History of Middlesex county, Connecticut, with biographical sketches of its prominent men, Part 131

Author: Whittemore, Henry, b. 1833; Beers, J.B. & Company, publishers
Publication date: 1884
Publisher: New York : J. B. Beers & co.
Number of Pages: 818

USA > Connecticut > Middlesex County > History of Middlesex county, Connecticut, with biographical sketches of its prominent men > Part 131

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

In July 1867, the society received a munificent present from Sylvester Gildersleeve-a handsome and valuable clock for their church tower. Owing to the removal of Deacon G. C. H. Gilbert to Waterbury, and his resignation in consequence, J. Edwards Goodrich was elected deacon August 30th 1867.

It was during the succeeding interim in the pastorate that subscriptions were solicited for the building of a parsonage, and under the superintendence of F. A. Chapman, Evelyn White, and William H. Bartlett-a committee apointed by the society-a commodious, ele- gant, and convenient house was built opposite the church. The ground and house, together with barn and additional buildings, cost about $5,500.

October 14th 1869, Isaac C. Meserve, a recent gradu- ate of Hartford Theological Seminary, was installed pastor of this church. January 8th 1870, Francis A. Chapman was elected deacon in place of J. E. Good- rich, and held the office until his death, January 30th 1876. The Rev. Mr. Meserve having received a call to the State Street Congregational Church, Brooklyn, re. signed and was dismissed July 6th 1871. May 7th 1874, he became pastor of the Davenport Congregational Church, New Haven. During his pastorate in Portland, there were nine children baptized, three admitted to the church on profession of their faith, and eight by letter.

January 19th 1872, Rev. Samuel Hopley became acting pastor, and served in that capacity for a short time.

Rev. William B. Lee was installed pastor May 8th 1873. Under Mr. Lee's pastorate, there were 7 children baptized, 24 united with the church on profession of their faith, and 19 by letter. He was dismissed April 28th 1875.

May 18th 1876, Rev. John S. Bayne was installed pas- tor of this church. During his ministry thus far, 17 children have been baptized, 21 have united with the church by letter, and 45 on profession of their faith in Christ. The present membership is 138.

In the fall of 1877, a fine pipe organ, costing $2,000, was purchased and placed in the church. In the sum- mer of 1878, the church, parsonage, and barn were re- painted; and in 1883, the church building was re- shingled, the seats recushioned, the floors newly carpet- ed, and the walls newly frescoed, involving considerable expense, but promptly met with liberal subscriptions and soon canceled.

Those who have acted on the society's committee since 1850 are: Joseph E. Goodrich, Ebenezer B. White, Franklin Payne, Francis H. Chapman, William H. Bart- lett, Edwin Bell, Dr. Gilbert, Edward E. Whetmore, Steven H. White, Reuben Payne, Horace B. Wilcox, George B. Cleveland, Billings Neff, Henry Kilby, and William Chapman; treasurers: Ebenezer B. White, Dr. Gilbert, and Evelyn White; clerks: Erastus Strong, Ly- man Payne, and Demas Cornwall. Those who have oc- cupied other official positions of responsibility are: Sylvester Stocking, Edward Lewis, Adonijah Strong, Chester Brown, Benjamin Abbey, William C. Ranney, Theodore F. Lewis, James W. White, Henry E. Sage, Ellery B. Taylor, Andrew Cornwall, Charles Ames, Daniel Crittenden, Dr. Sears, Henry Kilby, and Freder- ick Goodrich.

In the study of those events which compose the warp and woof of the history of this church, the organization and success of its Sabbath school deserve mention. It was organized in 1820, and during the first 30 years Deacons Job Payne and Joel Strickland alternately officiated as superintendents. The following have served as superintendents since 1831: Dr. Gilbert, I. Edwards Goodrich, Horace B. Wilcox, Henry Kilby, Reuben Payne, Lucius Stewart, and John Lewis.

TRINITY CHURCH (PROTESTANT EPISCOPAL).

