USA > Connecticut > New London County > History of New London county, Connecticut : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men > Part 140
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In 1724 a school-house was built near the meeting- house, nineteen feet long, fourteen feet wide, and seven feet high. Mr. Allen Mullen was the first teacher, and had settled upon him a yearly salary of twenty-four pounds and ten acres of land forever.
During the summer of 1723, while the meeting- house was in process of building, Rev. Mr. Hillhouse made a visit to his native country, Ireland. He was absent about six months, and on his return to his pastorate, the house of worship being completed, he entered with much zeal and faithfulness upon his prospective life-work, each year of his ministerial labors attesting to his fidelity to the church by num- bers being added to it.
His salary was raised by taxation on the property within the limits of the parish. Owing to this taxa- tion and the expense incurred in the erection of the meeting-house, the burden of paying the assessment necessary to meet the incurred debt and yearly salary was greatly felt by many of his parishioners. Some who were able to pay their rates neglected to meet the demands, while others, who were without sufficient means to meet all the requirements of their own house- holds, from necessity failed to meet their liabilities in payment of the minister's salary. And as a conse- quence of not being able to collect all dues, the min- ister's salary was not fully paid. The affairs of the society were kept along with tolerable harmony and prosperity until about the year 1729, when the arrears relative to the minister's salary were fast accumulating, while Mr. Hillhouse was urging his people to " pay up." A disagreement and dissatisfaction between minister and people soon became manifest. Mr. Hill- house found his work scriously hindered by the many trials incident to pioneer life. The physical wants of
the people were all to be supplied, their homes were to be built, and their lands cleared; roads must be cut through hitherto pathless woods; all these and many other conveniences were to be looked after.
About this time many withdrew their support to the ministry, leaving the burden of its support upon a few of the "faithful ones," who were strongly desirons of sustaining the gospel in the parish and of uniting the people in the work.
Taxes were continued to be laid, but the property- owners refused to pay the rates assessed ; but it was with much difficulty that collectors could be obtained who would act in the collection of the rates. As matters continued to grow worse, the society in March, 1732, called a meeting of the inhabitants of the parish to consider and adjust the matters with their minister. They appointed a committee, and empowered them to adjust and settle all the claims of Mr. Hillhouse from the time of his first settling with them till that time, and take a discharge from him for what he had re- ceived in the past, and render an account to the parish.
It appears there was a misunderstanding as to the time when his salary should commence, some claim- ing that he should not receive any salary for the time he was absent on his visit to Ireland, and that his salary should not commence until after his return home. Mr. Hillhouse did not so understand it, but claimed full salary from the time of his installment.
In the year 1735, Mr. Hillhouse brought a petition to the General Assembly, in which he claimed that his parishioners had failed and neglected to fulfill their covenant with him as their minister and prayed for relief, whereupon the Assembly appointed auditors to adjust the accounts between Mr. Hillhouse and his parishioners relative to his salary. The auditors upon a full examination of the case found the parish in ar- rears to Mr. Hillhouse in the sum of £587 98. 3d., which amount was ordered by the Asembly to be forthwith collected and paid over.
The Assembly for this act was severely censured by those in the parish who had become the opposers of Mr. Hillhouse. A memorial was at once presented to the Assembly to stay the proceedings. The contro- versy, becoming hotter each year, served to alienate more and more the people from their minister.
During these proceedings a committee was ap- pointed by the society to confer with Mr. Hillhouse, and if possible effect a reconciliation of matters.
The following letter was addressed by Mr. Hill- house to the committee :
"GENTLEMEN,-You may assure yourselves it is no delight or pleasure to me to make you trouble or give you occasion of meeting, but neces- sity to the supplying of which if you will assure me of £100 in a short time I will at present dropp that affair.
" JAMES HILLHOUSE."
The committee were instructed by a vote of the society to communicate with Mr. Hillhouse and present him with the following reply :
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"The parish comply with your request in procuring a hundred pounds in public bills of credit, provided that shall answer in full for one year's salary, and also to add the words ' in full' to your former receipts."
In answer to which Mr. Hillhouse said in another letter,-
" GENTLEMEN,-In answer to yours if so he that you will pay me the hundred pounds forthwith or give me sufficient security that I may have it in a short time, I will upon your paying the hundred pounds give a suf- ficient receipt, and if there be any injustice in any of the receipts that I have already given, I stand ready to right them. " JAMES HILLHOUSE."
