History of New London county, Connecticut : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Part 179

Author: Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton)
Publication date: 1882
Publisher: Philadelphia : J.W. Lewis & Co.
Number of Pages: 1317

USA > Connecticut > New London County > History of New London county, Connecticut : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men > Part 179

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" Upon consideration of the petition of the North Society in Stoning- ton : This Assembly do resolve that the dividing line between the two societies shall be as the committee lately appointed for that end did de- scribe; always provide that Mr. William Wheeler, who by this aet is taken into the North Society, shall belong to the South Society, provided he shall choose to belong to the said South Society and signify the same to the Govenor and Couneil within six weeks next after the sessions of this Assembly shall be ended."

The line of the committee referred to above was as follows:

" Whereas the General Assembly held in May 12th 1720: Did appoint us ye subscribers to fix and settle a line in Stonington to divide it into two societies. And we having heard ye l'arties what they had to offer In ye premises and viewed ye list of estates as also taken a view of sev- eral Quarters in ye said town and seriously considered ye same, do fix and settle the aforesaid lino which divides ye said town into two societies as follows : Beginning at the house and farm of Mr. William Wheeler, from thence west north west line to Mystic River brook about one mile, and from ye said house and farm of Mr. William Wheeler a line custerly to yo house and farm of Mr. Josiah Grant and from thence a line east wardly to yo house and farm of Mr. John Brown, and from thence to ye house and farm of Mr. John Randall, and from ye said Mr. Randall's house an east Ilne to Shunnuch River, and so by Shunnuch Kiver to Pawcatuck River. The aforesaid line taking in ye said Mr. William Wheeler, Mr. Josiah Grant, Mr. John Brown, Mr. Thomas Brown, and Mr. John Ran- dall, with their present Improvements iuto ye North Society and to be n part of It as witness our hands.

" JOHN SPRAGUE "JOHN PLUMB " JOSEPH BACHUS " THIMOTHY PEIRCE " C'ommittee.

"Stonington, June 25th, 1720."

The committee appointed by the General Assembly at the October session of 1720 visited said society,

and after a patient hearing of all parties decided to locate, and did fix upon a site for the house, but when the society assembled, on the 8th of February, 1721, for the purpose of building and locating their meeting-house, the vote was made unanimous as to building the house, but a serious contest arose as to its location.

The Assembly committee had fixed the site in a place unsatisfactory to a good many, and after a stormy debate they decided by a major vote to locate and build their meeting-house "remote from the place" where the Assembly's committee had located it, viz. : about twenty-eight rods northwest of Mr. Ayers Mills, not far from the late residence of Deacon Jeremiah Fellows. An active, vigorous minority were opposed to this site, and appealed to the Assembly of 1721 for redress, as follows :

" Upon consideration of the petition of Mr. Eben" Billing, of Stoning- ton. in behalf of the upper society in Stonington, showing that whereas this Assembly did, at their session in October last, appoint a committee to state a place for setting up the meeting-house in the said society, and that the said committee did settle and uscertain the place for setting the said house at, and made report of their doings therein in writing unto the said society, which writing hapening to fall into the hands of the clerk of said society, he refuseth either to record the said report or suffer the original to go out of his hands; praying thereupon that this Assembly will give order to the Secretary to enter and record a copy of said report (under the attest of the said clerk) in the public records of this Colony, as tho it were the original :

" This Assembly do grant the said prayer of the petitioner, and do order the secretary to record the said report accordingly."

The opposition to this site increased; two of the building committee protested against it, which strengthened the opposition so much that they peti- tioned the Governor and Council to intercede and stay further proceedings in building the meeting- house at a place remote from that fixed by the Assem- bly's committee, as follows :

" At a meeting of the Governor and Council in New London, January 16th 1722.

"Present, The Honorable Gurdon Saltonstall, Esq., Governor, Richard Christophers, Esq., Assistant, Jonathan P'rentts, John Plumbe, Esqs., Christopher Christophers, John Gardiner.

" Upon consideration of a petition signed by several persons of the North society of Stonington against the said society proceeding to erect a meeting house at a place remote from that which was fixed upon by the committee sent for that end, at their desire, by the General Court.

