USA > Connecticut > Litchfield County > Torrington > History of Torrington, Connecticut, from its first settlement in 1737, with biographies and genealogies > Part 4
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Meetings were held in the autumn of 1786, and the appearance from several papers is that the company who had hired Mr. Haynes, removed bodily to the new house as soon as it was ready to be occu- pied. Under these circumstances a council of churches was called, both parties uniting in the call, and it met November 28, 1786. In this meeting an effort was made to prevail with the parties then to enter into a union of fellowship and effort, but this failed, and the council, after giving advice, dissolved. The rendering of the council was that since there was no radical difference between the two societies in doctrine or law, the way was open for a union, and that both sides should seek such union in the spirit of the religion they professed to love ; and try to obtain a minister who was in no way connected with either party as such, and Rev. Daniel Marsh was named as such a man, and suitable for the peculiar place. Soon after this, the society at the new church proposed by a committee, to the society at the old church, to unite in hiring Mr. Marsh to
5
34
HISTORY OF TORRINGTON.
preach, all the time in the new church, or half the time in the new and half in the old, changing every two weeks, which offer the old society voted to accept, but for some reason it was not carried into effect, and Mr. Haynes was invited to preach in the new house during the winter, and he continued to preach there until August, 1787. Although the business transactions in religious matters, during two years, had been conducted in an orderly and civil manner, yet they were without authority of the society or church. A number of per- sons made an agreement to support the preaching of the gospel and the ordinances, and to submit to the decision of a majority of their number, and although various names had been applied to these persons, they had assumed no titles or formal organization, until the seventh day of March, 1787, they put forth certain declarations and principles and formed themselves into a regular body or society, under the name of the Strict Congregational society, as opposed to what had been known and denominated in this town as well as throughout Connecticut, the standing order. The peculiar feature of this society was that it proceeded upon the voluntary principle in every respect, and those who joined it did so by signing the agreement in their own hand, and such, and none others, were to be taxed for the support of the society. Every statement of these declarations is according to the usages and principles of Congregational societies of the present day. The following persons signed this paper :
John Whiting,
Ichabod Loomis,
Ebenezer Coe,
Amos Wilson,
Richard Leach,
Epaphras Loomis, Jr.,
Samuel Norton,
Noah Fowler,
Abel Beach, Jr.,
Samuel Beach,
Robert Grannis,
Benoni Hills,
Abner Loomis,
Adna Beach,
Hannah Loomis,
Caleb Lyman,
Caleb Munson,
Jonathan Coe,
Abel Beach, Elisha Smith,
Elijah Barber,
Epaphras Loomis,
Eli Barber, Noah Wilson,
Abijah Wilson,
Benoni Loomis,
Noah Wilson, Jr.,
John Morehouse,
Abraham Loomis,
Joseph Taylor,
Charles Grant,
Wait Beach,
Samuel Morehouse,
John Beach, Timothy Barber,
Seth Holmes,
Increase Grant,
Bushniell Benedict,
Nathaniel Leach.
On the twenty-second of June, 1787, fifteen persons who had been accustomed to meet at the new church, having obtained a state- ment of articles of faith and declarations, covenanted together and formed themselves into a Congregational church. The articles were in the form of that day, the declarations could scarcely be objected
35
TORRINGTON CHURCH.
to by any Congregational church of the present day. The persons so uniting were :
Benoni Hills, John Whiting,
Hannah Loomis,
Abel Beach,
Amos Wilson,
Keziah Beach,
Ebenezer Coe,
Wait Beach, Mary Hills,
Increase Grant,
Timothy Barber,
Martha Beach,
Samuel Norton,
Mary Loomis,
Mindwell Grant.
