History of Middlesex county, Connecticut, with biographical sketches of its prominent men, Part 72

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 72

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273

DURHAM-CHURCHES.

years; Ezra Baldwin, March 4th 1783, 75 years; James Curtis, 1790, 79 years; Daniel Hall, 1790, 72 years; John Johnson, November 18th 1819, 78 years; Daniel Parmelee, December 11th 1825, 78 years; Abner Newton, Septem- ber 9th 1852, 87 years; Ozias Norton, October 8th 1808, 84 years; Josiah Jewett, removed; John Tibbals, March 9th -, 45 years; Samuel C. Camp, September 24th 1823. 62 years; Seth Seward, January 3d 1846, 79 years; Timo- thy Stone, January 14th 1826, 52 years; Heth Camp, re- moved to Pennsylvania; Elah Camp, removed to Meri- den; Joel Parmelee, November 2d 1842, 37 years; Sam- uel Newton, April 24th 1864, 67 years; Wolcott P. Stone, March 4th 1882, 71 years; Gaylord Newton, December 16th 1883, 79 years; Nathan H. Parsons, living; Julius S. Auger, November 25th 1869, 56 years; Roger W. Newton, living.

In April 1710, the first meeting house was raised. It was 40 feet square, with a flat roof and a turret. It was located on Meeting House Green, at the top of the hill. It soon became too small for the congregation, and was pulled down in 1738. The second meeting house was raised May 10th 1736. It was 64 by 44 feet, and 25 feet between joints. It was situated on the northwest corner of the present green, where it stood for a hundred years. There was at first no bell; the congregation was summoned by the beat of the drum. Elias Camp gave the first bell. By a vote of the town in 1793, it was ordered that it should be rung at sunrise, noon, and at 9 P. M. The ringing at noon and 9 o'clock was con- tinued till about 25 years ago. The following story is told and generally believed: When the steeple of the second church was built, one Jesse Austin was on a ladder painting it, and the ladder fell and Mr. Austin with it, a distance of 90 feet, to the ground. He was a very slight man and was uninjured. The corner stone of the third meeting house was laid July 17th 1835, on the site of the present South Congregational Church. It was 60 by 40 feet. This edifice was dedicated November 28th 1844, and soon after was burned. In June 1847, the present church edifice was dedicated. The ground on which it stands was given by Dennis Camp. About 20 years ago, it was refitted at an expense of about $1,500, and it has recently been refurnished, and new horse sheds have been built.

The following account of the origin of the fund belong- ing to the First Ecclesiastical Society is given in one paper:

" Originally, the town of Durham, by grant of the General Assembly, was owned by sundry proprietors, and by them divided to each owner in allotments laid out at sundry times by their committee and drawn for by lots (viz.), at 6 or 7 different drafts and by vote of the proprietors whenever there was an alotment granted to the Several individuals, There should also be an alot- ment sequestered for the use of the Ministry forever- by which means the First Ecclesiastical Society became possessed of six or seven lots of land which were occu- pied by the Minister settled over the Society as a part of his Sallary. Some 30 years ago these lots were sold and the money derived from the sales constitutes the present funds of the Society. Until about the year 1791 there

was not, I believe, an individual dissenter from the Con- gregational Society in Durham & there was but one Society."

CHURCH OF THE EPIPHANY.

An Episcopal parish was organized in Durham as early as 1802. No church building was erected, but services were held in the school house in the Center District. Delegates were sent to the Diocesan Conven- tion in 1804, 1805, 1806, 1809, and 1819. During this period it was associated with the parishes of Middle- town and Berlin as one cure.

