USA > Connecticut > New Haven County > Seymour > History of Seymour, Connecticut, with biographies and genealogies > Part 22
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The old pulpit was removed in the spring of 1876 at the request of Mr. Tibbals, and in February, 1877, an elegant black walnut pulpit was presented to the society by H. B. Beecher, Esq. It was first occupied Feb, 4th by Rev. Aaron Pierce of East Village, who was the pastor of the church in 1848, and his aged form and hoary locks, white with the frosts of eighty-nine winters, as he preached from 2 Tim., 4-7, constituted an occasion long to be re- membered.
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HISTORY OF SEYMOUR.
In the spring of 1877 Rev. J. Vinton became pastor of the church. In the following fall, in connection with an effort to advance the temperance cause, a revival commenced. Arthur J. Smith, the first convert, son of Rev. Joseph Smith, had long been a leader among the young people, and was then instrumental in leading many of his old associates to the cross. Feeling called to the ministry he left the RECORD office, where he had been em- ployed, to attend the Collegiate Institute at Hackettstown, N. J., preparatory to entering college. This revival resulted in the conversion of about thirty persons. During the following winter there were several conversions at Great Hill, under the labors of Rev. J. Vinton.
The year 1868 was a notable one in the history of the church. It was de- cided to renovate the church, and on Sunday morning, June 27th, an appeal was made for funds for the work, and $225 was quickly pledged. The work was soon commeneed and in all about $900 was raised and laid out in fresco- ing the audience room, repairing and refurnishing the lecture and class rooms, repainting the whole interior, putting on a new roof, &c. At a festival held adjoining the church July 4th $103 was raised, and $283 was subscribed at the re-opening Aug. 11th, and the whole expense of the improvements was soon paid. There were several conversions during the year. In the two years-April, 1867, to April, 1869, about fifty united with the church on pro- bation, of whom nearly forty have been received into full membership.
The finances of the church, under the efficient direction of the pastor, have been well kept up and notwithstanding the extensive outlay there has been no increase of debt. The contributions of the church for regular expenses, repairs, &c., from April, 1878, to April, 1879, were over $2,000, with a total membership at the close of the year of one hundred and sixty.
The whole church property, at Seymour and Great Hill, is estimated at $13,000, with a debt of only $662, on the parsonage.
TRUSTEES.
Oct. 31, 1818, Stiles Johnson, Bezaleel Peck, Robert Lees, Thomas Gil- yard and Timothy Hitchcock.
Wales French was elected a trustee April 2nd, 1840.
Sylvester Smith was elected April 10th, 1843.
Jan. 26th, 1846, Rev. George L. Fuller appointed trustees as follows :- Thomas Gilyard, Jared Bassett, Merritt Osborn, Samuel R. Hickox, Sylvester Smith, Warren French, Burritt Hitchcock, William B. Watson and Wilson Wyant. Apr. 3, 1846, Lyman Hartson vice Thomas Gilyard, resigned. Sheldon Miles vice Wilson Wyant, resigned.
1861, Jared Bassett, Sylvester Smith, Warren French, Sheldon Miles, Henry W. Benedict, Smith Botsford and William N. Storrs.
Sept., 1866, elected for one year, Albert W. Lounsbury, Sheldon Miles and Willis Umberfield. For two years, Jared Bassett, Smith Botsford and
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Wilson E. Hendryx. For three years, Sylvester Smith, William N. Storrs and Warren French.
Since 1866 three trustees have been elected by ballot annually in Septem- ber, by the adult male members of the church.
1867, Sheldon Miles, Willis Umberfield, W. W. Dibble.
1868, Smith Botsford, A. W. Lounsbury, C. C. Nugent.
1869, Sylvester Smith, Warren French, W. N. Storrs.
1870, Sheldon Miles, S. H. Rankin, W. W. Dibble.
1871, W. C. Sharpe, Lyman Botsford, T. S. Ladd.
1872, H. B. Beecher, Warren French, W. N. Storrs.
1873, Lugrand Sharpe, A. W. Lounsbury, William Gilyard.
