History of Middlesex county, Connecticut, with biographical sketches of its prominent men, Part 68

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 68

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Mr. Smith was probably a man of affairs rather than of books. He must have been possessed of considerable property, for he began, at an early date, to purchase real estate in his new home. The records, during his pastor- ate, are very meagre. . It is impossible to determine how many joined the church in the course of his ministry. Mr. Smith's pastorate continued till his death, Septem- ber 8th 1736.

On the 6th of September 1738, he was succeeded by the Rev. Edward Eells. Mr. Eells was a graduate of Harvard College in 1733. At the age of 26 he entered on his first pastorate in this society, and continued to serve the same people till his death, October 12th 1776, aged 64 years. His father, the Rev. Nathaniel Eells, of Scituate, Mass., preached his ordination sermon, in which he commended his son to the people over whom he was set as overseer in spiritual things. Mr. Eells served the people of this parish well, and endeared him- self to their hearts. He held an honorable position among his ministerial brethren. In 1759, Mr. Eells was one of the scribes in the council called to consider the difficulties that had arisen between Rev. Mr. Dana and the church at Wallingford. This was a celebrated con- troversy known as the " Wallingford Case." Mr. Eells wrote a pamphlet in vindication of the action of the council. In 1767, he preached the election sermon be- fore the General Assembly. From 1761 till his death, he was one of the trustees of Yale College. Three of his sons, Edward, Samuel, and John, took part in the Revolutionary war. The house he occupied was situated directly west of the old cemetery in the southwest cor- ner of the cross roads. Mr. Eells had great pride in his fruit orchard, lying south and west of his house, From his home there was a fine prospect toward the river, and southward, overlooking Portland and Middletown. Of this pleasant homestead, so carefully kept during the occupancy of its owner, nothing remains except the well. The land is a part of the Joseph Edwards estate, being a portion of the property that formerly belonged to one of Mr. Eells successors, the Rev. Joshua L. Williams.

The following is the roll of deacons who have served this church since its organization:

Samuel Hall, February roth 1716; W. Savage, February 10th 1716 to January 25th 1727; S. Stow, to September 28th 1741; J. Wilcox to May 13th 1751, died, ZE 68; S. Gipson to March 18th 1748, died, ÆE 76; S. Sheperd, De- cember 3d 1745 to April 9th 1750; I. White, January 15th

* Beardsley's Life of Samuel Johnson.

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HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY.

1749 to June 27th 1769, died, Æ 71: W. Savage to 1774, died, Æ 74; T. Johnson, January 9th 1766 to December 26th 1774, died, Æ 56; J. Kirby, November 29th 1770 to September 12th 1783, died, Æ 64; S. Sage, January 26th 1775 to June 7th 1795, died, Æ 74; T. Gipson, January 14th 1784 to March 23d 1810, resigned; A. Sage, February 22d 1790 to March 23d 1810, resigned; J. Hubbard, De- cember 14th 1807 to August 23d 1808, died, Æ 63; B. Parmelee, March 23d 1810 to April 6th 1822, resigned; R. Sage, July 1817 to March 13th 1826, died, Æ 49; ]. R. Wilcox, November 11th 1822 to January 4th 1839, re- signed; I. Sage, October 29th 1826 to September 30th 1861, died, Æ 75; R. Warner, January 4th 1839 to Sep- tember Ist 1843, resigned; J. Stevens, September Ist 1843 to February 5th 1875, resigned; G. H. Butler, July 6th 1862, acting; R. B. Savage, April 30th 1875, acting.

The first recorded votes, dated January 13th 1715, were upon the matter of church membership, and are very obscure.

" It was voted and agreed upon that relations should not be a binding term of admission into this church, but persons might use their liberty in that case."

" It was voted and agreed upon by the church at the same time, that persons not scandalous and of compe- tency of knowledge, should have the seal of baptism upon their desire, they owning the covenant."

The church, in its early organization, had two cove- nants, one a baptismal covenant, the other a full com- munion covenant. The use of these two covenants con- tinued till 1805, during which year the last instance of receiving a member by a renewal of covenant is recorded, and was formally given up about 1809.

The Baptismal or " Half-way " Covenant did not en- title those who took it to the communion. It gave them the privilege of having their children baptized. This privilege was forfeited if at any time the "half-way " covenanters were guilty of unchristian conduct, and could only be restored by confession and promise of amendment. The " half-way " covenanter could be re- ceived to full communion by making confession of un- christian conduct and accepting the full communion covenant. The act of confession was known as "ren- dering Christian satisfaction for sin." In popular par- lance it was called " walking the broad aisle," because those who made confession walked into the broad aisle of the church while the minister read their confessions. The whole number of cases of rendering satisfaction for offenses between the years 1738, when the first record was made, and 1805, was 160.