In 1818, Rev. Daniel Burhans, as rector, reported to the convention 35 families, nine baptisms, and two funerals. It is ,evident that there must have been an error in that report, as in 1819 the Rev. Origen P. Hol- comb visited Durham, under the auspices of the Chris- tian Knowledge Society, and he reported that he preached in the South School house and took up a col- lection, but added that there were few Episcopalians in the place and that there was no prospect of permanent or successful organization. In 1851, the Rev. Fredrick Sill revived the services of the church and reported for that year ten baptisms and two funerals. From that year until 1859 occasional clerical services were rendered by the rector of Trinity Church, Middletown, but no at- tempt was made to sustain a parish organization. After the establishment of the Berkeley Divinity School at Middletown, the students, under the direction of Bishop Williams, acted as lay-readers at Durham, conducting the services in the academy on the green. Through the personal efforts of two of these students, Mr. Andrew J. Morse, of Wallingford, and Mr. Frank Goodwin, of Hartford, sufficient funds were raised by the aid of other parishes for the erection of a commodious church.

The corner-stone was laid by Bishop Williams, June 28th 1862, and the building was consecrated as "The Church of the Epiphany," January 29th 1863. The fol- lowing Easter the parish was duly organized and was re- ceived into union with the diocese in the convention of that year. From that tinie the history of the Church of the Epiphany in Durham has been full of Christian, life and prosperity.

In 1869, the Rev. Frederick Gardiner, D. D., took charge of the parish and continued his ministrations for five years. Other duties compelling him to resign, he was succeeded by Mr. R. L. DeZeng as lay-reader, clerical services being rendered once a month by some one of the Rev. professors of the Berkeley School. Through the efforts of Mr. DeZeng, in a continued charge of seven years, the church building was greatly improved and beautified. A fine tower was added to the church, in which a bell was placed, as the gift of Miss Martha Rog- ers, of Middletown. A vestry-room was also built, and a rectory building lot purchased adjoining the church property.

Mr. DeZeng was succeeded by Mr. George H. Gard- ner, of Utica, N. Y., who was then in his senior year at Berkeley. His ministrations were also most earnest and spiritually successful, as, also, were those of his suc-

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HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY.

cessor, Mr. Eli D. Sutcliffe, who was last in charge of the parish. Mr. Sutcliffe reported to the convention of 1884 29 families, 38 communicants, five Sunday school teach- ers, and 60 scholars.

METHODIST CHURCH.

The Methodist Episcopal church in Durham was or- ganized about the year 1815. Rev. Messrs. Barnes, Bussie, Knight, Lorenzo Dow, Ebenezer Washburn, and Elijah Hibbard were among the first preachers of that denomination that visited and preached in this town. Abraham Scranton,' Capt. Eliphaz Nettleton, Tim- othy Elliott, John Swathel, and Timothy Coe were among . the first that identified themselves with this society. For several years they occupied the South District school house for a place of worship, and were embraced in Middletown Circuit, and afterward with Black Rock Circuit, and supplied with preaching half a day or at 5 o'clock P. M. on the Sabbath. The society at one time numbered about thirty. These early Methodists did not long enjoy prosperity. A difficulty occurred in the little church, the result of which was their almost entire destruction. Some were expelled; others withdrew, and from a society of about thirty they were reduced to ten or twelve; so that in 1828 the years; W. A. Richard, 1884.

Methodists were but a name, and only had preaching at 5 P. M. on Sunday, and that but once in two weeks. Rev. Henry Hatfield traveled the circuit at that time. In 1829, Rev. Alden Cooper occasionally met the ap- pointment, and a few united with the society. . Prayer meetings were held in the school house in the absence of the minister. In 1830, Dr. Chauncey Andrews, being in the practice of medicine in the town, secured a place for holding Methodist meetings, and at his own expense fitted up a room in the Academy on the Green, and hired a local preacher from Middletown by the name of Isham, to preach six Sabbaths. From that time forward Meth- odist ineetings were held regularly on the Sabbath, and the students and professors from the Wesleyan Univer- sity at Middletown supplied the pulpit.

