History of Middlesex county, Connecticut, with biographical sketches of its prominent men, Part 39

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 39

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In 1822, Rev. Thomas De Verell became pastor, but re- mained only one year. In 1827, Rev. Edward R. Tyler, commenced his labors with this church, and continued his pastorate until 1832. During this period the ladies organized a Union Benevolent Society, which proved of great assistance in bearing the financial burdens of the church. A Home Missionary Society, which has ever since been an efficient and faithful auxiliary to the church, was also organized. Under the influence of Mr. Tyler the Sabbath-school was reorganized in 1828, and grew in numbers and strength. During his ministry 168 united with the church. In 1832 he was compelled, in conse- quence of failing health, to resign. Rev. William H. Beecher, the son of Dr. Lyman Beecher, was installed as pastor in March 1833, but continued only six months. In 1835, Rev. Robert McEwen accepted a call as pastor, and labored with the church for three years during which period 62 were admitted to membership. His resigna- tion was accepted with many regrets. From 1839 to 1844, Rev. Mr. Granger was pastor of the church, and 173 members were added during that time. From 1844 to 1849, Rev. Andrew L. Stone was pastor and 82 were added to the church. Rev. John L. Dudley was called by the church in 1849, and remained for nineteen years. He was succeeded, in 1868, by Rev. John P. Taylor, who remained until 1874, and was succeeded by Rev. Charles J. Hill, who came November 27th 1875, and was dismissed May 23d 1883. Rev. Peter M. Snyder, the present pastor of the church, commenced his labors Jan- uary 3d 1884.

The present officers of the church are as follows: dea- cons, Benjamin Douglas, William M. Dean, Chester Kelsey, Levi S. Deming; clerk, Eugene Culver; treasurer, Deacon Benjamin Douglas.

" MIDDLETOWN, January 13th 1772. "On the Memorial of Daniel Whitmore and others, commonly called Seperates, praying for liberty to erect a meeting house for divine wor- ship on the highway, it is now Voted and granted that they have liberty to erect said house in the highway, between Capt. John Loveland's house and the house of Mr. Robert Hubbard of the dimentions of fifty foots long, and forty foots wide; the house to be built in the middle of

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the street and to face the east, and so situate as that one half of said house shall be due east of said Hubbard's land and the other half due east of said Loveland's land. Voted in the affirmative by majority."

The second church building was erected on the site of the present church, corner of Main and Crescent streets. It was a plastered building, similar in appearance to the present court house. In 1867, the second house of wor- ship was demolished and the present structure erected in its place. It is of brick, and its cost was $80,000.

An elegant parsonage has recently been donated to the society by Miss Emily A. Williams. It is located on Crescent street, near the church.

SABBATH SCHOOL .- The records of this school contain the history of the " first beginnings " of Sabbath school work in Middletown.

In 1820 or 1821 Mr. David Sly came to the town and started a Sunday school, composed of such children as could be induced to come into it from the various churches, and also such as were not in any of the churches or congregations. This was called the Middle- town Sabbath School Union, No. I. Its sessions were held in the old district school house, which stood on the west end of what is now " Union Park."

The South Congregational Church was the first to ap- preciate the importance of denominational efforts in this direction, and of making it an auxiliary to the church, and, on the Ist of January 1828, the teachers in the "Union School," belonging to the South Congregational Church, withdrew and organized a school of their own. On the 19th of January, the pastor, Rev. Edward R. Ty- ler, and Mr. Josiah Danforth, were appointed a commit- tee for purchasing books for a library, and on the 10th of February the school received its first installment of 102 volumes.

As appears by the records, this was the " pioneer school " of the county, for on the 14th of April following its organization a meeting of the officers and teachers was held, when it was voted "to form a county union so as to increase the influence of Sabbath schools within the county of Middlesex, and for the increase of Sunday schools within its limits, to form a depository for supplying the schools with suitable books on lowest terms, to stimu- late and encourage each other in the instruction of chil- dren, and carrying into full effect the glorious system of the Sabbath school cause in the neighboring parishes."

