USA > Connecticut > New Haven County > History of New Haven County, Connecticut, Volume II > Part 30
USA > Connecticut > New Haven County > History of New Haven County, Connecticut, Volume II > Part 30
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HISTORY OF NEW HAVEN COUNTY.
feet high. The new house had long benches till 1775, when pews were made. In 1803 the interior was arched, the upper gallery being thus shut up. The society very early had a bell, but in 1740 procured a new one weighing six hundred pounds. The same year a tower clock was put up in the steeple.
" The house was built from the proceeds of a tax levied for that purpose and from the profits of the flock of sheep kept by the town."
It should be borne in mind that this large house was necessary to properly accommodate all the people of the town, which had not yet been reduced by the formation of new towns out of its northern terri- tory, many people coming fifteen miles to meeting.
With some repairs and improvements this meeting house was used nearly a hundred years. But about 1820 it became alarmingly shaky. When ministers from abroad came to preach here they would hurry through their sermon lest the old building should come down upon their heads. The fame of the rickety old house went abroad in the state. Finally, a committee was appointed to examine it. They re- ported it to be safe. But the terrific September gale of 1821 decided the question, and in 1822 a resolution to tear down the creaky building and construct a new one was passed by a vote of 91 to 31. Upon the 16th of February, 1823, the people gathered to worship for the last time in the ancient temple. Its venerable walls had echoed to 6,000 sermons. They had looked down upon 813 persons as they were ad- mitted into church fellowship .*
The old house was razed on the 25th of March, 1823, and upon its site the original part of the present building was put up the same year by Captain Michael Peck, at a cost of $8,000. The original size was 54 by 70 feet and 27 feet in height. While this house was building the congregation worshipped in the Episcopal church. The appliances for heating were first introduced in 1831, when two stoves were supplied.
In the basement of the meeting house a lecture room was fitted up, but during the pastorate of Doctor Brace, ending in 1863, a chapel was built, the meeting house repaired and a new bell supplied. Since that time the house has had other repairs and has been much im- proved in appearance. In 1890 it was an attractive and valuable property.
After the death of Mr. Prudden the church was four years without a pastor, when on July 29th, 1660, Reverend Roger Newton was re- ceived, and ordained Angust 22d, the same year. He was a son-in-law of Reverend Thomas Hooker, of Hartford, and had studied theology with him, and was reputed a sound and judicious preacher. But disturb- ances arose in his parish beyond his power to control, and his situation here was very trying. Yet he swerved not from the faith of the founders of the church to lower the standard of admission or by con- senting to the Half-way Covenant. He was a studious man and had * Doctor Biddle's sermon.
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HISTORY OF NEW HAVEN COUNTY.
accumulated one of the finest libraries in his day, more than 200 vol- umes in all, most of them devoted to his calling .. His ministry covered a period of 23 years, and was terminated by his death, June 7th, 1683. In all he received 164 persons into church fellowship, and left it 200 strong.
After a vacancy of several years the third pastor was secured in the person of Samuel Andrew, in his day a superior man. He graduated from Harvard in 1675, and for five or six years was a tutor in the col- lege. In October, 1685, he was ordained to the pastorate of this church, and also continued until his death, January 24th, 1737, nearly 82 years of age. He was pastor more than 50 years, and received into the church 530 members.
Mr. Andrew was one of the leading men in New England, and one of the most active in promoting higher education in the colony. "He gave a great deal of time and thought to the establishment and build -. ing up of Yale College, of which he was one of the principal founders. In 1707 he was appointed rector pro tem., in which capacity he served for twelve or thirteen years. He served for 38 years as a member of the college corporation, from its beginning until his death." ,
In the later years of his ministry the church adopted the "Half- way Covenant " idea, in consequence of which the material interests of the church were advanced, perhaps to the hurt of the spiritual good of the community. "It brought many into the church who were full of carnal ideas and plans. If the finances were flourishing and the people outwardly moral, not much was said of other requirements." This state of affairs also made the established church not only domi- nant, by reason of the fact that every one must pay rates for its sup- port, but there was created a selfish motive for keeping it dominant, and the laws were shaped to perpetuate that end. A further conse- quence was that the church in this colony became as intolerant of re- ligious views not held by itself as was the church in England from which they had fled for the purpose of enjoying greater religious liberty.
At Milford the evil effects of this policy were soon manifested in the clashing of opinions and prolonged contention.