The above proposition was not accepted by the so- ciety, for the reason, as they say, "it being looked upon as ambiguous and precarious."
Soon after the above correspondence a Council of the ministers in the county was called by the society to hear and determine the matter between Mr. Hill- house and the society. This Council convened at North Parish on the 1st day of July, 1835, at which time certain articles were presented by the committee on the part of the society, containing charges and complaints against Mr. Hillhouse. What those charges were cannot be known, as the records make no specific mention of them.
The Council, upon a careful hearing of both parties, advised a separation, and requested Mr. Hillhouse to resign his pastorate. Mr. Hillhouse, however, refused to comply with the request, and continued to preach in his own house to a small number of his friends who still elung to him as their pastor. Another min- ister was engaged for a short time, and in the year 1739, Rev. David Jewett was ordained pastor, and continued his pastoral relations with the church until his death in 1783.
Mr. Hillhouse continued to preach to those who continued faithful to him, and never gave up his re- lations as pastor of the church, nor relinquished his claim for his salary so long as he lived. He died Dec. 15, 1740.
The salary question was taken before the court, and at his death was not fully settled. The care and perplexity attending the lawsuit probably hastened his death.
On the 3d day of October, 1739, Rev. David Jewett was ordained pastor, and by a grant of the General Assembly in 1742, fifty acres of land was settled upon him, on which land he built a house, in which he lived until his death in 1783.
At a parish-meeting held on the 23d day of Decem- ber, 1771, a committee was chosen to take into con- sideration the matter of building a new meeting-house on a site more convenient to the inhabitants in the easterly part of the parish.
This committee consisted of the following-named persons : William Hillhouse, John Raymond, Joseph Otis, Ezekiel Fox, Capt. Adonijah Fitch, Nathaniel Comstock, Joshua Raymond, Joseph Chester, James Fitch, Ebenezer Weeks, Peter Comstock, and Joseph Ford. This committee agreed upon a site "at the northwest corner of the meadow of Joshua Raymond,
at the place known by the name of the White Oak Stub."
This site was afterwards approved by the General Court, and a new meeting-house soon after built upon it. This house stood until the year 1847, when it was taken down and the present house of worship erected in its stead. During the forty-five years' ministry of Rev. David Jewett the admissions to the church were one hundred and thirty-six whites and twenty-one Indians. Among those of the Indians who joined in full communion were Widow Anna Uncas, wife of Ben Uncas, the sachem, Lucy Cochegan, Joshua None- such, and his wife, Hannah, Andrew Tantapah, Sam- uel Ashpo, Widow Hannah Cooper, wife of John Cooper, and others.
In 1756, Mr. Jewett obtained leave of absence for several months to act as chaplain in the army, to which service he was afterwards often called, not only during the French war but in that of the Revolution. His animated manner and his energetic language made him very popular as an army chaplain. No minister in the country stood higher among his congregation or in the esteem of his brethren than Mr. Jewett. The old Latin Bible and the old hymn-book he used while pastor here, and also several old sermons preached while here, are now in the possession of a great-grandson, who also is a minister in the city of New York at the present time.
Rev. Rozel Cook previously settled at Watertown, in this State, succeeded Mr. Jewett, and was ordained June 30, 1784.
Mr. Cook had settled upon him the sum of two hundred and sixty pounds, and a yearly salary of sixty pounds and thirty cords of wood, "delivered at his house," so long as he should continue their gospel minister. Afterwards the sum of forty pounds was added to his settlement. With this sum of three hundred pounds he purchased a farm of Peletiah Bliss, on which he lived until his death, April 18, 1798. This farm descended to his children, and is now owned by one of his grandsons.
In 1789 a fund was raised by subscription for the support of the minister. The taxation of the pews having becomeodious and burdensome, was abandoned. The sum raised by this subscription and to become a permanent fund was £1067. The subscription-list contained ninety names. This fund became the nu- cleus to the present fund of the society. Many of those who subscribed at this time gave their notes to the treasurer of the society, and paid the interest an- nually, while others paid the cash. In 1800 an addi- tional sum was subscribed, which with what was available of the first secured to the society its present fund, amounting to three thousand six hundred and seventy-two dollars.
