USA > Connecticut > Litchfield County > Torrington > History of Torrington, Connecticut, from its first settlement in 1737, with biographies and genealogies > Part 5
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Hepzibah Loomis.
Nov. 4, 1792.
Lucy Smith (Elisha), Hannah Thrall (Noah),
Adah Gillett (Rev. Alexander).
March 4, 1793.
Philomela Marshall (Raphael).
May 5.
1799.
Nathan Gillett,
Rosel Wilson,
Ruth Wilson (Rosel),
Benjamin Phelps,
Lydia Phelps (Benjamin),
Mary Holbrook (Abijah),
Timothy P. Gillett [Rev.],
Nathan Gillett Jr., Luther Hart [Rev.], Ruth Gillett,
Lucy Loomis, (Moses jr.),
Asenath Hinsdale (Elisha),
Eleanor Lyman,
Mercy Beach (John),
Roxalana Hodges,
Jemima Loomis (Benoni),
Henry Rew,
Ebenezer Lyman Jr.,
George Fowler,
Henry Hart,
Sabra Loomis,
Zacheus Gillett,
Clarissa Loomis,
Guy Wolcott [Deacon ],
Hannah Allyn,
Rhoda Lyman,
Sally Wetmore.
1800. Miriam Wetmore (Pomeroy), Mehitable Palmer (Harvey). Nov. 2.
Owen Brown, Ruth Brown (Owen).
Mrs. Nathan Gillett, Sybil Lyman, James Beach [Rev.]. Sept. I.
Mary Thrall (Levi),
Rebecca Hodges, (widow of Doct.),
Abigail Wolcott, Salome Gillett.
Nov. 17.
Eli Richards, Sarah Richards,
Abel Hinsdale [Deacon], Mary Hinsdale (Abel), Jan. 19.
Joseph Allyn, Jr., David Leach,' Esther Johnson (Jacob), Hannah Wilson (Noah), Abigail Stoddard (Ebenezer),
44
HISTORY OF TORRINGTON.
May 9,
Lydia Richards (Eli),
Jan. 19.
Rebecca Smith (Joseph), July 3.
Levi Beach.
Doct. Elijah Lyman (Dea.),
Lorinda Lyman (Doct. E.), May I.
Benoni Gillet, Phebe Gillet (Benoni),
May 8,
Lyman Wetmore,
Betsey Wetmore (Lyman),
Giles Ward,
Sarah Dutton,
Eunice Ward (Giles),
Dotha Johnson, Maria Marshall.
Huldah Cook (Elihu),
Sabra Wilson ( Amos Jr.),
Sept.
Amarilla Eggleston (Curtis),
Sarah Wetmore (Joel),
Anna Foot (Jairus),
Elizabeth Allyn jr.,
Chloe Loomis,
Nov. 4. James Otis Pond.
Linus Sage Cook, Hannah Cook (L. S.).
1815.
Erastus Hurlbut.
Nov. 3, 1816.
Nancy Kimberly, widow,
Joseph Allyn,
Abel Roberts, Giles Whiting,
Norman Fowler,
Anna Wolcott, Rozalena North,
Statira Fowler (Norman),
Amos Wilson,
Phila Marshall, Ursula Fowler,
Chester Bancroft,
Eunice Marsh,
Rachel Bancroft (Chester),
Patience Baldwin, widow, Hannah Loomis, widow, Jerusha Bancroft (Noah),
Jedidah White (Thomas), Sibyl Coe (Abijah),
Sarah Leach (Ormel), Laura Leach (Myron), Chloe Mott (Ira),
1802. Eunice Hurlbut (Thomas). 1803. Betsey Beach (Levi).
1807.
Sally Roberts (Abel), Philomela Bostwick (Wm.), Chloe Cowles (Elijah), Mrs. Sylvanus Holbrook.
1808.
Elizabeth Richards, Laura Loomis,
William Marsh, Rocksey Bissell.
18II.
July 2.
Alpha Hodges, Sibyl Catlin Fowler, Harriet Childs, Harriet Whiting,
Elzah Cowles,
Lucinda Phelps, Huldah Loomis, Almira Wolcott,
Flora Coe, Pamelia North, Aurelia Palmer, Hannah Lyman, Alzada Barber.