A short time before the death of Mr. Andrew, Reverend Samuel Whittlesey, of Wallingford, was called as his colleague pastor. Both the church and the town extended such an invitation, the latter in November, 1736. At that time Mr. Whittlesey was about 23 years of age, and was a young man of much ability and promise. He was a son of Reverend Samuel Whittlesey, pastor of the Wallingford church, and had graduated from Vale College in 1729, when he was but 16 years of age, being the earliest son of a graduate of that institution to receive a degree. He probably imbibed his father's views in regard to the evangelistic labors of Whitfield and others who preached re- vival sermons, being in his belief an "Old Light."
* Doctor Biddle's sermon.
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HISTORY OF NEW HAVEN COUNTY.
In the church at Milford was a considerable element, especially among the young members, who looked with favor upon the "New Light " doctrines. These objected to Mr. Whittlesey's settlement, and the matter was agitated through the greater part of 1737. Finally Mr. Whittlesey was ordained in December. 1737. The " New Light " be- lievers withdrew as "Separatists," and January 5th, 1741, were organ- ized as the present Plymouth church. Thence, for some years, the strife and persecution were intensified in bitterness, and it was not until 1776 that the two bodies consented to fellowship each other.
It is said of Mr. Whittlesey that while he was firm in his belief as an "Old Light," and perhaps as such partook of the feeling against the new movement, he did not advise the persecution which followed their efforts to set up their own worship. He is described as having been a man having a lovely, sweet spirit, “gifted in prayer, devout and affectionate." After being pastor 31 years, in which period he received about 300 members, he died October 22d, 1768, aged 54 years.
After some little delay in filling the pastoral office, Reverend Samuel Wales, a tutor in Yale College, was ordained December 19th, 1770. For a short time in 1776 he was a chaplain in the continental army. In 1782 he resigned to become a professor of divinity in Yale College. He was a D. D. of both Yale and Princeton Colleges, and possessed an unusual combination of talents. Under his administra- tion the " Halfway Covenant was discarded, 107 members were added to the church, and a much better spirit was engendered in the town."*
Another interval of two years followed, when the sixth pastor, Rev- erend William Lockwood, was chosen. After graduating from Yale in 1774, he served as chaplain in the revolutionary army. In 1779-80 he was a tutor in Yale. He was ordained pastor of this church March 17th, 1784, but after twelve years he was compelled to resign on ac- count of ill health. He was dismissed in April, 1796.
The same year began the lifelong pastorate of Reverend Bezaleel Pinneo, which was, next to that of Mr. Andrew, the most noteworthy. "He was regarded as one of the ablest ministers of the period, being talked of for president of Yale College after the death of President Dwight. Had he been a graduate he might have been chosen thus."+ He graduated from Dartmonth in 1791, and was ordained in October, 1796. He was at this time in his 28th year, strong of body, and with a fresh and vigorous intellect, remarkably well disciplined and bal- anced. He was also remarkably prudent and consecrated to his work, so that revivals of religion occurred during his entire ministry. In his pastorate of 44 years over 700 persons were added to the church. In addition to his pastoral duties he fitted about thirty boys for college and had several theological students. In July, 1839, he asked for the help of an assistant pastor, and his wish was complied with January 4th, 1840, when Reverend David B. Coe was called to fill that position.
* Doctor Biddle's sermon. + Reverend E. C. Baldwin's sermon.
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HISTORY OF NEW HAVEN COUNTY.
He was a tutor in Yale, from which he had graduated in 1837. His services here were continued about three and a half years and over 200 were added to the church, when he removed to New York city, where he some years after was appointed secretary of A. H. M. S., which position he has long filled. Mr. Pinneo continued until his death, September 16th, 1849, in the 81st year of his age and the 53d of the ministry.
In 1845 Reverend Jonathan Brace was installed as the colleague of Father Pinneo, and after his death continued as pastor 18 years, when he resigned to remove to Hartford to devote himself to his duties as editor of the Religious Herald.
The tenth minister of the church was Reverend James W. Hub- bell, ordained September 21st, 1864, and dismissed January 1st, 1869, to become the pastor of the College Street church, in New Haven.
Reverend Albert J. Lyman was installed pastor September 7th, 1870, but after a little more than three years was obliged by ill health to resign. He left in December, 1873. In the latter year the member- ship of the church reached its maximum, 581. After a vacancy of two years Reverend J. A. Biddle became the pastor. and so continued ac- ceptably several years. On the 9th of July, 1876, he delivered a his- torical sermon, from which many of the facts in this account are taken.
