History of New Haven County, Connecticut, Volume II, Part 50

Author: Rockey, J. L. (John L.)
Publication date: 1892
Publisher: New York : W. W. Preston
Number of Pages: 1138

USA > Connecticut > New Haven County > History of New Haven County, Connecticut, Volume II > Part 50
USA > Connecticut > New Haven County > History of New Haven County, Connecticut, Volume II > Part 50

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

The deacons of the church and the years of their election and ser- vice have been as follows: Josiah Smith, 1846-9; David Bassett, 1846- 72; Truman Gilbert, 1850-6; E. G. Atwood, 1856-63; G. W. Shelton, 1863-77 and 1880-2; Henry Somers, 1867-71 and 1883-9: J. R. Hawley, 1871-6; S. M. Gardner, 1871-6 and 1879-80; Joseph Tomlinson, 1878- 82; E. C. Maltby, 1881-2; N. A. Howd, ISS2-4; James Ewen, 1884-90; S. S. Wilcox, 1884-5; Robert May, 1884-90; Lewis W. Booth, 1888-90.

In 1890 the clerk of the parish was D. S. Brinsmade; the society's committee, D. M. Bassett, L. W. Booth and J. D. Dayton.

Derby, Birmingham and Shelton Y. M. C. A. was organized May 6th, 1889, when the following board of directors was chosen: D. L. Du- rand, president; Charles E. Clark and E. N. Barrett, vice-presidents; N. J. Bailey, recording secretary; George H. Peck, George W. Beards- ley, T. J. Chadeayne, H. B. Curtiss, David Torrance, J. H. Barlow, Edward Hallock, J. D. Dayton, E. W. Peck, Sylvester Rounds and C. R. Howard, representing the several Protestant churches in the above places. In 1890 the officers were: E. W. Peck, president; G. H. Peck, vice-president; H. B. Curtiss, treasurer; and N. J. Bailey, secretary. The association has enrolled many active members and about $5,000 has been expended in the prosecution of its work. In the fall of 1889 the second and the third stories of the Henry Somers building on Main street, Birmingham, were fitted up for association uses. These em- brace parlors, reading room and library, school and assembly rooms

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and a gymnasium. November 1st, 1889, the practical work was placed in charge of R. F. True, as general secretary, who was succeeded, Aug- ust 1st, 1890, by N. B. Prindle.

It has already been said that after the ministry of Reverend Joseph Moss. in 1731, there was so much difference of opinion as to the proper church order in the town of Derby that the way was opened for the formation of other religious societies. In this period the Church of England commended itself to those who were inclined to reject the views of Reverend Daniel Humphreys, the new pastor of the Congre- gational church. The visit of Reverend George Whitefield and his preaching in Derby added to the religious unrest and awoke a spirit of inquiry as to what methods or church practices most nearly con- formed to the Scriptural requirements. Among the first in the town to incline to the worship of God after the manner and discipline of the Church of England were John Holbrook and half a dozen others, among whom Episcopal gatherings were frequently held.

Reverend Jonathan Arnold, of West Haven, an itinerant mission- ary of the London Society for the Propagation of the Gospel in For- eign Parts, conducted the first stated services in the town, the meet- ings being held in private houses until a central place of worship could be provided, after 1737. Determined to build, it was proposed to set the church upon a corner of the common in "Uptown." But in that they were disappointed, the town forbidding its use for any such purpose. Yet, wishing to be as near the center of the town's affairs as possible, a lot was secured directly opposite the residence of Pastor Humphreys. It was deeded to Reverend Jonathan Arnold, in trust for the Episcopal church, November 7th, 1738, by John Holbrook and his wife, Abigail, and comprised 42 rods of land, to be used for church and cemetery purposes. The latter use is continued, the place being still known as the old Episcopal Cemetery. Upon this lot there had already been raised the frame of a church, whose timbers had been hewed the previous year by John Holbrook and his associates, Abel Gunn and half a dozen others.

By these eight men the entire expense was borne, and as none were rich the work was done piecemeal, so that the house was not completed until 1746. The architecture of the building was plain, but was an improvement on the first meeting house of the Congregational society, its appearance distinctly indicating its use. To the credit of the members of the latter society be it said that they were more lib- eral toward the churchmen than their brethren in some other towns, voting in 1739 to exempt them from paying toward the support of the Congregational ministers. The building, being ready for the purpose of worship, it was called "Christ's Church." "Here in this little barn-like structure, with its raftered walls, the worshippers for half a century went in and out to their morning and evening devotions, lov- ing the church as the apple of their eye."*

* History of Derby, p. 152.

