USA > Connecticut > New Haven County > History of New Haven County, Connecticut, Volume II > Part 95
USA > Connecticut > New Haven County > History of New Haven County, Connecticut, Volume II > Part 95
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Doctor Henry Byington was the last regular practitioner in the town, there being no settled physician the past 20 years.
About the time the inhabitants received permission to set up win- ter preaching provision was made for the support of schools, the rec- ords indicating that paid instruction was given in the " winter parish" as early as 1763. These schools were continued until the Farming- bury parish was formed in 1770, when they were placed in charge of a school committee composed of David Norton, Seth Bartholomew, Daniel Alcox, Amos Beecher, Joseph Beecher, Justus Peck, Captain Aaron Harrison and Stephen Barnes. At the same meeting, Novem- ber 13th, 1770, a committee was appointed to divide the parish into
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districts. It appears that nine districts were formed, each of which was placed in charge of a committeeman residing in the district. It was also directed that " Each school committee shall collect their full rate, each one in his district."
Said the Reverend Samuel Orcutt, in regard to these early schools: "Until the town was organized the number of months the schools should be kept was decided by parish vote, and usually was voted to be according to law, but sometimes the vote was to 'keep eleven months' school.' Wages were, for a man, from six to ten dollars a month; for a woman, one dollar a week."
Through the agency of the Addin Lewis Fund of $8,500, left for the benefit of the public schools of Wolcott (whose income is about $500 per year), the town deposit fund and the appropriation from the state, it is possible to maintain schools in these districts without mak- ing the burden too heavy for the town. Schools are now kept in six districts, and the outlay for their support is about $1,200 per year.
Addin Lewis was a son of Captain Nathaniel Lewis, who settled on Southington mountain about 1770 and became one of the leading men of the town. He died in 1839, aged 90 years, and on his grave stone are inscribed the words: "He was one of the first settlers of the town. An honest man." Addin became a merchant in the South and was elected mayor of Mobile. Amassing considerable wealth, he re- turned to New Haven, where he spent the remainder of his days in retired life. At his death he left by bequest the sum of $8,500 for the support of schools in Wolcott and about $15,000 for an academy at Southington. In the latter bequest was the provision: "And all pupils from the town of Wolcott, not exceeding ten at any one time, who may wish to receive instruction in said institution, shall receive the same without any charge for tuition."
Some of the foremost men in the town were teachers in the public schools of Wolcott. Deacon Isaac Bronson was a teacher of many years' standing. The Alcotts, A. Bronson and Doctor William A., who afterward became so eminent as instructors, also taught in the public schools of the town.
Several schools of a special or select nature were also taught in the town, chiefly by the Congregational ministers. Those kept by · Reverend Israel B. Woodward from 1792 to 1810, and by Reverend John Keys from 1814 until 1822, had a good patronage from outside of town. Many young persons were here prepared for college, and sev- eral became quite prominent. Among these may be named Stephen Upson, who became one of the most celebrated lawyers of Georgia ; William Maxwell, of Virginia ; and J. G. Percival, another “poet of considerable celebrity," all of whom were students under Mr. Woodward.
As early as 1760 an effort was made by the people living in what is now Wolcott to secure the privileges of a distinct society, to enable
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them to maintain religious worship in their own locality. They rep- resented to the general assembly that they "occupied a tract of land five miles square, were £2,000 in the list, and lived an inconvenient distance from places of public worship." Owing to the remonstrance of the old societies this petition was rejected, as was also one in 1762, which bore the names of 43 signers. Nevertheless, winter preaching for five months in a year was set up and these settlers were, for these months, exempt from paying rates to the old society. In 1767 the limits of the proposed parish were extended to embrace, also, parts of the town of Farmington, and the petitioners now represented that they numbered 71 families and had a list of £3,872, 8s. But this prayer and another, in 1768, were also denied, and it was not until October, 1770, that the assembly passed an act authorizing the forma- tion of an ecclesiastical society, by the name of Farmingbury*, of parts of the towns of Farmington and Waterbury.
The first society meeting was held November 15th, 1770; Captain Aaron Harrison moderated; Daniel Byington was chosen clerk; Lieu- tenant Josiah Rogers, John Alcox, Stephen Barnes, John Bronson and Amos Seward, the society's committee. A rate of two pence was laid on the list of 1770 to defray the expenses of the society.
