- lutionary war, which proved a profitable business.
Deacon Paul Smith, Jr., was a son of Paul Smith, and was born in Suffield in 1763. He came to Sharon with his father, and resided here until his death. He was elected a deacon of the church in 1793, and dis- charged the duties of that office with great fidelity and acceptance for forty-six years.
David Smith was from Litchfield, and came to Sharon in 1801.
Thomas Spafford was an original proprietor from Lebanon, and drew the thirteenth home-lot, on which Samuel Beecher lived.
Alexander Spencer was one of the first settlers from East Haddam, and he lived opposite Dwight St. John's present residence.
Capt. John Sprague was from Lebanon in 1739.
Hon. Ansel Sterling was born in Lyme, and settled in Sharon as a lawyer in 1808, where he spent his life. As a lawyer his forensic ability was of a high order, nor was he deficient in legal science. His lan- guage flowed readily and rapidly, and sometimes his appeals to the jury were very effective. He held a seat in Congress for two terms. He died Nov. 5, 1853, at the age of seventy-three years, leaving a large estate to his numerous family.
Robert Stedman was one of the first settlers, and came to Sharon in 1743.
Caleb Strong was from Colchester in 1743.
Josiah Strong was originally from Colchester, but lived a while in Litchfield. He came to Sharon in 1747.
Josiah Strong, Jr., was a son of the preceding, and was born in Sharon, June 16, 1758. His life was eventful as illustrating the dangers and sufferings of a Revolutionary soldier in the course of two years' active service. He enlisted into Capt. Downs' company in 1776, and marched to Canada. He was taken prisoner, with the rest of the company, at the "Cedars," on the 19th of May following. They were released by Gen. Arnold on his return from Quebec, and Mr. Strong returned to Sharon. He im- mediately enlisted into Capt. Smith's company, and joined the army under Gen. Washington. He was in the battles of White Plains, Trenton, Princeton, Brandywine, and Germantown, in which last action he was so severely wounded in the leg as to render amputation necessary. He was, of course, compelled to leave the army, but he carried with him an honor- able discharge from Gen. Washington. He was placed upon the roll of invalid pensioners. He died at Ge- neva, N. Y.
Joshua Studley was from Hanover, Mass., in 1771. He settled in the south part of Ellsworth.
John Swain was from Branford in 1745.
Cyrus Swan, Esq., was born in Stonington in 1770. He was in early life engaged in mercantile pursuits in the district of Maine. He afterwards pursued the study of law, and established himself in the practice in this town in 1798. He was a successful practi- tioner, and acquired a respectable standing at the bar. He died Aug. 20, 1835, aged sixty-five.
Rowland Swetland was the first settler on the place where Lyman Merwin lives.
Gen. Augustine Taylor was from New Milford in 1784. He purchased of Robert C. Livingston, who had come to Sharon during the Revolutionary war, the place now called the Taylor place, where he re- sided until 1815, when he left the town. He rose to the rank of major-general in the militia, and for a while commanded the troops which were stationed for the defense of New London, during the late war with England. He died soon after he removed.
Amos Thurston lived in the Great Hollow, near the school-house. He came to Sharon in 1768.
William Tickner was from Lebanon in 1739. He drew the thirty-eighth home-lot, next north of Mr. Spragues', in Gay Street.
John Tickner was a brother of the preceding, and came from Lebanon in 1749.
Elisha Tobey was from the old Plymouth colony.
Bezaleel Tyler was from Branford.
Cyprian Waldo was from Windham in 1770.
Lieut. James Warren lived on the place now owned and occupied by Edwin N. Hartwell.
George Way was from Lyme.
George White was from Wareham, Mass., and was the first settler on the place owned by Chesterfield Chapman. He came to Sharon in 1747.
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SHARON.
Israel White was from Danbury in 1775. He set- tled in the Great Hollow, where he purchased a large and valuable farm of David Wood.
Capt. John Wilson came to Sharon, after the Revo- lutionary war, from Westchester Co., N. Y.
