USA > Connecticut > Hartford County > Wethersfield > History of Saint Mark's Church, New Britain, Conn., and of its predecessor Christ Church, Wethersfield and Berlin : from the first Church of England service in America to nineteen hundred and seven > Part 10
USA > Connecticut > Hartford County > Berlin > History of Saint Mark's Church, New Britain, Conn., and of its predecessor Christ Church, Wethersfield and Berlin : from the first Church of England service in America to nineteen hundred and seven > Part 10
USA > Connecticut > Hartford County > New Britain > History of Saint Mark's Church, New Britain, Conn., and of its predecessor Christ Church, Wethersfield and Berlin : from the first Church of England service in America to nineteen hundred and seven > Part 10
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
All male persons sixteen years old and upwards who did not voluntarily contribute, were taxed for the minister's rate accord- ing to the list of persons and estates, (except Magistrates and Elders,) until 1821, although voluntary contributions were dispensed with in 1697, and after 1799 the polls or persons of those under 21 years of age were put in the list at half the value of adults.
1656, 7 and 8. In October, 1656, towns and persons were forbidden to entertain, or unnecessarily speak to "Quakers, Ranters, Adamites, or such like notorious heritiques," under penalty of 5 pounds per week, and the magistrates had power to send them to prison for securing them until they could con- veniently be sent out of the jurisdiction. In 1657, the books or manuscripts of the Quakers were also suppressed and turned over to the Elders, or by a later act, to the Court. In Oct., 1658, Magistrates had power to punish all heretics by banishment or corporal punishment, also to inflict the same punishment on any one instrumental in bringing such persons into the Colony. In July, 1675, the penalty for non-attendance of public worship was suspended as to Quakers; also the imprisonment of them, provided they do not gather in assemblies nor make disturb- ance. In May, 1706, the law against heretics was repealed.
In March, 1657-8 all persons were prohibited from embody- ing themselves "into Church estate without consent of the General Court and approbation of the neighboring Churches." This was in force until 1750. Prior to 1657 the Churches and
-
I18
THE CHURCH
towns seem to have grown up without special legislation and without clearly defined distinctions between the Church and the Town. In 1643 when the Assembly acted upon certain troubles between Mr. Smith and the people of Wethersfield, they ordered a copy of the report sent to Mr. Smith and to the "Towne " instead of to the Church. Later they imposed a fine of 10 pounds on any one who should repeat any complaint against Mr. Smith of which he had been cleared by the Court. After 1657, special acts were passed for the formation of new Churches in the respective towns, and when there were more than one Church in one town, the bounds of each parish were generally fixed by the Assembly.
The act of March 8, 1657-8, also forbade the people from entertaining or attending any ministry or church administration " disinct and separate from and in opposition to that which is dispensed by the settled and approved minister of the place, except it be by approbation of this Court and the neigh- boring churches." Provided 'this act shall not hinder any pri- vate meetings of Godly Persons . with the allowance of the settled minister." This law was intended only to regulate churches of the Standing Order and was passed especially for suppressing the seceding Congregationalists of Hartford. In so far as it could be construed to apply to any other denomin- ation, it was practically annulled by the toleration acts of 1665 and 1669. It was in force until 1750.
1662. In October, 1662, it was declared that all laws and orders of the Colony stand in full force " unless any be cross to ye Tenor of our charter."
1664. Oct. 13, 1664, upon a writing from “ several persons in the Colony, (seven residents of Hartford and Windsor, call- ing themselves members of the Church of England,) that they are not entertained in Church fellowship, the Court recom- mended the ministers and Churches to entertain persons " who are of an honest and Godly conversation", by an "explicit covenant, and that they have their children baptised." A copy of this recommendation was sent to every minister in the Colony. [Stiles' Windsor, Vol. I, p. 196.]
After a long controversy, it was ordered in March, 1657-8, that all prosecutions cease between the Church in Hartford and the withdrawers until the matters in controversy are brought to
I19
IN CONNECTICUT.
an issue in a way that the Court shall determine. The assembly of New England Elders at Boston, 1657, approved of the half- way covenant as did also the Boston Synod of 1862, but in 1664 is the first specific reference to it noticed in the Colonial Records. The half-way covenant was an issue at Hartford in 1666, being opposed by Mr. Whiting and his followers, and Mr. Whiting's petition "for a distinct walking " and to " practice the Congre- gational way without disturbance " was granted in October, 1669. Numerous other matters relating to special legislation for particular churches were from time to time before the Gen- eral Assembly.
