USA > Connecticut > Hartford County > Farmington > History of New Britain, with sketches of Farmington and Berlin, Connecticut. 1640-1889 > Part 12
USA > Connecticut > Hartford County > Berlin > History of New Britain, with sketches of Farmington and Berlin, Connecticut. 1640-1889 > Part 12
USA > Connecticut > Hartford County > New Britain > History of New Britain, with sketches of Farmington and Berlin, Connecticut. 1640-1889 > Part 12
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At the annual meeting held Dec. 5, 1757, the following action was taken :
" Voted that a committee be appointed to aply to the Rev'd South Association of Hartford County for their advice for sum suitable candi- date to preach ye Gospel in this Society as a probationer."
The records of this meeting later read :
" Att the same meeting Maj. John Paterson, Lieut. Dan'l Dewey and Mr. Jno. Judd were chosen a Comtt. to use their endeavors yt Mr. John Smalley be Prevailed on to preach in this Society as a probationer in Order
* The vote June 7th for settling Mr. Taylor was, "aff. 41, neg. 12, newtor 1." Mr. Taylor, a few months later, was settled over a church in New Fairfield, and in 1763 was charged with Sandemanianism, tried by the Fairfield East Asso- ciation, and silenced.
·
steel by John sartain. Phil"
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NEW BRITAIN ECCLESIASTICAL SOCIETY.
for Setteling in the Work of the Gospell Ministry amongst us, provided the advise of ye Rev'd South Association of Hartford County may be pro- cured therefor."
The society was thus careful in all its action to proceed regularly and with the full approval of the Association of Ministers, which had so frequently given it advice.
Mr. Smalley had been licensed to preach by the Litchfield South Association a few months before this vote was passed. He accepted the invitation of the committee and came to New Britain the same month, and commenced preaching as a probationer. The people were so much pleased with him that at an adjourned meeting, held Jan. 9, 1758 :
" Ye Society Unanimously voted to choose Mr. John Smalley for their Minester and to proceed to his settlement in ye Work of ye Gospill Minestry amongst us, provided ye advise of ye Rev'd South Assotiation of Hartford County may be obtained, together with Mr. Smalley's con- sent."
At the same meeting the salary was voted and conditions of payment named. On consultation with Mr. Smalley some slight alterations in the conditions were suggested ; these were readily adopted, and at a meeting held March 6th, the final agreement was voted as follows :
"Att ye same Meeting ye Society agreed by vote to give to Mr. John Smalley if he settles in ye Work of ye Gospel Ministry amongst us for his Settlement, one Hundred and fifty Pounds, Lawful Money, or ye value thereof in Bills of Publick Credite in this Colony : to be paid in three Severall Payments, viz : ye first payment to be fifty Pounds : & to be paid in one year aftor he, ye Said Mr. John Smalley Shall so Settle as above mentioned : ye second payment is to be fifty Pounds and to be paid in one Year after ye first payment : ye third payment to be fifty pounds, and to be paid in one year aftor ye second Payment.
Att ye Same Meeting ye Society agreed by vote to give to Mr. John Smalley if he shall Settel as mentioned above for his Saliry ye three first years fifty pounds, Lawfull money each of said three years ; and then to rise five Pounds, annually until it come to Sixty-five pounds, and so to continue to Give to him ye Said Mr. John Smalley Sixty-five pounds Law- full money, annually, untill ye General List of this Parish Shall Rise to Six Thousand pounds : and then to Give to him, ye said Mr. John Smalley Seventy pounds Lawfull money, annually so long as he shall. continue to be our Minister : and it is to be understood and is hereby understood it
10
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HISTORY OF NEW BRITAIN, ETC.