45
TORRINGTON CHURCH.
Fan. 5, 1817.
Russel C. Abernethy,
Orrel Abernethy (R. C.),
George Lyman,
Orphelia Lyman (Geo.),
Anna Potter (Nathan),
Israel Coe, Henry Elkanah Hodges,
William H. Whiting,
Samuel Thrall,
Marvin Barber,
Nancy Wetmore,
Almeda Beach,
Mindwell Kellogg,
Henry Wattles.
1818.
Erastus Hurlbut, Clarissa Hurlbut (Erastus), Betsey Hurlbut, Anna Hurlbut.
1821.
Harriet Gates, Eliza Lyman,
Anna E. White,
Laurin Thrall,
Nancy E. Coe,
Dennis Hart,
Hannah Goodwin,
Norman Coe,
Hannah Beach,
Gilmor Hinsdale,
Chauncey P. Allyn,
Abraham Foot, Addison Philow, Eliza Wilson (Amos),
Mariah Wetmore,
Lucretia Palmer, Electa Loomis.
I822.
Mary Willey,
Eleanor Wolcott.
Sept. 1, 1826.
Rhoda Fowler (Noah).
Aug. 5.
Lorrain Wetmore,
Amanda Wetmore, Amanda Loomis.
1828.
Abel K. Hinsdale (Rev.), missionary of A. B. C. F. M. at Mosul, Mrs. Esther Weeks, Eunice Gould.
1829.
Susan Rowley (Artemas).
1830.
Fanny C. Wetmore (Lorrain).
1827.
Dea. Lorrain Hinsdale, Fanny Loomis, Daniel Richards, Experience Richards (Daniel), Mary A. Whiting (Fred P.),
Eliza Cowles (Albro), Lucy Eggleston,
Fan. 4.
Rebecca Whiting.
May 3. Mahitable Jewit,
July I.
Seth Smith, Ebenezer Hills,
Desire Fowler, Lois Wilson,
46
HISTORY OF TORRINGTON.
Rachel Whiting, Huldah Cook, Uri Whiting, Emma R. Palmer,
Sally Wheeler, Henry Judd,
Alexander Gillett,
Julia Spencer, Mehetable Palmer, Fanny Hector,
Lucy Loomis.
Jerusha Loomis (Horace), Harriet H. Huxley (Rev. M.),
Roxy Hodges.
Sibyl Coe,
Harriet Whiting.
1838.
Caroline Smith (Isaiah).
Mary Prince (Jairus).
Louisa North (Phineas).
Charles Hotchkiss,
Electa Hotchkiss,
Phebe S. Allen,
Rosanna Parmelee,
Elisha S. Booth,
Elvira Booth,
Mary E. Mckinstry (Rev.)
Willard Hodges, Frederick P. Hills (Dea.),
Rebecca A. Whiting,
Burton T. Cowles, Norman B. Buel, Russel L. Pond, Milo Barber,
1831. Louisa Wetmore, Mary Abernethy, Orphelia Leach.
1332. Myron Spaulding, Almira Palmer, Harriet Sage, Caroline Sage, Nancy Coe.
1833.
1835.
Melinda Whiting.
1836.
1837.
1840.
1842.
1843.
Harriet Sage (Linus), Clarissa Whiting (Geo. L.), Rodney Pierce (Dea.), Jane Pierce, Eliza Barber.
1844.
1845.
Lucy E. Hills.
1847. Aurora J. Hinsdale. 1849.
Angeline E. Cowles, Helen P. North, Emma J. Whiting.
TORRINGTON CHURCH.
47
Alonzo Whiting, Frank L. G. Whiting, Loomis B. Beach, Warren Goodwin, Elvira Goodwin, Miles Hart,
Asa Dutton, Beula Dutton, Levi W. Thrall, Amelia Thrall,
Delia C. Hodges,
1850. Laura Hart (Miles), Betsey Hart (Alpha), Wealthy E. Hart (Victory), Lucy Pond, Susan Beach.
1851. Victory C. Hart, Arthur M. Kimberly, Laura M. Hodges.
1852. Elizabeth Cowles (B. T.).
CHAPTER VII.
