USA > Connecticut > New Haven County > History of New Haven County, Connecticut, Volume II > Part 34
USA > Connecticut > New Haven County > History of New Haven County, Connecticut, Volume II > Part 34
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HISTORY OF NEW HAVEN COUNTY.
church of Milford, some of them having to go ten or twelve miles to church on the Sabbath and to procure the administration of covenant ordinances for their children.
The first record which we have of the society reads thus: "At a meeting of the inhabetence of the parish of Amety, in the town of new haven legally warned, met on the twenty-seventh day of October, 1738. And at said meeting, by vote, in the first place made choice of Cap. jack Johnson for their moderator. Secondly, thay by vote made choice of Ebenezer peck as their society clark and sworn accord- ing to law, thirdly and sum more then tue thirds of said inhabetence convened voted to build a hous to meet in for the worship of God and none dessented thereafrom said intention."
They then appointed a society committee and laid a tax of three pence on the pound, to be paid in one month, for the support of the Gospel, and voted " There should be two places for meeting, viz., that the dwelling hous of Mr. Joseph Willmot and the dwelling hous of Mr. Joseph Perkins shall be the places for the meeting for divine sar- veces." The location of the meeting house was to be determined by the following vote: " It was then voted that the county survear with tue chain bearers under oth shal be cald out between this and the firs day of Jenewary to measure and compute the distance of way from each of the inhabetance to sum sartain place to build a meeting hous for the worship of God." The size of the house was to be " fifty and five foot in length and forty foot in width."
The internal arrangement of this house was with square pews all around the four sides, except that part of one side occupied by the pulpit. There was an aisle leading from the front door to the pulpit through the center, and two rows of pews each side of this broad aisle. The pulpit was elevated some ten feet above the audience, with a can- opy or sounding board suspended over it. The deacons' seat was un- der the pulpit, facing the audience.
At a subsequent meeting, May 13th, 1740, they voted to ask the advice of the association " for a minister to preach to us in order for a settlement. Left. Ebenezer Becher and insin Barnabas Baldwin be a comtee to make our requests to the association for a minister." The advice of the association was probably favorable, as on the 30th of June following they voted they would have preaching on the second Sabbath day in August. Probably this meeting on the second Sabbath of August, 1740, was the first meeting held in the new meeting house.
At first they were not successful with their candidates. Reverends Gideon Mills, Mr. Whittlesey and Nathan Birdsey were each employed as candidates, but for some reason did not settle with them. The next candidate was more fortunate. Mr. Benjamin Woodbridge, having preached as a probationer, won the affections and confidence of the good people of Amity, and received a call May 13th, 1742. His settle- ment was to be £500, with the condition that if he " turned to any
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HISTORY OF NEW HAVEN COUNTY.
other practice or opinion than that on which this church is or shall be settled," and he cease to be the pastor of the church, the settlement was to revert to the parish again. In addition to the settlement he was to have as a permanent salary £200 a year. After some explana- tions by the parish, Mr. Woodbridge accepted the call and was in- installed on the 3d of November, 1742. Captain Isaac Johnson and Theophilus Baldwin were elected deacons, and the church adopted the "Halfway Covenant."
No one was allowed in those times to hold a religious meeting or to give an exhortation in any meeting without consent of the proper authorities. Accordingly, on the 24th of November, the following vote was passed: "There was chosen by the church in Amity, as their representatives for sd church, with the Pastor, to order for the opening and shutting of the pulpit doors, and for giving leave or pro- hibiting any persons preaching or exhorting publicly, according to the laws of the government on that occasion, Dea Isaac Johnson, Francis Griffin and Dea Theophilus Baldwin."
Very soon after the church was finished rules were adopted for seating it and dignifying the seats. The males and females sat on opposite sides of the house. In all cases the men sat on the right of the minister and the women on the left; the dignity of a person was reckoned from the amount of his tax rate for the building of the meeting house. "Each person should sit according to their building part." As this dignifying the meeting house was peculiar to the fathers, the following rules or votes respecting it are given: "Voted, that the two foremost seats should be the highest seats. 2. That the two pews on the right and left hand of the fore doors should be the next highest seats. 3. That the two pews on the right and left hand of the pulpit should be the next highest seats. 4. That the two next seats to the fore seats the next highest seats. 5. That the the third seats in the equare body should be equal to the four seats in the front gallery." And so they proceeded through the house. The corner pews under the gallery stairs were the lowest in dignity. " All persons, males at 21 and girls at 18, were to be seated." In 1753 the church was reseated and dignified, and this proviso added to previous rules: "That but one head should be reconed to a man in order to advance him in seating."
