USA > Connecticut > New Haven County > History of New Haven County, Connecticut, Volume I > Part 45
USA > Connecticut > New Haven County > History of New Haven County, Connecticut, Volume I > Part 45
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It is to be regretted that the people who had been forced to leave their native land on account of religious intolerance should, in their adopted country, through their zeal and love for their chosen religion, surround it with laws scarcely less tolerant than those which had op- pressed them. For nearly half a century there was scarcely any relig- ious liberty in the colony for those who dissented from the state church, when the rigor of the laws was somewhat abated by the Act of Toleration of 1708 and the further acts of 1727 and 172). It was not, however, until many more years had elapsed that freedom of con- science and " soul liberty" were recognized rights, and all religions were accorded equal privileges and protection by the laws of the state. It should be borne in mind that in those days there was not the uni- versal enlightenment which now prevails, and that class distinction had not been abolished. The masses of the colonists were controlled by superior minds, who had themselves been trained to believe that the church and the state were inseparable, and that the latter should establish, maintain and protect the former. Hence, the stringent laws of that period and the prescribed methods of conduct demanded by them.
The First Congregational Church of Wallingford was organized in conformity with these laws and after the customs of those times. Its founders were law abiding, devout men, with respect for the usages of their time, and patterned closely after the parent society at New Haven. Accordingly, the preliminary step was the appointment of a day of fasting and prayer for divine guidance in the selection of the committee which should "lay the foundation." This was held Feb- ruary 3d, 1675. On the 15th of the same month the inhabitants met again to select the foundation members, who, in turn, were to admit by the ordinary processes of examination and profession. The record of the town in regard to this event is as follows:
" At a lawful meeting of the inhabitants of the town of Walling- ford, and upon the 15th day of 2nd month, 1675, it was ordered and enacted by the town, that as there had been conference about estab-
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HISTORY OF NEW HAVEN COUNTY.
lishing a church of Christ in the aforesaid town, and also a solemn fast set apart and celebrated by the town unanimously to seek God's guidance in so great a work, they have now also freely and unani- monsly concluded, if it be the will of God, that there shall be a church of Christ gathered to walk according to the Congregational way, and have also all freely and unanimously left the management of the same in the hands of the persons whose names are underwritten, and that if it be the will of God to incline their hearts, so many of them as may be a competent number for that work, may in his time lay the found- ation.
THOMAS YALE,
NEHEMIAH ROYCE,
ELIASAPH PRESTON,
JOHN HALL, SEN'R.,
MR. MOSS,
LIEUT. MERRIAM,
MR. SAM'L STREET,
SERG'T DOOLITTLE,
NATHAN ANDREWS,
MR. BROCKETT,
JOHN HALL, JR., JOHN BEACH,
BENJ. LEWIS."
The court of election of the colony, held at Hartford. May 13th, 1675, approved this purpose of the town, and granted leave to estab- lish the church, consequent upon the approbation of the neighboring churches, which was not withheld.
Having no house of worship, the meetings were held at the dwell- ings of Lieutenant Nathaniel Merriam and Ensign Munson, the town paying for the use of the same at the rate of 40 shillings per year; and this custom was continued about ten years. But at the town meeting October 2d, 1676, it was contemplated to build a meeting house, 30 by 34 feet. A consideration of the project led them, after the lapse of two years, to decide November 27th, 1678, " to build a house to meete in on ye Saboth of 28 foot in Length and 24 foot breadth & ten foot in stud between ye groundsill and wall plate, to be comfortably and comleyly fitted up with doers and windows and floors and other things nedeful in order to the end propounded."
Owing to the scarcity of material and the lack of means it took several years to complete this building, a further rate being levied in 1681 to that end. The house was built of logs, with a square roof running to a point at the center, where was a small turret.
Doors on the east and on the south afforded entrance and the windows were small, with shutters but without panes of glass. This meeting house stood on the hillside north of the present church and there is an account that when work on it was begun, the minister of a neighboring church was present and preached from the words of Isaiah: " My beloved hath a vineyard in a very fruitful hill," which, in view of the beauty of the site and its surroundings, was certainly an appropriate selection.
The interior of this house was very plain, there being neither pews nor slips, but long seats, the sexes occupying opposite sides of
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HISTORY OF NEW HAVEN COUNTY.
the house. At the door were seats for the soldiers, for there was yet apprehension of attack by the Indians and the precautions of those times were observed. In February, 1689, the town agreed to build a fort round the meeting house, to provide still greater security against a possible incursion by the red men.