Edwin Smith, elected to fill vacancy vice Lyman Botsford, resigned.
1874, W. C. Sharpe, William B. Johnson, James K. Adams.
T. S. Ladd, elected to fill vacancy vice William Gilyard, resigned.
1875, H. B. Beecher, W. N. Storrs, Sheldon Miles.
1876, W. W. Dibble, H. C. Rogers, D. H. Munson.
1877, W. C. Sharpe, James K. Adams, Joseph Hitchcock.
1878, H. B. Beecher, W. N. Storrs, Sheldon Miles.
Warren French, elected to fill vacancy vice H. C. Rogers, removed.
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL.
George Kirtland came to Seymour in 1825, and in 1826 or 1827 he started a Sunday school with five children of his own, the number increasing the first year to 27. He tried to establish a library for the Sunday school, both himself and a Mr. Fisher contributing books and money. He kept up the school six or seven years, when it was discontinued for a time.
The Superintendents since the re-organization of the school, so far as I have been able to learn, are :
1841-2, Samuel R. Hickox.
1843-8, Lugrand Sharp.
1852, John Adams.
1869, William C. Sharpe.
1853, Frederick Durand.
1870-1, William N. Storrs.
1854, William A. Hughes.
1872, William W. Dibble.
1855, William Mallory.
1856-7, Albert W. Lounsbury.
1874, Charles N. Blanchard.
1858, William Mallory.
1875, Samuel Butler.
1876, Edward N. Botsford.
1877, Henry C. Rogers.
1878, Samuel Butler.
1879, George E. Stockwell.
In 1862 there were 777 volumes in the library. In 1865, 851 volumes.
1866-7, William N. Storrs.
1868, Sheldon Miles.
1873, Samuel Butler.
1859, Warren French.
1860-1, William N. Storrs.
1862-5, Henry W. Benedict.
REV. JOHN BOWER,
FIRST MINISTER AT DERBY.
The first clergyman of Derby was Rev. John Bower, who was settled there in 1672 and died in 1688. He was a graduate of Harvard College, class of 1649. He was a son of George Bower, or Bowers, found in Scituate, Mass. in 1637, in Plymouth in 1639, and who removed to Cambridge. George lived in Cambridge on the east side of North Avenue, not far from the rail- road bridge. There his wife Barbara died, 25th March, 1644. He m. 2ud Elizabeth Worthington, and had Jerathmeel, b. 1650. George Bowers had some trouble with his son Benamuel, for in May, 1652, he was complained of for rending a deed with several articles between them. Yet in 1656 he con- veyed twenty acres in Charleston next Cambridge line to Benamuel. He voted several years but at the same court in 1652 was fined for it, not being a sworn freeman. Both offences were complained of by Thomas Danforth, who apparently made it warm for him. He died late in 1656, his will of 8th Nov. being proved 30th Dec. of that year, and his widow married 25th June, 1657, IIenry Boutell or Bontwell. He had two daughters-Patience, I11. Humphrey Bradstreet, and Silence; and by his first wife two sons, undoubt- edly born in England. Benamuel of Cambridge, who suffered imprisonment, whipping and fines as a quaker, and Rev. John, graduated at Harvard College in 1649. John was a school master in Plymouth, perhaps (says Savage) the earliest in the business.
New Haven was early ambitious to have a classical school, which how- ever was maintained with difficulty, so few wished to study "Latten."
"8th Nov., 1652, the Governor informed the Court that the cause of calling this meeting was about a school master to let them know what he hath done in it ; he hath written a letter to one Mr. Bower, who is school master at Plymouth and desireth to come into these parts to live."
Dec. 20th, 1652, the Governor had received a letter from Mr. Bower, who was willing to come but could not until spring because he was engaged in Plymouth until April and he wished to know what the town expected. The town declared he might "for the worke and the paye" have the terms Mr. Hanford had. The terms with Hanford in 1651 were, he was "to have "£20 a yeare and the towne to pay for his chamber and dyet, (which they "have agreed with Mr. Atwater for, for 5s per week.) That his paye bee "goods and some of it such as wherewith he may buy bookes and defraye "charges in his travel. That he have libertie once a yeare to goe see his "friends which was propounded to be in harvest time. That if he be called "away (not to the same worke) but some other employment which may be
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"for the honor of Christ he may have libertie, and for this he will teach the "children of this towne, (having the benefit of strangers to himself) after "they are entered and can reade in ye Testament to perfect them in English "and teache them their latin tongue as they are capable and to wright."