Rev. Mr. Cook died April 18, 1798, in the forty- second year of his age.
Rev. Amos Thompson succeeded Mr. Cook, and was installed Sept. 26, 1799. He had previously been
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connected with the Methodist denomination, and had been ordained elder by Bishop Asbury at Lees- burg, Va., in 1790. Withdrawing from that connec- tion in 1798, he offered himself as a candidate for the Congregational ministry. He was examined and ap- proved by the association of Windham County, his ordination accepted as valid, and was received to the fellowship and communion of the Congregational Churches. His ministry there was short. He died Oct. 23, 1801, in the thirty-eighth year of his age.
Rev. Abishai Alden was successor to Mr. Thompson, and was installed Aug. 17, 1803. Mr. Alden had sup- plied the pulpit for a time previous, and in May, 1803, a call was extended to him to settle among them as their pastor, with a salary of three hundred dollars annually.
On the 25th day of May, 1823, while Mr. Alden was in the act of reading a hymn, the meeting-house was much damaged by lightning. Being on the Sabbath, the people were assembled in the act of worship. Two persons were instantly killed and sev- eral injured. A general consternation seized the awe- stricken worshipers.
On the 5th day of October following this " awful event" thirty persons were admitted to the church on profession. On the 9th day of November following, thirty-six more were admitted. Within the year following the lightning-stroke ninety persons were admitted to the church on profession.
Mr. Alden was a faithful pastor for twenty-three years, retaining the love and confidence of his par- ishioners up to within a few years of his dismissal, when differences occurred that resulted in his re- moval. A few of the church-members were strongly opposed to him, but he had also many firm friends, who were true and faithful to him in his trials. A Council was called, and he was dismissed from his charge April 26, 1826. During his ministry of twenty- three years one hundred and eighty-two persons were received to the communion of the church, nearly all on profession of their faith. Mr. Alden continued to reside in the parish for several years after his dis- missal. He afterwards removed to Dover, N. H., where he died greatly respected.
Shortly after Mr. Alden's dismissal, Rev. James Noyes was engaged to preach five Sabbaths, and after- wards the time was extended to three months. After the close of Mr. Noyes' term for which he was engaged, Mr. Alden was again hired to supply the pulpit for six months, at a salary of five dollars per week. Mr. Alden continued the supply until April 1, 1829.
On the 30th day of May, 1829, the church and so- ciety extended to Rev. Rodolphus Lanpher a call to settle as pastor. He was installed Aug. 26, 1829, and continued his relations as pastor of the church until he resigned on the 10th day of May, 1832. A Council was called and convened on the 30th day of May following his resignation, by which he was dis- missed and his pastoral relations dissolved.
The same year Rev. Erastus Ripley was engaged to supply the pulpit, and continued as stated supply until June, 1838.
Rev. Spencer F. Beard was installed pastor of the church July 5, 1838, and was dismissed by Council June 24, 1846.
From the time of Mr. Beard's dismissal to the year 1874, a period of twenty-eight years, the church had no settled minister, the pulpit being supplied by sev- eral different ministers, at times varying from six months to eleven years. Rev. Albert C. Hurd be- came acting pastor Oct. 1, 1873, and was installed pastor June 17, 1874.
Chesterfield .- The General Assembly at its session at New Haven, Jan. 5, 1769, upon the memorial of Jonathan Latimer and others, inhabitants of New London and Lyme, constituted an ecclesiastical soci- ety within the bounds described in the memorial, to be called by the name of Chesterfield.
Mr. James Treadway was their first minister. He was hired from year to year. He commenced his labors October, 1768. In May, 1772, a call was extended to Mr. Chapman to settle among then as their pastor, which call was accepted; but in February, 1773, by his own request, he was released from his engagement.
In the year 1772 land was given by Mr. Jonathan Latimer, upon which a meeting-house was erected during the following year.
The first society meeting held in the new meeting- house was on the 17th day of August, 1773, at which meeting a call was made to Mr. Avery to preach two monthis on probation, and on the 22d day of March, 1775, Mr. Avery was ordained as minister of the gos- pel. It appears that before a year had elapsed Mr. Avery desired to be released from his engagement, but the society refused to release him. Soon after the society called a Council of ministers for advice in their church matters. The Council met at Maj. Latimer's, June 25, 1776. What the advice of the Council was does not appear, but Mr. Avery was very soon after released from all contracts relative to his settlement.