The society and congregation gradually increased, and as several families had removed from North Madison, who were formerly members of the Methodist church at Black Rock, transferring their membership to this society, the subject of erecting a church building was agitated. Several men of wealth and prominence in the town, among whom was Worthington G. Chauncey and his brother, William, Henry Lyman, Wedworth Wads- worth, Samuel Parsons, and others, gave their influence and assistance, the result of which was the building of the edifice now occupied by the society.

In the autumn of 1837, Rev. Walter W. Brewer took charge of the society, and on the Ist of January 1838, he commenced a protracted meeting. There was a great revival, and many members were added to the church.

The present membership of the church is 192, of whom ro are over 80 years of age. The Sunday school has 112 enrolled members, with 22 officers and teachers.

The present church edifice was dedicated July 7th

1837. It cost about $4,000, and has recently been re- fitted, and pleasant church parlors have been fitted up in one end.

The following is a list of the ministers who have sup- plied this church, with year of the commencement of their labors and duration of service:

Rev. Harvey Husted, 1838, two years; Salmon C. Perry, 1840, one year; Orrin Howard, 1841, a few months; Luke Hitchcock, 1841, supplied for a year; McKendree Bangs, 1842, one year; William C. Hoyt, 1843, two years; Na- thaniel Kellogg, 1845, one year; Aaron Hill, 1846, two years; John E. Searles, 1848, two years; William Law- rence, 1850, two years; George S. Hare, 1852, two years; George A. Hubbell, 1854, one year; George Stillman, 1855, two years; R. H. Loomis, 1857, two years; J. W. Leek, 1859, two years; Levi P. Perry, 1861, two years; Horatio W. Weed, 1863, one year; Edwin Harriner, 1864, one year; Isaac Sanford, 1865, one year; L. D. Watson, 1866, one year; W. H. Norris, 1867, two years; E Cun- ningham, 1869, three years; W. J. Robinson, 1872, one year; G. L. Thompson, 1873, one year; G. B. Dusinberre, 1874, two years; J. O. Munson, 1876, two years; A. H. Wyatt, 1878, two years; C. J. North, 1880, one year; A. V. R. Abbott, 1881, one year; B. Pilsbury, 1882, two

CENTER CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH.

This church was organized, by the consociation, in April 1847, with 62 members. The establishment of the second Congregational society, in Durham, was the re- sult of a natural division in the town. The people of Durham are geographically divided by Allyn's Brooks, one part living north, and the other south of Mill Bridge. The locality feeling was formerly very strong.

The papers in the contest which preceded the division are numerous, and from them the following facts may be culled: The old church, which stood for a hundred years, was situated at the north end of the present green. When, in 1835, a new church was to be built, there was a sharp contest, the north and south portions, respec- tively, striving for the sites of their present churches. Legal opinions were invoked, and finally it was agreed that the people south should raise an additional $150 that was wanting, and the people north should pay nothing, and the town voted to allow the church to be built on the burying ground, near the former site. This left a fine open green surrounded by houses. It is the chief ornament of the town. This church was burned in 1844, and the struggle for the location of the new one was renewed with increased vigor. The opposing fac- tions were more determined than before, and the dispute was fiercer.

There was a decision, January Ist 1845, by E. H. Bulkeley, judge of the County Court, and Erastus Strong, Benjamin Dowd, and Friend Dickinson, commissioners and committee, locating the new edifice where the First or North Church now stands. There was a decision, March 26th 1846, by Rev. Leverett Griggs, Levi Yale, and George Cowles, locating it where the Center or South.

275

DURHAM-SOUTH CHURCH CEMETERY.

