USA > Connecticut > Hartford County > Farmington > History of New Britain, with sketches of Farmington and Berlin, Connecticut. 1640-1889 > Part 10
USA > Connecticut > Hartford County > Berlin > History of New Britain, with sketches of Farmington and Berlin, Connecticut. 1640-1889 > Part 10
USA > Connecticut > Hartford County > New Britain > History of New Britain, with sketches of Farmington and Berlin, Connecticut. 1640-1889 > Part 10
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I was this day set appart to the Sacred office of the Gospel ministry by the laying on of the hands of the Presbytery, and the Revd ministers officiating were
Ashbel Woodbridge of Glassenbury,
Daniel Russell of Stepney,
Glindel Rossen of Hadlyme,
Edward Eells of Middletown (upper houses),
Moses Bartlett of East Middletown,
Samuel Newell of New Cambridge,
Joshua Belden of Newington,
James Lockwood of Wethersfield,
Elijah Lothrop of Gilead, Timothy Pitkin of Farmington,
And I took the solemn Charge of the Church of Christ my blessed Lord and Master in this place.
Samuel Clark."
In 1762 and 1764, votes were passed by the society "to do something at repairing the meeting-house," to shingle the fore side of the "ruff," and "to repair windows and make comfortable for the present; " and in 1765, it was voted, forty-five to thirty-two, to build a new meeting-house, but at the same time it was decided to make the meeting-house " comfortable for another season."
The society appears to have been divided in sentiment in regard to building a new house, or repairing the old one, and, at times, the dissension was great, and the efforts to secure unanimity were unavailing. A part of the mem- bers were in favor of general repairs, while others were in favor of building anew on another site, and others still, believing that a division of the society was inevitable, were opposed to either building or repairing until the question was finally decided. On Jan. 11, 1770, the following vote was passed :
" Voted, that Messrs. Roger Norton, Matthew Cole, Elisha Savage, Amos Peck, Oliver Hart, Matthew Heart, Capt. Isaac Hurlburt, Elias Beckley, Ezekiall Kelsey, Capt. David Sage, Thomas Goodwin, and Amos Porter be a committee in the behalf of the society and at the cost of the same to prohibit and oppose any person or persons that may or shall, contrary to the minds and intent of this society, pull down, destroy, or carry away, any part or appendage belonging to our meeting house,
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HISTORY OF NEW BRITAIN, ETC.
being the property of ye society, and to pull down and separate from said meeting house, Any boards, shingles, glass, window frames or other thing or matter whatsoever, that is, may or shall be added or put to said meeting house, without due order of the society, and in the name and behalf of this society to prosecute to final judgment any such person or persons for damages that hath, may or shall hereafter pull down, destroy, break, or carry away any part of said meeting house, or that hath, may, or shall add thereto as aforesaid without 'ye consent and order of .this society.'"
The foregoing vote was passed by 91 to 70, indicating a full meeting, and revealing the divided state of the society.
Mr. Clark continued in charge of the church until his death, Nov. 6, 1775. He was a faithful and laborious pastor, but the dissensions which arose in the society embittered his latter years.
At a meeting of the society held Feb. 25, 1767, it had been voted that the society apply to the General Assembly to be held the following May, "for a committy to divide the society into two parishes by a north and south line." The division was not made at this time, and the discussion and action extended through several years. At last the General Assembly having refused to comply with the requests made, one hundred and thirty-seven men signed a petition, setting forth the difficulties, and describing the society by saying :
" The society has long been in a very unhappy, broken and divided state, and various means have been unsuccessfully used to reconcile the subsisting difficulties."
This petition, which proposed that the whole matter be submitted to arbitration, was dated June, 1771, and sug- gested John Worthington of Springfield, Oliver Partridge of Hatfield, and Eldad Taylor of Westfield, as arbitrators. The signers pledged themselves to abide by the decision of the arbitrators, and not directly or indirectly to oppose it. The arbitrators, after visiting the place and hearing the statements of the parties interested, recommended the division of the society, drew the boundary line, and fixed the sites of two meeting-houses to be built, one for each society.
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KENSINGTON SOCIETY DIVIDED.
A memorial was presented to the General Assembly at the October session, 1772, asking for the division and incorporating a new society. The request was granted, the division made, and a new society constituted, which was named Worthington Society, from Colonel Worthington, who had been instrumental in securing a settlement of the difficulties.