The Half-way Covenant was repealed about 1809-10. Rev. Mr. Williams made its discontinuance a condition of his settlement as pastor of the church. On the 7th of March 1810, the following vote was adopted:

Voted, " That the former practice of requiring a pub- lic confession of the sin of fornication and other sins on admission to the Church, be abolished."

From 1810 to 1876, the number of cases of discipline dedicated January 6th 1841.

resulting in excommunication or withdrawal of fellow- ship was fourteen individual cases and seventeen offenses.

The pastors of the church have been: Joseph Smith,

began January 5th 1715, ended September 8th 1736, died; Edward Eells, began September 6th 1738, ended October 12th 1776, died; Gershom Buckley, began June 17th 1778, ended July 7th 1808, resigned; Joshua L. Williams, began June 14th 1809, ended December 29th 1832, died; Zebulon Crocker, began May 2d 1833, ended November 14th 1847, died; George A. Bryan, began June 13th 1849, ended October 20th 1857, resigned; James A. Clark, began June 16th 1858, ended December 2d 1863, dismissed; William K. Hall, began March 1864, ended April Ist 1865; Horatio O. Ladd, began Novem- ber 23d 1865, ended December 16th 1867, resigned; Thomas M. Miles, began 1868, ended 1870; A. C. Hurd, began 1871, ended 1873; Myron S. Dudley, the present pastor, began February 25th 1874.

The meeting house, erected when the society was in- corporated, completed and dedicated at the time of Mr. Smith's settlement, served the wants of the people till 1736. Toward the close of that year, steps were taken toward building a new house. The society agreed to cut timber for the house " the latter end of January or the beginning of February," 1735. The house was not ready to raise till March of the following year.

The raising of the ponderous timbers of a meeting house was a formidable undertaking in olden times.

A committee on raising was appointed: Sergt. Shep- erd, Hugh White, and John Warner. The parish was divided into three parts, and each section directed to fur- nish dinner on the day the committee should order. The people were to furnish drinks for the dinners, but the so- ciety agreed that what drinks were expended in raising the meeting house should be borne by the society.

The house was immediately prepared for occupancy, though not entirely finished till some years later. It was 55 in length and 36 feet in width. It stood on Main street, just south of the present Baptist church. At first it was close to the roadway, so that the people dismount- ed immediately upon the steps. In 1813, it was moved back four or five rods by permission of the County Court. The basswood tree now standing on the common was near the southeast corner of the building. . The house was very simple in its construction, though mas- sive in frame. There were three entrances, one each on the north, east, and south sides, opening directly into the audience room without a vestibule. It had two rows of windows. Inside there was a gallery on three sides, stair- ways leading to it not enclosed, square pews and a lofty pulpit with sounding board over it. About 1825, the in- side was remodelled by closing the north and south en- trances, taking a vestibule from the east side of the audi- ence room beneath the front gallery, and replacing the squares with narrow pews in the center of the house.

This house stood till the present edifice was erected in 1840, at an expense of six thousand three hundred eighty-five dollars and eighty-seven cents ($6,385.87), and

Mr. Eells was succeeded, in June 17th 1778, by Rev. Gershom Bulkley, the first pastor who did not die in office. He was dismissed in 1808.

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CROMWELL-CHURCHES.

The close of his pastorate marks the first period in the history of this church. It was a period of somewhat formal church life. Great stress was laid upon some sort of connection with the church. Everybody must be bap- tized. One was hardly fit for any civil position if he was not a member of the church. In some cases he was in- eligible. Great emphasis was laid upon the conformity of the outward life to the principles of the Gospel; not so much upon the spirituality of that life.

This church during this period shows a slow but uni- form growth. The period of revivals had not come. The average annual additions by profession and renewal of covenant (profession, 3; renewal, 6;) was nine and one- half during Mr. Eells' pastorate of 38 years, and a trifle over nine during that of Mr. Bulkley's, of 28 years, (profession, 2.5; renewal, 6.5). There was little variation in the reception of these members. Not one year passed without receiving members either by full confession or renewal of covenant.

