USA > Connecticut > New London County > History of New London county, Connecticut : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men > Part 72
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).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90 | Part 91 | Part 92 | Part 93 | Part 94 | Part 95 | Part 96 | Part 97 | Part 98 | Part 99 | Part 100 | Part 101 | Part 102 | Part 103 | Part 104 | Part 105 | Part 106 | Part 107 | Part 108 | Part 109 | Part 110 | Part 111 | Part 112 | Part 113 | Part 114 | Part 115 | Part 116 | Part 117 | Part 118 | Part 119 | Part 120 | Part 121 | Part 122 | Part 123 | Part 124 | Part 125 | Part 126 | Part 127 | Part 128 | Part 129 | Part 130 | Part 131 | Part 132 | Part 133 | Part 134 | Part 135 | Part 136 | Part 137 | Part 138 | Part 139 | Part 140 | Part 141 | Part 142 | Part 143 | Part 144 | Part 145 | Part 146 | Part 147 | Part 148 | Part 149 | Part 150 | Part 151 | Part 152 | Part 153 | Part 154 | Part 155 | Part 156 | Part 157 | Part 158 | Part 159 | Part 160 | Part 161 | Part 162 | Part 163 | Part 164 | Part 165 | Part 166 | Part 167 | Part 168 | Part 169 | Part 170 | Part 171 | Part 172 | Part 173 | Part 174 | Part 175 | Part 176 | Part 177 | Part 178 | Part 179 | Part 180 | Part 181 | Part 182 | Part 183 | Part 184 | Part 185 | Part 186 | Part 187
The parish at that time reported 206 families, 210 communicants.
Rev. J. Treadwell Walden, in office six years. He resigned in March, 1863, in order to take charge of St. Clement's Church, Philadelphia.
Two churches, both costly and imposing edifices, were erected by this society within the compass of twenty years, from 1828 to 1848. The first was du- ring the rectorship of Mr. Paddock. It stands on a lot extending trom Main to Church Street, a few rods west of the former church. The whole cost, including organ and furniture, was about thirteen thousand dol- lars. It was consecrated by the diocesan bishop, Rev. Thomas C. Brownell, July 29, 1829. This has since changed its designation, and is now Trinity Church.
In 1846, during the rectorship of Mr. Morgan, the society decided to resume for church service the old Bushnell site on Washington Street, from which the church was removed sixty years previous, and which had since been used as a cemetery. On this spot, over the ashes of the dead, the present church edifice, of an antique style of architecture, was erected at a cost of nearly fifty thousand dollars.
The corner-stone was laid by Bishop Lee, of Dela- ware, Aug. 31, 1846, and the church consecrated in 1848.
When the society removed to this new edifice they carried their designation, Christ Church, with them, and the house they left was for a short time closed. It was soon, however, reopened as a chapel, or depen- dent upon Christ Church, but this arrangement was of short duration. In 1850 a new and independent parish was organized, the edifice purchased, and a second Episcopal Church inaugurated, with the title of Trinity Church.1
The rectors since Rev. Mr. Walden have been Rev. David F. Banks, the Rev. John Binney, now professor in the Berkeley Divinity School, Middletown, and the Rev. Samuel H. Giesy, D.D., from June 1, 1874, to present time. During the seven years of his pastor- ate Dr. Giesy has baptized 204 persons, officiated at 45 marriages and 141 funerals, and presented 118 candidates for confirmation. The contributions of the parish, during the same period, have aggregated $67,272.
Trinity Church.2-The organization of Trinity Church parish took place A.D. 1850. The reasons
1 See history of Trinity Church.
2 By Rev. Edward H. Jewett, S.T.D.
297
NORWICH.
therefor are given in the following "copy of the original association" :
" Whereas, by the blessing of Almighty God the Episcopal Church in this city has been so far prospered that His people have been enabled to build two commodious and substantial churches, and now, and for months past, more sittings have been called for than could be furnished in the new and larger edifice on Washington Street. And, inasmuch as the time seems to have come when the interests of the Church would be still more prospered by the organization of a new and independent parish to occupy the old church edifice;
" And whereas, the parish of Christ Church have agreed to sell the said old church, organ, and all other fixtures, etc., appertaining thereto for the sun of five thousand dollars;
" Therefore, we, the undersigned, agree to associate and organize our- selves into a new Episcopal parish by the name of Trinity Church.