From a paper drawn, to be presented at the meeting of the council in November, 1786, and the several proceedings stated above, it is evident that those who formed the new society and church were the reliable and faithful members and supporters of the old society and church. These persons, headed by Dea. John Whiting, Amos Wilson, Ebenezer Coe, and Benoni Hills, had entertained the idea, during Mr. Merwin's preaching, and perhaps for many years previous, that the halfway covenant was not a gospel method of building up the church. While Mr. Merwin was here they sustained him ; when he went away they continued to keep up the meetings regularly at the old meeting house. The disaffected drew away and went to Goshen to worship. Several society meetings were called in regular order; and the disaffected came in and voted against nearly alll pro- positions of those who remained at the old church.1 When it became evident that through the regular society meetings nothing could be carried forward to sustain the preaching of the gospel, these men, true to their covenant agreement, prepared the paper, afterwards signed by forty-six names, and hired Mr. Haynes, around whom some of the disaffected gathered, with the others, and gave him a com- fortable support. Mr. Haynes had not preached long, before, instead of persons going to Goshen to hear preaching, the Goshen people began to come to hear Mr. Haynes, and it was a matter of some feel- ing on the part of the faithful in Goshen that their people would go away from home, and especially to hear that colored man preach. Although such were the facts, yet the party which claimed to be the old church, because they held to Mr. Roberts's view of the halfway covenant, resisted the efforts to sustain Mr. Haynes, and would not acquiesce with any proposition of union at the new church. The Separates, therefore were those who continued to sustain the meetings 1180181
I At one society meeting, regularly called, the disaffected came a little before the usual time for commencing the meeting; organized, and voted down the objects for which the meeting was called, adjourned the meeting and started home, when they met the other party on their way to the meeting.
36
HISTORY OF TORRINGTON.
at the old church ; hired Mr. Haynes, and afterward built the new meeting house, but believed that none should be admitted to the sacraments except those who professed to have become true Christians.
The change of the site of the church was important, since the northern portion of the town had become quite thickly settled, and the business transactions were centering more and more at Dr. Hodges' store and Capt. Abel Beach's tavern ; and the Noppet people were having Baptist preaching in their part of the town.
It is probable that services were held at the old church frequently, if not regularly, from the time the new church was opened until the spring of 1791, although no records to this effect have been seen. Dea. John Whiting's account book shows that various ministers preached in the new church between 1787, and 1791; among them Mr. Knapp, Mr. Parmlee and Mr. Brinsmade; the last received his pay at one time in fifty pounds of iron, valued at nine shillings.
In the spring of 1791 three ministers, Daniel Brinsmade, Ammi R. Robbins, and Samuel J. Mills were called to advise with both parties, and if possible effect a settlement of the whole matter, and after hearing both sides, they delivered a very dignified reprimand to both parties, but it is very evident that the larger portion of the censure fell on those who remained at the old church. The effort was successful, and the articles of faith and the covenant presented, appear to have been accepted, and from this time it is probable that meet- ings ceased to be held at the old meeting house.
In the latter part of the winter of 1792, the Rev. Alexander Gillett was invited to preach a few Sabbaths, and on the eighth of March the church voted to invite him to become their pastor, and on the twenty- second of the same month the society passed a vote to the same effect. This invitation Mr. Gillett accepted and was installed May 23, 1792; Benjamin Trumbull, D.D., and Jonathan Edwards, Jr., D.D., and other ministers taking part in the services.
The success of Mr. Gillett, in drawing all the people around him in one cooperative brotherhood, was complete. The announcement of his acceptance of the pastorship was heralded through the parish with great expressions of joy and congratulation; so much so that some persons, after the Sabbath services when the acceptance was announced, rode in various directions, without stopping for meals, to carry the tidings to those who were not at church that day.
From that time, all strife appears to have been fully forgotten, and buried without hope of resurrection. The church prospered. Gradu- ally they gathered the scattered influences and powers, and tried to
37
TORRINGTON CHURCH.
build the walls which had been to a great extent broken down. But they could not gather all as they once were, for the Methodist people had made inroads on the south near Wolcottville, and the Baptists had started quite a church at Newfield, and the lost ground could not be recovered. Mr. Gillett seeing what was taking place at the northeast, poured hot shot from the pulpit, as was the custom then, which only made more Baptists ; wherefore, he deserted that line of defence, leaving the gunboats to the Baptists safely moored in the east branch of the Naugatuck at Newfield, and preached the gospel of salvation the more earnestly at Torrington green. The work went forward cheeringly. The meeting house was finished inside at considerable expense, and the steeple erected according to the best Presbyterian style, and a bell placed in it.
In 1799, came " the great awakening ; " the first that Torrington had ever known in its first church. The seventeenth of November, 1799, was a great day, when thirty-three persons, "mostly heads of families, united with the church ; nine others having done the same in September, previous, and seven more followed in the next January.