The arrival of Mr. Bower is noticed 21st June, 1653, and he boarded with Thomas Kimberly. His predecessor had trouble with scholars not far enough advanced for his school, and May 1st, 1654, a complaint was made that Mr. Bower was so employed in teaching children their letters that the "Lattin" suffered, so two townsmen were deputed to send such children home. 3rd April, 1660, Mr. Bower informed the town that there were in this high school, only eighteen scholars, and sometimes but six or eight present, and he wanted to know "whether they would have a schoole or no schoole." This year closed his seven years service. We hear of him next in Guilford, where in 1660, says Smith, he purchased an estate and supplied the pulpit for three or four years until Mr. Joseph Elliot was settled, which was in 1664. In another place Mr. Smith says John Cotton and Mr. Bower jointly supplied the pulpit. He was not as popular as Mr. Elliot after him.
In 1666 on the removal of a part of the planters of Branford to New Jersey, with their pastor, Mr. Pierson, he engaged Mr. Bower to preach in his place, and himself paid him to the end of that year. The people gave a formal call to him Jan. 6th, 1667, to become their pastor, voting to allow him for the next year forty pounds and a days work from every planter. They renewed it year by year adding to the salary.
In May, 1671, he was invited to settle there and accepted Dee. 3rd of that year but left in 1672. He had previously meditated removing to Derby, as 18th April, 1671, Derby granted him twelve acres for a home. 18th Nov., 1673, the planters there voted to build him a house, and it is recorded next that the first year Mr. Bower is willing to take what the inhabitants would voluntarily give, as they are at great expense in building.
In 1681 and again in 1682 they voted him fifty pounds for a years salary. Mr. Bower's will is recorded in Derby records as well as at New Haven. It is dated Jan. 8th, 1684, (1685) .* It is very short, speaking of him as being
*A copy of Mr. Bower's will-from the Town Records of Derby-no date to the record.
The last will and testiment of Mr. John Bower of Derby, being very weak of body but of perfeet understunding and memory, do leave these lines as my last will and testament.
Impri. My will is yt after my decease, my dearly beloved wife, Bridget Bower, shull have ye disposal of my whole estate, to dispose of it amongst our children, as she shall sce cause, he desiaring yt ye birthright may be remembered if he cary it well to his honored mother, as witness my hund, this eight day of jenuary, one thousand, six hundred eighty four, ABELL GUN.
John Bower.
JOB FRISBIE.
The will no doubt was written by another, while Mr. Bower was sick, and signed by him, and the bad spelling may be due to the scribe or recorder.
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HISTORY OF SEYMOUR.
very weak in body and giving his wife Bridget the full disposal of his estate, care of the children, &c., desiring yt ye birthright, (ie. double portion) may be remembered if he carry it well to his honored mother." He died 14th June, 1687. His widow continued to reside in Derby, where she died 19th May, 1720. Her house is mentioned in 1701, the pound being "as you go to Mrs. Bower's, her house."
In 1676 he joined with the Rev. Zachariah Walker of Woodbury in a letter nrging defence of Woodbury and Derby "as would be the first attacked."
He married at New Haven, Bridget Thompson, daughter of Anthony Thompson of New Haven. Mr. and Mrs. Bower's had at least the following children, perhaps more.
Ruth, bapt. 20th Dec., 1657, m. 2nd Dec., 1674, John Frisbie of Bran- ford, and had children-John, 23rd May, 1676; Edward, 24th Jan., 1678; Rebecca, 14th Nov., 1679; Hannah, 18th Jan., 1681 ; Samuel, 10th Feb., 1683; Ruth, 6th Dec., 1685, d. 26th May, 1688; Joseph, 15th Ang., 1688. As widow and administratrix of her husband, she deeds 20th Jan., 1700, to her son Samuel, with assent of her son John. Mr. Savage says she m. 2nd, William Iloadly.