Preparations for erecting a new meeting-house were soon made in each society. The site fixed for the house in the Kensington Society was nearly a mile west of the old church. Materials were collected and the new building was so far completed as to be dedicated Dec. 1, 1774. It was a plain, substantial building, 60 feet in length and 42 in width, without porch, steeple, or chimney, with a door on each of three sides, and the pulpit on the north side, opposite the principal entrance. An aisle led from the south or principal entrance to the pulpit direct. Aisles from the east and west doors intersected this. On either side of the aisles were square pews. Stairs from the audience room ascended to the galleries. The cost of this meeting-house was £687 13s. 92d.
A committee, consisting of Thomas Gridley, Elijah Hooker, Asahel Cowles, Noah Cowles, Amos Peck, Roger Norton, Matthew Cole, Oliver Peck, and Steven Cole, Jr., was appointed to seat the meeting-house, by the following rule :
" Elderly gentlemen above 70 years of age shall be seated according to their age in the highest parts or seats. Men and women are to be seated together in the pews."
The dedication sermon was preached by Rev. James Dana, D.D., of Wallingford.
The building does not appear to have been completed at the time of dedication, for in 1792 it was "voted to go forward and finish it "; and in 1793, the society gave liberty to have "the meeting-house painted within side similar to Worthington meeting-house, provided it could be done with- out expense to the society." In 1807 a vote was passed to paint the meeting-house.
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HISTORY OF NEW BRITAIN, ETC.
After the death of Mr. Clark in 1775, the church and society were for some years without a settled pastor. Rev. Timothy Dwight, D.D., afterwards president of Yale College, preached several Sundays in 1777-78; and at a meeting of the parish held Feb. 12, 1778, it was voted "to send an invitation and a desire to Mr. Timothy Dwight to come and preach for us in order for settlement." He, however, was not settled as a pastor, and at a meeting of the society held Dec. 21, 1778, a call was extended to Mr. Benoni Upson. At the same meeting the society voted to give him as fol- lows :
"For his Incouragement to settle in the work of the Gospel ministry in this society, the sum of Three Hundred pounds to be paid in wheat at six shillings pr. bushel or money equivalent thereto, the value of money shall be determined by a Comtee who shall be appointed annually for that purpose, one half to be paid within six months and the other within twelve months after settlement ; and for his yearly support and salary one hundred and twenty pounds annually and sufficient fire wood for his family use."
.
Mr. Upson returned the following answer to the call :
"To the Church and Society of the parish of Kensington,
" Brethren and friends, Your votes inviting me to settle with you in the work of the Gospel ministry have been communicated to me by your Committees appointed for that purpose.
To determine a question of so much importance requires time and council.
That I might find the line of duty in an article so Interesting to you and myself, and likewise the cause of religion, I have postponed my answer to the present time. I have taken every opportunity to consult with gentlemen of the ministry, and likewise with other friends, and after the most mature considerations I have thought it the voice of God that I should comply with your request.
The proposals you make of a pecuniary kind are generous, which is an argument that you are disposed to take every step on your part for re-settling the Gospel.
As the public taxes are liable to be greater this year, than were expected at the time of your votes, I have thought it my duty to consent that the people should have longer time for the payment of the settlement than they proposed. I am willing that the settlement you propose to give should be divided into three parts, and that one hundred pounds only should be paid each year for the first three years after settlement. That I may do still more to ease the burden of the people, I am willing that you
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KENSINGTON SOCIETY DIVIDED.
should pay for a yearly support, only £100 the first year after settlement, £107 the second year, £114 the third year, and after that the yearly salary you have proposed.
That you and I may be directed in the way of duty, and have grace to conduct as becometh Christians is the prayer of your affectionate
Benoni Upson.
Kensington, March 11th, 1779."
Mr. Upson was ordained and installed April 21, 1779, the following clergymen constituting the ordaining council :
Rev. Mark Leavenworth, Waterbury; Rev. Timothy Pitkin, Farm- ington; Rev. Samuel Newel, New Cambridge; Rev. John Smalley, New Britain; Rev. Joshua Belden, Newington; Rev. Enoch Huntington, Middletown; Rev. Abner Benedict, Middlefield; Rev. Thomas Miner, Westfield; Rev. Gershom Bulkley, Upper Houses; Rev. John Eels, Glastenbury; Rev. Cyprian Strong, Chatham, and Rev. John Marsh, Wethersfield.
After a successful pastorate of thirty-seven years, and when sixty-six years of age, Mr. Upson expressed a desire for a colleague. Mr. Royal Robbins received a call from the church and society to settle as a colleague pastor with Mr. Upson.
His reply was as follows :
" Kensington, March 7, 1816.
To the First Church and Ecclesiastical Society in Berlin.