Col. John Williams was originally a physician, and came to Sharon in 1743 from Lebanon. He was for many years a very distinguished inhabitant of thetown. He lived nearly opposite Judge Sterling's, and the house which he occupied was standing sixty years since. He was elected town clerk in the fall of 1745, which office he held twenty-nine successive years, till his death. Previous to his appointment the records had been badly kept, and a good part of them are . very unintelligible; but from the time they passed into his hands they were kept with great accuracy. It would seem that for nearly thirty years he wrote almost every deed which passed title to real estate in Sharon, judging from the fact that they were nearly all witnessed by him and acknowledged before him ; and it is interesting to observe with what remarkable accuracy and strict legal propriety they are all ex- pressed. He held the office of selectman seventeen years, and was chosen member of the Assembly at twenty-seven different sessions, being the first ever chosen to that office in the town. When the county of Litchfield was organized, in 1751, he was appointed one of the judges of the County Court, and in about five years afterwards was made chief judge. He was also the first judge of probate for the district of Sharon, which was established in 1755, which office he held while he lived. He also went through sev- eral military grades, and for several years commanded a regiment of colonial militia. He was a man of tall and slender frame, but of great gravity and very dig- nified deportment, and his word was law. He was a deacon in the church from June, 1766, till his death. He died on Sunday, March 14, 1774, at the age of sixty-eight, and as it was in the exciting times which immediately preceded the Revolution, and he had been a military character, he was buried with military honors. His sword was borne upon his eoffin, and volleys of musketry were fired over his grave. The funeral services were performed under the direction of Capt. David Downs.
Abel Wood was from Wareham, Mass., in 1748.
David Wood was from Ridgefield, and was the first settler upon what is called the White place, in the Great Hollow. Ile came to Sharon in 1754.
Elias Woodruff was from Southampton, L. I., in 1768. He purchased a part of the ninth home-lot of Amos Tyler, and lived on it till his death, June 17, 1807, at the age of seventy.
CHAPTER LVII.
SHARON (Continued).
Congregational Church, Sharon-Congregational Church, Ellsworth- Episcopal Church-Methodist Episcopal Church-Incorporation of the Town-First Town-Meeting-Officers Elected-Representatives from 1755 to 1881-Members of the Governor's Council-Senators-Judges of the County Court-Justices of the Peace-Town Clerks-Attorneys- Physicians-College Graduates-Military Record.
ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY.
CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH.
AT the first town-meeting a committee consisting of Nathaniel Skinner, Jonathan Dunham, and John Sprague was appointed "to go after a minister." The committee made application to Mr. Peter Pratt, of Lebanon, a candidate for the ministry, and a grad- nate of Yale College of the class of 1736, and on Jan. 8, 1740, the town called him "upon trial for some con- venient time," and laid a tax of fifteen shillings on a right for the payment of his services. His labors were acceptable to the people, and on the 14th day of March following he was invited to settle over the church and congregation in the work of the ministry. The town voted him a salary which would amount to about two hundred dollars per annum .* Mr. Good- rich and Mr. Sprague were appointed to treat with Mr. Pratt, and to present to him the offers of the town. These were accepted by him, and the time fixed for the ordination was the last Wednesday in April. It is supposed that it took place at that time, and that the services were performed in a private dwelling, as no place of public worship had been pro- vided at that time.
The records of the Congregational Church in Sharon for the first fifteen years are lost. The exact date of the organization of the church cannot, there- fore, be determined. At a meeting of the church in Winchester, a parish of Colchester, Conn., on the 28th day of April, 1740, Nathaniel Skinner (deacon), Jonathan Dunham, Jabez Crippen, Benjamin Fuller, Nathaniel Skinner, Jr., Thomas Skinner, David Skin- ner, Jonathan Skinner, Jabez Crippen, Jr., Samuel Mudge, Micah Mudge, Cornelius Hamlin, Alexander Spencer, and Josiah Skinner "received letters of rec- ommendation, in order to be embodied into a church at Sharon, where they have for some time resided."
At a meeting of the same church on May 18, 1740 (about three weeks after the former meeting), Jere- miah Foster, Mary Foster, Mary Skinner, Content Fuller, Elizabeth Skinner, Abigail Mudge, Mary Hampton, Mary Dunham, Mary Skinner, Jr., Eunice Mudge, Elizabeth Dunham, Lydia Crippen, Deborah Crippen, Thankful Crippen, Waitstill Ileath, Abigail Skinner, Patience Fuller, Hannah Dunham, and Mar- tha Mudge received a letter of recommendation "to
4 "March 20, 1740 .- Voted, To Mr. Pratt for his stafed salary 210 pounds a year in money, which Is an allver at 29 shillings per ounce, and for this year 140 pounds, and to rise ten pounds a year until it comes lo the 210 pounds, and there to stand during the lime of his ministry amongsl us."
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HISTORY OF LITCHFIELD COUNTY, CONNECTICUT.
the church in Sharon," which indicates that this church was organized between the meetings of the church in Winchester.