TORRINGFORD CHURCH.
THE SOCIETY.
REACHING services were held by Rev. Nathaniel Roberts, on the east side of the town, six Sabbaths, in 1754, and also in 1755, and the next year the preaching was measured by the amount they paid to the society. The town vote, however, gave them the privilege of having preach- ing four months that year, and released them from paying for the support of Mr. Roberts. The meetings at this time were held in the house of Nehemiah Gaylord and Shubael Griswold.
In 1757, a petition was sent to the assembly, signed by nineteen persons, asking the liberty to have preaching such part of the year as they were able, and to be released from supporting Mr. Roberts. The number of families in that part of the town at that time is stated to have been about twenty. The following were the petitioners :
Abraham Dibble, Nehemiah Gaylord, Benjamin Bissell,
Jonathan Kelsey, David Birge, John Birge,
Jonathan Gillett,
Ebenezer Winchell, Samuel Durwin,
Joshua Austin, Charles Mather,
Thomas Dibble,
Shubael Griswold, Aaron Yale,
Ephraim Dibble.
Benjamin Matthews, John Burr,
Nathan Kelsey,
Jane Loomis,
At a meeting held in October 27, 1757, a committee was appointed to hire a minister, and a vote was passed to raise ten pounds for de- fraying the expense in so doing.
In April, 1759, the town expressed its willingness by vote that four tiers and a half of lots in the eastern part should be made into a so- ciety, and in May next, the people asked the general assembly to incorporate a society to include these tiers and the western tier in New Hartford ; and if this could not be granted, they asked that the people might be exempt from paying in New Hartford, and be allowed to support preaching in the eastern part of Torrington. They en- treated for the privileges of a society, though they were scarcely able to support preaching in an honorable manner, if the privilege was granted them. This request, however strange it may seem, after a hundred years and more are passed, was denied.
49
TORRINGFORD CHURCH.
In October, 1759, they presented another petition with twenty names, stating that there were then in East Torrington twenty-two families, and one hundred and sixty-six persons, many of whom were small children ; and they asked that they might be exempt from public charges, that they may maintain worship among themselves ; this request was denied.
The next spring they renewed this petition, to be exempt from public taxes that they might support the gospel among themselves, since they could not do both. This petition was long, urgent, and eloquent, in presenting the circumstances and facts in the case. They represented "their distance from places of worship ; the number of children and older people who could not go such distances regularly ; the expense attending the education of their children, clearing new farms, constructing highways, and the many inconveniences of a new country, and therefore desired release from public taxes," but they did not obtain their request.
In 1761 New Hartford gave its consent that four miles of the west tier of lots might be annexed to East Torrington for the support of the gospel. After this full consent of both towns, and their earnest entreaties heretofore, they were under the necessity of petitioning the assembly at four successive sessions before they obtained their request. But it was a matter of great importance to them, and therefore they were not to be easily denied, and the truthfulness of the closing paragraph of each petition, they most faithfully fulfilled : " as in duty bound your petitioners will ever pray."
The society was incorporated in October 1763, under the name of TORRINGFORDI; the territory included four and a half tiers of lots on the eastern side of the town and the western tier in New Hartford, four miles in length. The half of another tier was afterwards added, and thus the society continued for many years.
*
At the first meeting after the incorporation they say : "the in- habitants of 'Torringford' (using the society name for the first time) ; being convened together ; holden Dec. 21, 1763." They seem to use that name with satisfaction, and well they might for they had petitioned long enough, to obtain it ; and then they proceed to make arrangements for regular meetings and to elect officers for the year, who were as follows :
I Made from the names of the two towns.
7
50
HISTORY OF TORRINGTON.
Dea. Jonathan Kelsey,' moderator ; Nehemiah Gaylord, clerk of the society ; Dea. Jonathan Kelsey, Samuel Austin and John Birge, society committee ; Jabez Gillett, society collector.
This meeting was adjourned one week when they passed several votes which indicated substantial work as a society.
" Voted to raise money for schooling by rate.
" Voted to raise a penny and half penny upon the pound for school- ing.
" Voted that those people that live in New Hartford and belong to this society, shall have their own money to lay out for schooling among themselves.