Brethren and Friends, Through your Committees appointed for that purpose, I have received copies of votes in which you have given me a call to settle in the work of the Gospel Ministry among you as Colleague Pastor with the Revd Mr. Upson. I have taken the subject into serious and prayerful consideration and endeavored as far as I was able to ascer- tain my duty and the Divine will in regard to your invitation. The con- clusion to which I have arrived is that it is my duty not to accept it. I do not feel sufficiently encouraged in regard to the article of pecuniary sup- port to do what from the considerable unanimity which prevails among you would otherwise be my duty. All I have to say is, that I cordially desire your welfare spiritual and temporal, and though I do not see it my duty under present circumstances to become your pastor, yet I shall ever pray that the blessing of God may rest upon you and yours.
I am with much regard yours in our common faith.
ROYAL ROBBINS."
It being understood that provided four hundred dollars were given to Mr. Robbins as a settlement, as was then com-
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HISTORY OF NEW BRITAIN, ETC.
mon, that he would consent to accept the call, the amount was raised by subscription, and he was regularly settled. On account of the difficulty of collecting the whole, he abated
4 at first $100, and then $75 annually, of his salary.
In 1821, several gentlemen contributed towards the erection of a house for Mr. Robbins, both in materials and cash. The pastorates of Mr. Clark, Dr. Upson, and Mr. Robbins, together covered a period of more than one hun- dred years, comprising the period of several important wars and great national changes. Kensington, during this time, remained largely agricultural, and was an example of the. stability of a quiet country parish, only slightly affected by the glitter and show of more ambitious places. There were several seasons of special religious interest, accompanied by accessions to the church, but little enlargement in numbers in the aggregate. The deaths, removals to other towns, and withdrawals to join the Episcopal, Baptist, or Methodist societies, were about equal to the additions.
Dr. Upson died November 13, 1826, aged. seventy-six years, forty-seven years and six months after his ordination. After Dr. Upson's death, Mr. Robbins became the only pastor. His ministry, which was attended with several revivals, continued until June 26, 1859, when he resigned. He died March 26, 1861, at the age of seventy-three years.
Until 1811, the pastor appears to have used his own Bible in the pulpit. In that year, a vote was passed to pur- chase a Bible, to be kept in the pulpit, and to be the property of the society. In 1820, individuals were granted the privilege of placing a stove in the meeting-house. The plan of renting the pews to raise a revenue to defray the expenses of the society had been adopted two years before. In carry- ing out this plan, it was voted in 1829, that besides the pews reserved for the family of the pastor, and that of Dr. Upson, No. 3 should be reserved for aged widows, and Nos. 30 and 31 for "youngerly widows." The library company were permitted to keep their library in a pew under the north
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KENSINGTON SOCIETY DIVIDED.
stairs, and this for many years was the location of the Ken- sington library .*
The necessity of some repairs on the meeting-house had been considered for some time, when in 1837, Mrs. Ruth Hart, the widow of Gen. Selah Hart, proposed to make a gift to the society of $500, on condition that $500 more be raised by the society. It was voted to accept the gift, and a tax of thirteen cents on the dollar was laid to raise the amount. It was also voted to circulate a subscription paper that an additional sum might be raised. The house was thoroughly repaired, the position of the pulpit and galleries was changed, slips were substituted for pews, and a belfry built at an expense in the aggregate of about $1,500. Blinds purchased by the Young Ladies' Society were added in 1849, and a bell in 1852. In 1863 the roof was renewed, and twenty years later extensive repairs and alterations were made at a cost of about $4,000. The changes upon the house were so great, that it was appropriately re-dedicated February 28, 1884, Rev. Noah Porter, D.D., president of Yale College, preaching the sermon.
After the close of Mr. Robbins' ministry, June, 1859, the church was for nearly a year without a settled pastor. Rev. Elias B. Hillard was installed as pastor May 16, 1860. His pastorate of nearly seven years was marked by a prosperous state of the church and society. He resigned Feb. 27, 1867, and the church was again without a settled. pastor until the settlement of Rev. Alfred T. Waterman, June 23, 1869; but Rev. Abraham C. Baldwin was acting pastor of the church from July, 1868, until June, 1869. Mr. Waterman's resigna- tion occurred June 15, 1874. Rev. J. B. Cleveland was acting pastor from September, 1875, until July, 1879. Three months later, or October, 1879, Mr. C. W. Morrow became acting pas- tor, and continued in this position until March, 1882. Rev. Arthur J. Benedict was installed pastor, May 3, 1883. The church at that time had 124 members. On the first of January,
* Belonging to the Kensington Library Association.
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HISTORY OF NEW BRITAIN, ETC.
