USA > Connecticut > Litchfield County > Woodbury > History of ancient Woodbury, Connecticut : from the first Indian dead in 1659 to 1854 > Part 29
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77
" 1. The distance is great, and the roads bad, the distance from Woodbury Meeting House to the bounds they ask being three miles, and 6 miles 100 rods to New Milford bounds.
276
HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURY.
" 2. } of the people can of attend at Woodbury.
" 3. The old society would still be large."
A committee was appointed to " view the circumstances," who re- ported at the same session, that two more societies are needed in the west part of the town, when able to support the gospel, " bounded by a line 23 miles west from Woodbury Ancient Meeting House, 1 north & 1 south of Col. Johnson's line." This report was accepted ; and the north part having been set off and called Judea, in 1731, on the application of the Shepaug agent, the south part was incorporated, May, 1743, and called Roxbury.1
During the time the people of this society had had " winter preach- ing," they had built for their accommodation, a small church, near the "ancient burial-ground, probably about 1732 or 1733." This became too small, in process of time, to accommodate them, and May 15, 1744, the society voted to build another. They applied to the Assembly for a committee to locate the same, who reported the place where the " old Meeting House Stands," which was confirmed. At the May session, 1745, twenty-seven memorialists inform the Assem- bly that the location is too far east, that it occasions a great deal of uneasiness, and hinders them from going forward with the building, and that they therefore ask another committee to locate. A new committee was appointed, who reported the same location, October, 1745, and it was again confirmed. The agent of the society, at the next session, represented that they were settling a minister, and build- ing their church ; that the value of the land was increased by the new society, and he therefore asked a land tax. The request was complied with, and a land tax of 6d., old tenor, was granted, to con- tinue four years.
While the people of this society were only allowed " winter privi- leges," a Mr. Chase was sometimes employed to preach. Others were in turn employed, till after the incorporation of the society. On the 20th of November, 1743, Rev. Thomas Canfield, a young li- centiate, a native of Durham, in this state, was employed to preach in the parish, and continued to do so, till August 22, 1744, when the church was gathered, and he was installed over it as its first pastor. The persons most active in his settlement were Henry Castle, Ben- jamin Warner, Esq., Thomas Castle and Daniel Castle. How many communicants the church contained, for many years, it is impossible
1 State Archives-Ecclesiastical, vol. 7, Index, 25, 26, 27.
277
HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURY.
to ascertain, on account of the imperfection of its early records. Eighteen males and nine females subscribed the covenant at its for- mation. The whole number of communicants found on Mr. Canfield's record, for the long space of more than fifty years, is fifty-five males and fifty-eight females. The names of some known to have been members of the church, are not found in it. Nor do we find any ae- count of admissions after 1761, although it is certain that some, and probably many, were by him admitted after that date. Of the forma- tion of the church, and his own ordination, Mr. Canfield has left a very particular account, which although somewhat minute in detail, is deemed of sufficient interest, to merit an insertion. By it we may see how an ordination, in the olden days, compares with one at the present time :
" A Record of my proceedings as to settling in ye Work of ye Ministry, But more especially Respecting ye Parish of Roxbury in Woodbury Also con- taining a Record of Chh Members, Baptisms, Births, Deaths &c. in sd Parish Anno Domini, 1744.
" In ye first Place I made application to ye Revd Association of New Haven County, and obtained the following License.
" At a Meeting of ye Association of New Haven County, Regularly Convened Wallingford, Septr 28, 1712.
" This may Certify whom it Concerns That Mr. Thomas Canfield, having been examined as a Candidate for ye Ministry, was approved, And is by this Association Licensed to Preach the Gospel when and where he shall be Regu- larly Called thereunto, And as a Person Qualified therefor, Do Recommend him to ye Improvement of ye Churches of Christ.
"Test. Thomas Ruggles, Scribe.