In the early years of the parish clocks were not in use in the churches, and the length of the service was determined by an hour- glass. When the service commenced the hour-glass was placed upon one end. When the sand had run through it was turned on the other, and when it had run through a second time the meeting closed.
To provide for the comfort of the worshippers, as stoves were not in existence, they built "Sabba-day houses" upon the green. These were one story high and about 15 feet square, with a fireplace. A row of these houses extended across the north and east sides of the green. Usually two families united and spent the noon in each of them.
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IHISTORY OF NEW HAVEN COUNTY.
Tradition has it that often the cider bottle was brought and passed around, but a better one is that noon prayer-meetings were frequently held in them. These "Sabba-day houses" became a source of conten- tion, as some of their owners would rent them to tramps to the annoy- ance of the neighbors. Accordingly, one Saturday night a company of men repaired to the green and tore down all the Sabba-day houses on the east side of the green but one. It being too near morn- ing to pull that down without being detected, they wrote on the door with chalk, "Be ye also ready." Molly Woodbridge, when she heard of it, said, "That was a very solemn admonition."
In 1761 they voted " to shingle the roof and color the sides and ends of the house and that a number of gentlemen might build a bell chamber on the top of the meeting house at their own cost." In the following year (1762) the north part of the parish was set off, and con- stituted the parish of Bethany. The territorial center of the parish of Amity remained at the same place where the "survear and tue chain bearers" had located the center of the " inhabetance " 20 years before. It was about 1802 that the canopy was lowered and a window put in back of the pulpit. The house was again painted, and a tax levied in dollars and cents, the first mention made of money of this denomination on the society's records. In 1831 a committee was ap- pointed to build a new church and to dispose of the old one. The new meeting house was located but a few rods from the old one, and was a great improvement in internal arrangement, as well as archi- tecture, on its predecessor.
The parish has ever kept up with the progress of the age in taste and refinement. In 1862-3 they remodelled the interior and beautifully frescoed it, and built a pulpit recess on the back of the house, making it a most attractive audience room, which has been taken as a model by several other parishes.
In 1865 a neat fence was built enclosing the church green, and in the following spring the grounds were laid out with walks, and trees were set out, making a beautiful park. A few years later a lecture room and church parlor was built and connected with the church, $500 of the expense of which was defrayed by Mrs. Zina Carring- ton. In 1891 Mrs. Mary Clark Treat gave the church a beautiful pipe organ, as a memorial of her father's family, Mr. Treat Clark.
During the pastorate of Reverend Jason Allen, those who were op- posed to him, uniting with those belonging to other denominations, formed a new society, calling it the "Union Society." They built a meeting house, which stood opposite the west part of the church green. They seem to have been aggressive and bitter in their opposition to the old society of Amity, and attempted to obtain a part or the whole of the fund, but were unsuccessful in their purpose. The meetings in the united meeting house were held by different denominations.
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HISTORY OF NEW HAVEN COUNTY.
After struggling for existence a few years the organization was given up and the meeting house sold, to be removed to Ansonia, where it was reconstructed into a tenement house. Most of the families who were interested in that organization have either left the place or are identified with the First church.
In the north part of the parish within a few years a chapel has been built, which is supplied by ministers from different denominations, and where a Sabbath school is maintained.