Church stands. There was a petition to the General As- sembly for a division of the fund, and a remonstrance against that petition. There were suits brought or begun in the Superior Court for mandamus and for injunction. Dennis Kimberley was attorney for the south faction, and Roger S. Baldwin for the north. It was finally agreed that those living north of the bridge should take the in- surance money and build a new meeting house, using the foundation and all that remained of the old church; and that those living south of the bridge should be at no expense in building the new meeting house, and that the society should repay to them all that they had con- tributed to the house that was burned. This offer was accepted, the money paid, and the church built. But the sectional feeling was still intense, and the next year the Center Congregational Church was organized. In look- ing over the records of the struggle one cannot fail to admire the earnestness and pertinacity of the contest- ants. The bridge over the " impassable gulf," as it was then called, has been recently repaired, and the hill cut down at an expense of about $2,000, and the bitterness of sectional feeling has nearly died out. The whole town must always reverence the spot where these forefathers worshipped for more than a century.

The South Church was built in 1849, where it now stands. It formerly had a spire, but in a terrible gale of wind some 20 years ago, the steeple was blown over, taken up in the air, inverted, and dropped nearly perpen dicularly down through the roof, the point sticking in one of the slips. It remained there for several years, and people came from miles around to see it.

The pastors of this church have been: Rev. James R. Mershon, ordained April 27th 1848, dismissed in April 1849; Robert G. Williams, ordained October 11th 1852, dismissed April 20th 1853; Irem Smith, ordained in August 1858, dismissed January 2d 1861; I. W. Ses- sions, pastor about five years; A. C. Hurd; and E. C. Bald- win, the last stated pastor.

The deacons have been: Wolcott P. Stone, died March 4th 1883, aged 72; Isaac Parmelee, died November 29th 1878, aged 79; William A. Hart, died March 10th 1879, aged 73; Ward B. Bailey, and Frederic N. Parmelee.

BURYING GROUND.

The old burying ground, so called, north of Allyn's Brook, was given by the proprietors soon after the settle- nient of the town. The new burying ground was laid out in 1822, on land devised for that purpose by Ebene- zer Robinson in 1780. Before its use for a burying ground, the income from it had been devoted to the Center 'School.

The oldest stone in the yard is that of Jonathan Clem. ments, who died March ye 8th 1712, aged 45 years; it is two feet high. This slab bears the figure of death's head, as do several other of the oldest stones, The ghastly grinning skull soon gave place to the smiling round- faced cherub that adorns most of the slabs of the next generation. There are various styles of these, some having drooping wings, and some pinions plumed for

flight; some are crowned with more or less artistic effect, and some have one or more stars standing out upon their diadems.

Our forefathers liked to put more of their history, as well as sentiment and affection, on their grave stones, than is customary in these days:

" Richard Spelman, May 31st, 1739; 34 years .. " Behold and see as you pass by, As you are now, so onee was I; As I am now so must you be, Prepare for Death and follow me."

"Abigail Seward, Nov. Ist, 1739; 39 years. "Beneath this Turf is Laid A pious Motherly Maid."

The following is on the stone of Nathaniel Chauncey, the first minister:

"Is Chauneey dead, that Godly seer ! What heart so hard as to deny a tear? A tear for one so well beloved and known, Sure such a heart must be a heart of stone.

"In memory of the Rev. Nath'l Chauncey, faithful pastor of the Church in Durham. He died Feb. Ist, 1756, in his 75th year, and in the 50th year of his min- istry."

" Abner Newton, Feb. 24th, 1760; 69 years. "The age of man is but a span,- His days on earth are few. At Death he must Embrace the dust."

This stone lay on the ground at Oliver Coe's 117 years:

" Miss Sarah Smith, June 22d 1761; 25 years. " My sun is set, My glass is run, My eandle's out, My work is done." " Mrs. Anna Meeker, March 22d 1764; 67 years. " A loving wife and tender mother Left this base world to enjoy the other."

" Thomas, son of John and Bethiah Canfield, Nov. [5th, 1770, in his 21st year. Between his birth and death was 718 Born, 267 died."

" Piety and virtue, zeal in the cause of liberty and the love of peace, order and religion, will perpetuate to pos- terity the memory of Mr. Nathan Curtiss, who died in militia service at Westchester, near New York, aged (near 42 years) Sept. 21st, 1770.