Mr. Pratt was dismissed in 1747, and after a num- ber of candidates being heard, the Rev. John Searl was chosen, and in August, 1749, was ordained. He was dismissed June 4, 1754, and in the summer of the same year the Rev. Cotton Mather Smith, of Suf- field, was employed by the town to preach as a can- didate for settlement. He came upon the recom- mendation of Matthew St. John, who had been an inhabitant of Sharon, but who had now removed to Suffield, where he became acquainted with Mr. Smith. Mr. Smith was a descendant of the Rev. Henry Smith, the first minister of Wethersfield, who came from England in 1638. The mother of Mr. Smith was a daughter of Atherton Mather, a cousin of the celebrated Cotton Mather, and she died in this town at a very advanced age. Mr. Smith was born at Suf- field, Oct. 16, 1731, and graduated at Yale College in 1751. He spent the year previous to his visiting Sharon at Stockbridge, Mass., with the very cele- brated Jonathan Edwards, engaged in the benevolent duties of instructing the Indians. Mr. Smith preached as a candidate for more than a year, and in the mean time boarded with John Jay, Esq., at the north part of the town. He was ordained minister of Sharon on the 28th day of August, 1755.
"He purchased the place which was owned by his predecessor, Mr. Searl, the same which is now owned by his great-grandson, Dr. Robert W. Smith. He was married soon after his settlement to Mrs. Tem- perance Gale, widow of Dr. Moses Gale, of Goshen, N. Y., and daughter of Rev. William Worthington, of the parish of Westhrook, in Saybrook. Mr. Smith was the minister of Sharon for more than fifty years, and during the whole of that period occupied a large space in public affairs. Probably no minister ever had in a greater degree the confidence and affection of his people. He was never spoken of by those who knew him but with the most unqualified respect and veneration.
" During the early years of the history of the town ecclesiastical affairs were the subject of business in the town-meetings. Churches were built, pastors set- tled, and taxes laid for their support in the same manner that all other public expenses were provided for. This method of the support of religious insti- tutions was continued long after the dissenters had become numerous, and after they had been relieved from taxes levied for the support of the standing order. Before the close of the last century the in- convenience of conducting ecclesiastical and civil business by one organization had become so great that a law was passed authorizing the formation of ecclesiastical societies in the different towns, from which all secular business was to be excluded and turned over to the towns in their corporate capacity. The law required that, on the application of a certain
number of the principal inhabitants of a society thus proposed to be organized, a warrant might be issued by a justice of the peace, summoning the members to meet at the place of holding town-meetings, to organ- ize the society, and assume the charge of ecclesiastical affairs in the town. The warrant in this case was issued by David Downs, Esq., a justice of the peace, on the application of Pelatiah Pierce, Paul Smith, Jr., Nathaniel Lowrey, David Gay, Silas St. John, Thomas St. John, Eliphalet Martin, and Edmund Bennett.
" At this first meeting of the society, Deacon Isaac Chamberlain, Mr. Pelatiah Pierce, and David Downs, Esq., were chosen society's committee, to act in society matters in the same capacity as selectmen act in the town affairs. Col. Samuel Canfield was chosen soci- ety's clerk, which office he held till 1805, when Dr. Samuel Rockwell was chosen clerk, which office he held till 1836. Richard Smith, Esq., was then chosen clerk. Parson Smith, when in the maturity of his powers, was deemed one of the best preachers of his time in the ministerial circle with which he was connected. Other elements of character combined to make him very strong in the affection and respect of his people, and when old age with its attendant infirmities came upon him, it does not appear that the parish enter- tained any desire for a change of its clerical relations. The first movement in that direction was from Parson Smith himself. At a meeting of the society held on the first Monday of March, 1802, the following communication was laid before the meeting :
""'TO THE CHURCH AND FIRST SOCIETY IN SHARON :
"'BELOVED BRETHREN AND FRIENDS,-The fifth of October last com- pleted a period of seven and forty years since I first came into this town to labor with you in the work of the gospel ministry ; however, I was not ordained to that sacred work until the 28th of August following. Dur- ing this length of time I have labored with you by night and by day, in season and out of season. I could have wished that my labors might have proved more successful, but this was not in my power to command, however sincerely desired and ardently prayed for; and now, at length, worn down with age and bodily infirmities, I find myself unable to dis- charge the duties of that sacred office in such a manner as would be most useful and beneficial to you. The support of the gospel ministry will richly compensate for the good derived to society, as it respecte the life that now ie; but if we take eternity into view, it becomes an object of infinite magnitude and importance.
"' It is, therefore, brethren, my sincere desire that you would invite and call in some suitable person to take part with me in the evangelical ministry, as a colleague and fellow-laborer in this vineyard of our com- mon Lord ; and I shall always be ready to afford you my assistance, 00 far as my strength and abilities will permit. And that the burden of support might not be too great I offer to resign my salary, except the personage money, which is about twenty pounds teu sbillings, and nine pounde ten shillings in addition, which will amount to one hundred dollars, whenever another minister shall be settled in this place.
