USA > Connecticut > New London County > Montville > History of Montville, Connecticut, formerly the North parish of New London from 1640 to 1896 > Part 42
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found the parish in arrears to Mr. Hillhouse in the sum of £587, 9s., 3d., and on report of the auditors the Assembly ordered the whole amount due from the parish to be forth- with collected. This order of the General Assembly caused considerable feeling on the part of the inhabitants of the North Parish, and a memorial was at once presented to stay the pro- ceedings. At the time the Rev. James Hillhouse was called to settle as pastor, no church edifice had been erected in the North Parish. It was a newly settled territory, and literally a wilderness. Their first meetings were held at the private dwelling house of Mr. Samnel Allen. During the time in which the meeting-house was being built, in 1723, Mr. Hill- house returned to his native country. He was absent about six months. On his return to his field of labors the house of worship had been so far completed as to be in a condition to receive its worshipers. The salary was to be raised by taxa- tion on the property of the inhabitants. Owing to this taxa- tion, and the expense incurred in the erection of the house of worship, the burden was much felt by many of the people. Some who were able to pay their rates neglected to meet the demands made upon them, while others of scanty means could not, from necessity, meet the requirements and demands of the church organization in the payment of the minister's salary, and as a consequence the salary was never fully paid up. The privations and discomforts incident to a pioneer life are not helpful to a true religious culture or church sup- port. The minister found his work often seriously hindered by the many trials incident to such a life. The physical wants of the people must be supplied, their homes were to be built, their land must be cleared and tilled, roads cut through the hitherto pathless woods, and all those conveniences which, in these days, one generation finds prepared for them by the preceding, these our fathers had to gather about their new homes by the most unwearied industry. The matters of the church here were kept along with tolerable success and harmony until about the year 1729, when the arrears on the
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minister's salary were fast accumulating, and Mr. Hillhouse was urging his people to pay up. About this time several withdrew their support from the church, feeling that the burden was greater than they could bear. Taxes were con- tinued to be laid, and the few who were desirous of sustaining the gospel in the parish and uniting the people in the work had to redouble their efforts to keep up religious service among them. Many of the property-holders refused to pay their rates as assessed to them, and it was difficult to obtain collectors who would act. Under these influences matters grew worse from year to year.
It appears that there was a misunderstanding as to the time when the minister's salary should begin, some claiming that he should not receive any salary while absent on his visit to Ireland, and that his salary should commence with his labors after his return to the parish. Mr. Hillhouse, however, claimed full salary from the date of his installation. This difference of opinion was a subject of much bitter discussion. In May, 1735, a committee was appointed by the society to confer with Mr. Hillhouse, and, if possible, effect a recon- ciliation of the difficulties. As soon as the committee was chosen, and before any action had been taken or decided upon by the committee, Mr. Hillhouse addressed them a letter, a copy of which appears from the society records, and is as follows:
" Gentlemen :- You may assure yourselves it is no delight or pleasure to me to make you the trouble or give you occasion of meeting, but necessity to the supplying of which if you will assure me of one hundred pounds in a short time I will at present drop that affair.
" JAMES HILLHOUSE."
The committee laid the matter before the society, which, by a vote, instructed the committee to communicate to Mr. Hillhouse the following reply to his letter:
" The parish complys with your request in procuring a hundred pounds in public bills of credit, provided that shall
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answer in full for one year's salary, and also to add the words 'in full' to your former receipts."
In reply to the above communication, Mr. Hillhouse said in another letter:
" Gentlemen: - In answer to yours, if so be that you will pay me the hundred pounds forthwith, or give me sufficient security that I may have it in a short time, I will upon your paying the hundred pounds give a sufficient receipt, and if there be any injustice in any of the receipts that I have already given I stand ready to right them.
" JAMES HILLHOUSE."
The proposition of Mr. Hillhouse, as expressed in his last letter to the society, was not accepted by them for the reason, as they say, "it being looked upon as ambiguous and pre- carious." Thus affairs stood until the death of Mr. Hill- house, which occurred December 15, 1740. No final settle- ment of the difficulties between Mr. Hillhouse and the society was ever consummated.