In the winter of 1816 there was another large addition to the church. In the summer of 1816, that remarkable minister, Asahel Nettleton, D.D., assisted Mr. Gillett in preaching and holding meetings for three months or more, and the result was the greatest religious awakening ever known in that church. His first text remembered still, by a boy then sixteen years of age, was : " Where- fore the law is holy, and the commandment holy, and just, and good.""
I The Rev. John A. Mckinstry, in a letter dated June 12, 1844, says of that revival : " It extended through the parish, and was quite powerful. Even at this period, when first impressions have gone, that revival is called, 'the revival in Torrington,' there having been none since of equal extent and power. The subjects of that work, with few exceptions, have adorned their profession, and some of them have been, and still are, pillars in the church. The influence of this revival upon the church, and upon the community, was in a high degree salutary. The work was solemn, and the truths presented, plain and search- ing. The true character and condition of the sinner was clearly set before him, and he was shown that his only hope was in the sovereign mercy of God through a crucified Savior. The measures adopted were such as were common in this region at that time ; such as the ministry of the word on the Sabbath, frequent visitation, personal conversation on the sub- ject of religion, and prayer meetings during the week. In personal conversation, Mr. Nettle- ton abounded, and many attributed their religious impressions to the truth presented at such times. At the communion in November, 1816, the first fruits were gathered into the church, and in the January following, several more were added. The number that joined at these seasons was about fifty. Others were added at subsequent seasons, but the precise number cannot be stated. It is reported, however, that the number of conversions was about seventy." (See memoir of Nettleton, page 80.)
38
HISTORY OF TORRINGTON.
Again in 1821, did the Rev. Father Gillett see the prosperity of Zion in the addition of twenty at one time to his church. The thirty-three years of his labors with this people were years of much work and a proportionate amount of success, and must have given him great satisfaction during the closing years of life .. He closed his labors and entered his rest January 19, 1826, aged seventy-seven years.
Rev. William R. Gould was pastor of this church five years, his labors being divided one or more years with the church in Wolcott- ville. He was a good and true minister, but the years had come when the people were going from the old homes in Torrington to all parts of the country, and the church and congregation were destined to grow less instead of increasing.
The Rev. Milton Huxley was stated supply, or preached without being installed, for the term of nine years, after Mr. Gould. He is well spoken of, and the church and society kept on its even way of growing less in numbers by removals from the parish.
The next minister was the Rev. John Alexander Mckinstry, who was ordained pastor October 5, 1842, and continued his labors until 1857. He was a faithful minister ; a man of considerable energy and activity ; a steady worker in the Sunday school ; diligent and careful in looking after the interests of the church, and in visiting public schools. While here he commenced collecting material for the history of the town, but the author of this book has not been able to obtain any aid from the collections then made except from the manual of the Torrington church, which has been a convenience of much value. It was during Mr. Mckinstry's pastorate that the old meeting house was taken down and another built in its place. Mr. Mckinstry closed his labors here in the autumn of 1857, and was settled the next Sabbath after in Harwinton. After this the Rev. Charles B. Dye preached as a supply, one year ; and following him the Rev. Sylvanus C. Marvin was obtained, and continued four years. He is spoken of in high terms of appreciation and remem- brance. He left in the spring of 1865, and settled in Woodbridge near New Haven, where he still remains.
Rev. Jacob H. Strong was the next minister employed. He preached his first sermon here Nov. 12, 1865 ; was not installed, but continued to preach four years. He was an acceptable minister, and his labors were successful in all respects. It was while he was laboring here in the week of the Fourth of July, 1869, that the Rev. John D. Potter held a series of meetings with this church. Of this
39
TORRINGTON CHURCH.
meeting Mr. Strong says : " Considerable religious interest succeeded and there were twenty or more hopeful conversions ; twelve united with the church."
Some considerable money had been established as a fund for the society, as early as 1815, when the ministry lot was sold for two thousand, two hundred dollars. A large proportion of this money had been used by the society in various extremities, and Mr. Strong engaged in the arduous task of soliciting money to replace what had been used and thus keep the fund at its original amount. By great perseverance, and the earnest efforts of others, he succeeded, and thereby did a good work for the church and society. It was during his labors also that the incipient steps were taken which resulted in the removal of the meeting house from the green to Torrington hol- low. In the beginning of winter in 1869, Mr. Strong removed to California, for the health of his family, and the church was supplied by the Sabbath, for a year or more. In the autumn of 1872, Rev. Michael J. Callan was engaged to preach and continued about a year and a half, and considerable religious interest was manifested under his labors in the spring of 1874, and several united with the church.