1888, there were 156. The Sunday-school increased from 123, January 1, 1883, to 207, January 1, 1887.
The pastors and ministers of this church who remained with it one year or more have been :
Rev. William Burnham, settled Dec. 10, 1712, died Sept. 23, 1750. Samuel Clark, July 14, 1756, Nov. 6, 1775.
Benoni Upson, D.D., “ April 21, 1779, - 13, 1826.
Royal Robbins, June 26, 1816, dismissed June 26, 1859.
Elias B. Hillard, May 16, 1860, Feb. 27, 1867.
Abram C. Baldwin, * began July, 1868, finished June, 1869.
J. B. Cleveland,* Sept., 1875, July, 1879.
66 Alfred T. Waterman, settled June, 1869, dismissed June, 1874.
66 C. W. Morrow,* began Oct., 1879, finished March, 1882.
Arthur J. Benedict, settled May
3, 1883, dismissed April, 1889.
Henry L. Hutchins, June, 1889.
* Messrs. Baldwin, Cleveland, and Morrow were acting pastors and not in- stalled by council.
CHAPTER VII.
NEW BRITAIN ECCLESIASTICAL SOCIETY.
S IOON after the Act of Incorporation making New Britain a separate Ecclesiastical society,* was passed by the General Assembly, the first meeting of the new society was held at a private house. The record of this meeting is as follows :
" A Society Meeting Holden by ye inhabitants of ye Parish of New Britain, Holden in said society on ye 13th Day of June 1754, warned ac- cording to ye Direction of ye law.
At ya same meeting ye society made choyce of Benjeman Judd Junr, to be Moderator to lead and moderate in said meeting.
At ye same meeting Isaac Lee was made choyce of for Society Clark. At the same meeting Lieut. Josiah Lee and Lieut. Daniel Dewey & Capt. John Paterson was Chosen a Comtt. to order the Prudentials of this society for ye Present year.
At the same meeting Lieut. Josiah Lee was chosen Society Treasurer for ye Present year."
The persons appointed to office were chiefly residents of East Street, who had been prominent in securing the incor- poration of the society. The record proceeds with the following votes :
" Voted, whether or no it be your minds that it is Necessary for the Inhabitants of this Society to build a Meeting house for Religious Wor- ship. Voted in the affirmative by thirty two votes and in the negative by fourteen.
Whether or no it be your Minds to chews Insn. Josiah Kilburn and Insn. Elijah Hart a Commt. to Apply themselves in behalf of the Society
* Before the incorporation of New Britain as a distinct society, the place collectively had no name. There were but four houses within half a mile of the present center of the city. Stanley Quarter belonged to Farmington, the north part of East Street to Newington, and the south part of the place to Kensington. The name " New Britain" seems to have been given to the society to distinguish it, at the suggestion of Col. Isaac Lee.
9
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HISTORY OF NEW BRITAIN, ETC.
to ye county court to be Holden at Hartford for said County (court) to Afix a place to Build a Meeting House on, for Religious Worship in this Society. Voted in the Affirmative.
At the same Meeting it was voted that it was Necessary to have Preaching Amongst us ; and that Ladwick Hotchkiss and John Judd be a Comtt. to procuer a Suitable candidate to Preach ye Gospel Amongst us."
This meeting held a few days after the society was incor- porated was the first meeting held with legal authority within the precincts of New Britain. In the few votes passed the purpose which moved and governed the founders of this new society is clearly indicated. There were at that time less than forty houses in the parish, and no public buildings. of any kind whatever, except a small brown school house on East Street. By the votes passed at this first society meet- ing, the first steps were taken toward securing a house of worship and the regular preaching of the gospel. The un- happy divisions in the Great Swamp Society in regard to the location of a meeting-house had taught a lesson which was heeded, and the new society referred the question of location to the County Court, without even voting upon a site.
The society meetings, preaching services, and other pub- lic meetings were held at private houses or barns, or at the school house, generally at the former. During the summer and autumn different ministers preached, among whom were Rev. Elisha Webster, the first minister of the church at Canaan, Rev. Nicholas Street, who was settled in North Haven the next year, Mr. Abel Newell, who was licensed but a few months before by the Hartford North Association, and was settled in Goshen in 1755 ; Rev. Mr. Pratt and Rev. Stephen Holmes. The ministers were generally paid ten pounds old tenor for each Sunday, with the exception of Mr. Newell, who, being a licentiate, received only five pounds.