"' This email contpenention you will not think unreasonable to grant towards my support and comfort during the remainder of my days, which in all probability will be but of short continuance. And if any other metbod can be devised which will be more agreeable to the church and society, it shall meet with my hearty concurrence.
"' May the great Head of the Church guide and direct you in thie im- portant affair, and that the result may be for the honor of God, the inter- est of the Redeemer'e kingdom, your present peace and future tranquil- lity and happiness, is the most devout wish and fervent prayer of your sincere friend and nged pastor and teacher,
"' SHARON, Feh. 9, 1802.'
"' COTTON M. SMITH.
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SHARON.
"The only action taken by the society at its first meet- ing called to consider the application of Parson Smith was a vote directing the committee to hire some per- son to assist him in preaching, but at a subsequent meeting, held April 12, 1802, the society voted to comply with his request. During the two years which elapsed before the settlement of a colleague, Mr. Smith must have preached for a considerable portion of the time, as the society paid him two hundred and twenty dollars for his services for the first year, and two hundred and eighty-seven dollars for the second."
Oct. 3, 1803, the society voted a call to Rev. David L. Perry, as an assistant to Rev. Mr. Smith, which he accepted, and was ordained June 6, 1804. Rev. Mr. Smith continued in the ministry until his death, which occurred Nov. 27, 1806. The following epitaph is in- scribed upon his monument :
" The REV. COTTON MATHER SMITH, Born in Suffield, Oct. 16, 1731, ordained in Sharon, Aug. 28, 1755, died Nov. 27, 1806, in the 76th year of hie age and 52d of his ministry.
Sound in the faith, in life and conversation as becometh the Gospel, in doctrine incorrupt; in manner forcible and persuasive; A fond husband ; a tender father; an unvarying friend; Having for more than fifty years earnestly contended for the faith once delivered to the saints, he is gone to render bis final account to the great captain of his salvation. People of his charge, he still speaks to you in a voice awful as death, solemn as the grave, Prepare to meet your God."
Mr. Perry continued in the ministry until his death, Oct. 25, 1835.
The following-named gentlemen have been pastors of the church since Mr. Perry's death for the times indicated : Rev. Mason Grosvenor, installed Sept. 28, 1836; dismissed May 14, 1839. Rev. Grove L. Brow- nell, installed May 20, 1840 ; dismissed Aug. 1, 1848. Rev. Thomas C. Carver, installed Oct. 1, 1851 ; dis- missed Aug. 6, 1853. Rev. Leonard E. Lathrop, in- stalled July 18, 1854; died Aug. 20, 1857. Rev. Daniel D. T. Mclaughlin, installed Jan. 18, 1859; dismissed June 7, 1865. Rev. Alexander B. Bullions, D.D., installed May 28, 1868; dismissed in 1878. Rev. John C. Bourne is the present pastor.
The following is a list of the deacons in the church : Nathaniel Skinner, Ebenezer Jackson, 1739 ; Matthew St. John, 1745; Jonathan Ehner, 1746; Ebenezer Frisbie, 1755; John Williams, Timothy Carver, 1766; Daniel Griswold, 1774; Gain Miller, Joseph Landon, 1781 ; Benjamin Hamlin, Paul Smith, Jr., 1793; Isaac Chamberlain, 1799; Aaron Read, 1812; William Mather Smith, 1828; Charles Sears, 1854; John Cot- ton Terrett, 1864; Abel C. Woodward, Edward F. Gil- lette, 1874.
Services were first held at the houses of Capt. Dun- ham and Mr. Pardee, and in the milder seasons of the year in Mr. Pardee's barn. The first meeting-house was a log structure thirty-six by twenty feet, erected in 1741. This, however, was used but a short time, ns the erection of a new house forty-five feet by
thirty-five, with twenty-feet posts, was commenced in 1742, and in October of that year services were held in it, although it was not completed until five or six years later. A new church building was commenced in 1767, and completed in the following year. This was occupied until 1824, when the present brick church was erected. This structure was remodeled and beautified in 1863, and was dedicated March 2, 1864.
CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH OF ELLSWORTH.