ye annual Salary as Mentioned above may be Discharged & Payed by an- nually Delivering ye value thereof in grain to him, ye said Mr. Smalley, in the foloing manner, viz : an equil quantity in Wheet, Rye or Indian Corn, and that What Grain Shall be Brought in or paid Shall be paid either in ye Months of March or April, and ye price of Grain so Brought in or Paid shall annually be stated by a Comtee of ye Parish agreeing with him ye said Mr. Smalley and for a Rule to find said price it shall be as Grain went for Money ye May or June preceding each yearly payment -and also ye Society further agreed by vote to Give to Mr. John Smalley fifteen cords of wood annually from ye time of his settling five years and then to Give twenty cords of wood annually five year more ; and then to Rise to twenty-five cords, if he, the said Mr. Smalley shall kneed so much and so to continue to Give twenty-five cords annually if he kneeded so long as he ye said Mr. Smalley shall continue to be our Minister . . . and to prevent disputes in case Non agreement about ye price of Grain it is hereby provided and agreed, it the said Deference shall be Desided by ye judgment of Indifferent Men ; and it is hearby further to be under- stood it all former Grants or Vots of this Nature heartfore made to him the said Mr. Smalley are void and of no force."
This vote was communicated to Mr. Smalley, and he at once returned the following answer, viz :
"The Parish of New Britain having given me a call to settel among them in the Work of ye Gospel Ministry, I do hearby signify my com- pliance therewith so far as to acquiesce in ye Terms, and to Refer ye mat- ter to ye approbation and advice of ye Rev'd Association to which said Parish belongs.
John Smalley.
New Britain, March 6th, 1758."
The same day the society appointed :
" A committee to assist Mr. John Smalley in gathering ye Rev'd South Association of Hartford County in order for his Examination, and if approved by sd association, then to appoint a day of Fast, and ye Or- dination day, and every thing else Necessary previous to or on his ordina- tion day." *
During the period of almost four years in which this new and feeble society was endeavoring to secure a settled pas- tor, in all the trials, vexations, and disappointments which came, the faith of the members never, wavered. They re- peatedly referred the matter to the Hartford South Associa- tion for advice and counsel, and when brought to the most
* The committee consisted of "Capt. Jonathan Lewis, Lieut. Elijah Hart, Maj. John Paterson, Mr. Ebenezer Smith, and Mr. Jedidiah Smith.""
139
NEW BRITAIN ECCLESIASTICAL SOCIETY.
eventful crises, appointed days of fasting and prayer. Yet they went forward, building their rude meeting-house and making the necessary preparation for worship.
It is not strange that places with churches well organized and with more compact communities, should have presented to the various ministerial candidates, wider and more at- tractive fields of usefulness than this parish. No church had yet been gathered here; the plain meeting-house was unfinished : the families composing the parish were much scattered ; the people from whom the church must be formed, if at all, were connected with churches elsewhere, some of which were not willing these members should leave, and the outlook of this " society in the wilderness " was not encour- aging. But disappointment had apparently only nerved the active members for continuous endeavors until success crowned their efforts. In the selection of Dr. Smalley, Providence had seemed to lead to the choice of a pastor who was emi- nently fitted for the parish, and arrangements were made for his ordination at an early day.
.
CHAPTER VIII.
FIRST CHURCH OF CHRIST, NEW BRITAIN.
F OR nearly four years, provision for preaching services on Sunday and for the ordinary ministrations of the gos- pel had been made by the New Britain Ecclesiastical Society, before any church was organized. The society had received the frequent counsel of the Hartford South Association, and had often been guided by this counsel in its action.
An Ecclesiastical Council having been called " To consider the matter of organizing a church, and to ordain Mr. John Smalley to the work of the gospel ministry, if deemed expe- dient;" it convened at New Britain, April 18, 1758. The council was composed of the following ministers and lay delegates :
Rev. Moses Bartlett, Portland,
Rev. Joshua Belden, Newington,
Samuel Clark, Kensington,
Edward Eells, Upper Middletown,
James Lockwood, Wethersfield,
Timothy Pitkin, Farmington,
William Russell, Middletown,
Ashbel Woodbridge, Glastonbury.
Deacons, Joshua Andrews, Thomas Hart, Isaac Lee, William Rock- well, Hewitt Strong, and William Wadsworth; Col. Elizur Goodrich, Col. Thomas Wells, Capt. John Rich, and Mr. Nathaniel Chauncey.