Thirty-four teachers volunteered their services at the organization of the school in January 1828, viz: Edwin Hunt, superintendent; Miss H. Miller, secretary; Joseph Lewis, Josiah Danforth, Herbert Rogers, Joseph Sumner, Samuel W. Griswold, Richard Cornwell, Timothy Board- man, Charles Scovil, Samuel Green, Frederic Treadway, William Eells, Alfred Wood, Martin R. Griswold, George Wood, Charles Boardman, Mrs. Mary Hall, Mrs. Mary Savage, Mrs. Maria Southmayd, Mrs. Maria Beecher, Mrs. Mary Boardman, Mrs. Esther Bidwell, Mrs. Eme- line J. Newton, Mrs. Agnes Hammond, Miss Hannah Southmayd, Miss Mary Ann Scovil, Miss Sarah Ann Boardman, Miss Hannah Hunt, Miss Julia Stocking, Miss .R. S. Ladd, Miss Nancy A. Ladd, Miss Almira S. Nash, Miss Emeline Belden.

Weekly teachers' meetings were first established by vote of a meeting of officers and teachers, held October 8th 1833. The following persons have served a super- intendents of this school since its organization, viz: Edwin Hunt, Morris Bailey, Josiah Danforth, William Woodward, Benjamin W. Tompkins, Frederic Treadway, Samuel W. Griswold, Charles W. Newton, Benjamin Douglas, Caleb F. Gates, M. B. Copeland, John N. Camp, Elanthan B. Frisbie, George S. Deming, John N. Camp.

THE CRIMSON ROLL OF HONOR .- When the tocsin of war sounded the call "to arms," to defend the im- perilled nation, the young "soldiers of the cross " in this school were among the first to enlist. Among them were: John C. Broatch (at present commander of Mans- field Post, G. A. R.), Dwight Wolcott, William Wallace Miller, James Inglis, David Wilson, Gardener Smith, Edmund Smith, Henry Frisbie, Albert R. Crittenden, and Hibbert P. Smith.

Dwight Wolcott, member of Company B, 14th Regi- ment, Conn. Volunteers, fell in battle at Fredericksburg in 1862, and was buried in the trenches with the "un- known " dead.

William Wallace Miller, member of Company B, 14th Regiment, Conn. Volunteers, was killed while on picket duty at Deep Bottom, Va., August 15th 1864. His re- mains rest in the Mortimer Cemetery, marked by an ap- propriate monument.

HISTORY OF THE CHURCH AND PARISH OF HOLY TRINITY, MIDDLETOWN.

As to the precise time when services were first held in this parish, according to the ritual of the Church of Eng- land, there is some obscurity. The Rev. James Wetmore, a native of this town and a grandson of the first preacher* of righteousness therein, graduated at Yale College in the class with Dr. Johnson of Stratford, and was his intimate friend. Becoming dissatisfied with the authority under which he was preaching, he declared for Episcopacy with President Cutler and Dr. Johnson. He joined them in London early in 1723, and, having received holy orders, returned with them, being assigned by the "Society for' the Propagation of the Gospel," as assistant to Trinity Church, New York city, and in June 1725, as rector of the parish at Rye, Westchester county, in that State. In his report to that venerable society, he writes from there, on the 3d of October 1745, in this language:+

" I was three weeks ago at Middletown, in Connecticut, the place of my nativity, which I have been used to visit annually while my father lived there, and have frequently preached among them and baptized many children and some adults."

There is very little doubt that he held the first services here, prior to 1730. These services, "held in a private room, which served as a chapel for some time," were in the house of his nephew, Ichabod, which stood on the north side of Washington street, a little distance west of the residence of the late Professor Henry Yardley.

Here the interest was created which furnished the

* The Rev. Samuel'Stowe.

+ Beardsley History. p 100.

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"one hundred sober-minded people," who met the Rev. Mr. Punderson at his first service here, in the summer of 1739. Thus it would appear that the foundations laid by the Rev. James Wetmore were deep and broad, and that his influence was felt strongly among some brethren of his was proved by their earnest works.

At the organization of the parish in 1750, his brother* Caleb was one of the wardens, and continued in office, either as vestryman or warden, until 1784, a period of 34 years, at which time he was 78 years of age.

His brother Jeremiah died in 1753, but his two sons, Jeremiah and Ichabod, became early efficient in their father's room. Jeremiah, who continued to reside in the homestead on Washington street (now at the head of Broad), appears among the vestry from 1770 to 1786, only four years before his death, while Ichabod was warden in 1772, and continued in that position till 1800. Here were two, and some of the time three of the Rev. James's immediate kindred in office in the church he planted, many years.