Then difficulties, which naturally grew out of a misunder- standing as to the commencement of the salary, and an ina- bility on the part of the inhabitants of the parish to meet all the demands upon them consequent upon their beginning of a new settlement in a wilderness, and being attended with much care and perplexity on the part of Mr. Hillhouse, prob- ably hastened his death. So far as the writer has been able to gather facts from the records at his command, Rev. James Hillhouse was a man of good-natured abilities, of great sagac- ity, zealous for the truth, and contended strongly for his rights. The rumor, which is still extant, that these unhappy difficulties commenced in a controversy between Mr. Hill- house and his next neighbor, Capt. Denison, regarding cer- tain land bounds, appears to have no foundation in facts; no such charge was ever publicly preferred against him, and the writer has never found in any public or private documents that anything of a dishonest character was justly laid against him.
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It is not to be supposed that all the men upon whom this little church was dependent for its support were men of cul- ture and stability; the very chances for speculation and excite- ment of the life itself would naturally draw into society the restless, the adventurous and unprincipled. In this newly- settling territory, where land was often bought up and held for speculation, there should be none who were impulsive, wayward, and insubordinate. It would be very strange if religion, which pledges peace and harmony, should not prove in such a mixed community a source of alienation and of earnest conflict. What more could be expected than that sharp diversions should arise, and that heated and obstinate maintenance of views and opinions would end in alienations and feuds? At a meeting of the General Assembly held at Hartford, May 13, 1736, a memorial was presented by Joshua Raymond, agent for the North Parish of New London, in which was shown that Joseph Backus, Simeon Lathrop, and John Huntington, auditors, appointed by the Assembly to settle the accounts between the parish and Mr. Hillhouse, had found the parish in arrears and that the parish had voted a rate of six pence on the pound to balance the balance of arrears still unpaid, but as no person in the parish could be prevailed upon to collect the tax, this petition was brought to the Assembly, asking that the sheriff of New London county be authorized to collect the tax in the parish, and pay the same over to the parish committee. The petition was granted and the execution, which had previously been granted in favor of Mr. Hillhouse against the parish, was ordered to be sus- pended for two months. This action of the General As- sembly caused the already existing bitter feelings on the part of Mr. Hillhouse's enemies to become still more bitter and malicious against him and his friends, and it was many years before harmony was restored in the parish. At a meeting of the North Parish held Oct. 2, 1738, a vote was passed author- izing John Lee of Lyme as their agent to defend the parish against Rev. Mr. Hillhouse before the General Assembly,
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to be held at New Haven during that month; and also that Mr. Lee, in behalf of the parish, present a memorial to the Assembly praying that body to grant them relief in their difficulties. Rev. James Hillhouse having been formally dis- missed from his connection with the society, had taken with him the settlement conferred upon him at the time of his becoming their pastor, of the land that was given by the As- sembly for ministerial purposes, and now they were without a pastor or any land to settle upon him when such could be obtained. They, therefore, desired the Assembly to give further assistance by granting other land for the settling of another minister. On the 3d day of October, 1739, Rev. David Jewett was ordained pastor of the church in the North Parish of New London, and by a grant of the General As- sembly, in 1742, fifty acres of land were given to him, it being what remained of the first grant made to the parish at the time of Mr. Hillhouse's settlement.
The land settled upon Mr. Hillhouse and on which he erected a dwelling-house was occupied by him until his death, and then descended to his heirs, who held possession of it many years. It was finally sold by them and passed out of the name. It was subsequently purchased by William Raymond, Esq., and on his death it descended to his two sons, William and Richard, and divided as nearly as possible. Rev. David Jewett's farm was situated on a hill about one-half a mile from the main road, northeast of the present meeting-house, on which he built a house and lived there until his death in 1783.