The author of this book preached for this church over a year, commencing in the summer of 1874, and during that time he began collecting material for this work.
Under the labors of the Rev. Charles P. Croft, this church expe- rienced in the winter of 1876 and 7, a very general awakening to religious interests. Not only were there sixty or more conversions but the spirit of remoulding after the gospel, pervaded the whole community, and the result was greatly in favor of the perpetuity of the life of the old church.
OFFICERS OF THE CHURCH. Ministers.
Rev. NATHANIEL ROBERTS, ordained Oct., 1741 ; died March 4, 1776.
Rev. NOAH MERWIN, ordained Oct. 25, 1776; dis. Nov. 26, 1783.
Rev. ALEXANDER GILLETT, ins. May 23, 1792; died Jan. 19, 1826, aged 77.
Rev. WILLIAM RIPLEY GOULD, ins. Feb. 28, 1827; dis. Feb. 12, 1832.
Rev. MILTON HUXLEY, supply 1833 to 1842.
Rev. JOHN A. MCKINSTRY, ord. Oct. 5, 1842; dis. 1857.
Rev. CHARLES B. DYE, supply one year.
Rev. SYLVANUS MARVIN, supply four years.
Rev. JACOB H. STRONG, Nov. 12, 1865 to 1869.
Rev. MICHAEL J. CALLAN, " one year and a half.
Rev. SAMUEL ORCUTT,
one year and a half.
Rev. CHARLES P. CROFT, autumn of 1876 to -
40
HISTORY OF TORRINGTON.
Ministers Raised.
Rev. TIMOTHY P. GILLETT,
Rev. JAMES BEACH,
Rev. LUTHER HART, Rev. ABEL K. HINSDALE,
Rev. MILES GRANT.
Deacons.
EBENEZER LYMAN,
chosen 1742, died 1762; aged 80.
JOHN COOK,
1755, 66 1779,
61.
JOHN WHITING,
1764, 1820, 92.
WAIT BEACH,
66 1794, 1810, 64.
ABEL HINSDALE,
66 1802, 1851,
DOCT. ELIJAH LYMAN,
1813,
1819.
GUY WOLCOTT,
MARVIN BARBER,
1821, dismissed. 1822, died 1840, aged 44.
GILES WARD,
1838, " 1845, " 76.
RODNEY PIERCE,
66 1846.
LORRAIN HINSDALE,
1850, removed.
FREDERICK P. HILLS,
66
1869.
LYMAN R. POND,
1877.
Members of the Church. Organized Oct. 21, 1741.
Ebenezer Lyman, and his wife Experience, Ebenezer Lyman Jr., and his wife Sarah, Ebenezer North, and his wife Sybil,
Jonathan Coe, and his wife Elizabeth, Jacob Strong, and his wife Mindwell,
Abel Beach, and his wife Margaret, Nathaniel Barber, and his wife Hepziba, John Cook, and his wife Rachel, Asahel Strong. [Seventeen in number].
Margaret Thrall (Joel), Ebenezer Coe, and his wife Jane, Samuel Damon, and his wife,
Thomas Stoughton Jr.,
Hannah Lyman.
Margaret Roberts (Rev. N.), Joseph Beach, and his wife, Sarah Grant (Wm.), Nathan Beach, Elizabeth Thrall (Daniel),
1744. Aaron Loomis, and his wife Deborah, Aaron Loomis Jr., Mindwell Loomis, Esther Loomis.
1746.
Hannah Loomis (Aaron).
1747.
Beriah Hills*I and his wife Mary .*
1742. Samuel Damon Jr., and his wife, John Damon, and his wife, Anne Wilson (Noah).
1743.
1 All names marked with a star, "owned their covenant and were taken under the watch and care of the church," under the halfway covenant, and could have their children baptized, though they were not " members in full cemmunion."
86.
SEATING OF THE TORRINGTON MEETING HOUSE IN 1809.