Mary, m. 1682, Samuel Nichols.
Samuel, 5th Nov., 1665.
John, born at Guilford, 3rd Dec., 1667.
Ann, m. 2nd Sept., 1703, Francis French of Derby.
Nathaniel. The latter does not appear in Savage's Dictionary, but 29th Dec., 1707, Mrs. Bridget Bower deeds to "my beloved son Nathaniel Bower of Greenwitch, in the county of Fairfield." He removed to East New Jersey and in the grant for Derby appear the minor heirs of Nathaniel Bower in East New Jersey, deceased. He was Rev. Nathaniel, minister of the first church in Greenwich in 1700. He succeeded Mr. Wakeman at Newark, New Jersey, and was succeeded shortly after Aug., 1716, by Mr. Whittlesey in Newark. He is beyond all question the Rev. Mr. Bower of Rye-in 1696, and remaining there until 1700, when he was "settled" at Greenwich. The period of his stay at Rye was while the people of Rye "revolted" from New York to Connecticut, which revolt apparently arose in considerable degree at least, from religious feeling. In 1700 the town ordered his salary to be paid "in specie as followeth, wheat at five shillings per bushel, and all other provisions pay equivalent." His salary was fifty pounds.
SAMUEL, born in 1665, m. 1st, in 1687, Ruth Wooster of Derby, daughter of Edward Wooster from Milford. He m. 2nd, 4th Nov., 1691, Lydia French, daughter of Francis and sister of the husband of Ann Bower. She was born 28th Sept., 1670. He was several times constable, (then au office of high honor), and was alive as late as 1708. He had children at least
Lydia, born Aug. 2nd, 1692.
Rebeckah, børn March 9th, 1691, died Dec. 7th, 1712.
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HISTORY OF SEYMOUR.
Kezziah, born March 2nd, 169%.
Miriam, born April 5th, 1703, m. Oct. 7th, 1724, Ephraim Washbon.
Samuel, born Dec. 2nd, 17-(torn off) who m. a wife Sarah, and had a a daughter born in Derby, Jan. 8th, 1729.
JOHN, born in 1667, appears in Derby in 1693, and continued there, hold- ing various places of trust. He was surveyor in 1705, collector in 1706, deputy to the legislature in May, 1708, dying in September of the same year and styled Mr. He is identified beyond question by a deed from his mother in 1707. It is generally said that he was minister for a while in Rye. This is a mistake, originating with Mather in his Magnalia, who put at Rye in 1696, Mr. Bower, H. C. (Harvard College). This was John the first, but out of date. Trumbull in his history of Conn. says John Bower removed from Derby and settled at Rye about 1688. Mr. Savage makes it the Sen. John-but it appears plainly in Mr. Baird's History of Rye, p. 281, that the only Bower of Rye was Nathaniel. Mr. Baird adds he knows nothing of Nathaniel's antecedents which we here set forth.
To help the confusion that has existed as to the Johns-there was in Greenwich a John Bower, neither of these as in Vol. IV of Fairfield Pro- bate Records is his will 1693, who gives to his daughter-in-law Judah Renolds and sister Hester Bukley ? John of Greenwich was 43 years old in 1681. There was also in 1672 a Mr. John of Oxford, Mass., who had a son in South Middletown, Conn. I do not know what children this second John of Derby had, but a third Mr. John m. Nov. 22nd, 1732, Sarah Riggs, died 26th Jan., 1733, and April 18th, 1739 his widow married Rev. Mr. Daniel Humphreys. They had at least a daughter, Sarah, born Aug. 18th, 1736.
Rev. Daniel Humphreys and his wife Sarah above named were parents of General David Humphreys, born 1752 or 1753-from whom Seymour was first named Humphreysville.