" Voted that the society committee shall take the care of, and order the schooling.
" Voted that we will make some preparations this year for building a meeting house.
" Voted that we will build the meeting house forty-eight feet long and thirty-eight feet wide.
" The vote was then reconsidered and voted to be forty-six feet long and thirty-six wide.
"Voted that the height of the house be left to the judgment of the committee.
" Voted to raise thirty pounds to be paid in boards and shingles within a year from this time for the meeting house.
" Voted that Ebenezer Winchell, Elijah Gaylord, and Lieut. Ben- jamin Bissell, shall be a committee to order out the getting of the boards, and shingles, and to receive them for the meeting house.
" Voted to raise four pence on the pound in order to support the gospel amongst us."
Such was the beginning of the Torringford society which has con- tinued its steady and benevolent work, nearly one hundred and four- teen years, during which time it has expended, for the support of the gospel (or the preaching) alone, on an average, four hundred dollars a year, or $46,000.
THE MEETING HOUSE.
When the first meeting house was proposed for the west side of the town, an agreement was made between the inhabitants, that those on the east side need not pay towards the building of the house, pro-
I Mr. Kelsey had been deacon in Woodbury and hence is called deacon before any church was organized in Torringford.
5I
TORRINGFORD CHURCH.
vided they would relinquish all right as to the location, or site, and a record of this agreement was entered among the deeds of land, dated in 1748. The names of persons thus agreeing stand as follows : East side : Abraham Dibble, Benjamin Bissell, Nehemiah Gaylord, Elijah Gaylord, Gideon Loomis, John Birge, Thomas Dibble. These names probably represent nearly all the families east of the swamp at that time.
West side : Noah Wilson, Israel Avered, Moses Loomis, Aaron Loomis, Jacob Strong, Ebenezer North, Wm. Grant, Joel Thrall, Asahel Strong, Ebenezer Coe, Isaac Higley, Zebulon Curtiss, Thomas Stoughton, Joel Loomis, Ebenezer Lyman, Thomas Curtiss, Aaron Loomis, Jr., Beriah Hills, Jonathan Coe, Nathaniel Barber, Abel Beach, Joseph Fowler, Joseph Beach, Thomas Marshall, Ebenezer Lyman, Jr., John Whiting. Why the names of John Cook, Noah Wilson, and Abel Beach were not on this paper is not clear, for the agreement was such, as to which none, seemingly could object ; and therefore, when the east side began to build they had no claim on the old church for assistance, because of aid previously rendered.
The Torringford society, having made some provision towards building a meeting house in 1763, voted in Dec., 1764, to " add two feet to the length and breadth," and arranged to obtain a committee to " pitch the stake, for a site which would accommodate the whole society." In June, 1766, they voted to " proceed to build a place of worship." In April, 1768, they agreed to "raise the house as they could conveniently," and in September of the same year they " voted that the annual meeting of the society should be held in the church," therefore the house was built in the summer of 1768. In October of the same year, they presented a petition to the general assembly, showing that the territory of the society embraced about ten thousand acres of land, of which about seven thousand belonged to non-residents ; that they had erected a church, which was covered ; had doors, a floor, convenient benches, and glass windows for the lower story ; that they desired to settle a minister as soon as they could ; and that the list of the present inhabitants is only two thou- sand and eight hundred pounds, and they pray that the assembly would grant a tax of three pence per acre for three years on all the land in the society, to provide a settlement for the first settling min- ister, and if any surplus remains, it should be used toward completing the church. The petition was granted. This house stood on the
Y
52
HISTORY OF TORRINGTON.
highway, on the west side, some fifty rods south of the present church edifice.
In December, 1783, a committee was appointed to consider and decide whether the church stands in the right place, and if it did not to pitch a stake where it ought to stand, and at the same time, they voted to raise means to procure material to finish the inside of the meeting house. These acts were rescinded afterwards, but in Janu- ary, 1785, a tax was laid, payable by the first of June, to finish the house. In obedience to this movement considerable work was done that summer on the inside of the house but it was not plastered. In March, 1788, a committee was appointed to settle with David Soper for plastering the church. In December, 1788, a seating committee was appointed, and the appointment thereafter was made annually while they worshiped in that house.