There were added under Joseph Smith's pastorate, 1715-36; by profession, 53; by letter, 21; total, 74; under Edward Eells pastorate, 1738-76; by profession, 116; by renewal, 227; by letter, 17; total, 360; under Gershom Bulkley's pastorate, 1778-1805; by profession, 69; by renewal, 176; by letter, 11; total, 256; under J. L. Williams' pastorate, 1809-32; by profession, 210; by letter, 21; total, 231; under Z. Crocker's pastorate, 1833-47; by profession, 95; by letter, 49; total, 144; under George A. Bryan's pastorate, 1849-57; by profes- sion, 33; by letter, 34; total, 67; under James A. Clark's pastorate, 1858-63; by profession, 47; by letter, 15; total, 62; under W. K. Hall's pastorate, 1864-65; by profession, II; by letter, 1; total, 12: under H. O. Ladd's pastorate, 1865-67; by profession, 17; by letter, Io; total, 27; under T. M. Miles' pastorate, 1868-70; by profession, 10; by letter, 10; total, 20; under A. C. Hurd's pastorate, 1871-73; by profession, 10; by letter, 12; total, 22; under M. S. Dudley's pastorate (unfinish- ed), 1874-76; by profession, 9; by letter, 12; total, 21.

In regard to the additions attributed to the pastorate of Rev. Mr. Clark, it should be stated that most of the

was to this cause that the Sunday school owes its origin in many New England towns.

The Sunday school of this church was organized in 1817 or 1818, the time of the great revival under Dr. Nettleton.

Its sessions were held in the morning at nine o'clock, in the school house on the green, south of the Baptist church. The services consisted in answering the ques- tions of the catechism, and the recital of passages of Scripture and hymns committed to memory. A certain number of verses so learned and recited entitled the scholar to the reward of a book at the end of the session, closing with the coming of winter, proportioned in value to the number of verses recited. One teacher recollects a pupil who would recite more than one hundred verses at a lesson, taking up nearly the whole session.

After a time the school was transferred to the church, and sandwiched between the morning and afternoon services.

The first superintendent, so far as can be ascertained in the absence of written records, was Deacon Rufus Sage, and Miss Ursula Smith, assistant superintendent. The teachers of the academy, generally supplied from Yale College, were sometimes chosen superintendents. The following members, among others, of this church, have served as superintendents: Jairus Wilcox, William B. Stocking, afterward missionary to the Nestorians, Richard Warner, G. S. T. Savage, A. S. Geer, John Stev- ens, William M. Noble, and George H. Butler.

BAPTIST CHURCH.

Rev. Henry S. Stevens, of the Baptist church, has prepared a sketch of that organization, which is given below.

The Baptist Church of Cromwell was organized in 1802. Early in January, of that year, several persons, who were members of the Baptist church in Hartford, met at the house of Eleazar Savage, to consider the pro- priety and feasibility of forming a church of their own persuasion in this town.

Later, January 19th, at a prayer meeting held at the additions by profession were due to a special season of home of Comfort Ranney, the matter was farther consid- revival interest under the lead of Rev. Erastus Colton, and were received into membership by him before Mr. Clark was installed as pastor. Mr. Colton was here only a short time and hardly held the relation of pastor or acting pastor. He labored as an evangelist. This is according to the recollection of those acquainted with all the circunistances. ered, and a decision made to ask the opinion of the church in Hartford. Also, a committee of two persons was appointed to communicate with that body, concern- ing forming a church here, and the dismission from it of its members resident here for that purpose. The Hart- ford church favored the project, and appointed a com- mittee to confer farther with the people here. February From very early times the Assembly's Catechism was taught in the district schools in this State. The time for recitation was upon Saturday noon, as the closing exer- cise of the week. After there were other denominations than those who accepted the Assembly's Catechism, and before the establishment of Sunday schools, each de- nomination used in the day school a catechism to meet its peculiar views. This practice would of course lead to more or less friction, which was finally removed by transferring the catechisms to the Sunday schools. It 6th, the people met, by arrangement, for the purpose of organizing. They had, first, " a meeting for prayer, for wisdom, and direction;" then " heard read the confession of faith;" then entered into covenant relations as a church of Christ," to be called "The Second Baptist Church of Middletown." Those present on that occa- sion, uniting to constitute the church, numbered 16 per- sons; seven men and nine women. Their names were as follows: Eleazar Savage, Steven Treat, John Treat, Com- fort Ranney, Timothy Savage, "Josiah Graves, Willard

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HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY.

Ranney, Sarah Savage, Molly Savage, Mary Ranney, Ruth Ranney rst, Ruth Ranney 2d, Percy Savage, Rachel Wil- cox, Sally Savage, Betsey Treat.

Timothy Savage was elected clerk of the church. .