"F. W. Bushnell, F. B. Lee, Charles C. Hillard, Alby C. Thompson, Al- bert A. Bailey, Denison P. Coon, William G. Browning, D. B. Chap- man, Samuel Tyler, Edwin Gavitt, Charles Gale, I. L. Sparks, Z. R. Robbins, William H. Hyde, Wheaton Cottrell, William Lewis, A. I. Bentley, Edward King, Alvin G. Rawson, Joel W. White, William W. Kinne, George E. Cooley, E. P. Cottrell, P. St. M. Andrews, E. C. Beach, Whitman Potter, Charles Ball, John W. Haughton, John H. Callahan, Avery Smith, Samuel Story, R. W. Roath, D. M. Prentice, 0. W. Freeman, E. D. Roath, James L. Geer, George Avery, Chris- topher Culver, Thomas Robinson.
" NORWICH CITY, Jan. 7, 1850."
The Rev. Edward O. Flagg was called as the first rector April 10, 1850. Since his removal to Balti- more in June, 1853, the following gentlemen have occupied the position of rector : the Rev. Benjamin H. Paddock, now Bishop of Massachusetts, from June, 1853, to January, 1860; the Rev. Giles A. Easton, from June, 1860, to June, 1862; the Rev. John V. Lewis, from August, 1862, to August, 1865; the Rev. Andrew Mackie, from October, 1865, to July, 1868; the Rev. William W. Silvester, from October, 1868, to May, 1874; the Rev. Storrs O. Seymour, from No- vember, 1874, to April, 1879. The present rector, the Rev. Edward H. Jewett, S.T.D., assumed the posi- tion in May, 1879.
The church owns a substantial stone edifice, erected in 1828, a valuable rectory on Washington Street, and a recently-erected mission chapel, with adjoining lot, on Mount Pleasant Street. The contributions for the past year, as reported in the convention journal, were $5910.10. The following-named gentlemen form the vestry at the present time : Edmund D. Roath, Henry L. Parker, wardens; Albert A. Bailey, William H. Cardwell, N. Douglas Sevin, Frederick R. Was- ley, S. Alpheus Gilbert, John H. Keep, Hugh King, John F. Sevin, vestrymen; Charles B. Chapman, clerk and treasurer.
Grace Church Parish (Episcopal), Yantic, was organized November, 1853, through the instrumental- ity of Mr. and Mrs. Erastus Williams, when John W. Bulkley and E. Winslow Williams were elected wardens.
Its first rector was the Rev. Z. H. Mansfield, who continued his connection with the parish until his death in 1857. He was succeeded by Rev. A. L. Brewer, who in 1860 resigned, to be followed by Rev. G. M. Bartlett and G. H. Ward.
In 1864, Rev. E. L. Whitcome accepted the rector-
ship, which position he filled for five years. The Rev. Wm. Walker, of St Johns, New Brunswick, suc- ceeded, to be followed in 1872 by Rev. G. W. Hoff- man, who resigned in 1880.
The present organization is : Rector, Rev. C. W. Kelley ; Wardens, E. Winslow Williams, Chester Parkhurst; Vestrymen, James Smith, Wm. Dobson, John Beswick, Marvin Hanna, Arthur Gleason, Chas. .
Congdon, Chas. H. Carpenter, Amos Hobbs, Samuel Harrison, Samuel B. Blake, Thomas Derrick, David Smith, Paul Smith; Treasurer, Samuel Harrison ; Clerk, Charles Longdon.
According to parish register, there have been chris- tened 235; confirmed, 126; married, 136; buried, 118.
Methodist Episcopal Church, Bean Hill .- A class was formed at Bean Hill as early as 1796, which never lost its organization. The first meetings were held in the "Old Academy" at the foot of the hill. In this extemporized chapel many of the early noted itinerants preached in their rounds. Here Lee, As- bury, and other messengers of the church proclaimed their message. Here Maffit delivered one of the first of his flourishing effusions on this side of the water. When the eccentric Lorenzo Dow was to preach the bounds were too narrow, and the audience assembled in the open air, upon the hill, under the great elm. Among the prominent early members were Solomon Williams and Capt. James Hyde. The society was first known as "Norwich," subsequently "Norwich North," but latterly is designated as "Bean Hill." The first church edifice was erected in 1830, and the society became a separate charge in 1834. The first pastor was Rev. Daniel Dorchester. Among those who have filled the pulpit since are mentioned the names of A. U. Swinerton, W. Livesey, R. W. Allen, E. Benton, B. Otheman, L. Daggett, Jr., A. Palmer, L. W. Blood, G. M. Carpenter, P. T. Kenney, N. G. Lippitt, and G. W. Brewster, the present pastor.