" An empty tomb, a mournful sound, The parents', wife's and children's wound."

" Nathan Hall, aged 21 yrs., while absent from home in the defence of his country, died of the small-pox at Springfield, N. J., Feb. 20th, 1777."

"In memory of Lieut. Miles Merwin, who having served his generation according to the will of God through a useful life, finished his course on earth Dec. 12th, 1786, in the 66th year of his age.

"The sweet remembrance of tho just, Like a green root, revives and bears When dying nature sleeps in dust."

" Noah Parsons, M. A., a gentleman of sprightly genius, improved by a liberal education at Yale College, of which he was some time a tutor. The fair prospects of his youth soon clouded by disorders of body, which, continuing several years, he took a voyage to the West

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HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY.

Indies for the recovery of his health, and died on the Island of Hispaniola, May, 1774, in his 37th year."

" Sacred to the memory of Mr. Elias Camp, who died Mar. 26th 1796, in the 78th year of his age. He was a tender husband and an obliging neighbor, a good citizen, and though denied the enjoyment of parental felicity, was blessed with so much of this world as enabled him not only to perform many deeds of charity, but to make a present of an excellent bell to the town of Durham, which has greatly promoted its convenience and regular- ity, and ought to be recognized with gratitude on every sound thereof."

"Sarah Johnson, May 19th 1790; Aged 24 years. An amiable disposition, a friendly heart, a cheerful temper, engaging manners, a virtuous behaviour, filial piety and conjugal tenderness, made all her friends lament her death with inexpressible grief. Short and vain are our fondest hopes of sublimary bliss. This lovely pair joined in wedlock with the pleasing prospects of felicity in the connubial state, 'ere one year revolved, was called, as is humbly hoped, to happier realms. And to mourn the loss of so dear a partner was the unhappy lot of her bereaved husband, Thomas Johnson."

"The memory of James Lyman, who died on the banks of the Mississippi, the 22d of October, 1774, in the 22d year of his age, is engraved on this monument, erected near those of his departed relatives, that his name may live with theirs in these abodes of silent instruction. How visionary are the empty projects of time! How in- teresting the serious realities of ETERNITY!"

" Miss Mary Ann Bowers, Apr. 23rd 1851; aged 55 years. She manifested her attachment to her Saviour's cause by a liberal donation to the First Ecclesiastical Society in Durham, and to the various benevolent insti- tutions of the day.

" Faith had an overcoming power; She triumphed in a dying hour."

SCHOOLS.

December 25th 1711 .- The town voted to instruct the selectmen to hire a schoolmaster for six months, " for the advantage of children in the town, that they may be in- structed to write and read."

October 8th 1722 .- The town voted to build a school house, 26 feet by 18, on the School House Green.

December 27th 1737 .- A school was allowed to the people on the west side of Coginchaug Swamp.

The town account for 1766, shows that there was a mid- dle school, a north school, a south school, and a west side school. For keeping the middle school was paid £7, 7s. 6d .; for the north school, £7, 10 .; for the south, £3, Igs. 6d .; for the west, £5, 5s. 8d.

There was for a long time a school house in Haddam Quarter, just east of the house of J. E. Newton.

Select schools have been kept from time to time. The ministers used to fit students for college.

In 1811, Elizur Goodrich was hired to teach such a school, for three months, for $90-a very fair price, as prices then were.

May Ist 1843, Durham Academy filed its certificate of incorporation. From that time to the present, a school of high grade has been taught there, generally with a high reputation. Henry N. Johnson, for many years a rector of Hopkins' Grammar School, was one of the first and most famous of its principals. There are still many to tell how they studied under him, and how they feared him.

W. R. Griswold had a boarding school in connection with the academy, having a considerable number of pu- pils from New York, and other places. Mark Pitman, now principal of the Woolsey School, Fair Haven, had at one time nearly 100 pupils there. The school is now small, because there are few children in the town. The school rooms of the town have accommodations for nearly 300 pupils. There are 120 sometimes attending school at one time.