" The first of my Preaching was at Branford, Nov. 28, 1742, on Luke H1, 23. I having an Invitation to go & Preach at ye Mountain, now called Cambridge in Farmington, wch 1 accepting acordingly Preachd yre ye next Sabbath, it be- ing ye 6th of Deer & from yttime till ye latter end of Octobr 1743. On ye fth of Octobr aforesd Mr Jnº Lumm one of Oxford Society Came & gave me an Invi- tation to Preach yre ou Probation. Accordingly I gave Some Encouragement of Coming. I also went & Preachd 3 Sabbaths; viz : ye last. in sd Oetr & ye 2 first in Novr-On ye 12th of ad Oetr came Mr. Jnº Baker one of ye Society Com- tee of Roxbury &c. I gave him some Encouragement. I went & Preachid yre on ye 3d Sabbath : Viz: on ye 20 Day of Novr and on ye first Sabbath, i. e. 1 day of Deer. Wherenpon ye people of sd Parish of Roxbury, being timely warned, Did meet on ye 5th of sd Deer & in sd meeting unanimously Voted to Give me a Call on Probation in order to Settlement in ye work of ye Ministry. In sd Meeting were chosen Capt. Jnº Baker, Lient. Henry Castle, Ebzer Thomas, Benjn Warner, Dani Castle as a Comtee to act in be- half of sd Society for ye year ensuing, wch Comtee Conferring with me Con- ecrning ye aforesd Vote, I Consented to Preach amongst them on Probation as aforesd. But I having given Encouragement of Preaching at Oxford 3 Sab-
278
HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURY.
baths more, I returned thither until ye time was Expired & then Returned to sd Roxbury on Deer 29, on the terms proposed & Continued Preaching with them on sd terms untill April 16, 1744, when ye people of sd Parish Meeting voted to give me a Call for Settlement, in ye Work of ye Gospel Ministry among them ; i yielding to it Accordingly on May 30, ye People of sd Parish meeting again, made Proposals of Settlement & Salary wch were these (viz) to give me 75£ Lawful Money Equal to silver at 6s-Sd pr ounee, paying in 3 years i. e. £25, pr annum. During wch time giving me £27, 10s. salary pr annum, & afterwards my Salary to rise £2, 9s pr annum till it amount to £10. On June 13, 1744, I returned answer to ye abovesu Proposals to ye aeeeptanee of ye So- eiety, it being in a Regular Society Meeting, ye People then Proeeded to ap- point by a Genll vote a Day for my ordination, viz. ye 3d Wednesday, i. e. ye 15th Day of ye next Angust ensuing, and also a Day of fasting & Prayer Previ- ous thereunto, on ye 8 day of sd August. The Ministers Pitehd upon by ye Comtee for ye performance of ye Publik Duties of ye said fast, were ye Revd Mesurs Stoddard & Graham.
Accordingly on sd Sth Day of August, Revd Mr Graham appearing for sd busi- ness, (Revd Mr Stoddard failing by reason of bodily indisposition,) he perform- ed ye Publik Service of ye Day. And whereas there being a Publick Fast ap- pointed on ye Day prefixed for Ordination ; Therefore on this Sth Day of August, (it being also a warned Society meeting,) there was a unanimous vote passed, yt ye Day of Ordination should be ye 22d i. e. ye fourth Wednesday of sd August. Acecordingly, Circular Letters were immediately issued out to all ye Ministers & messengers of ye Eastern Consociation of Fairfield County, signed by ye Comtee, ye form of wch is hereafter inserted.
Accordingly on ye Evening before Ordination, viz ; 21st of August, Came Revd Messurs Kent with his messenger, Case with his messenger, who was afterward dismissed, Judson with his messenger & Lewis. Next Morning Came Mr. Stoddard with his Messenr, and then they began to embody to Pro- eeed in ye form of an Ordaining Couneil. Mr. Judd Coming also with his messenr. Revd Mr. Stoddard was chosen Modetor-Mr. Kent, Scribe. Then ye Council Proeceded to my examination by asking questions Concerning fund- amentals of Religion -- then it was Concluded it might be Convenient, yt I should Relate my experiences in Religion, in wch Season Came in Revd Mr. Mills & his Messenr, Mr. Graham & Mr. Treat of Pennsylvania, & when ex- amination was ended, Came in Mr. Bellamy & his Mesenr, who professd he was free to act from former acquaintance with me, and all ye Council professd Satisfaction as to my Relation, Whereupon it was tho't convenient yt I should read ye profession of Faith & Cch Covt to so many Cch Members as were then present at Lieut. Henry Castle's, ye place where ye Venerable Council was Convened, wch accordingly I did.