In the year 1745 the subject in relation to the Indians uniting with the English in religious worship, and of bearing their proportion of the expense attending the ministry, was brought up. A committee was appointed by the society to meet the chief, Ben Uncas, and other prominent members of the Mohegan tribe of Indians, and ascertain the condi- tions on which a union could be obtained. At a parish meet- ing; held February 18, 1745-6, the following resolution was
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passed: "Considering that Ben Uneas, Chief Sachem of the Mohegan Indians, together with the most of said tribe, who are desirous of being instructed in Christian religion having manifested their willingness and desire of uniting with us in one church or assembly under Rev. David Jewett's ministry, and further this parish having by their vote expressed their readiness so to unite, provided there could be a mutual agree- ment as to the terms." Mr. Jewett, for some time before his settlement as pastor over the church in North Parish, had been engaged as a missionary among the Mohegan Indians, and had become greatly endeared to them. It was this kindly feeling on the part of the Indians toward Mr. Jewett that they were so strongly desirous of becoming connected with the society and uniting with the church, many of whom did after- wards join the church and became regular attendants upon the public worship. The people of the parish undoubtedly had a motive in urging the Indians to unite with them. It would not only be a means to the Christianization of the Indians, but it would serve as a means toward the support of the church through the funds provided by the colony for the benefit of the Indians. In January, 1747-8, the matter was again brought up in regard to removing the meeting-house to some more convenient spot further east. The easterly and southerly part of the parish had become more thickly settled, and, for the better accommodation of the members of the tribe of Indians, it was deemed best to locate the meeting-house on a site so as to better accommodate the Indians and the people living in the east part of the parish. A committee was, therefore, chosen and agreed upon, consisting of persons who were residents of other parishes to determine upon the site for the erection of a new meeting-house. This committee consisted of Col. Jonathan Trumbull, Esq., John Ledyard, and Esq. Luke Perkins. The committee thus chosen met at the house of John Bradford in the North Parish of New Lon- don, on the first Tuesday in March, 1747-8, to hear the re- quests of the various parties interested, and to examine the
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several sites proposed, and to locate and determine upon the spot which, in their judgment, would be the most convenient for all concerned.
The committee, not agreeing upon a site at that time, another parish meeting was called and held on the first Mon- day in April of the same year. At which meeting it was voted not to remove the old meeting-house from where it then stood. but to repair it and let it stand where it was. The house was, therefore, repaired and remained on the original site until the year 1772, when a new site was then agreed upon, and a new house of worship erected. At a meeting of the inhabit- ants of the North Parish in New London, held the 23d day of December, 1771, a committee was chosen " to take into con- sideration the matter of building a new meeting-house; view the several places proposed and agree upon a site and report at an adjourned meeting." The committee was composed of twelve persons who were residents of the parish, and who were among the most prominent members of the society. At the adjourned meeting of the parish held on the 9th day of January, 1772, the report of the committee was submitted to the meeting and accepted. The report was as follows: " We, the subscribers, being appointed a committee at your annual parish meeting to take into consideration the matters concerning building a meeting-house in this parish, view the several places that may be proposed and see if we could agree upon a place for that purpose and report, etc., Beg leave to report that pursuant to the appointment, we met together on the 26th day of December and viewed the several places proposed and considered the same with the attending circum- stances, and have agreed mutually that all the circumstances of the parish considered it will be for the peace and quiet of the parish to build a new meeting-house at the northeast corner of the meadow of Joshua Raymond, at a place known
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by the name of the ' White Oak Stick,' all of which is sub- mitted by your humble servants.
Dated, New London, Dec. 26th, 1771.
Adonijah Fitch,
John Raymond,
James Fitch,
Joseph Chester,
Nathaniel Comstock,
Ebenezer Weeks,
Committee.
Ezekiel Fox,
Peter Comstock,
Wm. Hillhouse,
Joseph Ford,
Joshua Raymond,
At the adjourned meeting, held January 9, 1772, it was voted " to apply to the County Court for an approval of the site fixed by the committee for building a new meeting- house." The Court subsequently approved of the site agreed upon by the committee, and a new house of worship was im- mediately erected. The site then selected, and on which the new meeting-house was built, is the same on which the present church edifice now stands.