March 20th, the church "adopted Articles of Faith, " those commonly known as the "New Hamp- shire Confession of Faith." Social conference and prayer meetings were held at the dwellings of the people for some time prior to and subsequent to the forming of the church, and occasionally some minister preached at these meetings, but the first " call" to any one to per- forni ministerial labor among them was given April 8th 1803, when the church " agreed with Rev. Eber Moffat to preach two-thirds of the time, and agreed to give him thirty-four pounds, to be divided among the brethren according to their abilities, after deducting whatever may be secured by contributions."

January 2Ist 1804, Rev. Nehemiah Dodge " was applied to preach one half of the time for six months."

June 1805, Rev. Daniel Wildman " agreed to preach for the church one-half of the time during the ensuing year."

May 1806, Mr. John Grant "was engaged, for two hundred dollars, to preach one-fourth of the time." Soon after beginning to preach, Mr. Grant was ordained. In May 1808, he was " engaged to preach one-half of the time," and he continued pastor of the body until July 1810. In 1817, Rev. Frederick Wightman was called to the pastorate, and continued as minister of the church until 1832. Subsequently, Mr. Wightman was pastor from 1837 to 1839, making an aggregate pastoral care of 17 years. Later he returned to this town to reside, and died here at a good old age.

In 1803, the church built a plain frame edifice for a meeting house on the West Green, and held their public meetings there until 1833, when the house was moved to the central part of the village and placed on a lot nearly opposite the present site of the post office. Worship continued in this house until November 3d 1853, on which day a new house of worship, located a little north of the old one, built during the pastorate of the Rev. C. WV. Potter, and largely through his instrumentality, was dedicated. This latter edifice was remodelled, somewhat, internally. in 1872, and is the house of worship of the church at the present time.

About 350 persons have been in membership with the church, most of them having joined by baptism on pro- fession of their faith. For the latter ordinance nature has furnished a baptistery in the beautiful river flowing by the side of our town.

Sabbath school work has been steadily done. The church has been favored with several " revival " seasons. The people have tried to aid in every good work they were able to; have contributed often and according to their ability to missions and other charitable enterprises; and have gone a-begging but very little.

METHODIST CHURCH.

Mr. Elisha Stevens has furnished items for a brief sketch of the Methodist Episcopal church.

One of the results of the religious awakening which occurred in 1857, was the formation of a Methodist class of about 20 members. The revival interest from which this class sprung was confined principally to the part of the town known as The Plains. This was the beginning of the Methodist Episcopal church. Its congregation worshipped for a time in an old church building formerly occupied by the Baptists.

In the fall of 1858, movements were made toward building a new church. In November of that year the edifice was commenced, and in June 1859, it was dedi- cated, Dr.Cummings, of the Wesleyan University, preach- ing the dedication sermon.

Rev. Arza Hill, an active worker in the revival men- tioned above, and a graduate of Wesleyan University, was the first pastor. Among those who have served as pastors for one or two years besides Mr. Hill are: Rev. Messrs. Little, Wagner, Reynolds, and A. C. Stevens. During most of the time, since the establishment of the church, the pulpit has been supplied with students from the University at Middletown.

CATHOLIC CHURCH.

The corner stone of St. John's Catholic Church was laid in 1881, by Right Rev. Bishop McMahon, assisted by a number of the clergy of the diocese. The sermon on that occasion was preached by Rev. Chancellor Harty, of the cathedral.

Rev. Father Tierney read the Latin document placed in the corner stone, after which he gave, in English, a translation of the writing. Rev. Father Hagerty, of Portland, was master of ceremonies.

The church was dedicated April 22d 1883, by Rev. Bishop McMahon. The lot contains four acres, and there is a parochial residence near the church.

June 3d 1877, Rev. F. P. O'Keefe celebrated the first mass ever said in Cromwell; and until the dedication of the new church, services were held in a public hall.

CROMWELL CEMETERY.

The ground first used as a cemetery was in close prox- imity to the meeting house. It was a plot of ground just south of the site of the first church building, and south- east of the present residence of Mr. Joseph Edwards. This lot was granted by the town of Middletown. "At a meeting held January 13th 1712-13, the town (Middle- town) granted to the inhabitants on the north side of the river (Little), an acre of land between Capt. John Sav- age's and Samuel Gibson's, their homesteads, for a bury- ing ground; and Capt. Savage, Samuel Gibson, and John Warner jr., were appointed a committee to lay it out, where it may be most convenient and least prejudiced to outlots." The ground has been enlarged to two acres, and was the sole burying ground in the eastern part of the town until 1855, when the present Cemetery Associa- tion was organized and the cemetery now occupied- about three-fourths of a mile north of the old ground- was opened.