Another society meeting was held Oct. 25, 1754, at which Capt. Jonathan Lewis was chosen moderator. The ob- ject of this special meeting appears to have been to appoint a committee to assist the surveyor in determining the center of the parish, with reference to the location of the meeting-
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NEW BRITAIN ECCLESIASTICAL SOCIETY.
house, and also to direct the committee appointed to procure preachers. The record reads :
" At. the same meeting it was agreed by vote to chuse a number of men to assist ye Survaier to make a map of this Society & find the Senter of the same as Nigh as they can. Att the same meeting, Capt. Johna- than. Lewis & Sergt. Ebenezer Smith & Isaac Lee were chosen for the ser- vice afor Said.
Att the same Meeting it was Agreed by vote that the first Monday of December next shall be appointed a Meeting to Chuse proper officers for ye Year and anny other Business proper for A Society to do When met, and that ye first Monday of December Annually for the futor shall be a Meeting for the same Service until the Society Agree Other wise.
At the same Meeting it was voted that John Judd and Ladwick Hotchkiss be a Committee to apply themselves to Mr. Stephen Holmes* to preach the Gospel Amongst us until December Meeting next, and if he be not to be obtained, to procuer som other suitable Candidate to preach A Mongst us until ye said December Meeting."
During the autumn the survey of the parish was made by Elijah Porter, of Farmington ; the lines were run in ac- cordance with the vote, and the County Court, as requested, fixed the site for the meeting-house, locating it on the west side of what is now the northern part of Elm Street. This site was a few rods northwest of the present junction of Smalley Street with Elm Street, but at that time neither of these streets existed. The location was on high dry ground, with a grove of oak, hickory, and maple trees to the east and north, and to the west and south a view of most of the territory included in the present business portion of New Britain. The ground about the place where the " stake " was placed by the order of the County Court was uneven, and in some parts of it rocky. Though the location was cen- tral to the settled portions of the parish, it lacked convenient roads or ways of approach.
At the first annual meeting of the society, held Dec. 2, 1754, a few weeks after the site for the meeting-house had been determined, the record reads :
* Mr. Holmes had preached a few Sabbaths before this meeting was held. He continued for a few weeks, preaching in all thirteen Sabbaths, and boarding with Capt. John Paterson. He did not become a settled pastor here, but went to Essex.
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HISTORY OF NEW BRITAIN, ETC.
"Voted that Capt. Johnathan Lewis and Sergt. Ebenezer Smith & Mr. Noah Stanley be a Commit. to aply themselves to the Townd of Farmington in behalf of this Society to Desier them to apoint a Commtt. fully Impowered to Lay out Highways by exchanging or otherwise, as they can agree, with the oners, and where they judg most convenient for ye accommodating ye Inhabitants of this Society to travail to ye Place Apointed by ye County Court to build a House for Religious Worship."
As this was the first annual meeting held in New Britain somewhat full extracts from the official records will help to give an example of the method of conducting public busi- ness at that time.
"Capt. Johnathan Lewis was Chosen Moderator to Moderate in said . Meeting.
At the Same Meeting Capt. John Paterson and Insgn. Elijah Hart & Capt. Johnathan Lewis ware Chosen A Comtt. to order the Prudentials of the Society for the Year Insuing.
At the same Meeting Mr. Ladwick Hotchkiss was Chosen Colector for the Year Insuing, to Colect all the Rates that shall be Granted at the Present Meeting.
At the Same Meeting Capt. John Paterson & Capt. Johnathan Lewis & Insign Elijah Hart were Chosen Rate Makers for the Year Insuing.
At the Same Meeting Lieut. Josiah Lee was Chosen Treshurer for the Year Insuing.
At the Same Meeting it was Voted that Capt. Johnathan Lewis & Capt Jno. Paterson be a Comtt. to procuer som suitable Candidate or Candidates to preach the Gospel Amongst us and to call in A Man on Probation, as the Society Shall Direct.
At the same meeting it was Voted & Agreed that Capt. Jonathan Lewis & Capt. John Paterson be Directed to use all Proper Endeavoures to Procuer Mr. John Bunnell to Com into this Society as A Probationer, in order to Settil in the Work of the Ministry Amongst us."
The meeting then voted to grant to different persons, some for preaching, and some for other services, different sums, amounting in all to ££205 5 shillings. Among these grants was one of £18 " to ye Comtt that Stated the Meet- ing house place," and one of £5 9s " to Insgn Josiah Kil- burn & Capt. Elijah Hart," the committee that had been appointed to apply to the County Court for direction where to build the meeting-house. After specifying these grants, the record proceeds :
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NEW BRITAIN ECCLESIASTICAL SOCIETY.
" At the same Meeting it was Agreed by Vote to Grant a Rate to be Colected of three Shilings on the Pound to Defray the Publick charges of the Society," &c.
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