" Then ye Publiek Worship & Solemnity was attended after this form, The Revd Mr. Bellamy made ye first Prayer, Revd Mr. Mills Preached on 1 Pet. 1. 15, 16. The Revd Mr. - gathered the Church in this wise. First Read- ing ye Parish Grant, which is as followeth :
" Att a General Assembly Holden at Hartford on ye ed Thursday of May, A. D., 1743.
" Upon ye Memorial of ye Inhabitants of the part of Woodbury called Shippange, Praying this Assembly to be made a District Ecclesiastical Society, &c.
279
HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURY.
" Granted by this Assembly, that ye sd Inhabitants within sd limits be and they are hereby made one Distiet Ecclesiastical Society, with the Powers and Privileges of other Ecclesiastical Societies in this Colony, & shall be called & known by ye Name of Roxbury .- A True Copy &c.
" Test. George Wyllys, Secrety.
" Qdly was Read ye associations advise, viz :
" At a Meeting of ye Association in Southbury, Oet. 5, 1743, the Society of Roxbury [asked] for advise for a suitable person to preach the Gospel among them for a season, & were advised to ye worthy Mr. Canfield, and in Case he should fail, to apply themselves to the ministers of Woodbury for further di- rection.
" A true Copy-test John Graham, Scribe. .
" 3dly was Read ye Society's call and my answer as follows,
" April ye 16th Day A. D. 1741. At a meeting of ye Society of Roxbury, it was voted to give Mr. Thomas Canfield a Call for Settlement in ye work of ye Ministry.
" Agreeable whereunto on ye 13 day of June, at a Society Meeting, ye sd Mr. Canfield Returned answer to ye acceptance of ye Society.
" A true Copy, Test. Tilley Blakslee, Society Clark.
" Next was read my Recommendation as follows :
" Branford, July 29th, 1741.
"This may certify whom it may Concern, That on ye 28th Day of Decemr A. D. 1740, Mr. Thomas Canfield was admitted a member in full communion with the first Church in Branford, & has behaved Regularly during his abode with us. And now upon his desire he is Dismissed from us, & Recommended as a person of a regular Conversation, & in good Standing to be incorporated, or have communion with any Cch of Christ wherever Providence shall place him.
" by Philemon Robins
Pastor of sd Cch in Branford, with Consent of ye Brethren.
" Then was Read ye Recommendations of Church members, wch is as fol- loweth.
" Revd & Beloved-Whereas the Inhabitants of ye Parish of Roxbury in Woodbury have (thro ye orderance of Divine Providence, ) a Prospeet of hav- ing one set over them (speedily ) in ye work of ye Lord & taking ye Pastoral Care of them, & many of sd Inhabitants Standing in Special Relation to them ye 1st C'rh of Christ in Woodbury. As &e.
"These may certify, yt all ye abovenamed persons are members of ye ist Crh of Christ in Woodbury in full Communion, & in good Standing, & upon their Desire, as matters stand, are Discharged from their Immediate Relation to sd Church.
" Thus Certifieth Anthony Stoddard, Pastor of ye 1st Cch of X with ye Con- sent of st Church.
" Whereas they having before assented, & subscribed to ye Profession of faith, & Church Covt. They were now asked whether they now made Choice of me to take ye Pastoral Care of them, to wch yy assented. Then I being also asked whether I complied with their Desire & Invitation to take ye Pastoral
280
HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURY.
Care of them, to wch I gave my assent. Then they being Declared a true Cch of Christ. The Revd Mr. Stoddard Proceeded to Pray with the laying on of hands of ye Elders. And then also, gave me my Pastoral Charge, which is as followeth.
" We ordain thee, Thos a minister of Jesus X, & a Pastor of ye flock of X, who will Judge ye Quick & ye Dead at his appearing & Kingdm. Take heed to thyself, & to all ye flock over wm you are made an overseer to feed it : feed ye Sheep, feed ye Lambs; Give attendance to reading, to exhortan, & to Doc- trine; Neglect not ye gift yt is in ye; Meditate on these things, give thyself wholly unto them, yt thy profiting may appear unto all ; In Doctrine, shew un- corruptness, gravity, sincerity, sound, speech, yt cannot be conde: ned, yt he wch is of ye contrary part may be ashamed, having no evil to say of you : In meckness instructing yose yt oppose ymselves : feed this flock of God, taking ye oversight thereof, not of constraint, but willingly, not for filthy Lucre, but of a ready mind ; not as being Lord over God's heritage, but being an ensample to ye flock ; Give thyself to prayer, & to ye Ministry of ye word ; Study to show thyself a workman, yt needeth not to be ashamed, Rightly dividing ye word of truth ; And remember you stand as a watchman, and art to observe approaching danger to give warning from God, and know yt if you warn not ye wicked, when called thereto, ye wicked will die in his iniquity, but their blood will be required at your own hand ; but if you warn ye wieked as you ought, & he will not hear, tho he die in his Iniquity, thou hast delivered thy sonl.
