USA > Connecticut > New Haven County > History of New Haven County, Connecticut, Volume II > Part 17
USA > Connecticut > New Haven County > History of New Haven County, Connecticut, Volume II > Part 17
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These seven pillars were: Mr. Henry Whitfield, Mr. John Higgin- son, Samuel Desborough, William Leete, Jacob Sheafe, John Mepham, and John Hoadly. They now drew up a "Doctrine of Faith," which was used in an unamended form until 1837, to which they first for- mally assented, then entered into covenant relations with each other. After this others of the planters were added, upon similar confession of faith and expression of covenant belief, and being approved church members were also dignified as freemen. This gave them the right to fully participate in the affairs of the plantation. Here as in New Haven only church members could vote or hold office, until after the union of New Haven colony with other colonies in the state in 1665. How many of the planters were excluded by this provision is not known. as the early church records have not been preserved. For many years no deacons or ruling elders were elected, and the tempor- alities of the church were managed by three inen chosen annually.
" To the church thus constituted the four planters-Robert Kit- chell, William Chittenden, John Bishop and William Leete-who had been entrusted with the control of affairs until a church should be gathered, resigned their trust, and by the church thus organized the civil polity of the plantation was thereupon established."* The church, it will be seen, thus became the all important factor in the community, and for many years everything else was subordinated to it.
It appears strange that a community which placed such an esti- mate upon the church relation should not have been organized into that form earlier; but it is probable that there was some cause for the delay, or the need may not have been so apparent since, no doubt, they regularly maintained worship. Mr. Whitfield had been the pas- tor of some of the members in England, and at least one of them, Thomas Norton, had been a warden in his church at Ockley. That there may have been some temporary organization appears from the fact that in 1641 Mr. John Higginson had been secured as a teacher, and both were continued by the church in their former relations; and as Mr. Whitfield had been ordained in England, that formality was not here followed by the new church.
It is probable that the first meetings were held in the stone house of Mr. Whitfield, built in 1639, which was first " fitted up with folding partitions " to afford the necessary room. But a stone meeting house, with a thatched roof, was soon built on the northwest part of the green. It may have been completed in 1643, at the time the church was organized. In 1651 it was ordered to be rethatched " and clayed before winter," which would indicate that it was perhaps hurriedly finished. Its capacity was increased in 1668, when a gallery was built.
* Reverend Cornelius L. Kitchell.
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across the west end or side, for the building was about 25 feet square, and the sides of the roof, which were now covered with lumber, came to a point in the center. In 1672 a porch was added and in 1679, more room being wanted, it was agreed to build galleries on all the sides and a porch on the south side. Again it was enlarged in 1681, and in that manner was used until 1712.
Notwithstanding the parish of East Guilford had been formed in 1703, the attendance at church was so large that a new meeting house was demanded and secured in 1713. This was a large wooden struct- ure, 46 by 83 feet, and three stories high, so as to afford double gal- leries. At the west end a steeple, 120 feet high, was added, in which a bell was placed about 1725: and about the same time a clock was made for it and given to the society by Ebenezer Parmelee, a skillful mechanic of the town. It is said that this was the first meeting house in the state thus equipped. In a repaired condition the old clock is still in use in the present church spire. Up to 1726 the drum was used to warn the people to attend meetings, according to the custom of those times. In the old meeting house the men sat in one part and the women in another; and in the new building it was ordered, in 1713, that "men and women sit together in the meeting house in the pews;" which were assigned to families according to age, social position and the property list. This meeting house, which stood near the center of the green, was used about 117 years.
Early in 1828 it was determined to build a new meeting house, and after some effort to raise the necessary means, thirty members of the society agreed to build the house, taking the risk of being reim- bursed from the sale of pews. A lot opposite the north end of the green was selected, on which the corner stone of the present edifice was laid June 5th. 1829. It is 60 by 80 feet, with a pulpit recess of six feet, and originally cost more than $7,000. As dedicated May 19th, 1830, it was a large, imposing frame building, and for those times was deemed very complete. The old house was now demolished and re- moved from the green. In 1861 the present meeting house was very materially improved and modernized, especially the interior. In 1868 Mrs. Mary G. Chittenden presented the society with a superb organ. Recent repairs have made this building and the parsonage adjoining attractive and comfortable. On the 20th of May, 1830, the pews of the meeting house were sold for more than enough to pay all the bills contracted in its erection, and the ownership remained in the purchasers until 1850, when they were deeded back to the society, which has since annually rented them.