From this time the society seemed to lose all inter- est in church affairs, and for two years previous to 1780 the society was without officers and neglected to appoint.
In 1780 application was made to Abraham Chap- man, a justice of the peace in Lyme, for authority to warn a society meeting. A meeting was called and officers chosen. Some of the old spirit for religious worship was revived, and after several unsuccessful attempts a minister was obtained. A call to settle as their pastor was extended to Mr. Barnabas Lathrop. He, however, preached for them only a few months, and was never settled. Meetings were held by a suc- cession of ministers till about 1824. During the last years of the existence of this Congregational Church the services were principally conducted by the Bap- tist clergy.
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HISTORY OF NEW LONDON COUNTY, CONNECTICUT.
In 1824 the old meeting-house was taken down and a new one erected on a site given by Nathan Latimer, about one-half of a mile north of where the old house stood. About this time another attempt was made to reorganize and revive the church and society. Rev. Nathaniel Miner received a call to settle, which was accepted. He was ordained pastor in 1826. The members of the church at this time were few and widely scattered; at the end of about five years it was completely overshadowed by a Baptist Church that rose and flourished by its side.
This Baptist Church since its organization has con- tinned to prosper until the present time. It was or- ganized in 1824 with thirty members, a house of wor- ship was erected, and Elder Simeon Beckwith was their first minister. He was succeeded by Elder Oliver Wilson, who continued his labors as minister to the church abont eighteen years. Many during his ministry were baptized and united with the church. During the last years of his labors difficul- tics arose between him and his parishioners which resulted not only in his dismissal, but also in his ex- clusion from the church. Elder N. E. Shailer was his successor, and was an acceptable preacher for two years, when Elder Jonathan Miner succeeded him, and continued his labors two years.
In 1847, Charles H. Gates was ordained pastor of the church, and continued his relations as such pastor till 1850, when he was dismissed. From 1850 to 1875 a succession of ministers were employed from time to time. During the year 1875 a number of its mem- bers withdrew and formed a Methodist Church, and erected a house of worship near the house in which they formerly worshiped.
Rev. George H. Lester was acting pastor from 1875 to 1881. He was an earnest and faithful minister, and was greatly respected, not only in his own church, but by neighboring churches.
A small society of Separates were gathered in the southeast part of North Parish about the year 1747. They were principally from the Chesterfield Congregational Church, but some were from Mr. Jewett's church "on the hill." These Separates were first under the leadership of one Dyer Hyde, a New Light preacher, as they were then called. Hyde succeeded in drawing away from the Congregational Churches many of their number, and formed a Sepa- rate society.
In May, 1750, Joshua Morse, a resident of North Parish, was ordained their elder. About this time they erected a meeting-house on the site where the old Palmer meeting-house afterwards stood. This society of Separates, or Baptists, kept together abont thirty years. They were called Baptists, but it is un- derstood that they held to open communion. Elder Morse removed in 1779 to Sandisfield, Mass., and the church soon became extinct.
From the remnant of the Morse Church originated the Palmer Baptist Church. A few years previous to
the organization of the Palmer Church a band had gathered, and Elder Christopher Palmer and Elder Abel Palmer, of Colchester, held occasional services in the old meeting-house.
On the 23d day of February, 1788, a church was organized by Elders Christopher and Abel Palmer, by giving to those persons whose names had been signed to a covenant the right hand of fellowship. Soon after the church was organized Elder Renben Palmer was called to be their minister. Mr. Palmer had been ordained to the ministry in Stonington, where he resided until his removal to Montville in 1788. He was not installed pastor of the church until several years afterwards. In November, 1798, a Coun- cil was called for the purpose of installing Mr. Palmer. The Council convened December 25th, and publicly installed him as their pastor. The sermon was preached by Elder Asa Wilcox. Elder Zadoc Darrow gave the charge to the pastor, and Elder Wilcox gave the right hand of fellowship. Deacon Oliver Comstock offered the first prayer, and Deacon Jehial Rogers the con- cluding prayer. Elder Palmer continued their pastor until his death, April 22, 1822. His ministry was continued with great success, several hundred being baptized under his ministry. During his ministry connection with this church his son, Reuben Palmer, Jr., was converted, and after his father's death was ordained to the work of the ministry, and continued for a time to conduct the affairs of this church. After the death of Elder Palmer, Sr., the church was irreg- ularly supplied by various ministers, and continued to decline till 1831, when the church was dropped from the Baptist Association, and the body was con- sidered extinct. It, however, struggled on till the 6th day of January, 1842, when by a vote of the few re- maining members the church organization was dis- solved, and the body known as the Union Baptist Church was formed.