1665. In April, 1665, it was enacted that all persons of civil lives may freely enjoy the liberty of their consciences and the worship of God in that way which they think best, provided that this liberty tend not to the disturbance of the public, or mainten- ance of the ministry. Omitted from the revision of 1672.
1667. In May, 1667, Indians were forbidden to work or play on the Sabbath under a penalty of 5 shillings or sit in the public stocks one hour, but it was a year later when this provision was extended to all, at which time the general law against work, play, travel, etc., on the Sabbath, Fast and Thanksgiving days, or staying outside of the meeting-house during service, was passed, and with various changes was continued in the revision of 1821. The Sabbath was defined as from sunset on Saturday until midnight on Sunday.
1668. In October, 1668, the law as to attending public wor- ship was amended so that the judge might find the accused guilty unless " he make it appear that he did attend . or was necessarily detained therefrom." This was dropped in the revision of 1702 but was reenacted in May, 1712, and dropped again in 1750.
1669. A new act relating to Dissenters, (non-Congregation- alists,) was enacted in May, 1669, " for the honor of God, wel- fare of the Churches and preservation of the public peace so greatly hazarded", whereas the profession and practice of the Congregational Churches was approved "until better light in an orderly way doth appear", but as others are otherwise per- suaded, the Court declared that all persons "orthodox and sound in the fundamentals of Christian religion may have allow-
120
THE CHURCH
ance of their perswasion and profession in church ways or assemblies without disturbance." This was in force until 1702.
1672. The substitution of the Charter for the Fundamental Orders and the admission of New Haven into the Colony made a new code of laws necessary. It was ordered in 1671 and com- pleted in 1672. It was printed in Cambridge by Samuel Green in 1673, and was the first printed laws of the Colony. On the title page were the Scripture texts.
"Let every Soul be subject unto the Higher Powers; for there is no Power but of God."
"Whosoever therefore resisteth the power resisteth the Ordi- nance of God: and they that resist shall receive to them- selves Damnation."
New Haven Laws.
The New Haven Colony had very brief laws. Those only who desired to be admitted into the Church were admitted as planters, and none but Church members could vote or hold office. October, 1639, it was voted "that the word of God shall be the only rule to be attended unto in ordering the affairs of government in this plantation."
The revision of 1672, with the exception of omissions, made but little changes in the ecclesiastical laws. If any society failed to allow suitable maintenance for the minister, the County Court would order what the maintenance should be.
1676. In May, 1676, family prayer and worship was recom- mended, and the ministers and Selectmen were ordered to see that it was performed in every family. If any were obstinate and refractory, the grand jury were to present them to the next Court for punishment, or to be bound over to good behavior. In force until 1702.
1694. The ordained ministers of the Colony in October, 1694, were given permission to perform the marriage service, but in 1702, they could do so only in the town where the minis- ter was settled.
1697. In May, 1697, it was provided that if any town or plantation was without a minister for any year or years, the minister's salary should be collected and kept subject to the order of the Court.
I2I
IN CONNECTICUT.
1702. A new revision of the laws was made in 1702, pro- viding that if no agreement was made with the minister or he is aggrieved by too scanty allowance, he may apply to the General Assembly, who will fix his salary. Boarders, sojourners, and young persons living in any family were subject to a fine of 5 shillings for not attending private worship in those families. The Sabbath laws and laws for minister's support were both continued in substance until 1821.
1706. In October, 1706, ministers were exempted from taxes and not to be set in the list, and in October, 1737, this was extended to all members of the minister's family. The law was changed in the revision of 1821 so as to exempt only the polls of the ministers.
1708. In May, 1708, the majority present at any town or society meeting were given power to call and settle a minister who shall be the minister of such town or society and all agree- ments with him shall be binding.