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The next step was to provide a home for the rector. To that end, in 1747, John Holbrook, Jonas Smith, Thomas Wooster, Abel Gunn and others, in behalf of the new parish, bought several parcels of land for a glebe. One of them contained three acres, and on it were an or- chard and a barn, and as the land was near the church it was improved for the home of the ministers. Reverend Richard Mansfield was probably the first to occupy it, and he lived in it until his death. He was the fourth missionary of the London Society to visit this people, the second being Reverend Theophilus Morris, who preached about three years, and the third Reverend James Lyon, who labored here about the time the church was completed.

The pastorate of Reverend Mr. Mansfield was one of the most noted in the history of the old parish. He wasa man of marked ability, giving such abundant evidence of his intellectual powers in early youth that, at the early age of 11, he was prepared to enter college, but by its rules could not do so until he was 14. In 1741 he graduated with the first honors of his class, in Yale, which in after life conferred upon him the degree of D.D. In 1748 he went to England, where he was admitted to the Holy orders of the Episcopal church, and return- ing to America, placed himself under the tutelage of Doctor Johnson, of Stratford, which still better fitted him for the work he was about to undertake as a missionary of the venerable "Society for the Propaga- tion of the Gospel in Foreign Parts," and in whose service he remained until after the revolution. This fact had much to do with his position in the struggle for American independence, when he remained a firm, but not offensive loyalist. But so well were his patriotic neighbors convinced of his sincerity in this matter that he remained with this people until his death, August 12th, 1820.

When Doctor Mansfield began his ministry here the parish in- cluded the present towns of Derby, Orange, Woodbridge, Seymour, Oxford, Southbury, Naugatuck and Waterbury, but after 1755 his labors were limited mostly to Derby and Oxford. Of the former church he was the rector 72 years without a break-a most unusual instance in the history of any church in this country. In the discharge of his duties he was most industrious, teaching from house to house, and was particularly tender toward the young, who loved and sin- cerely venerated him, his personal appearance greatly conducing to this feeling. He was tall, of spare habits, and wore a white, large wig. He generally traveled on horseback and was a familiar object to all the people. On the 10th of November, 1751, he was married to- Sarah Anna, eldest daughter of Joseph Hull, 2d, of Derby. Although so busy in his ministerial life, he found time to cultivate his lands, in which he took particular pride. The children of Doctor Mansfield and their descendants attained honorable distinction, and the name abroad, as well as at home, commanded esteem. In the later years of his rec- torship he was assisted by Reverend Calvin White, an able preacher

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HISTORY OF NEW HAVEN COUNTY.

and a popular man. On the death of Doctor Mansfield he was buried in the old Episcopal graveyard. An imposing monument has, in re- cent years, been erected over his grave. A fine memorial window in his memory has also been placed in Christ's Episcopal church in An- sonia. A like token has been placed in St. James' church.

After the revolution and the return of an era of better feeling, which caused nearly all former prejudices to be forgotten, Christ's church had a largely augmented growth. It partook, to a great de- gree, of the prosperity which lower Derby at that time enjoyed, whose height was attained about 1800. These conditions called for a new or more commodious house of worship, and as the center of population had now shifted from "Uptown" to the "Narrows," it was deemed ad- visable to have the church follow it. Hence, the parish voted to move the church south ward and locate it on a commanding site on the road to the " Narrows." The corner stone of the new edifice was laid in 1797, and in the course of a few years the spacious and more comfort- able building was occupied. After its completion the members of the parish resolved to change the name of Christ's to that of St. James' Church and Parish, by which title they were designated when the church was consecrated, in 1799, by Bishop Jarvis. The new site and new church fitly met the wants of the community, and the parish con- tinued to prosper under the rectorship of the successors of Reverends Mansfield and White, who were, in the order named, Reverends Blakeslee, Stephen Jewett, with Reverend Bradley as an assistant, and Reverend Joseph Scott.