" Administer ye Sacraments to such as are ye proper subjects of ym, giving each one his portion as a faithful stewrd Dispense censure, as sorrowful occasions offer ; they yt sin, rebuke before all, yt others also may fear ; And we charge you before God, & ye Eleet Angels. yt you observe ye Divine rule with- out preferring one before another, doing nothing by partiality. And as to your Conversation ; Remember ye instruction, yt a Bishop must be blameless, vigi- lant, sober, of good behaviour, given to Hospitality, not given to wine, no striker, not given to filthy Lucre, but patient, not a brawler, not covetous : flee youthful lusts ; but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace with all them yt call upon ye Lord out of a pure heart ; but foolish and unlearned questions avoid ; and be thon an example of ye believer, in word, conversation, in chari- ty, in spirit, in faith, in purity. Take heed to thyself as to thy Doctrines; & if you be faithful to him, yt hath called yon, depend on it, your Labour will not be in vain in the Lord ; but when ye Chief Shepherd shall appear, you shall receive a Crown that fadeth not away.
"Then Mr. Kent Prayed with Laying on, &c.
" Revd Mr. Case gave ye right hand of fellowship. Coneluded with singing in ye Gsth Psalın."
Mr. Canfield graduated at Yale College in 1739, and spent a long life with this people, useful as a pastor, kind and affable, equal to all emergencies, beloved as a man in all the relations of life. During the long period of more than half a century, his people enjoyed his acceptable ministrations, living in peace, a happy and united church and society. Fifty years, five months and twenty-four days, did he
-
281
HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURY.
remain doing service " in the vineyard of the Lord," and died Jan. 16th, 1795, aged seventy-four years.
After the death of Mr. Canfield, the church remained destitute of a pastor about two years and a half, during which time the pulpit was supplied by various candidates for the ministry. On the 5th of July, 1795, Rev. Zephaniah Swift was installed second pastor of this church, and was dismissed April 1, 1812.
The church then remained destitute of a pastor till June 2, 1813, when Rev. Fosdick Harrison, its third pastor, was installed. After a sneeessful ministry of twenty-two years, he was dismissed June 30, 1835.
The church was now again destitute of a pastor for some four years, when the present pastor, Rev. Austin Isham, was ordained over it in the pastoral relation, in 1839. Mr. Isham graduated at Yale Col- lege in 1836, and has remained fourteen years with the people of Roxbury-a sufficient proof of the estimation in which he is held by his people, in this day of sudden changes.
In February, 1794, the society voted to build their third meeting- house by a vote of twenty-nine to three. On the 9th of December, the same year, they voted again, thirty-six to three, to build the house, at a " heap of stones in the Daniel Hinman meadow about 11 rods northerly from David Hammond's shop."
There have been several revivals with additions to the church, as follows : thirty-five in 1805; nineteen in 1813; sixteen in 1816; nineteen in 1821 ; and fifty-seven in 1828.
The following have been deacons in this church. Tilley Blakelee and Capt. John Baker, appointed in 1747 ; Charles Thomas, date not noted ; Ezekiel Frisbie, 1783 ; David Gillet, no date ; Abner Wake- lee, 1798 ; Ichabod Ward, 1806; Enos Warner, 1808; John Thom- as, 1809 ; Ephraim Beardslee and Elihn Canfield, 1812; Chauncey Whittlesey, 1817 ; T. More, Eli M. Smith and Thomas Hurd, 1829 ; Curtis Blakelee, 1836; and Josiah Bronson.