In May, 1708, " being sensible of the defects of the discipline of the Churches," the Saybrook Convention was ordered to be composed of "the Reverend Ministers delegates from the elders and messengers of the Churches in this government." In October of that year, the Assembly declared " their great approbation of such a happy agreement, and do ordain that all the churches within this government that are or shall be thus united in doctrine, worship and discipline be", owned and acknowledged established by law. Provided that nothing herein shall hinder any Church or society allowed by law who soberly differ from the united churches from exercising worship and discipline in their own way. The Churches thus established under the Saybrook platform provided for an explicit covenant to be acknowledged by those who were not members in full communion, so that their children could be baptized.
The rights of Dissenters having been dropped from the revi- sion of 1702, it was enacted in May, 1708, "for the ease of such as soberly dissent from the way of worship and ministry estab- lished" by law; That, if any persons shall at the County Court of that country they belong to, qualify themselves according to an act made in the first year of the late King William and Queen Mary, granting liberty of worshipping God in a way separate
I22
THE CHURCH
from that which is established by law, they may enjoy the same without any let, hindrance and molestation whatsoever, but are not excused from paying minister's rates. This was repealed in May, 1743, when a substitute therefor was enacted.
1709. In October, 1709, single persons, boarders, and sojourners, were forbidden to meet in companies on Sunday or Lecture day evenings, except for "religious occasions," under a penalty of five shillings.
1715. In 1715, the Selectmen were to see that every house- holder had a Bible and large families a number of Bibles, ortho- dox catechism and other good books of practical godliness, and if this order was neglected, to make return to the next Court who may deal with the accused according to the law relating to the education of children. In force until 1821.
1721. In May, 1721, the laws relating to Sabbath keeping and attending public worship were changed to require the attendance to be "in some congregation by law allowed." A fine of 20 shillings was imposed on those who should assemble in any public meeting house without the consent and allowance of the minister and congregation. A fine of 5 shillings was imposed for unnecessarily leaving home on the Lord's Day except to worship God "in some place by law allowed for that end." In October, 1721 each town was to appoint annually two Tything men for each parish. In force until 1821.
1723. In 1723, when the Baptists were increasing and irregular preachers took upon them to administer the sacrament of baptism," all persons who neglected public worship on the Lord's Day and formed themselves into separate companies in private houses, were, until 1821, subject to a fine of 20 shillings, and until 1750, if any person not a lawful or allowed minister shall administer or make show of the "Holy Sacraments" they were subject to a fine of 10 pounds.
1727. The first mention of the Church of England or Epis- copal Church is in the act of May II, 1727, when it was enacted as to all persons, including Episcopalians, living in the bounds of any parish allowed by this Assembly, that they should be taxed alike, and "if it so happen that there be a Society of the Church of England where there is a person in Orders according to the canons of the Church of England settled and abiding
123
IN CONNECTICUT.
among them and performing divine service so near to any person that hath declared himself of the Church of England, that he can conveniently and doth attend the public worship there; then the Collectors" shall deliver the taxes collected of such Churchmen to the Church of England ministers, who shall have full power to receive and recover the same.
Societies of the Church of England " may levy and collect of them who profess and attend as afore said, greater taxes at their own discretion for the support of their Minister."
"And the Parishioners of the Church of England attending as afore said are hereby excused from paying any taxes for the building of Meeting Houses for the present established Churches of this Government."
1728. It was enacted in October, 1728, that no person could vote in society meetings, except those persons having a freehold of forty pounds, or that are persons in full communion with the Church. The "or " was changed to " and " in the revision of 1750, and in 1748, and after, Dissenters who exercised their right of exemption from taxes were prohibited from voting in society meetings, except for school purposes. A penalty of 15 shillings for violating this law was enacted in 1769.
1729. In May, 1729, it was enacted that Quakers " who do attend the worship of God" either in the Colony or on the borders thereof and shall produce a certificate of their having joined themselves to their society, shall be excused from con- tributing to the support of the established ministry, or paying any tax for the building of any meeting-house. In October, 1729 the same privileges were granted to the "people called Baptist."
The laws as to taxing Episcopalians, Quakers and Baptists were in force until 1784, when a modified form of law apply- ing to all tolerated Dissenters was enacted. The law as to Epis- copalians, before 1784, was much less liberal than the law as to Baptists and Quakers.