While Mr. Scott was the rector the village of Birmingham had its first spurt of growth, and drew to itself many of the members of St. James' church. These found it inconvenient to attend church in Derby, and the question of a new site for the church edifice was forced upon the parish. Hence, May 5th, 184I, Reverend Joseph Scott, in accordance with the wishes of his parishioners, reported that the old church was poorly located, and the prosperity and permanent welfare of the parish made the question of selecting a more central site one of vital importance. E. N. Shelton, Benjamin Hodge and Levi Hotch- kiss, representing various parts of the parish, were now appointed a committee on a new site. As a result of their labors and the expres- sion of the will of a majority of the parish they reported, May 26th, 1841, in favor of Birmingham. A very desirable lot, on the east side of the public park, was donated by the proprietors, Smith & Phelps, and the work of raising funds was begun. So encouraging was the support tendered that it was decided to erect the substantial stone edi- fice which now graces the ground. The corner stone was laid in 1842, and after about a year's work the present St. James' church was consecrated, April 11th, 1843, by Bishop Brownell. The wooden tower on the church was subsequently displaced and a fine stone tower was erected, in which a chime of bells has been placed. The

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church was also enlarged, and has since been much improved, being greatly beautified by the eight handsome memorial windows recently placed in it. A comfortable rectory stands on an adjoining lot, and the property is one of the most valuable in the town. The church has 650 sittings.

The area of the parish has been much reduced by the formation of Christ Parish at Ansonia, and in 1890 embraced properly only the vil- lages of Birmingham, Derby and Shelton. In this territory were 315 Episcopal families, having 1,400 individual members. The registered communicants numbered 365. The parish has an endowment fund of more than $4,000, and raises about $5,000 per year for all purposes of church work.

The rectors following Reverend Joseph Scott were: Reverends Ashley, Guion, Flagg, Coxe, Fuller, Brainard, Chamberlain, Baldwin, Witherspoon, and, since February, 1887, Reverend George Hickman Buck. Most of the pastorates were short, the longest continued being that of Reverend Joseph Scott, at the building of the new church, eight years; John Brainard, 1856-63; Leonidas B. Baldwin, 1870- 80; Orlando Witherspoon, 1880-86. He died suddenly, at Birming- ham, April 14th, 1886, two weeks after he had relinquished the rector- ship.

· Among the later wardens, E. N. Shelton and George H. Peck de- serve mention for the long and faithful service they have given the parish. The latter has served in that office continuously since 1866. Edward Lewis is the clerk of the parish, and Charles H. Nettleton the treasurer.

Connected with the parish are a fine Sunday school of 274 mem- bers; a chapter of St. Andrew's Brotherhood, organized in 1889, which is doing most excellent work; and a Ladies' Benevolent Society, which is one of the mainstays of the church. It has about 50 active members.

The following account of Methodism in Derby and the Methodist Episcopal church at Birmingham was prepared from data furnished by John W. Osborne. In the year 1789 Reverend Jesse Lee came through Derby and preached his first sermon here, probably under a tree in that part of Derby since known as Uptown. Among his audi- tors were John Coe and his wife Ruth, by whom the preacher was in- vited to make their house his home on his next visit to the place. In about a month after he came again and preached in Mr. Coe's house. Reverend John Allyn was his colleague. He subsequently preached in the house of Philo Hinman and at other places.

The first Methodist Episcopal church in Derby, according to the record of the church, was organized in the year 1793 by Reverend Jesse Lee. In the fall of the same year Bishop Asbury held services here, and soon after the appointment was connected with Middletown

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circuit; and the preachers traveling it prior to 1800 were Reverends Daniel Ostrander, Evan Rogers, Joel Ketchum, Peter Choate and James Coleman. In the year last named a revival took place at Derby Neck, where meetings were now held, and it is said that 30 persons united with the church. constituting for many years a class at that point. They met to hear preaching once a month, and for prayer, praise, testimony and exhortation once or twice a week in the " old red school house " at Derby Neck, where Sheldon and Davis Smith, Samuel and David Durand, John Allyn Coe and Agur Curtiss, with their families and many others, worshipped.

For many years the eloquent preaching of Nathan and Heman Bangs and of Laban Clark was cherished as wonderful exhibitions of pulpit power, which resulted in many conversions. The work had taken so firm a hold upon the hearts of the people of this section that "Derby Circuit " was established, embracing under that name many appointments in the northwestern part of the county. In the dozen years following, from 1820 to 1832, the itinerant preachers were Bel- den Smith, James Coleman, Laban Clark, J. Nixon, F. W. Sizer, Julius Field, S. D. Ferguson, W. Beach, E. Barnes, N. Kellogg, H. Banks and R. Francis.

About 1830 the services at Derby Neck were discontinued, and preaching was established at Derby Narrows, in the old Masonic Hall, which was rented by I. J. Gilbert and others for that purpose.

In the spring of 1835 Reverends Josiah Bowen and Oliver Sykes were appointed to the Derby circuit, and soon after was set on foot a movement which resulted in the establishment of the church at Bir- mingham, which, as a village, was then in its infancy. A few houses only, scattered here and there, occupied the beautiful site of the pres- ent borough. The late Sheldon Smith, of New York, proprietor of the land, with a large generosity offered to the Methodist society of Derby a building lot for a church and all the stone required for its foundation and basement walls, and $200 in cash toward the erection of the build- ing. This generous offer was gratefully accepted.