The struggle of Roxbury society to be incorporated into a sepa- rate town was long and severe. For ten years, there was one con- tinued round of efforts on the part of its citizens. The first vote by the society in relation to the subject, was Oct. 2, 1786, when they voted to make application to the Assembly to be set off as a sepa- rate town, and at a meeting held Oct. 23, 1786, they voted disere- tionary powers to Curtis Hurd, to pursue a petition before that body to accomplish this end. On the 17th of the same month, Woodbury voted, one hundred and four to eighty-six, to oppose the prayer of said
19
282
HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURY.
petition. Oct. 9, 1787, the society laid a tax of three farthings in the pound to pay the expenses of the effort to obtain a town charter. Wood- bury this time voted not to oppose the incorporation. Jan. 12, 1789, they again voted to renew their application, and appointed John Hunt their agent for this purpose. On the 11th of May following, a tax of half a penny on the pound was laid for the same purpose as be- fore, and Lt. Lamberton Painter was appointed agent to " pursue the petition." In September, the same year, a committee was appointed "to see if Woodbury would relinquish one deputy in the General Assembly if Roxbury should be a town." At a town meeting in Woodbury, held April 13, 1789, the following vote passed :
' Voted not to oppose the grant of a petition from the Society of Roxbury now lying before the Genl Assembly of this State to be incorporated into a separate town-voted nemine contradicente."
Notwithstanding this, the charter was not granted. In May, 1790, as the contest grew warmer and warmer, they began to employ legal gentlemen to assist them in their efforts, and Hezekiah Thompson and Nathaniel Smith, Esqrs., were employed to prosecute their ap- plieation. At the October session this year, Mr. Daniel Sherman was also appointed to assist. In October, 1791, Capt. Roswell Ransom was appointed agent to urge the incorporation, and Hon. Nathaniel Smith in May, 1792. In September, 1795, Samuel Weller was appointed for the same purpose, and the petition was again pressed with vigor at the October session, 1796, when it proved successful, and the society of Roxbury was incorporated into a town of the same name.
One or two casualties have occurred in this town, worthy of notice. The first illustrates the danger of a careless use of fire-arms. Sixty- six years ago, a tavern, kept by Roswell Ransom, was located on the spot where the Episcopal church now stands. On the 31st of Octo- ber, 1787, a " training" of the militia soldiers was held at this place . About four o'clock in the afternoon of that day, David Downs left his house, now occupied by Treat Davidson, and went to the tavern for the purpose of getting his son excused from going to the " General Training," to be held the next day at Southbury. Thomas Hurlbut was present with a gun, in the house of Ransom, and one Hitchcock asked him if his gun was a good one. He replied "Try it and see." On being asked by Hitchcock if it was loaded, he replied in the neg- ative, on which he pulled the trigger, and the gun being loaded, the ball which it contained passed through the head of David Downs, above the eyes, and dashed his brains on the wall, or ceiling, near
283
HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURY.
which he stood, the stain from which remained indelible for many years after.
In a graveyard north of the Episcopal church is a monument con- taining the following inscription :
" In memory of Lient. Thomas Weller, an officer in the United States army, who was murdered by Archibald W. Knapp, May 16th, 1814, aged 25 years and 9 mo., son of Thomas and Polly Weller "
The circumstances of this murder are thus related by Barber: .
" The circumstances respecting the death of Lieut. Weller, appear to be these. In the last war with Great Britain, Knapp enlisted as a soldier. The lime having arrived for him to march on to the lines, he refused to go ; Weller, with three or four soldiers, went to Knapp's residence in the lower part of New Milford, in order to take him by force. Knapp meeting him at the door, told him that he had no ill-will against him, but if he advanced any farther towards him he was a dead man. Weller disregarding his threats, advanced to take him. Knapp then shot him in the groin, which caused his death in about fifteen minutes, Knapp made his escape into the State of New York, where it is believed he now resides. It is stated that Knapp was arrested a few years since, on account of this erime, but was rescued ont of the hands of the officer by some soldiers of an independent militia company, of which he was a mem- ber, who were ont on a military review."
Roxbury is almost wholly a farming town. It is about six and a half miles in length, and nearly four in breadth. It has two church- es, one Congregational and one Episcopal, two ministers and two doctors. It contains four mercantile stores, employing a capital of about ten thousand dollars, five hatting establishments, employing about as much more capital, two manufactories for forming hat bodies, one grist-mill, ten saw-mills, and two foundries. By the census of 1850, its population was 1,114.
.
CHAPTER XV.
HISTORY OF THE OTHIER CHURCHES BESIDE THE CONGREGATIONAL.