In 1690 the town had 73 families and the meeting house having become too small, an addition of 16 feet was made to its breadth. The following year the interior was changed, the pulpit being removed to the west end and a sounding top placed over it. Two pews were also ordered to be built and short seats were placed on the sides of the pulpit.
In the course of seven years the town was again obliged to enlarge the meeting house and in February, 1698, it was voted to build an addition on the east side, 20 by 50 feet, giving the improved building the form of a capital T. Still greater accommodations being demanded, on the 30th of April, 1706, "The town chose Deken Hall, Samuel Roys and Goodman Culvert a committee to procure workmen to come and build gallers for the Inlargement of the meeting house."
Of this church Doctor Davis, in his "History of Wallingford," says: "In this little edifice-meaner and more rude in its construction than any building now in the valley-the fathers of the town held their solemn assemblies, offered up their united prayers, and put forth their stern views of doctrine. At the appointed hour, the drum hav- ing been beaten, both the first time and the second, the whole popula- tion, from the dwellings of the town and the outlying farms came together in the place of prayer. In plain and carefully kept clothes, the saintly heads of families with their closely trained and solemn faced children, came, after the toils of the week to observe holy day."
The increase of population so much taxed the capacity of the meet- ing house that chairs and stools were brought and placed in the "alleys of the house" to accommodate the worshippers. This resulted in so much inconvenience that by vote of the town, in 1716, the constable was ordered to remove them. Most likely this uncere- monious ejectment aided to settle the already agitated question of building a new meeting house for, on the 23d of September, 1717, that matter was determined by a vote of the town. when it was decided to build, "and the forms of the house to be like Gilford [Guilford] meeting house and to be left to ye committee to make some little altera- tion if they see cause; and layed a rate of eight pence on the pounde for the careing of the meeting house."
The committee referred to and who were to have charge of the building were Captain John Hall, Ensign Curtis, Sergeant Hart. Gideon Ives, William Ward, Joseph Parker, Robert Hall and Samuel Hall. So the old meeting house was taken down and the erection of the third house of worship begun. A site for it was selected in front of the present meeting house, where the frame was raised in 1718.
384
HISTORY OF NEW HAVEN COUNTY.
The building fronted east, the main entrance being on its side to the street and at the north end or gable of the house was the steeple. It was a large structure, three stories high, with two tiers of galleries. It was completed and occupied in 1720.
In the prosecution of the work the inhabitants were called on for labor and means, but as money was scarce progress was somewhat slow. Nails and glass were secured by the exchange of barrel staves. In 1719 Captain Hall was authorized to exchange a vessel load of staves to secure the above articles, and that year a contract was made with John Russell, a glazier of Wethersfield, "to make all the glass for the new meeting house." Unlike the old house, in the new one more attention was paid to the interior arrangement. A whole range of pews was built around the sides of the new house, and several of the inhabitants were permitted to build pews of their own, which should befit their position. Captain John Hall was thus given liberty to have a pew near the last door. The assignment of the pews was placed in the care of a committee, to " dignify and seat the meeting house." This committee was instructed to respect the aged. " who had been serviceable to the town," and "to have respect for those who had borne commissions." After these classes had received attention, the remainder of the congregation were seated according to their social position. proper preference being given to the family of the min- ister. In the galleries were usually the seats of the young people, boys under 18 years of age being excluded from the upper one, on account of the too great opportunity there afforded to indulge in friv- olous conduct. In the lower one boys were permitted under the watch of some person appointed by the town for that purpose, and who was invested with constabulary powers.
It appears that in building the new meeting house some of the in- habitants favored a steeple, while others were opposed to such an in- novation. But in 1718 it was voted to build one, which. however, was not done until 1728. The top of the belfry was crowned by a large brass rooster. The three story meeting house was used more than a hundred years, and within its walls some of the most stirring events of the church and the town took place. It was taken down in 1824 and the fourth meeting house of the church erected in its stead, in the pastorate of Mr. Noyes. It stood farther back on the lot and was what was termed a two-story building, having but one gallery. In the rear of the lower part was a basement. The entrance was from the east through a piazza, whose roof was supported by large pillars. The spire surmounted the front of the roof, a part of the weight resting on the piazza pillars. It was crowned with a ball and a weather vane.