They now voted to procure preaching for the year ensuing, and secured the privilege of meeting in the house of Joseph Atkins until May, 1771. Jacob Carter, Levi Bronson, Jared Harrison, Stephen Barnes and David Alcox, were chosen choristers; and Captain Aaron Harrison and Amos Seward were appointed to read the psalms.
At this meeting it was voted to build a meeting house, and Captain Enos Brooks, Captain Enos Atwater and Colonel Hall were appointed a committee "to stick the stake of said meeting house."
The Hartford county court confirmed the action of this commit- tee when the members reported to that body, in January, 1771, that they had acted in the matter, in the latter part of last November, and had selected a " Place in said society and erected a stake thereon, with stones about it, viz., on a beautiful eminence on the line dividing be- tween the towns of Waterbury and Farmington, a little northerly of Mr. Abraham Wooster's dwelling house in said society, near where the north and south highways cross each other, etc.
On the 22d of April next the society appointed a meeting house committee, composed of Lieutenant Josiah Rogers, Samuel Upson, Stephen Barnes, Joseph Beecher and Daniel Alcox, but owing to some disagreement in regard to the size of the house, the frame was not raised until April, 1772. Joseph Atkins gave two acres of ground as a site for the meeting house, and as it was not all needed for that pur- pose, a part of it was devoted to public use. On one corner the town afterward put up a public whipping post. The meeting house stood
* The name was derived by taking parts of the names of the old societies -- Farming-ton and Water-bury.
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HISTORY OF NEW HAVEN COUNTY.
on the north side of the green, which it faced and its main entrance was from the south. It was occupied in the latter part of October, 1772. At this time the house was not finished inside and for ten years the furnishing was of the simplest kind. In the fall of 1784, after the house had been supplied with pews, the society " voted to seat the meeting house by age," but afterward concluded to " seat by age and by list." It was also voted to have a pew built over the stairs for the " niggers." In the summer of 1795 this meeting house was repaired and fully completed, and was now appropriately dedicated. In 1815 the house was supplied with stoves. They were set aside in 1829, but new ones were placed in the meeting house in November, 1839, in spite of the opposition of some who contended against this innovation.
In 1831 a cupola was built on the meeting house, in which a bell weighing more than 900 pounds was placed. About $750 were ex- pended on these objects. The following year the pews were rented to the highest bidders ; but in 1837 those who had subscribed for the support of the Gospel were again seated in the meeting house accord- ing to age.
In the ministry of the Reverend James D. Chapman, which began in 1837 and ended in 1840, the parish was much agitated by the discus- sion of the slavery question. And as Mr. Chapman was a pronounced anti-slavery man, he provoked the ill will of some of the citizens of the town to such an extent that they were led to treat his property with indignity. His horse was sheared, mane and tail, to intimidate him or to show how strongly they disapproved of his course ; and the property of some of the members of the church, who had warmly commended the course of Mr. Chapman, was also subjected to this barbarous treatment. The contest went on until it culminated in the burning of the meeting house, December 11th, 1839, to prevent, it is supposed, an anti-slavery meeting, which had been announced to be held in it. "The evening before this meeting was to take place, a quantity of powder was placed in the stove with a slow match attached, and a little after nine o'clock in the evening a heavy explosion was felt and heard by the people residing near the meeting house ; but the cause they could not discover. About 12 o'clock in the night they were aroused by the cry of fire and found the house all in flames, and it was soon a heap of ashes. The next day the anti-slavery meeting was held and the people gathered around the smouldering ashes to keep warm while they were addressed on the great subject of free- dom. It is possible that the intention was not to burn the meeting house but to destroy the stove and thus prevent the meeting. It is also said that there was great opposition to having any stove in the house, and for this reason some wanted it destroyed." Hence "it has been said in charity that the burning of the house was in part accidental." *
* Orcutt's History of Wolcott, pages 117 and 118.
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HISTORY OF NEW HAVEN COUNTY.
Naturally this event created great excitement, and some persons were arrested, charged with the crime. But when the trial came, it was impossible to prove the act, the principal witness having left Wolcott and never afterward returned. In the course of time the bitter feeling was abated, and that stirring incident in the history of the church is now scarcely remembered with any degree of accu- racy. An attendant circumstance was the withdrawal from the society, at the annual meeting, April 26th, 1840, of 17 of the anti-slavery mem- bers, who, with others, on the 10th of July, 1840, organized themselves as the "Second Congregational Society of Wolcott." Fortunately, through the influence of the Consociation, to which the churchi be- longed, which convened a council in Wolcott, November 9th, 1840, to adjust these matters, the way was thus paved for a union of the two societies, which was effected not long afterward. Mr. Chapman re- ceived an honorable dismission and the parish now applied itself to the work of rebuilding both its temporal and spiritual affairs.