1735. In May, 1735, the law gave the collectors of the Established Churches the power of constables and after receiv- ing the names and amounts assessed in the society, the collector was given a warrant against every person on the list, which war- rant he could serve in case of necessity. The minister's rates
124
THE CHURCH
collected by him were paid over directly to the minister. This law was in force until 1821.
1737. In 1737, an act was passed permitting the Western land fund to be appropriated "to the support of the Gospel Ministry." This was repealed in 1740. A new law on the same subject was passed in 1795.
1740-42. In October, 1740, "considering the unhappy mis- understandings and divisions", a General Consociation of the Churches of the Colony was ordered to be convened at Guil- ford, at the expense of the Colony. In May, 1742, referring to the endeavor of the said Consociation " to prevent the growing disorders amongst the ministers and churches settled by order of the Assembly", and reciting that divers ministers go into and preach in parishes under the care of other ministers, and also sundry illiterate persons who have no authority whatever, publicly preach and exhort, it was enacted that no licensed minister or any person not a settled and ordained minister go into any parish and hold service without being expressly invited by the minister of the parish or of the congregation, nor meet in any irregular association, under penalty of forfeiting all benefit of the law for minister's support, while the irregular preacher was to be bound over to his peaceable and good behavior to the next County Court. If any foreigner or stranger so offend he shall be sent out of the Colony as a vagrant person. This law was dropped in 1750.
In October, 1742, ministers that were not educated at Yale or Harvard College, or some other allowed Protestant college or university, were denied the benefit of the laws for the sup- port of the ministry. This law was enacted to be in force four years only.
1743. The Moravians had a mission among the Indians of Sharon and Kent and were said to have been stirring up discord among the people, whereupon it was enacted in May, 1743, that all foreigners or persons suspected of seditious designs, or of being spies, should be brought before the Governor for exam- ination.
At the same session, the toleration act of 1708 was repealed, because Congregational Separatists, for whom it was never intended, tried to take the benefit thereof. As a substitute for
125
IN CONNECTICUT.
the repealed act, any of his Majesty's subjects, being Protes- tants, inhabitants of this Colony, and dissenting from the estab- lished worship, were given permission to ask for privileges in Church ways, and if they had any distinguishing character from Presbyterians or Congregationalists, they "may expect indul- gence of this Assembly."
In October, 1743, a law was enacted against such vagrant preachers as had been sent out of the Colony and returned again to preach or exhort. This law was dropped in 1750.
1747. In 1747, it was enacted that when any parish or relig- ious society allowed by law, (those only tolerated by the laws of this Colony and dissenting from us excepted,) shall vote to build a meeting-house, they shall apply to the County Court to fix the place where it shall stand. The clerk of the society was required to report the doings of the society and progress of the building to the County Court. A fine of $134.00 was imposed for building a meeting-house without complying with this act. This law was in force until 1821.
1750. Another revision was made 1750, which omitted sundry laws and also enacted a law against the denial of God or the Holy Trinity, punishable by disability to hold office, and for a second offence disability to sue, or be guardian, executor or administrator on any estate. Continued until 1821. Those who profaned the Lord's day or disturbed any congregation allowed for the worship of God, were to " be publicly whipt not exceeding Twenty stripes." The laws relating to attending public worship were amended by a proviso " That this act shall not be taken or construed to hinder the meeting of such Persons upon any Religious Occasion."
1752. In May, 1752, the Honorable Society in Scotland for Propagating Christian Knowledge was given liberty to solicit contributions from various Churches and such contributions were recommended.
In October, 1752, upon the memorial of certain "professors of the Church of England " of Newtown, they were exempted from paying taxes to support the ministry. This grant changed their rights under the former laws in no way except that they did not have to pay taxes to the Congregational collector to be by him paid back to the Episcopal minister, and that the 8
I26
THE CHURCH
exemption was not conditional on their church attendance, nor on the residence of the minister. The inhabitants of the said town were given power to lay taxes, etc., exclusive of the Episcopalians.
1757. In May, 1757, the parishioners of the Baptist Church at Enfield were exempted from taxes for support of the minis- try and for building meeting-houses of the Established Order. In 1764, like privileges were granted the Baptists of Somers and Suffield attending at Enfield, and to those of Willington and Windsor, attending at Stafford.