The house was painted in 1792, having neither bell nor steeple. Repairs went on thus until 1818, when a stove was placed in the house. In 1828, liberty was given to alter the front gallery for the singers. In 1835, the thanks of the society were voted unanimously to Uriel Tuttle for the use of his organ for the time past, showing that in instrumental music they were in advance of many churches of that day, and Charles B. Smith and Frederick Phelps were compli- mented for their services at the organ, by a vote of thanks from the society, and thereby, probably, received a larger salary than they ex- pected.
In 1835, the society voted to build a new house of worship. Long had that old house served the purpose of the consecrated place of worship to the one only true God. Father Mills the great and grand old pastor and preacher was gone to his eternal home. There, in that pulpit had he stood more than fifty years, regularly on the Sab- bath, to announce the message of good news, the invitations. of the Son of man, and the offer of endless blessedness, to the congregated people. His voice, so familiar to thousands of ears, even outside of his own parish, had ceased, and was gone, forever gone. How they could thrust that old house aside, with all its sacred memories is a wonder, but they did it. Every instinctive rising of the soul in re- membrance of the past, utters its protest, and pleads with " Young America" to spare that place ; if not for the sake of the grand old minister, then for the sake of his son, the missionary prince who. had worshiped there ; and if not because of him, then for the sake of the good it had done in the service of that long line of worshipers
53
TORRINGFORD CHURCH.
who, while living, knew no other place of union of prayer, but now were gone beyond the confines of earthly temples.
But no voice could prevail ; a new house must be built, and built it was in 1838 and in the early part of 1839, and the society voted that it be used for public worship after the third Sunday in May. It required an effort of twenty-five years, with the aid of the general assembly, to erect and complete the first house of worship, and it was in use seventy-one years. It required an effort of three and a half years to locate and finish the second house which has been in use over thirty- five years. The old church was sold by the piece to the highest bidder, and therefore some of the fragments may be seen still in Torringford.
In 1874, the second meeting house was remodeled inside ; the old pews taken out and slips put in their stead ; the gallery closed up, and a place for the choir arranged at the side of the pulpit. The pulpit and platform were changed to the most modern style, and thus it stands surrounded by such interesting and sacred memories.
THE BURYING GROUND.
In December, 1788, the society instructed their committee to take a lease of the burying ground from Captain Gaylord, and to have it well fenced the next spring "if that was not done by the people by. spells." This ground was enlarged in 1812, on the east and west sides. The deaths noted, during a period of seventy-five years, ending with 1851, were six hundred and fifty-two, or an average of nine a year ; and the ages of four hundred and three of these were recorded. Only one person reached the age of one hundred years ; twelve lived ninety years or more ; and one hundred and twenty -six lived seventy years.
THE CHURCH.
The church in Torringford was deprived of all its records in the burning of the house of its pastor, Rev. Samuel J. Mills, in 1823, in which all of his library and papers were consumed, and therefore the items secured as to its early existence and success are gleaned from various other sources.
In the summer of 1763, Rev. Mr. Gould appears to have preached a short time, or rather there was a vote to employ him as though he were already preaching there. During the year 1764, the society was very much exercised in securing the site for the church and
54
HISTORY OF TORRINGTON.
nothing is said by them about preaching only the laying of a tax in the autumn of that year.
The journal of the Rev. Jonathan Marsh Porter, pastor of New Hartford at the time, has lately (1877) been deposited in the Con- gregational Memorial Hall at Hartford, and in this journal, under the head of admission and dismission of members of the church, occurs the following :
" Aug. 5, 1764, Samuel Kelsey and his wife were recommended by acts of this church to Christian communion and fellowship at Torringford.
" Aug. 13, 1764. Mary Birge of Torringford was recommended by a vote of ye church to Christian communion at Torringford.
" Aug. 26, 1764. Samuel Austin and his wife and ye widow of Robert Austin were recommended to Christian communion at Torringford."