In Dr. Beardsley's history, we find that "towards the end of the year 1742, thirty families at Middletown, earnestly desire to be mentioned to the venerable society, in hopes of their future favors," and in September 1748, Dr. Johnson of Stratford, reports to the same society, " that Middletown and Wallingford are joining in order to form another mission in due time, and they are going on with their church at Middletown."

In 1749 he reports the raising of the church as near at hand. At this time the services here were conducted by a lay reader, Mr. Ichabod Camp, a native of the adjoining village of Durham, and a graduate of Yale College, spoken of by Dr. Johnson, "as a sensible, stu- dious and discreet person, and a candidate for Holy Orders." He embarked for England early in the spring of 1749, and having received Orders there, was appointed by the "Society for the Propagation of the Gospel," as its first missionary to this place, with the understanding that a portion of his services was to be given to Walling- ford.

It will be observed by the report of Dr. Johnson, mis- sionary in 1748 and 1749, that this little band had de- termined to build a church before their organization was effected, being urged to do so by their first teacher, the Rev. James Wetmore. For an account of their trials and discouragements in obtaining a location, we refer to the sermon of the late rector, the late Rev. F. J. Good- win, preached on the twenty-fifth anniversary of his rectorship.

"The request for a spot of land on which to erect their ark, pious and reasonable as it was, was yet, at once refused. Nothing daunted, they applied again, for a piece of ground in quite a contrary direction, but with no better success. Great opposition was made, both hy magis- trates and people, to their building an Episcopal Church at all. Most men would have been discouraged by such repeated disappointments but not so with the Churchmen of that day. Quietly, and for the third time, they looked around the then village for another site, which per- haps might not be refused. They found one in Main street, known now as a portion of the South Green, which from its then marshy character was perhaps the most unfavorable in the place. In reference to the site here mentioned, we find the following vote in the Town Records:

' Voted, That the professors of the Church of England have liherty to erect their church on the highway between Tappin's corner, so called, John Foster's corner, and the dwelling-house of Mr. Ephraim Doane; and the selectmen, or any three of them, are hereby empowered to stake out the place for said building.'"

At that date, the connection between North and South Main streets was made by crossing, diagonally, the "South Green " (now so called), leaving an irregular triangular piece at the east end thereof. The location of the church was a little north of the head of Union street, having its entrance porch, with tower, at the west, and chancel at the east end; and so far eastwardly of the Green was it placed that when the roadway of the "Middlesex Turnpike " was made in this vicinity, the foundation walls were so much injured as to require action for the preservation of the building, and in fact necessitated its removal at an earlier date than would otherwise have been necessary. Here we again refer to Dr. Goodwin's anniversary sermon:

" Uninviting and unsuitable as this place would seem to have been for the purpose intended, there were two men, hrothers hy nature and brothers in their love and zeal for the Church, one of them a respecta- ble farmer living at Middlefield, the other a merchant and landholder residing in the village, who were united in their opinion that the ground, by thorough drainage, might he rendered suitable for the erection of a church upon it. Accordingly they waited on the chief magistrate to purchase it. Most readily did he agree to the terms proposed, good- naturedly remarking that " no church huilt on such a place could ever grow and flourish." He had, however, men to deal with who were not to be deterred from their purpose by any other difficulties than those of the most serious character. Immediately measures were carried into effect to render the ground suitable for the contemplated purpose. In due time the foundation was laid, and when the frame was completely raised there was given a shout so long and joyful, that one who lived at the time, often remarked, it could have been heard perhaps the distance of a mile. Thusat last was there erected the frame of a church to be desig- nated by the name of Christ Church, fifty feet in length and thirty-six in width."

It was completed in 1755, but not consecrated till 1834. It was in this edifice, on the 2d day of August 1785, that our first bishop met his clergy after his return from his consecration in Scotland.

The records of this parish commence April 8th 1750.