The present edifice occupied by the society is the fifth meeting house erected by the First Congregational church. It is a large and imposing building, with a seating capacity,of more than 700 persons, and cost about $40,000. The corner stone was laid June 16th. 1868,
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HISTORY OF NEW HAVEN COUNTY.
and it was dedicated May 21st 1860. Since that time it has been freely repaired and supplied with various features to make it attrac- tive and comfortable.
The first minister of the settlers of Wallingford. Reverend John Harriman, preached two years, when began the first regular pastorate by the Reverend Samuel Street. He was a son of Nicholas Street of New Haven, the colleague of Davenport, and was 40 years old when he came to Wallingford, in April, 1673. He was carefully educated and had graduated from Harvard in 1664. His installation at Wal- lingford did not take place until 1674, but from the time of his call in 1672 he was practically the settled pastor. Before his coming the town had provided him a house and voted him a salary of £50 per year. In the later years of his pastorate allotments of land were made for "his encouragement," both by the general court and the town. The for- mer, at its session in Hartford in May, 1681, granted him 200 acres, which he sold in 1686 to John Hulls of Derby. The year previous the town had granted him twelve well located acres, and at various times granted lands, until his holdings amounted to 120 acres. Aside from this the pastor's salary was increased, what seems a generous allow- ance being made. April 28th, 1696, " The Town voted to allow Mr Saml Street as A recompense for his labours in ye worke of ye min- istry in ye year 1696 ye full and just sum of one hundred pounds in provision pay, only ye sd Mr Street is to find himself firewood & he will set a week in ye fore part of ye sumer & a week in ye latter part of ye sumer yt each man may bring a load of wood or two if ye sd Mr Street see Cause & yt Mr Street will allow 2 & 6d P load to each man."
Besides being pastor of the church 42 years, Mr. Street took an active interest in the affairs of the town and was much respected by all its inhabitants. He died January 16th, 1717, aged 82 years.
Before the decease of Mr Street a colleague had been provided. the town taking action in this matter as early as July, 1708. A com- mittee was appointed which invited Mr. Samuel Whittlesey to preach and, September 20th, 1708, the town confirmed the agreement which this committee had made, being satisfied with his preaching. A longer trial induced the town to extend him a pastoral call, the terms of which are contained in the following letter. This is here produced to show the zeal which animated this community and also indicates their poverty in worldly riches. Although disposed to pay well for ministerial service they had to resort to make-shifts in order to raise the salary:
" Mr Whittlesey, Sur :- The subscribers hereof being a committee appointed and empowered by the town of Wallingford as may appear by their record, bearing date April 4, 1709, to treat with yourself in order to a settlement with us in the ministry, and for your incouragement to comply with us therein, doe propose to make
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HISTORY OF NEW HAVEN COUNTY.
such grants of lands and other incouragements following-first we doe give and grant to you, the said Mr. Samuel Whit- telsey, a six acar lott of land lying neare the meeting house: and one acar and a half of the west end of Deaken John Hall's home lott for a building lott, to be bought for you; also a peace of land at southward side the beatel quarter, on the hill, on which the town stands, fifteen acars; and seaven acars of pasture land on the north side of Nath'l Ives home lott; also a meadow lott of land in the common field on the west side of the river of twenty acars and known by the name of the parsonage; and fore acars of plaine in the same field called the town lott, also a farm of hundred and fifty acars of land att Pilgrim's Harbor, called the town farm, with all the unlaid outt land adjoining, and one hundred pound right in commonage and in all undivided land, all which shall be the said Mr. Sam'I Whittelsey, his heirs, executors and administrators and assigns for ever, as an estate of inheritance in fee simple. Likewise the said committee doe agree to build a house for the s'd Mr. Sam'll Whittelsey of forty-two feet in length and twenty feet in breadth, tow stories hye, with a porch and back kitching and finished deasantly, the said Mr. Samuel Whittelsey to provide glass and nales; which house is to be soe built within tow years; the s'd committee doth farther agree that the said Mr. Whittelsey shall have a sallery of seaventy pound a year for the tow first years and the thurd yeare eighty pound and one hundred pound a yeare ever after soe long as he carrieth on the work of the ministry; which sallery shall be paid in wheat at five shillings par bushel, rye at three shillings sixpence par bushel, pork at three pence farding per pound, and if it soe fall out that there doth not come a supply of fire wood yearly to the s'd Mr. Whittelsey by parsons appearing to do it gratis, then the town are obliged to take the care and find him his wood in some other way-but if the providence of God should so order that the said Mr. Sam'll Whittelsey dye leaving no male Hare that is a natural issue of his bodye, then the six acar lott by the meeting house and the meadow lott called the parsonage to returne to the town againe to the true and honest intent and par- formans of the preameses we the before named committee have sett our names
THOMAS YALE, SAMUEL HALL,
THOMAS CURTIS,
JOHN HALL, SR., JOHN MEARIMAN, JOHN HALL,
JOHN PARKER."