The house then built was about fifty feet on each side, fronting to the east, with porches or wings on the north and south side extended above the peak of the main building several feet, on the top of which was a spire with a vane at- tached. There were three doors for entering from the out- side, one in the center of the main building, and one in each porch, all on the easterly side. The stairs leading to the gallery were in the porches, the gallery extended on three sides of the building and was supported in front by posts. On the back side of the gallery next to the wall of the building were square box pews, which were elevated above the front seats from two to three feet. In front of the gallery were the " singers' seats," extending around the three sides, the breastwork forming the front of the seats and served as a re- ceptacle for the hymn and singing-books. The windows con- tained glass which was of the size of 7 x 9 inches, with twenty panes in each sash. On the main floor were twenty-eight box-pews, and in the gallery there were thirteen. Each pew
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was capable of seating from ten to twelve persons. The pulpit was located in the center of the west side, being elevated four or five feet above the floor, and in front of which was the deacons' seat.
At this date the former system of taxation to raise the minister's salary had become unpopular. A new method for raising the salary was adopted, that of renting the pews. In the old meeting-house the pews were owned by those who had put them up, and held by them as real estate and descended by heirship. The new method was to sell the pews each year, the person buying a pew was required to give his note, payable on the first day of January of the following year with interest on the same after it became due until paid. The sale took place in the month of January in each year. This new meet- ing-house, which was erected in 1772, was not fully completed at that time; improvements were made from time to time as circumstances favored. At first no plastering was put upon the walls, timbers were not cased, and no stove put into it until after the year 1800. On the 25th day of May, 1823, while the congregation was engaged in worship on the Sabbatlı, the house was struck by lightning, the fluid entering by the spire on the north porch and following down the posts of the porch and running along the timbers of the house in all directions, shivering timbers and casements, scattering splint- ers and broken fragments of ceilings throughout the entire building. Two persons were instantly killed, Mrs. Betsey Bradford, wife of Perez Bradford, and a child of John R. Comstock. Many were shocked and a general consternation seized the awe-stricken assembly.
The building being very much damaged, it was soon after repaired, the upper portion of the north porch was taken off and was finished up at the same height with the south porch. This house stood until the year 1847, when it was taken down and the present house of worship erected on the site, at a cost of $2,000. Sherwood Raymond, Esq., gave $500 toward the building of the house, and the balance was made up by
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subscriptions varying from $200 to $25. Its size is fifty feet in length and thirty-five feet in width, with twenty-feet posts. In the year 1860 the bell was placed in the belfry, it being obtained through the efforts of Rev. Hiram C. Hayan, then acting pastor of the church.
Rev. David Jewett was ordained pastor of the church in the North Parish of New London on the 3d day of October, 1739, it being the same day of the month and the same month, seventeen years before, that Rev. James Hillhouse was in- stalled. He died in June, 1783, aged sixty-six years, after a united and prosperous ministry of forty-five years. The admissions to the church during his ministry were 136 whites and 21 Indians belonging to the Mohegan tribe. Among those of the Indians who joined the church in full connection were Widow Anna Uneas, wife of Benjamin Uncas the Sachem; Lucy Cochegan; Joshua Nonesuch and his wife, Hannah; Andrew Tantapah: Cyrus Junce and two sisters, Sarah and Lucy; Samuel Ashpo; Widow Hannah Cooper, wife of John Cooper, and others.
In 1756 Mr. Jewett obtained leave of absence for several months to act as chaplain in the army, to which service he was afterwards very often called, not only during the French War, but in that of the Revolution. He was born in Rowley, Mass.
Rev. Rozel Cook, the third pastor, who was previously settled in Watertown, Litchfield County, Conn., succeeded Mr. Jewett, and was ordained June 30, 1784. An ordination at that period called forth a great concourse of people, and was frequently followed by a dance and supper. Yet, it must not be supposed that the minister or any of the church man- agers took part in the " wind up " ; it was the congregation or young people's ball. Mr. Cook had settled upon him the sum of two hundred and sixty pounds, and a yearly salary of sixty pounds, and thirty cords of wood delivered at his home, so long as he should continue their gospel minister. After- wards the sum of forty pounds was added to his settlement,
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making in all the sum of three hundred pounds, with which money a farm was purchased of Peletiah Bliss, and the deed of the same was given to Mr. Cook. On this farm Mr. Cook settled and lived there until his death, April 18, 1798. At his death the farm was distributed among his children, and is still owned by one of his grandsons. Mr. Cook died in the fourteenth year of his ministry, and in the forty-second year of his age. Mr. Cook's letter of acceptance, when called by the church and society of the North Parish in New London, as found recorded on the society records, was as follows:
" New London, May 21st, 1784.