The Reverend Henry Whitfield continued his pastoral labors un- til October, 1651, when he returned to England. His congregation had become greatly attached to him, for he was not only a pastor, but, in the words of Mr. Ruggles, "He was properly the father of the plantation; lov'd his flock tenderly and was extremely belov'd
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by them." His preaching had been most acceptable, "delivering himself with a peculiar dignity, beauty and solemnity." Hence when the time came for him to leave his church the people of the town "followed him to the water's side with many tears," and bade adieu to him who had in all things amongst them been the foremost. Coming to Guilford with what seemed great means, his estate had become much exhausted by helping his people and sup- porting his large family, so that when a living was offered him in England, under the protectorate, he felt it his duty to return; and he ended his life in the ministry in the city of Winchester.
Henry Whitfield was the son of a lawyer and was designed by his father for that profession. But he became a minister of the established church of England and served at Ockley, in Surrey. For twenty years he conformed to the church of England, when, through his acquaintance with some distinguished non-conformists, as Hooker, Davenport and Eaton, he also became a non-conformist, among whom, on account of his ability and wealth, he took a promi- nent place. From the fact that his family remained in Guilford some eight years longer, it has been inferred that it may have been Mr. Whitfield's purpose to return, but in 1659 all the remaining members, including his son-in-law, the Reverend John Higginson, left the town, and his landed property passed into other hands.
While the church mourned the loss of its beloved pastor, it was soon called upon to suffer a still further loss in the departure of two more of its seven pillars: Mr. Samuel Desborough, who returned to England in 1651, and Mr. John Hoadley, who went two years later. In the meantime the teacher of the church, Mr. John Higginson, con- tinued to preach, and September 5th, 1653, was settled as the pastor. He remained until 1659, when he also purposed to return to England. Sailing for England, contrary winds forced the vessel back into Salem, where his father had been settled in the ministry in 1629 as the first pastor of that church. The pulpit being vacant, he was persuaded to settle there as the pastor, and was installed August 29th, 1660. He continued until his death, December 9th, 1708, in the 93d year of his age, after having been in the ministry 72 years. In his twenty years' stay in the town he aided largely in forming the character of the com- munity, and was respected both as a teacher and as a preacher.
The departure from Guilford of Reverend John Higginson marked an ebbing period in the history of the church, and for several years matters were in a confused condition. Reverend John Cotton, who had married a daughter of Doctor Bryan Rossiter, was here part of the time, as was also Reverend John Bowers, who was afterward the pastor of the Derby church. A call was extended to Reverend In- crease Mather in 1663, and the town was much elated at the prospect of his acceptance; but he declined the call the next spring. In this state of affairs some of the planters removed and the town suffered in consequence.
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HISTORY OF NEW HAVEN COUNTY.
"After they had waded through these troublesome times Provi- dence provided for them a pastor after God's own heart to feed them with knowledge and understanding. For about the year 1664 or 1665, the renowned Mr. Joseph Eliot, son of the famous and pious Mr. John Eliot of Roxbury (the Indian New England Apostle) was called and ordained to the pastoral office in this church." "The church and town greatly flourished under his successful ministry. After this burning and shining light had ministered to the good people about thirty years, he deceased May 24th, 1694, to the inexpressible grief of his beloved flock whose memory is not forgotten to this day."#
The Reverend Thomas Ruggles was settled as the next pastor November 20th, 1695, " and after he had faithfully fed the flock, he deceased June 1st, 1728, in the 34th year of his ministry and the 58th year of his age." His son, Thomas Ruggles, Jr., succeeded him in the pastorate March 26th, 1729. His accession was attended by an un- fortunate disagreement which caused the formation of the Fourth church. And yet Mr. Ruggles acquitted himself a careful. prudent pastor, " a lover of good men and a friend to mankind." He died November 19th, 1770. His powers having failed, Reverend Amos Fowler was settled as his colleague June 8th, 1757, and after his death became the pastor. He was also a native of Guilford, and graduated from Yale in 1753. He died, greatly respected, February 10th, 1800. Reverend Israel Brainerd, of Haddam, was installed as the next pastor June 11th, 1800, and was dismissed six years later. In this period there was much unrest in the congregation and the spiritual life of the church was very low. He could not yield himself to the demands of his people, and after a vain effort to quicken them, left the town.