Rev. William Russell was moderator and Rev. James Lockwood scribe.
The council was in session two days. After a thorough and careful examination of the candidate, the members took action as follows :
" Voted that Mr. John Smalley, agreeably to the votes and call of this society, and his acceptance, be ordained to the work of the gospel ministry, according to the Saybrook platform, and he was so ordained by
141
FIRST CHURCH OF CHRIST, NEW BRITAIN.
this council, this nineteenth day of April, 1758, by the imposition of the hands of the Presbytery, with fasting and prayer.
Test. James Lockwood, Scribe."
The church was organized the same day, and consisted of the following members :
" From the church at Cornwall, Conn., Rev. Hezekiah Gold, Pastor, Rev. John Smalley.
From the church at Newington,
Maj. John Patterson & wife, Noah Standley,
Thomas Richards & wife,
Ruth Kilbourn,
William Smith & wife,
Ebenezer Smith & wife,
Thomas Lusk & wife,
Samuel Richards & wife,
Mary, wife of Daniel Kilborn.
From the church at Kensington,
Widow Hannah Seymour,
66 Mary Andrews,
66 Anna Booth,
John Judd & his wife,
Joshua Mather & his wife,
Elijah Hart & his wife,
Benj. Judd & wife, Joseph Smith,
Judah Hart & his wife,
Rebekah, wife of Daniel Dewey,
Elijah Hart Junr.,
Moses Andrews & his wife,
William Patterson,
Joseph Smith Jun. & his wife,
Widow Hannah Root,
Jedediah Smith & his wife,
John Kelly & wife,
Josiah Lee & his wife,
Joseph Woodruff & wife,
Isaac Lee & his wife,
Simeon Woodruff & wife,
Stephen Lee,
Jedediah Goodrich & wife,
James Judd,
Nathan Booth & wife,
Uriah Judd & his wife,
Ladwick Hotchkiss & wife."
At a meeting held soon after the incorporation of the church, Maj. John Patterson and Sergeant Elijah Hart were chosen and appointed to the office of deacon.
" Voted that the sacramental collection be only once a year when the money is to be handed in, in enclosed paper with the giver's name written thereon. If any are absent one or more sacraments to be set down on the paper and there to be deduction."
* Seven persons " owned the covenant " before the church was organized, ten others in 1758, and seventeen afterwards.
Hannah, wife of Gideon Griswold,
Martha, wife of Samuel Goodrich,
Nathan Judd & his wife,
Phineas Judd & his wife,
Elizabeth Lee,
Experience, wife of Jonathan Gris- wold, Ruth, wife of Robert Woodruff,
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HISTORY OF NEW BRITAIN, ETC.
At a meeting held July 30, 1761,
" Deacon Elijah Hart, Josiah Lee, Daniel Dewey, Isaac Lee, Ladwick Hotchkiss and Noah Standley were chosen a standing committee to advise with the pastor in matters of Difficulty & particularly to assist him in judging respecting complaints that may be exhibited, whether they ought to be prosecuted and brought before the church or not."
The communion service seems not to have been perma- nently provided at first, for at a meeting held September 3, 1772, it was voted :
"That the Deacons be desired to procure a platter & two cups for the churches use."
The following is from the records of the annual meeting of the society, held December 4, 1758 :
"Mr. Elijah Bronson was chosen to take care of the meeting-house and shut the Windows and Dors, and Sweap the same for ye year ensu- ing
Att the same meeting Capt. Jonathan Lewis, Lieut. Elijah Hart and Lieut. Daniel Dewey were chosen a comtt to prepare a Memoriall to ye Inhabitants of the Town of Farmington, praying them in their Wonted Goodness to Grant to Mr. John Smalley our Rev'd Pastor about twelve acres of land in ye 40 Rod Highway, or in some such Place or Places as a comtt. appointed by ye Inhabitants of Farmington shall Judg most Con- venient for ye said Mr. Smalley, and Least Detrimentall to ye Publick."