1740 TO 1853; HISTORY OF ST. PAUL'S CHURCH, WOODBURY ; PROGRESS OF TOLERATION ; ZECHARIAH BEERS' "SIGNING-OFF" CERTIFICATE ; PARISH OR- GANIZED, 1740 ; COL. SETH WARNER'S GRAVE ; REV. JOHN R. MARSHALL, FIRST RECTOR, 1771 ; CHURCH ERECTED BY SEVENTY PERSONS IN 1755; CON- SECRATED, 1522; MR. SAYRE SUCCEEDS MR. MARSHALL, 1791; CONSTITUTION ACCEPTED BY THE CHURCH IN 1794; MR. ELIJAH SHERMAN'S SECESSION AND CHARACTER ; GLEBE HOUSE ERECTED, 1837; CHURCH CEASED TO BE A PLU- RALITY, 1838; LIST OF CLERGYMEN; LIST OF NATIVE CLERGYMEN ; CHRIST CHURCHI, ROXBURY; FIRST CHURCH EDIFICE, 1764; ST. JOHN'S CHURCHI, WASHINGTON ; ST. ANDREWS' CHURCH, NEW PRESTON ; CHRIST CHURCH, BETH- LEM ; BAPTIST CHURCH, ROXBURY ; METHODIST CHURCH, WOODBURY ; FIRST PREACHING IN THE STREET NEAR " LODGE ROCK ;" NEXT IN MR. ELIJAII SHER- MAN'S HOUSE ; METHODIST CHURCHES AT SOUTH BRITAIN AND SOUTHBURY ; REFLECTIONS.
FOR nearly seventy years after the first settling of the town, there were no other churches within its limits, except those of the Congre- gational " or standing order." Our fathers emigrated to this country to enjoy their religion, not only free from persecution but without interruption from Christians of different sentiments. They were de- sirous of maintaining a uniformity of doctrine and worship. Correct principles of religious liberty were not then known in any Christian country, and toleration was not the virtue of that age. On their ar- rival in this new world, they formed an ceclesiastical constitution, and passed a statute that no persons should "embody themselves into church estate" without the consent of the General Court, and the ap- probation of the neighboring churches, and that no church adminis- tration should be set up contrary to the established order. Laws were made to compel every person to pay taxes to the established religious organization, and for the support of the "approved minis- ter." In 1708, an act of toleration passed, allowing all persons who should conform to it, the liberty of worshiping God in a way sepa-
285
HISTORY OF ANCIENT WOODBURY.
rate from that established by law, but it did not exeuse them from paying taxes to the approved, settled ministers of the churches. In 1727, the members of the church of England made an application to the legislature to be exempted from paying taxes for the support of the ministry of any other denomination, and for liberty to tax them- selves for the support of their own ministry. Accordingly an act was passed, directing that all persons within the limits of a parish, belonging to the church of England, and to the churches established by law, should be taxed by the same rule, and in the same propor- tion, for the support of the ministry in such parish, and where there was a society of the church of England, so near to any person who had declared himself to be of that church, that he could conveniently and did ordinarily attend public worship there, then the collector of the tax, on levying the same, should pay it to that minister of the church of England on which such person attended, who should have power to receive and recover the same ; and when the amount so obtained should be insufficient for the support of any such minister, the members of the society were vested with the power of taxing themselves, and they were also exempted from paying taxes for building or repairing the meeting-houses of the established churches. The same privileges were afterward granted to other dissenters from the established faith. In the revision of 1784, all dissenters were ex- empted from paying taxes to the established societies, where they had a society of their own and contributed to its support, on lodging a cer- tificate from such church or society, properly authenticated, of the fact of such membership. Some disputes having arisen as to the validity of such certificates, and suspicions arising that an undne advantage was taken of the law, an act was passed, May, 1791, directing that certi- ficates to be valid, must be approved by a justice of the peace. This law excited general disapprobation, and in October, the same year, an act was passed, authorizing dissenters to make certificates in their own names, and lodge them with the clerk of the society, in the limits of which they lived, which should exempt them from taxes as long as they ordinarily attended public worship in the society which they joined, and dissenting societies were authorized to tax themselves for all the purposes of other ecclesiastical societies. This was in effect placing all religious denominations on the same footing. Yet there was a nominal distinction, members of one society being obliged to lodge certificates with another. But now by the constitution, all dis- tinction among societies is done away, and all denominations are placed on equal ground. The support of religion and religious insti-
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.