" Gentlemen: - I have taken into consideration the par- ticular situation of ye church and society of New London North Parish and also their union in and call to me to settle with them as their gospel minister and all circumstances rel- ative thereto. The present prospects of a happy union and of being in ye hands of Providence, an instrument (though but weak) to promote your peace and edification. I have on ye whole concluded so far to blot out all disagreeable circum- stances from my mind, as to give you my answer in ye affirma- tive. At ye same time most earnestly praying Christ Jesus the Great Head of ye church and Governor of ye union to send his spirit and grace into our hearts to guide and direct us in ye way of our duty and to order all things relative to so great, weighty and solemn a transaction as our uniting to- gether as minister and people in such a manner as may do honor to His great name and most happily promote the best interests of His kingdom.
" ROZEL COOK.
" To the committee chosen by the church and society to wait on me with their votes and to receive my answer."
The ministers who took part in Mr. Cook's ordination were Rev. Benjamin Throop of Norwich, Rev. Benjamin Trumbull of North Haven, Rev. Timothy Stone of Lebanon, and Rev. Levi Heart of Preston, with their delegates.
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CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH (MONTVILLE CENTER ).
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In the ecclesiastical history of New London Miss Caulkins relates the incident of Mr. Cook's preaching the last sermon in the old meeting-house on " Meeting House Hill " in New London, August 23, 1786. The occasion was that of the sudden death of Sally, daughter of Thaddeus Brooks, who was killed by lightning on the day previous. Mr. Cook's text was from Job 37, 11-14. In 1798 a fund was raised by subscriptions for the support of the minister, the taxation and sale of the pews having become odious and burdensome, was abandoned. The sum raised and funded at that time was 1,067 pounds. The subscription list comprised ninety names, which, probably, was the full number of families then belonging to the congregation. This became the nucleus to the present fund of the society. Many of those who sub- scribed at that time gave their notes to the treasurer of the society, and paid the interest annually, while others paid in the cash, which was loaned by the treasurer, he collecting the interest annually for the support of the ministry. In 1800 an additional subscription was made, securing to the society its present fund, amounting to the sum of three thons- sand six hundred and seventy-two dollars ($3,672).
Rev. Amos G. Thompson became the successor of Mr. Cook, and was installed Sept. 26, 1799. He had previously been connected with the Methodist denomination, and had been ordained elder by Bishop Asbury, at Leesburg, Va., in 1790. Withdrawing from that connection in 1798, he offered himself as a candidate for the Congregational minis- try, and was examined and approved by the association of Windham county, his ordination accepted as valid, and re- ceived to the fellowship and communion of the Congrega- tional churches. His ministry here was short. He died Oct. 23, 1801, in the thirty-eighth year of his age.
Rev. Abishai Alden was the successor to Mr. Thompson, and was installed Ang. 17, 1803. Mr. Alden had previously supplied the pulpit for a time, and, in May, 1803, a call was extended him by the church and society to settle among them
42
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as their gospel minister. A salary of three hundred dollars annually was voted him by the society. The following letter was received by the committee appointed to communicate to him the wish of the society:
" To the Congregational church and society in Montville.
" Brethren and Friends :- In the course of Divine Provi- denne it has pleased the Great Head of the church so far to unite this church and society, as to give me a call to settle with them in the work of the gospel ministry. I have taken your call under consideration, consulted the advice of my brethren in the ministry and addressed the throne of grace for light and direction so far as duty is made plain to me. I think I see my way clear to settle with you in the work of the ministry. Therefore I give my answer in the affirmative and accept the proposals which you have made. Wishing that we may be built up in the faith and order of the gospel, asking your prayers that I might be found a faithful watchman, and that we being found in the faith may be so happy at last as to meet Christ Jesus, is the sincere prayer and wish of your affectionate friend and well wisher,
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