Ezekiel Apley, Joseph Bown, Nathaniel Leach, Sam'l Loomis, Ephraim Loomis jr., Ambrose Marshall, Abraham Brooker, Ebenezer Stodard.
[ Roger Willson, Richard Loomis, Wd. Jemima Bancroft, Joseph Phelps, Wd. Dutton, Timothy Childs, Capt. Stephen Fyler.
Rev. Alex. Gillet.
Pulpit.
Dea. John Whiting, Wd. Try phena Bald- [ Noah Fowler, | Solomon Loomis, A bijah Hol-
Benj. Whiting, win, Amos Willson, John Dutton, Wd. Bancroft,
Wd. Ruth North,
Mr. Ward, Wd. Marshall, Wd. Chloe Loomis, Wd. Miller,
Noah North, Ephraim Loomis, Joseph Allyn, Thomas Marshall, Joel Wetmore.
Wd. Dinah Egle- stone, Wd. Culver, Wd. Baldwin, Wd. Thrall.
brook, Elijah Pond, Noah Willson, Rial Brace, AmbroseGrant, Roger Loomis, Abel Beach, Wd. Roxey Bis- sell.
Josiah Apley, Ezekiel Apley jr., Mrs. Keziah Thrall, Mrs. Whitney, Mr. Heacox, Richard Sperry, Eunice Apley, Anne Loomis.
Thomas White, Elijah Cowles, Amos Willson jr., Samuel Beach jr., Elisha Loomis.
Roswell Willson, Dn. Abel Hinsdale, Joseph Allyn jr., Benoni Loomis, Benj. Phelps, Moses Drake, Noah Drake, Wd. Sarah Hurlbut.
Samuel Beach, Eli Richards, Caleb Lyman, Jacob Johnson, Wd. Hannah Thrall, Roswell Coe.
Dn. Wait Beach, Elisha Smith, Esq., Levi Thrall, John Beach, Rebecca Hodges.
Benoni Gillett, A sa Spencer, Abijah Barber, Thomas Hurlbut, Giles Ward, Daniel Murray, Samuel Rowley, Junia North, Wd. Hannah Eglestone.
Abel Beach, Sd., Orimal Leach, Jesse F. Finch, Wd. Ward, Norman Fowler, Asa Dutton, Luman Loomis.
Elisha Hinsdale, Phineas North, Esq., Guy Wolcott, Elihu Cook.
.
Raphael Marshall, Matthew Grant, Moses Loomis, Noadiah Bancroft, William Whiting.
Curtis Eglestone, Abel Roberts, Oliver Allyn, Artemas Phillow, Naomy Loomis, Orange Soper, Ira Grant, Silas White.
Sylvanus Holbrook, . Grove Hinman, Jonas Leach, Miles Willcox, Stephen Johnson, Julius Beach. 1
Lyman Wetmore, Giles Whiting, Elijah Lyman, Willard Hodges, Erastus Hodges.
Harvey Palmer, Miles Beach, Ira Loomis, Nancy Goodsill, Russell C. Abernethy.
Timothy Eglestone, Bildad Loomis, William Willson, Samuel Delaby, Caleb Leach jr., Neri Norton, Truman Brace, - Cooks, Mr. Heacox, Jr.
.
Aaron Smith, Pomeroy Leach, Selah Whiting, Nathan Gillet, Asaph Gillet.
Roger Marshall, Nathan Thrall, Henry Allyn, Jonah Allyn, James Foot, Betsey Allyn, Hannah Allun.
Caleb Leach, James Eglestone, Abigal Elsworth, Josiah Apley, Ezekiel Apley jr.
41
TORRINGTON CHURCH.
Israel Avered, and his wife Abigail,
Joseph Fowler,
Amos Wilson,
1752. Joseph Drake .*
1753.
Hannah Mott (Jonathan).
Samuel Cole [Cowles ] and his wife Martha, Timothy Judd and his wife,
David Birge, Mary Curtiss,
Zebulon Curtiss and his mother Mary, and his wife Lydia,
Ichabod Loomis and his wife Dorothy,
1755.
Elizabeth Marshall ('Thomas).
Moses Loomis and his wife Sarah,* Epaphras Loomis* and his wife,* Samuel Cowles,
1756. Sarah Whiting (John), Phebe a slave of Joel Thrall.
Benjamin Whiting* and his wife Esther,* Elizabeth Loomis (Joel),
Noah North and his wife,
Charles Mather* and his wife Ruth,* John Wetmore* and his wife Elizabeth,*
Asahel North* and his wife Ruth,*
Mary Coe (Thomas).