Anthony Thompson of New Haven, (the father of Bridget, wife of John Bower), with his wife, two children and brothers John and William em- barked at London in 1637, on board the Hector with Gov. Eaton, Rev. Mr. Davenport and others of the New Haven colony, arriving at Boston June 26th, 1637. They were among the first settlers at New Haven, where he signed the compact, June 4th, 1639.
Anthony died March 23rd, 1647, making a nunenpative will in the presence of Rev. Davenport and Robert Newman, which was proved May 27th, 1650. He left fifteen pounds to Bridget, (daughter of his first wife), to be paid her at the age of eighteen years, provided she disposed of herself in marriage with the consent and approbation of her mother and the elders of the church then being. As she married a clergyman and the classical school teacher of New Haven, it is to be hoped the widow and elders were not averse to the match.
Anthony had children, John and Anthony, when he came. Bridget was born here. He married 2nd, Catherine, and had two daughters by her ;
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Hannah, who married a Staunton ; and Lydia, who married Isaac Crittenden ; and one son, Ebenezer, 15th Oct., 1648, who was born some months after the will and probably posthumous.
He remembered the daughters and the widow while she was his widow. She forfeited her share by marrying Nicholas Camp in 1652, but she was still loved by her step children, for Anthony gave his property to his brother John, sister Bridget, his three half sisters, children of "Goodwife Camp," and his "mother-in-law," ie. step-mother.
William, the brother of the first Anthony, died 24th April, 1683, leav- ing neither wife or children. He gave property to his nephews and neices, calling them cousins, and among them his "beloved cousin Bridget Bower."
The Thompsons might be presumptively from the neighborhood of many of the New Haven emigrants, to-wit: Kent, London and Hertfordshire, but Bridget's brother Ebenezer died in Guilford in 1676 and is called a Scotch- man. Possibly the Thompsons had moved from Scotland to London. An- thony evidently was respected in New Haven, for it appears by the Colonial Records that he was very often chosen by the court as a committee man or an arbitrator in case of doubt or trouble.
In March, 1643, he was with several others at training fined "6d for foole (foul) guns." There were fined in all, thirty-eight men, so we judge the service was not much better than Falstaff's motley company. In 1647 it was charged that "the last night he watched he fell asleep." The only effect seems to have been that Richard Osborne who made the charge, was made to " pay 40s. fine to the town for his slanderous reproach layed on the watch- masters, which he was not able to make out or prove." Osborne had also to acknowledge his " sinne" in general court. In 1648, Anthony Thomp- son having deceased, another was chosen in his place as " collector for the colledge corne."
His nuncupative will, made May 27, 1650, was not allowed as a legal will, but it was ordered that the wife should administer upon the estate "according to the particulars in this writing contained," which would seem about as well as if it was a legal will. This left out poor Ebenezer as though he had no business to be born after his father died. Barnabas Baldwin, b. September, 1665, son of Richard, the "moderator," of Derby, who died in testate in July of the same year, was similarly punished.
PETITION FOR A CHURCHI AT DERBY.
For the following petition to the general court at Hartford we are in- debted to Hon. Charles J. Hoadley of Hartford. It is written and signed by Mr. Bower.
To the Honrable Gen" Court at Hartford we humbly crave leave to pr sent as followeth :
We may truly say as sometimes said good Nehemiah in somewt a like case, that Gd hath put into or hearts & yt for some space of time and desirous
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we are all now & yt as one man to build the Ld or Gd an house & to endor the enjoymt of a cchi state according to ye order of the Gospell amongst o"selves in this place where divine providence hath cast us, wch if the Ld shall grant unto us, we shall say wth the psalmist yt our lives are fallen in pleasant places & yt we have a goodly heritage, especially if yt ye name of or little citty, (if it shall co'e to yt) may be Jehovah Sham'ah the Ld is there.
The canses moving hereunto are
Gods com'and 1. Hagg 8. Go build the house wch relates to Christ's
1 3 visible cch so termed : 1 Tim : 3, 15: The house of Gd wch is ye cch of ye living God.
2 Christ's com'and : 6 Math : 33: first seek the kingdo'e of Gd wch re- lates to a church State : the vissible cch of Christ on earth being ye kingdo'e of he a' or of Gd on earth 25 Math : 1.