" At that period there are the names of various persons, baptized hy the then officiating clergyman, the Rev. Richard Mansfield, the Mis- sionary at Derby, of the venerable Society for the Propagation of the Gospel. The first adult person recorded as having been received into the Church of Christ through the sacrament of Baptism, administered hy him, was Jeremiah Leaming', born of Congregational parents, at Durham -a graduate of Yale College in 1746,-afterwards a missionary of the venerahle Propagation Society, and the first person ever chosen to the Episcopal office in this Country. At the time of his baptism, the 8th of April 1750, there are the names of five children recorded, to whom this same Sacrament was then administered. As the Festival of Easter in that year fell on the 15th of April, the service referred to was on the Sunday preceding in passion week. It would seem from this circum- stance, as though this particular service must have been held, with ref- erence to the organization of a Parish, on Easter Monday, by the elec- tion of wardens and vestrymen. If this were so, it would then appear that though the small but zealous hand of Churchmen here, had at times been previously favored with religious services, there had still been no actual steps taken to organize a parish, till Easter Monday, the 16th of April 1750, and this, we are led to believe, was actually the case. Certain it is, as far as we are able to learn, that it was only from about this period there were enjoyed the regular services of the Church, either from a stated lay-reader, or otherwise."

On the " 19th of July 1752, the Rev. Ichabod Camp began to exercise his ministerial office, in Christ Church, in Middletown, according to the order of the church established," as recorded on the first page of the records.

We resume here the abstracts from Dr. Goodwin's ser- mon before mentioned:

* An ancestor of Rev. John Binney.

#Dr. Beardsley's History, pp. 166, 167.

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"I find the names of three persons recorded as receiving on this day the sacrament of baptism at his hands. Philip Mortimer and Caleb Wetmore are at this time Church Wardens. The ministry of Mr. Camp, among this people and the Episcopalians at Wallingford appears to have been limited to a period of about eight years, the last official act of which there is any notice being the administration of Holy Baptism on the 8th of June 1760. It will be seen that through the instrumentality of their first rector was carried on the work of erecting their first church edifice.

"The additions to the congregation, during his labors, were highly encouraging. The average annual increase is stated to have been six families. From his residence in this place, he removed to Louisburg, Virginia. A few years afterwards was received the sad intelligence that he had come to an untimely end, through the hand of a son-in-law.

" The Rev. Mr. Camp was succeeded by the then Mr. Abraham Jar- vis, born in Norwalk and graduated at Yale College in 1761. In that same year he came to Middletown as lay-reader, and iu that capacity resided here till the autumn of 1763, when he went to England for Holy Orders. Ata meeting of the professors of the Church of England, holden here the 21st of March 1763, we find the arrangements for this purpose referred to in the following vote: ' Voted, that a rate of three- pence on the pound, on the list of 1762, shall be forthwith collected and paid to the wardens, to be applied to defray the charges of Mr. Abra- ham Jarvis, in his going to England to take orders, and that Samuel Rockwell be appointed Collector to collect the same.' 'Voted, also, that the wardens be empowered (whatever shall fall short of forty pound- sterling, to be advanced to Mr. Jarvis to defray his charges in going to England, being collected by said collector), to borrow the same of some person that will lend it.'

" Mr. Jarvis returned from England and commenced his ministry in July 1764. On the first day of August, a parish-meeting was held, when a committee was chosen to wait on the Rev. Mr. Jarvis, 'to acquaint him that, exclusive of the sum of twenty pounds sterling, what the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel in foreign parts, allowed to this mission, the Church has agreed to raise seventy pounds sterling for his support as minister of Christ Church in Middletown, he officiating as their minister; to which he returned an answer, that he accepted of said offer, when Samuel Rockwell was chosen collector, to collect what William Starr did not collect on his rate bill.' As the rates of the Par- ish were not sufficient to raise the sum specified, a subscription paper was circulated, which received the signatures of thirty-two heads of families. The sum thus raised amounted to fifty-eight pounds two shillings sterling. Philip Mortimer, Richard Alsop, and Caleb Wetmore headed the list, and were the largest contributors.

" Previous to the Revolution it would seem that the Parish here- which included within the cure, Middlefield, Westfield, South Farms, Cromwell, and a portion of Durham, in all of which region were to be found those professing attachment to the Church of England-was in a prosperous condition."