Adam Mott* and his wife .*
1761. Ebenezer Miller* and his wife,* Wife of David Brown.
1762. David Austin,* and his wife,* Asahel Wilcox,* and his wife,* Samuel Everet,* and his wife,* Thomas Curtiss,* and his wife .*
6
1757.
Abner Loomis* and his wife Sarah,* Abner Loomis Jun .* and his wife,* William Coe* and his wife .*
1758. Ephraim Loomis,* Henry Akins* and his wife .*
1759.
July 6, 1760.
Aaron Alverd and his wife, Noah Brown* and his wife,*
Mary Cowles, Amasa Marshall* and his wife,* Martin North* and his wife*,
Abraham Filley,* and his wife,* Joseph Haskins," and his wife,* Ephraim Durwin, and his wife, Edward Eggleston,* and his wife,* Jabez Gillett,* and his wife,*
1749. John Whiting. 1751. John Birge .*
Joshua Phelps,* Abigail Coe (Thomas),
1754. William Filley and his wife Abiah, Joel Loomis, Isabel Loomis (Abraham), Jerusha Loomis, Isabel Loomis (daughters of Abraham), Benjamin Ives,* and his wife R .*
42
HISTORY OF TORRINGTON
1763.
Henry Akins, renewed cov. and recd. in full, Ebenezer Smith,* and his wife, Elizabeth 'Allen.
Joseph Thrall,* and his wife,*
The wife of Oliver Coe,*
Wife of Matthew Grant, Eunice Sheldon, Epaphras Sheldon, Wife of James Bacon,
Ensign Ephraim Bancroft, Joel Wetmore,* and his wife,*
Experience Beach (dau. of Joseph),
Robert Coe,* and his wife,*
Aaron Thrall,* and his wife .*
Elijah Barber,* and his wife,* J. Brown,
Jonathan Coe Jr.," and his wife,* Wife * of Joseph Blake, Abijah Wilson,* and his wife,* Timothy Judd Jr., and his wife,
Elizabeth Allen (Joseph), Sarah Whiting,* the younger, Lene Mott,
John Cook Jr.,* Caleb Lyman, and his wife,* Job Curtiss* and his wife,* Ebenezer North Junr .* and his wife,* Elizabeth Agard, Margaret Roberts dau. of Rev.,
Abigail Allyn, Ann Wilson (dau. of Noah),
Joseph Taynter* and his wife,*
Bushniel Benedict,
Chloe Barber, " Ariel," Brace," and his wife,*
Wife* of Oliver Cotten, John Beach* and his wife,*
1764. Noah Wilson, Jr.,* and his wife,* Eli Loomis,* and his wife,* Benjamin Beach,* and his wife .*
1765. Wife * of Thomas Marshall Jr., Wife * of William Grant Jr., Reuben Thrall,* and his wife.
1766.
1767.
Samuel Deming .*
1768.
Aaron Cook,* and his wife Lydia. Wife * of Timothy Osband, Samuel Beach,* and his wife,* Abram Filley.
1769. Samuel Preston,* George Miller.
1770. Jerusha Sheldon (Remembrance) , Ebenezer Preston, Wife* of John Curtiss, Vest Not, Benjamin Eggleston and his wife,*
1771. John Young* and his wife .*
1772. Levi Thrall* and his wife .* 1773. Friend Thrall .* 1774.
Wife* of Shubal Cook.
1775.
Noah Fowler* and his wife .*
43
TORRINGTON CHURCH.
The Rev. Noah Merwin, who was pastor from 1776 to 1783, left no regular records of the church, but is said to have carried the records with him and did not return them though requested so to do by the church.
A slip of paper among the church records contains the following names as having been admitted to membership, the date standing opposite the last name.
Feb. 27, 1777.
Deacon Wait Beach and Huldah his wife, Two misses Hurlbut,
Ashbel North and his wife Ruth, Sarah Whiting,
Abner Loomis,
Axa North,
Benjamin Whiting and Esther his wife,
Lois Wetmore (Samuel),
Ebenezer Lyman and Anna his wife,
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