The church was now without a pastor six months, when, Decem- ber 10th, 1806, Reverend Aaron Dutton was settled as the minister. At the time he was installed there were less than thirty active mem- mers, but so successful was his ministry of 36 years, that at its close, June 8th, 1842. there were more than 400 members. He was a man of marked character and ability, and " resigned his pastorate chiefly on account of the difference of opinion between himself and many of his congregation on the subject of negro slavery in the United States." He left the parish for the sake of harmony, but the continued agitation of the subject resulted in the organization of the present Third church. It is to be regretted that efforts to unite the two churches, made after the cause of the separation had been removed and forever settled, have not been attended with more encouraging results. The united congregations would constitute one grand and powerful church.
Since the pastorate of Mr. Dutton the following have been the ministers: Reverend E. Edwin Hall, settled October 25th, 1843, dis- missed July 24th, 1855, at his own request, to make a visit to Europe; Henry Wickes, May 22d, 1856, to July 21st, 1858: William S. Smith, May * Ruggles mss., 1769.
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HISTORY OF NEW HAVEN COUNTY.
3d. 1859, to July 3d, 1865; Cornelius L. Kitchell followed the Reverend E. Edwin Hall, who had supplied the pulpit, and was settled April 13th, 1870, resigned March 24th, 1873. October 4th, 1873, Reverend Theodore L. Day became acting pastor, and remained until May 4th, 1876. The pulpit was now supplied by the Reverends H. R. Harris, Andrew W. Archibald and George S. Thrall. January 2d, 1879, Rev- erend Henry Fink became the acting pastor, until his death, Aug- ust 27th, 1879. March 10th, 1880, Reverend Frank H. Taylor was in- stalled, and was dismissed September 3d, 1883, when Reverend S. M. Keller supplied the pulpit. In May, 1884, Reverend E. M. Vittum was here ordained, and was dismissed December 15th, 1888. On the 1st of August, 1889, Reverend Charles H. McIntosh became the supply for one year, and continued in the summer of 1890.
In the town have been raised up as ministers, among others, the following in the First Society: Jared Eliot, Timothy Cullins, Bela Hub- bard, D.D., Thomas Ruggles, Timothy Stone, Thomas Ruggles, Jr., William Leete, Jr., Edwin H. Seward, Beriah Hotchkin, Henry Rob- inson, S. W. Dutton, D. D., Henry L. Hall, Daniel Collins, Edmund Ward, Samuel Johnson, D. D., William Seward, Andrew Fowler, Joy H. Fairchild, Thomas Dutton, Theodore A. Leete, John H. Fowler, Sherman Griswold, Martin Dudley, Edward C. Starr, John W. Starr.
From the North Guilford part have gone Nathaniel Bartlett, Amos Fowler, Aaron C. Collins, Lyman Beecher, Angus B. Collins, Jared Tyler, Abraham C. Baldwin, John E. Bray, Stephen A. Loper and others.
Several new churches have from time to time been formed as off- shoots from this church; the Congregational church of East Guilford, now Madison, in 1703; the Congregational church in North Guilford, in 1719; the church in Guilford called the Fourth church, in 1731, now disbanded ; the Congregational church in North Bristol, now North Madison, in 1757; and the Third Congregational church of Guilford, in 1843. The Episcopal church of Guilford, in 1743, and the Methodist church of Guilford, in 1836, also received, at their organization, sev- eral members from this church.
The members in 1890 numbered 332, belonging to 185 families in the parish.
The following were chosen and served as deacons of the church: George Bartlett, 1664; John Fowler, 1664; John Graves, 1666; William Johnson, November, 1673; John Meigs, 1696; Samuel Johnson, 1713; James Hooker, 1702; Thomas Hall, 1727; William Seward, 1730; Tim- othy Stone, 1742; Doctor Nathaniel Ruggles, 1751; Ebenezer Bartlett, 1765; Jolin Burgis, November 2d, 1775; Thomas Burgis, November 5th, 1794; Samuel Chittenden, June 19th, 1799; Abraham Chittenden, July 2d, 1799; David Bishop, April 29th, 1802; Ambrose Leete, December 2d, 1807; Thomas Hart, March 29th, 1809: Anson Chittenden, March 29th, 1809; William Starr, December 3d, 1813; John B. Chittenden, October
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HISTORY OF NEW HAVEN COUNTY.