The first pastor of the Amity church was Reverend Benjamin Woodbridge, who held the office 43 years, and until his death. He had a settlement of £500, and an annual salary after the fourth year of his settlement of £200. A minister in those days was settled for life, and a certain amount was given for his settlement, which was inde- pendent of his salary. His long pastorate seems to have been success- ful and harmonious. He was suspected of being a tory in revolution- ary times, and the church appointed a committee to wait on him re- specting his political views and loyalty to the cause of the colonies. His reply was that when the United Colonies had gained their independ- ence he would take the " oath of fidelity." The success of the colon- ies led him, however, to take the oath as a loyal citizen. At the form- ation of the town it was named after him, for which honor he gave them a copy of " Whitley's Annotations on the Epistles," which is still preserved in the library at the parsonage in Woodbridge; also a copy of " Annotations by several eminent Dutch Divines," which was given to the Congregational society of Bethany. He died December 4th, 1785. His remains were deposited in the cemetery near the center of the town. His wife sleeps beside him, and his daughter, Mary, lies near them. The society erected a monument over his grave, with the following inscription: " The Rev. Benj. Woodbridge, 1st min- ister of the town of Woodbridge, died on the 24th of Dec., 1785, in the 75th year of his age, and 44th of his Ministry. This Gentn was of a fine constitution. Little elated or depressed with various fortunes, of excellent mental powers, he had a public education, was a good scholar, an able divine, a wise counsellor, he was plain and unaffected in his manners and dress. His conversation was free and instructive and unreserved, as the words of his mouth were the sentiments of his heart (his friendship was void of dissimulation, his learning of ped- antry, his charity of ostentation, and his religion of superstition and bigotry, his life was a portrait of Christian virtues). With serenity and filial obedience he submitted to his summons and welcomed death as the messenger to introduce him to a better world."
Immediately under this inscription is the following of his wife: " Mrs. Mary Woodbridge, the Virtuous and Agreeable Consort of Rev. Benj. Woodbridge, deceased, who died on the 19th day of Dec., 1786, in the 72d year of her age. Her friends and acquaintances who have
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HISTORY OF NEW HAVEN COUNTY.
experienced her charity and known her worth will long remember her with pleasure."
The second pastor of the church was Reverend Eliphalet Ball, who was settled as colleague with Mr. Woodbridge some two years before his death. Mr. Ball's pastorate lasted only about five years. His rea- sons for resigning were his advanced age, some disaffection in the parish, the desire of his children to have him with them, and " The thought of eating the bread of those who are unwilling to give it is very disagrecable and mortifying." He soon removed to Ballston, N. Y., which it is said was named after him.
The Reverend David Lewis Beebe, having supplied the church for some time previous, received a call to settle on a salary of £100 per annum. He was installed February 22d, 1791. Mr. Beebe was the son of Reverend James Beebe, pastor of the Congregational church at Trumbull, and who served in the French and Canadian war as chap- lain. David was born in Trumbull, and graduated at Yale College in 1785. His pastorate with the Woodbridge church continued for nine years, when his health failed and he was obliged to resign. The evi- dences of his faithful and zealous efforts for the good of his people were manifest on every hand. The council dissolving the pastoral re- lation commended him for his " orthodox zeal and fidelity in the work of the evangelical ministry."
After the failure of his health he went into the mercantile business, and had a store at Northford and then at Wallingford. At the time of his death he was in business at Catskill, N. Y., where he died in 1803. Mrs. Beebe was the daughter of Mr. Caleb Atwater. She was born in Wallingford, and died in 1845, aged 76. She was a model minister's wife, and after her removal from the parish it was a sufficient condemnation of any mode of operations in the parish to say " Mrs. Beebe didn't do it so." Among the descendants of Mr. and Mrs. Beebe are Brigadier-General H. B. Carrington, of the United States army, and Mrs. Gilbert, the wife of Reverend E. R. Gilbert, so long pastor of the Congregational church at Wallingford.
The fourth pastor of the church was Reverend Claudius Herrick, who was settled on a salary of "140 pounds, lawful money." His pas- torate was eminently successful, but owing to a failure of health it lasted but little more than four years. After his dismission he re- moved to New Haven, where he established a young ladies' seminary, one of the first in the city. He died May 26th, 1831. Mr. Herrick was largely successful, both as pastor and teacher. Mild, pleasant and cheerful, yet ever sober and earnest, his influence, both in the parish and the school, impressed others with the worth and beauty of the Christian life. He was a man of culture and refinement. He was the father of the late Edward Herrick, for so many years librarian and treasurer of Vale College, and of Reverend Henry Herrick, of Wood- stock, this state, both of whom were born in this town.
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HISTORY OF NEW HAVEN COUNTY.