Mr. Whittlesey accepted the call on the conditions named, and was installed in May, 1710, as the colleague of Mr. Street, becoming the sole pastor upon the decease of the latter, seven years later. He was a son of John Whittlesey, the first emigrant of that name in this coun - try, and was born at Saybrook, Conn., in 1686. Becoming a student of Yale. he graduated in 1705. Seven years later he married Sarah
387
HISTORY OF NEW HAVEN COUNTY.
Chauncey, a granddaughter of President Chauncey, of Harvard Col- lege, who was a woman of strong force and character. Mr. Whittlesey died in the service of the church. April 25th, 1752, while yet in the vigor of manhood.
He was an unusually talented man, and was one of the most emi- nent preachers in the colony in his day. "He applied his whole time to his work, and shone with distinction in intellectual and moral at- tainments. For twenty years he was a fellow in Vale College. in which institution his son, Samuel, was a tutor for six years. from 1732. when he became the associate pastor of the Milford church. The other members of his family reflected the attainments of their father, and the descendants of this worthy minister have remained useful citizens in the state, which delights to honor his revered name."
We come now to the consideration of a most critical period in the history of the church. After the death of Mr. Whittlesey it soon be- came apparent that it would be difficult to secure a new pastor in whom would be combined the qualities of the old one, and who could control a membership which had already become restless, even under the judicious management of Mr. Whittlesey. The people were so divided in their opinions and feelings that although about twenty candidates had been heard, nearly six years elapsed before a successor was called. In 1757 matters had so far progressed that a ballot on the candidates was held, 100 votes being cast. Of this number Mr. Chaun- cey Whittlesey, a son of the old pastor, received 48, the remainder of the votes being divided among four other candidates. The friends of Mr. Whittlesey were staunch in their adherence to him, and the others being equally unyielding. no choice was made, and the breach con- tinued to widen. In this strait the society, in March, 1758, referred the matter of selection to a committee of seven of the leading men of the town, whose judgment was greatly respected. After confer- ence this committee submitted the question to neighboring ministers -the Reverends Samuel Whittlesey, Samuel Hall, Isaac Stiles and Theophilus Hall-who advised the committee, April 26th, 1758. " to send to Mr. Holyoke, President of Cambridge College, Mr. Appleton, minister of Cambridge, and Doctor Chauncey, of Boston, for their Di- rection to some suitable candidate for the ministry in said Walling- ford." This was done by the committee, and Doctor Chauncey being absent the two first named recommended Mr. James Dana, of Cam- bridge, a graduate of Harvard in 1753, as a most suitable person to supply the wants of the church.
Mr. Dana was at that time 23 years old and was undoubtedly a young man of marked attainments and rich promise. He was invited to visit Wallingford, with a view of becoming a candidate for settle- ment and, coming, preached several Sabbaths to the apparent satis- faction of all concerned. Samuel Hall, Elihu Hall, Ensign Theophilus Doolittle, Charles Whittlesey, John Hall, John Peck, Deacon John
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HISTORY OF NEW HAVEN COUNTY.
Hall, Caleb Merriman, Lieutenant Joseph Royce, Lieutenant Caleb Johnson, Captain Nathaniel Beadel, Captain Peter Hall, Captain Eliakim Hall, John Moss and Abraham Stanley were appointed a committee to secure him as a pastor and to arrange the terms of his acceptance. On the 2d of September, 1758, Mr. Dana agreed to become the pastor and it was decided that he should have £200 settlement; £80 salary, the first year. £90 the second year, and £100 per year thereafter as long as he continued in the ministry of the society.