" Resolved, That the proceeding in an affair of such a nature contrary to the regulation of the General Assembly is a breach of order.

" And that the clerk of the Council shall by a letter directed to Mr. Ebenezer Billings and the rest of the committee of the said society, to be communicated to the said society, signifying to them that if they find any inconveniencey in setting up their meeting house where the General Court's committee fixed the place for it, they ought to represent the same to the General Assembly, and not proceed in contradiction to what the said Assembly have appointed, and that they conform themselves ac- cordingly.

" And if they suppose any circumstances of their case unknown to the Governor and Council, are such as might induce them to approve of any variation from the order of the Assembly, about the place of their meet- ing house, before they can have an opportunity to address the next As- sembly concerning the same, they should by the aforesaid lotter be directed by their committee to lay the same before the Governor and Council, and for that end should attend them at the house of Capt. Chris- tophers, in New London, on the Ist Monday in February next, at two of the clock, afternoon."

" At a meeting of the Governor and Council in New London, February 5th, 1721/2.

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" Present, The Honorable Gurdon Sallonstall, Esq., Governor, Jonathan Prentts, John Plumbe, Christopher Christophers, Richard Christophers, Jun., Benjamin Starr.

"Pursuant to the order of this board of the 16th of January last, Ebenezer Billings, Benjamin Huit, Henry Stevens, John Swan, Samuel Prentice, William Denison, Ephraim Fellows, John Smith, Joshua Holmes, and William Wilcox, inhabitants of the north society in Sto- nington, appeared in Council and were heard in the affair relating to the setting up their meeting house at the Gravel Nole : And it was rec- ommended to them that they should not presume to set up their meet- ing house in any other place than that appointed by the General Court's committee, unless they did unanimously agree among themselves, until they had addressed the General Assembly on that head, to which they concurred, and the matter was dismissed."

At a meeting of the next General Assembly at Hartford in May this matter came up by petition from both of the opposing parties, and after a full hearing thereon had enacted as follows :

" This Assembly having considered the difference that hath arisen in the North Society of Stonington, as appears by the petition of the oppo- site parties now before this Assembly, respecting the meeting house in said society being fixed, have resolved, that Capt. James Rogers and Capt. Thomas Huntington and Capt. Jabez Perkins, be appointed ; and they are hereby appointed a committee, at the charge of said Society, to endeavor to bring the inhabitants of said society to an amicable agree- ment and loving accommodation of the matters wherein they differ; and if no such agreement and accommodation can be obtained, that then the said James Rogers, Thomas Huntington, and Jabez Perkins, or any two of them agreeing, shall have full power to decide the said difference and fix the place where the first meeting house in said society shall be built."

· In June following two of the Assembly's committee appointed, viz., Roger Huntington and Jabez Per- kins, came to North Stonington, and spent several days in an unsuccessful attempt to effect an agreement among the people, and finally decided upon a place themselves. But their findings did not suit the in- habitants, and the struggle went on, and finally about fifty members of the society agreed upon another place and sent again for the Assembly's committee, who came in February, 1723, and, after patient and exhaustive hearings, decided that the house should be built a few rods northwest of the present town hall. Their decision was so far acceptable that the society proceeded forth with to build the house thereon, and in the month of May following it was raised.

When the meeting-house question was so far settled as to permit the house to be raised, the General As- sembly, in 1724, decided to affix the following appel- lation to the North Society, thus :

" Resolved by this Assembly, that the North Society in Stonington for the future be called by the name of North Stonington."

And in May, 1725, the Assembly decided as follows :

" This Assembly grants liberty unto the inhabitants of the North So- ciety of Stonington to embody themselves into church estate with the approbation of the neighboring churches, and to settle an orthodox min- ister among them."

When the meeting-house was dedicated does not appear. The people were at first scated on benches, and so continued until 1728, in January, when places for pews were assigned to individuals, who were to make them at their own expense.

In March following a committee was appointed to employ workmen to make the seats in the house.

These seats were in the body of the house, the pews being around the walls. Seven years had now elapsed since the building committee were appointed and five years since the house was raised before the seats were made, and four more years were added before the gallery was completed. The house was built forty feet in length by thirty-five in width. It was re- paired in 1771, and taken down in 1817, and was gen- erally known as the " old Black meeting-house."