The inference from these items is that these persons were dis- missed in order to form a church in Torringford ; because they were not recommended to a church as was the custom of Mr. Porter in other cases, to write. And further, Samuel Kelsey came from Wood- bury a few years previous and united with the New Hartford church, and would not be likely to come back unless a church was to be organized at home. These six persons were all recommended in August, 1764, and the probability is, for the purpose of organizing the church in the September following.
In the spring of 1765, Rev. Ebenezer Devenport began to preach for this church and society and in July the society appointed a special committee to act for the society, in regard to the settling of . Mr. Devenport as pastor ; as though there had already been appointed a committee by the church, and if so the church must have been in existence some time previous. It is most probable therefore that the church was organized in Sept., 1764. .
On Feb. 6, 1769, Mr. Samuel John Mills having preached here, the society voted to " give Mr. Mills a probationary call to settle in the work of the ministry amongst us ;" and he was accordingly settled and ordained pastor June 28, 1769. At this time there was a church here, recognized by the Litchfield Association, and to which they commended Mr. Mills.
To Mr. Mills the society voted a " settlement " of two hundred pounds, to be paid in three years if he settled among them. His salary was made £55, the first year, to be increased five pound a year until it should become seventy pounds, and his fire wood given him
55
TORRINGFORD CHURCH.
in addition ; the one-half was to be paid in money, and the other, in wheat, rye, and Indian corn at the market price.
Under his labors the church prospered, and with its pastor, and through him and his son, rose in fame and celebrity, nearly if not quite equal to any church in the state, especially as being intimately connected with the beginning of missionary enterprises for foreign lands.
Special religious interest was manifested in this church in 1773, and 1782 and 1793. The revival of 1799 was of greatest extent, and secured greater results of obedience to the gospel than any that ever occurred in the community.1 There were also revivals in 1806 ; in 1816, when sixty joined the church ; in 1821, when as many more united ; in 18,27, and 1831, during the labors of Mr. Mills. Before Mr. Mills's decease, Mr. Epaphras Goodman was ordained as colleague pastor, and there were added to the church, by profession, in 1834, twenty-nine; in 1842, twenty-seven ; in 1849, sixteen ; in 1858, twenty-nine ; and in 1867, nineteen.
In 1835, the church reported two hundred members and this was probably the highest number it had attained at any time. In 1849, Torringford contained one hundred and twenty families and five hun- dred and thirty persons, and since that time has diminished somewhat, and therefore the membership of the church has not at any time been larger than in 1835. The church has been among the foremost in sentiment and effort in the temperance and anti-slavery reforms, and has been commendably liberal in its contributions for charitable pur- poses. There have been over six hundred members of this church, and among them many good men and women, great in heart and effort for the ends for which churches are instituted, but it has had one member raised within its fold, brought to the light and truth of the gospel by its own instrumentality, of whom the remark is emi- nently appropriate that for the honor of promoting the cause of Christ, this church cannot afford to exchange the name of Samuel J. Mills, Jr., on its roll for that of any other Christian benefactor America has ever produced.2 But this brightest star in the coronal wreath of this church represents only one of many others, who once toiled hard and suffered much in the various relations of domestic, social, civil, and Christian life, in the community where it was planted.
I See biography of Father Mills.
2 Rev. Wm. H. Moore, in Torringford centennial.
56
HISTORY OF TORRINGTON.
A Sunday school was organized at the house of Father Mills in the summer of 1816, showing that the pastor and the people were ready to accept new as well as old methods of doing good, and this spirit and enterprise still continue.
This vine of the master's planting has been a blessing from gene- ration to generation, and has enriched every interest of the people for time and eternity, and its faith and fruit have blessed the world.
The labors of the Rev. Epaphras Goodman from 1822 to 1836, were abundant in all good things. "During his pastorate here, he did much to raise the standard of education, was forward in the re- formatory movements of the day, cooperated effectively with his ministerial brethren for the prosperity of religion in the county, and had the satisfaction of seeing large numbers added to the church."I
OFFICERS OF THE CHURCH. Ministers.
Rev. Mr. HEATON, supply in the autumn of 1760, some months.
Rev. EBENEZER DEVENPORT, supply from summer of 1764 one year or more.
Rev. SAMUEL JOHN MILLS, pastor, ordained, . June 28, 1769, . died May 11, 1833.
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