Middlefield contributed her quota towards the parish expenses for some years, and from its close proximity to Durham, with the constant intercourse and intermar- riages between the two places, it was undoubtedly from Middlefield, rather than the city direct, that the interest in the church was manifested in Durham. The records show baptisms, and therefore of necessity, services there on April 2 Ist 1778, and again in 1809. In 1820 there were recorded seven baptisms at one time, in six different fam- ilies, as occurring in that town. The Rev. Jeremiah Leaning, D. D., the first choice for the first Episcopate in this country, was a native of Durham, born of Con- gregational parents, and might have here been led to take an interest in the church, as his name stands at the head of the baptismal record in this parish. It also will be remembered as the birthplace of the first permanent rector. But here we resume the extracts from Rev. Dr. Goodwin's sermon:

" Jannary 4th 1779, there occurs upon tho record tho following register: ' Tho sentiments of the members present wore collected In re- spect to the bell-that whereas the bell hanging in the steeple of the Church was owned in part by the Presbyterian Society of town plat, and was used as a common bell for the town, is now broken and ren- dered usoless, it is tho unanimous opinion and resolution of the same, that it is most convenlont for the Church to have a bell that may here- aftor bo procured, their sole property ;-- therefore, voted, that the Churoli will havo no further connection In a bell with the sald society,

and that a committee be chosen to treat with the Presbyterian com- mittee concerning it.'

" Some years pass away and the Church is presented with a bell by one who would seem to have felt a very deep interest in the welfare of the Parish, as seen from the following portion of a letter addressed to the Rector and Wardens, dated New York 18th of October, 1785. 'Sirs: I have the pleasure at last, to send you the bell for your Church so long ago ordered and expected. My correspondents say, many untoward delays occasioned the detention. I hope it will prove good and accep- table, and I remain, with my sincere wishes for the increase and har- mony in your Church (Sirs) your most obedient servant,

' JOHN ALSOP.'

" The bell referred to I here may state we use to this day.

" In reply to the letter addressed to him, acknowledging, in behalf of the Church their thanks for the present thus received, he writes, ' it is very agreeable, and I am pleased to add, I hear that it sounds well. I hope it may long ring and your Church flourish.'

"The ministry of the Rev. Mr. Jarvis, during which occurred the cir- cumstances just referred to, with many other matters of interest and importance to the Church, was one of long continuance, extending from 1764 to 1799, a period of thirty-five years. During this season of minis- terial labor, Bishop Seabury, the then only bishop iu this country, ad- ministered in this parish the rite of Confirmation. It being the first and only opportunity for this purpose, to those who for many years had been earnestly desiring such a privilege, not a few of whom were al- ready communicants, we are not surprised to find that no less than one hundred and twenty-seven persons availed themselves of the reception of this sacred ordinance. This occurred on the 17th of September 1786. On the 29th of July, the year following, there were five more confirmed. In the year 1797, the Rev Abraham Jarvis was chosen Bishop, and two years afterwards he resigned the Parish, removing to Cheshire and thence to New Haven. On five occasions he administered the rite of Confirmation in this Parish-to two persons in 1803, to twenty-five the year following, to nine in 1805, of whom three were studeuts of the- ology, not resident in the Parish, to fifty-four in July 1810, of whom twenty-seven had been already communicants, and to sixteen in June 1812. He departed this life in New Haven the 3d of May 1813, aged seventy-five years. For nearly ten years after the departure of Bishop Jarvis from this Parish, to March 8 1809, when the Rev. Dr. Kewley commenced his ministry, it was irregularly supplied. Thus, the Rev. Calvin White officiated nine months and twenty days, and from the abrupt mauner in which he left the people of his charge, one cannot form the most favorable opinion in regard to the charac- ter of his ministry. We find it stated, ' he performed divine service iu this Church, July 27th 1800, for the last time, and then quitted the Church and the town without giving any reason at all for his removal to any one of the parishioners of said Church. Amen.'

"The Rev. Joseph Warren, who succeeded Mr. White, officiated here for two years seven months and twelve days Rev. Clement Merriam succeeded Mr. Warren the 2d of April 1804. His ministry was also of short duration, being but three years and two months. Mr. Lemuel Birge, a lay reader, was here a few days over six months, and during the remainder of the time the Church was closed or sup- plied occasionally from Sunday to Sunday by visiting clergymen. On the 3d of April 1809, at the annual Easter meeting, the Rev. John Kewley, a native of Liverpool, England, educated at Eton, was called to the Rectorship, and shortly afterwards instituted. At this same meeting we find it voted to erect a monument in the Church to the memory of Captain Stephen Clay, deceased, who had proved a most liberal benefactor to the Church, with a suitable inscription, and which a Committee to be chosen may direct.

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History of Middlesex county, Connecticut, with biographical sketches of its prominent men, Part 39

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