An effort to secure subscriptions for building a meeting house was so successful that on the 20th of June, 1840, a building committee was appointed, composed of Joseph M. Sperry, Marvin Miner, Ira Hough, Ira Frisbie and Levi Moulthrop. It was agreed to put up a house 36 by 46 feet, with posts 20 feet high. Several years were consumed in building, the house being dedicated January 19th, 1843. In 1846 a church bell was procured, the molten metal of the old one being ap- plied to that object. In 1873, the second year of Mr. Orcutt's ministry, the meeting house was improved, the repairs making it much more attractive. Ten years later, in 1883, the interior of the house was modernized, and it is now very attractive and comfortable. In 1857 the house built by Reverend A. C. Beach was purchased for a parson- age and has since been so used.
A few years ago the society aided in building a chapel at Woodtick. It well graces the landscape of that hamlet. Occasional services are held there and a Sunday school is regularly maintained.
Soon after the society was formed arrangements were made for preaching services, and a Mr. Jackson served them statedly as the min- ister. An unsuccessful attempt was made to secure him as the pastor, followed in the spring of 1773 by securing Mr. Alexander Gillet as a preacher. He continued acceptably a number of Sabbaths, and being invited to take pastoral charge of the interests of the society, agreed to do so after a church had been formed. Up to this time most of the inhabitants held their connection as members with the churches in Waterbury, Southington or Farmington.
Accordingly, on the 18th of November, 1773, the Congregational Church in Farmingbury was formally organized of the following 41 members: Aaron Harrison, deacon, and Jerusha, his wife; Josiah Rog- ers, deacon, and Sarah, his wife; Isaac Hopkins and Mary, his wife; Joseph Atkins and Abigail, his wife; Thomas Upson, Joseph Sutliff,
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Amos Seward and Ruth, his wife; David Norton, John Alcox and Mary, his wife; Samuel Upson, Wait Hotchkiss and Lydia, his wife; Nathaniel Butler and Rebecca, his wife; Elizabeth Porter, Daniel Al- cox and Elizabeth, his wife; Joseph Hotchkiss and Hannah, his wife; Judah Frisbie, Israel Clark and Mahetable, his wife; Daniel Lane and Jemima, his wife: Stephen Miles, Stephen Barnes and Sarah, his wife; Zadoc Bronson and Eunice, his wife; Lucy Peck, the wife of Justus Peck; Rebecca, wife of Nathaniel Hitchcock; Esther Barrett, Joseph Benham and Elizabeth, his wife; Josiah Barnes.
One month later four more persons united with the church, and seven more were added in January, 1774. Over this church Alexan- der Gillet was formally ordained December 29th, 1773, as the first pastor. The organization was more fully completed January 29th, 1774, when Captain Aaron Harrison was elected as the first deacon, and Lieutenant Josiah Rogers as the second deacon.
Mr. Gillet had graduated from Yale in September, 1770. In June, 1773, he was licensed to preach and began his ministerial career at Farmingbury. His pastorate lasted 18 years, in which time about a 100 persons were added to the church, most of them by profession. Through his efforts, which were always in the direction of the best welfare of the community, a library was formed November 5th, 1779, which was dissolved about 1830. It was not large, but contained many useful books.
Mr. Gillet's pastoral relations were dissolved November 10th, 1791, and the following year he was settled in Torrington, where he labored as pastor 34 years and until his death. His son, Timothy Phelps, born in Wolcott July 23d, 1780, became the beloved pastor of the Branford church, where he served more than 50 years.
The successor of Mr. Gillet, Reverend Israel B. Woodward, began to preach for the society as a candidate in February, 1792. In May, the same year, he accepted a call to settle, and the following June he was ordained. He found here about 100 church members and a con- gregation of from 300 to 500 persons. His preaching was interesting and attracted many who did not attend the meetings of Mr. Gillet, and " he was more than ordinarily successful as a preacher, and was highly esteemed as a neighbor and citizen. Probably no minister in the parish was ever loved and confided in as a minister more than he, for to this day the remark of the people as to all they ever heard of him is in the highest tone of Christian love." *
At this time the town enjoyed the greatest prosperity, its decline beginning with the present century, and the church, to a large extent, partook of this prosperity. An effort was made to improve the sing- ing, and the expenditures for the support of the Gospel were more lib- eral than in previous years.