Notwithstanding the protracted controversy over the location of their meeting-house, the society very early commenced making provision for the stated preaching of the gospel. At their second meeting they voted to employ the Rev. William Worthington to preach for them until the last of May following. In 1722 the society gave him a call to become their pastor, which he declined. Sept. 4, 1722, it was voted to employ the Rev. Thomas Craghead to preach six months. Another meeting, held in October follow- ing, appointed a committee of seven to "treat with Mr. Craghead concerning the principles of religion, and to obtain his written answer to their questions, and to make their report."

The committee waited upon Mr. Craghead, obtained satisfactory answers, and reported the same to the society at its meeting the next day, whereupon they gave him a unanimous call for settlement, which he accepted.

From causes not now apparent his settlement was subsequently opposed, and to such an extent that the society voted to call a council of ministers, to advise with them in their difficulties. Whether this council met or not does not appear ; however, a day of fasting and prayer was set apart, and the three deacons of the church in Preston were appointed arbitrators to deter- mine between the parties at variance. Mr. Craghead preached for about a year. The arbitration came to naught, and the preconceived notions of the people remained as their conscientious convictions.

The next society preacher was the Rev. Jabez Wight. He commenced preaching in February, 1724, and labored for about two months, and received from the society a call for settlement.

The society made several additions to his salary, after which he accepted of their call, but he was never installed,-in fact, how could he be? There was no church then in existence over which to install him. After two years of labor he manifested a desire to leave, which the society reciprocated, and granted him his request.

In February, 1726, the society again invited the Rev. William Worthington to settle with them, but this invitation he also declined.

In February, 1727, the society invited Rev. Eben- ezer Russell, then resident of Stonington, to become, as they expressed it, their "gospel-preaching minis- ter," which call he accepted in January, 1727, when the society made arrangements with him to be or- dained Feb. 22, 1727, at which time a church was

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HISTORY OF NEW LONDON COUNTY, CONNECTICUT.

formed for him to be ordained over, as will appear by the following extracts from the records of the First Church of Stonington, as well as from his own :

" Feb. 19, 1727 .- Mr. Ebenezer Billings, Sylvester Baldwin, William Wilcox, Nathaniel Ayers, Theophilus Baldwin, Jeremiah Main, and Joslah Grant were dismissed from the church (it having been by them requested), in order to be embodied in Church Estate in North Stoning- ton, in which Society they were inhabitants.

" Feb. 22, 1727 .- A Church formed at North Stonington.

" April 9, 1727 .- Anne Billings, Dorothy Wilcox, Mary Randall, Anna Ayers, Sarah Stewart, Dorothy Babcock, Ruth Main, Rebekah Grant, Bridget Grant, Lydia Clark, and Mercy Palmer, were recommended to the communlon of the Church of Christ in North Stonington, who de- cided to receive them under ecclesiastical watch as members in full com- unnion with them.

" May 7, 1727 .- It was proposed and consented to by yo church that Eleazer Brown should stand in the relation of a communicant in ye church of Christ in North Stonington. The same day James Babcock and his wife, Shadrach Lamphere's wife, and the widow Fellows were dismissed from this Church, and recommended to ye communion of ye Church of Christ in North Stonington.

" May 16, 1727 .- Elizabeth Ashbee was dismissed from this church and recommended to ye communion of ye Church of Christ in North Stonington.

"July 3th, 1727 .- Sarah Ellis was dismissed from this church and recommended to ye comumunion of ye Church of Christ in North Ston- ington.

"Oct. 15, 1727 .- Mary Hewitt was dismissed from this church, and recommended to ye communion of ye Church of Christ in North Ston- ington."