This committee presented the memorial to the town of Farmington, and the request was granted by the following vote of the town :
" At a meeting of the Inhabitants of the town of Farmington, held the 1st day of December, 1758, upon the memorial of Capt. Jonathan Lewis, Mr. Daniel Dewey, and Deacon Elijah Hart, as agents for the parish of New Britain, the town granted to Rev. Mr. John Smalley about twelve acres of land in the forty rod highway, to be in two pieces, if it may there be had without damaging the road, and also made choice of Left. John Strong, Capt. William Wadsworth and Mr. Elijah Porter, as a committee to lay out said land, and deed it, so as may be best for said Mr. Smalley, and least damageble to the said highway."
The land donated to Mr. Smalley was on the west side of Main Street, and extended from Dublin Hill, or the present Broad Street, southerly nearly to the stream of water which formerly crossed Main Street near the line of the railway.
143
FIRST CHURCH OF CHRIST, NEW BRITAIN.
Dr. Smalley sold it to Colonel Isaac Lee, and bought for himself a house and farm of twenty-six acres on East Street, which at that time was much nearer the most thickly settled part of his parish.
With a church regularly organized and a minister settled, this new parish began to look for prosperity, and one of its first acts was to provide for finishing the meeting-house. The rude structure had been occupied for more than two years and a half as a place for religious services, and other public meetings ; but it was still unfinished, and in inclement. weather, or in the winter, church and society meetings were still held in private houses. At a society meeting held Jan- uary 8, 1759, the following votes were passed :
" Voted that Levt Dan1 Dewey, Mr. Ins Judd be chosen a Committee to Procuer Bords and other stuff for ye Meeting House so far as the Tax Money Procure.
Att the same meeting Capt Jonth" Lewis Capt Josiah Lee & Mr. Thos Stanley ware chosen Comtt to Underpin the Meeting-House."
The lumber and stone were procured and the work carried forward slowly. The boards were procured at Farmington, and the stone was drawn to the meeting-house on sleds. At a society meeting held February 2, 1761, the following accounts were approved :
" Agreed by vote to Grant the Comtt f procuring about 8000 pine Bords at Farmington, £16. 0.0
For carting sd 8000 Bords 18. 0.0
To Lieut. Dewey for going to Farmington after Bds 10.0
To Ins. Judd for same service 2 Days
12.0
To Com't for procuring stone for underpining
2. 3.2
To Comtt for Sledding sd stone to meeting house
4. 1.0
To Comtt for Going after sd stone
1. 2.0
£42. 8.3
Att the same meeting Isaac Lee was appointed Comt. to procuer a sufficiency of slit work and Bord and Banisters and any other Timber needed for the Lower part of ye meeting house and ye Galery floors."
For some reason the work was much delayed, and a year later, 1762, the record reads :
" A committee was appointed to go on to finish the Lower part of y" Meeting House and Pulpit and ye Galery floors and ye front Round ye
144
HISTORY OF NEW BRITAIN, ETC.
Galery, the Insuing summer, and that ye Square Body of said Meeting House shall be finished by pews and not by long seats."
The work still went forward quite slowly ; the avails of the tax were not sufficient to pay the bills for material and work, and notes were given in payment of a part of the expense, but some of these were collected with difficulty. At a society meeting held June 22, 1763, the record reads :
"It was agreed by vote that the Tresuror should pay to Zebr Good- rich & Nath1 Churchill the Intrest.of the money still Dew on the Notes Given for the finishing the Lower part of the Meeting House from the time said Notes ware out untill the same is paid. Also to pay 58 6ª for there Charge of Sewing and being Sewed."
Another committee was appointed to see that the notes and debts were collected.
At the annual meeting held December 3, 1764, it was voted :
" That the Prudenshall Comtt. shall Repare the meeting house, clap- board, shingle and Ridg Bord and glass, and procuer a Decent pare of Biers."
A committee was also chosen
" To Seel the Meeting House in Wholl or in part, as they shall think kneedful."