On the 24th of September 1788, a company of citi- zens to the number of 37 signed a document agreeing to maintain services, according to the Book of Common Prayer, for one year; and then, having informed them- selves of the doctrines and customs of the Episcopal Church, they were to be free to continue or desist, as they might choose.

This may be regarded as the founding of the parish, although its formal organization was deferred until April 17th 1789, when a meeting was held, with the Rev. Abraham Jarvis, rector of Middletown, in the chair. Nathaniel Cornwall was chosen clerk, and it was voted

528

HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY.

to raise funds by taxing each member two pence on the pound, according to his rating in the civil list. The same year was signalized by the baptism of 10 adults and 81 children, by Mr. Jarvis, in one day, June 24th, being the festival of St. John the Baptist. A church edifice was begun at once, and occupied as early as 1790; but it was never consecrated. It still remains standing (in 1884), a substantial wooden building, 50 feet long and 36 feet wide, without any tower or porch. It is now used as a town hall, having been presented to the new town of Portland soon after its separation from Chatham, which occurred in 1841.

The second edifice occupied a site on Main street, nearer the ferry. It was begun in 1830, opened for di- vine service, January 20th 1832, and consecrated by Bishop Brownell, May 15th 1833. The material was brown freestone. It was 70 by 48 feet, had two towers, and cost $8,000. It was demolished in 1874, to make way for a nobler structure, which stands upon the same ground. This was long in reaching completion, for the financial stringency of the times delayed contributions.

The chapel, which constitutes a transept, was occu- pied in 1874; but the main building, though roofed and slated, stood unfinished till 1882, when it was finally consecrated by Bishop Williams, July 13th. It is a beautiful specimen of gothic architecture, with massive walls of Portland freestone, varied by many gables and porches, a tower, two turrets, and an apsidal chancel. Inside are columns of stone, a stone altar, an eagle lec- turn of brass, a carved stone fount, and a fine organ, be- sides the usual pews and furniture of black walnut and butternut. All the windows are of rich stained glass, from English manufacturers. They contain pictures of Bible scenes, and bear inscriptions commemorating rela- tives of the donors. A full description of this church cannot well be given in this brief sketch; but visitors pronounce it one of the finest buildings (of its size) in Connecticut. It seats about 500, besides 125 more in the chapel, which can be connected by lowering the sashes in a stained-glass screen. It has cost $75,000 already; and lacks one or two features of the original design, which may be added hereafter.

For the first two years the parish was under the care of the Middletown rector, Rev. Abrahama Jarvis; and again from 1793 to 1796. The settled rectors of Port- land were as follows: Rev. Tillotson Bronson, 1791 to 1793; Manoah Smith, 1796 to 1828; William Jarvis, 1829 to 1837; Samuel Moody Emery, S. T. D., 1837 to 1870; James Field Spalding, 1872 to 1879; Frederick William Harriman, 1880.

Mr. Bronson and Mr. Miles divided their ministra- tions between this parish and others in the neighbor- hood, until 1820, when Portland secured the whole attention of Mr. Miles. During the vacancy between Dr. Emery and Mr. Spalding, the Rev. David H. Short, D. D., supplied the services.

The rectory stands opposite the church, and is a large, comfortable frame house, with about an acre of land. It was purchased in 1874; former rectors having occupied houses of their own.

The parish has received legacies at various times from Joseph Blague, John Shepard, and Alexander Sage, to constitute a permanent fund, which now amounts to $13,000. The interest only can be used to support the services

It is noticeable that the office of parish clerk has been held by only three persons: Nathaniel Cornwall, 1789 to 1823; David Cornwall, his son, 1823 to 1866; and Charles A. Jarvis, from 1866 to the present time.

Certain parishioners in the district known as "Rose Hill," desiring services for their own neighborhood, an edifice was erected there, and named "The Chapel of Saint John the Baptist." Its corner stone was laid June 24th 1870; and it was consecrated by Bishop Williams, soon after. It is a gothic building, of wood, with stained glass windows, and all the furnishings of a complete lit- tle church. It cost about $3,000, and is held in trust by Trinity Parish. Services are maintained by lay readers from the Berkeley Divinity School; and the rector makes a monthly visit to administer the sacraments.