The society subsequently bought the lots east and west of the church at an outlay of $1,500. October 5th, 1835, the following were appointed the first board of trustees and the building committee: Sheldon Smith, Samuel Durand, David Durand, Stephen Booth, Isaac J. Gilbert, Agur Curtiss, Albert Hotchkiss and John E. Brush. It was completed for dedication August 17th, 1837, and was the first church building in Birmingham. The cost was about $3,000, about half the sum remaining as a debt. Regular preaching was now held, the ser- vices being conducted by Reverend Thomas Ellis, a local preacher from Seymour, in the absence of the circuit appointee. Birmingham circuit was soon after formed, and the first stationed ministers were Reverend Orlando Starr and Reverend J. B. Beach, the latter being here in 1840.

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HISTORY OF NEW HAVEN COUNTY.

In 1841-2 the preacher was Reverend Nathaniel Mead, and under his pastoral care the church more than doubled her membership, and subscriptions of over $1,000 were taken to liquidate, in part, the debt upon the church, which debt was cleared off in 1849.

In 1850 Reverend John M. Reid was appointed pastor of the Bir- mingham church. Under his supervision the front of the church was enlarged and built anew and a high steeple added, but before it was thoroughly secured at the base a strong gale of wind brought it to the ground a complete wreck. Then the present steeple was put up a few feet higher at the option of the builders, as the word was freely passed around when the other fell that " the society built their steeple higher than they owned."

The church was rededicated in June, 1851, by Reverend Joseph Hagany. A series of meetings were commenced in the fall and con- tinned through the winter, and the membership of the church was increased by 100 additions.

In 1859 and 1860 Reverend Reuben H. Loomis was the pastor, and during his administration 25 feet were added to the rear of the church and lecture room, at an expense of about $3,000.

From 1866 to 1868 Reverend Ichabod Simmons was the pastor. During his term of service the present parsonage was built, and an organ costing $4,000 placed in the church. In 1886 the debt of the church, amounting to $2,550, was paid, and the society is now free from debt.

The Methodist Episcopal churches in Ansonia and Shelton are both offshoots from the church in Birmingham, causing a large loss in the membership of the home church, which, notwithstanding, has now within her fold nearly 400 members. These form classes, led in 1890 by G. W. Cheesman, J. W. Osborne, J. P. Curtiss and S. H. Lessley. The former was also the superintendent of the Sabbath school, which had about 375 members. This valuable aid of the church was or- ganized previous to the dedication of the church building in 1837, and has since been regularly continued.

The entire church property is valued at nearly $25,000, and in 1890 was in charge of the following trustees: C. B. Alling, H. B. Curtiss, E. W. Peck, E. D. Beebe, A. H. Gilbert, G. H. Crook, W. A. Dibble and A. H. Alling.

The pastors of the Birminghamn church since the time of Rev- erend Mead have been appointed as follows: 1843, Reverend J. B. Wakeley: 1844, C. C. Keys; 1845, J. D. Marshall; 1846, F. W. Smith; 1848, W. Gothard; 1849-50, J. M. Reid; 1851-2, T. G. Osborn; 1853-4, C. Fletcher; 1855-6, G. A. Hubbell; 1857-8, F. Bottome; 1859-60, R. H. Loomis; 1861-2, W. T. Hill; 1863, J. S. Inskip; 1864-5, J. W. Home; 1866-S, Ichabod Simmons; 1869-71, J. S. Breckenridge; 1872-3, C. S. Williams; 1874-5, J. Pullman; 1876-8, William McAllister; 1879-80, J. L. Peck; 1881-2, H. E. Burnes; 1883, G. L. Thompson;

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1884-6, A. C. Eggleston; 1887-8, J. H. Lightbourne; 1889, \V. A. Richard.

In addition to the foregoing there are union chapels for the use of Protestant worshippers at Burtville, and on Jewett street, in Derby vil- lage. These command the support of many active workers of various denominations, and are especially useful for Sunday school purposes, which are regularly held in them.

In Derby village is also a house of worship for the African Metho- dists, which is occupied by the " Zion church " organization, of which George A. Given was the pastor in 1889. This body also maintains a Sabbath school.