At the annual meeting held in 1767, the prudential com- mittee were ordered to procure springs for the meeting-house windows and fix the same. At a meeting held in January, 1769 :
"Voted that Capt. Johnathan Lewis, Moses Andrus & Timy Stanley be directed to employ Capt. Judah Woodruff or some other workman to finish the unfinished work of the Meeting House, viz : the Plastering the Walls and overhead, besides the making the seats provided he will under- take and completely finish the same for 41€ 10s, or under that sum.".
The work appears to have been done during the spring and summer, so that in a little more than fifteen years after this house was commenced, it was completed.
In outward appearance, and in its interior arrangement this first meeting-house resembled similar buildings erected
145
FIRST CHURCH OF CHRIST, NEW BRITAIN.
in Connecticut before the revolutionary war. Entirely plain, but substantial, it was in harmony with its surroundings, befitting the sturdy farmers who had erected it, and adapted it to their needs. The interior arrangement was simple. From the large or principal door, a broad aisle led to the communion table, which was a plain board hung with hinges, and when in use, supported by iron braces. Back of this table was a seat for the deacons, in front of and partly below the pulpit. Narrow aisles led from the broad aisle at the principal door to the right and left, leaving a tier of pews next the wall, and meeting the broad aisle at the communion table. The pews were nearly square, with seats and vertical backs, on each side except at the door. As the occupants of each pew faced the center of the pew, some of the people nec- essarily sat with their backs to the pulpit. There were wide galleries with stairs ascending from the audience room ; the gallery at the right of the pulpit being for men and boys, and the opposite one for women. The meeting-house was seated according to certain regulations established by the society. After the benches had been removed and pews substituted, in 1773, at the annual meeting of the society, the following vote was passed, according to the records :
" Voted to Seet the meeting house, and Dean Dewey Noah Stanley Lieut. Judd & Capt Hotchkiss were chosen Seetors to Seet the same ; and for a Genl Rule the Comtt shall alow 6 pound in the List to be Equal to one year of age Comparing Tax List viz. List 1772-1773."
When the minister entered the meeting-house at the front door and walked up the broad aisle to the pulpit, it was customary for the principal men, who occupied the dig- nified seats in the square body, to rise, bow to him, and sometimes to greet him with words of welcome .*
This meeting-house was for many years the place of assembly for all in the parish, and it was used for public meetings of all kinds. For more than fifty years there was no other organized church or society than the one worship-
* Dr. Smalley would sometimes attract attention when entering by stamping upon the floor.
146
HISTORY OF NEW BRITAIN, ETC.
ing here, and all the people gathered to this house, as their church home. It had no fireplace, stove, or furnace. Small Sabbath-day houses, with a fireplace, a few chairs, and other conveniences, were built near for the accommodation of such of the parishioners as remained at the noon intermission. In these houses friends and neighbors gathered about the fire upon the hearth to eat their lunch, obtain a little warmth, . and discuss the morning sermon and the news of the parish.
At the society meeting held February 2, 1761 :
"Capt. Josiah Lee, Joseph Smith, and Judah Wright ware chosen a Comtt to state ye Place for Noah Stanley and Company to build a Sabbath -. Day house upon."
Similar provision was made for others.
About eighty rods east of the meeting-house, on Burying Ground Lane, was the burying ground, on land originally belonging to Capt. Stephen Lee's farm, and given to the society by his descendants, in exchange for a part of the highway .*
In 1784 occurred one of the principal revivals during Dr. Smalley's ministry, and in this year and the next there were forty-six added to the church, and a new impetus was given to the growth of the society. At the annual meeting in 1785 the following action was taken :
"Lieut. Jonathan Belden, Capt. James North, Ensign Lewis Andrus, and Elnathan Smith were appointed to Shingle and Clabord the Meeting- House with Pine Clabord and Shingles and also Coller the same with a Fashenable Coller."
Over ninety pounds was expended in these alterations, which were accompanied or followed by other improvements.