Services are also held in the same manner at the " Free Mission Chapel," at Pacausett, which is open to all de- nominations.

At the present time, 1884, Trinity Parish has 280 com- municants, and 160 families. It maintains five services and two Sunday schools every Lord's Day. Its property amounts to nearly $100,000, estimating lands, buildings, &c., at cost. It sends three delegates to the Diocesan Convention. It is a conservative parish, loyal to church principles, and at peace in itself. A quiet growth con- tinues to bless it with prosperity.

METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH.

In 1835, a Methodist class was formed, called " Chat- ham Methodist Episcopal class." Mr. Selden Cook was the appointed leader. The class was reckoned as part of Chatham circuit, on the New London district of the New England Conference. The presiding elder of the district was the Rev. Daniel Dorchester; the circuit preachers, Rev. Freeman Nutting, and Rev. Amos Simp- son. The class numbered, including the leader, 25 members, only one of whom is now left in the church --- Mr. Chester Hurlburt, who was for several years leader of the old class. In 1843, the name was changed to the Portland class. In 1845, the circuit preachers' names were Rev. Edmund A. Standish and Rev. W. O. Cady. The latter is now a resident of Portland. The class, in the above year, numbered 50 members. The New England Conference being divided in 1841, the class became part of what was called the "Providence Conference," which name has of late given way to New England Southern Conference. In April 1851, Portland class was created a separate charge, and the Rev. F. W. Bill was stationed as preacher in charge. Twenty mem- bers of the Methodist Episcopal church in Middletown, who resided in Portland, joined the Portland Society. The services were held in the town house. Up to this time, the society had worshipped in what was called "the old church over the meadow."

ரூ

el. Gillesgerne

PORTLAND-CHURCHES.

529

Rev. F. W. Bill succeeded in raising a large subscrip- tion toward building a church in a more central location. In February 1852, a lot of land was purchased of Mr. Frederick A. Parker and deeded to the following gentlemen, who formed the church board of trustees, viz: Edward Graham, Chester S. Hurlburt, Kellogg Strong, Sherman Kelsey 2d, Harrison Chamber- Iain, Oliver W. Mack, and Thomas B. Spencer. The Rev. W. Kellen succeeded the Rev. F. W. Bill, and the new church enterprise was commenced. The Rev. A. H. Robinson followed, and at the close of his term the building was nearly completed. In April 1853, the Rev. George W. Wooding was appointed preacher, and during his term the church building was finished. It was opened and dedicated to the worship of God, July 27th 1853. Mr. Wooding was followed by Rev. Robert Par- sons for two years,.since which time the following have officiated: Rev. John Whear, four months; W. J. Foss, seven months; Rev. I. G. Bidwell, two years; Erastus Benton, seven months; Albert Wyat, five months; L. W. Blood, two years; F. J. Wagner, one year; R. Donk- ersly, two years; W. O. Cady two years; W. H. Cook, and Rev. B. Gill, students, two years; E. M Anthony, two years; John Howson, one year; E. B. Bradford, one year; A. W. Seavey, three years; Walter Ela, two years; J. H. Nutting, one year; O. H. Fernald, three years. R. Povey is the present pastor. He resides in the Methodist Episcopal parsonage.

The church property has been increased in value by the addition of a pipe organ and choir gallery, a new chapel, and extensive repairs. Its present membership is 101. The following names of class leaders and circuit preachers not already mentioned were received after the preceding history of the church was written: class leaders, S. Cook, Henry E. Cook, Ralph Pelton, H. Pen- field and F. Miller; circuit preachers, 1836 1837, Rev. D. Todd, Rev. - Wilcott, Rev. J. F. Blanchard; 1838, Revs. T. Nichols and S. Cushman; from 1841 to 1850 inclusive, Revs. C. C. Barnes, Abraham Holway, L. Pierce, J. Arnold, - Blake, A. H. Robinson, J. R. Vail, I. G. Post, and W. Lawrence.