Reverend Seneca M. Keeler was the acting pastor from November, 1880, till March, 1883. He was followed by Reverend Newell M. Cal- houn for several years, from June, 1884. Reverend Frank I. Ferguson was the pastor from 1888 until the spring of 1890. In the summer and fall of the latter year the pulpit was vacant.
In the fall of 1890 the church had a membership of nearly 500, and the aggregate membership was over 3,000. The greatest addition in any one year was in 1843, when 145 were added; the greatest number added at one time was in 1872, under the ministry of Mr. Lyman, when 88 persons joined.
The First church is properly the parent of the. Plymouth Society, and of the Orange church. To form the latter 30 members withdrew in February, 1805.
In the first hundred years of the history of the church the deacons were, in the order named: Zachariah Whitman, Benjamin Fenn, John Fletcher, George Clark, Sr., Jasper Gunn, Richard Platt, Thomas Clark, John Camp, Josiah Platt, Joseph Clark and Richard Platt, Jr. In the next hundred years they were: John Smith, Nathaniel Buckingham, Thomas Clark, Samuel Woodruff, Thomas Baldwin, Daniel Clark, Stephen Gunn, Samuel Treat, Samuel Platt, Joseph Platt, David Buck- ingham, Benedict A. Law, Benjamin Bull, John Whiting, Nathan Net- tleton, William Fenn, Horatio Downs, George Mann, Thaddeus Plumb, Samuel A. Marshall. And in the last fifty years those in the deacon's office have been: John Benjamin, Jr., William Plumb, Samuel C.
254
HISTORY OF NEW HAVEN COUNTY.
Glenney, Theophilus Miles. George G. Baldwin, H. R. Beach, Caleb T. Merwin, James B. Benjamin, Elliott B. Platt, Charles W. Miles, Jo- seph Benjamin, Richard Platt, John Benjamin, George F. Platt, O. E. Nettleton, Henry N. Platt, Darius T. Whitcomb and E. B. Clark. The latter five served in 1889. At the same time the church clerk was George F. Platt, and the Sunday-school superintendent, S. N. Oviatt. The school had more than 300 members. It is one of the oldest in the county, "and is thoroughly furnished unto every good work."
Other auxiliaries of the church are the Women's T. M. S., organ- ized in 1877; the Ladies' Benevolent Union, organized in 1886; and the Young People's Society of Christian Endeavor, permanently or- ganized in 1887, each doing a good work in their spheres.
The 250th anniversary of the founding of the church was appro- priately celebrated August 25th, 1889. The historical address was by the Reverend Elijah C. Baldwin. Reverend David B. Coe, the old- est living ex-pastor, administered the sacrament to about 1,000 com- municants. Other interesting and impressive services were held, among them being the presentation and placing in the meeting house of fine memorials to the following former pastors: Reverend Peter Prudden, 1639-56; Roger Newton, 1660-83; Samuel Andrew, 1685-1738; Samuel Whittlesey, 1737-68; Bezaleel Pinneo, 1796-1849; Jonathan Brace, 1845-63.
The tablets are chaste and are inscribed with some salient facts in regard to their several pastorates. Hundreds of loving friends con- tributed to their erection.
The Plymouth Church, or as it was long known, the Second Congregational Church of Milford, was formed mainly of dissenters from the First church. In 1737, near the close of the ministry of Reverend Samuel Andrew, a colleague pastor was called, in the per- son of Reverend Samuel Whittlesey, of Wallingford. His settlement was opposed by a considerable minority, who accused him of inclin- ing too much toward Arminianism, and being, therefore, doctrinally unsound. After much discussion of the matter they consented to his . ordination, provided “ that if, at the end of six months they should re- main unsatisfied, they should have the liberty of another chosen by them, to be settled in the ministry as the colleague of (the new pas- tor) Mr. Whittlesey." It appears that in this probationary period Mr. Whittlesey so much guarded himself against the utterance of so-called unsound doctrines that the minority did not " move for a compliance of the agreement." But soon after the expiration of the six months he gave them cause for uneasiness, " by declaring from the desk such doctrines as they did not believe were agreeable to the Word of God, neither were embraced by their pious predecessors, the Fathers of England."
They made complaint, but the church failing to take cognizance of their grievance, the county association was appealed to, in May, 1740,
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HISTORY OF NEW HAVEN COUNTY.
for advice and counsel. But they were told by the "Reverend Fathers of that body that they had no advice to give," "thus slighting them in their distressed and afflicted state."