3d, 1823; Comfort Starr, August 30th, 1827; Jason Seward, August 30th, 1827; Abraham Dudley, August 30th, 1827: Samuel Robinson, May 3d, 1832; Albert A. Leete, May 3d, 1832; Edward L. Leete, November 14th, 1852; Eli Parmelee, November 14th, 1852; * Edwin O. Davis, January 8th, 1871; * John Graves, March 30th, 1877; * John W. Norton, March 30th, 1877; * E. Walter Leete, November 25th, 1883.
The North Guilford Congregational church was formally organized in 1725. For a number of years the settlers of this part of the town attended worship at Guilford village, going thither at much inconven- ience. Application was then made for the means of winter preaching, and in May, 1720, the general assembly incorporated the inhabitants into a society,+ to enable them to build a meeting house at some suit- able place in their midst. A plain house was put up in 1723, which was, with repairs, made to do service until it was replaced by the second or original part of the present house, built in 1814. This meet- ing house has been materially changed, and the repairs at different times have made it an inviting place. Its location is most charming, being on a hill, overlooking the greater part of the North Guilford section. Near by is a comfortable parsonage, and on the opposite side is the new and attractive parish house. The latter reflects great credit upon the enterprise, taste and forethought of the community. It was carried to completion largely through the instrumentality of pastor Frank R. Kahler and Augustus Bartlett, the latter donating $500 for that purpose. Other generous friends contributed the balance, the entire cost being about $1,600. The house has room for general church and social meetings, a school room and a library. It was occupied in the fall of 1888.
At the formal organization of the church, June 16th, 1725, Reverend Samuel Russell became the pastor. He was a son of Reverend Samuel Russell of the Branford church, and graduated from Yale in 1712. His service as pastor continued until his death, January 19th, 1746, but as the records of that period have not been preserved, it is not known how largely he augmented the church membership.
After several years Reverend John Richards, of Waterbury, who graduated from Yale in 1745, was ordained in November, 1748, and was dismissed at his own request December, 1765. In his ministry 85 persons were added to the church.
The third pastor was Reverend Thomas Wells Bray, a native of Branford. He graduated from Yale in 1765, was ordained pastor of this church December, 1766, and died in the service of the parish April 23d, 1808. He was a pious, exemplary and successful preacher, and 167 members were admitted as the result of his labors.
Reverend William Fowler Vaill was ordained as the pastor Decem- ber 21st, 1808, and served in that office until April 20th, 1820, when he left to become a missionary in Arkansas. He graduated from Vale in
* Present deacons. + Known as the " Third Society in Guilford."
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HISTORY OF NEW HAVEN COUNTY.
1806, and here fitted quite a number of young men for that institution. He also added about thirty persons to the church membership.
In September, 1821, Reverend Zolva Whitmore was settled in the pastorate, and continued until August, 1846. Then. for several years, the pulpit was supplied.
Reverend John L. Ambler was the acting pastor in 1848. and the Reverend Henry Eddy served in the same way from January, 1849, to March, 1851. Reverend Fosdic Harrison was the acting pastor from November, 1851, to November, 1854, and in the summer of 1853 had a good revival, eleven persons being added by profession of faith. Reverend Abraham C. Baldwin was next the acting pastor, from De- cember 1854, until October, 1855. In this period the church edifice was repaired.
Reverend Thomas R. Dutton began an acting pastorate December 9th, 1855, which was continued to May 1st, 1859. In the spring and summer of 1858 there was a notable revival, which added 24 to the membership, and in all 37 were added during his pastorate.
Reverend Richard Chittenden began supplying the pulpit in July, 1859, was ordained to the pastorate August 1st, 1860, and dismissed in 1864. The next minister was Reverend William Howard, who was installed December 20th, 1865, and who. after an acceptable ministry, was dismissed in 1875.
Since that time the pulpit has been supplied or filled by acting pastors, among them being the Reverends William B. Curtis, Frank R. Kahler, until the fall of 1888; and since Marclı, 1889, Reverend Harry C. McKnight. At this time the church had on its rolls 118 members, 11 of whom lived outside of the town. The families in the parish numbered 86, and an invested fund helped to support the Gos- pel work.
From all accounts the deacons at the organization of the church were George Bartlett and William Dudley. Subsequently those in the deacon's office were: Theophilus Rossiter, Simeon Chittenden, Selah Dudley, John Bartlett, Robert Griffing, Joel Rose, Levi Chit- tenden, Timothy Rossiter, Benjamin Rossiter, William R. Collins, Samuel W. Dudley, John R. Rossiter and M. L. Chittenden, the latter being the clerk.