Mr. Russell's record is as follows :

"Feb. 22, 1727 .- I took upon me ye pastoral charge of Christs Church in No. Stonington. God give me grace faithfully to discharge ye same ; the persons then embodied in Church fellowship were Ebenezer Russell, l'astor, Ebenezer Billings, William Wilcox, Silvester Baldwin,"

The following historical sketch of this church is taken from an able and interesting sermon preached by the Rev. Myron N. Morris at the dedication of the new meeting-house erected in that society in 1848 :

Mr. Russell died May 22, 1731, having been pastor of the church four years and three months. During this time there were added to the church thirty-six members,-fifteen by profession and twenty-one by letter,-besides five who were received on what has commonly been termed the "Half-way Covenant." Mr. Russell baptized sixty-one children, and united eighteen couples in marriage. He graduated at Yale College in 1722. After the death of Mr. Russell the church was destitute of a pastor about a year and a half. In August, 1732, the society invited Mr. Joseph Fish to settle with them, but as their call was not in the usual form, as they made provision for his support only while he should preach for them, and not so long as he should continue their pastor, and as they asked him to relinquish all his interest in the ministry land, which he thought in the existing circumstances of the society might impair their title to it, he gave them a negative answer. In this answer he said that he should regard the peaceable temper, the love and unity of the people, infinitely more than his secular interest, and that unless there was "a prospect of finding such a happy disposition" among them, "not all the temporal good things" which they could pro- pose would induce him to engage in the work of the

ministry among them. The society renewed their call, putting it in the usual form, and engaging to pay him his salary so long as he should continue their pastor. This call he accepted, and was ordained Dec. 27, 1732.

At the time of his ordination the church consisted of thirty-nine members,-thirteen males and twenty- six females. The ministry of Mr. Fish during the first ten years was eminently successful. In the lat- ter part of this period occurred that "great awaken- ing" in which the whole country was aroused, and the powers of light and darkness were engaged in desperate conflict, and the results of which were so glorious to the cause of truth and experimental re- ligion. In that revival this church shared largely, receiving in a single year (1742) as the fruits of it an addition of ninety-nine members. During the pre- ceding nine years sixty-five members had been . added.

But the church, though rejoicing in a glorious work of grace, was soon to pass through a fiery trial. In the building there was much "wood, hay, stubble," that were to be consumed.

The fire was to try the materials and make it mani- fest of what sort they were, so that although some loss might be suffered, coming generations might be able to rear upon that same foundation an imperish- able structure.

There was wanting a principle of cohesion that should hold the elements of society together. There had been from the first a strong tendency to party spirit, a disposition to contend for individual prefer- ence, and to withdraw from all friendly intercourse and co-operation with each other when not agreed, instead of making concessions for the sake of peace and the common weal. This was seen in the great difficulty which was experienced in fixing upon the location of their house of worship, and was one cause, the principal one probably, of the delay in its com- pletion; it was seen in the difficulties which pre- vented the settlement of two candidates who had accepted their calls; it is set forth with precision in Mr. Worthington's reply to their first call to him.

Says Mr. Worthington, "But that which hath ever been a discouragement in my mind whensoever I have had any transient thoughts of a settlement with you still remains, viz. : that party-spirit and self-willedness which hath showed itself from time to time, even in trifles as well as in greater things, and which I fear will still appear unless you are better affected one to- ward another, if not before; yet when anything of moment is managed in the church, to the making of schisms and breaches, so as to render your minister the most uncomfortable of any man in the world." The events which followed proved the correctness of Mr. Worthington's views. If we would rightly un- derstand the history of the church subsequently to the revival, we must not lose sight of this trait in the character of the people. At that day the people en-

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NORTH STONINGTON.

joyed but few advantages for education. It is not strange, therefore, that their views of things were not always altogether the most enlightened.

Although they were favored with the ministration of an able, sound, and faithful pastor, they had not become accustomed to make accurate discriminations in religious doctrine or practice. There were in the church some erroneous views which belonged to the times and were universally prevalent. The practice of receiving members on the "Half-way Covenant" opened the door for the admission of many whose only qualification was a moral life and a general re- spect for religion. Although from time to time mem- bers had been added to the church, the tone of piety appears to have been low. Scandalous offenses abounded, and, unhappily, cases of discipline were of frequent occurrence. Then came the revival. It was the first general awakening which the people had ever experienced. The power of God was wonderfully dis- played. The Holy Spirit aroused the conscience, and opened the eyes of sinners to their guilt and danger. They, unaccustomed to such views, trembled, and sometimes uttered shrieks of despair, as though just sinking to perdition, and Satan to the extent of his power practiced his deceptive arts in opposition to the Divine Spirit. And men at that time, Christians even, had not learned to discriminate between the good and the bad, and what was indifferent. Some attributed the whole movement-alarm, conviction, sympathetic excitement, and even the bodily effects -directly to the agency of the Holy Spirit; others were disposed to call it the work of the devil. But the judicious pastor endeavored to guide the people by the light of God's word, preventing discriminating views of the nature of true piety, and at the same time discouraging those outbursts of feeling which caused confusion, and which were exceedingly unfavorable to clear perceptions of divine truth. Many were hopefully converted, and a large number, as I have already stated, were added to the church, and the work was going steadily forward. Such was the state of things when Davenport-that wandering star which shot across the moral horizon, carrying desola- tion in its course-made a visit to this place.