An appeal was next made to the town, in December, 1740, also to no purpose, "the Hon. Jonathan Law, moderator of the meeting, ap- pearing not pleased with it and putting it aside."
Failing in every attempt to obtain relief, they availed themselves of their right to dissent from the church constitution and to "declare for the excellent establishment of the Church of Scotland," or to avow themselves to be Presbyterians and to incorporate as such under the laws of the colony. To this end the following persons agreed to apply to the "next county court and there perform what the act re- quired:" Seth Plumb, Peleg Baldwin, Jesse Smith, Samuel Merchant, Samuel Hines, Gyles Oviatt, Deliverance Downs, Jonathan Fowler, Samuel Hine, Daniel Collins, Joseph Prichard, Joseph Northrup, John Baldwin, Josiah Hine, Joel Baldwin, Andrew Santford, Jr., Samuel Bristol, Jesse Lambert, Samuel Santford. Jr., Daniel Downs, Lewis Mallett, John Oviatt, James Smith, Samuel Eells, Nathaniel Bucking- ham, Samuel Oviatt, Jr., William Fenn, Andrew Santford, George Clark, Benjamin Fenn, Jeremiah Peck, Joseph Smith, Bartholomew Sears, Thomas Welch, William Sewall Sears, Joseph Fenn, Jr., John Downs, Nathaniel Eells, Samuel Eells, Jr., John Smith, Joseph Howman, Lemuel Smith, Josiah Tibbals, Samuel Oviatt, Samuel Hine, Jr., Hor- ace Peck.
These were all members of the First church, and as such declared their "sober dissent." Twelve others soon joined them, and their cause gained sympathy every day. The matter coming before the court, in January, 1741, that body put it off until the April term, and then still further postponed action, advising them " not to prosecute their dissent," thinking that the feeling created in Milford that year by Reverend Mr. Tennant's preaching might indicate a way of relief. But this hope not being realized, the plea before the court was con- tinued in November, 1741. To their great surprise, the judges would not admit their dissent, dismissing it on a technicality. A new me- morial, couched in the language of the statute, was now presented, proclaiming their "dissent," without expressing "assent" to any form of church government, which was placed on file. They also agreed, November 30th, 1741, to set up a separate assembly, if thirty families would unite for that purpose. These were secured, and in January, 1742, they qualified themselves according to the " English act of Tol- eration," as Separatists from the church established by the laws of the colony.
But in the meantime the decided opposition of the First church was awakened, and a series of petty persecutions followed. The ministers at their public meetings were cited to appear before the magistrates as disorderly transient persons. In this way Benajah
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HISTORY OF NEW HAVEN COUNTY.
Case, A.M., of Simsbury, was brought before Governor Jonathan Law; January 17th, 1742, charged with preaching to the "sober dissenters.". After two days trial, in which the governor made many apparent pre- judicial rulings against Mr. Case, he was adjudged guilty and sen- tenced to pay in all 41 shillings and 4 pence. Mr. Case refused to do this, when he was taken to the New Haven jail until the sentence should be satisfied.
But the congregation was not discouraged, and in June, 1742, de- cided to build a meeting house, asking the consent of the town to set it on public land. This privilege being refused, a lot was purchased of Bartholomew Sears, east of the old meeting house and on the op- posite side of the river, the county court granting the necessary lib- erty November 9th, 1742. The first sermon in it was preached by Reverend John Eells, in April, 1743. The house was very plain and had no steeple until 1799, when one was built by subscription, Ste- phen Treat, Esq., donating the bell for the same. The house was used until 1833, when a part of the present edifice took its place.
Complaint having been made of Mr. Eell's preaching, the constable searched for him, "but he could not be found." Mr. Kent, who was the second person to preach in this house, was also complained of, " but could not be apprehended."
In April. 1743, the church placed itself under the care of the Pres- bytery of New Brunswick, and in June that year Reverend Richard Treat, of that body, came and preached so acceptably that his settle- ment as a minister was most earnestly desired. But his charge in New Jersey would not consent to his leaving them. Meantime, Mr. Whittlesey and his "Old Light" adherents had not become more tol- erant. But so strongly were they opposed to those holding " New Light" views that, up to 1743, he had refused the use of his pulpit to five ministers in good standing, but who differed with him on the points which were then engaging the attention of the people in so earnest a manner. Hence, to appease the popular desire to hear them, on one occasion one of these visiting brethren preached from the door- step of the meeting house to more than a thousand people.