In the last ten years of Mr. Woodward's ministry " the meeting * Orcutt's History, 1874.
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house was so filled with hearers that there were extra committees appointed, from year to year, to seat the people and to provide seats for those who should become regular attendants." His pastorate was suddenly terminated by his death, November 17th, 1810, when he was but 43 years of age. He lies buried in the cemetery at Wolcott Center, and his memory is cherished to this day for his worth as a minister and as a teacher. For many years he here successfully taught a select school, which was attended by students from different parts of the county.
After the death of Mr. Woodward some difficulty was experienced in securing permanent pastors, and since that time the pulpit has been filled by a number of persons. Among these have been: Reverend Lucas Hart, ordained December 4th, 1811, died at East Haven October 16th, 1813; Reverend John Keys, installed September 21st, 1814, dis- missed December, 1822. For nearly five years the church was with- out a pastor, in which period sermons were read by Deacon Isaac Bronson. As is the natural consequence in such cases the interest declined, and for some time the spiritual life of the church was at a low ebb. It was somewhat revived by the labors of Reverend Erastus Scranton, who was the stated supply from June 1st, 1827, to August, 1829. Reverend Mr. Wheelock was stated supply from Sep- tember, 1829, for one year, Reverend Nathan Shaw, nine months, from July 4th, 1831, and Reverend Seth Sackett for a short time. He was followed by Reverend William F. Vail, who was stated supply one year.
Reverend James D. Chapman was ordained to the pastorate Octo- ber 25th, 1837, and was dismissed in November, 1840. This was, as has already been stated, one of the most stirring periods of the his- tory of the church. But the troublesome events of his pastorate were not without some use, as from this time on the work of the church was again in a measure revived and placed upon a substantial basis. Reverend Zephaniah Swift was supply for one year. Reverend Aaron C. Beach, ordained June 22d, 1842, served as pastor 15 years, being dismissed June 22d, 1857. He was an acceptable and beloved min- ister, and was forced to leave by the inability of the parish to prop- erly support him. His salary for a number of years was raised with difficulty, owing to the loss of population by immigration to the Western states or to towns where manufacturing interests invited residence. He was succeeded by Reverend Z. B. Burr, who acted as stated supply a short time, and by Reverend Joseph Smith, who was the stated supply one year. Reverend Stephen Rogers was next in- stalled as the pastor, March 25th, 1859, but owing to ill health was dismissed April 18th, 1863. He died the same year in Woodbury, Conn. Reverend L. S. Hough was the stated supply from May, 1863, to May, 1869. In the same way Reverend W. C. Fiske served the church from May, 1869, till June, 1872.
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HISTORY OF NEW HAVEN COUNTY.
Reverend Samuel Orcutt was the stated supply from July 1st, 1872, to May 17th, 1874. Through his efforts the first centennial of the formation of the church was properly celebrated September 10th and 11th, 1873. The exercises were varied and interesting. An account of them, together with an exhaustive history of Wolcott and the genealogies of some of its principal families, was prepared and published by Mr. Orcutt, and from it have been gleaned many of the facts contained in this sketch. He was a tireless and persistent toiler in these departments of investigation and research, as well as an able and faithful pastor. Reverend Francis Dyer was installed November 18th, 1874, and was dismissed December 12th, 1877. Rever- end Charles E. Upson was the stated supply from April 1st, 1878, to- December 1st, 1879. Reverend Frank G. Woodworth was ordained and installed June 23d, 1880, and remained until September 11th, 1887 .. Then the pulpit was supplied for three years, and the past year Rever- end Isaiah P. Smith has been the stated supply.
Considering the meager population of the town, the church is pros- perous, having about 100 members.
A Sabbath school was organized in the parish in the summer of 1827, Doctor William A. Alcott being the first superintendent. It consisted of a few classes only, but Doctor Alcott at that early day supplied them with books to read during the week, much as is now done by the Sunday school libraries. This school was not continu- ously maintained, but much of the time a Sabbath school has been held. It has now about 50 members in regular attendance, and Henry B. Carter and E. M. Upson are the superintendents.
Among the ministers raised up in Wolcott have been: Reverends Timothy P. Gillet, born June 15th, 1780, died at Branford November 5th, 1866; Benoni Upson, D. D., son of Thomas Upson, born Febru- ary 14th, 1750, died November 13th, 1826; Henry E. L. Upson, born May 21st, 1831, was the chaplain of the 13th Regiment in the civil war; and John W. Beach, son of Reverend A. C. Beach, born January 5th, 1843, graduated from Yale in 1864.