SWEDISH CHURCH.

The Swedish Evangelical Lutheran Zion's Church, of Portland, Conn., was organized in June 1874, with a membership of 136, at the close of the same year. The first elected deacons were, Mr. J. Danielson, O. Hall- berg, and C. Olsson. The first elected trustees were, Mr.J. Hallberg, J. Holmgren, and J. Lundell. The ministers in charge of the church have been:, Rev. T. O. Linell, now of Pontiac, R. I .; Rev. John Mellander, now of South Bend, Ind .; Mr. J. Holmes supplied the pulpit for some months. The present pastor, Rev. D. P. Ahlquist, from Marshalltown, Iowa, was installed over the church De- cember 11th 1883.

The house of worship, a frame structure, on Waverly avenue, was erected 1879. Its size was 46 by 31 feet. It was rebuilt and enlarged in 1883, its present size being 80 by 31 feet. This edifice will seat 500 persons.

The membership of the church is at present 500; the communicants numbering 317. The Sunday school has in its ten classes, about 100 children. The superintend- ent of the school is Mr. Andrew Lindholm. Other offi- cers of the church at present are: deacons, Adolph Gull, John Larson, John Lundell, Samuel Anderson, Andrew Lindholm, and Adolph Monson; trustees: Adolph An- derson (president), John G. Forsberg (secretary), An- drew Bengtson (cashier), August Lundell, Carl G. John- son, and Frank J. Johnson. The secretary at parish meetings is Mr. Charles Ericson. The organist and leader of the choir is Mr. John Segerstrand.

Connected with the church is also the Scandia Temper- ance and Aid Society; the officers being, Andrew Lind- holm, president; Adolph Gull, secretary; and Adolph Anderson, cashier.

The Swedish Lutheran Zion's Church is connected with and under the supervision of the Scandinavian Evangelical Lutheran Augustana Synod of North Amer- ica.

BAPTISTS.

A Baptist church was formed in the northeastern part of this town in 1783. Part of the members were from Glastonbury. It ceased to exist many years ago.

ST. MARY'S ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH.

St. Mary's Catholic Parish, Portland, was formed in 1872, and the Rev. William E. Duffy was appointed pastor. Anterior to this time, the people were under the jurisdiction of the pastor of St. John's Church, Mid- dletown. Rev. William E. Duffy died, and the Rev. Dennis Desmond was given charge October Ist 1876. He began the erection of the present church edifice, located on Freestone avenue, the corner stone of which was laid April 15th 1877. The church is of brick, cruci- form in shape, and has a seating capacity for over 1,000 persons.

There is also, in connection with the church, a very handsome pastoral residence. Father Desmond re- mained with the congregation until he saw the comple- tion of all this good work, then the Right Rev. Bishop Mahon placed him in a new field with greater responsi- bilities-St. John's Parish, Middletown.

Rev. J. Flemming, the present pastor, succeeded him September 2d 1881.

CENTRAL CHURCH.

In 1850, a part of the first society, dissatisfied with the site chosen for the erection of a new meeting house, began building another, some distance east of the old meeting house. Thirty-eight members of the old church applied for dismissal in February 1851, and organized a new church, taking the name of Central Church. Joel Strickland and Job H. Payne, who had been deacons in the old church, and were included in the number dis- missed, were elected deacons of the new church, Sep- tember 5th 1852. Rev. S. G. W. T. Rankin was their first pastor. He received his classical education at Ripley

530

HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY.