In 1743 the persecution reached its climax. In August of that year Reverend Samuel Finlay, president of Princeton College, by the approval of the New Brunswick Presbytery, preached twice for the dissenters; but he was apprehended for disorderly conduct, prose- cuted, condemned and ordered by Governor Law to "be transported as a vagrant from town to town by the constable of each town." This outrageous sentence reacted upon the opposition, and greater liberty was accorded in the course of a few years.
In May, 1750, the general assembly released the dissenters from paying taxes to the First society, and gave them certain parish priv- ileges. In 1760 they became an ecclesiastical society of the estab- lished church, holding their first regular meetings as the Second
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HISTORY OF NEW HAVEN COUNTY.
Society in Milford, October 27th, 1760. Thus the society and church were designated until May, 1859, when the general assembly author- ized the name to be changed to the Plymouth Society of Milford, by which title it and the church have since been known.
In 1870 the meeting house, built in 1833, was enlarged by an addi- tion to the rear end, the organ loft was changed and a new organ sup- plied. About $7,000 was thus expended. In 1889 repairs and improvements to the amount of $3,000 were made, and the building is now in a fine condition, and the society is said to be prosperous. The parish contains 145 families, and the church has 250 members. The Sabbath school has about 200 members.
A pastor was settled before parish privileges were accorded. Through the efforts of Ephraim Strong, a leader in the new church, and who was by nature and education well qualified for the work (having graduated from Yale in 1737), his brother-in-law, Job Prudden, was settled as the first regular minister. Reverend Job Prudden was the great-grandson of Reverend Peter Prudden, the first minister of the town. He graduated from Yale in 1743, and was ordained to the pas- torate of the church in May, 1747, by the Presbytery of New Bruns- wick. Two delegates from Milford, his native town, accompanied him to New Jersey. He proved himself faithful, efficient and so prudent that much of the embittered feeling against the new church wore away. After a pastorate of 27 years he took sick of the small-pox while visiting a parishioner, and died June 24th, 1774. His tombstone has been fitly inscribed: "A bountiful benefactor to mankind, well be- loved in his life, and much lamented in his death." He left his prop- erty to the church, in addition to having contributed £100 toward a ministerial fund of $3,500, which was raised in his pastorate. This fun'd and his benefaction have greatly aided in carrying on the work of the church in these later periods.
Reverend Josiah Sherman, a native of Watertown, Mass., and a great-grandson of John Sherman, one of the first settlers of the town, was the second pastor. He was installed August 23d, 1775, and dis- missed June 21st, 1781. He died in Woodbridge, November 24th, 1789.
The third pastor was Reverend David Tullar, installed November 17th, 1784, and dismissed December Sth, 1802. In his ministry a great religious awakening occurred, beginning in August, 1797, and continu- ing through the following year, when 70 persons were added to the church. In many households family prayer was established, which greatly increased the piety of the town.
Reverend Sherman Johnson was ordained the fourth pastor Feb- ruary 6th, 1805, but died May 21st, 1806. He was followed by Rever- end Caleb Pitkin, ordained March 16th, 1808, and dismissed October, 1816. In the latter year 25 persons were added to the church.
This revival spirit continued during the pastorate of Reverend
17
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HISTORY OF NEW HAVEN COUNTY.
Jehu Clark, who was installed December 10th, 1817. In 1821 40 united with the church. He was dismissed in 1826.
The seventh pastor was Reverend Asa M. Train. He was ordained July 2d, 1828, and dismissed January 2d, 1850. In his pastorate oc- curred five revivals, from which resulted 223 additions, the largest number-83-joining in 1843.
Reverend J. M. Sherwood was installed May 29th, 1851, and dis- missed October 20th, 1852. The next pastorate was also short-Rev- erend S. G. Dodd being ordained October 20th, 1852, and dismissed July 19th, 1854.
In November of the latter year Reverend W. C. Schofield began the tenth pastorate, which was terminated in April, 1808. The begin- ning was characterized by a revival which continued eight months, and 80 persons were added to the church.
From October 15th, 1858, till December 17th, 1861, Reverend W. Nye Harvey was the stated supply; and the same relation was sus- tained by Reverend J. M. Sherwood from March, 1863, till March, 1865.
Reverend George H. Griffin was ordained and installed as the regular pastor June 22d, 1865, and continued that relation until Feb- ruary 18th. 1885. In this period of twenty years many were ad- ded to the church.
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