East Main Street M. E. Church .- In 1833 the Methodists residing at Chelsea Landing, near Norwich City, petitioned the Conference for permission to sup- ply themselves with local preaching. The petition was granted, and Rev. D. N. Bentley was appointed preacher in charge. Measures were soon after taken for the erection of a church edifice, which was com- menced in 1834, and June 17, 1835, was dedicated. This church has been known as "Norwich South," the "Landing," and "East Main Street." It has been known by its present appellation since 1855. Among the pastors of this church have been Rev. D. N. Bent- ley, G. May, W. Livesey, A. U. Swinerton, R. Ran- som, G. F. Pool, S. Bent, D. Dorchester, F. Gavitt, J. Howson, J. Lovejoy, G. M. Carpenter, J. D. Butler, M. Chase, G. W. Brewster, J. B. Gould, F. Upham, E. B. Bradford, E. F. Clark, H. W. Conant, E. J. Haynes, J. D. Weeks, F. H. Newhall, A. P. Palmer, A. Anderson, S. O. Benton, William C. Kellogg, George N. Kellogg, George A. Morse, and E. M. Taylor.
298
HISTORY OF NEW LONDON COUNTY, CONNECTICUT.
The Central M. E. Church .- This church was or- ganized in 1854, and held its first meetings in a large hall upon Central Wharf. Its early ministrations were conducted chiefly by Rev. L. D. Bentley, a son of Rev. D. N. Bentley. The church edifice stands upon the site once occupied by an Episcopal, and subse- quently by a Congregational church. It was founded as a free church, and continued as such until a few years since. Among the pastors who have officiated in this church are mentioned the names of C. R. Wilkins, L. D. Bentley, F. Gavitt, R. Parsons, C. Banning, N. G. Lippitt, Mr. Carter, M. P. Alderman, Ensign McChesney, W. T. Worth, W. V. Morrison, Mellen Howard, Hugh Montgomery, E. F. Jones, and Ezra Tinker, the present incumbent.
Sachem Street M. E. Church.1-Methodism at Norwich Falls dates back as far as 1813. At that time the Methodist societies of the county were united in "New London Circuit," the Revs. J. Steel and W. Marsh, preachers in charge. The only church in Norwich was that on "Bean Hill." The services at "the Landing" were held in a room in the upper story of a building on the north side of wharf bridge, where the market now stands. There was then a " class" regularly organized at "the Falls," with Mr. Jeremiah Ladd as its leader.
When the church at " the Landing," between the bridges on West Main Street, was swept away by the flood, Feb. 23, 1824, Mr. D. N. Bentley, the patriarch of Methodism, now (July, 1881) in his ninety-seventh year, moved in the matter of building a house of worship at "the Falls." This building stood on Sherman Street, near the bridge over the New Lon- don Northern Railroad. Its site is now occupied by a carriage manufactory.
The church was dedicated June 19, 1825, Rev. J. A. Merrill, then presiding elder, officiating. Until 1831 the church was, with the others of the region, on a circuit. At that time the town of Norwich was made a pastoral charge. In 1836, after a remark- able ingathering of members under the labors of the Rev. W. Livesey, " Norwich Falls" was placed under the care of the Rev. A. C. Wheat, who remained till 1838, when the Rev. D. N. Bentley "supplied."
In the year 1854 it was deemed advisable for the church to have a more eligible place of worship. That occupied by the Congregationalists; located on Sachem Street, was offered for sale, and was purchased. The following Ecclesiastical Society was duly incor- porated under the title of the "Centre Methodist Episcopal Society :" Asa Manning, Amos E. Cobb, William Hulbert, William H. Hamilton, Nehemiah Upham, Maxon P. Lewis, William Greenman, Charles H. Allen, Edwin S. Barrows.