St. Mary's Church of the Immaculate Conception (Roman Catholic) is most desirably located at Birmingham. The present stately church edifice was commenced in March, 1882. The corner stone was laid on the 25th of June, the same year, by Bishop McMahon. On the 21st of November, 1883, he and Bishop O'Reily dedicated the church, which was at that time regarded as one of the finest church buildings in the state belonging to this denomination. The edifice is impressive by its massive and substantial appearance, being built in the best style of architecture, of brick and stone, and it has a beautiful interior, being embellished with fine paintings and three attractive altars. The main one is composed of 1,000 different pieces, marble, onyx and other val- uable minerals entering into its construction. The body of the church has a seating capacity for 1,058 persons. In the tower is a very heavy and finely toned bell. Adjoining is the fine parsonage and other church property, the entire valne being about $125,000. More than $100,000 of this has been amassed since 1878, when the present priest, Rever- end Father P. M. Kennedy, became connected with the affairs of the parish. He has not only been energetic, but most devoted in his efforts to advance the well-being of the parish, which numbered in October, 1890, about 3.500 souls. In his work he had the assistance of curates Reverends Thomas Finn and Michael Barry. In the manage- ment of the temporalities he has the cooperation of Lay Trustees Wil- liam Barry and John Dockery, the latter being also the superintend- ent of the Sunday school.

It appears that there were no resident Catholics in what is now the flourishing parish of Birmingham until the fall of 1833, when John Phalan, William Foley, John O'Conners and Matthew Kellady took up their abode here. They were soon joined by Michael Stokes, Patrick Quinn, John Regan, Farrel Reily and others, and not long after they were visited by Catholic missionaries. In 1845 the number had in- creased so much that a small church was built, a spacious lot being donated for this purpose by Anson G. Phelps. This building was after- ward enlarged and was used until displaced by the present church. Among the priests, prior to the settlement of Father Kennedy, were Fathers McDermont, Smith, O'Neal, James Lynch, John Lynch, Sher-

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idan and P. J. O'Dwyer, who was transferred to Ansonia as the first resident priest in that village.

The town's first places of burial were on the hill, on the east side of the Naugatuck, in the old Uptown locality. Several yards are still kept up in that locality, although no longer much used. At first the dead from every part of the old town were brought here, and there are numerous graves, many of them being neglected. In 1683 George Beaman is spoken of as the first appointed grave digger. The town has generally cared for these places of interment.

The beautiful Birmingham cemetery is on the banks of the Hous- atonic, below the dam. It has a commanding location and embraces about 15 acres, which have been tastefully improved. It is controlled by the Birmingham Cemetery Association, organized in 1844 and re- organized in 1864. For many years Robert O. Gates has been the president and Charles H. Coe the secretary and treasurer. The ceme- tery contains many handsome monuments.

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.

Amos H. Alling, born in Orange, Conn., January 3d, 1823, is a son of Charles W. and Lucy (Booth) Alling, the former born in New Haven in 1793, and the latter born in Woodbridge, Conn., in 1798. They had seven children, six of whom are living. The father of Charles W. Alling was Amos, whose father, Silas, was a son of Daniel, whose father, Samuel, 2d, was a son of Samuel the 1st, who was a son of Roger, who came from England, and was one of the first settlers of New Haven colony. Amos H. and his brother, Charles B., commenced the manufacture of woolen cloths in Orange in 1845, and continued until 1858, when they removed to Birmingham and established the manufacture of knit woolen goods, which they have continued to the present time. Amos H. married Sarah E. Prudden, of Orange, in 1847. They have had three daughters, two of whom are living: Louisa M., wife of Doctor Beardsley, of Birmingham, and Carrie E. Mr. Alling was a member of the legislature in 1865, and has been selectman sev- eral terms.

CHARLES B. ALLING, manufacturer, Birmingham, Conn., was born in Orange, Conn., June 20th, 1824. The topographical formation of Birmingham and vicinity is a very interesting study from the geolo- gist's point of view. He is carried back to the glacial period for his ex- planation of the land formation. Here are found the tumuli distinctly marked, and one of them a little toward the west side of the village is bounded by streets of the borough, Olivia and Fourth streets, on two sides. This tumulus occupies nearly a whole borough square; and this well cultivated mound, set here and there with large trees, has upon its summit the spacious and richly furnished residence of Mr. Charles B. Alling. Mr. Alling is now a woolen manufacturer. He and his brother are partners under the firm style of A. H. & C. B.

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History of New Haven County, Connecticut, Volume II, Part 50

Author: Rockey, J. L. (John L.) Publication date: 1892 Publisher: New York : W. W. Preston Number of Pages: 1138

Author: Rockey, J. L. (John L.)
Publication date: 1892
Publisher: New York : W. W. Preston
Number of Pages: 1138