The Fourth Society in Guilford may here be appropriately noted. The elder Ruggles, pastor of the First church, died in 1728, and was succeeded in 1729 by his son, Thomas Ruggles, Jr. His settlement gave cause for dissatisfaction to 29 of the 80 male communicants, who protested that he was "not such a distinguishing, experimental and animating preacher as they desired." They and others, more than fifty in all, withdrew and set up separate worship, building a small meeting house in 1730. on a lot facing the north end of the green, after all efforts at reconciliation had failed. Although the dissent- ients were but few in number, they were not without influence, and
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succeeded, after several attempts, in being incorporated in 1733 as a separate society, with the same bounds as the First society, in spite of the vigorous protest of that body. They now had Reverend Edmund Wood, who had preached for them as a candidate for the ministry, or- dained September 21st, 1733, as their first pastor. Mr. Wood was a native of the town, graduated from Yale in 1727, and served as pastor until 1735, when he was dismissed and deposed by a council called for that purpose. He subsequently became an Episcopalian, but never took orders in that church. He died in 1779, aged 73 years.
The society was without a pastor for eight years, and being deter- mined to maintain its organization, in spite of legislative and other efforts to unite them to the parent society, ordained Reverend James Sproat as its second pastor, August 23d, 1743. He was dismissed Octo- ber 18th, 1768, and not long thereafter was installed over the Second Presbyterian church of Philadelphia. His learning and ability secured for him the title of D. D., which he fitly honored. He died in Phila- delphia in the fall of 1798, himself, wife and several children being victims of the yellow fever scourge.
The successor of Doctor Sproat at Guilford was Reverend Daniel Brewer, who was settled as the pastor September 18th, 1771. In the course of a few years he became a believer in the doctrines of the Sandemanians, or that none but Christ and his apostles should be ad- mitted as preachers, and of course no longer preached himself. He was dismissed in 1775.
The last settled minister was Reverend Beriah Hotchkin, who was ordained as pastor August 17th, 1785, and was dismissed in March, 1789, to become a missionary in the wilds of New York. He was a native of the town, and from his boyhood was devoted to religious thought.
After the removal of Mr. Hotchkin the Fourth church rapidly de- clined, until but few members remained. In 1810, by legislative enactment, sixteen members were returned to the First church, which practically ended the existence of the Fourth society, which had for so many years been an unhappy factor in the community; and thence- forth, for many years, the First church was again supreme.
The following were elected as the deacons of the Fourth church: 1733, Samuel Cruttenden; 1740, Daniel Benton; 1755, Peletiah Leete and Seth Morse; 1766, Daniel Leete; 1768, Joseph Bartlett; 1772, John Davis; 1773, Peletiah Leete, 2d; 1776, John Hall; 1786, Ambrose Leete and James Corwin.
The Third Congregational Church in Guilford is also an offshoot of the First church. Toward the close of the pastorate of Reverend Aaron Dutton the congregation was much distracted and divided by the agitation of the subject of American slavery, with a result that a considerable proportion of those who were opponents of slavery with- drew to form a separate congregation. These avowed friends of the
10
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HISTORY OF NEW HAVEN COUNTY.
African slave, to the number of 123 persons, were organized as the above body by an ecclesiastical council held in Guilford, November 23d, 1843.
It was at once determined to build a meeting house, and December 19th, 1843, William Hart, Jonathan Bishop, Samuel Seward, Jonathan Parmelee and George Bartlett were appointed in behalf of the congre- gation to carry on the work. The corner stone was laid July 17th, 1844, upon a lot on the east side of the green, which was secured with some difficulty, as many citizens were opposed to the building (as they called it) of "an abolitionist meeting house." However, the house was rapidly pushed to completion, and was dedicated January 1st, 1845, when the first pastor was also installed. In the summer and fall of 1862 this house was remodelled at a cost of $2,600. A suitable or- gan was supplied in 1873, a chapel built in 1879, and an infant class room added in 1880. More recent repairs have made this a comforta- ble place of worship.
Reverend David Root, who became the first pastor, January 1st, 1845, was an experienced minister, and came to this church from the First Congregational church at Waterbury. He gave the church faith- ful service, and was relieved at his own request, April 6th, 1851. He died in Chicago, Ill., at the residence of his son-in-law, Horace White, August 30th, 1873, aged 82 years, but was brought to Alderbrook cem- etery for interment.
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