The fifth pastor of the church was Reverend Jason Allen, who was ordained April 11th, 1810. The society was not unanimous in his call. When the vote was taken it was challenged and the house was divided; 71 voted yea, and 14 no. He accepted the call, and at his in- stallation Doctor Dwight was overheard to say to Mr. Allen, " This church is one of the best in the Union." His pastorate, however, was at ended with opposition and embarrassments. The opposition in- creased. Political feuds were rife, and the elements of discord with- drew from the parish, formed a union society and attempted to get the whole or a part of the bank fund without success. In all the op- position Mr. Allen bore himself with dignity and Christian urbanity, and in spite of the opposition maintained his pastorate for 16 years. The council which sat at his dismission say: "They are happy to find that nothing has been alleged against the Reverend Jason Allen, and that they are able to bear their decided testimony to his Christian and ministerial character, as having through a series of years proved himself a sound, faithful, active and prudent preacher and laborer in the vineyard of our common Lord." Mr. Allen soon removed to the state of New York.
Reverend Prince Hawes was ordained the 2d of December, 1828- Two years had now passed since the dismissal of Mr. Allen, and the clouds which at that time threatened the peace of this Israel had passed away, and the day spring from on high was shining in his brightness and power. During Mr. Hawes' pastorate the new meet- ing house was built, and the old proverb seems to have been fulfilled in his case: "The minister who builds a house of worship never preaches in it." His pastorate, commencing so auspiciously, lasted but five years and four months. He was dismissed by the Consociation April 21st, 1824, and died suddenly December 17th or 18th, 1848, in Brooklyn, N. Y.
After the dismissal of Mr. Hawes, the church was without a set- tled pastor for some nine years, during which time they were sup- plied by different ministers, among whom were the Reverend Asa B. Smith, whose labors were greatly blessed, and Reverend Walter R. Long, who labored with them three years, received a call and en- deared himself to the parish, but declined to settle with them. The year 1843 is memorable in the parish for the installation of Reverend Samuel H. Elliot. After supplying the church two years, he was or- dained its seventh pastor, on the 9th of November. The church grew under Mr. Elliot's ministrations, and in addition to his pastoral labors he wrote the " Memoirs of Emily Perkins," also " Parish Side," " Rolling Ridge," and the sequel to " Rolling Ridge." He was dis- missed December 3d, 1849, ministering to the church in all eight years and three months. He was afterward settled in Westville, where he established a boarding school. From Westville he removed to New Haven, where he died, September 15th, 1869, aged 60 years.
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HISTORY OF NEW HAVEN COUNTY.
He married Marian L. Harvey, of New York city, by whom he had three sons and a daughter. Two of his sons, Charles and Henry, were born in Woodbridge, and graduated at Yale College, traveled in Europe and settled in New York city. The daughter married and lives in Cooperstown, N. Y.
After the dismissal of Mr. Elliot, the church depended upon stated supplies for about nine years. Reverends Owen Street, Alfred .C. Raymond, Jesse Guernsey and David Peck occupied different inter- vals of this time, and ministered with success and acceptance to the people.
Reverend A. D. Stowel, the eighth pastor, was ordained November 17th, 1858, and dismissed April 3d, 1860. Mr. Stowel removed to Massachusetts, and from there to Elmira, N. Y. Reverend D. M. El- wood supplied the church from 1862 to 1864.
Reverend S. P. Marvin, the ninth pastor, was settled over the church February 22d, 1865. The 25th anniversary of his settlement was observed in 1890. Reverend Hiram Eddy, D.D., who preached his installation sermon, was present on the occasion. The pastor preached a 25th anniversary sermon, which was printed. During his ministry the park around the church has been enclosed with a neat fence, trees have been set out, a new lecture room and ladies' parlor have been built, and a new pipe organ has been presented to the church by Mrs. Mary A. Clark Treat, as a memorial of her father's family, Mr. Treat Clark. During the 25 years Professor C. T. Walker has been choir leader and organist.
The fathers of Woodbridge early showed a proper care and regard for the memory and resting places of the dead. In 1743 arrangements were made for burying grounds. Isaac Sperry, Captain Johnson and others were appointed a committee to select burying places for the society. At a subsequent meeting in 1745 they voted that "three burying cloths should be purchased for the three sarval parts of sd society by donation or contribution by the inhabitants of sd society." At a subsequent meeting a committee was appointed to fence round the burying grounds in the society, and a tax laid to defray the ex- pense. Since then the burying grounds have been enlarged from time to time and beautified. In 1887 the one in the Middle district, under the direction of S. P. Perkins, was greatly improved, and all of them are kept in good order and show the respect of the people for the loved memories of their departed ones.