A new meeting-house was erected, and dedicated Oct. 4, 1842. The site for this new church was pur- chased of Calvin Bolles. The church was occupied by the Baptist Society in Palmertown until 1867, when it was abandoned, and a larger and more elabo- rate structure erected on a more eligible site.
Elder Levi Meach was instrumental in the reorgan- ization of the old Palmer Baptist Church, and was its first pastor. A powerful revival was experienced in the winter of 1841-42, and many were converted and baptized. Forty-eight members united in form- ing the new church in 1842. This church is called the Union Baptist Church of Montville.
Rev. N. T. Allen was successor to Elder Meach, and was ordained pastor Aug. 12, 1846. He continued his pastoral relations with the church until 1848, when Elder Allen Darrow was engaged as their pastor. After Elder Darrow removed the church had a suc- cession of ministers until 1876, when Rev. C. H. Hickock was engaged as acting pastor. During his ministry the society erected a parsonage, and after a
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ministry of about two years Rev. J. J. Bronson was engaged, and continued his services about two years more. In the spring of 1880, Rev. Warren N. Walden became acting pastor, and under his faithful and effi- cient labors the church has been greatly prospered.
Mohegan Congregational Church .- Miss Sarah L. Huntington, residing at Norwich, became, about the year 1827, strongly interested in the moral and in- tellectual condition of the members of the Mohegan tribe of Indians, and at once began the work of lifting them up from the depth of ignorance and degradation into which they had fallen during the quarter of a century of past neglect. The benevolent act con- ceived by Miss Huntington was also seconded by another female of a similar spirit, Miss Sarah Breed. These two ladies established at first a Sabbath-school for the Indian children. This school was opened at the Samson Occom house, the former residence of that noted Indian preacher. After a few months' dil- igent attention and successful effort on the part of these ladies, Miss Breed resigned her post as teacher, and was succeeded by Miss Elizabeth Raymond, of Montville. A daily school was then established at the house on Fort Hill farm, occupied by Deacon William B. Dolbem. This school was taught by the two ladies by alternate weeks, both remaining at Mo- hegan on the Sabbath, so as to assist each other in con- dueting the religious exercises of the day. Eighteen or twenty children and three or four adults usually attended the day-school, and were instructed in read- ing, writing, and arithmetic.
These Christian ladies were not content with simply the effort of teaching, but endeavored to obtain such assistance as should secure to the tribe steady public religious services.
Joseph Williams, Esq., of Norwich, and other be- nevolent individuals took hold of the matter, and a plan was set on foot to build a chapel and engage a missionary, who should settle permanently among them. Subscription lists were circulated, and several hundred dollars were collected for the purpose of building a chapel and a dwelling for the minister. Applications were made by Mr. Williams and Miss Huntington to the Secretary of War, to whose de- partment the superintendence of the Indian affairs then belonged. These appeals were successful, and from the fund for the promotion of civilization among the Indians five hundred dollars were appro- priated for the erection of buildings, and a like amount annually for the support of a teacher. The chapel was built, a dwelling-house erected, and also a school-house. The land on which the chapel was built was given by two Mohegan females, Cynthia Hoscott and Lucy Tee-Comwas. One hundred dol- lars were contributed by the Home Missionary Soci- ety, and this sum, with the appropriation from the general government, was sufficient to enable a minis- ter and teacher to permanently locate among them.
In the spring or summer of 1831 the chapel was
completed, and the following year a dwelling-house was finished. The services of Rev. Anson Gleason, who had been a missionary to the Choctaws and Cherokee Indians, were obtained, and settled there as pastor of the church gathered of Indians and a few whites.
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