There were only male teachers 100 years ago. Now, Deacon N. H. Parsons, in the winter term, is the only male teacher in the town.

The school houses have nearly all been recently re- paired, and are all in excellent order. The refitting of the academy building, some years since, cost $2,690.

In 1780, Ebenezer Robinson gave, by will, £100, or $333, for the use of the Center School, on condition that a school should be kept for 11 months in each year, in the school house lately built on a lot of land given by him for that purpose. The school is still faithfully kept for 44 weeks in each year. Some of the fund was in- vested in land, which was sold at a profit, so that the amount of the fund is now $1, 152.18.

COLLEGE REPORT.

The following list of men, who have received a colle- giate degree, is taken from Fowler's History of Durham, as far as that history extends:

Name.

College.

Class.

Profession.

William Seward

Yale.

1734

Minister.

Phinehas Lyman ...

1738

Lawyer.

Phinehas Lyman ..

1763

Nathaniel Chauncey.

1740

Minister.

Ichabod Camp.

1743

Daniel Lyman

1745

Lawyer.

Elihu Lyman

1745

Noah Parsons ..

1747

Ebenezer Guernsey

1757

Tutor. Minister.

Roger Newton ...

1758

1785

Tutor.

Samuel Johnson ..

Charles Chauncey.

Lawyer.

Samuel Seward ...

1776

Lawyer.

Daniel Lyman.

1776

Lemuel Guernsey

17.3

Elihu Chauncey Goodrich Ebenezer Belknap ..

1785

Robert spelman ..

1785

Charles Augustus Goodrich.

1786

Joseph E. Camp.

1787

James Wadsworth ..

1787

William Wadsworth. Noalı Coe ..

Williams. Yale.

1808

Timothy Tuttle.

1808

David Marsh Sinith

1811

Elizur Goodrich Smith

1822

Talcott Bates ..

1823

Henry Bates Camp.

1831

Dwight Seward.

183L

Collins Stone.

18.32

James Wadsworth ..

1845

Webster Rogers Walkley

Wesleyan.

1860

Henry G. Newton ..

1870

George W. Newton ...

18:1

John S. Camp.

1879

William E, Walkley

1879

Walter L. Merwin ..

Yale.

1878

Minister.

Chauncey Goodrich

1779

1782

Sainuel Goodrich.

1681

Roger Newton

1769

1777

1762

Elizur Goodrich.

Minister Lawyer.

Minister.

1802

Lawyer. Minister. ..

Teacher. Lawyer.

Lawyer. Civil Engineer.

Elnathan Chauncey.

1743

277

DURHAM-MILITARY HISTORY.

THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR.

The extracts from the town records, given elsewhere, show that Durham was active in the Revolution. A committee of inspection was annually appointed to guard against traitors and tories. Every householder had to go or send a man to the war.

MILITIA.

The military spirit was formerly very active. There were two companies, a military and a rifle company. The sharp rivalry between them brought almost every man of suitable age into one or the other. Officers were numerous, and the number of captains, majors, and colonels 25 years ago was large. After the war of the Rebellion, a company of the Connecticut National Guard was formed here. It had its armory in the base- ment of the Academy. It continued its regular term of five years.

THE WAR OF THE REBELLION.

From the beginning, Durham took an active interest in the war. A large number of the best men of the democratic party united with the republicans in the first election after the struggle commenced, and from that time till the close of the war there was no ticket labelled " Republican," voted. Practically, the " Union Party " was the only party in the town. It controlled every election and held every office. A branch of the Union League was formed, with a large membership. The churches shared in the general enthusiasm, and from every pulpit rang denunciations of rebellion and treason, and the nation and the army were remembered in every prayer.

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History of Middlesex county, Connecticut, with biographical sketches of its prominent men, Part 72

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