The pastors of the "Falls" Methodist Episcopal Church have been as follows: 1839, C. D. Rogers ; 1840-41, E. Blake; 1842-43, W. H. Richards; 1844,
L. Leflingwell ; 1845-46, F. Fisk ; 1847-48, S. Dean ; 1849, J. Mather ; 1850-51, B. M. Walker; 1852-53, W. Leonard; 1854-55, Sachem Street, T. Ely ; 1856, J. M. Worcester ; 1857-59, D. H. Ela; 1860-61, J. Livesey ; 1862-63, H. W. Conant; 1864-66, E. F. Clark; 1867, G. W. Alexander ; 1868-70, T. M. House; 1871, W. H. Stetson; 1872-74, N. G. Lippitt; 1875, W. A. Cottle; 1876-77, W. A. Luce; 1878, E. M. Dunham; 1879-81, J. H. James.
The following are now, July, 1881, the regularly constituted officiary of the "Sachem Street Methodist Episcopal Church :" Pastor, the Rev. Joseph H. James ; Sunday-school Superintendent and Class- Leader, Daniel T. Adams ; Stewards, C. W. Hopkins, C. H. Allen, G. Parkinson, G. W. Nash, B. M. Prince, B. M. Upham, W. Greenman, A. E. Cobb, W. T. Rogers ; Treasurer, C. W. Hopkins.
Ecclesiastical Society .- A. E. Cobb, E. S. Barnes, W. Greenman, C. H. Allen, W. Hulbert, B. M. Up- ham, M. P. Lewis, S. Hopkins, C. W. Hopkins, S. Subub, J. Babcock, D. J. Woodward.
Society Committee.2-C. H. Allen, B. M. Upham.
The statistics in April, 1881, were: membership, 115 ; Sunday-school teachers, 16; Sunday-school scholars, 106.
M. E. Church, Greeneville .- The first Methodist class at Greeneville was formed prior to 1834, and con- sisted of the following : Hannah Cranston, Sabra Bushnell, Roxanna Starkweather, Sarah Dennison, and Belinda Rood. Jesse Dennison, an exhorter, was the first class-leader. Among other early leaders were John B. Truman, Richmond Cranston, Samuel Wilbur, James Babcock, and Martin Obernauer.
The first church edifice was dedicated in 1840, which was subsequently enlarged. Among the min- isters who have officiated for this church were the Rev. George May, the venerable D. N. Bentley, D. N. Rogers, E. Blake, S. Benton, L. Daggett, Jr., A. Palmer, M. P. Alderman, Charles Morse, B. M. Walker, W. O. Cady, W. Turkington, J. Pack, N. G. Lippitt, F. Upham, E. B. Bradford, E. F. Clark, H. W. Conant, J. E. Hawkins. The present church edifice was dedi- cated April 7, 1864.
First Baptist Church .-- The first regular Baptists within the bounds of the present town of Norwich were Ephraim Story and Elijah Herrick. "These men," says Miss Caulkins, "had been members of neighboring churches of Separatists, and soon after 1790 began to hold night meetings 3 at their own houses for mutual edification. Whenever they were visited by the neighboring Baptist elders, and the congrega- tion was too large for a private room, they assembled in the school-house, or, if the weather was sufficiently mild, in a grove upon the hillside, or in a neighbor- ing rope-walk. At first they were recognized as a
2 One vacancy, caused by the death of R. M. Ladd.
3 The term night meetings was at first used by way of reproach, as meet- ings after sundown in the evening were at that time unusual in the reg- ular religious soclelies.
1 Contributed by Rev. Joseph II. James.
299
NORWICH.
branch of the church at Kingston, R. I., but were or- ganized as a church July 12, 1800.
" The origin of the church is thus related in a doc- ument emanating from the church itself:
"'In the year 1800 it pleased the Lord to collect and unite from a broken and scattered condition a few brethren and sisters, to the number of about 20, who were constituted into a church in fellowship with the Groton Union Conference. On the 25th Dec. following our beloved Elder was ordained and took the pastoral charge of the Church.'
" This beloved elder was John Sterry, who had been for some time previous an acceptable leader in their meetings. Christopher Palmer, of Montville, had also labored among them, and assisted in their or- ganization.
"The ordination services were performed in the Congregational church. Elder Silas Burrows, of Groton, preached the sermon. Dewey Bromley was at the same time ordained as first deacon of the church.