During the year 1879, active measures were taken to

yours truly

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CROMWELL-BIOGRAPHIES.

to whom he was married in December 1836, from Boston on the 7th of January 1837. He reached his field of labor in June of that year, and at once devoted himself with characteristic energy to the mastery of the language of his new home. He entered with zeal into his work. He was an earnest, inspiring and successful teacher. He continued in the educational branch of the mission work till 1841, April 18th, at which time he was ordained to the gospel ministry. In a sermon delivered in Persia by Dr. Justin Perkins, soon after the death of Mr. Stock ing, he says he had no superior and probably no equal as a preacher in the mission. In times of revivals and on

many great occasions his sermons had a wonder- fully subduing, overcoming effect. Mr. Stocking con- tinued to work with untiring devotion and energy till the failure of his health in 1853 compelled him to return to his native land. Instead of regaining health, he de- clined and died on the 30th of April 1854, aged 44. Says Dr. Perkins, "Mr. Stocking had accomplished a great work before he left us. Through his faithful labors and his fervent prayers, under the Divine blessing, ' much people was added unto the Lord.' He had a wonderful tact and power to reach, impress, and influence the native mind and heart; and that tact and power were not suf. fered to rest or lie dormant while he had corporeal strength to exercise them." Mr. Stocking is still living. A son, Rev. William R., is a missionary in the same field as that in which his father labored and did his life work.

WILLIAM C. REDFIELD, A. M.

There are few people living in Cromwell to-day who are familiar with the fact that one of the greatest modern philosophers, scientists, and discoverers-the peer of Dové, Reed, Piddington, and others-spent his childhood and laid the foundation for his great discoveries in this little town. Dennison Olmsted, LL. D., professor of natural philosophy and astronomy in Yale College, said of him:

" Three distinguishing marks of the true philosopher met in William C. Redfield: originality to devise new things; patience to investigate, and logical power to draw the proper conclusions. The impress of his originality he left in early life upon the village where he resided; he afterward imprinted it still deeper on his professional business as naval engineer, and most of all on his scientific labors, his observations, and his theories. 'Patient thought ' was the motto of Newton, and in this attribute Redfield was eminently distinguished."

Commodore Perry, in the report of his Japan expedi- tion, said of him:

" It was my good fortune to enjoy for many years the friendly acquaintance of one as remarkable for modesty and unassuming pretensions as for laborious observation and inquiry after knowledge. To him and to Gen. Reid, of the Royal Engineers of England (now Governor of Malta), are navigators mainly indebted for the discovery of a law which has already contributed, and will con- tinue to contribute, greatly to the safety of vessels traversing the ocean.

"The honor of having established, on satisfactory evidence, the rotary and progressive character of ocean storms, and determining their modes of action or laws,

is due alike to the memory of William C. Redfield and to our country's fame."

William C. Redfield was born at Middletown, Connec- ticut, on the 26th of March 1789. He was of pure Eng- lish descent, both on the father's and mother's side. His father was a seafaring man whose death occurred when he, the son, was but 13 years old. His early training therefore, devolved chiefly on his mother, who was a woman of superior mental endowments, and of exalted Christian character. Young Redfield had no opportuni- ties for acquiring an education beyond those afforded by the common schools, which at that time taught little more than the simplest rudiments-reading, spelling, writing, and a little arithmetic. At the age of 14 he was removed to Upper Middletown, now Cromwell, and ap- prenticed to a mechanic, where his tasks engrossed every moment of his time except a part of his evenings. These brief opportunities, however, he most dilligently spent in the acquisition of knowledge, eagerly devouring every scientific work within his reach. He was denied even a lamp, for reading by night, much of the time during his apprenticeship, and could command no better light than that of a comnion wood fire in the chimney corner. He was generously assisted, however, by Dr. William Tully, who opened to him his extensive and well-selected library. When he became of age, his mother having married some time previous, and removed to Ohio, he started on foot to visit her, a distance of 700 miles. Every evening he noted down the incidents and observa- tions of the day. He made the entire journey in twenty- seven days, having rested four days on the way. His route was through New York State and along the south- ern side of Lake Erie. After spending the winter with his mother, he returned by a more southern route through parts of Virginia, Maryland, and Pennsylvania, exercis- ing. each day his powers of observation, and carefully noting results.

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History of Middlesex county, Connecticut, with biographical sketches of its prominent men, Part 68

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