3 The great contmt Ga takes to breathe in ye counsi' of saints in a ch state & yt above all other societies 87 ps 2: 132 ps 13 so on : That is my rest etc.
4 The promise of Gas presence weh & blessing upo' his cch: 20 Exod 24: 87 ps 5. 6.
5 The practise of true beleving ones in primitive times to em body yms in a cch state though but few : of wch ye N. T. gives abundant proof
6 We desire to be under a cch watch, wch of all watches is the most strict 12 Heb 15. Looking diligently.
These & such like consideratio's have put us npo' our forementioned de- sires & in order to the further prosecution of ye same, we did in the 1st place make our addresses unto the throne of grace for guidance & to seek of Gd a right way for us and our little ones After this we sent unto the churches of Christ next adjacent & we have (as will appear by yr letters) their consent and ad- vice to up and bee doing in wch respect we may set up or Ebenezer & say hitherto ye Ld hath helped & set before us an open door And hereby we are the more embolned according to or boundin duty humbly to entreat (Hon's fathers of the Com'onwealth & nourishers of Gods Israel) that you wil please to cast a favorable aspect npo' these or desires & yt or looking wever of oblignity or human frailty yor honors may have espyed or may now in these, wch might justly impedimt, and give us leave to build an house for or God and with yor leave under God by his assistance we will say : as 15 Exod 2 he is or God and we will prepare hi' an habitatio' our fathers God & we will exalt hi'.
Honro fathers, if Gª shall so dispose of yor hearts as to abbet, encourage, assist, protect us in this mattr we wil yet againe set up or Ebenezer & say be- hold he hath set before us an open door & no man can shutt it. If it shall be objectd, we are poor : A. Gas ordinances will enrich us, 6 Math : 33: 3. Pro. 9, 10 but if you are few & small : we would answer in the Lords own words 4 Zach : 10, who hath dispised the day of small things. We read yt instru-
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ments have been too maney, never too few for Go to work by : & therefore through Gd we shall do valliantly.
Yor hon's humble supplicants & faithful servants in the name of the rest of or brethe' & neighbors
Derby: the 6th of May, 1678.
John Bower. JOIIN HULLS, JOSEPH HAWKINS.
NOTE .- In the original m and other letters are frequently omitted and the omission is indicated by a wave line over the preceding letter. No such type being available, the omissions have here been indicated by apostrophes.
TROUBLE WITH INDIANS.
In the first volume of Cothren's History of Woodbury is an interesting letter from Rev. Mr. Walker of Woodbury, and Rev. Mr. Bower of Derby, relating to the removal of inhabitants from their places on account of the Indians and securing of these two plantations. The original is on file in Hart- ford in the handwriting of Mr. Walker and signed by both :
" To ye Honoured Gent Court convened at Hartford Octobr 12th 1676 we whose names are hereunto subscribed do humbly propose as followeth :
That whereas ye providence of God hath so ordered that by means of late troubles brought upon ye country we the inhabitants of Woodbury and Derby have been necessitated to remove from or dwellings And a more favorable aspect of Providence at ye present inviting us to a return & ye necessity of many of or families in part inforcing it yet forasmuch as we cannot be assured but ye like danger may again arise we make bold before such or return to re- quest this honoured Court to resolve us in one important inquiry viz in case the war wth ye indians should be again renewed what we may expect & trust to from ye authority of this Colony in order to or protection & safety ? We humbly request that of inquiry may neither be judged offensive nor con- cluded irrational till ye following grounds of it be considered :
1 First we cannot be insensible of or former experience viz : that in a time when danger threatened ye loudest & or two plantations aforest were probably in greatest hazzard we were not only without any other help but or own for ye guarding of or ould place but or own also wch were indeed too few were taken from us time after time being pressed from ye sea-side towns when occasionally they came thither about necessary business whereby we had more proportionally to or members from or two plantations imployed in ye publick service then (we suppose) any other town of ve Colony ; And as by y" means we were forced to a removall so yr in we had not the least benefit of any guard for ye safety of or persons or goods.
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