The tombstone of Reverend Josiah Sherman, who died very sud- denly while laboring with the church, has the following inscription: "In memory of Rev. Josiah Sherman, minister of the Gospel, Ob. Nov. 24 A D 1789, ÆE. 60. The learned scholar, the eloquent orator. the exemplary Christian, the faithful pastor, the kind husband and parent, and the humble follower of Jesus Christ. Piety adorned his useful life and in the moments of a painful death enabled him to triumph in
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HISTORY OF NEW HAVEN COUNTY.
the hope of heaven. Much impressed himself and conscious of his awful danger, by him the violated law spoke its thunders and by him in strains as sweet as ever angels use the Gospel whispered peace."
Captain Isaac Johnson was among the most prominent of the early settlers. He lived in the south part of the town, near the Orange line, on the farm now owned by Nathan P. Peck. He was moderator of the first meeting called to organize the ecclesiastical society of Amity, and of almost all public meetings, and on all committees when questions of importance were to be considered, whether civil or ecclesi- astical. He was the first captain and the first deacon elected : also captain in the revolutionary war. Among his descendants was Presi- dent Andrew Johnson, whose ancestry lie buried in the cemetery on the East side.
Inscription on his tombstone: "Here lieth the Body of Isaac John- son, the first captain and the first deacon in Amity. A guide to this infant society, a zealous promoter of the worship of God, A Benefac- tor & faithful servant to ye Chr. When best known best loved. Who lived long, lived well and died happy in the hope of the Gospel OEt of 23d 1750 in the 78 year of his age."
Captain Stephen Sanford was one of the original members of the church, and lived on the farm owned in later years by Mr. Nelson Newman. He was honored by his fellow townsmen, and took a deep interest in the church. He made the church a present of a silver communion cup and baptismal bowl. At his death he left a large landed estate, which was afterward sold, and from which, with other funds which he also gave the parish, was derived a large part of the society's present fund for the support of the Gospel. As an apprecia- tion of his services the following inscription was placed upon the monument erected to his memory:
"Capt. Stephen Sanford of Woodbridge departed this life on the 6th day of January 1779 in the 72 year of his age. His character was reputable as a man and a Christian, had the advancement of Christ's Kingdom in this place so much at heart that he made a testamentary gift to this society of much the largest part of his estate, amounting to 930 pounds L. M., and appropriated the same to the support of the ministry in this society. This society therefore, as an acknowledge- ment and lasting memory of their gratitude for so liberal and distin- guished a benefaction, at their own expense have erected this mont- ment."
Thomas Darling joined the church at Woodbridge in 1782, from New Haven. He was a valuable acquisition, and became one of the most prominent and efficient citizens, as well as members of the church. He was honored with positions of trust by his fellow citi- zens. The epitaph upon his tombstone, which is given below, por- trays a character of surpassing excellence and a life of unblemished usefulness. Of his sons, Noyes became a judge of the New Haven
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HISTORY OF NEW HAVEN COUNTY
county court. Thomas lived on the old homestead. He was a promi- nent supporter of the Woodbridge church and of every good work. He was honored with positions of trust by the town, and beloved by all who knew him. His grandson, G. Halsted Bishop, occupies the ancestral home.
" In memory of Thomas Darling Esq who died Dec Ist 1815 Aged 63 years. He was distinguished for sound judgment and integrity in the discharge of public duties and purity of heart in the relations of private life. As a magistrate he was a peace maker, and just ; as a member of society indulgent, upright and kind; as a professor of re- ligion an example of tender and modest piety. To the Christian church an ornament and firm support. He remembered his Creator in the days of his youth, and in advancing age, and in the hour of death the faith of his Redeemer was his comfort and strength. Re- spected, esteemed, beloved here below, he is gone, we trust, to be ap- proved, lionored and blest above."
The name of John Lines occurs among those who were first organ- ized into the church. One of his descendants was David Lines. In his early boyhood David was intractable, uncouth, awkward and un- ambitious. It is said he once ran away into the swamp to keep away from his friends. Later he took to a seafaring life. He became con- nected with the Havre line of packets and was promoted till he be- came master of the vessel he sailed. The uncouth country boy we find captain of the steamship "Arago," and one of the most successful and popular navigators of the times. The following inscription is on the massive monument erected to his memory:
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