Immediately the discordant elements, in the church and out of it, were in motion. Doubtless Mr. Daven- port was a good man, but he was evidently laboring under a delusion. He mistook inward impressions and impulses for an indication of the will of God, and believed himself to be specially commissioned of heaven to separate the real disciples from the old churches, which he regarded as corrupt, and to form a pure church. He encouraged noise and confusion, because he did not discriminate between the convicting influences of the Holy Spirit and the writings and ra- vings of poor depraved nature under those influences. To check the outcries and incident outward manifes- tations of those who did not control their feelings in time of public worship was, in his view and that of

his followers, the same as to interfere with the Spirit's work. He held that Christians could decide with certainty as to the existence of piety in others, and he took it upon himself to decide who among the ministers were converted and who of them were hypocrites. There were pernicious evils in the churches at that day. There was much coldness and formality in religion. All who offered themselves for admission to the church, if unexceptional in their external conduct, were received. To question them in regard to their exercises of mind -- their inward experience-was deemed fanatical and dangerous. Hence there were great numbers in the churches, and many ministers doubtless, who could give no evidence of having experienced a change of heart. Against these evils Mr. Davenport took his stand, and called upon the converts to come out and separate themselves from the dead churches and the ministrations of un- converted pastors.

The pastor of this church was distinguished for his consistent piety, but he did not approve of this blind zeal and disorganizing spirit. Accordingly, Mr. Dav- enport took the same course here as in other places. A large proportion, probably not less than two-thirds of the church and congregation, seceded. Some of these became Baptists. Others formed themselves into a Separate Church, and styled themselves "Strict Con- gregationalists," but were generally denominated "Separatists."

Several "Strict Congregational" Churches were formed about the same time, mostly in this part of the State and on Long Island, but we have not time to go into their history. I am not aware that a single one of them exists at the present time. Many years ago they became extinct, or were merged in other churches. Davenport's retraction of his errors is well known, but their effect in misleading others he could not recall. But how could a deluded fanatic succeed in alienating the affections of so large a proportion of the church from their excellent pastor and drawing them away from his ministrations? We have seen that the bond of union among the people had never been strong,-that they were predisposed to dissen- sion. The prevailing ignorance on religious subjects still further prepared the way for the separation. There were other causes. The "Standing Order," as the regular churches were called, propped up as it was by legal support, was with many becoming odious. The story of their taking the last cow from some poor family and selling it at auction to pay the " priest tax" was told again and again with due pathetic effect. Eastern breezes brought sad com- plaints that the people of this "Standing Order" were notorious for persecuting men for righteousness' sake ; that is, if the truth had been told, for flagrant con- tempt of the civil laws. The very name of " Presby- terian," which was improperly applied to the churches, came to the mind with a peculiar tinge, and awakened thoughts of oppression and priestly rule.

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HISTORY OF NEW LONDON COUNTY, CONNECTICUT.

Now when, in addition to these things, we consider the fact that Davenport appeared as the represen- tative of experimental religion, in opposition to cold formalism, that he claimed to be specially commis- sioned by God to form a pure church, and that the most wonderful manifestations of feeling attended his preaching, we shall hardly be surprised that so many became his followers.

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History of New London county, Connecticut : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Part 179

Author: Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton) Publication date: 1882 Publisher: Philadelphia : J.W. Lewis & Co. Number of Pages: 1317

Author: Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton)
Publication date: 1882
Publisher: Philadelphia : J.W. Lewis & Co.
Number of Pages: 1317