Unfortunately, at this juncture, a question arose as to the sound- ness of Mr. Dana upon some theological points and upon his being questioned in relation to the same, he answered then in such a manner as to lead some of the aforesaid committee to think that he was not sufficiently orthodox to become their minister. Hence, when the society voted to give him a settlement and salary, while 140 voted in his favor, so much opposition had already arisen that 62 votes were cast against him. Mr. Dana accepted the pastoral office, as he was clearly the choice of the majority, but the opposition not only did not cease but now assumed larger and more determined proportions. Explicit charges were made against him, to the Consociation of New Haven county, which were signed September 25th, 1758, by Caleb Merriman, Caleb Johnson, Daniel Clark, Street Hall and Levi Moss. The consideration of these charges and the questions which arose from their discussion, involving, as they did, many of the controverted points at issue between the "Old Lights" and the "New Lights," culminated, finally, in what became widely known as " The Walling- ford Controversy." Of this it has been said " that it more than all others became a matter of public concern and opened a distinct era in New England theology and in history of the 'liberties of the churches.' Mr. Dana was set apart to the ministry by an . Old Light ' council, in the face of protest of a respectable minority and against the solemn edict of the Consociation of New Haven county, which had met at Wallingford to forbid the ordination of a candidate charged with doctrinal unsoundness, even with Socinian or Arminian proclivi- ties. The bold procedure of ordaining in spite of the prohibition was a triumph of the principle for which the 'New Lights' had long contended: and the pens of the time were alive in its censure or its defense. It was a triumph also over the power of the 'ecclesiastical constitution of the dissenters,' and Noah Hobart, aided by President Clap and other leading divines of the colony proved to be a champion no more successful here, for the Saybrook Platform, than he had been in his addresses to the members of the Episcopal separation in New England. Those on the other side found support for their action in the popular voice as well as in the voice of a body of ministers trained under the influence of Whitefield's teachings."*
The council called to ordain Mr. Dana and the Consociation meet- * Doctor Beardsley and Dr. Davis.
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HISTORY OF NEW HAVEN COUNTV.
ing to examine the charges against him both assembled at Walling- ford October 10th, 1758, and after several days ineffectual attempts to adjust matters, the Consociation forbidding, the ordaining council determined to go on, being satisfied with the Christian character of Mr. Dana and that his views did not unfit him for the ministry. Mr. Dana was ordained October 12th, 1758. Before the ordination the Consociation certified to the council that 95 members of the society were opposed to Mr. Dana and that they possessed half the rate- able estate. Some of those opposed were the largest tax payers and were men of high standing in the town. Naturally, to them the selection of Mr. Dana was very aggravating, especially since he re- fused to be interrogated in regard to his doctrinal belief, by some of these men, who probably demanded that right on account of their social position. Hence they were interested in keeping alive the opposition to Mr. Dana and through the Consociation had the sentence of non-communion passed against some of the principal adherents of Mr. Dana, as well as against the pastor himself. Later, in March, 1759, they moved to have the council which had ordained Mr. Dana, and which was composed of the Reverend Joseph Noyes, Isaac Stiles, Theophilus Hall. Samuel Whittlesey, Jonathan Todd and Chauncey Whittlesey, elders; and Robert Treat, Nathaniel Ruggles, Thomas Darling and Ezekiel Royce, messengers, cut off from ministeral intercourse with the other ministers in the county. This being done the disfellowshipped ministers formed a new association which was continued about twelve years, when the excitement hav- ing subsided the old Consociation made overtures which resulted in uniting theni into one body.
After the disfellowship of Mr. Dana, he and his adherents remained in possession of the meeting house, the dissentients absenting them- selves from the worship. But, on the advice of the Consociation, they applied for the use of the meeting house when not occupied by Mr. Dana, and that body would supply preaching. Under this arrange- ment, Benjamin Woodbridge preached several times, but on being adjudged a disorderly person,“ August 14th, 1759, on proper complaint made, the meetings were there discontinued. The dissentients did not, however, acquiesce in the payment of their taxes, imposed for the support of the ecclesiastical society, without an effort for relief. In May, 1760, 96 persons petitioned the general assembly, pleading that the action of the Consociation, April 23d, 1760, in disfellowing the entire church, on account of adherence to unorthodox doctrine, war- ranted them in the claim that they (adherents of the Consociation) were rightfully the society, and should have possession of the meeting house and its immunities. To this petition Charles Whittlesey, agent for the society, made reply, stating that the dissentients were the
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