"The frame of a house of worship was raised by the society in 1801, and the building so far completed that services were held in it before the end of the year, but it remained long in an unfinished state.
"This church gathered in most of the inhabitants of the West Side. Bromley, Gavitt, Herrick, Willett, -these are names identified with West Chelsea and with the Baptist Church.
" In 1811, Eleazar Hatch left a bequest in his will of three or four thousand dollars, the interest of which was to be applied to the support of the Baptist minis- try in West Chelsea.
"Elder Sterry died Nov. 5, 1823, in the twenty- third year of his ministry, and fifty-seventh of his age. He was a native of Preston, but had resided from his youth in the First Society in Norwich.
" His successor as pastor of the church was Elder William Palmer, who commenced his labors April 1, 1824, and continued in charge about ten years. He was a grandson of Elder Christopher Palmer, who has been mentioned as one of the forefathers of the church. In the mean time the congregation outgrew the meeting-house. It was removed in 1832, and a new house of worship erected on the same spot, which was dedicated in July, 1833.
" After the departure of Elder Palmer, the pastoral duties were discharged by Messrs. Samuel S. Mallory, Josiah M. Graves, and Russell Jennings in succes- sion, neither of them exceeding two years of service. These frequent changes and other unfavorable cir- cumstances, operating against the prosperity of the church, led to a new Baptist enterprise, which issued at length in the establishment of the present Central Church. At this period the church at West Chelsea almost died out. The meeting-house was closed, and finally sold to cancel a debt of fifteen hundred dollars that had been incurred.
" In 1841, Elder Palmer, the former pastor, was pre- vailed on to resume the office, and the meeting-house, hired for the purpose, was again opened for religious services. He resigned in 1845, but continued to reside
in Norwich till his death, which took place Dec. 25, 1853.
" Elder Palmer was one of the eleven ministers who organized the New London Baptist Association in 1817; had served from year to year as its sole clerk, and was the last survivor of the eleven originators.
"Mr. Palmer's successor in the pulpit was Miner H. Rising. The church-members at this time were but few in number, as the Bromley family and others who had united with the new church did not return. But in 1845 and 1846, through the influence of a re- vival which commenced with a protracted meeting, conducted by Rev. J. S. Swan, great accessions were made to the church, and the total membership re- ported two hundred and seventy-six.
"The church edifice was at this time redeemed, and Mr. Rising ordained. The health of the pastor, how- ever, soon failed, and he was laid aside from ministe- rial duty. Since 1849 the ministry has been several times changed."
Central Baptist Church .- On the 1st of April, 1840, the First Baptist Church in Norwich obtained the services of Rev. M. G. Clarke, who continued to supply them until August following, when it was be- lieved the many difficulties under which the Baptist interest labored might be much lessened, if not re- moved, by a change of location. So many embarrass- ments, however, seemed to attend this proposition that it was abandoned; but it was finally decided to commence a new interest in a more central and ad- vantageous situation.
Accordingly, on the evening of Sept. 15, 1840, thirty-seven persons residing in the place, but not connected with the First Church, met at the house of Avery Bromley, on Union Street, and organized a Second Church, to be called the Central Baptist Church of Norwich. Articles of faith and church covenant were adopted, and Rev. M. G. Clarke was chosen to be their pastor.
A Council called to recognize the new church met on the 22d of the same month, consisting of delegates from the following churches : First Norwich, Bozrah, Lebanon, Colchester, Packersville, Jewett City, Vol- untown, and Preston City ; besides which, were in- vited Rev. I. R. Stewart and Rev. E. Denison. The church was duly recognized, and in the evening pub- lic services were held at the town hall, where a ser- mon was preached by Elder Tubal Wakefield, and the hand of fellowship extended to the new church, through their pastor, by Elder B. Cook. At the next meeting of that body the church was received a member of the New London Association.
The town hall was engaged as a place of worship, and so much did the congregation increase that the place was soon nearly filled. About this time also, the First Church being destitute of a pastor, many of its members took letters and united with the Central Church. The first deacons were Elisha W. Beckwith, Erastus Regwin, and George Lovis.
300
HISTORY OF NEW LONDON COUNTY, CONNECTICUT.