College, and his theological at the Lane Seminary. He remained 10 years. He now resides in Glastonbury. Mr. Washburn succeeded him; then the pulpit was supplied for a time by students from Hartford Seminary, Mr. Wheeler then preached for three years, followed successively by Mr. Hannah, Mr. Colton, Mr. Parmlee. Mr. Peck, Mr. Chase. and Mr. Harris. Rev. Nor- man Squires then occupied the pulpit for five years. Afterward, Mr. C. Trantor, Mr. Holden (three years), and Mr. Berry; Mr. Littlefield has preached for the last three years, and Mr. Horton has lately commenced his labors among them. The five last named were all students from Wesleyan University. The deacons have been: Joel Strickland and Job H Payne, already mentioned; after their deaths, William Goodrich and Ralph Pelton were elected, and afterward William Kelsey and Silas Payne. The superintendents of the Sunday school have been: Rev. S. G. W. T. Rankin, Enoch Sage, Sherman Goodrich, Lucius Stewart, Gordon Goodrich, and Wil- liam Kelsey. The Central Church has about 70 niem- bers. The building is of wood, 60 feet by 40, and it cost $4,000.

PROMINENT MEN.

SYLVESTER GILDERSLEEVE.

There is no name on any of the town records of Mid- dlesex county that forms such a perfect connecting link between the present and the past as that of Gildersleeve. It is also associated with the early history of Connecti- cut; the name of Richard Gildersleeve appearing in 1636, on page 5, volume I, Colonial Records, now in the library in the new capitol at Hartford. The same name appears in the Savage Genealogy, volume 2, page 252, and in Farmer's Genealogy, page 121, both in the Wads- worth Atheneum at Hartford. In 1663, Richard Gilder- sleeve was a resident of Hempstead, L. I., and an ances- tor of Obadiah, the grandfather of Sylvester, who came to Chatham from Sag Harbor, L. I., in 1776, and com menced the business of shipbuilding at that part of Portland now known as Gildersleeve. The first yard was started a short distance south of the present one. Philip, his son, the father of Sylvester, succeeded him, and was master carpenter on the government ship Connecticut, built here about 1800. On the 4th of May 1780, Philip married Temperance Gibbs, of Windsor, Conn., by whom he had six children: Jeremiah, born August 24th 1781; Betsey, born April 23d 1783: Henry, born November 8th 1785; Lothrop, born December 16th 1787; Sylves- ter, born February 25th 1795; Cynthia, born March 28th 1797.

Sylvester, the subject of this sketch, was born Febru- ary 25th 1795, in the little old two story red frame house situated on Indian Hill, at the northerly end of Chatham (now the portion of Portland called Gildersleeve). He attended the district school until he was eighteen years of age. He then commenced work in his father's ship

yard. This was during the war of 1812, at which time, owing to the operations of the British army in Canada, our government was engaged in constructing war vessels on the western lakes. In 1815, when young Gilder- sleeve was but 20 years of age, he went, in company with some 500 workmen, to Sackett's Harbor, N. Y., to build for the government a one hundred gun ship, which was then one of the largest ever built in this country-the combined fleet of Commodore Macdon- ough at the battle of Lake Champlain mounting but 86

guns.

Two of these monster ships were being con-

structed at the same time. The weather was cold and the men were provided with a liberal supply of " grog," then considered an indispensible part of the rations. The ships were never completed, as the declaration of peace soon after rendered them useless, and the men re- turned home, some of them making nearly the whole journey on foot.

Soon after his return to Chatham young Gildersleeve started in business for himself. His first vessel, built in 1821, was a one hundred ton vessel, called the Boston Packet. Since that he has constructed upwards of one hundred vessels of from one hundred up to fourteen hundred tons each, one of which, the ship S.Gildersleeve, was burned by the privateer Alabama, and paid for by the government, out of the Geneva award. He continued in active business up to within seventeen years past, and has lived to see his sons and his grandson succeed him in the same business, his grandson, Oliver Gildersleeve, now engaged in shipbuilding, being the fifth generation in that business at the same place.

In 1869, he added to the business of the place by build- ing the steam saw and planing mill, and wagon shops, now in full operation.

His gifts to his children, and donations to objects out- side his family, approximate in the aggregate $75,000, and it does not seem out of place to mention here some of them, as it may be an incentive to others to " go and do likewise."