* At the annual meeting in 1771, a committee was appointed to present a memorial "to the Inhabitants of the Town of Farmington, praying them to sell so much of the Highways in said town as will procuer a convenient Burying Yard for this society." The request appears to have been granted, for at a town meeting held a few days after the committee was appointed, the town voted that " the committee for exchanging highways be empowered to convey to Isaac Lee Esq. so much of said highway as may be best spared, as shall make him a meet recompense for the burying-place he has found for said society of New Britain." The society, in 1773, voted that "the Publick Burying yard should Lye in common with the rest of Isaac Lee, Jun' Lot for the futor."
147
FIRST CHURCH OF CHRIST, NEW BRITAIN.
Among these the cultivation of church music is especially noteworthy. In August, 1786, the summer that the meeting- house was repaired, the society determined to improve the singing and authorized the prudential committee to draw on the treasury :
"Not exceeding six pounds for the Incouriging of singing in this Society to the Best Advantage."
Other and similar appropriations were frequently made, and in 1789 the committee was instructed :
"To procuer such Instrewments of Musick as they think Propper and Decent by such Unappropriated Moneys as are due to this Society, if such can be found, and when such Instrewments are thus procured to belong to this Society as their property."
The arrangement and adjustment of the salary of Dr. Smalley seem to have caused the society some trouble, and this matter was often tlie occasion of action at the meetings of the society.
At the first annual meeting after his ordination the fifty pounds settlement was voted, and the salary for the first year fixed at forty-five pounds .* The next year the salary was raised to fifty pounds, and the five pounds deducted for 1758 was made up to him. At first, the price of grain was to be the market price of the preceding June, but as the price varied considerably, it was decided in 1759 that grain should be brought to him in April, May, or June, and should be estimated at the market price in the latter month. Wood was estimated at six shillings per cord. It was difficult for this small society to pay his salary and meet the expendi-
* The following receipts from Dr. Smalley the first year of his pastorate are taken from the society records:
New Brittain, Decem'. ye 17, 1759.
Then Rec'd of ye Parish of New Brittain ye Sum of Seventeen Pounds ten Shillings Lawfull money which is in full of my Demands on sd Society for Preaching before my settlement &c. I say Reed Pr me Jnº Smalley.
New Brittain, Decent ye 17, A D 1759.
Then Recd of ye Parish of New Brittain ye Sum of Ninety four Pounds Law- full Money and fifteen cords of Wood which is in full for my first years Salery and Settlement according to Covenant. I say Reed
Pr. Me Jnº Smalley.
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HISTORY OF NEW BRITAIN, ETC.
tures for the meeting-house and for schools. In a few years considerable arrearages had accumulated, and in 1762 his salary was raised to seventy pounds, and a committee was appointed :
"To agree with the Rev. Mr. Smalley what the Rearages are, and how much is still due him from ye Society in there not making Payment by the time agreed upon."
Dr. Smalley was a careful business man, and judged that if his salary was not paid according to contract there would be interest due him. He bought his place on East Street in 1759, but does not seem to have built his house until the . year before he was married, or in 1763, for at a society meet- ing held April 13th of that year, the following record was made :
" At the same Meeting Capt John Lewis, Joseph Smith, Noah Stanley, Lad. Hotchkiss, Lieut Dan1 Dewey, Deacon Elijh Hart, Capt Josh Lee & Moses Andrews ware chosen a Commit to Repare to the Revd Mr. Smalley & with him make a Computation what his House will cost and what Mr. Smalley can Disburse towards the same, and say how much the re- mainder ; how best to be paid and in How Many Rates ; and when each rate must be paid."
At a society meeting held Sept. 7, 1763, the following vote in regard to his salary was passed:
"Voted to add to ye Rev'd Mr. Smalley's saliry Twenty five Pounds annually so long as he continues to be our Minister, and to be paid and Discharged as the former saliry, provided he Gives the Society a Dis- charge from all Rearages Occasioned by the Depretiation of Money or Rise of Things, or Failyour in Point of payment by the Time covenanted. And also voted yt provided the Society for the Futor fail in Point of Payment by the Time covenanted, if the Society shall pay Interest at five per cent. for the same untill the whole sum is paid, it shall Discharge the debt."
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