It now became evident that the comfort and pros- perity of the church depended much on their having a house to worship in. But after the severe struggles through which they had passed, few in numbers and feeble in means, it was difficult to see how such an object could be attained. But after prayer and con- sultation, trusting in God, it was decided to go for- ward and make the attempt. A lot centrally and favorably located on Union Street was obtained, and in the following spring a house was commenced, which was dedicated Dec. 14, 1841, Elder R. H. Neale, of Boston, preaching the sermon. Cost of church edifice about $11,000.
Among the pastors of this church have been the following : Revs. Miner G. Clarke, Edward T. Hiscox, Joseph A. Goodhue, Frederick Denison, Samuel Graves, and John Davies. In 1863 the church was enlarged and beautified at an expense of about $7000. The present pastor is Rev. John D. Herr.
Baptist Church, Greeneville .- This church was organized with one hundred members in 1845, and a house of worship erected the following year. The first pastor was Rev. D. B. Cheney, who was suc- ceeded in April, 1847, by Rev. Lemon Muzzy.
The church edifice was destroyed by fire in Febru- ary, 1854, and the present brick building was erected in 1854, and December 21st, same year, was dedicated, Rev. J. B. Swan preaching the dedicatory sermon.
The Universalist Church .- In the autumn of 1772, John Murray, a Universalist preacher, first visited the town and delivered his message to the people. He had been in America about two years, and had preached in several places south of New York, front which city he started with the intention of visiting Newport, R. I. On his journey through our State he stopped with a friend in Guilford. Here he was per- suaded to preach. Some Norwich gentlemen, and among them a Mr. Samuel Post, heard him, made his acquaintance, and urged him to come to Norwich. He came. A small house of worship was procured for him. It was probably the house occupied by the Separatists. It not being sufficiently large, the doors of the great meeting-house, occupied by Dr. Lord, were opened for his accommodation, and he says they " never afterwards were shut against him." Here he preached Universalism to a large and attentive audi- ence, from these words, "The sceptre shall not depart from Judah, nor a law-giver from between his feet, until Shiloh come : and unto Him shall the gathering of the people be." Gen. xlix. 10. He tarried but a short time, and continued his journey to Newport. The first sermon preached in Norwich in open advo- cacy of Universalism was delivered by John Murray, eighty-seven years ago, in Dr. Lord's meeting-house. For several years afterwards Murray visited the town annually, and sometimes oftener, and at every coming the number and attachment of his friends were in- creased and the influence of his sentiments was ex- tended in the community.
A society was formed, probably about the year 1791. It was prospering when Elhanan Winchester, an elo- quent preacher of the doctrine, visited Norwich, in 1794. He visited this town several times during the two or three years preceding his death. He was warmly received by many admirers. Rev. John Tyler, of the Episcopal Church, rendered him marked attention, and allowed him, as he had Murray, to preach in his church. In 1775, Winchester delivered a sermon, which was greatly admired by all classes, before the Masons, on the occasion of the St. John's festival. He died in Hartford in 1797.
Near the close of the year 1820 the present Uni- versalist society was organized, under the name " So- ciety of United Christian Friends in the towns of Norwich, Preston, and Groton." The first meeting was held at Paul Harvey's, in Preston. David Tracy was moderator, and Gurdon Bill was clerk. A com- mittee, consisting of David Tracy, Gurdon Bill, and H. K. Park, were chosen to draft a constitution. The meeting adjourned to Poquetanoc, at which place the constitution was adopted, and the society fully organ- ized by the choice of the proper officers.
In 1821 the Rev. Charles Hudson, since a member of Congress for Massachusetts, came into the neigh borhood, and preached one-fourth of the time in this society. During this year the first meeting-house of the society was built. It was dedicated July 21st. Rev. Edward Mitchell preached the dedicatory ser- mon.
The site of the church was the one which this oc- cupies, and it was bought by David Tracy, George Moore, and Daniel Carew of Nancy and Ebenezer Carew, of Norwich, and Simeon Carew, of Stoning- ton, for sixty dollars. The site has been enlarged by a more recent purchase.
Zephaniah Crossman was the next preacher in the society. He preached about a year.
In 1825, Zelotes Fuller became their preacher, and continued his labors till July, 1827.
From 1827 to 1834 the society had no settled min- ister. In 1834, Rev. Asher Moore, then of New Lon- don, was engaged to preach for them once a month. In 1835, Rev. John H. Gihon took the pastoral charge of the society.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.