He contributed over $6,000 toward building the pres- ent Episcopal church, $3,000 of which was donated at a period when the building had remained for five years unfinished, for lack of funds. This donation, which was entirely voluntary on his part, was an incentive to re- newed efforts, which finally resulted in the completion of the building in 1882. For the enlargement of the cemetery belonging to the Portland Burial Ground As- sociation he gave a large tract of land. He built an ad- ditional story to the school house in his district, at a cost of $2,000, for a public hall, and to make room for a high school, now bearing his name, where young men could be fitted for college; and for its future support endowed it with an additional fund of $12,000, which placed it on a substantial basis. The school is now in a flourishing condition. The clock on the First Congregational Church was another of his gifts.

Many are the substantial evidences, in his native place and elsewhere, that he has lived, and not wholly for him- self, and that his works do follow him, and these will re-

Homy Fildessleeve

Eng by HBHall's Sons. New York

O. Gilderslevy

En, a ty MB Halls So. . New Vik

531

PORTLAND-BIOGRAPHIES.

main an enduring monument to his memory. His active life covers a long and wide range of varied business, and other interests. He was for many years a director of the Middletown (now National) Bank, and, at the organiza- tion of the First National Bank of Portland, in 1865, was chosen president, and held the office up to 1879. He was also president of the Freestone Savings Bank from its organization until 1879; has been president of the Middletown Ferry Company; director of the Middlesex Quarry Company, of Portland, and the Middlesex Mu- tual Assurance Company, of Middletown.

In connection with William and Joseph J. Hendley, and Alexander Keith, of Middletown, he built, in 1836, the schooner William Bryan, the first vessel that ever sailed from New York to Texas as a regular packet. From that vessel the New York and Galveston line of packets was formed, consisting at first of five ships and two barques, all but one built by him. Messrs. John H. Brower & Co. were the New York, and William Hend- ley & Co. the Galveston agents of the line, which con- tinued up to the breaking out of the Rebellion in 1861.

In 1814, he married Rebecca (born June 1794), daugh- ter of William Dixon, of Chatham, by whom he had four children: Louisa Matilda, born May 12th 1815, married Col. Elijah Miller, of South Glastonbury, Connecticut; Henry, born April 1817; Philip, born July 5th 1819, died October 12th 1853; Esther Rebecca, born April Ist 1823, married Jonah C. Buckingham, of Barnwell C. H., South Carolina.

The first wife of Mr. Gildersleeve died August 10th 1824. On the 17th of November 1828, he married Emily Shepard (born July 21st 1804), widow of George Corn- wall, and daughter of Andrew Shepard, of Chatham. By her he had six children: Sylvester Shepard and Statira, twins, born September Ist 1829 (the first died October 2d 1852; the second married Charles A. Jarvis, of Port. land, secretary and treasurer of the Middlesex Quarry Company, died November 7th 1864); Isabella, born July 23 1833, married H. Hobart Gillum, died May 23d 1855; Ferdinand, born August 20th 1840; Lavalette, born December 6th 1841, died December 16th 1841; Helen Augusta, born July 2Ist 1845, married William W. Coe, now president of the First National Bank of Port- land.

The second wife of Mr. Gildersleeve died on the 14th of July 1877. He still survives her, being now in his 90th year, and with the exception of a defective eyesight is in full possession of all his faculties, his memory re- maining unimpaired.

HENRY GILDERSLEEVE.

The eldest son of Sylvester and Rebecca Gildersleeve inherits from his father those rare traits of character that have distinguished the Gildersleeves, not only as a family of successful shipbuilders and merchants, but as a family who are noted for their public spirit and large hearted benevolence.

Henry was born in Portland, in that part of the town now known as Gildersleeve, on the 7th of April 1817.

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

History of Middlesex county, Connecticut, with biographical sketches of its prominent men, Part 131

Author: Whittemore, Henry, b. 1833; Beers, J.B. & Company, publishers Publication date: 1884 Publisher: New York : J. B. Beers & co. Number of Pages: 818

Author: Whittemore, Henry, b. 1833; Beers, J.B. & Company, publishers
Publication date: 1884
Publisher: New York : J. B. Beers & co.
Number of Pages: 818