1761. In May, 1761, the parishioners of Trinity Church, (Episcopal,) of Fairfield, were given power to organize, appoint a collector, lay taxes for supporting the minister and for build- ing and repairing their church, substantially the same as the established churches.
1764. In October, 1764, Societies and parishes were author- ized to elect a Society Treasurer, with the same powers as Town Treasurers.
Illegal voting in societies meeting was made punishable by a fine of 15 shillings.
1766. In October, 1766, the oaths agreeable to an Act of Parliament of Allegiance and Supremacy, Declaration against Popery and Oath of Abjuration were ordered "printed with the acts of this Assembly " and were so printed.
1769. In January, 1769, Joseph Meeham, a Baptist minister of Enfield, who had married a member of his flock, contrary to law, (as he was not a minister of the Established Order,) was fined; but the fine was remitted as there was no criminal intent.
1770. In May, 1770, the Episcopal Church called St. John's in New Milford, and in October, 1770, the Church in the town of Pomfret, in the parish of Brooklyn, were respectively given like privileges with Trinity Church of Fairfield. These three Churches at Fairfield, New Milford and Brooklyn, were the only Episcopal Churches in the Colony established by law. It was, however, the intention of the Legislature to establish the Episcopal Church at Newtown, as appears from the original bill in Vol. 10, Ecclesiastical Manuscripts, but when the bill was put in its final form, the rights voted to be given to the said Church
I27
IN CONNECTICUT.
were, by an error, given to such inhabitants of the town as were not Episcopalians. In October, 1770, it was enacted that those who dissent from the Standing Order "and attend public Wor- ship by themselves " shall not incur the penalties of the law "for not attending" Worship on the Lord's Day.
1777. In May, 1777, a law was passed giving the Strict Con- gregationalists who have separated from the churches and con- gregations established by law, substantially the same right of organization and maintenance as other churches and exempting them, under certain conditions, from taxes for the Established Church.
The conditions of exemption were more numerous and rigid than that required of the Episcopalians or other Dissenters, even requiring that all of the names of the persons attending the Separate Churches shall be lodged with the clerk of the established society where they dwell. In one particular the Episcopalians fared harder than any other Dissenters. They were the only denomination whose taxes had to pass through the hands of the Congregational collector, and whose exemption was conditioned on the abode of their minister. On the whole the Separates had the greatest grievance under the law and the Episcopalians the next.
1784. An entire new revision of the laws was adopted in 1784, after the return of peace, and which in terms repealed all former laws. The principal change in ecclesiastical matters was the act relating to Dissenters from the Standing Order which, for the first time, placed all Dissenters on the same level, although they were still less favored than the regulars.
It provided that all Dissenters "whether of the Episcopal Church or those Congregationalists called Separates, or the People called Baptists or Quakers, or any other Denomination " who have formed into distinct bodies, attend and support public worship, and file a certificate to that effect with the clerk of the society where they dwell, signed by their minister, shall be exempt from taxes for the support of such society. Also that such organized Dissenters shall have substantially the same powers and privileges as the Ecclesiastical Societies established by law. Also that all persons who do not attend and help sup- port any other Public Worship shall be taxed in the Society where they dwell.
I28
THE CHURCH
In order to prevent a misconstruction of the law for not attending, on the Lord's day, the worship and ministry estab- lished by law, it was enacted that persons professing the Chris- tian religion and dissenting from the established way, shall not be prosecuted for non-attendance " on account of their meeting together by themselves on said day for public worship in a way agreeable to their conscience."
1791. In May, 1791, an act was passed in addition to and in alteration of the exemption certificate law of 1784, whereby no certificate was legal unless issued by two justices, (or by one in case the town did not have two,) after an examination of the person claiming exemption, and a decision that the claim was " well founded." This act, together with the act which it amended, was repealed in October, 1791, and a new act passed granting exemption on the same conditions as before, upon filing a certificate merely signed by the applicant, instead of by the minister or justices. The names of the various dissenting denominations were omitted. The revision of 1784 is the only instance noted in which the word "Episcopal " occurs in the statutes. The word Methodist does not appear in any revision.
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.