The following have been the deacons of the church as chosen in the years first given: Aaron Harrison, 1774, died 1819; Josiah Rogers, 1774, died 1803; Justus Peck, 1784, resigned 1812, died 1813; Joseph At- kins, Jr.,1786, removed 1805; Isaac Bronson, 1805, died 1845; James Bailey, 1812, died 1834; Irad Bronson,1825, removed 1834; Harvey Up- son, 1832, died 1857; Orrin Hall, 1835; Ansel H. Plumb, 1838, died 1870; Lyman B. Bronson, 1864, died 1866; Miles S. Upson, 1867, died 1885; George W. Carter, 1870, died 1884; Henry B. Carter, 1884 and con- tinues; Evelyn M. Upson, 1884 and continues; Benjamin L. Bronson, 1885 and continues.
Among the first settlers of what is now the town of Wolcott were a few churchmen. In 1779 there were so many families of that faith
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HISTORY OF NEW HAVEN COUNTY.
in the Farmingbury society that they inade an effort to form them- selves into an Episcopal parish. But the movement was unsuccessful, and probably nothing more of this nature was done until after the revolution. Some families then withdrew from the Congregational church in favor of an Episcopal one. It was not, however, until No- vember 26th, 1811, that an Episcopal parish was successfully organ- ized. Previous to that time 25 families had "signed off," and about the same number of persons had united in a call, which led to the for- mation of this society. Erastus Welton was elected clerk, Moses Wel- ton, treasurer; Daniel Langdon and Thomas Welton were chosen as the first wardens. Preaching was now supplied by missionaries, who visited the parish about once per month, and lay services, consisting of prayers and sermons read, were regularly held, among the readers for the next ten years being: Thomas Welton, Moses Welton, Elias Welton, Erastus Welton, Eben Welton, Eliakim Welton, Ambrose Ives, Levi Parker, John J. Kenea, William Alcox, Willard Plumb, Archibald Minor, Orrin Plumb and Levi Hall, all members of the so- ciety.
In 1817 the meetings were held at the house of Daniel Byington during the winter, and services in summer were held in school houses. Steps were taken in 1820 to build a church, and some favored an ap- plication to the general assembly for permission for a lottery to help raise funds. Nothing resulting from this movement, the matter was now agitated for the next ten years before any decisive action was taken. In the meantime some of the meetings were held in one of the chambers of the public house of Moses Pond, at Wolcott Center. In April, 1830, the town granted permission to the society to build its church on the south side of the green, and in the summer of that year the frame was raised. The building committee were: Levi Hall, Archibald Minor, Thomas H. Welton and Orrin Plumb, who completed their work and were discharged in April, 1833, "from any further services as committee aforesaid, and from all liabilities in said capacity." Although called complete, a stove was not supplied until 1836. The church building well served its purposes until the society became too weak to further occupy it, some twenty years ago, and it has since been allowed to fall into ruins.
On Easter day, 1834, All Saints' church was formally organized, of some of those who had been interested in the society, and for about 40 years its existence was maintained with greatly varying interest, on account of the small membership and their inability to support a rec- tor. From 1850 to 1855 Reverend Collis Ira Potter served with more regularity than those who preceded him, but nearly all of the dozen or more ministers who preached here were supplies or held services at long intervals only. For many years no public services have been held, only a few Epicopalians remaining in the town.
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HISTORY OF NEW HAVEN COUNTY.
The wardens of the church have been the following: 1811, Daniel Langdon, Thomas Welton; 1812-15, Eliakim Welton, Thomas Welton; 1816, Thomas Welton, Eliakim Welton, Jr .; 1817-18, Eben Welton, Erastus Welton; 1819-20, Thomas Welton, Moses Wel- ton; 1821-2, Erastus Welton, Eben Welton; 1823, Moses Welton, Thomas Welton; 1824, Hezekiah Bradley, Moses Welton; 1829, Levi Hall, Lyman Higgins; 1830-2, Sammy Nichols, Hezekiah Bradley; 1833, Lyman Higgins, Levi Hall; 1835, Sammy Nichols, Heman Hall; 1836-41, Lyman Higgins, Heman Hall; 1842-4, Lyman Higgins, Moses Pond; 1848, Levi Hall, Martin Upson; 1849, Lyman Higgins, Levi Hall; 1850-9, Martin Upson, George G. Alcott; 1860, Martin Upson, Willis Merrill.
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