In May, 1800, a new society, named Ellsworth, was incorporated in the southeastern part of the town, em- bracing a part of Sharon and a small portion of Kent, and two years later, March 15, 1802, the Congrega- tional Church of Ellsworth was organized with the following members: Samuel and Martha Young, Ebenezer and Lucy Everett, Timothy St. John, Anna Rice, Silas Newton, Bathsheba Newton, Enoch Par- sons, Abigail Parsons, Stephen Skiff, Dennis Skiff, Mary Chaffee, Anna Studley, Phinehas Benjamin, Jemimah Benjamin, Benjamin Young, Mehitabel Young, Joel Chaffce, Dolly Chaffee, Calvin Peck, Betty Peck, Rebecca Foster, Prudence Frink, Heph- zibah Swift, Esther Skiff, Silas St. John, and Abigail St. John.
The following-named clergymen have been pastors of the church: Daniel Parker, ordained May 26, 1802; Orange. Lyman, ordained Aug. 26, 1813; Frederick Gridley, ordained June 7, 1820; John W. Beecher, installed Dec. 1, 1841 ; William J. Alger, ordained Feb. 4, 1852; Robert D. Gardner, installed June 9, 1858; John D. Stevenson, ordained Oct. 26, 1875.
The following is a list of the deacons: Silas St. John, July 1, 1802; Abel Woodward, May 3, 1805; Amos Seymour, Sept. 6, 1806; Jabez Swift, Jan. 17, 1812; Calvin Peek, July 3, 1829; Nathan Dunbar, June 2, 1839; Abel C. Woodward, June 2, 1839; William Everett, June 2, 1839; Gibbs W. Skiff, March 4, 1859.
The first meeting-house was located near the eeme- tery, on the Ellsworth turnpike, but it was subse- quently removed to its present location. A new house was erected in 1838, which was destroyed by fire in 1847. The present church edifice was erected during the following year.
A boarding-school was established by the Rev. Daniel Parker, which attained to considerable celeb- rity, and was continued by him for some time after his dismission. Several men who have risen to emi- menee are said to have been members of this school. A fund was raised by subseription about the time of the organization of the church, amounting to one thou- sand pounds (to which was added two thousand five hundred dollars in 1813), the subscription payable in farmers' produce or bar-iron, at the market price, with provision that it should be loaned on mortgage for double the amount, and in ease of any loss it was to be made good by the society, under the penalty of the incomes reverting to the subscribers, or to their
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HISTORY OF LITCHFIELD COUNTY, CONNECTICUT.
heirs, until the conditions are complied with. A similar penalty is annexed to a failure to provide preaching for the term of a year, either by a pastor or candidates for settlement.
Another religious society was formed at an early day at the south part of the town, embracing inhabit- ants of both colonies. The meeting-house stood near the colony line, and was known for many years by the name of the Round Top meeting-house. The Rev. Ebenezer Knibloe was its minister for more than twenty-five years. The Round Top meeting- house was built previous to 1755, and in 1786 was re- moved to the present site of the Oblong Presbyterian church.
EPISCOPAL CHURCH.
From the first settlement of the town there had been several families of the communion of the Church of England, as it was called, before the Revolutionary war, but they were never sufficiently numerous to form a separate congregation, or to maintain public worship, until about the year 1755. On the 14th day of April of that year leave was given by the town to those of that communion "to erect a church at the corner of the highways that come from the upper end of the town and the Iron-works Hollow." This was at the head of the street, near Capt. King's. This building was erected, and stood for nearly forty years. It is mentioned as a singular circumstance, in regard to its construction, that its external covering was a coat of mortar. Public worship was maintained in it for a number of years, the desk being supplied by missionaries sent out by the "Honorable Society for Propagating the Gospel in Foreign Parts." The first of the missionaries who labored here was the Rev. Ebenezer Dibble, whose permanent residence was at Stamford, but who had the care of many of the churches in the western part of the colony. After Mr. Dibble, the Rev. Solomon Palmer and the Rev. Thomas Davies had the charge of the church, in con- nection with those at New Milford, Roxbury, New Preston, and New Fairfield. The leading churchmen in the town were Messrs. Joel Harvey, Joh Gould, Elnathan Goodrich, John Pennoyer, Simeon Rowley, Samuel Hitchcock, Solomon Goodrich, and perhaps some others. At one time during his ministry Mr. Davies reported the number of families belonging to the parish to be twenty-two, and the number of communicants to be nineteen. During the Revolu- tionary war the church building was deserted, turned into a barrack, and never afterwards occupied as a place of worship. Mr. Richard Clark succeeded Mr. Davies in the mission, and resided in New Milford until the close of the war. It would seem that there was perfect harmony and good feeling between the two denominations. At the annual town-meetings for a great number of years Charles Gillett was ap- pointed key-keeper to the meeting-house, and John Pennoyer key-keeper to the church ; and this prac- tice was continued as long as the church was used for
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